The Exciting Pan America Assembled with Pride in Pennsylvania
Harley-Davidson launches nation-wide 'try before you buy' demo.
Untouchable Advantage
Starting mid-April, Harley-Davidson is putting the Pan America on tour for an extensive, nation-wide, 'try before you buy' demo. The Pan America is an ADV bike, motorcycle jargon for 'adventure,' or purpose-built for on or off-road riding. Despite facing steep competition, the Pan America has one untouchable advantage—it is the only American-made ADV bike on the market.
Core Values
The Pan America is undeniably a bid to attract new customers, but it is also about choice. As an untested machine, it is expected that a lot of initial buyers will be existing Harley-Davidson owners. Loyalty and 'family' have always been an undercurrent in Motor Company advertising, but these core values are now being pushed to the forefront with the Pan America.
Revolution Max
Harley-Davidson is proud of their new bike, and so are the employees at the York, Pennsylvania plant. Like many other Harley-Davidsons, the Pan America's journey starts at the company's Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. At the heart of the Motor Company's new ADV bike is the Revolution Max 1250—a 76 cubic-inch, or 1250cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine.
More Power
The Revolution Max 1250 is not exactly a new design. It borrows heavily from the V-Rod's Revolution engine—an artfully engineered, yet somewhat maligned powerplant that was introduced in 2001. Receiving a better reception in the Max incarnation, the platform is poised to power the next generation of Harley-Davidsons, supplying more power than its pushrod brethren, while satisfying environmental requirements.
Significant Reduction
Major components for the Pan America are built on-site at the York, Pennsylvania plant, including the frame, fuel tank, and fenders. With the Revolution Max powerplant delivered, assembly of the new bike begins. The Pan America uses the engine as a 'stressed member,' meaning that the motor is an integral part of the frame. It is a common design approach that results in significant weight reduction.
Key Forte
A few pre-release examples of the Pan America have recently surfaced, some as far away as Thailand. Even though most have only seen it in digital form, reaction to the Motor Company's ADV entry has been overwhelmingly positive. Connoisseurs of dual-sport machines seem welcoming of more machines in their arena, and many skeptics have been swayed by Harley-Davidson's design approach.
Unique Landscape
The Pan America has rugged good looks, and that is not by accident. Harley-Davidson writes that function fed form in the Pan America's creation, in an attempt to distinguish it within “a landscape of bikes that are achieving uniformity.” Although, one topic of debate is the particular-looking, yet unique headlight and fairing that vaguely resembles a 1966 Chevy Chevelle's nose.
Sample Booking
In mid-March, Harley-Davidson released Pan America Production, a short video highlighting the roll-out of their first machine. The clip reinforces how 'family' is key at the Motor Company, evident by generations of proud family members who have worked at the York facility. To sample their work the demo tour is stopping at fourteen US locations. Booking information is available through Harley-Davidson's web page.
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