Harley-Davidson Pan America: what we know so far

In an attempt to reach a new audience and revive dwindling sales, Harley-Davidson is stepping outside the box with a number of all-new models including the pure-electric LiveWire, the Bronx streetfighter, and the Pan America adventure bike.

First revealed at Italy's EICMA motorcycle show last November, the off-road-ready 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America is expected to launch in Australia around October 2020, although local specifications and pricing are yet to be finalised.

What we do know is that power will come from a 1250cc V-twin, which the American brand says will produce "more than" 147hp (108kW) and 122Nm.

Positioned as a premium adventure bike, the Pan America features long-travel suspension, a large hand-adjustable windscreen, spoked wheels, a bash plate, and hand guards. Some official photos show the model fitted with hard lockable panniers and a top box.

For braking duties there's a twin-disc set-up with Brembo four-piston monobloc calipers up front and a single or twin-piston Brembo unit at the rear, while the bike rolls on bespoke Michelin Anakee dual-sport tyres.

It's unclear which components will come as standard features, although press shots of the prototype model show a massive digital – presumably TFT – dash, along with buttons for creature comforts like heated grips and riding modes.

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Australian sales figures from 2019 showed that Harley-Davidson sold the most road-going motorcycles of any manufacturer, despite recording a 7.9 per cent decline compared to 2018.

Harley also struggled in its massive domestic US market, where it recorded a sales slip for a fifth consecutive year.

The Milwaukee-based manufacturer hopes to remedy this by embracing new motorcycle segments, rather than relying on its traditional stable of cruisers and tourers.

Its first adventure bike, along with the polarising LiveWire electric bike, will certainly go a long way to reaching different and younger audiences.

Two production-ready LiveWire units are currently in Australia and undergoing ADR testing ahead of the bike's official release.

In an attempt to gain more traction in Asian markets, Harley-Davidson also recently confirmed its development of a new Chinese-made middleweight, codenamed 'HD350'.

The yet-to-be-revealed HD350 will go into production later this year, with the brand hoping it will help it achieve significantly higher sales volumes outside of the US.

Harley-Davidson has weathered many an economic storm over its 117-year history, with the looming influx of new models representing its biggest departure yet from its traditional core market. Only time will tell if the company's efforts to reinvent itself will pay off.