THat Harley adventure thing ;)

[Fat Rat]

 

[2112]

I'm surprised they went for chain drive, given HD's history with belt drive I thought that may have been a better choice ? I know if you get a stone in the belt pulley it can wreck the belt but you'd be really unlucky to pick one up at Starbucks where most of these will live... And is it just me or is that the longest motorcycle exhaust in history ? Just look at the length from the fron header to the silencer, I've had cars with shorter exhausts !

[TLPower]

A comprehensive and in depth preview with plenty of inciteful opinions. I particularly enjoyed the adjustable rear brake pedal.

The front mudguard will outrage Brockett.

[Brockett]

If Fred Flintstone designed motorcycles........

[TLPower]

It looks quite fetching in light blue.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lego-Medium-Azure-Blue-Vintage-Motorbike-Motorcycle-Bike-City-Brand-New-Pieces-/401231540463

[Rixington43]

Turns out you're all wrong and it's gorgeous 🤣.
Sadly I couldn't ride it or hear it since someone had left the TFT screen on and the battery was flat, so it's still a proper Harley after all.........

[TLPower]

I am starting to think they have introduced some game changing features. Hydraulic valves that will never need adjusting and automatic ride height which lowers the bike at stand still (optional). I was one of the first to slag it off (and Harley in general), please may I have custard with my humble pie?

It's still proper gopping though...

[Rixington43]

HaHa, imagine how much you'd like it if you were blind and mad like me 😉.
I was actually surprised how compact and almost 'small' it felt having sat on the usual crop of adventure Leviathans just beforehand to get some sense of scale.
The adaptive ride height was lowered for this photo, my missus commented it would need to adaptively remove the bloody wheels for her to get her feet on the ground though, it's still a tall(er) persons machine.

[Ridaz]

I feel I'm at some sort of confession but I think I might like it too

[mr_diver]

I saw someone out test riding one the other day.

F#ck Ugly!

If you want a low practical, fun adventure bike, but a Himalayan. The Mrs isn't quite ready to give up the GSX, but may get one as well.
I'm used to big fat touque laden monstrosities and the Varadero ain't no oil painting but that sir will never be an item I wish to put in my garage.
Plus I hate gimmicks and electronic gadgets-  just more to distract you and remove you from the riding experience - Had a bike with ABS - didn't like it - sold it.

The ride height lowering thing is a great idea, until being a Harley it's not a matter of IF it stops working, more WHEN and you and all your pillion are trapped under 250kg of Chinese Lard masquerading as American Muscle.
 
PS I don't care about you shout ones. I haven't yet found a bike too tall for me   

[kwackboy]

The pan American has certainly got tongues wagging which, I'm sure was Harley Davidson's plan all along.
The reviews of this anomaly are positive despite its looks but it's certainly in the marmite category ...

I love marmite .. 

[mr_diver]

yes, but you also own a BMW and can fix it when it goes wrong.

[kwackboy]

Correct .... However, I won't need to ...    🤞

[TLPower]

How much of the hostility is directed towards the Harley badge and it's connotations? Would we despise the abhorrence as much if it had for instance a Suzuki badge on it?

I am a Harley hater, there I've said it. They have been churning out the same turgid shite for years with a loyal customer base that laps it up. That customer base (like all) is getting older so Harley has for once had a look at the market other than it's own and created this.

Credit to them.

  Back to the thorny Suzuki question what genuinely new bike have they brought to the market to entice people into the showroom?

The "new" Hayabusa (which use the same engine and frame as the last one) the VStrom 1050 (ditto) or the "new" GSX-S1000 (ditto gain)?

My long winded point is that if the (toilet)Pan had a Suzuki badge, an Enfield badge or a Kawasaki label attached to it, I for one wouldn't be so dismissive.

[kwackboy]

I appreciate some don't use Facebook but at the adventure bike festival this weekend a pan American let off some real smoke ... 

https://www.facebook.com/1380456165/posts/10220049767379395/

[TLPower]

I saw that, call me a pedant but that's steam.

Wouldn't happen with an air cooled ditchpump for certain.

[Dave the rave]

just test rode one it was shite very rattley shit brakes not what I expected after watching the reviews 

[borrisdog]

My mates just purchased one in deadwood green, he thinks its the bees knees