Hi,
The Harley Davidson “Pan America” was presented on the 22.02.2021. Now I would like to deal and inform you about some surprises.
General
Some Motorcycle News stated today that the new HD “Pan America” has the potential to become a BMW GS Killer. Amazing how fast the social network community has changed their mind. Some weeks ago, I discovered some negative comments such as “ugly” too heavy, not the right approach for HD and so on…now the opposite!
It seems that HD did right to put a big secret on the launch. Their most probably expected “Big Bang” was successful on the 22nd. Chapeau 😊
Surprise 1
I have paid for my 2020 BMW GS 1250 HP Adventure 21500 EUROS plus some “add on’s” from Wunderlich, SW Motech, Kriega for protection and luggage purposes.
The price for those investments was almost counted with 5000 Euro. Under the line, I have paid with all protections and luggage system almost 26.500 Euro for my GS.
Coming back to the HD “Pan America”, I discovered, that almost all protection needful is already installed.
I have ordered the “S” Version and as a matter of fact the bike will cost me – ready to go- almost 7300 Euros less than the cost for my BMW GS was paid in 2020.
Basic Price: 17.995 Euros
Spoke Tires: 500 Euros
Adaptive
Seat hight: 600 Euros
Total 19 155 Euros, including Aluminium Baggage System
Yes, I will add something else to customise the bike for my needs. However, this cost will be minor.
To sum up this price, the HD “Pan America” challenges the big brands on the market and HD delivers 2 kind of bikes pared with 3 variable luggage systems almost ready to go.
Surprise 2
I put on my BMW 1250 extra Halogen Lights on top of the installed fog lights to have in winter and on side roads better illumination.
The HD “Pan America” comes up with a complete light system including adaptive curve light. Will see how this works later, but applause for this innovation.
Surprise 3
HD works with Michelin regarding the tries installed. The selectable Michelin Anakee Adventure Tire Set is a well selected and good looking / performing “rubber boot” for this bike. I made use of this tire on my Tiger 1200 Explorer.
This tire is not noisy, has an exceptionally good grip on streets wet or dry and can take some gravel roads too. At least it has a “V “Certification in Europe, that means you can go faster than 18o km / hr. The Anakee is an 80 % road and 20 % off road tire. Ideal selection for beginners on such an adventure bike. Grading TOP after testing’s!
The knobby tires – means Michelin Anakee Wild is a particularly good off-road and on road tire. However, it should be mounted only if the ride uses the bike at least 50% off-road and 50% on road. Speed limits for the tire set applies and riding skills on knobby tires are highly recommended to ride safely on streets with them.
I personally like the Metzeler Karoo Street as 80/20 tire and the Metzeler Karoo 3 for Off road as 50/50 tire as mounted on my BMWs.
Therefore I will release some side information about tires I have tested on adventure bikes.
The Metzeler Karoo Street comes up more as an 70/30 tire as it performs particularly good on muddy surfaces. The Metzeler Karo 3 was recommended from BMW for heavy duty off road purposes.
The Heidenau K 60 Scout is also an incredibly good Adventure tire as the milage on it can easily exceed 8000 Miles or 15000 km.
This is a 60/40 tire – highly recommended for long trips. The Mitas E07 Dakar will take an Adventure rider everywhere.
It is a real 50/50 Adventure touring tire with long life. Means more than 8000 NM or 15.000 km.
Why did I recommend additional tire types and brands? Well, first I know all this tires as noted above including the Michelin tires as selected by Harley. There also a lot of other brands on the market but based on my experience I will stay on this listed brands, depending on what I want to do.
With other words, I will challenge the Michelin tires as they come with my ordered HD Pan America. The benchmark is the lifetime of the selected tire and the scope where to use it and how to use it. Id it comes to the stage when I launch my longer trips, dealing with gravel sand, roads … I will most probably change to Heidenau or Mitas as those tires are the “Roadrunners” in the adventure biker scene.
Anyway, Harley Davidson has taken a very good selection regarding the tires. The customer must decide first what he/she will do with the bike.
If the paved road is the main playground for the Pan America and only dirt roads from time to time chosen by the customer, the Michelin Anakee Adventure would be the tire of choice.
All other adventure riders intend to swoop from another brand to Harley will know exactly what kind of tire and from which brand they need. 😊
Bad Surprise
Harley Davidson presented the “Pan America” on the 22.02.2021 in February. So far so good! I learned that the delivery of ordered bikes will run June 2021 onwards. What is this?! The season is half over in Europe then.
Each dealer can sell bikes now, because the new owner will start to ride at least easter having the full season ahead. I believe that all the good hype for this bike can be jeopardized due to this delivery politics.
Conclusion for today:
We are looking forward to a well-designed motorcycle, able to survive the competition with other brands very well established on the market. The late delivery time can have a serious impact in relation to the sale process, because such a new product must be available just to the beginning of the season, not in the middle of the season.
Please listen to my friend Manferd Haemmerle from Harley World as he is addressing this, and other issues issue intensively. If you want to ride the HD Pan America you must order now, otherwise the season is over …
As I have received my order confirmation, I hope I will get my bike slightly earlier. Nevertheless, I will not get it in March as expected.
Keeping you posted about all developments. In the meantime I continue to ride my BMS GS 1250 HP Adventure.
Kind regards
Jo
