WILD HOG
The Pan America 1250, Harley-Davidson’s first true adventure bike, has arrived. Many have been curious to see what the iconic cruiser brand would bring to the hottest segment of the new motorcycle market. As an adventure rider myself, I was one of the curious, so gratefully accepted an invite to the Pan America’s Australian media launch this past May.
ALL-NEW… REALLY!
To provide a bit of background on the Pan America, an adventure tourer has been in Harley-Davidson’s think tank for years, and while there have been adventure-ish models offered in the past, like the XB12x Ulysses from Buell, the Pan America is all different and all-new.
When I say “all-new,” I mean it’s genuinely new from nose to tail, including key componentry like the engine and frame.
The official unveiling of the Pan America back in February didn’t really present the full picture of what this bike is and what it’s aiming to do. As such, I arrived at the Australian media launch with no preconceived ideas.
First thing I learned about the Pan America is that there are two variants – the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special. Both share engine, transmission, frame, wheel, tyre and braking componentry, along with similar suspension, electrics and rider assistance technologies. The main difference between the two is that the Special adds more kit, starting with simple things like a centre stand, engine bash plate and radiator guards, but also including a ‘cornering’ headlight, semi-active suspension and additional riding
