Harley Davidson Pan America, whatcha think?

[Buffalo Bill]

Itchy Boots just started a new journey, Patagonia to Alaska. She swapped for a new bike and is going with soft luggage this time, mostly to save weight.
Soft luggage seems like a better choice to me, it can shrink as you use less volume, won't get dented in a fall and break the rack system.

[Spyder]

That Bronx is a decent looking bike. Too bad it's a Harley...

[Rob S.]

It's the Buick of the motorcycle world, your grandpa's bike.

I think the 1988 ad campaign went, "It's not your father's Oldsmobile."

I always loved my father's Oldsmobiles...until the late '70's.

[Jedz123]

My taste to Harley is soured thanks to the complete failure to keep me as a customer. Triumph has been far better to me plus the bike is way better to ride.

As a millennial that is buying new motorcycles the new models don't do much for me except have me asking questions.

I know the Harley tax is going to follow these new models but there is absolutely no pedigree to be associated with them.

You know the Pan-America is going to be in the same price range as a R1250GS but it has no ground to stand on compared to the BMW. Who is going to buy that bike? Not us guys that still have our hair color we were born with...

The Bronx just looks odd and heavy. You can tell they are now trying to stay on the curttails of Indian who is making a Flat Track Racer that is kicking Harley's butts in the dirt oval. HARLEY IS IN A BAD SPOT and the release of these new models is clear evidence to that.

They soured my milk with the Street-Rod 750, promising me things the machine could never deliver... I won't be buying a Harley again anytime soon... well ever for if I do miraculously get on a big cruiser, it's going to be an Indian.

Best of luck HD... You didn't woo me over but Triumph did.

My modern classic Bonneville is a bike Harley should consider making, Hell they invented the Roadster to compete with the British twins. Maybe they should play a card they did in years past. Oh wait liquid cooling... I forgot that's a no no.

[GS1150Pilot]

The Sportster remains very likely the best bike Harley makes. I loved the Dyna and it went the way of the FXR, which was another favorite.

[1978GS750E]

Have to disagree with the Sportster being the best bike Harley makes! Harley makes "BIG TOURING BIKES", always has, always will. Their touring bikes are the best of their products IMHO! I can ride my Street Glide 8-10 hours and still be comfortable when I stop. The problem is most people expect a "touring bike company" to make acceptable bikes in every riding style, ain't gonna happen!

[Jedz123]

Folks my age are buying new bikes but they are E-bikes and mopeds. Kids younger than me that started out on E-bikes and mopeds are now getting into MC but it's not the same reason the generation before us was... Its for economy and ease of transportation, much easier to get in and out of places, better fuel economy. The touring and open road freedom is mostly lost on us however cheap and easy forms of transportation is super appealing. True I'm an abnormality for my age demographic (30K mile a year rider) but from what I found for my peers is that the electric bicycle or small motorcycle is easier to get to and from with. My Bonneville is about as big as I want to go for a motorcycle for my big touring bike (Concours 14) was way too big for in town maneuverability. To oriented to one task only. The only reason I have multiple bikes is because I can afford it, not many my age can thanks to the student debt crisis.

The motorcycle market on a world level is growing at a very quick pace. Us Sales are somewhat stale however I bet we see an uptick as the electric bicycle market booms and those folks that are on E-bikes graduate to a electric or small displacement motorcycles to get around traffic in our ever growing congested infrastructure.

I think the MC market will be changing as in the type of rider won't be your stereotypical guy on a heavy cruiser looking to go the distance. If they decide to go touring they will likely be on a ADV bike or a machine that delivers a value through versatility... I think those folks are also on their way out the door. My visit to the BMW MOA rally in Tennessee this past summer was testament that those folks are also aging out...

Am I concerned about being able to buy a new motorcycle till I'm too old to care? Not really.

Is Harley on the right track? I dunno. I would like to see some practical small displacement motorcycles fold into their heard before anything else. I think Royal Enfield is on the right track for they are making cheaper do it all bikes (new 650 twins and Himalayan 411). I think Harley is going to try to reinvent itself but it needs to to be able to survive however a transition they should have started years ago... I see the E-bikes will be coming out from HD in the near future but Yamaha is already there. The price point of these HD E-bikes is also insane with project $3-5K for "kids bikes". They need to drop the Harley tax if they want to be successful for the kids that are buying motorcycles and E-bikes are looking for cheap, easy, versitle and maneuverable transportation. HD hasn't made anything cheap... At least to my recollection.

Best,

[Buffalo Bill]

Have to disagree with the Sportster being the best bike Harley makes! Harley makes "BIG TOURING BIKES", always has, always will. Their touring bikes are the best of their products IMHO! I can ride my Street Glide 8-10 hours and still be comfortable when I stop. The problem is most people expect a "touring bike company" to make acceptable bikes in every riding style, ain't gonna happen!

I have to disagree with: "COOL AIN'T CHEAP, AND CHEAP AIN'T COOL!".