Soul, Steel, Wilderness and Adventure: The Tale of Harley Davidson Pan America 1250
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In this article, we tried to pile up our experience, giving an overview about the Harley Davidson Pan America 1250, and making it easy for those who are planning to purchase an imported adventure tourer under Rs 20 lakh to 22 lakh.
Back in 2021, it was a dark period for the automobile industry as COVID-19 brought every single manufacturer to its knees. When everyone was playing it safe, taking a step back to introduce the latest offerings due to the global pandemic, Harley-Davidson took a different path and introduced a rebel in the market named Pan America 1250.
Ever since the model was introduced, not just in India but globally, we've seen enthusiasts react with surprise and excitement. It has been almost half a decade since the bike reached Indian shores as a CBU unit, and has comfortably made its mark in the segment.
Introduction
The company launched the model at the sticker price of Rs 20.9 lakh (ex-showroom). It was released in one variant with four decent colour options. Recently, we got the opportunity to unlock our adrenaline on the bike and test it to the core just to know what the hype is all about.
We covered almost 500km in four days, and tried to know all the positive and negative aspects of the vehicle. In this article, we tried to pile up our experience, giving an overview to those who are planning to purchase an imported adventure sport touring, and looking for decent options under Rs 20 lakh to 22 lakh. So take a few extra minutes to read till the end, you might end up having a wise option on your priority list.
The model uses a responsive 1252cc, liquid-cooled, V-twin engine that generates impressive power, 150.19 bhp at 8750 rpm and a peak torque of 128 Nm at 6750 rpm. The unit is mated to a smooth, complemented by clutch assist and slipper clutch for better output. The whole setup feels smooth, responsive and proudly flaunts Harley's DNA from each corner.
Design Language and Comfort
Aesthetically, the Pan America truly feels like a moving bomb on the road. It gets everything one can ask for from any adventure bike. From a bold stance to a head-turning eye-pleasing style statement to a boss look, the bike feels a complete blend of futuristic and timeless piece of steel.
The model does not try to mimic the rugged charm of BMW GS or the rally-inspired sharp cuts of KTM 1290 Super Adventure. Instead, it has its own identity as it has been born with the company's signature DNA with a brutish visual language.
The big fat tourer has been treated with a long list of advanced elements. The list includes a rectangular-shaped, fully LED headlight setup, paired with integrated DRLS. The fog light has been placed right above the headlight unit.
On the sides, it gets sleek looking, circular indicators at both ends, while the engine setup has been slightly exposed to make it look more dominating in its segment. For the riders' safety, the company has added knuckle guards on the handlebars, while very rough and rugged-looking side mirrors are there that enhance its overall charm.
The motorcycle offers an impressive upright seating position, well-placed pegs, and wide handlebars that make long days in the saddle comfortable. It is also complemented by plenty of wind protection from the adjustable screen, and gets a practical optional luggage system for long-distance touring. Harley didn't just build a bike that can cover the mile, it truly wants to leave some marks on untouched terrains.
Innovation and Features
The area where Pan America 1250 sets itself apart from the crowd is its cutting-edge technology and advanced features. It comes with the segment's leading Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) feature. It starts showing the magic as soon as the rider switches on the bike. The semi-active suspension works seamlessly, forcing the bike to get lower automatically, allowing the short-height plant to put their feet without feeling the stress of holding a big gun.
Notable Features
The other highlighted features include cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, multiple riding modes to run on any surface, Brembo brakes, Michelin Scorcher Adventure tires that are co-developed specifically for the Pan America, and a crisp 6.8-inch TFT touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the customers to have all the important details right in front of their eyes.
Stability and Mileage
Despite having an insane kerb weight between 245 to 258 kg, the bike feels super easy to handle. In every turn, it inspires confidence to lean the vehicle to a certain degree, while opening up the throttle as much as possible.
The gripping of tyres can be felt on every mile. The only thing that might force you to pull your hair is its mileage as it drinks petrol like a thirsty camel. The company claims the model is capable of offering a fuel efficiency between 18.18 to 18.3 km/l. However, we end up having slightly less even though we were gentle and riding it in a less aggressive mode. But, we feel 'Kitna Deti Hai" question would not matter to the target audience if they know what they are investing in.
Here's What We Think
The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 isn't just 'good for a Harley." It's good for a true petrol head who is looking for both joy in riding and comfort, period. It checks all the expectations and proudly proves that even the most iconic brands can evolve and set new benchmarks, without losing their soul.
It is safe to say that the model is s wild card in a deck full of predictable kings and queens. And sometimes, the wild card is considered the most exciting one to play with. So, if you have the budget mentioned above and want to have a true companion on your next serious adventure, the Pan America 1250 could be a wise choice without a doubt.
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Harley Davidson Harley-Davidson India
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Delhi, India, India
First Published:
April 22, 2025, 14:49 IST
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