Harley has swapped its undersquare inclinations for an oversquare design in the new liquid-cooled 152PS (112kW) Revolution Max 1250 V-twin, which revs all the way to 9,500rpm, promising smooth low-end torque (rising to a peak of 127Nm, or 94 ft lb) and a broad powerband (with an abundance at the top end) thanks to variable valve timing. This engine acts as a heavily-stressed member within the chassis in order to both save weight, resulting in wet weights of 242kg for the standard and 252.5kgs for the Special. With the steel tube front, mid and subframes all bolting directly to the engine, this has made it easy to swap out elements in the event of a hard off. And if the reveal video is anything to go by, the manufacturer certainly intends for it to be ridden hard off-road, harking back to both its 1975 Baja 500 win and the earliest Harleys, which rivalled horse and carts as a way of crossing the country’s rugged terrain. It’s fast too, with a promised top speed of 135mph – with luggage, that is.
A prerequisite of an adventure motorcycle launch is to dub it the ‘Leatherman/Swiss Army Knife/multitool’ of motorcycles, and Harley has not disappointed. Like any decent tactical appliance, the Pan America’s design is led by function, with elements including sunken bolts, an on-the-go adjustable rear brake pedal, and the cyclops headlight arranged horizontally to better illuminate the trails. This headlight is adaptive on the Special, which also benefits from a substantial aluminium bash plate, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and steering damper.