Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonPan America 1250 ST 2025 Le fun sauce US

Harley-Davidson has always wanted to have a "sporty" motorcycle in its range, but the American manufacturer no doubt has a complex in the face of the European and Japanese armada, which knows how to please part of America.. If you're an old-timer like me, you'll remember the VR 1000 and the XR saga, but also the link-up with Buell to offer the big American V2 in a sporty suit, ready to take on angles that are very difficult with a Softail... That's how the Harley Davidson press release begins: " Designed to lean, born to move ". A tempting program!

Pan America as a big supermotard?

When you take a trail bike and ditch the big wheels (especially at the front) for a 17-inch format, you get a supermotard! Admittedly, the term is a bit overused here, given the bike's size and weight. But the spirit of having a livelier, sportier motorcycle for use exclusively on asphalt can't stop us from thinking about it.

The 19-inch front wheel has been replaced by a 17-inch wheel. As the rear already has this size, Harley Davidson then focused on Michelin tires for this ST version. The result is Michelin Scorcher Sport tires (front 120/70ZR17, rear 180/55R17). The tire has a very sporty profile, and no doubt performs well in the dry; the wet will be less of a concern, but the main thing for Harley Davidson was to have a tire that matched the machine's image. Ducati's Pikes Peak range is another affront that Ducati must be scratching at after its victories in America's most famous hill climb. As the Multistrada has also won over a large number of American customers, Harley-Davidson sees this as a potential sales opportunity if the ST catches on.

While the steel trellis frame (aluminum swingarm) remains, the suspension, still supplied by Showa with a 147 mm fork, loses 20 mm of travel, dropping from 190 to 170 mm. This lowers the center of gravity of a bike that no longer has off-road objectives. Suspension is adjustable for compression, preload and rebound, but is no longer semi-active. Seat height is also less reserved for taller riders, reduced to 825 mm (less suspension travel and redesigned shape).

Braking is still handled by Brembo, with 4-piston radial-mount calipers at the front, biting 320 mm discs. A 280 mm disc with single-piston caliper is fitted at the rear. A serious set-up to stop the beast's 246 kg when fully loaded and in running order! that's 12 kilos less than the Special. It's worth noting that the Multistrada V4 's dry weight of 229 kg isn't all that outrageous compared to its main Italian competitor.

Engine: big pistons, big character

Like the trail bike, the Pan America 1250 ST is powered by the Revolution Max 1250, a 1,250 cm3 water-cooled V-twin engine designed to deliver impressive performance, with 150 hp at 9,000 rpm and 127 Nm at 6,750 rpm. A powerful, punchy engine, much closer in behavior to a European engine than to an American one. Our recent test drive of the Special version provided us with some great sensations.

This positioning of the Pan America ST gives it some arguments to seduce its own market, which is hungry for big V2s. To enhance the bike's sportiness, Harley Davidson has also reworked the exhaust, eliminating the intermediate chamber to reduce weight and improve sound quality. Finally, the new Screamin'Eagle Quickshifter system enables clutchless gear shifting.

In terms of electronic assistance, the ST takes up some of the features already seen on the standard version. There are five driving modes: Road, Sport, Rain and two Custom modes. These modes can be selected even while driving, a good point.

With the IMU engaged, the Pan America ST also benefits from an impressive array of controls:

• Electronically linked brakes (ELB / C-ELB)
• Right-hand/right-hand ABS (ABS / C-ABS)
• Traction control (TCS / C-TCS) with modes
• Straight-line torque slip control (DSCS / C-DSCS)
• Enhanced front wheel lift mitigation
• Vehicle Hold Control (VHC)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Design, subtle changes

The Pan America ST is still recognizable at first glance with its Cyclops fridge look. Compared with the trail version, this ST differs in that it has a shorter, smoked (non-adjustable) bubble for sporty styling. The front fender has also been redesigned following the change in wheel size. The seat is now one-piece. The center stand has been removed. Finally, the bodywork is stripped down a little around the radiator, with the crash-bars disappearing.

The mechanical parts (engine and crankcases) are dressed in black (instead of grey) to give the bike a more rugged look. The cockpit continues to feature a 6.8-inch TFT (thin-film transistor) color touchscreen. The screen supports Bluetooth devices such as smartphones for everything to do with infotainment. Navigation is provided by the Harley-Davidson app for iOS or Android, which must be downloaded to your phone.
Optional Sport side cases and a removable Sport top case are available.

The Pan America 1250 ST comes as standard in Billiard Gray, but you'll have to fork out an extra 450 euros for Vivid Black and Brilliant Red... Harley isn't the only manufacturer to offer such paint options, but for a motorcycle already priced at 19,990 euros, it's a bit stingy not to have a choice of color!

ST on the road to success?

This Harley-Davidson is atypical in its looks, but its qualities are undeniable. The addition of a 17-inch wheel at the front is just the thing for those looking for a motorcycle that's exclusively for road use, and full of character! Trying it out is the risk of adopting it, but what have you got to lose? Not much ... if you want to stand out from the crowd.

Vincent Beaucousin - Manufacturer's photos