For decades, Harley-Davidson (H-D) has been the go-to brand for cruiser motorcycles, whether large, small, subtle or ostentatious. Unfortunately, for everything else, customers turned to other brands. Yet Harley-Davidson hopes to change all that with the first-ever Pan America.
Harley calls the Pan America an adventure touring motorcycle. This means it’s designed for long, cross-country rides both on and off-road. The Pan America is designed to be the most rugged Harley ever, with vital engine and chassis protection, robust design, and technology designed to help it handle the worst possible conditions. The Pan America is equipped with several key features that should interest both new and veteran riders.
Brand new engine
Powering the Pan America is a newly-developed liquid-cooled, 1250cc, DOHC, 60-degree V-twin Revolution Max engine. The V-twin format may be a Harley staple, but this engine is nothing like anything Harley has made before. Its design is closer to modern Japanese brands, with technology like variable valve timing, ride-by-wire throttle, adjustable ride modes, and even engine brake control.
This tech helps it produce 152 Ps of power at 9,000 rpm and 127 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. Typical Harley engines are usually heavy on torque, but Harley flipped the script for this model.
Showa shocks
If you’re into Japanese motorcycles, you’re likely familiar with the Showa brand of shocks. Though owned by Honda, Showa shocks are fitted on a variety of Japanese motorcycles, particularly Honda’s adventure bike, the Africa Twin.
They’re also fitted on the Pan America. In front is a Showa 1 by 1 47 mm inverted cartridge front fork. The rear has a Showa piggyback reservoir shock with adjustable hydraulic preload. The rear shock is linked to a cast aluminum swingarm to make it even more lightweight. With these shocks, riders can expect not just a comfortable ride but also better performance damping.
Brembo brakes
Another element borrowed from high performance motorcycles is the Pan America’s Brembo brakes. Brembo-branded brakes are usually fitted on high-performance models, where accelerating and stopping quickly are part of their key characteristics. You’ll find these on the Pan America too, with the front sporting two 320 mm rotors with four-piston calipers and a 280 mm rotor in the rear.
LED lighting
Adventure riding can venture into uncharted territory. Still the Pan America is equipped for that with Daymaker LED headlamps and all-LED lighting. Its wide, LED headlamp emits a wide and bright spread, illuminating a wider area in front.
Everything adjustable
Skill, preference, and riding position vary from rider to rider. As such, the Pan America is prepared for these eventualities with a wide array of adjustable aspects.
First off, it comes with an adjustable windshield which doesn’t need any tools to raise or lower. This is paired with a touchscreen instrument panel. Not only does the display adjust to ambient lighting, its angle can also be tilted to offer the most comfortable view.
Another adjustable aspect is the ride modes. By simply choosing from Road, Sport, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road Plus (1250 Special) preset modes, the engine and power deliver quickly recalibrates to the desired setting, offering power and delivery ideal for the situation.
Lightweight
It certainly seems that Harley is out to bust a lot of stereotypes with the Pan America. Not only is it sporting one of the most high-tech Harley engines, it also has impressive equipment like shocks and brakes. Yet most surprising of all is its overall weight. Aluminum is extensively used in the Pan America’s construction to make it strong but light, giving it impressive handling. It tips the scales at a lithe 242 kg, making it lighter than its popular German adventure bike competitor.
Pinoy-friendly
Adventure bikes aren’t the most accessible to (vertically challenged) Pinoy riders. Most of them are tall in order to surmount many of the obstacles they’re expected to encounter. Harley has remedied this with the inclusion of Adaptive Ride Height Control (1250 Special). The ARHC adjusts the Pan America’s height by as much as two-inches. ARHC can raise or lower the bike on command. In addition it can be set to move to lower heights when rolling to a stop, making it easier to dismount. It can also be set to rise when moving again. There are few more adjustable modes as well.
Rider aids
Large models like the Pan America can be particularly daunting to ride, yet it’s been made even easier to ride in regular and challenging conditions with rider aids. It’s fitted with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a whole suite designed to aid the rider in tricky situations. This suite is made up of Cornering Enhanced Electronically Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System, Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System, Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control System, and Hill Hold Control.
Two variants to choose from
The Harley-Davidson Pan America is now available in the Philippine at all official Harley-Davidson showrooms in the country. It comes in two variants: the 1250 and 1250 Special. Interested parties may contact their nearest showroom to schedule a viewing. Its price starts at P1.4 million.