The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 adv

[BuellyBagger]

I dont think I've seen a thread on here yet about Harley's newest bike!? Tons of articles and reviews already on the web and YouTube about it. I for one am super excited, the bike sounds great. Also I'm sure we can all recognize the similarities to the beloved Ulysses. Would love to hear others thoughts on the Pan Am... anyone thinking of getting one etc.

Just in case you forgot what a Ulysses looks like...

 

[34nineteen]

I think its neat that HD is offering a bike like this, as it seems like they are looking to consolidate to just cruiser bikes.

In my opinion, its looks are kind of like an 1125... ugly from some angles, and amazing from others.

At $17-19K, I dont foresee being a customer...but thats not just because I think the HD is overpriced. I just would have a very hard time spend that amount (and more after taxes, title, license, etc) on ANY motorcycle. You could buy a primo Ulysses for a lot less and a boat load of spares to keep it going for at least another 10 years.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I dont like it (I do). Its just priced out of my market, and I feel there are better options out there. Maybe a gently used one is in my future, after the depreciation hits.

 

[Cooter]

This weekend HD had a huge press launch North of me in the Mohave so theres a ton of articles this morning. I prefer Bikexif, and Revzilla.

I want to hate it. I want to hate the looks, and make fun of it being heavy, slow, clunky, and expensive. Dammit! It's none of those things. Since I make my own coffee at home, a big ADV bike is off my radar. I'm completely happy bombing my old STT or my new Ss down the highway to have fun railing up and down sandy washes, completely inappropriatley. Today is a different world though, I'm not new $20k bike guy by any means... and I'm afraid to ride one, because I know I'll justify the expense.

I like it. I like it's odd look, I like that its a weird orphan, If HD doesn't sell enough it will be **** on and barely supported in 5 years but I'd still buy one. I think they nailed it with the 9000rpm 150HP, Revolution 1250, neat suspension tricks, and it ticks all the same boxes the Bavarian current King-of-the-hill does. Minus valve adjustments. I love how hydraulic valve lifters are now a "great idea", hahahahahaha, I'm old, sigh.

NOW PUT THAT ENGINE IN A NAKED! (and name it something other than the Bronx, cough, cough).

 

[BuellyBagger]

NOW PUT THAT ENGINE IN A NAKED! (and name it something other than the Bronx, cough, cough).

I have heard there are real plans for this engine in a small cruiser. Hopefully with non Vrod (chopper) ergos!
I would think a "XR" naked bike would be on the list, but then again the xr1200 wasn't a super hot seller, right?

 

[Cooter]

They've got this thing on the site:

With the inventive "1250 Cruiser" name (Really HD??). Looks like a '48 Sporty with the fat front tire. I like the look! But it ain't no naked.

 

[Barrett]

I have heard there are real plans for this engine in a small cruiser. Hopefully with non Vrod (chopper) ergos!
I would think a "XR" naked bike would be on the list, but then again the xr1200 wasn't a super hot seller, right?

Cody: factory certified production numbers for the XR1200 a bit sketchy...dependent upon who you ask. the total spread out over a 5 year production run makes it one of the lowest total production run models in company history. here's what i found:

TOTAL XR1200 PRODUCTION FOR INCLUSIVE MODEL YEARS 2008-2012
INCLUDES 1200'S....X MODELS....CERTIFICATION MODELS....TEST MULES....ASSIGNED VIN MODELS DESTINED FOR UK RACING SERIES AND AMA PRO VH SERIES. DEALER DESTINED MSO MODELS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN TOTAL PRODUCTION

TOTAL OF 12184

FIRST XR SERIES PRODUCED WAS XR100 FOR 83-84 MODEL. TOTAL PRODUCTION 1750

 

[34nineteen]

I knew BUELL owners were loyal and numerous than owners of greedy corporate HD motorcycles. I can’t believe they shut down Eric just like that. Blah blah blah blah . It’s the TRUTH!!

 

[BuellyBagger]

Cody: factory certified production numbers for the XR1200 a bit sketchy...dependent upon who you ask. the total spread out over a 5 year production run makes it one of the lowest total production run models in company history. here's what i found:

TOTAL XR1200 PRODUCTION FOR INCLUSIVE MODEL YEARS 2008-2012
INCLUDES 1200'S....X MODELS....CERTIFICATION MODELS....TEST MULES....ASSIGNED VIN MODELS DESTINED FOR UK RACING SERIES AND AMA PRO VH SERIES. DEALER DESTINED MSO MODELS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN TOTAL PRODUCTION

TOTAL OF 12184

FIRST XR SERIES PRODUCED WAS XR100 FOR 83-84 MODEL. TOTAL PRODUCTION 1750

Wow I wouldn't have guessed the number to be THAT low.

 

[BuellyBagger]

They've got this thing on the site:
View attachment 15339
With the inventive "1250 Cruiser" name (Really HD??). Looks like a '48 Sporty with the fat front tire. I like the look! But it ain't no naked.

But do really you think harley has a market for a naked sport bike? I dont think they really do, at least not on the level of the cruiser and the pan am anyway

 

[34nineteen]

I think there is a market for riders looking for something along the lines of those bikes. As I get older I appreciate the classic lines and looks of older motorcycles. While I love the engineering and basic idea of this bike, it’s f*cking ugly as sin (to me). I’d rather pay double and get a BMW R9T, but the FZ-09/MT-09 is much neater (if I didn’t have to look at it).

 

[optomist]

34--I like the idea of the Pan Am so much that I considered trading the newly acquired XR back in (6500 miles) for one.(The cheepo option without all the junk)

Love the warranty and monthly payments.

Sanity prevailed, temporarily. You on the other hand could cash out all your projects and buy a new Pan Am and get out there and ride ride ride. Leave the wrenches behind.

Eric got dumped from HD for whatever reason. I got suckered into buying a new EBR when they offered a $2000 discount and then they promptly shut down--cost me a bundle for a great ride. Point is who knows?--but there is a lot's of suck up all over the place.

For some odd reason I am remembering my brand new Norton Dominator purchased in '68. $950.00 and what a ride. I saw one awhile back--it looked really small with Skinny tires.

Opto

 

[njloco]

I think the sidewalls on the 1250 cruiser are too high. The Yamaha doesn't look ugly, they just picked ugly colors for it. The Pan-American is too heavy and it looks like it carries the weight high up. In my opinion the Ulysses is 100 pounds less and will go any place the Pan can go and run rings around it on the twisties but it would be nice to have that 1250 in a XB.

 

[Barrett]

too beefy? top heavy? Ulysses is 100 lbs less and "runs rings" around it? a revolution max motor in an antiquated XB frame?
where in the hell do you geezers come up with this bull****?

my niece transferred from touring-line accessory installations to Rev Max line...York division. reports that orders very strong.
she's in the black T....gray pants...black hair in bun....glasses....to the right of the rolling table with vertical stack on it...0:27 mark. wonderful young woman and a hell of a hard worker.

 

[Cooter]

I see the appeal of making payments and a warranty but I don't share your faith.
It's a first year product AND it's so drastically outside the box in important and expensive areas like electronics. Everything is different on this bike.

Thats not an HD bash at ALL. New complicated things come with a warranty for a reason, right? I also have little faith in other mechanics, dealer or otherwise. A lifetime of experience has taught me that I alone should be responsible for a machine that can kill me. YMMV.

 

[Cooter]

Great vid John! Cool to see

 

[BuellyBagger]

I see the appeal of making payments and a warranty but I don't share your faith.
It's a first year product AND it's so drastically outside the box in important and expensive areas like electronics. Everything is different on this bike.

Thats not an HD bash at ALL. New complicated things come with a warranty for a reason, right? I also have little faith in other mechanics, dealer or otherwise. A lifetime of experience has taught me that I alone should be responsible for a machine that can kill me. YMMV.

I get your concern on the "new is new" side ofthings, but I'm super excited that it seems like Harley is on a new mission to prove that they can actually build something worth talking about! I know I've bragged on my new HD enough, but the leap that thing is from the the softail before it is so amazing it really does seem to shine a light on a new direction for HD .

 

[FementedAgave]

It's the perfect fugly bike to roll across a gravel parking lot for that latte you ordered on your voice activated mobile app.

My take is Adventure bikes are how the "prestige" makers build a comfortable "standard" without dropping into competing with UJM. Chances of these $20K w/ farkles Adventure bikes bouncing over boulders or crashing through branches is about as likely as a Mercedes G-Class doing the same (unless you have pro ball stoopid player money). Only a couple of buellxb posters might have the balls to skill ratio to actually consistently drift a +500# rig way out in the boonies. I have neither. LOL

If you like this bad boy, I'd wait 1-2 years and buy a like-new one that scared the beejeezus out of a mid-life-crisis dentist.

 

[34nineteen]

It's the perfect fugly bike to roll across a gravel parking lot for that latte you ordered on your voice activated mobile app.

My take is Adventure bikes are how the "prestige" makers build a comfortable "standard" without dropping into competing with UJM. Chances of these $20K w/ farkles Adventure bikes bouncing over boulders or crashing through branches is about as likely as a Mercedes G-Class doing the same (unless you have pro ball stoopid player money). Only a couple of buellxb posters might have the balls to skill ratio to actually consistently drift a +500# rig way out in the boonies. I have neither. LOL

If you like this bad boy, I'd wait 1-2 years and buy a like-new one that scared the beejeezus out of a mid-life-crisis dentist.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/opinion-that-squeaky-clean-adv-bike-at-starbucks-is-no-joke

 

[Cooter]

If you like this bad boy, I'd wait 1-2 years and buy a like-new one that scared the beejeezus out of a mid-life-crisis dentist.

Want me to save you a spot in line?:applause:

 

[FementedAgave]

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/opinion-that-squeaky-clean-adv-bike-at-starbucks-is-no-joke

Exactly - the PERFECT motorcycle for absolutely no occasion. Adventure bikes are the super model category of motorcycles!