Pretty Pan America is a Sentimental Journey

Effective Means

Despite the insistence of the well-known motivational saying, sometimes the trip is about both the journey and the destination. For Thunderbike's repeat customer Jay-Jay, that trip was also sentimental. He reflected, “I want to visit the places I went with my late wife.” Helping fulfill that desire was his new Pan America—a most effective means for journeys with a destination.

Photos courtesy of Thunderbike.

Tour Training

As an extension of Harley-Davidson Niederrhein, Thunderbike is one of Europe's premier custom bike shops—located in Hamminkeln, Germany. More familiar with Milwaukee's big cruisers, Jay-Jay realized that the Pan America would be a different riding experience. To learn the required skills, he signed up with Enduro Action Team, a one-stop ADV training and tour company in Lossatal, Germany.

Real Handling

Jay-Jay's motivation was simple. He stated, “My wife and I have traveled all over Europe and have always been off the beaten path.” In Thunderbike's video series Thundertalk, Jay-Jay spoke with Thomas Emky about his off-road training and planned European adventure. Impressed with the Pan America's handling, Jay-Jay remarked, “Compared to my other machines, this is now real motorcycle riding.”

Destination Venture

Reflecting on his ADV training, Jay-Jay commented that starting on mountainous gravel slopes was the most challenging. Now with the necessary confidence, skills, and a few tricks, he wryly remarked that riding the Autobahn seemed a touch boring. His next venture was to ride to the resort destination of Lake Constance, a body of water that borders Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Meandering Adventure

Jay-Jay wanted to catch-up with friends at Lake Constance and relax before he set off on the next leg of his adventure. How that transpired was not overly planned, he commented that it really depended on the weather and his mood. He figured that his meandering journey would take him to southern France and Italy—to the places visited with his wife.

Odyssey Interval

Capitalizing on the 'adventure' in ADV, Jay-Jay's intent was to next ride down the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Ever practical, he figured a loop through Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and then back to Hamminkeln would suffice for his 10,000 km service interval. The task of preparing his Pan America for its European odyssey fell to the dealership's custom shop.

Boost Protect

First, a Harley-Davidson Side Case Mounting System and Aluminum Side Cases were installed to haul the required luggage. Daymaker LED Forward Auxiliary Lights were also fitted for late day trail illumination. A factory-built Skid Plate and Radiator Shield were added to protect the Pan America against rough terrain. A Screamin' Eagle High-Flow Air Filter joined the party for a little power boost.

Rejoice Riding

Like any dedicated enthusiast, Jay-Jay opted for an extra slather of Baja Orange on the new accessories. He then swapped the stock muffler for a Dr.Jekill & Mr.Hyde exhaust. Jay-Jay described the sound as “fantastic.” Thunderbike agrees, emotionally stating, “Every time we see this man on the motorcycle, we rejoice with him. And, this time, we also get the desire for riding.”

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