So after being on the market for most of this year the Pan America has shaken up the ADV world as HD enters this new niche. I was apprehensive at the start, as I was looking to upgrade to an ADV bike and the thought of HD being a top competitor was not on my radar. I basically was only looking at the R1200GS/1250GSA. After speaking to my dealer and seeing one in person I was soon becoming a believer. I did my research and soon put a deposit on an incoming PAS.
As I continued to research and dig deep to find those good reviews that spoke about the good/bad/and should haves, I am now getting cold feet about purchasing a '21 model. So the questions:
As a current/former PAS owner is a '21 model worth it? Or should I/we wait till the '22/23/24 models when the common issues have been fixed/mitigated?
OR, are the issues more singular and a majority of owners are issue free?
Are there former GS owners who absolutely love the PAS over the GS or do you have buyers remorse (or already returned and got back on a GS)?
My concerns (based on others posts here and youtube reviews):
Battery
Random codes and HD techs not knowing what to do (mainly because this is a new bike so they wont have the expereince of working on them)
Lack of aftermarket options (though this can be mitigated in the next year ... but as a consumer do I really want to wait?)
Plastic "grab rails" on the rear (why plastic? To me, this is a design flaw considering other big makers have a metal rail)
BAckordered HD accessories (who knows when these will get filled and be regulary availabe)
My likes of the bike:
The Price*** AS this would be my first ADV bike, it would not brake the bank (sort of)
Less overall maintenance and costs (BMW is great but there A LOT of maintenance costs that serious owners reveal... but again if the bike is in and out fo the shop for codes the PAS will have the same sort of costs)
Seems like a better daily driver than a GSA
More HD Dealers/service depos than BMW nationwide
The look is unique and original
I am definitely a brand loyalist so moving away from HD tugs at heart strings but I want to be realistic about this type of bike and have the right expectations for the first few thousand miles
Thanks for any feedback
As I continued to research and dig deep to find those good reviews that spoke about the good/bad/and should haves, I am now getting cold feet about purchasing a '21 model. So the questions:
As a current/former PAS owner is a '21 model worth it? Or should I/we wait till the '22/23/24 models when the common issues have been fixed/mitigated?
OR, are the issues more singular and a majority of owners are issue free?
Are there former GS owners who absolutely love the PAS over the GS or do you have buyers remorse (or already returned and got back on a GS)?
My concerns (based on others posts here and youtube reviews):
Battery
Random codes and HD techs not knowing what to do (mainly because this is a new bike so they wont have the expereince of working on them)
Lack of aftermarket options (though this can be mitigated in the next year ... but as a consumer do I really want to wait?)
Plastic "grab rails" on the rear (why plastic? To me, this is a design flaw considering other big makers have a metal rail)
BAckordered HD accessories (who knows when these will get filled and be regulary availabe)
My likes of the bike:
The Price*** AS this would be my first ADV bike, it would not brake the bank (sort of)
Less overall maintenance and costs (BMW is great but there A LOT of maintenance costs that serious owners reveal... but again if the bike is in and out fo the shop for codes the PAS will have the same sort of costs)
Seems like a better daily driver than a GSA
More HD Dealers/service depos than BMW nationwide
The look is unique and original
I am definitely a brand loyalist so moving away from HD tugs at heart strings but I want to be realistic about this type of bike and have the right expectations for the first few thousand miles
Thanks for any feedback
😁
