When Harley-Davidson first announced that it would be entering the adventure touring bike market, it was met with a lot of raised eyebrows. For the longest time, the market was dominated by Harley's main competitors like Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Yamaha. Each of them had been warring with each other for years over who got to rule the ADV demographic like it was an episode of Game of Thrones. So, when Harley-Davidson, a motorcycle brand better known for producing popular sportsters, cruisers, and highway touring bikes, announced that it will be entering the fray, the company was met with a lot of skepticism and intrigue. All the other brands had established themselves in the ADV world for so long that would it be too late for Harley to carve a slice for itself? Whatever pushback and criticism directed at Harley-Davidson for its decision, the brand just let them talk. Because little did they know that what was coming their way was going to completely disrupt the balance of power in the adventure world.
The Competition Under-Estimated Harley-Davidson
While its competition was getting comfortable with already-established followings in the adventure touring market, Harley was taking its time. It was diligently doing its research and gathering data to produce a motorcycle that not only make the other brands shake in their boots, but as a chance for it to revisit its roots in the off-roading world. And then, like a Great White shark lurking in the deep depths of the ocean, the Pan America rose to the surface and unexpectedly took the motorcycle world by storm.
Harley-Davidson's R&D team went above and beyond in the production of the Pan-Am to make sure that it didn't just live up to the hype, it exceeded it. Design-wise, it is clearly nothing like the rest of Harley's current inventory. While a good chunk of H-D's motorcycles are meant for cruising and commuting, the Pan Am isn't here to look pretty. Sure, it can handle city streets with no problem, but what it really wants is to play in the mud and the muck like the rest of the ADV motorcycles. Rugged, powerful, and equipped with loads of high-tech features, the Pan Am ensured that no rider will ever sit on this bike with a frown on their face.
The Pan Am Set The Bar For High-Tech Features
Powered by Harley-Davidson's new liquid-cooled 1250cc Revolution engine with 94 pound-feet of torque, the Pan America has enough kick to take off from a red traffic light, as well as tear through rough terrains like mud, dirt, and sand. Some of the other unique features that come equipped on the Pan America 1250 Special include the first-ever Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) suspension. This allows the motorcycle to automatically lower itself whenever it senses that the rider is traveling at full motion to a low stopped position. This can come in particularly handy for some riders that wish to be flat-footed when resting their bike at a stop light, rather than keep on their tippy-toes. And then, once they are back in motion, the ARH rises itself up again. Not to mention its five ride modes, 6.8-inch display, RDRS (Reflex Defensive Rider Systems), heated grips, Bluetooth capabilities for music and GPS, cruise control, and detachable panniers and luggage just to name a few other features.
So, we've already established that the Pan America raised the bar in terms of engine power and technological features. But the more important question to ask is: how does it ride? The answer: very well. While the 1250cc Revolution engine certainly sounds like it packs a punch (which it does), it also isn't too overpowering for riders new to the ADV world. Some bikes have so much torque packed in that it can feel like an out-of-control steed taking you along for the ride. But with the Pan Am, it is user-friendly enough for newer riders to get used to, but strong enough for experienced ADV riders to master.
The Pan Am Set Itself Apart From The Crowd
Another area where the Pan Am scored high was its comfort. For a big bike weighing in at 569 pounds and a laden seat height of 32 inches, Harley had to make sure its customers would remain happy and comfortable during those long hauls. To achieve this goal, Harley went with mid-controls, an adjustable windshield, and hand guards to keep the rider's posture upright while protecting their hands and body from the wind, road debris, dirt, and anything else found on the trails. But the main feature literally "backing up" the bike's amount of comfort is its squishy, soft-yet-firm seat. Because there is nothing worse than riding for hours, and then suddenly your back and butt start hurting. In terms of looks, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In terms of adventure bikes though, the Pan America wasn't one to conform to the competition's aesthetic standards. While some ADV bikes tend to have an insect-like styling to them, the Pan Am went in a completely different direction with its fixed shark-nose fairing and more muscular look. Some Pan Am fans absolutely adored it, while others found it to be an acquired taste. Either way, it is much easier to recognize in a crowd of Harleys and ADV bikes. And, who doesn't like a little extra attention?
In the end, the Pan America served as the catalyst that brought Harley-Davidson back into the modern era by introducing itself into an ever-growing sub-market of motorcycles, as well as attracting a new customer base outside its regular clientele. Suddenly there was more to Harley-Davidson than catering to Sons of Anarchy lookalikes and suburbanites looking to live out their inner-badass. The bike also served as an ambassador to a new generation of riders, representing the brand's emphasis on adventure, freedom, and independence, and living up to it with quality. Harley-Davidson has only been in the ADV world for a couple of years, and considering the amount of trouble it has created for its pre-established competitors, it doesn't look like they'll be leaving anytime soon. If anything, Harley is just getting started.