NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Harley-Davidson’s Pan America 1250 Special has been in the Australian market for just over a year now, but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only been the past six months or so that the all-new adventure tourer has been put through its paces in the kinds of off-road environments it was designed for. If you’re thinking the big adventure bike market belongs to a certain German brand and Harley-Davidson couldn’t possibly build something to equal or better the established leader, then read the following. It may change your mind…
This past June, I was one of a select few invited to take part in the first chapter of ‘Where the Dirt Takes Me’, which is Harley-Davidson’s dedicated programme of rides and experiences devoted to the Pan America 1250 Special.
Along with senior Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand personnel (including H-D ANZ CEO, Nigel Keough), Harley Owners’ Group representatives, Queensland Harley dealer principals and a handful of special guests, I rode the Pan America for three days through some stunning parts of far north Queensland. The routes and terrain were designed to push the bike and push us out of our comfort zone, but with the assurance of support from H-D ANZ and the experienced crew at Cape York Motorcycle Adventures.
SECOND HELPING
Unlike some on this ride, the Cape York adventure wasn’t my first taste of the Pan America. I’d been on the Australian media launch last year, but that was just an entree. Where the Dirt Takes Me would be a full three-course meal, with mud, sand, dirt, gravel, mountain roads, river crossings, beach riding, heat, snakes, humidity - and a hell of a lot of fun – packed into three days.
If you recall my report from the Australian launch of the Pan America 1250 Special, you may recall H-D ANZ’s belief, as stated by Keough himself, that their bike will become “Australia’s favourite adventure tourer” in a couple of years’ time. Obviously, that’s a huge claim considering the competition and the sales lead they have in this category.
In a recent
