Would I REALLY buy the Harley-Davidson Pan America? [4K]
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- čas přidán 2. 07. 2024
- My previous video on the Harley-Davidson Pan America got over 100,000 views. People started saying they would buy the bike on my recommendation. That felt like a lot of responsibility so I asked H-D if they could loan me the bike to give it an extended review, including going camping, riding 2up and wheelies with friends. I also talk to owners of the bike and the general motorcycling public.
Whitney Meza's CZcams channel:
/ @whitmeza
Wally Rides Pan America review: • 2021 Harley Davidson P...
Also Featuring:
Toni Macaskill (my crush)
ADVRider Inmates: @OxyDave, @Bibundum, @WheelieKing1, @Mootsuno
Many other motorcyclists and Harley owners I met on the trip.
0:00 Intro
1:30 First ride two-up
4:50 Talk with new owner
10:25 Camping
12:42 Other biker's perceptions
18:39 Riding in the dirt
29:44 Whiney Meza on long distance comfort
------------------------------
Music:
Lipsia by Sapajou / sapajoubeats
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
------------------------------ - Sport
It is fun to watch Harley riders learn about things that we BMW riders have enjoyed for years (heated grips, good riding position, etc.). It looks like Harley has done a great job for their first time in this market.
Baldy you are quickly becoming my favourite motorcycle reviewer. I love the longer format 30-minute reviews, which I savour. Your mix of interviews from owners to other random motorcyclists keeps the vid absorbing. I like how you get your crush involved, and talk about real world things, not just from the press spec sheet. The mix of GoPro-style footage, speaking to camera and Zoom interviews keeps it so fresh. You’re now up there with 44Teeth and Revzilla for best bike vids on CZcams for me. Return serve to you: thank you so so much for your effort. Keep going, and go well.
Top class real world seat of the pants review..well done.
This bike is gonna bring A LOT of folks into the ADV segment.
The best review I’ve seen by far. Part review, interview and had almost a investigative journalism feel to if. 👍 I really enjoyed it!
Totally agree.especially like wheelie king's opinion!
Great Review, I have purchased one and I am very happy with it.
Thrilled to see the home team hit one out of the park. My next bike . . .
Me too
me 3@@frankd2056
Bought one today. Looking forward to giving it a workout!
Fantastic review/interview!!! Would not have paid much attention to a Harley anything but for your ADVrider cred (boss). Impressed that you went to this trouble to cover your tracks w/ new tracks.
Out of thousands of video about the PAN AM, I feel that this is the best one, real life review not some journalist reviewing like copy n paste. Really love your review and videos, keep vlogging my friend. I am bob , All the way From Malaysia!!!
I was thinking about a new Sportster S but the Pan Am is just so damn perfect. Like More suspension travel.
Your interviews have really improved Baldy!!!! Great review!!
Thanks! Working on them.
Watching your evolution from nay-sayer to believer was one of the things that really sold me on giving this bike a chance. I was very nearly going to pull the trigger on a R1250GSA w/ Dynamic ESA but decided to hold off and see what the PanAm was all about. I ended up test riding the PanAm and GSA twice each and really not being able to find $5K in difference to justify buying the GSA. I was able to get exactly the PanAm I wanted, the Baja Orange Special with ARH, Al Side and top cases, bash plate, headlight and rad guards, daymaker, crash bars, and reach seat, for 26k out the door at Hales HD in Mansfield OH. For that price I just could not justify just over 31K for the GSA that I was quoted at the BMW store. With 1300 miles on it so far, I'm absolutely thrilled with my purchase of the first and only HD that's ever interested me.
Bmw 1250 has dct?? Thought that is a Honda thing.
Enjoy the bike!
@@richardvalitalo3670 DESA, lol! Got my acronyms mixed up.
These bikes are garbage.
@@k-rod2453 7K miles of trouble free riding plus the multiple rally finishes these bikes are racking up in stock form say otherwise, but... K, lol.
Awesome....so cool you did this. Thanks for the amazing follow up!
I love this way of doing a review! Great input from multiple people. I was going to watch for a minute and scroll to the end but I ended up watching every minute. Thank you.
A truly exceptional review!
My wife loves our 2000, M2 Buell. We rode it from Calif. to Quebec and back in 2005.
The only negative responses we ever received was at Harley dealers when I stopped for a rear tire in Utah or for engine oil in Virginia. 55,000 miles on the clock.
Shame on Harley for attitude , discrimination & greed. Hope you keep & enjoy Buell.
Excellent review. Really enjoyed the on the spot talks with the other bikers in the parking lot and the interviews with other new owners.
what an excellent review!!!!! thank you!!
Awesome review and interviews!!!
Loved the trip! Great video and keep up the good content!
Thanks so much for doing this video and covering so many aspects of real world elements of the bike. It's certainly helped with my decision process.
Info! I just got back from a demo ride on the PanAm, and I asked about the whole "lean-it-to-the-right" thing to get the kickstand up. The dude explained it's because of the Adaptive Ride Height. When the bike drops that 1-2 inches, it changes the kickstand geometry, requiring more right lean to get the stand up/down.
That was my guess, thanks for verifying. They ll probably change it on the next. Sounds like a mistake in design.
Yea sure
I got mine in May, and like you for the past 3 years was skeptical that HD could pull off a "modern" liquid cooled OHV engine and put it in a bike with the same level of techno gizmos that the established players in the ADV market have been incrementally adding to their machines over the years. But damn if the MoCo came out swinging for the fence. The "jiffy stand" does scare me a bit, it has lead to my 1 drop in the garage, it wasn't far enough forward to engage the locking detent and bike went down I can report the crash bars worked perfectly.
As far as the panniers, yep, black is the color I went with for my black PA1250S and they do look great. Keep up the wonderful content.
loved the video I pick mine up tomorrow great perspective’s i never thought about the side stand before greta insight thanks
Awesome video! I loved the interactions with other riders. Great that you hooked up with Whitney Meza. She's amazing.
Thanks! I loved doing it.
Outstanding report!
Great review Baldy! Like others have said this was a refreshing break from the heavy bullet point, tech package reviews we’ve all seen so far. Can’t wait to ride one myself. Keep up the great content.
I really enjoyed this video. Format was fun. The interactions with other riders were great. Hearing your spouse's opinions was also helpful.
The dude I bought my 2012 GSA from in 2015 had about 10 bikes in his garage..Lived in Woodside Ca and it was obvious he had multimillion dollar home...I suppose that dude can have 11 bikes..and sell one to me make room...also the side stand thing? Whatever...
Great review / follow up as usual. I really enjoy your style and watching your videos. Props to the young lady at the end of the video. I love seeing the kind of innocent enthusiasm she has for motorcycling. These are the times I wish I was made of money because I would be buying her a bike for sure. Nice job!
Best informative no bullshit review on the Pan America. Thanks champion and safe riding 😎😎
Great review / interviews. I own a Pan Am Special and agree with everything you guys said. I definitely concur with the sidestand shortcoming on the bike. Hopefully the aftermarket will come to the rescue on that issue. As of August '21, the Harley optional accessories are still very hard to come by and the aftermarket is still way behind.
Great reviews. Been debating on getting the Pan America… really appreciated your informal, objective review of the bike.
A real, honest, no BS review...
Great review. Was just cruising over the Benicia bridge and that wind, wow! Lol. Just moved from the 408 to the 707 and am looking at this. Cool to see a local guy do it!
Terrific and comprehensive review! Just finished an Iron Butt SS1000 with mine and agree with all your comments. As a new ADV rider, looking forward to more videos.
Thank you for your follow-up review. Comprehensive and included great content! So informative. I am one of those who was looking and ...based on research, test ride and yes watching many reviews of AT, KTM and Pan-Am (yes yours included) ...opted for Pan Am. Bought it 2 weeks ago and took it for maiden ride to Maine (550 miles each day over weekend). It was so comfortable! I have the same feeling about kickstand and the whirring noise on start...but those are my only issues. Looking for after market accessories too. Since its new....they will come now that its taken off I hope.
Subscribed! Awesome VLOG with loads of information. This is the first ADVRIDER episode I've seen, so I've some catching-up to do.. greetings from across the pond.
Just discovered your channel, and I really appreciate your approach to the review/interview process. Excellent review ! Subscribed!
Good stuff Baldy. The part I liked the most was with your "CRUSH". I think you are the first person to discuss in depth the 2 up riding for the Harley-Davidson Pan America. Sorry I was doing the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route when you were testing the bike off-road. I would have loved to put it through it paces as a off-road explorer.
Sounds like you may have a NEW crush, Baldy!!! Another awesome video. You, hands-down, have the BEST interview/review style out there!!!!!
Great show !
Nice review ! thanks from france
Excellent review.
I'll be honest; seeing the length of the video, I thought I would stop midway but this one had me hooked without any hint of dreariness.
Still a long way to go before I get one although it has definitely got on to my list of must-have bikes.
A really interesting review gathering comments from friends, strangers and You-tubers alike . I think HD have produced a winner, here in the U.K. it tempted me inside a HD dealership for the first time just a look this time around but I could be tempted.
That said, it has to compete with the reliability of my V Strom 1000, so I’ll sit tight and watch how it stacks up over time. Sublime production values on this piece thanks for uploading / sharing 👍
Thanks Baldy, really enjoyed the reviews and interviews. My wife has yet to ride on the back of my PA, she wants the top case back rest installed before she’ll ride with me, given my tendency to wheelie. But alas, been waiting on the cases and other accessories on back order for 2 1/2 months. Since you’re significant other voiced her approval, I have hopes my wife will climb on with me for the thrill of the PA.
Yeah the side stand, navigation, and clock time keeping can be improved. But overall, it’s really a well done motorcycle by H-D and a real thrill to ride!
I'm new to this style of riding. Trying to figure out my next bike purchase (need to correct a 2017 Tiger Explorer XRT purchase), your content is excellent. Love your style, knowledge, and skill. A very happy new subscriber.
Excellent review, I really enjoyed hearing all the perspectives of other riders. Harley designed a good bike as a first edition, I do see a running list of redesigns for the next bike that will only make it that much better. I am a KTM rider and wish my seat was more comfortable for longer rides, looks like Harley addressed that. The lowering suspension I think is a game changer to attract shorter riders, it is the biggest issue on KTM as it is a tall bike, I don’t have that issue but I have a few buddies that decided to go with other bike due to the height issue.
I hadn't considered it as an option at all. But after watching this well done video, I'd give it a chance now. I liked your video style, and interviewing other riders in the video.
By far the most thorough Pan Am review I've seen so far! Great job! I appreciate the honest input and how you incorporated the thoughts of riders with various skillsets and from different backgrounds. This model will make selecting my next ADV that much harder. I'll keep spending quality time traveling on my VStrom 650 for a while and see if they iron out the software/connectivity issues along with some others that are starting to surface such as the starter/battery cable problems. My future purchase list is narrowing down to the VStrom 1050XT, GS 1250, and the Pan America.
Is the VStrom a counterbalanced engine like the Harley? The Harley is glassy smooth. I highly doubt anything can compete with it, except the GS with it's opposed cylinders, or a triple cylinder Tiger without the new rough "crossplane/T-plane" shit engine.
Plant chompers! Good to see you in this segment, I really had no idea. Great work as usual.
Given Harley's past failures when trying something different, I am pleased that seem to have done it right this time. Maybe because Willy didn't have much to do with it? Good for them, now they need to move that engine design into other models.
They did just announce a second model, right? A more Sportster style bike? I am still hoping for a luxury tourer competitive with the Gold Wing and R1200 and K1600 BMWs.
Great review !! Thanks for sharing …
Excellent review
Great video! Perhaps I'll see you at Alice's some time since I'm right off Page Mill in the Palo Alto hills and I love my Pan America!
Nice review, thank you. I had a 2011 FLHTK for 64,000 miles and 8 years, and am on my third Triumph since the Harley. Currently a 2021 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Too new to replace, but the Pan Am looks very nice indeed!
It looks stunning in the Grey with the wire wheels
In the ‘70’s, while uncrating the H-D heavyweights (700+ lb), it was a common practice to support the entire machine on its “jiffy-stand”, allowing the pallet to slide out from under the bike. I haven’t done this for a while, so when I saw the comments about the PanAm side-stand I thought to try this again with my machine.
The side-stand on my 1250-S will easily support the weight of the entire machine. To try this for yourself, stand on the left side of the bike with the handlebar at the left lock. With one foot at the base of the side-stand for support and both hands on the bars, tug the right handlebar upwards, allowing the machine to pivot around the side-stand, raising the front end to the balance point on the side-stand.
A person your size will have a great deal of leverage against the bike and you will be very surprised how easily it comes up, so don’t give it your all on the first go.
After pulling the front wheel up to its balance point and while using your body for support (it doesn’t take much), reach back, grabbing the right side of the rail around the passenger seat, and with a little tug the entire machine will come up, allowing you to balance the entire machine on the side stand. Unloaded and in the garage the bike comes up much easier than a person would think that it should.
At this point, with some practice and good technique, my sense is that a person could perform a 180 change of direction by rotating the machine on its side-stand alone; I haven’t done that yet, I’ll wait for a couple of spotters before I give that a shot.
The side-stand on the Pan America locks down when under load and will not fold back. The mechanism is simple and is the reason that the machine must be pulled up to or just past center to retract the stand, making a “Hollywood” dismount tricky if not impossible for most folks.
Used to do that on my sport bikes to lube the chain. Pull them up on the stand with the back wheel off the ground, let out the clutch in 1st and spray away.
Nice work Chris. Your video production quality is getting so much better! Harley has obviously made a great first swing at an Aventuretourer, hopefully on their second swing they can lean a bit further into the Adventure aspect. Cheers from Smokey Western Canada
They need to build a 975 version and make it 450 lbs.wet, 21& 18 tires!
loved teh video, really my congratulations ;)
A great thanks from France 🇫🇷😀 for this very interesting video 😁 I should get my PanAm within one or Two weeks from now 😀
Loved the review. Crisp and to the point. The issues you addressed are the real ones that we as enthusiastic riders face. Just hope they get it to India real quick 👍😊
Great video. I have a Harley 2020 Street Glide Special with a Tour Pak added that my wife and I love to go out on. But I want something more fun just for when I want to get away. I'm torn between the Pan America and the new Sportster S. Your video is making me lean towards the PA. Your video quality and editing are great...I can't believe you only have 17 K subscribers. Count me in!
Great review
Thanks for your review. I traded in a Lowrider on a 650 V-Strom to start my experience with ADV bikes. I did a test ride in the Pan America and liked it, and one maybe in my garage in the future.
Sweet, enjoyed the hell out of the reveiw. I have an HD SGS but I'm really interested in adv bikes and definitely considering a Pan-American!
Great vid thanks
Great review. Love the real world interviews! I want this to be a great bike. I test rode one and I liked it. I felt the transmission was not as smooth as my Tiger 800. Good power. Love the heated grips and would appreciate the ARH and cruise. Side stand worries, I guess I dont find myself doing sidestand pivots that much so I don't think it's as big of a deal as some reviewers state. It's a nice bike. Please Harley...make this reliable and take care of your customers. People want you to be successful!
This was like watching a documentary ! Love it
Hi Thanks very much for an informative video. Actually collect mine from the dealer over here in the UK on Monday. Cannot wait. Its interesting you made a thing about the side stand ( Jiffy stand ) as no one has mentioned it in the other YT videos I have watched but its something I picked up on straight away. Might be because I currently ride a GS and that has brilliant stands. I just hope that they will make a Big Foot adaptor very shortly which will make the bike more secure when its on the side stand.
I really think Harley have it the spot in bringing this market on the market and I can already see it stealing some sales from BMW GS riders. Ted
Well done to Whitney as well. Come on Harley help this lady out.
Thanks! I had the most trouble with the Jiffy stand when the bike was loaded with my wife and luggage, because I had to lean it further to the right to get past the vertical point. Sag adjustment doesn't seem to be a thing at rest. But leaning it far to the right to lower the stand took a lot of strength and my wife didn't like it at all.
Great to see Harley trying something new and executing well!
Yea just like the live wire. Bye bye
Best of luck to Whiney Meza if she gets in to the 2023 Iron Butt Rally, I just ran the 2021 IBR on my Pan Am and it was absolutely brutal. If she gets the draw, add a chain oiler, bar risers, hard side cases and (if you can) an aux tank and send the seat to Russell for the Day-long upgrade. I did the first before the last one, and will be doing the rest before I apply as an "unfinished business" entry for 2023. Whiney - if you get the draw next year message me direct for some painful lessons learned this year.
This is with out dought the best review i have seen of the hd pan i liked the interaction with other riders as a uk rider seeind a bike with a gun on the top box was an eye opener in blighty you would have a swat team on you in an instant lol i liked the two up footage and coments with the boss no one has shown this to my knowledge the ladys input was very good respect to you sir live long and prosper 🌈
Very enjoyable! I got in touch a few years ago with Claudio, and he is a top bloke, no question, ended up doing a great trek in the mongolian altai region with his inspiration. I want to go back there and rent one of the russian 2 stroke singles, crude but effective...
I'm seriously considering trading in my RG Special for a Pan America in the next year or two. This video definitely helps me with my decision. I see myself doing much more road than off-road so I think it would be perfect for me. Thanks for posting!
4000 on my pan am in 4 weeks, I'd buy again but I do agree the sidestand is a bit wonky.
Getting kit is downright infuriating. But have had nothing but good experiences with HD staff. Great video. Keep it up.
Every bike I've ever owned I've only ever just sat on first, never actually ridden it. I've had plenty of test rides, but never bought a bike I test rode first... yea, I'm weird. if I test ride I always find fault, can't help it.
One thing that gets me about these expensive bikes are the use of the very cheap and nasty looking clear plastic brake fluid containers on the front brake lever. It just spoils the whole look of the bike for me!!
I did buy a PA after watching your initial review. It's sitting next to my '04 950 Adventure S. Just like this 1st year Adventure, HD did something great, and I want to support companies like that.
Looks like a great bike and win-win for H-D. I can't see many die hard BMW GS riders moving over though. I'm on my 4th GS. My newest bike is a 2012 GSA that I picked up for $10k. I'm avoiding new LC GS's so I can still work on It, saving me $ on maintenance. I don't need the H-D engine but I do like the H-D ride height adjustment and cruise control.
very well done
Nice to see local content at Alice's. :)
Thanks so much for getting really reviews and interviews. I also enjoy the pace of your videos.
Really good* reviews rather...
Great Vid - very informative , great interviews ! Interesting also to see the opinion of US riders in comparison to our Europeans which are also mainly very positive ! -probably will also buy as HD# 2 for general allround touring and lesser offroad.... maybe.. Morocco is also a worth a trip I heard :-)
Love to see a direct comparison between the V-Strom XT Adventure and the Pan American. By my analysis, similarly equipped, the Pan American costs about $4000 more (?) but after five years and at least 50K miles it would be interesting to know the real cost of ownership of both bikes. All that said, I’m amazed I’m even interested in the Pan American - good on HD for getting to first base!
You can get a Vstrom 1050 for $10,300. Brand new. I have Vstrom. It's a great bike, but they have not updated the Suzuki really in decades. Upside is that it's very reliable and a known entity and will be all that 95% of riders need. Downside, it's really not in the same league as the PA when it comes to hp or technology.
I'm VERY excited to see Harley doing something different!
Perhaps they'll get the stick out of their asses, and start changing/innovating and competing with Indian.
We'll see :)
I’ve put almost 1300 miles on mine and love it. At 5’8” and a 30.5 inseam I wish mine had the ride height adjustment, other than that it’s been an awesome bike.
Yah, let’s wait till you actually get some miles on it, I wouldn’t be pleased with nay 1300 miles with no issues, but then again it’s a Harley, so it should be expected 😜
@Trucker-D I’ve only had three weeks to get the miles. My Ultra Classic has 33K on it.
I take it you haven’t ridden a Pan America Special, you should demo one.
@@pinkiewerewolf ok, you can test drive all the bikes you want and like it, still doesn’t prove anything as a long term review, many bikes I’ve test rode, with over 45 years of riding I’ve liked, doesn’t mean they’re good. Nothing is a home run, or competitive with the other bikes that have been out for many years, worth just a bunch of guys test riding on gravel roads. They are already having issues, whatch the reviews with professional off roaders on this bike, they pretty much put it behind a gs, and put it in with the vstrom category, as far as off road capabilities. Which I think is where it belongs, I’m not a gs owner, either.
@Trucker-D well, I never said anything about the Pan Am’s longevity. It’s only been out since earlier this year. I’ve got you beat by 10 years as far as riding goes, and I can tell you that I’ve had friends with catastrophic drive shaft failures on BMWs along with all of those other coveted bikes your thinking of.
I’m merely stating that my Pan America Special has performed very well for the time period that I’ve had it.
No fuel pumps going out on it or electrical issues cough cough KTM.
I’ve seen plenty of reviews on the Pan Am, but it sounds like you need to get out and ride, stop trolling YT comments, maybe your life will improve. Best of luck.
@@pinkiewerewolf difference of opinion is trolling? This video is labeled Long term review, never once said anything was better than the pan America, please re-read what I wrote, by the way vstroms are not shaft drive, and yes , bmws can have shaft problems, sorry I hurt your feelings. Please don’t ever put the pan America to the history, or reliability of a vstrom, they have proven them selves, because they can actually do a long term review, any bike can have an issue, but long term review, or gs competitor, Aleady???? , sounds like Harley wants the recognition without the earning it.
Awesome. I had no idea you guys are Bay Area folks. I’m in Hollister but have lived in San Jose for a long time.
Needs a 21 inch front to be a great off roader amongst many other things. Fire roads are not off-roading maybe version 2 if one comes will be a more dirt focused slayer of things like the Alpine Loop…. Have Harley all my life glad they are in the game hope they keep improving upon this. Won’t get rid of my BMW for this version….
Great review I think that engineer guy was closet H-D hater😂…. Ride hard or stay home 😎
The Pan Am side stand is like other H-D side stands, in that it is uses a locking mechanism. If you don't have experience with typical H-D side stand mechanisms, it will take some getting used to.
Those locking HD sidestands are terrific. I only owned one HD but you could jack the back wheel up and never have to worry about it falling of the sidestand.
Finally watched this. Having owned almost All the big adv bikes. And riden the pan offroad, I totally agree. A home run for harley. !
Great review I really like how you spoke to other riders and got their thoughts on the Pan. I have had mine for two months now and have 7,500 miles on it. I did a 6,100 two week trip to the NW I have really enjoyed it. I believe they have a few bugs to workout but overall it is a awesome bike. I am a loyal Harley rider but I have always had touring bikes. I bought my first adventure bike 3 years ago and fell in love with adventure riding so I was so excited when Harley-Davidson came out with this bike. Great job again and ride safe!🇺🇸
insane 6k in two weeks WOW! That's unreal.Good for you enjoy life!
awesome channel
I'm buying one tomorrow because of this review srsly.
Once again great video. I went with a Scrambler 1200 XE for my "adventure" bike. But if I was specifically between the BMW and this Harley, I'd probably lean towards the Harley.
Oh man. Scrambler 1200 XE. Damn. I really, really love the Triumphs....
@@advrider8447 Oh yeah. If you ever need a guy for a video on Triumph Scramblers, I'll volunteer. Did the ultimate coast to coast (Key West. FL to Prudoe Bay, AK) on my Triumph Street Scrambler. Planning on doing RTW on the 1200. Who needs wind protection when you have style!
Oh my God, I just discovered your channel and now I'm gonna deep end on scrambler stories. czcams.com/video/YAVlorh7iVg/video.html
Yeah, that bike... Did you see, I found a guy who can really, really ride them: czcams.com/video/TsgrWjnzm4w/video.html
Good job Baldy.
As a former Harley owner that likes performance and got irritated by Harley Rider saying it's not all about speed it's going to be funny watching the Harley's get passed by Harley's!
Subscribed.
I'm thinking on buying a Pan America but the only thing that worries me is that the battery and voltage regulator are really low on the bike, I wonder if this could be an issue when crossing deep water, I recently crossed a river that was like 20 inches of water, I think that is the most depth I would need or want to cross with this bike. Did you or somebody had some experience with this on the Pan Am?
Thanks for the review, I just found your channel and I loved it!