Dirty Past Explored at the Harley-Davidson Museum
Early days of motorcycle travel culminates with the Pan America.
Everyday Affair
“Today, it’s called off-road or adventure touring—back then it was just called riding.” Before America paved its highways, negotiating sand, clay or dirt was an everyday affair. Coinciding with the Spring 2021 launch of the Pan America, the Harley-Davidson Museum opened Off-Road Harley-Davidson—a special exhibition that explores the early days of motorcycle travel.
Photos courtesy of Mark Gardiner.
Deep Ruts
As an ADV model, the Pan America is a dual-purpose bike, both highway and off-road capable. Now a leisure activity, this sort of mix travel was fundamental to the first half of the Motor Company's history. While the Pan America might seem like a radical departure, Harley-Davidson is quick to capitalize on its deep 'rutted' roots.
Possible Adventure
CEO Jochen Zeitz backed up the Pan America's off-road claim. “From its inception more than a century ago, when many roads were little more than dirt trails, Harley-Davidson has stood for adventure.” Exuding a go-anywhere spirit, the Pan America caters to those who want to “experience the world on a motorcycle.” Perhaps more importantly, this style of adventure is now available through Harley-Davidson.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Wing.
Selling Point
Technically, 'adventure riding' has always been possible on a Harley-Davidson, the Pan America is just better suited. The Motor Company's go-anywhere spirit underpins the Off-Road Harley-Davidson exhibition. When asked by Milwaukee's Shepard Express about the historical connection, Curator Dave Kreidler stated, “That’s exactly right and that’s the point of the exhibit.” It was also a key marketing strategy for Harley-Davidson in the past.
Flagship Ride
Kreidler explained the exhibition's non-chronological format. He stated, “We organized it in five sections, based on the type of riding that the company was selling to people.” Some of the off-road capable machines featured in the exhibition are not actual Harley-Davidsons, but rebadged bikes from other manufacturers. Among the oldest rides is a 1914 Model 10F—Harley-Davidson’s flagship bike of the era.
Trail Market
A reminder of the relative luxury offered by the Pan America, is a 1964 BTH. Marketed as the dual-sport 'Scat,' it was based on the German DKW RT 125. The lightweight 175 cc two-stroke Scat had a rigid rear end and a plunger fork with only a couple of inches of travel. Directed at hunters and anglers, it was an ideal road-legal trail bike.
Ulysses Link
More recent additions on display include Ewan McGregor’s off-road capable LiveWire from the Long Way Up documentary series. If there is any chronological link to the Pan America in the exhibition, it is the idiosyncratic Buell Ulysses. Produced for only five years starting in 2005, the Ulysses appeared in Harley-Davidson showrooms, pitched as the “world's first adventure sportbike.”
Likely Finish
Best capturing the exhibition's theme is a 1985 FXRP. Ridden by Charlie Peet, the mostly stock Pursuit Glide completed the 9,000-mile Trans-Amazon Rally in 1988. Kreidler elaborated, “They voted Charlie least likely to finish because not only was he on this thing, but he didn't have a support team.” Off-Road Harley-Davidson is on until November 2021—the Motor Company's adventure spirit has no end date.
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