FULL DISCLOSURE : Harley-Davidson gave me a very nice Adventure Touring jacket , which is part of its new range of dedicated clobber that accompanies the Pan America , and made by REV ’ IT . I did not wear it because I already had a jacket I love very much , and the launch photos were all gonna look same / same enough without me also wearing the free gear .
because it ’ s a great engine . It ’ s crisp , beautifully-fuelled , and piles on the power with a refinement that is quite deceiving . It ’ s nut-sweet being lugged around at slow speeds in low gears on iffy surfaces , and somewhat of a fire-breather as the revs climb towards the 9500 redline . I would have liked to ride it with a little more Satan on my shoulder , but traffic and OSH stuff prevented any serious exploration of its Dark Side . That 127Nm and 150 horsies do bear closer , and more private , scrutiny . It ’ s got some new stuff ( for Harley ) inside where the guts live – like a dry sump engine with oil jets firing their goodness under the pistons ’ skirts , and three-stage scavenger pump producing enough sucking to enable the use of low-tension piston rings to reduce friction . Hydraulic lifters speak to small roller-rockers , obviating valve adjustments , and this all speaks to longevity and cheaper services , I guess .
I tried it on Off Road Mode , Road Mode and Sport Mode . Sport Mode firms everything up , and makes the throttle a little choppy . Off Road was where it lived when we rode the simple fire- trails and some easy grass track , and it felt decidedly relaxed . It did nothing to terrify me , and it felt decider smaller than it actually is . Big tick there . Sport Mode is what I put it in to see what was what on the way home – and it was firm about the bouncers and a bit light-switchy at the throttle . So I reckon it would live in Road Mode most of the time . But you really do have a very broad palette in terms of customising it all to suit you – and it is a smooth and powerful donk , no mistake .
BRING A GUN The Pan America is very comfortable , the seat wide where it counts and narrow where it matters ( getting your feet down ),
KIWI RIDER 55