Harley-Davidson reveals the Pan America

Named for Harley’s continent-crossing heritage, the Pan America will be the first American-built adventure tourer. From a country that has historically loved off-roading – the ‘60s scrambler craze originated there – this is a surprising fact, and one that Harley has acknowledged, with the admission that this model should have joined their line-up far sooner.

But arrive it finally has, and the American icon has put some serious R&D into building it from the ground up. It will be available in two variants, the standard and the Special, and will be technologically the most advanced Harley-Davidson, if not adventure bike, yet, with multiple electronically controlled ride modes, and electronically Linked Braking, ABS, traction control, Drag-Torque Slip Control, and Hill Hold Control, all lumped together in the Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements IMU-controlled system. The Special, meanwhile, adds electronically adjustable semi-active front and rear suspension, and offers the optional confidence-inspiring Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) – a first for the motorcycle industry.  

Harley has swapped its undersquare inclinations for an oversquare design in the new liquid-cooled 152PS (112kW) Revolution Max 1250 V-twin, which revs all the way to 9,500rpm, promising smooth low-end torque (rising to a peak of 127Nm, or 94 ft lb) and a broad powerband (with an abundance at the top end) thanks to variable valve timing. This engine acts as a heavily-stressed member within the chassis in order to both save weight, resulting in wet weights of 242kg for the standard and 252.5kgs for the Special. With the steel tube front, mid and subframes all bolting directly to the engine, this has made it easy to swap out elements in the event of a hard off. And if the reveal video is anything to go by, the manufacturer certainly intends for it to be ridden hard off-road, harking back to both its 1975 Baja 500 win and the earliest Harleys, which rivalled horse and carts as a way of crossing the country’s rugged terrain. It’s fast too, with a promised top speed of 135mph – with luggage, that is.

A prerequisite of an adventure motorcycle launch is to dub it the ‘Leatherman/Swiss Army Knife/multitool’ of motorcycles, and Harley has not disappointed. Like any decent tactical appliance, the Pan America’s design is led by function, with elements including sunken bolts, an on-the-go adjustable rear brake pedal, and the cyclops headlight arranged horizontally to better illuminate the trails. This headlight is adaptive on the Special, which also benefits from a substantial aluminium bash plate, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and steering damper.

In short, the new Pan America is aimed squarely at the behemoths of adventure motorcycling – think BMW’s R1250GS and KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure.

Harley appears to have discovered what these manufacturers knew all along – dirt is good. In the gritty reveal video (featuring Jason Momoa, no less), the manufacturer’s VP of styling and design, Brad Richards, makes the innocent revelation:

“With a street bike you fight to keep it clean, but I almost want to leave the mud on this motorcycle. But I guess that’s all part of the adventure touring thing, it’s about leaving scars on the motorcycle and bit of history.”

With its incredible spec, the Pan America will likely prove a worthy contender when it arrives in dealerships from Spring. A comprehensive accessory line will be available, with various luggage and comfort enhancing options, while Harley-Davidson has partnered with Rev’it to offer technical and protective riding apparel.