Had a few thoughts after my first 700 miles on my '22 PAS.
Quick bit of background.. I've been riding a 05 carburetor-ed sportster 1200 for the past 7 years, put about 40k on it. I'd even done some light touring on it. After trying to make it a touring bike and realizing that will never really work, I got my PAS. (Still have it too). So thats where my head is at moving to the PAS.
So far, no major issues with the bike (knock on wood) aside from today I got the first blank screen on startup. I have the latest firmware and been keeping it on a tender all the time. (i always do with all my bikes.. nothing new there). The blank screen went away after a few startups, but i wonder if it was due to there being about 10 'glides in close proximity to it (they were also starting up thier bikes.. i'm usually alone starting mine..). Lots of fobs nearby? Just a guess.
Anyway, the PAS has power for days and i'm loving how I can go on the highway and not white knuckle it. I find the windscreen useful and im still not used to 6 gears! Downshifting at high speeds has been a little odd, but i think im just getting the feel for the clutch.
I have my android phone paired to the bike and my cardo freecom 4+ paired to it as well. I have no issues with this set up, I'm streaming music from my phone no problems. Though it sometimes cuts in and out, but not enough to be a problem. The map is garbage though. I dont understand the app and the map itself looks like a topo map from the 40's. HD really bunged this up. I hope a future update fixes it or a module for carplay comes out at some point.
The lights are as bad as i've heard. I did a dusk ride tonight (short one) and i felt invisible on the road. On my Sporty i have custom dynamics LED's all around and even with an old bike like that, between the loud exhaust and CD lights.. i'm definitely noticed. I have some Denali's on the way for my PAS.. just the lights on the hand gaurd and rear license plate. I will probably get one of those big spotlights the Denali offers when funds allow.
Also, speaking of that.. I have a Screaming Eagle slip on exhaust on the way. I dont mind how quiet it is but I've noticed how cars dont hear me coming compared to my sportster.. esp on highways. Need some grunt.
Aside from those two planned upgrades, i've only done the A1 risers and the HD Folding Shift Lever. I knew i'd do these on day one because my wrists go numb on the stock ones and my big a** feet can never find the stock shift lever. Happy with both though i have to say, my right hand still goes a little numb w/ the A1 risers. Oh and the sport side cases, which i've already managed to dent slightly backing them out in my driveway (backed into a trash bin... like, not hard at all)
Speaking of parts, a negative to me is the lack of aftermarket stuff. I did my research but I'm still kinda floored how some of these bigger aftermarket parts companies that cater to the HD crowd have little to nothing for the PA. I wrote to a few of them to see.. and for instance Ciro 3d was like, "yea, we're never making pan am parts". Really?! Weaksauce in my opinion.
After the exhaust and lights, all that i want are highway pegs and a passenger backrest. Maybe i'm just used to them on my other bikes.. but so far i'm not wow'd by the options.
Which leads me to my only real negative on the bike, is the seat. For the record, i'm 6' with a 34" inseam and i have the seat in the "low" position. Im tiptoed at stops, which doesnt bother me. Back to the stock seat.. I loved it on the test rides, and i love it around town. But after longer rides, thats no longer the case. After an hour the top half of my butt is numb. And my tailbone is killing me. This NEVER happens to me on my sportster which by all accounts is way more uncomfortable (though i like my mustang seat.. basic but good). I'm thinking it has to do with the low setting on the stock seat slopes downward towards the tank some. I saw a video were a guy was cliping the plastic pilions on the seat to make it sit more even. I'm skeptical to cut plastic to try this. I think I'm going to try it in the high setting to see if that is more comfortable, but reach may be a problem for me. I'm also considering sending it to the place that shapes the seat for you (mean city cycles), or trying the low seat (do HD dealers let you test ride PA seats?). Of course theres other aftermarket seats, but before anyone says Saddlemen, i hate the way those look.
But aside from the seat, most of this is just nitpicking. So far i'm loving the bike and excited to get some more miles under my belt. Anyway, let me know your comments if you have any (esp about the seat)!
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Quick bit of background.. I've been riding a 05 carburetor-ed sportster 1200 for the past 7 years, put about 40k on it. I'd even done some light touring on it. After trying to make it a touring bike and realizing that will never really work, I got my PAS. (Still have it too). So thats where my head is at moving to the PAS.
So far, no major issues with the bike (knock on wood) aside from today I got the first blank screen on startup. I have the latest firmware and been keeping it on a tender all the time. (i always do with all my bikes.. nothing new there). The blank screen went away after a few startups, but i wonder if it was due to there being about 10 'glides in close proximity to it (they were also starting up thier bikes.. i'm usually alone starting mine..). Lots of fobs nearby? Just a guess.
Anyway, the PAS has power for days and i'm loving how I can go on the highway and not white knuckle it. I find the windscreen useful and im still not used to 6 gears! Downshifting at high speeds has been a little odd, but i think im just getting the feel for the clutch.
I have my android phone paired to the bike and my cardo freecom 4+ paired to it as well. I have no issues with this set up, I'm streaming music from my phone no problems. Though it sometimes cuts in and out, but not enough to be a problem. The map is garbage though. I dont understand the app and the map itself looks like a topo map from the 40's. HD really bunged this up. I hope a future update fixes it or a module for carplay comes out at some point.
The lights are as bad as i've heard. I did a dusk ride tonight (short one) and i felt invisible on the road. On my Sporty i have custom dynamics LED's all around and even with an old bike like that, between the loud exhaust and CD lights.. i'm definitely noticed. I have some Denali's on the way for my PAS.. just the lights on the hand gaurd and rear license plate. I will probably get one of those big spotlights the Denali offers when funds allow.
Also, speaking of that.. I have a Screaming Eagle slip on exhaust on the way. I dont mind how quiet it is but I've noticed how cars dont hear me coming compared to my sportster.. esp on highways. Need some grunt.
Aside from those two planned upgrades, i've only done the A1 risers and the HD Folding Shift Lever. I knew i'd do these on day one because my wrists go numb on the stock ones and my big a** feet can never find the stock shift lever. Happy with both though i have to say, my right hand still goes a little numb w/ the A1 risers. Oh and the sport side cases, which i've already managed to dent slightly backing them out in my driveway (backed into a trash bin... like, not hard at all)
Speaking of parts, a negative to me is the lack of aftermarket stuff. I did my research but I'm still kinda floored how some of these bigger aftermarket parts companies that cater to the HD crowd have little to nothing for the PA. I wrote to a few of them to see.. and for instance Ciro 3d was like, "yea, we're never making pan am parts". Really?! Weaksauce in my opinion.
After the exhaust and lights, all that i want are highway pegs and a passenger backrest. Maybe i'm just used to them on my other bikes.. but so far i'm not wow'd by the options.
Which leads me to my only real negative on the bike, is the seat. For the record, i'm 6' with a 34" inseam and i have the seat in the "low" position. Im tiptoed at stops, which doesnt bother me. Back to the stock seat.. I loved it on the test rides, and i love it around town. But after longer rides, thats no longer the case. After an hour the top half of my butt is numb. And my tailbone is killing me. This NEVER happens to me on my sportster which by all accounts is way more uncomfortable (though i like my mustang seat.. basic but good). I'm thinking it has to do with the low setting on the stock seat slopes downward towards the tank some. I saw a video were a guy was cliping the plastic pilions on the seat to make it sit more even. I'm skeptical to cut plastic to try this. I think I'm going to try it in the high setting to see if that is more comfortable, but reach may be a problem for me. I'm also considering sending it to the place that shapes the seat for you (mean city cycles), or trying the low seat (do HD dealers let you test ride PA seats?). Of course theres other aftermarket seats, but before anyone says Saddlemen, i hate the way those look.
But aside from the seat, most of this is just nitpicking. So far i'm loving the bike and excited to get some more miles under my belt. Anyway, let me know your comments if you have any (esp about the seat)!
