Harley-Davidson has modernized itself recently by adding more up-to-date motorcycles to its otherwise cruiser-dominant portfolio. The most eye-catching addition lately has been the Pan America 1250, Harley’s one and only foray into the heated adventure motorcycle space. The Pan Am became a hit in no time, and now Harley-Davidson is on course to exploit the ADV market further with a smaller, more accessible Pan America 975. Though the MoCo is yet to give an official launch date, we do know a few details about the ADV, and here’s why it should excite you.
The Pan America 975 Will Employ Harley-Davidson’s Newest Engine
Part of Harley’s modernization plan included a fresh Sportster lineup featuring new Revolution engines that replace the iconic but 36-year-old Evolution-powered lineup. This Revolution Max engine (found on the Sportster S) is also what powers the Pan America 1250, and similarly, the Pan America 975 will feature the smaller Revolution Max engine found on the Harley-Davidson Nightster. This is the company’s newest V-twin engine and pumps out 89 horsepower on the cruiser.
However, Harley-Davidson will likely re-tune the engine to extract a little more power and alter the power band to better suit the ADV. The Pan America 1250 also has 29 horsepower more than the Sportster S spread further in the rev range. We expect the smaller Pan America to boast 100-120 horsepower, which will be enough to take on the class-leading middleweight ADVs like Ducati Multistrada V2, KTM 890 Adventure, and the Triumph Tiger 900.
The Pan America 975 Will Be More Off-Road-Friendly Than The Pan America 1250
Thanks to a smaller engine, the Pan America 975 will also be lighter than the Pan America 1250. In turn, this will make it more accessible for less experienced riders, plus more suited for off-road riding where a lighter motorcycle is always preferred. Now, don’t get us wrong, the Pan America 1250 masks its 540-pound weight quite well, but the smaller, lighter 975 should be even better (at least that's what we expect). In addition to this, you should also expect extensive electronic rider aids (more or less on par with the 1250) all accessible via a TFT instrument cluster.
The Pan America 975 Will Look Identical To The Pan America 1250
We don’t know about you, but we love how the Pan America 1250 looks. The angry fascia, muscular bodywork, and tall stance all make it stand out in the segment, and the same will apply to the smaller Pan America. This is because according to now-deleted Harley website links, many Pan America 1250 accessories will fit the RA975 (Harley’s name for the Pan America 975), meaning the bodywork will be similar if not the same. Plus, it makes total sense, considering other manufacturers base their mid-ADVs on the flagships (for example - Ducati Multistrada V4-V2, Triumph Tiger 1200-900).
When Will The Harley-Davidson Pan America 975 Debut?
Sadly, there’s no concrete answer to this question. Harley had initially planned to reveal it right after the Pan America 1250, but we believe the pandemic played a spoilsport. Nevertheless, we expect the Pan America 975 to debut as a 2024 model sometime next year. Of course, there’s also a slight chance the MoCo could also surprise us all on January 18, 2023 during its 2023 lineup announcement.