Riding a Pan America

[Seventy One]

XLCR, FXRT, Buell, V-Rod, XR1200, Bronx, etc. etc.  Harley doesn't stay with slow sellers for very long.  I remember when Harley killed the XR1200 after five years, a HD sales exec. said, "I guess everyone that wanted one bought one."

The V-Rod was around for 16 years. Buell was around for 17 years. They never actually built the Bronx so it's pretty hard to say it was a slow seller.

A better example would be the FXDR.

[Huzo]

You've never walked into any other type of dealership in your life and been blown off by a salesperson?  Ever? 

Well.
There was that nice lady in Germany once..
But it meant nothing and I didn’t buy the bike..

[Huzo]

There is a bike repair shop in the family.
I am a retired police motor sergeant.
I test ride motorcycles for a living now.

Thousands.

You better get your abacus out, or admit that in a massive percentage of occasions it was the same make/model, different bike.
If you call it two thousand which it must be at a minimum to qualify as “thousands”, that’s in the league of 50 different models in each and every one of 40 different manufacturers.
Also, to say you have ridden “thousands”, smells like a manufactured memory, like saying how many times you’ve taken a piss, or a rock star saying..”I’ve literally bedded over 500 women..”
How the hell would you know unless you’ve logged them all...(so to speak.)
But your test of the Harley Ferguson was one of the very best I’ve read, I am keen to ride one based on your impression alone....

[Huzo]

Did the pilots stand up ?

 Dusty

I’d be surprised if some of the blokes here stood up to take a piss....

[Huzo]

I'm jealous

Rich A

What..
Of the tank badge or the lewd act ?

[Dave Swanson]

I test rode the PA and really liked it.  With my fairly short leg length it is the only ADV bike that I can flat foot.   As discussed prior it is a great package and a big hats off to HD for pulling this off.  The moto journos are pretty much universally in love with it.

Plenty of power, great handling, seat seemed comfortable, active suspension is excellent and switching riding modes on the fly was very nice.  Great dealer support if you need it and I am sure HD will have a book full of well executed accessories for it.

The only thing I didn't care for is the heat that is shed and felt very much from your knees down. 

It could possibly earn a spot in my garage.  I really like the idea that when I am out west if I see a gravel road going somewhere interesting I wouldn't be shy about exploring with it.

I rode the Norge the next day.  For on road riding I prefer the Norge!  Although down on power from the PA it is such a wonderful powerplant and drivetrain you could care less. 

[Huzo]

Damn....
It looks tough and work ready. I really like it...

[Dirk_S]

..and HD out tubeless spoked wheels on the thing before anyone had time to complain that they didn’t! (ahem, V85TT)

[bad Chad]

Get a room girls, I’m sure the bar and shield will pay for it!

[twowheeladdict]

I test rode the PA and really liked it.  With my fairly short leg length it is the only ADV bike that I can flat foot.   As discussed prior it is a great package and a big hats off to HD for pulling this off.  The moto journos are pretty much universally in love with it.

Plenty of power, great handling, seat seemed comfortable, active suspension is excellent and switching riding modes on the fly was very nice.  Great dealer support if you need it and I am sure HD will have a book full of well executed accessories for it.

The only thing I didn't care for is the heat that is shed and felt very much from your knees down. 

It could possibly earn a spot in my garage.  I really like the idea that when I am out west if I see a gravel road going somewhere interesting I wouldn't be shy about exploring with it.

I rode the Norge the next day.  For on road riding I prefer the Norge!  Although down on power from the PA it is such a wonderful powerplant and drivetrain you could care less. 

Some Kevlar lined jeans would go a long way keeping the heat at bay.  I'm sure aftermarket will figure out a way to lose the cats where most of the heat is coming from.  The big KTMs will fry your nuts.  LOL!

[Phil/TX]

Sounds like the PA is a good bike, what is not good nowadays. I have three adv bikes, they are all fairly new, 19,20, 20. To me the V 85 tt is a great road bike, the 790 is great all around, and the 390 is a hoot any where you want to ride it. So if there is a lot of PA’s on the road, that would be great, and some of the innovations that HD has implemented will be on the competition in the future.

[Dirk_S]

Some Kevlar lined jeans would go a long way keeping the heat at bay.  I'm sure aftermarket will figure out a way to lose the cats where most of the heat is coming from.  The big KTMs will fry your nuts.  LOL!

Goddang, I was waiting for TWA to bring up the Kevlar pants, and I wasn’t disappointed. Someone purchased stock in DuPont recently, huh?

Joking aside, maybe they just need to route the exhaust AWAY from our right shins.

[twowheeladdict]

Goddang, I was waiting for TWA to bring up the Kevlar pants, and I wasn’t disappointed. Someone purchased stock in DuPont recently, huh?

Joking aside, maybe they just need to route the exhaust AWAY from our right shins.

LOL!  Everyone would ask me about heat off my air cooled bikes and I would say, "I never feel heat off my bikes."  "I feel more heat from the sun!"

Then I eventually rode each bike in today's thin jeans and sneakers and actually felt heat from them!

So now when someone complains about heat on them or their passenger the first thing I ask is "What are you wearing?"  You are sitting on top of an engine and exhaust system. 

The Japanese have come out with all kinds of tricks to try and keep engine heat away from the rider/passenger but it usually involves covering the bike in thermal lined plastic panels  and channels for the air to move the heat away from the riders.  Some will also route radiator heat below the bike, and go so far as to run the fans backwards while stopped to push the radiator heat away from the bike.

Off my soap box, until next time.   

[LowRyter]

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to ride one.  It's supposed to be real performer.

Anyway, I just chatted with a local rider that bought one.  Some of these bikes suffer from "start interruptus".   This guy's included.  He finally got his started after several tries and a call to the dealership (of which they were clueless).  I'm guessing it's an electrical glitch or something with anti theft.  No doubt it will be sorted out.  Anyway, this guy isn't alone.   And it was only an inconvenience, the bike eventually started.

I have a bike with electrics, a chip key and some "code" as well.  18k and not missed a beat, knocking wood as I write this.  Just got my desmo service too.   

[blackcat]

Just got my desmo service too.   

No valve adjustment cost on the Pan Am.

What did it cost for that Desmo service?

[Guzzistajohn]

I saw one on the road the other day, You can spot that funky lookin' front end a mile away!

[rocker59]

One things for sure, in a niche filled with strange/odd/ungainly/ugly styling, Harley-Davidson succeeded in providing the strangest/oddest/ungainliest/ugliest styling.  And that's saying something...   

 

[twowheeladdict]

One things for sure, in a niche filled with strange/odd/ungainly/ugly styling, Harley-Davidson succeeded in providing the strangest/oddest/ungainliest/ugliest styling.  And that's saying something...   

 

I would disagree with that partly because I like symmetry.  I would have to rate the R12xxGS to be the most ugly adventure bike followed by the Super tenere, all KTMs, then the Pan America, with the last iteration of the Multistrada the best looking. 

[kingoffleece]

I tend to agree with you.  I don't see the insect/transformer ADV bikes being any more attractive than the PanAm.  Good for H-D to try something different.

[steven c]

 I saw my first one out in the wild yesterday parked by a small bridge in town that is being repaired, I thought it looked pretty good in a funky kind of way.

[LowRyter]

No valve adjustment cost on the Pan Am.

What did it cost for that Desmo service?

PM