Harley-Davidson Pan America Special - The Good, The bad & The Ugly
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- The 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America Special had, to put it mildly, a mixed response when the news of the new Adventure bike broke. Since its official launch there only seems to be good things being said now that people have had the chance to ride it. Thanks to Harley Davidson UK I've recently been able to spend a couple of weeks living with the 1250 Special, and here's what I found, warts and all.
Intro - 00:00
Engine & Performance - 01:46
Suspension & Tyres - 07:05
Adaptive Ride Height - 09:15
Ergonomics & TFT display - 11:02
Cornering Lights - 15:06
Styling - 16:00
Recap - 16:46
Any Negatives? - 17:43
Off-Road Riding - 20:43
Navigation -23:38
Conclusion - 24:38 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I didn’t have time to change the edit before going live, but I incorrectly described the bash guard and light guard as aftermarket as opposed to optional extras. Apologies for any confusion
u also incorrectly mentioned that there arent heated gear plugs. There are 2 under the seat.
I mentioned that there are any cigarette style 12v power points
I lived in Britain for a year, but still a chill goes down my spine when I see him going clockwise on those roundabouts! 😅
Excellent review. Glad to see a test of how us normal folks would use it instead of hammering it off road or using the road as a race track. This is the first review I have seen that actually shows how well the cornering lights work as well. Thank you.
Thank you and no problem. We all ride in the real world, I just try and show it how it is
I liked your evaluation of the Pan Am. Found it competent, and informative. I really appreciate it because I'm seriously considering getting this bike. Cheers... I think that's the one.
Another excellent review from you. Really enjoying all your videos from bike reviews to gear reviews.
Thanks Geoff
Hello my British friend: Excellent review as usual. I really like the direction that Harley is moving in with the new Pan American series bikes. I believe that they will continue to be very competitive as we move along with time. If I were a younger man & in the market for a new bike, I would take one out for a demo. However it is becoming somewhat difficult to choose between bikes as there are numerous great bikes to choose from. Thanks for taking your time in producing the many great videos that you have. Your friend from across the pond. Have a beautiful day & keep riding safe!!! Illinois, USA
Thanks Larry, yes its really hard to buy a bad bike these days. No problem and glad you're enjoying the videos. Keep safe. Cheers Tony
Another great review Tony. You cover everything I would want to know in a fair and balanced way. 👍
Thanks Rich
We really are blessed in the Braintree area with some great riding roads. Top review, as usual. 👍🏻
Indeed! Cheers buddy
Really great review and an impressive bit of green laning there :)
Thanks!
Great review, I’m loving the bike it’s something different from the rest of the adventure bikes and the adaptive ride hight works so well for anyone short in the legs, just to let you know you can also have the full navigation map on the display so no need to use your phone.
Thanks, and thanks for the info re the navigation. You never get an owners manual with a press bike, so often there are features you don't get to find out about. Maybe I'll get a chance to do a follow up video looking at the electronics in more detail.
I’m on my 2nd GSA and use of for touring and commuting. This bike does interest me and so I really enjoyed your review Tony, top job and you covered off a number of my “must haves” in your review. I look forward to seeing the evolution of this bike as love the character which comes with the brand vs BMW’s corporate!! When it comes to range and drive train, the BM wins for me and that’s not just long tours and more saves me visits to the garage on my 120 commute, though I’ll be booking a test ride when I can👌
Thanks Gareth
Nicely covered,thanks.
Cheers
This was a great video. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great review, the adaptive ride hight is something others should look to do for us shorter riders :-)
Thanks, yes its a clever system that by and large you dont notice doing its thing
Well done review..I notice you did t mention the “heat” issue that others are going on about..I test rode it last year and found it to be really fun and capable..only for 10 miles and on road only so this helps my thought process on her..thanks!
Thanks, I can honestly say i didnt notice any heat issue, but then I haven't ridden the bike in warm temperatures.
Great video Sir!
I love my Pan Am! It is a compliment to my 2020 Triumph Tiger XCX. The only thing missing is a quick shifter like my Triumph! It is almost a deal killer IMHO! But I suppose it will be available soon.
Yes I thought that would be a good addition.
Very well done review.
Thanks for watching
12:13 is bloody hilarious, really enjoying this review
😉 thanks
I didn't think my R1000GS was a big lump of a bike until I lost on a muddy clay slope. It took me the best part of an hour to get it upright. My point being is I'd buy one to tour on but I'd be very reluctant to head down dirt roads lower than B grade dirt roads unless I some aggressive off-road tyres. I'm 5'8. and I'm a wrap for the electronic seat height adjustment. Excellent review.
Yep its a meaty boy. Thanks Andrew
Good review, I bought one last August. The lights after being adjusted are very good, there is 2 heated clothes or Aux outlets under the seat (I got adapters to convert one to usb or sae), they are same as the gerbing plugs. I have 2 other harleys traded a triumph scrambler for this. Very happy with it .
Cheers thanks for the info Paul
I've converted one aux outlet to SAE and I'm using it to power a Garmin Zumo XT. Works great.
Excellent real world review
Thanks
Great review, bar one thing, there are two 12v supplies located underneath the seat which you can use to plug in clothing etc. A very good first attempt at the market by H-D, of which the bike is about the same weight within 5kg as the KTM/BMW/Ducati opposition.
Thanks for the info!
Not a fan of heavy adv bikes in general but it's good to see Harley trying something new. The adaptive ride height is the key feature for me and I reckon we'll be seeing this on various tall bikes in the future
I still really see this as an Adventure Tourer. But I agree, its a great first bike in this sector from HD
Under the seat there are dual power connections for heated gear.
good honest review, thanks. what was the jacket in the 'off-road riding' segment ?
It’s the Rev’it Component H2O jacket - czcams.com/video/JODSesDZ3s4/video.html
How quickly does the adaptive ride height drop when you stop? It's a clever idea like you said, great if you stop on an odd camber but I can imagine if it doesn't drop fast enough it isn't going to help in that scenario.
It drops straight away, and you can change it in the settings also.
If you're going to do a review you might want to investigate the power source under the seat for the heated gear.
Nice balanced review Tony. I think spec wise it looks a good bike and price is probably in the correct ball park.....however for me the looks just put me off (but as you say looks are subjective). What sort of range were you getting on a tank? Similar weight to a GSA with its 30l tank.
Cheers, I managed over 200 miles on mixed riding.
That bridge you ride under looks like it’s identical to one in the motorcycle theory test, the hazard perception part! I remember it only too well. I like the look of the Harley, I hope it sells well. I’d have this over a Triumph, it’s more individual and less mainstream. I can’t see GS riders buying one, but maybe it’ll appeal to people new to adventure bikes or coming off cruisers especially?
Maybe? It’s a very good first effort to be fair. It’ll attract harley riders who might be looking at jumping to an adventure style bike, and those that want to be a bit different.
Good review…still not sure why you buy this over a GS or 1290 KTM though? The lack of dealers were I live would be an issue also.
Cheers Tim
Can you please tell me your opinion about the heat that comes from the right part of the engine?is it tolerable?
To be honest i didn't really notice it, but it wasnt that warm when I was riding. I don't think it will be a problem
👍Great review
Good to see you treated your demonstrator in a more sympathetic way than Million$Bogan
I’ve not watched any of it, I’ll go check it out
Is that 43mpg the right figure? I’m sure Harley claim 46mpg over here in the US, and that’s based on the smaller US gallon.
Nice review!
I took it from the figures on the website
Harley seats, LOL some of the Sportster seats are not that comfortable I always said that's why Sportsters have small fuel tanks by the time you need to refuel your butt is ready for a break.
I have owned and ridden Harleys since 1992, so I had my share of seat experience and bought many a comfortable aftermarket saddle.
As for the Pan America I like the tech and features and that Harley-Davidson is moving is that direction.
They released the Sportster S I'm curious to see how that model does, not a fan of the big side exhaust on the S.
I have been seeing that some Pan American owners have has issues with hot exhaust and even overheated engines but how many is that compared to how many sold and I'm there are happy Pan America owners who don't say anything too busy having fun riding.
I've been off motorcycles for almost a year now, needed time to heal up and happy to say I'm in good shape getting ready to buy another motorcycle next March or so. Only this time I'll be buying a import metric motorcycle.
Haha yeah I wasn’t referring to sportsters, their like sitting on a fence post! I assumed that was a universal fact. Glad to hear your on the mend and have fun picking a new bike!
@@mancavemoto
Funny thing about the Sportster sometime when the rubber mount sportsters came out they stop putting those rubber isolators in the top triple clamp so the bars were solidly mounted still got vibration through the bars at times.
Nothing personal against HD but my next bike will not be a Harley.
I'm keeping my options open it will probably be a cruiser but I'm also considering a Bonneville and now in the USA Kawasaki is bringing the W800 back. 😆
At this point in my life( Im 59) the need for a large or fast bike is not there, I want something light, relaxed and doesn't need a lot of maintenance.
At 4:07 it looks like you were on the wrong side of the road on a blind corner, I hope you could see more than the camera could, and that I don't meet you coming the other way
Yep, it’s not a blind corner it’s a little s in the road abs you can see at least a quarter of a mile up the road in either direction. It’s a piece of road I use a lot for filming as it’s a National speed limit road which is usually very quiet.
I had ''adaptive ride height'' on a Suzuki DR250SH thirty years ago. Not electronic, obviously. It was done via turning a hydraulic knob on the bars. The TFT is ruined by small font. I have this problem with my 390's TFT. I like the PA's headlight. The handguards are like those on my Buell Ulysses. Useless. Overall, the bike is heavier than I would want.
The usual informative, understated review, Tony.
Cheers Buddy, its a pretty decent first effort and the motor is very good.
You know what is Tony? “It’s complete bollox” Haha classic😂👍
Didn’t want to sit in the fence in that one. 👍
@@mancavemoto Clearly😂👍
you must live near me, where's that green lane please?
It starts adjacent to Andrewsfield airstrip
Futurama Bender.. Yes! Thank you. That 'can't quite put my finger on it' has been bugging me since release!
I like this bike (the Bender face might grow on me) but the sound is a bit.. well.. odd. Some horribly overpriced pipes will fix that.
A used one will be my thing but wonder if it will actually depreciate much in a world that is now off it's tits.
It was the first thing that came to mind when I saw it. Who knows, used bike prices seem to be all over the place at the moment!
I was expecting you to try and better my brogan 😀
I'd never seen his content until I published this video and other people commented on it. I wouldn't have the front to treat a loan bike they way he does.
You of course have seen that million dollar Australian bloke who has taken this behemoth off road? Your review is much better!
I’ve only seen it now someone had mentioned it. Thank you!
I thought my GSA was ugly, I’d love the height adjustment but I couldn’t live with the looks, a ‘face only it’s mother could love’, Harley should stick to cruisers.
Looks are obviously subjective, but its a pretty good effort from HD. An interesting comment though, nobody says that about other brands when they launch a new model?
I don't believe that loud pipes save lives either, because all the sound is behind u and other vehicles and pedestrians won't really hear it, but where I do disagree with you is its always nice to have a quality sound to your bike, mistral exhausts has done a nice exhaust for the PanAm and it's got a nice bark to it without being droning...but each to their own, stock pipe sounds shite BTW
Fair enough, although I never said that I don’t like to have a quality sound to a bike. As stock pipes go, it’s OK, given the restrictions of emission compliance, but not the best.
What about fucking trouble error cord..
I admire what Harley are trying to do, but my God its the fiat multipla of the bike world.
Haha, now you say it…..but I also quite like the multipla. I must just be weird. Mind you I’d never have bought one
Until you hit a dear…
?
Liked the review but the bike is just butt ugly, what were they thinking.
Cheers, although I dont think its that bad. Its certainly different
@@mancavemoto I guess I'm a alittle old school but that headlight styling just doesn't cut it on a bike with that price tag.
There's no doubt this is a 'marmite' bike - Of course looks are subjective and an entirely personal opinion but for my money the Pan-American is the second ugliest bike I have ever had the misfortune to see.. (the most vile and hideous being the Munch Mammut...) - From what I've read/watched the engine seems to be powerful and tractable and the lowering feature when coming to a stop seems a great idea.. and of course, most manufacturers could learn from HD with regard to comfortable seats but unfortunately, no matter how excellently it rides and performs it will always be a 'fugly' troll of a motorcycle to me (the screen that looks like it was recycled from an old police riot shield, the monstrous headlight and the enormous exhaust collector box that would look more at home on a ride-on lawnmower are particularly foul..) - HD really should show that particular designer the door before he tries to make another abomination like the Pan-American...
The beauty is of course, you cant look at it when your riding it ;)
@@mancavemoto Fair point !.. But you do have to wonder just who it was at HD who thought the Pan-Am's 'good' looks might attract sales ! - Having said that, what do I know ? I understand they're selling out fast and are hard to get hold of in the UK..