I miss remembered. I thought they did the second test at a slower speed, but reading the article again it does sound like it was at 60 MPH on the 4th gear test. Which does seem surprising.

 

There's not a big difference in hp, torque or weight between the two bikes. Gearing probably has a lot to do with that comparison. H-D said the clocked the PA at 130+ with the panniers on it. BMW listed a 2019 at 130.8 mph. Just watched a utuber pull 226km which converted to 140 mph. If the PA can match the "king of the hill" BMW that says a lot to me. Reading article like that I usually get the impression that the other bike is challenged with knocking the GS off the throne, not just comparing two similar but different bikes. It is an apples to apples comparison but it's a golden delicious to a Granny Smith. Apples yes but also very different with their own pluses and minuses that the buyer has to decide which one is right for him.

 

Forgive me if this has been mentioned before. I saw a new GSA at the grocery store several months ago, and it looked like it was a VERY tall bike. It looked taller than the earlier ones. Was that just an optical illusion? And how does it look beside a PanAm?

 

I've ridden both, there's no way the GS is quicker. No way.

The GS/A is both taller and wider. Look at a head-on photo of one.....It's massive.

 

I haven't seen the two side by side to be able to compare them. I haven't even sat on a PA, just seen them at the dealership. I have ridden a buddies GSA, and it is a very tall bike, even with it's electronic suspension set as low as possible I could not flat foot it.

But, I believe that you are correct, the GSA is taller than the PA, especially if the PA has the adaptable ride height.

 

The GSA is taller than the GS is. The GSA suspension travel is 8.3" front and 8.7" rear with a seat height of 35" in the low position and 35.8" in the high position. The GS has a suspension travel of 7.5" front and 7.9" rear with a seat height of 33.5" in the low position and 34.3" in the high position. Both have low chassis' available.

 

The BMW low chassis does reduce suspension travel though, which is one reason why the Harley ARH is such a good option for us short *****. Mind you, the GSA suspension is higher in the first place, so the low chassis suspension travel is probably more or less equal to the standard GS - or about that of the Pan America.

 

I own a 2020 GSA and test rode the PA. The GS felt faster to me and I liked the GS riding position over the PA. That doesn't make the PA suck, it is a very good ADV bike, but I preferred the GSA.

 

Its ironic that at the same time Harley created a adventure bike to compete with BMW they created a heavyweight cruiser to compete with Harley.

The Pan Am is selling better than the R18. Bmw still seems to make better adventure bikes and Harley still seems to make better cruisers.

Harley obviously had a more successful effort in a area they had no experience in. Bmw has tried before and failed with the R1200c.