05-24-2021, 12:08 PM
Finally stopped by the dealer and took the Harley Davidson Pan America for a ride last Thursday. The bike didn't have the auto lowering option. I forgot to check to see how much gas was in the tank as that would impact the opinion on how top heavy it would feel. The ride mode was set for 'road'.
I was struck how by smooth the motor was at idle. I was once a member of a Guzzi forum where the CB1100 came up for discussion. A poster stated he saw a video of a full shot glass sitting on the seat of a CB while running and felt it was a hoax (apparently the years of riding an Italian farm implement skewed his perception of how far modern bikes had come). Anyway, I think you could set a full shot glass on this seat and it wouldn't vibrate off. Mbr's accustomed to the traditional Harley idle bounce will be taken by surprise.
The next thing that was very evident was the number of various metallic noises coming from the motor. Again....ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like anything I've heard from a Harley motor before....and currently I have a 2009 XR1200 and a 2005 Road King in the garage. The motor to me was louder than the exhaust note at almost all points of the RPM range.
Seating position was upright and comfortable for me. I had planned after merging onto the freeway to see how quick the bike climbed between 60 to 90mph. That was derailed as just before I merged a county Sheriff pulled in front of me and I ended up staying behind him the whole way to my exit. At the right RPM the motor pulled hard but it would take some getting acquainted with the bike first to find those sweet spots in each of the 6 gears. The motor is more than willing but seems to bog down just a bit below the optimum RPM range when you roll the throttle on (if that makes any sense). Could be I'm used to a five speed gearbox vs the 6 on this bike.
I almost dropped the bike at my first full stop as I forgot how tall it is. I can almost flat foot it but the height caught me off guard as I just came off the Road King. I took a secondary two lane with a lot of twisties back to the dealership. The bike handled very predictable to steering inputs (very neutral) and there was no drama as I wrung it out a bit on that road. Brakes worked very well and I didn't notice any excessive front fork diving the couple of times I pulled hard on the lever.
I didn't have time to play with the 3 position wind screen but turbulence behind the shield wasn't bad. One wouldn’t expect it to be as it's pretty tall. I didn't have issues with helmet buffeting.
Back at the dealership I had a little time to digest the limited time in the seat of the Pan America.
1. I don't like the exhaust note...at all. Not because it isn't loud or obnoxious enough but more because it almost sounds effeminate and puts off an exhaust note more like a single cylinder 250cc.
2. I don't like all of the metallic noises emitted by the motor...at all. I don't need the full on Harley rumble and shakes but I couldn't ride this bike day in and day out with that motor making those sounds. I'm convinced that's just how it is. Changing the oil to something thicker isn't going to make all that go away. Neither will a few thousand miles on the odometer. The exhaust note can be changed but that only goes so far. If you have issues with the noise (only way I can describe it) coming from the motor this may not be the bike for you.
3. Build quality appears high. seating is comfortable. Harley already is selling OEM aftermarket add-ons for the PA.
I'm left with the following impressions....I'm surprised at how good this first attempt by Harley at a large adventure bike is...the motor can get up and go...I'd be interested to see how this bike would perform with a DCT (something that HD is currently not offering and I believe they missed the mark on).
I really like the bike but am not planning on purchasing one.
I was struck how by smooth the motor was at idle. I was once a member of a Guzzi forum where the CB1100 came up for discussion. A poster stated he saw a video of a full shot glass sitting on the seat of a CB while running and felt it was a hoax (apparently the years of riding an Italian farm implement skewed his perception of how far modern bikes had come). Anyway, I think you could set a full shot glass on this seat and it wouldn't vibrate off. Mbr's accustomed to the traditional Harley idle bounce will be taken by surprise.
The next thing that was very evident was the number of various metallic noises coming from the motor. Again....ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like anything I've heard from a Harley motor before....and currently I have a 2009 XR1200 and a 2005 Road King in the garage. The motor to me was louder than the exhaust note at almost all points of the RPM range.
Seating position was upright and comfortable for me. I had planned after merging onto the freeway to see how quick the bike climbed between 60 to 90mph. That was derailed as just before I merged a county Sheriff pulled in front of me and I ended up staying behind him the whole way to my exit. At the right RPM the motor pulled hard but it would take some getting acquainted with the bike first to find those sweet spots in each of the 6 gears. The motor is more than willing but seems to bog down just a bit below the optimum RPM range when you roll the throttle on (if that makes any sense). Could be I'm used to a five speed gearbox vs the 6 on this bike.
I almost dropped the bike at my first full stop as I forgot how tall it is. I can almost flat foot it but the height caught me off guard as I just came off the Road King. I took a secondary two lane with a lot of twisties back to the dealership. The bike handled very predictable to steering inputs (very neutral) and there was no drama as I wrung it out a bit on that road. Brakes worked very well and I didn't notice any excessive front fork diving the couple of times I pulled hard on the lever.
I didn't have time to play with the 3 position wind screen but turbulence behind the shield wasn't bad. One wouldn’t expect it to be as it's pretty tall. I didn't have issues with helmet buffeting.
Back at the dealership I had a little time to digest the limited time in the seat of the Pan America.
1. I don't like the exhaust note...at all. Not because it isn't loud or obnoxious enough but more because it almost sounds effeminate and puts off an exhaust note more like a single cylinder 250cc.
2. I don't like all of the metallic noises emitted by the motor...at all. I don't need the full on Harley rumble and shakes but I couldn't ride this bike day in and day out with that motor making those sounds. I'm convinced that's just how it is. Changing the oil to something thicker isn't going to make all that go away. Neither will a few thousand miles on the odometer. The exhaust note can be changed but that only goes so far. If you have issues with the noise (only way I can describe it) coming from the motor this may not be the bike for you.
3. Build quality appears high. seating is comfortable. Harley already is selling OEM aftermarket add-ons for the PA.
I'm left with the following impressions....I'm surprised at how good this first attempt by Harley at a large adventure bike is...the motor can get up and go...I'd be interested to see how this bike would perform with a DCT (something that HD is currently not offering and I believe they missed the mark on).
I really like the bike but am not planning on purchasing one.