[Hooter]

Hi - just put some money down for my 2023 HD Pan America Special! I’m getting the new gray. I’ve been riding since I was 10 and I’m 64 now. I raced motocross in high school (50 years ago), have had several dirt and road bikes. I currently own a ‘95 Heritage Softail, a 2014 Limited and a Royal Enfield Himalayan.

I’m trying to keep initial costs down so looking for some feedback on what I really need from the start. Obviously since I have two very nice Harley’s for the road, I do intend to do some off-road on my Pan America but nothing too demanding. I live in the desert southwest in California so while I might head down a relatively groomed or packed dirt Jeep road/trail but it can rapidly and without warning get very sandy or rocky. While I’ll be spending lots of time on pavement, I’d like to be prepared for anything. I also obviously want the bike protected but unless doing serious Rocky singletrack, do I really need to spend $378 for a skid plate when there’s at least some minimal skid plate stock on the bike. Tge bike already has laced wheels. The accessories I’m considering and trying to balance are:
1) Knobby tires
2) Aluminum side cases and mount (I like to secure/lick my gear when off the bike)
3) Muffler guard
4) Skid plate
5) Radiator guard
6) Rear brake cylinder guard
7) Headlamp guard

Obviously I want all of them but trying to minimize initial costs yet still be able to meet my primary goals of adventure touring with off-road capability, still good on pavement but I am familiar with dual sport knobbiest on the road, protect my new investment….wisely (I.e. don’t spend money on stuff perhaps lower probability of an issue (guards)), be able to secure my gear when off the bike. I’m familiar with thehard vs soft bag arguments and have hard bags on my Himalayan.

Anyhow, I’m very excited to pick it up. I test rode it this past Saturday and loved it. I’d really appreciate some accessory recommendations from you experienced Pan America riders. Thanks!

 

[roadrash83]

Welcome to the forum Hotter. All good choices in protection, I might skip the headlight guard and definitely get a Skid plate but look for something other than the HD one. The aftermarket accessory parts are now readily available for the Pa and much better than HD's made in China junk.

 

[Zedbra]

Welcome from the West Coast of Canada

 

[TheDom]

Welcome to the Forums.

when i initially purchased, i had them install the muffler guard and the radiator guard. As you went for the special, yours should already have the engine guard bars stock, so the additional muffler guard is a real lifesaver if you ever tip it over, and i can't recoomend the radiator guard enough for anyone that wants to do even slight amounts of gravel riding.

What really surprised me is how good the stock scorcher adventure tires work offroad, even on sand - the only time i ever thought to myself i wish i had the knobbys on was on an uphill climb through wet grass and mud a few hours after a rainstorm.

as you already said there's a skidplate stock on there already so unless you plan to go crawling over hard rock or jumping the bike, the skidplate shouldn't be that important, for bushes, sticks, loose stones and gravel the stock one works just fine.

I ended up installing an aftermarket headlight guard from amazon mostly for the looks, haven't ever had problems with stones flying up that far ahead of me (might happen if you ride behind someone else?) and there you'll find alternatives far cheaper than the HD one online if you are interested in such things.

Of, and if you run the bike with sidecases, chances are you don't really need the brake resevoir protection.

So, my priority list would look like this pretty much:

1) Your prefered choice of cases
2) Muffler Guard
3) Radiator Guard
3) Knobby Tires (should be fine without until wet season)
4) Skidplate & Headlight Guard (Optionally might search for cheaper options from other manufacturers).

 

[Hooter]

Thanks that helps a lot. In one way I want to do knobbiest right from the start so I’m “prepared “ for that unexpected sand and rocks but in another way I know at least for the first 1000 miles or so during the “honeymoon” period I’ll be on pavement keeping it pretty and clean but after that I’m gonna wanna be able to hit dirt/gravel fire roads and Jeep trails without worrying about my front end washing out in loose sand. I thought I read somewhere that the scorchers were ok on packed dirt roads and gravel but bad on any sand so I’m surprised to hear you say they were ok in sand. When you did the sand were they at normal tire inflation or less? Any other non-standard handling I should consider about the stock scorchers?

 

[Rocket]

Welcome from SE New Mexico
What's your location?
Impo, the headlight guard is junk from the factory, the rad guard and skid plate are a must for even the lightest off road. The factory skid dosent protect the regulator/rectifier like the aftermarket ones do
Most importantly.....get it in the dirt!! Your going to love it!!😁😁

 

[Hooter]

Thanks……I plan on it immediately after the “honeymoon” period. The first time I gotta wash it I’ll be ready for dirt and after the first 500 mile service. What’s your take on the stock Scorcher tires versus the Wild knobbies? It already has the laced wheels.

 

[Hooter]

Welcome from SE New Mexico
What's your location?
Impo, the headlight guard is junk from the factory, the rad guard and skid plate are a must for even the lightest off road. The factory skid dosent protect the regulator/rectifier like the aftermarket ones do
Most importantly.....get it in the dirt!! Your going to love it!!😁😁

Oh I’m SoCal high desert

 

[TheDom]

I thought I read somewhere that the scorchers were ok on packed dirt roads and gravel but bad on any sand so I’m surprised to hear you say they were ok in sand. When you did the sand were they at normal tire inflation or less? Any other non-standard handling I should consider about the stock scorchers?

Yeah, i was positively surprised by the scorchers in many regards - their ability on- and offroad and that they are relatively long-lasting (i've done 9k miles and am nowhere near the "replace me soon" thread depth). Mind you, i like to let the bike slide in the sand, so your experience might vary and you might prefer the knobbies, but if you're fine with wheelspin at the back and a slight drift around every second or third corner i'd expect you to do well with the scorchers. For me, their ability to keep up with most street bikes on tarmac and to run the Bike at top speed combined with their impressivehandling of any offroad terrain that is not wet/stormswept mud make them more likeable than the anakee wilds, which significantly will impact your performance on the road and on hard packed dirt or gravel, although they might work a bit better in sand and mud. Also, it's much easyer to break the rear free when desired with the scorchers.

I've been running the tires in the lower end of the pressure range that still doesn't trigger the TPMS low pressure alert, so that might have improved their dirt handling a little bit, but not the point that is has undesirable side effects on the street.

 

[Rocket]

I dig the Schorchers, havent ran nobs yet, but I will probably stay with the Scorchers.

 

[71Romeo]

Welcome to the forum! I logged in today searching for a SoCal desert dweller with a PAS to go hit some of that MOJAVE and here you are! I put down $ on my bike in Oct 22 and closed the deal 12/29/22 at Huntington Beach HD. LOVE that dealership. Before they delivered the bike (put on the side racks and top case and exhaust heat shield, I bought:

1. Muffler Guard
2. Radiator Guard
3. Headlamp Guard
4. Skid Plate
5. Soft HD bags

All were after market or overstock HD parts from an ebay seller and the Soft Bags I got from a rider on this forum. After the bike arrived in January I installed the above plus bought some extra large foot pegs (also a suggestion from this forum - Black Dog Cycle Works) and LOVE LOVE THEM with my size 15 boots!

I just rode into the Mojave this weekend and had a blast! I dropped her twice in the sand but loved it. I'M 100% FOR ME THE SOFT BAGS ARE THE WAY TO GO because when I did drop her the bags absorbed the crash and that really helped. They were easy enough to take off to help me lift the bike up and get a better grip but I didn't have to take em off. I had on the stock Scorchers and they tires were never the problem... only the OPERATOR! I gotta stand up more often in the sand..... when you sit you lose precious seconds to stand as the bike is sliding away from you...so standing really fixes my own errors...

I bought the black HD top case but it's NOT a replacement for my king tour pak on my Road Glide. My helmet fits in the aluminum top case but that's about it.

My next short list of items is a Dual Horn from Motohorn (it's in my garage ready for install) and a Touratech stabilizer bar which you also need to mount a separate GPS device. I looked at the MadStad windshield and stabilizer bar but might not be needed. I rode hard in high winds Sunday and that stock windshield really held up much MUCH better than I expected so will probably just get the Touratech stabilizer bar. I bought a samsung tablet to mount as a GPS device but it's too delicate and will probably go with a Garmin XT.

ONCE YOU'RE READY TO ROLL I'LL HEAD YOUR DIRECTION. IT'S MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE THE DROPS AND THE CRAZY WHEN ANOTHER RIDER IS CLOSE BY!

 

[Hooter]

Welcome to the forum! I logged in today searching for a SoCal desert dweller with a PAS to go hit some of that MOJAVE and here you are! I put down $ on my bike in Oct 22 and closed the deal 12/29/22 at Huntington Beach HD. LOVE that dealership. Before they delivered the bike (put on the side racks and top case and exhaust heat shield, I bought:

1. Muffler Guard
2. Radiator Guard
3. Headlamp Guard
4. Skid Plate
5. Soft HD bags

All were after market or overstock HD parts from an ebay seller and the Soft Bags I got from a rider on this forum. After the bike arrived in January I installed the above plus bought some extra large foot pegs (also a suggestion from this forum - Black Dog Cycle Works) and LOVE LOVE THEM with my size 15 boots!

I just rode into the Mojave this weekend and had a blast! I dropped her twice in the sand but loved it. I'M 100% FOR ME THE SOFT BAGS ARE THE WAY TO GO because when I did drop her the bags absorbed the crash and that really helped. They were easy enough to take off to help me lift the bike up and get a better grip but I didn't have to take em off. I had on the stock Scorchers and they tires were never the problem... only the OPERATOR! I gotta stand up more often in the sand..... when you sit you lose precious seconds to stand as the bike is sliding away from you...so standing really fixes my own errors...

I bought the black HD top case but it's NOT a replacement for my king tour pak on my Road Glide. My helmet fits in the aluminum top case but that's about it.

My next short list of items is a Dual Horn from Motohorn (it's in my garage ready for install) and a Touratech stabilizer bar which you also need to mount a separate GPS device. I looked at the MadStad windshield and stabilizer bar but might not be needed. I rode hard in high winds Sunday and that stock windshield really held up much MUCH better than I expected so will probably just get the Touratech stabilizer bar. I bought a samsung tablet to mount as a GPS device but it's too delicate and will probably go with a Garmin XT.

ONCE YOU'RE READY TO ROLL I'LL HEAD YOUR DIRECTION. IT'S MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE THE DROPS AND THE CRAZY WHEN ANOTHER RIDER IS CLOSE BY!

Sounds great! I’ll let you know when I pick it up and get past break in.

 

[Tobba611]

One more thing, front fender extender... Like 23 bucks on Amazon, cheap insurance. Keeps mud/sand out of the radiator. There are also aftermarket radiator guards on Amazon. Much cheaper but have worked fine for me. Cheap knock-offs but the only difference I could see from the HD version was price and a bar and shield logo.

 

[71Romeo]

One more thing, front fender extender... Like 23 bucks on Amazon, cheap insurance. Keeps mud/sand out of the radiator. There are also aftermarket radiator guards on Amazon. Much cheaper but have worked fine for me. Cheap knock-offs but the only difference I could see from the HD version was price and a bar and shield logo.

Could you take a pic of the extender? Sound like a smart part

 

[Tobba611]

Could you take a pic of the extender? Sound like a smart part

 

[71Romeo]

View attachment 2505

Thank you. I dove down the rabbit hole after your post. Much appreciated.

 

[Tobba611]

Check out- https://www.youtube.com/@MikesMotorbikeChannel... Mikes Motorbike channel. This guy has meticulously performed the regular service on his PAS and review accessories a lot. Really awesome channel if you are considering seat, bar risers, luggage, etc.

 

[Sq51lacfd]

Welcome to the show from the Frozen Tundra of the Midwest. "Tell yer folks I says hi".

 

[Munaman]

Welcome, and congratulations on your purchase! Adventures await!

 

[BWS]

Hi - just put some money down for my 2023 HD Pan America Special! I’m getting the new gray. I’ve been riding since I was 10 and I’m 64 now. I raced motocross in high school (50 years ago), have had several dirt and road bikes. I currently own a ‘95 Heritage Softail, a 2014 Limited and a Royal Enfield Himalayan.

I’m trying to keep initial costs down so looking for some feedback on what I really need from the start. Obviously since I have two very nice Harley’s for the road, I do intend to do some off-road on my Pan America but nothing too demanding. I live in the desert southwest in California so while I might head down a relatively groomed or packed dirt Jeep road/trail but it can rapidly and without warning get very sandy or rocky. While I’ll be spending lots of time on pavement, I’d like to be prepared for anything. I also obviously want the bike protected but unless doing serious Rocky singletrack, do I really need to spend $378 for a skid plate when there’s at least some minimal skid plate stock on the bike. Tge bike already has laced wheels. The accessories I’m considering and trying to balance are:
1) Knobby tires
2) Aluminum side cases and mount (I like to secure/lick my gear when off the bike)
3) Muffler guard
4) Skid plate
5) Radiator guard
6) Rear brake cylinder guard
7) Headlamp guard

Obviously I want all of them but trying to minimize initial costs yet still be able to meet my primary goals of adventure touring with off-road capability, still good on pavement but I am familiar with dual sport knobbiest on the road, protect my new investment….wisely (I.e. don’t spend money on stuff perhaps lower probability of an issue (guards)), be able to secure my gear when off the bike. I’m familiar with thehard vs soft bag arguments and have hard bags on my Himalayan.

Anyhow, I’m very excited to pick it up. I test rode it this past Saturday and loved it. I’d really appreciate some accessory recommendations from you experienced Pan America riders. Thanks!

Skid plate a must. Stock one is very thin and doesn’t cover much u set watch. Grill guard recommended as well.