Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 in the 1000PS Offroad Test 2024

With the Harley-Davidson Pan America, we visited the largest enduro park in Europe, the Red Stag terrain, in Rohr im Gebirge. The expansive area, about an hour southwest of the Vienna city limits, offered a perfect testing environment with 15 kilometers of forest roads and 28 different off-road trails. There are ample opportunities for every riding level to let loose for an entire day. With our large adventure bikes, we were mostly on the wider forest paths. However, we also integrated some green trails (easy difficulty level) into the test procedure to really put the big and noble bikes through their paces.

The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 excelled in our off-road test at the Red Stag terrain. The ergonomic design, featuring a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, is somewhat different from the competition but allows for quick adaptation and a good, active positioning on the bike. With its long wheelbase and comparatively high weight, it is one of the most stable bikes in the test. In gravel sections with long curves, this is definitely an advantage; the traction on loose surfaces was excellent in combination with the knobby tires. The Revolution Max engine lacks neither power nor torque (152 HP and 128 Nm). The good throttle response makes off-road riding easier. However, it is important to turn off the conservatively acting traction control here. Subsequently, the Harley also climbs demanding slopes with confidence. The semi-active damping only reaches its limits at high speeds and deep ruts on forest paths, where the 191 mm of suspension travel front and rear are fully utilized. The Pan America's durability was also impressive: despite some contact with the ground, the bike remained largely unscathed, thanks in part to the crash bars. Where is the criticism? A switchable ABS would be desirable for serious off-road use, and the menu navigation could use some attention over in Milwaukee, as it is sometimes neither intuitive nor logically structured.

Harley's first major foray into the off-road sector doesn't need to hide, but it does have a few areas that need improvement. This applies less to the riding dynamics themselves, as the engine hangs nicely on the throttle with plenty of grunt, the ergonomics for standing riding are passable, and the long wheelbase with the semi-active suspension ensures stability. However, the Pan America doesn't forgive mistakes that hobby enduro riders occasionally make very well. Whether it's because you have to search and clear error codes deep in the menus after even a minor tip-over, otherwise nothing works. Or because the build quality of the American, especially compared to other adventure bikes in the top class, leaves something to be desired. Additionally, the high weight, which lies very flat on the ground in the event of a fall, makes me, as an amateur, somewhat hesitant to tackle ambitious routes with the Pan America.

I have to say, I was quite intimidated when I saw the Pan-Am standing in the gravel in the enduro terrain. I thought to myself, "How am I supposed to plow through the terrain with this behemoth?" Well, I have to go through with it now! To really give it the beans and test the Pan-Am thoroughly in race mode, I had to forgo my electronic helpers. Thanks to the many riding modes, I could click through and found my desired setting with the off-road mode. Then, just hold the TC button on the right handlebar switch for a long time (only works with the engine running) and enjoy the full power unfiltered! Almost trembling, I lifted the Pan-Am off the stand and started Harley's famous V2. After the first few hairpins in the terrain, I had to look down twice to see if I was REALLY ripping through the terrain on the Harley. Because it worked extraordinarily well! The strong V2 let me shoot gravel through the terrain from every corner as if there was no tomorrow, and due to the long wheelbase and low center of gravity, it could carve infinitely long furrows into the gravel - mind you, while standing! Sitting down to enter the corner then became more of a test of courage because, unfortunately, there was little feel for the front wheel. This was due to Harley's typical, far-back seating position. But proper off-road riding is done standing up anyway! The suspension also pleasantly surprised me, with almost no bottoming out or sitting down despite the Harley's visual opulence, well done! Conclusion: Absolutely a fun machine with drift addiction potential! If you absolutely want to rip through sand dunes in Morocco or hard enduro tracks in the mountains, you'll quickly reach the Pan-Am's limit. But you'll have all the more fun on gravel roads and dirt paths when the V2 draws longer furrows than the tractor with its plow!

The intense off-road test conditions were perfect for putting our equipment to the test. When it came to helmets, the 1000PS crew unanimously trusted the new Tour-X5 from Arai. The helmet sits perfectly balanced on the head and remains very neutral in the wind regardless of speed. Overall, the fit of the helmet is comfortable. There is a snug contact feeling across the entire head area. As typical for Arai, the padding also pleasantly encloses the jawbone without creating any uncomfortable pressure in the cheek area. The interior lining of the Tour-X5 feels cozy and high-quality on the skin even after a long, intense, and sweaty day. With various ventilation openings in the forehead, chin, and top of the head, you can get plenty of fresh air when needed. The craftsmanship is top-notch - the helmets not only look elegant and beautiful when new, but they also remain in excellent condition even after several tough days off-road. Ventilation openings and visor locking mechanisms can be operated perfectly even when dirty. A great, versatile helmet for all kinds of motorcycle adventures. We give it our highest recommendation!

During our adventure bike test, we uniformly wore gear from the renowned manufacturer Leatt. Our editors were equipped with either the Flow Tour Suit or the Multi Tour Suit. LEATT, well-known for high-quality motocross and hard-enduro apparel, recently started offering robust and versatile protective clothing for adventure bike riders in their new ADV Collection. The Flow Tour Jacket particularly impressed us with its outstanding ventilation, providing pleasant cooling even in hot conditions up to 35 degrees. Thanks to the integrated hydration bladder system, our testers stayed well-hydrated even on dusty trails. The generous, waterproof pockets offered ample storage for personal items and allowed for comfortable access during the ride. The Multi Tour Suit, on the other hand, scored with its versatility and three-layer construction, providing optimal protection and adaptability to different weather conditions. Both models are equipped with CE-certified protectors at critical points, offering maximum protection without restricting freedom of movement. Even a LEATT Neck-Brace is compatible with the jackets. We particularly liked the split chest protector in both models, which not only ensures safety but also provides high comfort when the zipper is open. LEATT's gear proved to be ideal for our intensive tests. Robust, safe, and providing the necessary comfort for long riding days under extreme conditions.