2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special Video Review – First Ride

[Peon Maface]

Our full-length 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special review spanned more than 4,000 words to fully describe Harley’s new adventure bike. That’s a lot of words, but there is a lot to cover with a brand new motorcycle in a hot category like the adventure segment – and even moreso when a manufacturer, whose entire line exists of cruisers, builds a bike outside its wheelhouse. 

2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special Review – First Ride

Harley-Davidson had a video crew on-site during the model introduction and let me blabber to the camera after two long days of riding that left me tired, sweaty, dirty, and sunburnt – but also thoroughly impressed. The result is a mildly coherent rambling of what stood out to me at that time (and still does, thankfully). 

When the Pan America’s First Look came out it was pretty exciting stuff. Doing just a spec sheet comparison, the H-D looks closer to its European rivals than its own recent product offering – as it should. Its 1250cc V-Twin engine is said to spit out 150 hp at 9,000 rpm and 94 lb-ft at 6,750. We hope to toss the bike on the dyno as soon as we’re able, but we can report that when you mash the throttle, the bike accelerates with ferocity. This new Revolution Max engine is no joke. In addition to its power output, the other standout feature for Harley’s new mill is its hydraulic lash adjusters that make its valvetrain essentially maintenance-free.  

Our time was spent on the Pan America 1250 Special which was equipped with electronic semi-adaptive Showa suspension components front and rear. Also equipped, was the adaptive ride height adjuster which lowers the motorcycle when it’s coming to a stop, therefore alleviating one of the biggest barriers to entry for the ADV market – seat height. The feature worked flawlessly and was hardly noticed by our group as it did its thang during our first day of riding.  

Those features combined with an electronics package that allows tailoring of the engine characteristics, TC adjustments, ABS tweaks, and plenty of other technological wizardry puts H-D’s latest machine right on par with other heavyweight adventure offerings. Speaking of weight, Harley-Davidson says the base model comes in at 534 lbs ready to ride which, if we look back to our last big ADV shootout spec sheet, would slot it in as the lightest machine in the group. Of course, we didn’t test the base model here. We tested the 1250 Special with optional cast wheels and extra protection which sees it coming in around 574 lbs. Still, the machine doesn’t feel as top-heavy off-road compared to plenty of the other models in the category.

I can’t wait for the opportunity to throw a Harley into our next big ADV comparison. Who thought that would ever be a sentence? Hopefully, we’ll get a hold of the Pan America for a bit more long-term testing asap. For now, enjoy the video. 

2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Specifications
	Pan America 1250	Pan America 1250 Special
Engine	Revolution Max 1250
Valves	Chain-driven, DOHC, hydraulic self-adjusting lifters, intake & exhaust VVT; four valves per cylinder
Bore x Stroke	105 mm x 72 mm
Displacement	76.3 cu in (1,252 cc)
Compression Ratio	13.0:1
Fuel System	Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Air Cleaner	Downdraft intake, tuned velocity stacks, washable filter media
Exhaust	2-into-1-into-1; catalyst in header
Lubrication System	Pressurized Wet Sump
Horsepower	150 hp at 9000 rpm
Torque	94 lb-ft. at 6750 rpm (claimed)
Final Drive	Chain, 19/48 ratio
Clutch	Mechanical, 8 plate wet, assist & slip, 1090N
Transmission	6-Speed
Frame	Stressed-member, high strength low alloy steel trellis frame; stamped, cast, and forged junctions; MIG welded; aluminum forged mid-structure
Swingarm	One-piece cast aluminum
Front Fork	47mm inverted fork with compression, rebound and spring preload adjustability. Aluminum fork triple clamps. 7.5 inches of travel.	47mm inverted fork with electronically adjustable semi-active damping control. Aluminum fork triple clamps. 7.5 inches of travel.
Front Fork Option	N/A	47mm inverted fork with electronically adjustable semi-active damping control and Adjustable Right Height (ARH). Aluminum fork triple clamps.
Rear Shocks	Linkage-mounted, piggyback monoshock with compression, rebound and hydraulic spring preload adjustability. 7.5 inches of travel.	Linkage-mounted monoshock with automatic electronic preload control and semi-active compression & rebound damping 7.5 inches of travel.
Rear Shock Option	N/A	Linkage-mounted monoshock with automatic electronic preload control and semi-active compression & rebound damping and Adjustable Ride Height (ARH)
Front Brake	Radially mounted, monoblock, 4-piston caliper, 320mm rotor
Rear Brake	Floating, single piston caliper, 280mm rotor
Front Wheel	19-inch aluminum cast, satin black
Rear Wheel	17-inch aluminum cast, satin black
ABS	Standard
Tires	Michelin Scorcher Adventure, Radial
Front Tire Size	120/70R19 60V
Rear Tire Size	170/60R17 72V
Rake / Trail	25° / 4.3 inches
Wheelbase	62.2 in. (1,580 mm)
Maximum Lean Angle	42° left, 42° right
Lights	Daymaker Signature LED headlamp, low and high beam with signature position lighting. LED tail lamp, LED bullet turn signals	Daymaker Adaptive LED Headlamp with 6-segment LED banking lamp, LED tail lamp, LED bullet turn signals
Fuel Capacity	5.6 gal. (1 gal. reserve)
Fuel Economy	46 mpg (5.1 l/100 km)
Warranty	24 months (unlimited mileage)
Instrumentation	6.8 inch viewable area TFT display with speedometer, gear, odometer, fuel level, clock, trip, low temp alert, side stand down alert, TIP over alert, cruise, range and tachometer indication BT capable – phone pairing to access phone calls, music, navigation (H-D App ONLY)	6.8 inch viewable area TFT display with speedometer, gear, odometer, fuel level, clock, trip, ambient temp, low temp alert, side stand down alert, TIP over alert, cruise, range and tachometer indication BT capable – phone pairing to access phone calls, music, navigation (H-D App ONLY)
Length	89.2 in. (2,265 mm)	89.2 in. (2,265 mm)
Overall Width	38 in. (965 mm)	38 in. (965 mm)
Overall Height	59.4 in. (1,510 mm)	59.4 in. (1,510 mm)
Seat Height, Laden	31.8 in. (807 mm)	31.1 in. (789 mm), 30.4 in. (772 mm) with optional suspension
Seat Height, Unladen	34.2 in. (869 mm)	33.4 in. (850 mm), 32.7 in. (830 mm) with optional suspension
Ground Clearance	8.3 in. (210 mm)
Weight, As Shipped	503 lb. (228 kg), claimed	527 lb. (239 kg), claimed
Curb Weight	534 lb. (242 kg), claimed	559 lb. (254 kg), claimed

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