Raucous! Rowdy! Spirited Ride on the 2021 Harley Davidson Pan America

[twowheeladdict]

Today I stopped in at the local Harley Shop determined to take the new Pan America out on a test ride.  I checked in with a Salesman and he wheeled the bike out to the apron between the building and parking lot at a slight downhill angle.  Identification recorded and he asked me to wait while he goes and grabs a helmet.



I’m thinking “Oh crap, a guided ride.”  I said, “What are you going to ride?”  He points to a 2020 Blue Road Glide with air ride suspension.  “Double crap!”  Then he walks back out and says “Everyone knows you, so you can go on your own, we know you won’t take off on us.”  I was doing back flips in my head!  LOL!

He took a moment to show me the menu options, and I started out in sport mode.  Time to mount up.  With the slight downward slant and the lean it has on the side stand, it definitely took a little more effort than I was expecting and a stretch of the left leg as I pushed it upright and centered it with my right leg flat footed.  This particular bike did not have the auto height adjust feature.

Snick it into first gear and make the slow roll through the parking lot and out to the street.  No one coming, so I rolled out towards the right and as soon as I straightened out I nailed the throttle!  The raucous that emitted from the intake and exhaust let me know I was in for a spirited ride!  Before I could fully take in the sound and feel of the bike I hit the rev limiter and instead of bouncing off of it, it appeared to cut the throttle until I shifted a couple gears and then took off again.  I forgot that it had a low redline compared to other bikes of this HP range.



When you are riding the Pan America you definitely know you are not on a Honda Africa Twin.  The Pan America is Rowdy, Mean, and ready to take on anything you dare point it at!  I would say Harley was going after KTM rather than BMW when they made this bike.  The KTM adventure bikes I have ridden are precise handling machines that are definitely high spirited and love to be pushed hard.

I didn’t keep track of how many miles I rode the bike but I rode back roads, bumpy roads, interstate, and gravel.  The long travel suspension definitely keeps the wheels in contact with the ground.  I managed to comfortably ride 45 mph on the gravel, easily maintaining the speed limit on the interstate (LOL) and the bike handled bumpy roads favorably but not floaty like a ’78 Cadillac Sedan Deville.



Very slow speed riding was very easy, but I did notice some hesitation in the fueling when very slowly opening the throttle.



I stopped and got off the bike many times to take a photo and it took a few seconds to find the side stand the first time.  Where the Side Stand deploy tab is normally located is actually the deploy tab for the center stand.  You deploy the Side Stand at the Tab in front of the left foot peg.


 
When I got back to the dealership I did the slow roll through the showroom to the Pan America display location at the rear wall.  Never even thought about putting a foot down.  Came to a stop and kicked down the side stand and an employee approached and very nicely said I should have left the bike outside for liability purposes.  He really was cool about it though because he saw how well I handled the bike.



Would I buy one?  If I were into Adventure Touring I would definitely buy one over the competition.  I am no longer touring by motorcycle though.  I now haul one or two bikes with me, base camp and go out on day rides.  I am gravitating toward lighter bikes for that type of riding.  Trying to stay around 400 lbs and lighter.



This orange accessorized bike was back for first service after one week of ownership.

[Canuck750]

Great report, sounds like HD has built a good bike! If it’s after KTM’s range of high power and tech it should attract a lot of buyers

[Ncdan]

One word, INTERESTING!

[bad Chad]

Have you ridden the competition’s adventure bikes in similar situations?

[TN Mark]

The reviews on the PA have been very good. The H-D ‘faithful’ that I know personally are, for the most part, very excited about this bike.

[twowheeladdict]

Have you ridden the competition’s adventure bikes in similar situations?

I have.

BMW GS 1250
KTM Adventure 1190R
KTM Super Adventure 1290
Honda Africa Twin 1100
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200

Oh forgot the Super Tenere ES.

I haven't gotten a ride on the multistrada yet.

[Huzo]

I will ride one if I get a chance...

[Guzzistajohn]

Glad I got the little YAMMY!

[Ncdan]

If I were a younger man I’d definitely look really close at this HD or even the other “adventure bikes” however

the only adventure riding I have plans for the future is the two mile long gravel road to the river cabin. 🤔

[twowheeladdict]

Glad I got the little YAMMY!

Hoping to ride my buddy's soon.  I had an FZ-07.

[Guzzistajohn]

Hoping to ride my buddy's soon.  I had an FZ-07.

They steer like a trials bike. I'm havin' a ball with this little crittter! 

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Very nice report! I have to say if I was suddenly independently wealthy the Pan America would be my choice for riding down to Chile 🇨🇱! Wealthy not because the bike is more expensive than others in its category, but because to live well for a few months on the road would require fundage! Ah well, bucket list goals!

[twowheeladdict]

Very nice report! I have to say if I was suddenly independently wealthy the Pan America would be my choice for riding down to Chile 🇨🇱! Wealthy not because the bike is more expensive than others in its category, but because to live well for a few months on the road would require fundage! Ah well, bucket list goals!

The bike is not more expensive when comparing feature to feature. 

What you are saying is how I feel about side by sides.  Expensive and have to be trailered in most states.

[Huzo]

I tried but I cannot understand what Harley were thinking with that bread box abomination on the front. There may be a reason behind why it has to be that way but if it’s “cosmetic”, I hope there’s an elective surgery somewhere in the future.
Notwithstanding that, I can’t see anything about that bike which would steer me away if I was “at the point”.
I do have the same inherent faith in the mechanicals and backup of the brand, that I had with my GS BMW. The GS let me down once in Europe, but I never FELT like it was going to. When I look at the Harley, I perceive a rock of Gibraltar that has the indestructability of an old Chrysler. It just LOOKS strong, if there’s one redeeming feature that you Yanks build into your machinery, it’s rock solid overengineering and I like it...
Lycoming flat fours are an example of this.
It’s a bike that I would go out of my way to sample, but could not buy one with that front fairing.
Check out my upcoming post....”Pan America Facelift....”

[twowheeladdict]

I tried but I cannot understand what Harley were thinking with that bread box abomination on the front. There may be a reason behind why it has to be that way but if it’s “cosmetic”, I hope there’s an elective surgery somewhere in the future.
Notwithstanding that, I can’t see anything about that bike which would steer me away if I was “at the point”.
I do have the same inherent faith in the mechanicals and backup of the brand, that I had with my GS BMW. The GS let me down once in Europe, but I never FELT like it was going to. When I look at the Harley, I perceive a rock of Gibraltar that has the indestructability of an old Chrysler. It just LOOKS strong, if there’s one redeeming feature that you Yanks build into your machinery, it’s rock solid overengineering and I like it...
Lycoming flat fours are an example of this.
It’s a bike that I would go out of my way to sample, but could not buy one with that front fairing.
Check out my upcoming post....”Pan America Facelift....”

I don't find any of the bikes in my list above aesthetically pleasing.  Function over looks.

[Huzo]

I don't find any of the bikes in my list above aesthetically pleasing.  Function over looks.

Certainly in this class it’s less about the looks for sure.
But..
Does it have to be that bad ?
If it needs that thing on the front to make it a better bike, then suddenly it becomes ok..,(sort of..). I would tend to suggest that the bread box will change shape on the next model as customer backlash rolls in, time will tell. Notwithstanding that, I would and probably will, try one out..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Saw a Pan America "out in the wild" today. It was parked at a local greasy spoon with a KTM keeping it company.