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ADV BikesHarley-Davidson To Launch ‘Pan America’ Adventure Bike in 2020

Harley-Davidson To Launch ‘Pan America’ Adventure Bike in 2020

Harley to release their first Adventure Bike in 2020 and more could be coming.

Published on 07.30.2018

In an effort to fend off slumping sales, Harley-Davidson is overhauling its lineup and branching out into new territory. Striking out from their traditional cruiser roots, Harley-Davison plans to produce electric bike, street fighter and adventure bike models in the next few years.

Buell has dabbled with Adventure Bikes in the past with their Harley-powered XB12X Ulysses, and we’ve seen custom-built Harley Sporster Adventure Bikes before, but the Pan America will be the first adventure touring motorcycle produced by Harley.

Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Adventure Motorcycle


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The new Harley-Davidson Pan America will be powered by an all-new 60-degree 1250cc V-Twin and has a fully-upright ADV seating position. Harley says, “The commanding riding position allows the rider to see the world from another point of view. Travel coast-to-coast. On road or off.”

Currently the bike is just a prototype and there are few details released, but Harley plans to launch it as a new model in 2020. In a promo video released (see below), the prototype is shown being jumped while riding off-road. We’re happy to see that Harley is thinking about the off-road capability of the new machine, and it appears they are designing it to do more than just the occasional dirt road.

Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Adventure Motorcycle

Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Adventure Motorcycle

From what we can see in the photos, it’s got a rugged build with a beefy aluminum skid plate, protectors for the exhaust, engine crash bars, full wrap-around hand guards, and knobby tires on cross-spoke tubeless wheels. It also looks long-range touring capable with spacious ergos, a big adjustable windscreen and a large fuel tank. The bike also appears to be chain driven which would help with keeping the weight down.

Harley’s website also mentions this is based on a modular 500cc to 1250cc platform, and that additional models to broaden the range will follow through 2022. This could mean there will be middleweight ADV versions to come as well.

Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Adventure Motorcycle

Harley entering the ADV segment is just another sign of the vibrant growth in the industry. We’re also happy to see the Pan America has its own unique styling that is distinctively Harley, instead of a clone of a BMW or KTM. We’ll share more details as they become available. Stay tuned!

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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33 Comments
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Weby
Weby
July 31, 2018 8:11 am

Wow, that thing is ugly

Brian
Brian
July 31, 2018 1:53 pm
Reply to  Weby

To you and me, but there will be people who love the looks. I wouldn’t hold my breath on sale outside the already Harley owning/loving group, though, which might cut into Harley’s traditional sales almost as much as they gain from sales of this new bike.
Then again, it’s just possible Harley will do this bike “right” and not skimp on everything expecting the new owner to buy thousands of dollars in upgrades and engine tuning to make it “right”.

EdR
EdR
August 8, 2018 5:08 pm
Reply to  Weby

I always wanted a bike with seat flat as a board and a practical lunchbox under the headlight!

DP The Road Warrior
DP The Road Warrior
January 28, 2020 8:55 am
Reply to  Weby

Is it ugly or is it unique? Just like the Arthur points out it is not a BMW or KTM replication.

Jacob Murray
Jacob Murray
July 31, 2018 10:22 am

I love Harleys + I love riding off-road = Pan America, where have you been my whole life?

‘MERICA!!!

BaoLuo
BaoLuo
December 30, 2019 3:41 pm
Reply to  Jacob Murray

I know your comment is a year and half old but AVD bikes have been around for a little while now. Honda, BMW, Kawasaki, Triumph all have them. they have a huge following outside the USA.

DP The Road Warrior
DP The Road Warrior
January 28, 2020 8:59 am
Reply to  Jacob Murray

I’m completely on board with Harley-Davidson right now.

Curtis
Curtis
July 31, 2018 11:49 am

What is the small off road v-twin at 1:18 in the video? Sportster mod? It’s clearly not the Pan America.

Tim Clarke
Tim Clarke
August 3, 2018 10:38 am
Reply to  Curtis

Not quite sure, but it looks like it could be the Carducci dual-sport kit on a sportster. http://carduccidualsport.com/

Justin
Justin
August 9, 2018 6:09 pm
Reply to  Curtis

Carducci built dual sport! It’s a badass Sportster. He’s allegedly working on a kit built around the street 750’s

Nick
Nick
July 31, 2018 8:26 pm

Harley need to stick to what they’re good at. Producing heavy, ill handling relics to the past. That thing looks like a mobile air conditioning unit. Sadly for Harley, the newer generations arent buying that worn out “lifestyle” nonsense.

william
william
November 6, 2019 11:42 am
Reply to  Nick

I have ridden many bikes of many different brands, never wanted a harley, took a few out and now i own one and plan a second. very sound handling on harley and not heavy as you would think. better balanced than 90% of those I have ridden.

Roddo
Roddo
October 11, 2020 4:36 am
Reply to  william

Agree. My Breakout handles superbly (and I also own an MV Brutale
1078RR). Comments like these generally come from someone who has never ridden a post shovel Harley.

David on
David on
August 1, 2018 4:54 am

Omg no !!!! Pirates in the backcountry,

kevin copeland
kevin copeland
August 2, 2018 8:13 am

I have had BMW 650GS AND Now I have a klr650. I would have bought a Harley Davidson but, they had nothing to offer
I am really excited that they are going to have a ADV Bike. Can’t wait !!!

Jay Knight
Jay Knight
August 2, 2018 12:57 pm

Will this bike have the Buell option? Harley-Davison messed in their kitchen on that!

trackback
Harley-Davidson, Pan America adventure 1200cc Adventure bike - Page 14 - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums
August 3, 2018 7:54 am

[…]   Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Clover, S.C. Posts: 3,264 Check this link. Harley-Davidson To Launch 'Pan America' Adventure Bike in 2020 – ADV Pulse Do a ctrl-F for chain, see pic of rear wheel. Looks like a sprocket to me, but the photo (at least […]

Steve Biegler
Steve Biegler
August 3, 2018 9:26 am

Harley’s new “Dirt Glide”……..Give me a break!

paquo
paquo
August 5, 2018 11:28 am
Reply to  Steve Biegler

or perhaps more apropos harley dirt bagger

Jeff Cordle
Jeff Cordle
August 7, 2018 5:35 pm

Harley Davidson nee dirt glide.

Scot Douglas
Scot Douglas
August 8, 2018 4:11 am

That front end looks like it already has “Cruiser Face” built in.

RobG
RobG
August 12, 2018 9:08 am

UGLY AS F. And it’s still a regular overweight Harley chassis and their same POS motors and drivetrain just with more ground clearance. We’ll see how well these things survive off-road. Except the posers that will likely ride these likely will never take them off-road, same as the 1200GS posers.

Harley could try to, oh I dunno, INNOVATE maybe. I guess they spent their innovation budget on that electric thing from a couple years ago.

Steven
Steven
August 23, 2018 6:17 am
Reply to  RobG

Does it even matter where someone rides there bike? Alot of people purchase trucks and never use them for there intended purpose. Also, Not everyone has an endless budget to afford to repair a layed down beemer etc etc. Alot of people buy the gs or the harley because they were inspired or enjoyed the styling of what theyve seen.
Personally, I dont care what you ride or how you look when you ride, so long as you dont endanger those on the road.

And holy shit YES, pan am is ugly AF, “version 2 plz”

BT
BT
August 14, 2018 11:48 am

Harley Davidson adventure bike, how are they going to get that right? 950 pounds 52 hp just another obstacle on the trail to go around

Hacksaw
Hacksaw
December 13, 2020 6:21 am
Reply to  BT

Yes,weight is a killer off road.The engine is near twice the need.
These contribute to many factors.Time to cook the books.

James Staudenmayer
James Staudenmayer
August 17, 2018 6:00 pm

but ugly does it burn rice I feel sorry for my grandkids cuz that ain’t no Harley-Davidson except for the name

mark heller
mark heller
September 7, 2018 4:49 pm

chain or belt drive?
fuel capacity?
luggage accessories?

Trevor
Trevor
September 21, 2018 7:26 pm

This maybe the single ugliest motorcycle since the Bimota Mantra. Every person in the design department at HD should just quit. Their is no way that they will ever be able to compete with BMW KTM Ducati or the Japanese Adventure touring class…

Tom
Tom
January 26, 2019 8:50 pm

Only morons bash a company trying to evolve, grow sales, and survive. Lots of them here I see. As a ultra classic owner, nothing in the HD lineup aside from some incremental improvements made me want to upgrade from my 06 to a new $40k plus ultra. I like my brand new R1200RT. Thats HD’s problem.

John imm
John imm
August 23, 2019 3:50 pm

I think it’s great . God forbid you see anything different at the dealer. I would prefer timely service on one of the two bikes I’ve bought from Harley but I gave up on that. I take it to a real shop for that. Our dealer will have another reason to have all the mechanics grill hot dogs and rent a tent instead of work on bikes. Oh yeah my phone will start ringing now.

william
william
November 6, 2019 11:52 am

Can’t wait to test this, it could replace my Dyna as my winterbike, it gets slippy in the snow. This one might be what I am looking for for the 150km daily commute i do for the snowy days.

trackback
2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America Full Specs and Details Revealed – ADV Pulse – Maharlika NewsBuilder2.0
February 23, 2021 3:01 am

[…] the first announcement of the Pan America in 2018, Harley’s venture into the Adventure segment has been met with plenty of skepticism. Today’s […]

trackback
My Momoa Monday Moment …. “ ‘Harley Davidson – Pan America Global Reveal ’ …. “!! | It Is What It Is
March 1, 2021 3:27 am

[…] bike bid from the legendary cruiser-centric brand, which we first reported was in the works back in 2018. In its latest tease, Harley has promised the world will finally have access to the bike’s […]

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