Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special: Specs, Performance, and Ride Quality

Harley Davidson has been producing old-school cruisers, baggers, and touring bikes with powerful torquey V-twin engines since 1903. The company’s focus has always been the traditionally styled motorcycles that have made Harley Davidson what it is today. In 1994, Harley Davidson experimented by launching its first-ever sports bike, the Harley VR1000. In today’s world, the Harley VR1000 is considered a hall-of-fame motorbike due to being different from what Harley Davidson is known for.

The start of the 21st century was not as smooth for Harley Davidson as it was in the mid and late 20th century. The company realized how badly it needed to transform and modernize its brand strategies and manufacturing processes. Later, Harley Davidson stepped into manufacturing electric motorcycles, which became a separate entity, known as LiveWire. Soon, the company also made a bold move by introducing the first-ever modern adventure bike with loads of latest features and a unique design, called the Harley Davidson Pan America, dedicated to all American riders who were eagerly waiting for this.

Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is not just an ordinary motorbike, it carries all the premium safety equipment and a bold design that is both trendy and confirms the brand’s heritage. Unlike most road-oriented Harley motorbikes, you can confidently take the Harley Pan America on wilderness trips and long-haul adventure rides. Read this article if you want to know more about the Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special.

It all started in 2018 when Harley Davidson announced the production of its most-awaited adventure bike, the Harley Pan America. It took the company two years to launch the Harley Pan America in 2020. The Harley Pan America is the first successful experiment by Harley Davidson to build a pure adventure bike capable of maneuvering dirt trails and overcoming obstacles on its way during the ride. The H-D Pan America 1250 is one of the rarest adventure bikes due to being powered by a V-Twin engine. It is available in two trims, including the basic model and the special one.

In an attempt to make the Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special stand out with its distinctive bodywork and paint job, the designers are also successful when it comes to keeping the original Harley Davidson heritage alive. This motorcycle stands tall with a seat height of 32 inches and a ground clearance of 6.9 inches. A 5.6-gal fuel tank capacity, wide fairing, and crash bars with leg protection provide a bulkier look to this adventure bike. The chiseled fuel tank with stylish curves and edges and step-up rider and passenger seats ensure an aggressive look. The front end includes a cockpit with a 6.8-inch TFT Touch Screen Display mounted to the wide fairing, along with an integrated large windscreen for better wind protection. The fairing also mounts a narrow and wide Daymaker Adaptive LED Headlamp with two auxiliary fog lights installed on each side of the front forks. The rear frame also has grab rails for passenger safety.

The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is also available in two single-tone and one dual-tone color scheme with an option to choose between cast wheels and laced wheels. While most motorcycle parts have a blacked-out finish, the engine received a dull silver and the exhaust pipes received a bronze finish.

At the heart of the Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is a 76.4 cu in (1,252 cc) Revolution Max 1250 V-Twin engine that is widely used to power the Harley Sportster series. Thanks to its revolutionary technology and design, the 1,252 cc liquid-cooled engine can produce an impressive horsepower of 150 hp at 9,000 rpm and a torque of 127.45 Nm at 6,750 rpm. The engine comes with variable valve timing, which makes it rev at higher rpm levels, setting it apart from the traditional V-Twin Harley motorcycles. The ride quality is quite smooth thanks to the refined power delivery by the Revolution Max engine.

Overall, the Harley Pan America 1250 Special’s engine performance and motorcycle design make it an ideal adventure touring bike for versatile commuting on gravel, dirt trails, and paved roads. You can easily take this motorcycle on a cross-country trip thanks to the superior highway performance and standard cruise control feature.

The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special falls under the heavyweight adventure bike category with a wet weight of 569 lbs (258 kg). It is as nimble and agile as a heavyweight motorcycle should be, but you cannot expect this motorcycle to easily turn corners and handle like a middleweight adventure bike. However, if you are used to riding bulky adventure bikes, the handling is decent enough for smooth on- and off-roading.

To ensure better damping rates while off-roading, the Harley Pan America 1250 Special features electronically adjustable damping-control inverted forks and an automatic electronic preload control rear monoshock, both ensuring wheel travel of 7.5 inches.

For better off-roading capability, the Harley Pan America 1250 Special comes with a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel. To make the motorcycle versatile for excellent on-and off-road performance, the wheels are wrapped around Scorcher adventure tires prepared in collaboration with Michelin. They are ideal for adventure rides on dirt trails and uneven terrains. However, if you want to go on more challenging adventure rides, you will need to install more knobby aftermarket tires.

Another most encouraging feature of the Harley Pan America 1250 Special is its remarkable fuel economy. Despite being a high-powered adventure bike, this motorcycle successfully attains the claimed fuel mileage of 46 mpg if ridden responsibly.

The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is an adequately comfortable adventure bike with several high-quality pieces of equipment. It has adequate wind-blocking capability thanks to the manually adjustable windscreen, hand guards, and leg guards.

The upright riding position is good for both off-road adventure riding and touring with a commanding handlebar position and neutral seat position. The legroom is slightly confined, especially for a taller rider due to its mid-mounted foot controls. Riders have to keep their legs folded during the ride, which makes it uncomfortable for long-distance rides. However, being an adventure bike, this ergonomic triangle is quite right for standing on the footpegs and ensuring better control of the motorbike. The rubber on the footpegs is also removable for a better shoe grip while off-roading.

If you prefer the extra padded seats for more comfortable rides, you will find the stock seat on the Harley Pan America 1250 Special quite reasonable. The seat height is also adjustable to suit your height and riding preferences. Along with this feature, you can also lower the rear end of the Harley Pan America 1250 Special by simply adjusting the rear suspension setting on the screen display if you find it difficult to get both your feet to touch the ground when the motorcycle is stopped. This low suspension setting feature also helps to ensure a more upright riding position for improved comfort.

When it comes to looks, both the H-D Pan America 1250 and the Pan America 1250 Special have similar looks; however, the latter comes with several additional features, including:

• Daymaker Signature Adaptive Headlamp
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Advanced Ride Modes
• Brush Guards
• Skid Plate
• Center Stand
• Automatically Adjustable Semi-Active Suspension

These advanced electronics, riding aids, and equipment make the Harley Pan America 1250 Special a premium and more expensive variant, having a base price of $20,399.

The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special has a lot more to offer than its base version. The technology and ride quality is on par with some of the best adventure bikes in the market, including the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, the Ducati Desert X, and the Triumph Tiger 1200, making it a successful adventure bike. As per the official statement, the Harley Pan America 1250 Special is one of the best-selling models in the United States. The reviews have been quite amazing and the company is dedicated to bringing more upgrades to the Harley Pan America 1250 Special in the following production years.

The Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is one of the strongest competitors in the heavyweight adventure bikes category. The special variant comes with several unique, high-end, and ride-enhancement features, which make it an ideal commuter for both on- and off-roading. Due to being slightly heavier than the middleweight adventure bikes, it is not ideal for turning tight corners and for extremely challenging adventure rides. The rider must be capable of handling and controlling a large and heavyweight motorcycle to safely enjoy the adventure rides on the Harley and America 1250 Special. Overall, the engine produces good horsepower and torque to keep the motorcycle running at good speeds. The ergonomics are quite comfortable, thanks to the adjustable cushioned seat and electronically adjustable suspension setting. The handling is also quite neutral, ensuring good command over the motorcycle thanks to the ideally placed handlebars.

If you are a Harley Davidson fan and want to try out something different from regular Harley motorcycles, the Harley Pan America 1250 Special is a perfect choice. However, you must be experienced enough to handle a large and bulky motorcycle if you want to use this motorcycle for both paved and unpaved terrains.

Planning to go on a cross-country tour on your Harley Pan America 1250 Special? Viking Bags offers specially designed lockable hard side cases for your adventure bike to carry luggage. Viking Bags also has tons of aftermarket parts to help you customize your motorcycle, including fairings, handlebars, backrests, sissy bars, seats, and crash bars.