Harley-Davidson Pan America First Ride
Words by Derek Mayberry
Core to the American spirit is a sense of adventure, carving one’s own path through unfamiliar territories. As a brand noted for pioneering motorcycle manufacturing for the masses, Harley-Davidson has always played a pivotal role in promoting a sense of freedom on two wheels.
With their decision to enter the highly competitive Adventure Touring segment, many have been quick say their new Pan America model is an abrupt departure from the predictable lane the motor company has traveled in for over a hundred years. But let's not forget the Pan America comes from a heritage brand who built motorcycles back before the market was segmented, when “Adventure Touring” meant fitting knobby tires to your trusty steed and finding creative ways to carry extra fuel for when the pavement eventually ended, when every bike was an adventure bike if you were brave enough.
Our firsthand experience with the Pan America took place at the RawHyde Adventures Zakar training compound in Mojave, California. During our first day of training we were tasked with challenging ourselves on various terrain carefully selected to test the bike’s abilities and show off the technical features of Harley’s new design. Except for a river crossing, RawHyde’s off road training course consisted of just about everything you’d expect to encounter on the Backcountry Discovery Route of your choice. Day two had us stretching the Pan America’s legs on twisty two lane black top roads of Kern River Valley, sweeping around the picturesque southern edge of Isabella Lake reservoir and through an off-road section complete with sandy switchbacks before dropping back down in elevation to the Mojave campground.
Even at first glance, Harley fans will surely notice the Adventure Tourer is replete with familiar design cues that give a respectful nod to the brand’s DNA. From the Fat Bob-like headlamp and the frame mounted fairings that follow the lines of a Road Glide, to the silhouetted bar and shield logo across the side of the fuel tank; iconic reminders of the bike's Milwaukee roots. Using a function-first approach to the Pan America's development, the Engineers at Harley-Davidson challenged their own status quo and set out to build a legitimate contender in the ADV world. Unique to the Pan America, the all new Revolution Max 1250 engine embraces the classic V-twin architecture Harley is known for while incorporating the latest in powertrain technology. Stacked with cutting edge technology, the Pan America spec sheet reads like something ripped from an MIT grad student's final thesis.
The Pan America is Harley Davidson’s latest example of stretching the company’s familiar boundaries, confidently taking riders down the open road and beyond. Click here to learn more about this all-new Adventure Tourer.
