Harley Pan American coming 2/21/2021

[Eville Rich]

Ever notice HD dudes don't wave or very few do. I guess they think their better then the rest on their N.American junk. I'll wave at anyone on 2wheels, even scooter dude, but no longer to the HD snob. And here i thought BMW dudes were snobs...lol...i wave at them. hahaha

I haven't noticed that. Pretty much any bike passing in the opposite direction does the two finger wave. Only if in a situation where that's unsafe does it not happen. Sometimes I miss it because I'm focusing on something else, but it's always been the exception for me or others. At stoplights or other spots there's typically some acknowledgement exchanged. Not sure where folks are riding that brand identity matters so much, but it's unfortunate if that's the case. Only thing I can suggest is to not be a part of making brands a reflection on individuals. For others or yourself.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

 

[HeliMark]

Ever notice HD dudes don't wave or very few do. I guess they think their better then the rest on their N.American junk. I'll wave at anyone on 2wheels, even scooter dude, but no longer to the HD snob. And here i thought BMW dudes were snobs...lol...i wave at them. hahaha

I have far more HD's wave than the BMW crowd. Granted some won't, and several will not unless you initiate it. I get doing the "wave", but does it mean I am a bad guy or snob if I feel like not doing it, it gets old at times. Any time I have been stopped on the side of the road, it is frequently an HD rider that stops or signals to see if I am okay, very rarely does any one else.

I have owned several HD's, and put somewhere around 120K miles on them. Never had any issue's, just normal maintenance.

 

[PineLaneRider]

Who waves and who doesn't is probably the highest determining criteria on whether I will or will not buy a particular motorcycle.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . I have owned several HD's, and put somewhere around 120K miles on them. Never had any issue's, just normal maintenance.

The only bikes that I've seen on the side of the road have been H-Ds. But, they have all been on the older side, and look in bad shape. And, you're right about the waves. The Beemer riders almost never wave. (I think that's why they use that goofy style headlight, they can ID it from way off) I get more waves from the HD riders, while I'm on the Tenere, than I ever did on the sport tours.

 

[Checkswrecks]

1) I hate Beemers.
2) I don't have anything against H-D. People should know by now what they're getting when they buy one.
3 If you hate the Tenere so much, sell it, and use that money as a down payment on a new H-D so you can be happy with a bike that will never fail.
4) I have no use for close minded people.

No mention of better reliability which I was speaking to. DC Metro and safety Laughable. Just more opinion. And feelings. Looks like somebody wanted to line Bob’s pockets No one else in the country could provide the motorcycles debatable good old boy network just like DC. I’m surprised all you fan boys don’t own BMWs

Me a BMW fanboy? HA!
I do like riding some Beemer models - as long as somebody else owns them. Just like I enjoyed occasionally trading rides with my neighbor and his Harley. It was torquey and plush with a heck of a stereo. Harley has sold more bikes in the US than anybody, so it's no surprise to see broken ones now & then, and while not up to Japanese standards the new Harleys seem to be pretty reliable. More than the Beemer, I am not big into cleaning and prepping my bikes so have no desire to own the usual Hardley and that's what makes the Pan appealing & why I signed up to try one. I also like what I'm seeing with the new engine and if it had a shaft I'd seriously consider owning one. Shaft's a reason I'm seriously looking at a Guzzi V85TT, so I'm obviously not a one brand fan boy.

Completely agree with Sierra1's points #3 and 4. Will add that with 10+ YEARS of history on the forums here, Facebook, and ADV, if somebody bought a Tenere and are just now reporting that the few well documented issues these bike have is bothersome - That's on YOU. Good luck finding a bike with no quirks.

Opinion? Having a neighbor who not long ago retired from Secret Service motorcycle unit which is all Harley and a good friend on the DCPD, of course we talk bikes. Not surprising that somebody from the 3,000 miles away would not know that DC has mainly had Harleys, PLUS BMWs and a fleet of Hondas for many years. So the comments about MPD and DCPD not knowing how the brands compare and how the city's own experience relates between two is flat ignorant. It's so much more fun to have a fact-free opinion though.

If somebody put any effort at all into this thing called Google they'd find that Bob's is (was?) is one of the big volume dealers in the country and the #1 police motorcycle dealer on the East Coast. They have multi-year contracts with not just DC, but Maryland, Delaware, and I saw a new PD bike there with Jersey tags. Bobs is literally within just miles of the Baltimore port and is central to so much of the East Coast that Bob can use his own trucks to cut costs and give low bids. While the store front isn't huge they have a big warehouse on the other side of the road and a TON of bikes move through it.

btw - Google would also show that people generally think Bob is a nice guy and a heck of a hard worker, rather than part of a good old boy network. Below is an old photo tag picture with Bob in the middle below & me on left.

 

[MileageMonster]

Flabbergasted with the grade of ugliness of this contraption.
Only it’s mother can love this. Don’t care how it rides.
Parked next to a Bavarian Money Waster it might shine.
No thanks, not for me. Not even for free, I stick to my standards.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

I know a lot of people with Harley's and as far as I can tell they seem to be as good as anything on the road. I have a buddy with a road glide and it has big miles on it. Never let him down but he did do some sort of oil pump upgrade or something and did something to the ecu. He had been all over the country on that bike and it is still going. I have another who had a sportster. He did have to replace the key switch and every few thousand miles has to bolt everything back on it but breaking down it never did. We would have to stop our road trips to put blinkers foot pegs and sissy bars and yes even handle bars one back on the thing! He rode the crap out of that thing though and it always went like hell. the only thing that kept him from keeping up with sport bikes in Deals Gap was ground clearance. He would shower sparks off both sides of that thing. He was fun to watch. Scary but fun. Any way mechanically I figure the new Harley will be as good as anything out there. All the software and electronics are going to be the worry. I work with software and electronics every day and that is one thing I really don't want on my bikes. It looks like I no longer have any choice on that. Even my Super Tenere has more of that than i would like. If they can get the electronics to work right and stay working I think they will have a decent bike to build on. I still don't like the nose too much though! Probably not what I would buy if I had to replace my bike but I am interested in the project. Competition only helps the market.

That is why anyone that likes four wheels opts for a Caterham...

 

[PhilPhilippines]

Me a BMW fanboy? HA!
I do like riding some Beemer models - as long as somebody else owns them. Just like I enjoyed occasionally trading rides with my neighbor and his Harley. It was torquey and plush with a heck of a stereo. Harley has sold more bikes in the US than anybody, so it's no surprise to see broken ones now & then, and while not up to Japanese standards the new Harleys seem to be pretty reliable. More than the Beemer, I am not big into cleaning and prepping my bikes so have no desire to own the usual Hardley and that's what makes the Pan appealing & why I signed up to try one. I also like what I'm seeing with the new engine and if it had a shaft I'd seriously consider owning one. Shaft's a reason I'm seriously looking at a Guzzi V85TT, so I'm obviously not a one brand fan boy.

Completely agree with Sierra1's points #3 and 4. Will add that with 10+ YEARS of history on the forums here, Facebook, and ADV, if somebody bought a Tenere and are just now reporting that the few well documented issues these bike have is bothersome - That's on YOU. Good luck finding a bike with no quirks.

Opinion? Having a neighbor who not long ago retired from Secret Service motorcycle unit which is all Harley and a good friend on the DCPD, of course we talk bikes. Not surprising that somebody from the 3,000 miles away would not know that DC has mainly had Harleys, PLUS BMWs and a fleet of Hondas for many years. So the comments about MPD and DCPD not knowing how the brands compare and how the city's own experience relates between two is flat ignorant. It's so much more fun to have a fact-free opinion though.

If somebody put any effort at all into this thing called Google they'd find that Bob's is (was?) is one of the big volume dealers in the country and the #1 police motorcycle dealer on the East Coast. They have multi-year contracts with not just DC, but Maryland, Delaware, and I saw a new PD bike there with Jersey tags. Bobs is literally within just miles of the Baltimore port and is central to so much of the East Coast that Bob can use his own trucks to cut costs and give low bids. While the store front isn't huge they have a big warehouse on the other side of the road and a TON of bikes move through it.

btw - Google would also show that people generally think Bob is a nice guy and a heck of a hard worker, rather than part of a good old boy network. Below is an old photo tag picture with Bob in the middle below & me on left.

Any GREAT basepoint motorcycle would have WORLDWIDE recognition. The HD has not...%age wise

 

[Checkswrecks]

Any GREAT basepoint motorcycle would have WORLDWIDE recognition. The HD has not...%age wise

???
The Harley has GREAT world-wide recognition and is seen to be a status bike in a lot of countries I've been in.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

???
The Harley has GREAT world-wide recognition and is seen to be a status bike in a lot of countries I've been in.

I have looked at that again and again and I cannot fathom the point I was making. I love some old Harleys and realise they are high status in the majority of countries. I do not like the ugly Pan, but even-so it will appeal to many, I'm sure.

I'm going to have to get another couple of bottles of Merlot Chateau Du Oublier on board to see I can recapture the "moment" brb...

 

[WJBertrand]

I remember the first time I saw the asymmetric headlights on the BMG GS and threw up a little in my mouth, Now I'm used to them. I'm not a fan of the KTM front lamps look either. Seems like BMW and KTM have been trying to out ugly each other and Harley has now joined in. If I ever buy a Pan America I will name him "Hoover" though...

 

[gapmtn1]

I know I'm not the first to make this association...



In case it doesn't translate internationally, that's Bill the Cat whose popularity peaked around 1990.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . Bavarian Money Waster . . . .

My favorite one yet.

. . . . The Harley has GREAT world-wide recognition and is seen to be a status bike in a lot of countries . . . .

I read that decades ago. Never understood the why. Especially in Japan.

I know I'm not the first to make this association...

I can't believe I never put that together. The biggest difference? I love Bill the Cat. . . . and ludicrous speed.

 

[Madhatter]

looks are subjective .... I see a woman I think is pretty some of you might question my vision .... we all have different taste and views and as for the looks of motorcycles ugly is the new pretty . look at the car world , most every car made looks like the next car parked next to it , with out the name plate badge you would be hard pressed to tell a Toyota from a honda . so when a vehicle has some effective styling that sets it apart it becomes a big seller (at least for a while ) ford bronco comes to mind . back to motorcycles , almost all the performance bikes look alike ,got to get close to read what it is . but and its not set in stone but , touring bikes and especially the ADV bikes look different and that's part of the appeal . even the Tenere we all love and everyone of them leave the factory looking like the other . but once an owner gets hold of them no two ever look like the other ( like being in a family , have 2 brothers , we have a family resemblance but look different ) and that's a great appeal to our bike .... BMW GS some how just looks like a GS no matter what you do to it . but it does not look like a honda , so a crazy look can be a plus . as for me the KTM has the face of a bug or space alien , honda Africa twin has the face of the Tenere (illegitimate love child of the Tenere ) Ducati kinda generic , triumph nice but does not make you look . as for the robo cop looks of the Harley , I'm ok with it ..... but its a bike when you get done with the Farkle will still look like a Harley pan American . I could own it .

 

[Checkswrecks]

After owning 2 FJRs and being close to that crowd, I took my first Tenere (PDP bike) to a FJR ride in New England. Forgotten her name but a mildly toasted FJR owner just wouldn't let go of telling me how FUGLY my new bike was, over and over.

 

[Sierra1]

I always thought that the Honda ST, the BMW RT, and the Concours look very similar for a few years. I like the fact that the Tenere is the sole adventure bike that doesn't have a beak. I also believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, the Pan America is hideous. In my opinion, it's the ugliest bike out there.

 

[WJBertrand]

I think the versions where the Pan America "nose cone" is painted the same color as the tank look better. I don't care for the white nose cone on the orange bike.

 

[Mak10]

I think the KTM is the ugliest out there. That wouldn’t stop me from owning one. I have heard that the KTM headlights work well.

Function over form.

 

[Madhatter]

If women judge men solely on looks most of us would be single

 

[Snert]

Got to ride the demo today in eden praire mn. Lots of fun, havent rode the tenere 700, but sitting position felt simular. Really flickable, im 6'4 34-36 inseam and it fit pretty well. Id need to adjust the handlebars to ride standing up, and put the seat in the taller setting. Engine was fun reving, sneaky put it into sport instead of rain, great power. As i was leaving ran into a fellow super tenere owner and showed him how to put it in sport mode...