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Fixing up Mom-in-Law's house in Fallbrook yesterday, came out of the local hardware store, and saw one at the curb in front of a small diner.
Ran across the street to gawk at it, and noticed the "distributor" plate. Being that Fallbrook is surrounded by twisty roads, and is a magnet for weekend riders, I put two-and-two together and figured that the rider must be a moto journalist.
When he came out, he already had his helmet on, so I couldn't tell if he was anyone recognizable, but he confirmed that he was riding it for an upcoming article. I asked if it was going to give BMW a run for it's GS money.
He paused a bit, and said "We'll see."
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Did you wait until he fired it up? If so, how did it sound?
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(05-20-2021, 01:38 AM)Charlie Bravo_imp Wrote: Interesting concept. I know some ADV riders and none of them ride two-up. Thrashing thru the wilderness you're on your feet on the pegs a lot, with your own gear, not suited for pillion. Pillion on an ADV is for Sunday morning/afternoon. I'd think the manual windscreen is a mistake. I had a Yami FJR and a BMW, and they both had electric windshield that were adjustable on the fly.
I know plenty (maybe even the majority?) of BMW GS riders who regularly ride two-up. Not while "adventuring", but most who have these bikes use them off-road occasionally, and for touring or local hops and what-not most of the time. I'd think that for the HD to be successful, it'd need to satisfy road use, including two-up touring as well as the competition.
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Ferret, I did wait till he fired it up and rode away, and he blipped it a few times for me to hear. It had a Screaming Eagle muffler, which is a Harley aftermarket piece. If you've ever heard a BMW twin with a slip-on, it sounded very similar.
Tommy, to your point, the rider commented that the Pan American will be sold with options for knobby off-road tires or road tires.
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(05-24-2021, 03:11 AM)Gone in 60_imp Wrote: Ferret, I did wait till he fired it up and rode away, and he blipped it a few times for me to hear. It had a Screaming Eagle muffler, which is a Harley aftermarket piece. If you've ever heard a BMW twin with a slip-on, it sounded very similar.
Tommy, to your point, the rider commented that the Pan American will be sold with options for knobby off-road tires or road tires.
Did it resonate with you?
Did you feel any urges?
Did you yearn for want?
Suddenly did you wish for a new tattoo, or shave the head?
Did you have a hint of questioning your CB1100 ownership?
Did you feel homicidal?
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My assessment of the ride I took on this model is inbound in about 2 hours.
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(05-24-2021, 06:51 AM)Frulk_imp Wrote: My assessment of the ride I took on this model is inbound in about 2 hours.
The suspense is unbearable.
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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.
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Not a bad first stab at it Frulk. Thanks for that.
Metallic engine sounds, eh? That is something I will be listening for during my first encounter. A lot of cam valve chain action? I understand it is VVT, and with hydraulic lifters (remember those Honda?).
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Gold...yes all of those contributed to the (in my estimation) excessive sound signature coming from the motor.
I forgot to mention one important thing I noticed. Engine braking on this bike is phenomenal. On the twisties I'd run up the RPMS and then let off the motor and roll through the curves in gear on what felt like a giant gyroscope. Best way I can describe it. Riders will have to experience it for themselves. For me that engine feedback was the best part of the test ride.
