I hope they knock it out of the park with these, but not gonna hold my breath. If they can come in for V-Strom 1000 money & power, I think they'll have something.

 

If HD make the Pan America as good as the current V-Strom 1000 then they will have a winner.

Have owned a V-Strom since 2015 and it really is a fantastic bike. Just as capable as any other adventure bike for the average rider, great on & off road characteristics.
Awesome V-Twin power-plant, with lots of torque.
Like the new Pan America, it isn't going to win any beauty awards, but as as a do-it-all bike it is amazing.

Here is my Strom next to my bro's M8 StreetBob.
I am already pondering the possibility of a Harley Adventure bike replacing the Strom in the future.

 

Troll? I like trailers. I use one to haul my bass boat.

 

I'm okay with the no-beak front end. That bike looks slender and not too top heavy, and I will test ride one as soon as they're available.

 

I could just throw a set of knobbies on my Heritage

 

I was interested in the Pan America, but I didn't like the weight and styling. I considered a BMW GS and KTM Adventure but they were too appliance-like. I wound up buying this 2008 Buell Ulysses XB12X with just 7k miles. It weighs 425 pounds. The 1203cc engine produces 103 hp with 84 lb-ft torque. Handling and performance is like a sportbike. Luggage is detachable.





Funny how Harley has gone full circle. They had the opportunity to retain the Ulysses when they dumped Buell. Now that adventure bikes are selling, they want back in.

 

I always said some day I'd like to get another pan, but that's not quite what I was thinking.

 

Sometimes the decision makers in companies are too busy trying to improve the profitability of making buggy whips that they cannot see the 'horseless carriage' business coming. I think the present leadership is noticing something is changing but they are trying to figure out what so they are experimenting.

BMW has a tight grip on this market today but they innovated a larger machine into a dual sport market. My first roadgoing bike was a 1972 Honda XL250! When the R800GS appeared in the early 1990's it was an ugly duckling. Nobody thought it would succeed. Now look at it...best selling BMW model worldwide. It isn't a motorcycle it is a 2 wheeled Jeep! For 2019 the bike went up a notch to the 1250 so the hurtle bar just went up again.

The PA cannot compete head to head with the R1250GS or GSA. It is going to have to innovate something different somehow. I am not sure what but maybe the v-twin will help.

 

I've been looking for one of those myself, just waiting for the right one at the right price.