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Your favorite Pan America question/comment?

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Tobba611

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2021 PA Special
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967 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've been keeping mental notes of comments I've heard from fellow bikers and from cagers that come have a closer look. I started writing some down. Below are a few. What are your favorite PA questions/comments??

Questions:
1. "Is that a Harley?" - Yes!
2. "Where is it made?" - York PA, for now.
3. "is that a custom job?" - No, its factory with a few add-ons.
4. "Is that a BMW?" :cautious:
5. "How fast is it?" - Faster than a factory Roadglide, but slower than a Hayabusa.

Comments; (Keep in mind I live in the "deep south" so some of these are pretty dumb.

1. "That doesn't even sound like a Harley." - Well technically, it IS a Harley so this IS what Harleys sound like now...
2. "Ain't no way that's American made.." - Well, it's definitely assembled in the USA. I am a contract engineer for HD and I watched it roll off of line 3, in York PA, back in '21.
3. "I heard those were unreliable." - Well, I have nearly 36k on mine with no major issues aside from a piss poor battery.
4. "I don't think I would ride that to Sturgis!!" - Why not pussy?
 
#2 ·
1."When did they start makin those things"? Well, its 2024, and they started making them in 2021, so I guess that means they have been out for a solid 10 years now.
2. "Is that one of them there europe bikes"? No, Its a Harley. "Get outta here"! Thanks, I will.
3. "Did you ride that thing all the way here"? No, I pushed it until i got to a downhill area and just sat on it for a while.
4. "Is that one of those battery bikes" Well, Considering we are both here ar the BP gas station filling our tanks, I'm gonna go with a solid 'no'.
5. "How did you find out those were being made"? I can read.
6. "Who do you think you are just hopping that curb and driving where you want"? Bill Davidson, nice to meet you too.
7. "What do you do with that thing in the winter"? Well, I am on stand-by to pull Santa's F#@king sleigh, should a reindeer get sick.
8. "Can that go through water"? Actually, I push this button right here and I can just ride on top of the water.
9. " So it's a Harley? Where did you get it"? At a Royal Enfield dealer.
10. "Aint no way that's a Harley". Your right, I just spent an ass-load of time to etch their logo into the motor. Etched the VIN too. You got me.
 
#5 ·
Most of the time, folk are quite interested in the bike. But common questions are,

1. How are you finding it?

Different to a twin cam, but im not going back to one.

2. Whats it like on fuel?

Same as my street glide.

3.whats it go like?

Faster than a fat kid to the ice cream truck.

4. Your going to lose a ton of money on that.

I dont plan on getting rid of it.😆
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I heard a new comment just yesterday from a guy at a gas station! He said:

" I read somewhere that Kawasaki BOUGHT OUT Harley Davidson, I guess this proves it." (gesturing to my bike) 😁😁

I laughed so hard at that comment but the guy wasn't amused and stood by it. When I got home, I did some research and found an "April Fools" joke from a few years ago. Here's a link to its explanation:

Motorcycle Pictures | BikePics.com

View trending motorcycle pictures of Honda, Yamaha, Suxuki, Kawasaki, Aprilia, KTM and more. New pictures uploaded daily by users from all over the world.
bikepics.com bikepics.com

The reason the joke got so much traction is that for a while, GOOGLING "Who owns Harley Davidson?" would take you straight to the fake article. (Just like googling " HD Pan America, class action lawsuit", or HD Pan America discontinued" will take you straight to bullshit threads on this forum).
 
#10 ·
2022 at the Harley dealership in Fairbanks, AK. I had just come down off 4 very muddy, very rainy and snowy days on The Dalton Hwy to Deadhorse. I was hanging in the parking lot waiting my turn for a new rear tire. Three of the local boys rolled up on their Harleys, big HOGG patches on the back of their vests, got the whole “look”.

They walked up to my bike, and the big 300 lb guy snorts and says, “That ain’t no fu@kin’ Harley, I don’t care what it says in the tank!”. I quickly replied “Then don’t buy one. You’re too fu@king fat to ride one anyway.” His face showed shock at not being used to being talked to like that. His two buddies busted out laughing, thought it was hilarious. Fat-ass poser didn’t say a word, walked off in a huff. His buddies stayed and visited awhile. Nice guys.
 
#11 ·
Not Pan Am related, but I was in the gift shop on top of Mt. Washington in 2006 talking to an older couple and their friend. They were curious about our motorcycle gear, I explained that we were riding Buell motorcycles from Colombus, OH to Portland, ME, their friend who was a bit hard of hearing said "How do you work out feed for the Mules on such a long trip"? Buell ownership has been a never ending string of comments, what's that....what kind of Honda is that....is that one a them Ducati's....where's it made, East Troy Wisconsin, no way!
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Yesterday:

Two Nashville police motor officers approached me at the gas station. One said: "I could see that bike being useful for us.". They asked about top speed, of course I said: "I don't know, never had it over 79".. 😁 :whistle:

Police Pan America would be cool to see.
 
#16 ·
Hahaha.
Good job.
Same crap wherever I go.
... And why 17 years ago I sold my fat boy and bought my first Suzuki VStrom... Never looking back until April when I bought my new 23 PAS.

My first big rally up in Eureka Springs Arkansas two 300+ lb patched whales was talking smack outside the dealer... One saying this POS is a fake Harley...
Well I told him this air finger quotation "fake Harley" is the fastest bike they never made I guess... He started yacking stage 3 blah blah and I challenged him to a race, any way HE chose.
Well the store manager called him out too and asked if he was scared, probably knowing what the result would be...
We lined up in the parking lot behind the closed down dance hall and across the parking lot we go...
He was 6 bikes behind me, then I challenged him to a run down to glass chapel....
He rode off.
There has been so many fat whales that got embarrassed by this bike.
I still wish the Bronx would come out.
Anyway I love this bike.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Today I was approached by a fellow who said he was "about to go buy one" (referring to my PA). He wanted me to rev it so he could hear the screaming eagle exhaust, because "they sound really weak stock". I blipped the throttle a couple of times and he said, "no, I think it's going to have to be a lot louder for my tastes". I told him there were a lot of pipes for the bike now, but in early '21 this was pretty much all I could get. He said he would need louder pipes, some "mini-ape" handle bars and maybe a "stage 3 kit" at some point. He obviously had no idea what the bike even was, besides the HD markings. I referred to it as a "dirt glide" and he emphatically agreed that he had been researching the "dirt glide" for a while. :ROFLMAO:
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
netexasdude said:
Hahaha.
Good job.
Same crap wherever I go.
... And why 17 years ago I sold my fat boy and bought my first Suzuki VStrom... Never looking back until April when I bought my new 23 PAS.

My first big rally up in Eureka Springs Arkansas two 300+ lb patched whales was talking smack outside the dealer... One saying this POS is a fake Harley...
Well I told him this air finger quotation "fake Harley" is the fastest bike they never made I guess... He started yacking stage 3 blah blah and I challenged him to a race, any way HE chose.
Well the store manager called him out too and asked if he was scared, probably knowing what the result would be...
We lined up in the parking lot behind the closed down dance hall and across the parking lot we go...
He was 6 bikes behind me, then I challenged him to a run down to glass chapel....
He rode off.
There has been so many fat whales that got embarrassed by this bike.
I still wish the Bronx would come out.
Anyway I love this bike.
Click to expand...
Old biker rules:

1. Never sit on another mans bike unless HE invites you to.
2. Never talk crap about another mans bike. (That's what forums are for)
3. Never race a sport bike OR a scooter.
4. Never assume you are faster, stronger or meaner than anyone.
 
#19 ·
I have to admit that even I, as a current owner, underestimated what this bike could do until about a month after owning it. The reasons I purchased the Pan Am and the reasons I truly enjoy riding it are completely different and unexpected. I bought it for its neutral riding position and plush suspension. I quickly determined during the test ride that the power delivery exceeded expectations. I just wanted something comfortable to ride and explore on.

I have owned bikes on both ends of the spectrum from a 1,000cc sport bike to a bagger. On both of those categories you felt like you did something after a sporty ride on a twisty road. Riding the Pan Am on the same roads though, this thing just devours the road. Flick it in sport mode and hang on. I find myself wondering where all those sharp turns are that I used to ride because this thing absolutely carves them up almost effortlessly.

I like to hear from people that truly recognize what this bike is. My favorite comment so far happened when I was parking in a motorcycle area with variety of brands and types of motorcycles. An individual walking to his Harley said "Man, you probably have the fastest bike out here".

The Pan Am is a sleeper of sorts because many just do not know what it is capable of. Almost like we are part of a secret society.
 
#20 ·
This is a great thread. I have to add that I have owned my PAS for a month. I was so consumed and did so much research before buying I thought everybody knew every detail about these motorcycles as I did. I ride it as much as possible and frequent Los Angeles coffee shops in the morning a biker bars in the evening - my favorite hang outs. I have been approached many times by people asking, " Is that Harley, what type a Harley is it , when did they start making those?" From the biker crowd, "They have a CVO version of that now?" I love the attention.

Fortunately all my contacts have been positive and friendly so far. BUT I know that anywhere ones ego can supersede ones manners, as in discussing motorcycles, cars, sports, and selecting the greatest rock song of the seventies. People can become real douche bags and just can't resist blurting some uncalled for mean spirited comment that just sours you .....well until you get a shot of coffee or a nice IPA.
 
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Tobba611
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