SOLD: Convert + HD PAN AM Gossip.

[ozarquebus]

I sold my 1976 Convert project bike. No quite a fencepost restoration, but it needed a lot. The interesting thing was the guy that drove down from Milwaukee to get it. He was an actual active Harley Factory Design Engineer and was responsible for the crossover between the heads on the PanAm/Sportster S motor and the floating cam chain guides. He said the motor was derived from the V-Rod, but almost completely redesigned with the thermostat as the only common part. Heads are cast in IOWA. Special attention was made to eliminate all fuel/air mixture turbulence (tumbling) in the intake. The new motor development was also led by a senior engineer brought up in the house of Porsche, I believe he said. He spoke about a lot of things in a metric accent while loading the bike in the Afrika Korps hot sun and I hope I got it right, here.
  He is an admirer of the Sachs torque convertor transmission and said he had been a voice within the company for making an automatic Harley since 2015. Perhaps the old cop Convert will serve as a demonstration platform for an AutoHog or PanaVert? Oh, and if neede, I still have one left...

[kingoffleece]

He done good.  I test rode a Pan Am and gotta say the motor is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leroysch]

Unfortunately..the motor comes with a radiator..and hoses..one of which, after having an on/off relationship with an exhaust header for the bike's first 90 miles decided to split. Also amongst the motor's baggage is a tech heavy electronics package, one module of which must have taken its cue from the radiator hose and fried at 107 miles rendering the bike inoperable.
The reliability of these bikes seem to be a bit of a crap shoot.

[AJ Huff]

I'd be all in on a Sportster S if it had more than 2" of travel. And if the handlebars were about 2" further back. Waiting to see what else they put that motor in.

-AJ

[Dirk_S]

I just knew the V-Rod had something to do with the Revolution motor…but I’m sure Harley PR won’t be mentioning that too loudly

[chuck peterson]

Convert Harley Davidson…ummmm.

I agree. That damn sachs torque converter dragged me everywhere..

Works great with the right mods, it could work on other bikes…why not?

[s1120]

I'd be all in on a Sportster S if it had more than 2" of travel. And if the handlebars were about 2" further back. Waiting to see what else they put that motor in.

-AJ

I rode one the other week. Motor was nice, but the whole bike just felt odd. Too firm, and slow steering. It was a fun bike, but no way I would trade my Guzzi for it.

[LowRyter]

Unfortunately..the motor comes with a radiator..and hoses..one of which, after having an on/off relationship with an exhaust header for the bike's first 90 miles decided to split. Also amongst the motor's baggage is a tech heavy electronics package, one module of which must have taken its cue from the radiator hose and fried at 107 miles rendering the bike inoperable.
The reliability of these bikes seem to be a bit of a crap shoot.

Leroy, let us know the outcome on your Pan Am.