Test ride not impressed
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 245
From: Triune, TN
Test ride not impressed
The Pan America specs got my attention so I headed to Moonshine for a test ride, suspension was good, power was weak.
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
Popular Reply
Jul 30, 2023, 09:14 AM
Thread Starter
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 245
From: Triune, TN
I am the OP and wanted to give an update after a second test ride.
My preferred dealer (Boswell's in Nashville) did not have a PA in stock, so I went on my original ride at Moonshine in Franklin, TN, I followed the salesman who was riding an old twin cam Fat Bob, we rode in town on smooth as glass roads and on a few twisty backroads, never got over 45-50 mph. The salesman did not go over the bike or controls with me, our first turn was a right-hand turn, I do not know what I might have turned on or off when I attempted to turn on the right-hand signal with the right-hand controls.
I contacted Niko at Boswell's, he arranged for me to ride the owner's bike for a test ride, the only mods to this bike are an aftermarket exhaust (Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde) and 2" risers. Niko rides a Pan America himself; he took the time to go over the bike and the controls before our ride, he then led the ride on his PA. This ride was mostly through an industrial section of town with beat up roads, then we got on Briley Parkway and hit faster speeds. The PA in road mode absorbed all the bumps, dips, manhole covers and railroad crossings with ease; this was great for my old back. The engine was also much more responsive in the higher RPMs and higher speeds (which I will not disclose).
Long story short, I ordered a new PA special, the dealer will install a Jeckel and Hyde exhaust, 2" risers and do a little paint work before I pick it up. Delivery is expected the week of the 14th.
My preferred dealer (Boswell's in Nashville) did not have a PA in stock, so I went on my original ride at Moonshine in Franklin, TN, I followed the salesman who was riding an old twin cam Fat Bob, we rode in town on smooth as glass roads and on a few twisty backroads, never got over 45-50 mph. The salesman did not go over the bike or controls with me, our first turn was a right-hand turn, I do not know what I might have turned on or off when I attempted to turn on the right-hand signal with the right-hand controls.
I contacted Niko at Boswell's, he arranged for me to ride the owner's bike for a test ride, the only mods to this bike are an aftermarket exhaust (Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde) and 2" risers. Niko rides a Pan America himself; he took the time to go over the bike and the controls before our ride, he then led the ride on his PA. This ride was mostly through an industrial section of town with beat up roads, then we got on Briley Parkway and hit faster speeds. The PA in road mode absorbed all the bumps, dips, manhole covers and railroad crossings with ease; this was great for my old back. The engine was also much more responsive in the higher RPMs and higher speeds (which I will not disclose).
Long story short, I ordered a new PA special, the dealer will install a Jeckel and Hyde exhaust, 2" risers and do a little paint work before I pick it up. Delivery is expected the week of the 14th.
The Pan America specs got my attention so I headed to Moonshine for a test ride, suspension was good, power was weak.
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
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Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 88
Likes: 183
From: Western NC
Either a troll or there's something wrong with the Pan Am you test rode. If I nail the throttle at 4k in 1st gear on mine, I can't stop grinning. I had a Ducati Diavel prior and even my old Duc buddies are impressed with the PA's power.
Yeah... the RGS I had before the Pan am had a 124" S&S kit, Redshift Cam, D&D Billet Cat putting down 125/130 and while a quick bike with all that torque, the weight made it no match for the Pan Am in sport mode and especially in my custom mode.
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The Pan America specs got my attention so I headed to Moonshine for a test ride, suspension was good, power was weak.
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
The sales guy had me in road mode and it felt like a turd compared to my 820lb FLHT with a 124 that puts out 140/140. Nailing the throttle at 4,000 rpm in first gear was not impressive, hopefully this is due to being in the road setting.
Does the power pick up in sport mode?
If you don't believe me, ride a V Rod sometime without looking at the speedometer. It'll feel like a turd. But it isn't.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: NC
A lot of stuff affects torque - bore, stroke, compression, firing order, lift, duration, mapping, intake, exhaust, etc. I would like to understand why being water cooled limits torque.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 108
Likes: 33
From: Ontario, Canada
Sorry to hear you did not enjoy your test ride.
I will admit, mine felt weird compared to my Fat Bob 114 even though I started on sport bikes.
There was nothing I can say I disliked, but it was a strange yet enjoyable experience.
The friction zone in the clutch took some getting used to, I always thought I was in neutral...
But once I got the "feel" for things this bike feels great, I did not try sport mode, I test that when I'm on my own bike on more familiar roads.
I will admit, mine felt weird compared to my Fat Bob 114 even though I started on sport bikes.
There was nothing I can say I disliked, but it was a strange yet enjoyable experience.
The friction zone in the clutch took some getting used to, I always thought I was in neutral...
But once I got the "feel" for things this bike feels great, I did not try sport mode, I test that when I'm on my own bike on more familiar roads.