Posts: 563
Threads: 19
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Aug 2020
(07-21-2021, 07:04 AM)Tev62_imp Wrote: I took a test ride on the Pan American today and posted it up on one of the Triumph forums I use. To keep it simple I repeat it here as is, that is why there is the occasional reference to the Tiger.
I took a two hour test ride on the Pan America (PA) today and it was a hoot. I really enjoyed the bike, the engine is its focal feature for sure. I'll get straight to the point, would I buy it? No. Would I ever buy one, absolutely.
Negatives first
DISPLAY The normal riding display implementation is very poor, very small text for a lot of the information. The gear position indicator, current revs and fuel gauge are hard to pick up on. You can declutter it and take items off you don't need, like I don't care that the battery voltage is 14.4v, but you end up with wasted display estate, I was hoping the rest would get larger but it didn't. That was a great shame, it makes the T12 riding screen look like a design masterclass, easily displaying good information on what is a smaller screen. Set speed for cruise was not there as mentioned above, not a deal breaker but I like to see it. It was not all bad news though, the menus and navigation for setup was intuitive and easy.
QUICK-SHIFTER There isn't one - big fail! This bike would be well suited to one, after being totally spoilt by the Gen 3 QS I wouldn't have a new multi-day bike without one.
LOAD CAPACITY I have mentioned this before, it is a good bit down on the Tiger, not a great contender for a two up load lugger. For solo only riders it is of no consequence.
The rest are merely observations or positives.
The engine is a stormer, pulls like a train, is smooth with marginal vibration. It brings out a little hooligan in you and encourages a handful. I had a screaming eagle add on exhaust which popped a lot on deceleration. but with euro regs. I suspect the stock exhaust would do the same. The acceleration sound from the engine was very pleasing and a little louder than I expected it to be. No valve services a boon.
Ergos for me were perfect, I would change nothing. I have a short 29" leg and the adaptive ride height did its job perfectly. Anyone with a 31" leg or more does not need it to my mind. Seat was comfy, bars were an easier reach than the Tiger. Standing did not work out though, too much of a stoop to the bars but they do offer a factory 2” riser so that is taken care of for taller off-road riders. I used the seat in the high position which gave a good seat to peg ratio. If I am honest this bike fits me better than my Tiger.
Switchgear was really easy to work out but did look slightly low rent compared to the Gen 3. Cruise resume rocker was a stiff old button. Rider modes were nice and easy to select. Looks like you can disable specific rider modes in the setup too so to take them out of the menu choice which I would like on the Tiger.
Handling is something to get used to, at medium speeds the steering damper feels as if it is working against you a little. Some bends felt like they needed a little opposite lock steering which is exaggerated by the narrow bars. Not a deal breaker, something to get used to.
Suspension and Rider modes made a difference in the same way they do with the Tiger. Sport firms it up and rain softens it off and a range in between. Sport seemed like a mode you might use a bit more often, a mode I would not really use too much on the Tiger. Sport rider mode isn't suited to town riding, the motor doesn't particularly like low revs in town.
Overall, the bike is not some great improvement over any ADV bike out there. From a technical standpoint it lags in terms of the latest gadgets that we see from BMW, Ducati and KTM and I suspect the next Gen Tiger 1200, maybe not a bad thing either. It has also gone in a completely different direction to all other ADV bikes, strip the minimal front end plastics top box and you could be looking at a classic roadster, just jacked up a little.
So just a new dash and a quick-shifter and that would do it for me. Better than any other ADV out there, not really, just different, H-D’s way and none the worse for it.
That's odd, the smart/active suspension (i forgot what HD call it) is supposed to keep your sag and dampening speed optimal at all times. Did you play with those settings perhaps?
Then again, I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure,
but overall I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised by what Harley-Davidson has done with these two new bikes, I like the styling and the vision, I think it's commendable
'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed
Posts: 1,342
Threads: 33
Likes Received: 137 in 48 posts
Likes Given: 74
Joined: Apr 2025
(07-21-2021, 09:40 AM)PowerDubs_imp Wrote: Honest question- why would someone want to shift that bike 'quick'?
Sure- a hardcore sport bike might- especially at a track... but this?
Quick-shifters (QS) are not about sporty riding anymore, they are about smooth and effortless riding. The name is a bit of a misnomer really, it should just read "clutchless shifter". On a busily geared European road you can be changing gear all the time, e.g. the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland and all our small busy towns and villages. Constant gearchanges can be tiresome on the clutch. The QS makes changing gear a delight, most auto blip on the downshift too for a smooth transition. They are very pillion friendly also. My Tiger is the first bike I had with one and I felt the same way as you but I wouldn't buy a long distance bike without one now they are so good. I recently made a video of the top five day to day items that I liked on my Tiger, the QS was no1.
Posts: 1,342
Threads: 33
Likes Received: 137 in 48 posts
Likes Given: 74
Joined: Apr 2025
(07-21-2021, 01:37 PM)tod.branko_imp Wrote: (07-21-2021, 07:04 AM)Tev62_imp Wrote: I took a test ride on the Pan American today and posted it up on one of the Triumph forums I use. To keep it simple I repeat it here as is, that is why there is the occasional reference to the Tiger.
I took a two hour test ride on the Pan America (PA) today and it was a hoot. I really enjoyed the bike, the engine is its focal feature for sure. I'll get straight to the point, would I buy it? No. Would I ever buy one, absolutely.
Negatives first
DISPLAY The normal riding display implementation is very poor, very small text for a lot of the information. The gear position indicator, current revs and fuel gauge are hard to pick up on. You can declutter it and take items off you don't need, like I don't care that the battery voltage is 14.4v, but you end up with wasted display estate, I was hoping the rest would get larger but it didn't. That was a great shame, it makes the T12 riding screen look like a design masterclass, easily displaying good information on what is a smaller screen. Set speed for cruise was not there as mentioned above, not a deal breaker but I like to see it. It was not all bad news though, the menus and navigation for setup was intuitive and easy.
QUICK-SHIFTER There isn't one - big fail! This bike would be well suited to one, after being totally spoilt by the Gen 3 QS I wouldn't have a new multi-day bike without one.
LOAD CAPACITY I have mentioned this before, it is a good bit down on the Tiger, not a great contender for a two up load lugger. For solo only riders it is of no consequence.
The rest are merely observations or positives.
The engine is a stormer, pulls like a train, is smooth with marginal vibration. It brings out a little hooligan in you and encourages a handful. I had a screaming eagle add on exhaust which popped a lot on deceleration. but with euro regs. I suspect the stock exhaust would do the same. The acceleration sound from the engine was very pleasing and a little louder than I expected it to be. No valve services a boon.
Ergos for me were perfect, I would change nothing. I have a short 29" leg and the adaptive ride height did its job perfectly. Anyone with a 31" leg or more does not need it to my mind. Seat was comfy, bars were an easier reach than the Tiger. Standing did not work out though, too much of a stoop to the bars but they do offer a factory 2” riser so that is taken care of for taller off-road riders. I used the seat in the high position which gave a good seat to peg ratio. If I am honest this bike fits me better than my Tiger.
Switchgear was really easy to work out but did look slightly low rent compared to the Gen 3. Cruise resume rocker was a stiff old button. Rider modes were nice and easy to select. Looks like you can disable specific rider modes in the setup too so to take them out of the menu choice which I would like on the Tiger.
Handling is something to get used to, at medium speeds the steering damper feels as if it is working against you a little. Some bends felt like they needed a little opposite lock steering which is exaggerated by the narrow bars. Not a deal breaker, something to get used to.
Suspension and Rider modes made a difference in the same way they do with the Tiger. Sport firms it up and rain softens it off and a range in between. Sport seemed like a mode you might use a bit more often, a mode I would not really use too much on the Tiger. Sport rider mode isn't suited to town riding, the motor doesn't particularly like low revs in town.
Overall, the bike is not some great improvement over any ADV bike out there. From a technical standpoint it lags in terms of the latest gadgets that we see from BMW, Ducati and KTM and I suspect the next Gen Tiger 1200, maybe not a bad thing either. It has also gone in a completely different direction to all other ADV bikes, strip the minimal front end plastics top box and you could be looking at a classic roadster, just jacked up a little.
So just a new dash and a quick-shifter and that would do it for me. Better than any other ADV out there, not really, just different, H-D’s way and none the worse for it.
That's odd, the smart/active suspension (i forgot what HD call it) is supposed to keep your sag and dampening speed optimal at all times. Did you play with those settings perhaps?
Then again, I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure,
but overall I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised by what Harley-Davidson has done with these two new bikes, I like the styling and the vision, I think it's commendable
'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed
That's odd, the smart/active suspension (i forgot what HD call it) is supposed to keep your sag and dampening speed optimal at all times. Did you play with those settings perhaps?
Then again, I haven't tried it so I can't say for sure,
but overall I have to say I'm quite pleasantly surprised by what Harley-Davidson has done with these two new bikes, I like the styling and the vision, I think it's commendable
'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed
It is not about it being able to adjust the suspension, which was particularly good, couldn't fault it. It is Harleys own "load rating" for the bike. That could be down to frame design, especially the subframe or suspension range, wheel loading or any manner of things. I applaud Harley for publishing it, as do BMW and Triumph, a lot of bike manufacturers go out of their way to hide it. Up until the new Yamaha 900GT came out this year the old one had a max load rating of 167kg which is extremely poor for a touring bike, corrected on the 2021 model I believe.
Posts: 1,267
Threads: 108
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Feb 2015
TEV 62 makes a good point. Over here in the US we call no shift trannys DCT. Honda’s DCT version seems to receive stellar reviews. My buddy has it on his 2020 Gold Wing. In rough stuff or on a moderate climb on dirt or rutted logging road that would be VERY handy on a bike the size of the HDPA, never mind the benefits of riding on the road.
Surprised it’s not an option considering this is a break through model for the MoCo.
Posts: 57
Threads: 7
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Apr 2021
My buddy sold his newer Goldwing and bought the Pan America and absolutely loves it. He is not a Harley person in any way as well. Harley hit a home run with this bike.
Posts: 12,677
Threads: 77
Likes Received: 3 in 3 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Dec 2014
(09-09-2021, 01:15 PM)bvictory_imp Wrote: My buddy sold his newer Goldwing and bought the Pan America and absolutely loves it. He is not a Harley person in any way as well. Harley hit a home run with this bike.
Indeed. That is a testament.
Posts: 102
Threads: 16
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2021
I'm just happy to see HD offering something to broaden their marketing to more than the cruiser/tourer markets. This is encouraging, and I have to imagine straying outside the normal air-cooled cruiser market is always tough for HD. They've not seen the success they've wanted in past years when they deviate too far from the standard HD formula. Ie, V-Rod, Buell...
I stopped at AD Farrow's in Columbus, OH last weekend hoping to ride a Pan Am. None on their floor. They did however have 12 Sportsters, 15 Street Glides and 16 Ultras. Neat.  Interestingly, I spoke to a Salesman while wondering around and he said "Nearly every HD Salesmen that works here, including the owner, all own Metric bikes as well as their HD. Harley just doesn't offer the type of bikes we all love, so we have to buy others Manufacturers.
We then drove a hundred yards away to a Ducati / Triumph / BMW Dealer and walked through their dealership. BWM had Sport, Cruiser, Adventure, Touring bikes as well as Scramblers, Bobbers, Heritage & Cafe bikes all on the floor. Pretty broad offering for one Manufacturer IMO.
I love HD, always have, and I've owned many. I personally believe they need to broaden their offerings to appeal to a larger market than they currently serve. Hopefully the Pan Am is a good start on this. 
Posts: 3,872
Threads: 186
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Dec 2013
I just read on FB that a Pan America had a total engine failure. The owner said that HD is replacing the motor. I really hope this is an isolated thing.
Posts: 12,677
Threads: 77
Likes Received: 3 in 3 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Dec 2014
Ah crap, too bad.
Like anything I suppose, "don't buy the first model year". HD has no choice but to triage the issue.
Posts: 1,342
Threads: 33
Likes Received: 137 in 48 posts
Likes Given: 74
Joined: Apr 2025
You would hope this engine failure in the Pan America is a one off, they have been testing this engine forever and I can't believe it is a design flaw. There is also a very specific way to measure the engine oil on this bike. I guarantee a load of owners will not read the manual and cause self harm doing their own oil changes.
|
