The Harley Davidson Pan America

I’ve always wanted to own a Harley Davidson since I was 12 years old. Seeing the bike always transported me into a magical world, and I was intrigued by the vision of a free ride. No other motorcycle brand, in my opinion, breathes more freedom on two wheels than Harley Davidson!

I spend a lot of time on my motorcycle since it is my source of transportation and provides me with freedom, but it also offers me easy access to places that aren’t always simple to photograph. It makes no difference whether you’re on or off the road. I miss having more horsepower in the engine when I ride my Moto Guzzi with two people, so I looked into what else was out there in the motor world.

I had already spent a considerable amount of time looking at the new Harley Davidson Pan America. It is Harley’s first adventure bike. It has a completely new engine built by Harley-Davidson!

I had a Buell as one of my first motorcycles over 10 years ago, and it was the first Harley-Davidson connected bike I owned, which I adored! At the age of 30, I promised myself that I would pursue my dream and went to a nearby Harley-Davidson store to buy my dream, a Harley-Davidson Fatboy. Jimmy, the salesman, was only around for a short time, yet he encouraged me to pursue my dream. Unfortunately, because I did not have enough time at the time, I did not use the bike regularly, so I sold it.

There was, as you can see, a Harley link many years ago. I went to the Harley-Davidson website to get a test ride. Jimmy from Geel’s Silverlake Harley Davidson called me. He inquired when I wanted to ride the bike, and we settled on a date!

When I stepped into the shop, Jimmy’s friendly greeting put me at ease right away. Once it was time to hit the road, he provided me with a short guidebook that explained everything. It was wonderful to see the bike in all its glory! Some photos from my off-road adventures! You either love or hate the design, but something about it attracts too you! It is without a question!

The bike they offered me was the most expensive model, with electronic suspension. When I launched the bike, it lowered to allow for a more comfortable entry, which was quite excellent!

When it was time to get on the bike, I had to dig a little to find the appropriate position. For me, the footpeg is a little high because I’m used to a lower footpeg position, which allows me to sit more comfortably. Furthermore, the clutch was different from my Moto Guzzi in that it only operated at the end of releasing the clutch.

The sound coming from the carbon screaming eagle exhaust was fantastic, but it wasn’t the sound you’re used to hearing from Harley. Jimmy called the engine “amazing,” and he couldn’t wait to see how I reacted to it! And, Jimmy, I have to tell you, it has a lot of power!

Now I focus more on the riding because this is what it all comes down to. When you first get on the bike, it feels a little weighty, however, this is not the case while riding. The bike is extremely maneuverable and consumes corners like candy. The weight balance in the bike is quite beautiful when riding, and the steering position appears high, but it is not a negative feeling at all.

Some bike details, I really like the headlight design!

When you turn the throttle, there is undeniable power; you really start to feel the 150 horsepower when you reach 4500 rpm. The bike has a tremendous pull. It lacks the powerful BMW boxer power at low rpm, but it has lots of other characteristics to keep you entertained!

While riding the bike on the small curving roads, the windscreen protection was excellent. It was on the lowest stand and was a real blast to ride. But the biggest surprise was yet to come.

And this surprise I discovered in the woods and on the pathways. That’s something I didn’t see coming! The off-road handling was fantastic! Even on sandy terrain, the control is fairly steady, despite the lack of offroad tires. The very short maneuvering went very smoothly and without any effort. I believe a 15-year dedicated Harley rider would have laughed if you told them this a year ago. I laughed, but it was a happy laugh since the suspension filtered the trails perfectly and provided the rider with a lot of confidence.

I did take the images on various offroad routes, and all I can say is that Harley did an excellent job in producing this bike. The settings on the steering wheel were also very approachable and straightforward to use.
I did read some complaints from riders who didn’t like the screen because the visuals on the monitor were too small, but I had no issues.

Spoiler alert: the new 2022’s multicolored TFT screen would feature larger graphics… Therefore, on January 26th, a new model will be released.

Resume: I was blown away by how well the bike functioned in every manner; I never expected it to be this good, and it was a delight to ride. The bike’s design is emotive; you either love it or despise it, and I fall somewhere in the center.
I simply had a little trouble with the bike’s sitting position. I have long legs and made it tough to ride since the knees are just too far bent for me.

Jimmy informed me after my ride that I had the lowest seating position. There are two distinct levels of seating, and we didn’t check that before I rode it. So perhaps the highest position would be best for me.

But one thing is certain: this bike is a force to be reckoned with. I guess I tried the sport setting for about a minute and realized enough.

I am extremely grateful for this chance and would like to express my gratitude to Harley Davidson Silverlake Geel. The website is https://www.silverlakehd.be, and don’t miss the premiere of their new model on January 26th.

A bike signifies freedom to me, and as I previously stated, I believe there is no brand that better reflects this philosophy than Harley-Davidson, and with this bike, they stretched the boundaries and introduced adventure, offroad riding into their universe. And with great success!

My bike is my therapy, my way of exploring the globe and meeting new people. Taking photos and sharing a common passion. It was wonderful to feel and ride this bike, and it may find a place in my garage in the future.

What’s left if you give up on your dreams, Jim Carry said?

Both Jimmys were correct! 😉

Thank you