Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonPan America 1250 Special 2024 Harley's weapon or soul

It 's a shock, it's a wave, it's a ripple through souls, roads and stones. One more trail bike... but one that surprises at the mere mention of its manufacturer. Harley has joined the maxi-trail club with its 1250 Pan America. It baits with its superior level claims; then it suggests with an over-equipped Special version.

In this configuration, the Pan America is much more assertive. You won't choose it for its cosmetic flourishes, but for its improvements. There's a little bit of everything, from detail to high-tech.

Some things are so obvious that we can't understand why they're not standard on the standard model. We're talking about handguards, a center stand or heated handles. If you've got to get through all kinds of roads and all kinds of weather, these ointments come in handy.
Harley then installs a TPMS tire pressure monitoring system, an aluminum engine block, radiator crash bars, a two-position adjustable rear brake pedal, a steering damper and a Daymaker adaptive cornering light.
Thanks to the IMU, Pan America gradually switches on each of the 3 LED elements located on either side of the headlight. The lighting phases are activated at an angle of 8°, then 15° and finally 23° for the most complete illumination in the bend.

to all those who still see Harley-Davidson as a brand producing only old-fashioned machines with 1940s technology, the firm can respond with a hefty dose of modernism. The 1250 Pan America is equipped with a nicely sized (17.3 cm) color TFT screen, control systems for traction, cornering slip, hill-holding, wheelies, rear wheel lift, engine braking and interconnected braking, active cornering ABS, Ride Modes, USB-C and 12V sockets, cruise control, GPS navigator via smartphone pairing... and electronic suspensions.

Harley called on Showa to supply all the equipment, but developed its own control software. Thanks to the sensors, the fork and shock absorber adapt in real time to the road profile and the rider's riding style. With its load adjustment system, the motorcycle automatically detects the weight coming on top of it and adjusts the preload at the rear.
As is often the case, this damping is linked to the Riding Modes and reacts according to the rider's desired theme. Five profiles are stored in memory:
- Comfort: everything is set for maximum comfort
- Balanced: the compromise between comfort and efficiency for all-round driving
- Sport: more rigorous damping for a sporty ride
- Off-Road soft version: more suppleness and reduced rebound for off-road rides or difficult terrain
- Extreme off-road version: calibrated damping for hard riding, with plenty of grip on heavy or sandy terrain.

the Milwaukee-based company also keeps a delicacy in the options section: the adaptive ride height. This automatically raises or lowers the bike according to conditions. For example, when stationary, the Pan is lowered to allow you to put your feet on the ground - once underway, it is raised to regain ground clearance and dynamic capabilities.
Sub-modes can be selected to manage this process:
- Automatic: the suspension lowers as quickly as necessary under braking conditions, ending up at the lowest level once the Pan has stopped.
- Locked: the height is maintained at its normal level and remains there.
- Short delay: lowering is delayed until the Pan stops.
- Long delay: same, but slightly longer.

Oh , by the way, about the Driving Modes. There are two more on the Special, bringing the total to seven. In addition to "Sport", "Road", "Rain", "Off-Road (and Off-Road +)" and "custom", more advanced Modes come on board. There's an additional customizable module, "Custom B", as well as "Off-Road Custom", which takes all the parameters of "Off-Road +" and combines them with the choice of engine level.

The Harley 1250 Pan-America is also the manufacturer's most powerful model, with a 150-strong twin and over 13 mkg of torque. Whether it's the drivetrain, the chassis that relies on the engine for rigidity, the silhouette, the riding position, the wheels, the tires, the adjustable windscreen or the aluminum swingarm, everything about this beast is unique.

Most of MoCo's 'Special' models are styling touches to make the bikes more aggressive. The Pan is a completely different story. A serious equipment package to make it a premium trail bike packed with technology. A machine that looks like it was designed by Northrop Grumman. Harley has swapped its boots for rangers - all that's left to do in this dense, merciless sector.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos