Julia on a bike

I took advantage of my visit to Harley Davidson Brand Ambassador Charlotte in Oshawa to spend two days immersed in the American brand. On Monday July 27, after dropping Indiana off at Blackstock Motorsports for a short maintenance run, I found myself a passenger on Charlotte’s Fatboy S. I headed for Harley Davidson Durham to meet the entire team led by Richard, « Rich ». I was greeted like an old friend by Jesse, Joe, Andre, Andy, Piper, Chris, Mark, Dave, Kevin, Gord, Mike, Brianna. Hopefully, the fact that I don’t (yet?) own a Harley Davidson bike doesn’t make me « undesirable ».

The dealership is huge. There’s no separation between the offices, the new or customized models, and the iconic brand’s clothing or products. It was hard to resist the temptation to take home a frame, a beanie or a new jacket. While it’s possible to shop online, there’s nothing quite like the sight of this merch. Still, we were not here to loiter, and moments later, without having time to figure out how I got here, I took possession of the keys to the Harley Davidson 1250 Pan America 2022 with no other command than « Have fun, enjoy, and tell us what you think about it. » It was Charlotte’s idea to have me try out this model, but I didn’t think for a moment that it would be so simple.

As a precaution and since I did not want to overestimate myself, I agreed when Rich suggested removing the luggage. I gain a few kilos, but more importantly, a good 50 centimetres in width. Jesse then provided me with safety instructions and practical information, before letting me set off for two days on this adventurous bike.

I took a tour of the parking lot – standing up, of course, now that I’ve acquired a taste for dirt bikes – and once I’ve left the dealership, it took me barely five minutes to feel completely at ease. The riding position is natural, with my back straight and my arms slightly further apart and relaxed than on the V-Strom, for a greater comfort. Comfort also comes from the seat. Both the driver’s and passenger’s seats are soft enough to keep me going for miles on end, without needing a break or gnashing my teeth at every pothole or tough road. Taking advantage of the lowered model, both my feet touch the ground, much to my delight. In fact, as a small rider with less than 10 years’ experience, I prefer to be able to put both feet, or half of them, on the ground. Stopping on one leg isn’t a problem, but it’s always nice to be able to stand on two, depending on the circumstances.

It’s easy to ride. The bike has a low center of gravity and is well balanced. Despite weighing in at a hefty 250 kilograms, manoeuvring at low speeds is no problem, and neither is hill-starting. This is facilitated by a specific option, the Adaptative Ride Height (ARV), which enables the Harley Davidson 1250 Pan America to automatically move into the low position when stationary. In terms of power, I rediscover the joy of riding a big bike, even if the twin-cylinder differs from my four-cylinder CB1100 in terms of torque. The Harley Davidson’s one is more playful and responsive. And for an adventure motorcycle, I find this rather indispensable, whether it’s navigating motorway traffic, overtaking on secondary or tertiary roads, or even adapting to various off-road surfaces. I found the same versatility in the controls. All previous bikes I owned or tested always had a simple dashboard, with no frills or electronics. Here, I discovered a control panel equivalent to the dashboard of a car. Or quite simply, of all the new models, whether Honda’s Africa Twin 1100 Adventure Sports, BMW R 1200 GS or Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200. I haven’t had the chance to test all the modes on offer, but this Pan America allows you to switch from on-road to off-road and even sporty, which I tried (without pushing too hard, I promise).

The route suggested by Charlotte allowed me to test the Pan America in all conditions while admiring the region. Special mention must go to the curves between Janetville and Caesarea at sunset.

This Harley Davidson 1250 Pan America is the first adventure or dual-purpose model created by the American firm, with a look and design that differ drastically from its competitors. And for my first test of another large-displacement adventure bike, I must admit I was more than satisfied. There are a few shortcomings, however: the height of the exhaust heats up the legs too much (especially when you’re wearing jeans and not the right adventure gear), and the side stand can be a little tricky to deploy. However, with this model, Harley Davidson offers serious competition to the other heavyweights on the market. And it will delight little people like me, who had to give up on the Africa Twin 1100 Adventure Sports or the BMW R 1200 GS.