First introduced at EICMA in 2019, Harley Davidson’s® Pan America™ aims to entice and diverse Harley’s® customer market as part of their “More Roads To Harley-Davidson®” initiative. The new model is Harley's® first attempt at a fully fleshed out adventure bike, and honestly, it’s quite impressive.
The Global Reveal for the 2021 Pan America™ was released on the 23rd of February, and encapsulated the history, heritage and direction of the new model. Harley® enthusiast, Jason Momoa, opened the reveal announcing,
“Whether that be up a mountain, or through the desert. Just pushing it to all speeds and taking something that Harley® created. And it's really the connection between the human spirit and our adventure for touring. And this is finally here, it's the next generation.”
After a company restructure and a global pandemic, the long awaited Pan America™ 1250 Special will be landing on Australian shores in July 2021. It is important to address that Australia will not be receiving the base model Pan America™, but the Pan America™ 1250 Special. So let’s see what is so exciting about the new 2021 Pan America™ 1250 Special!
Harley Davidson's® new Revolution Max engine is at the heart of Pan America, screaming out a staggering 150 Hp and 127 Nm of torque at 6750 rpm. The liquid cooled, DOHC 60-degree V-twin engine, with variable valve timing is unique to Harley®, as it is carried in a stressed-engine hybrid chassis.
Chief Engineer, Alex Bozmoski explains, “We're really more into the functionality. What you see is actually what works. And that's why we believe that the engine should be out front and proud. The concept here was to design the engine such that it was stiff enough to be the central member of the frame”.
Benefits for using this innovative design allows the bike to be lighter and increases the overall handling and performance. Harley’s® engineering team received heavy appraisal during the global reveal, commending their efforts in crafting an experience that creates a unique dynamic between rider and bike.
Alex Bozmoski continued saying, “We looked at adventure-tour as a natural fit for us. What basic characteristics would we need? For off-road, responsive low-end torque for low-speed maneuvering. But for road, it’s high-end performance you need. In making each design choice, we asked ourselves, ‘How do we win?’.”
An industry first, Harley® has introduced a semi-active electrically adjustable suspension system. This system will actively lower the bike more than an inch when stationary, allowing shorter riders to comfortably touch the ground, as adventure bikes are typically elevated for off-road clearance.
Steve Earnshaw, Product Portfolio Manager, eleberates, “So, Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) is a first for the motorcycle industry. It lowers the motorcycle as you come to a stop which makes it much more confidence inspiring for anyone. Then once you take off, the system automatically builds up pressure and pumps itself back up to your normal height”
Similar to Harley’s® premium touring models and CVO range, Rider Aid is present. Measuring anti-lock brakes, traction control, lean angles and other safety features, it's great to see the advanced technology being utilised here. Along with ABS, the Pan America includes electrically controlled linked braking, drag torque-slip control and a tire pressure monitoring system. Basically… Pan America is dripping with high end electronics, allowing for a more comfortable, enjoyable and safer riding experience than ever before.
“We got two basic responses from people given long rides on this bike. One, ‘Do I have to give it back?’ and two, that they found themselves riding more confidently.” Bozmoski proudly claimed.
Rider modes include the standard Rain, Road and Sport, but also Off-Road/ Off-Road Plus. The versatility of the bike is incredible and feels at home either on or off road.
2021 Pan America™ 1250 Special Extra Features:
- A standard steering damper
- Heated grips, wind deflectors
- Cruise control
- Daymaker adaptive headlight
- Aluminium skid plate
- Tubular ‘brush guards’ to protect the radiator and support to bike in a tip-over
- Multi-position brake lever
- Multiple ride modes, including off-road modes
- Cornering ABS and Traction Control
- The screen is adjustable across four positions
- Washable air filter
Closing the reveal, the CEO of Harley Davidson®, Jochen Zeitz, affirms further iterations of Pan America and excitingly hints towards the new directional movement of the company. “We have great plans to expand on Pan Am and lots of innovation waiting. This is just a launch into a whole new dimension for the company”.
Planned to arrive in dealerships in July, the 2021 Harley Davidson® Pan America™ 1250 Special retails at a competitive price of $31,995. Like the LiveWire, the Pan America is another watershed model for the manufacturer, and has given other competitors a run for their money. With a high end build quality, innovative features and technology that will impress the most critical spectators.
Register your interest in the new Pan American™ 1250 Special today! Click below!
Check out the Premiere of Everything is a Road: The Path to Pan America.
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