02-23-2021, 06:35 AM
I have never owned a Harley, and unless the association that Harley has with its pirate/outlaw clientele changes dramatically, you will never see me on a Harley. Having said that: this Pan America starts to grow on me and I can see it opening up a new market for HD with Americans who want to buy an American motorcycle but are not into cruisers.
Then again, I can also see why this bike will not do very well, especially outside the USA: why would one buy a Harley when s/he can buy a very similar bike (but tested over many years) from BMW, Ducati, or KTM for the same money? Especially when you will do some touring in areas where HD-mechanics are not so common (i.e. everywhere outside of North America) and especially because this bike is loaded with very fancy and probably finicky electronics.
This engine is very promising and a potential game changer for HD, but it remains to be seen how it will perform in its first generation in the real world.
And lastly: the market for ADV bikes is turning away from 1200cc bikes towards 500-800cc bikes. The Pan America is 10 years late.
Then again, I can also see why this bike will not do very well, especially outside the USA: why would one buy a Harley when s/he can buy a very similar bike (but tested over many years) from BMW, Ducati, or KTM for the same money? Especially when you will do some touring in areas where HD-mechanics are not so common (i.e. everywhere outside of North America) and especially because this bike is loaded with very fancy and probably finicky electronics.
This engine is very promising and a potential game changer for HD, but it remains to be seen how it will perform in its first generation in the real world.
And lastly: the market for ADV bikes is turning away from 1200cc bikes towards 500-800cc bikes. The Pan America is 10 years late.