Im sure they already told you, but in sand you need to get your speed up, sit farther back, keep your arms loose and let the front tire find its way (Literally been on a dirtbike since i could walk)
I wish I knew that before my first excursion in wet, deep sand. I saw advice telling me to sit forward...I ate it a dozen times before my friend told me that's not how to do it in sand or slick conditions. Keeping that speed up while the front warbles took some balls after spilling that much haha
Hey noobs! Just wanna let you know that after watching your video for over a year I finally went out and bought a bike! Then stacked it 2 days later. I now have to replace the pillion seat, left rider foot peg, gear selector, left indicator, left mirror and most fairings on the left side. I've also gotten a broken foot and road rash down my left side. Still hasn't put me off thought! Soon as my moon boot is off and I've repaired the damages I'll be right back on the road again! Thanks for all your videos they've helped a lot!
I had the chance to test ride the PanAm in NH this summer. It's pretty awesome - no question. The bigger take-away for me is the importance of getting some good training on how to ride a big bike off-road. They're not 300 lb dirt bikes. Spike was fortunate to be trained by one of the best Co's in the business - Rawhyde. I took a 5-day training course with them earlier this year. Cracked a couple of ribs on day 2 in the sand pit (totally my fault) , but stuck it out. Got to know the medic really well (candyman). Back in the northeast this fall, I'm a way better rider on the trails with my big bike. There's a time and place for a trail bike and a different time and place for a big ADV bike. Kudos to Spite for sharing.
Never been a huge Harley guy (or ADV guy, my brother's Versys-X 300 is the only "adv" I've ridden lmao) but this bike looks fantastic. Truly impressed, especially considering how Spite doesn't have decades off-road seat time (no offense intended, it just speaks to how easily the bike can be wrangled). The weight appears, at face value, to be the only real issue; but the fact that the massive GSA1250 dominates the class kind of negates that argument, if that can comfortably negotiate trails I can't imagine this won't be able to. 10/10 gonna recommend to my brother as his upgrade bike lmao
Does the fact the GSA dominates the segment negate the weight argument... No, the versys x300 and even the lil 310gs are just as capable off-road as the GSA. Physics don't lie. A lighter average bike will always beat a heavier "more capable" bike off-road imo
I'm impressed. I've always liked Harley's but when I was little, they had serios quality issues. I own 2 now and love them. Would love to ad one of these to the mix!
This looks fun, and I'm happy that HD did something new, also the event itself is a nice idea. Not a fan of the looks of this bike, but I'm excided to see what Harley has to offer in the future.
learn slow, go fast. Great bike, would love to test one for a day. Big bikes CAN go off road. The difference is, when the going gets tough, the lighter bikes become the faster bikes and are more easy to handle. I learned on the smaller bikes and worked my way up over 35 years untill i owned a BMW HP2. The toughest and fastest offroad bike on the planet for years. 1200cc and only 185kg wet (407 lbs) and that was build in 2005 !!!. The Pan American did the same as BMW did with the GS bikes after the HP2. They made the GS more heavy and with that, more road oriented (which is ok, coarse there is more asphalt ). Everything over 440 lbs is more of a fight in the rough offroad parts.
Had the Zakar experience last May with the same crew; an awesome group of committed coaches. I’ve got 3,300 on my PA and find myself riding it more than my Glide.
Yam I love your use of classical music. I'm not all about it, but the bangers are bangers and I love to hear them when I can. You're one of my favorite content creators.
For a second at the beginning of the video I thought he was referring to the Pan America being ridiculously fast until I heard that in-line four sound of the Turbo Charged BUSA!!!! Can’t wait for one million.
The TLDR seems to be “Spite has never taken an advanced rider course.” Isn’t that contrary to everything you guys have said in noob rider vids? Facts, you guys need to give more love to DDFM.
I like this channel but if you want a serious evaluation of a bike’s pros and cons...you need experienced high level riders. Good on Spite for putting this out there. It’s not his comfort zone. I don’t care what anyone says, these big bikes are not for the inexperienced. I hope that’s the takeaway for the noob audience. Now listen....about that TURBO BUSA 🤯
All of us Millennials are about to go through our ADV metamorphosis and I think Harley has done a good thing here.... now hopefully they drop that same engine into a naked bike and keep making good decisions moving forward
I had a '79 Goldwing at one point...weighed about the same as the Pan America. Have you seen Goldwing Motocross by Dos Honduros You Tube channel? Hysterical seeing guys getting rad on a barge.. Fun to watch but I wouldn't want to die on that hill.
That said, it is probably perfect for touring in the US due to decent roads, long distances, etc. The HD Road King I rode in the US made a lot of sense when I was there....but not fir jumping that gutter two up...or off-road deep sand at speed...
I did an Adv Rally event near Anza Borrego that was partially sponsored by HD to promote this bike. I'll say this much, it's a nice departure from what HD has been doing. Also, the events were scored and the teams that were the most effective (read: highest scores) rode these big 800+ cc adventure bikes. My teammate and I with our sub 300cc dual sports had a tough time even being competitive. Would definitely like to put some miles on a bike like this to see the other end of the off-road spectrum.
Super sandy all around here. That area is about an hour south of where I live. Good to see it handle alright. The XR650 doesn’t handle sand that well as my dad can attest.
Hey dude, when you fall off your bike: DON'T hold your hand like that - you will break your hand, wrist or elbow and dislocate your shoulder if you do. Even on sand. Watch some videos about how to fall off bikes. Stay safe! :)
i wish i could see a HD 50/75hp 250/ 300 pounds on the same frame need a street / dirt bike now that this is out and a good price point for us younger guys i would be SOLD !!!!
The new sportster s is probably the closest you'll get.. the 500 and 750cc bike they came out with were piles of trash. I rode the 750 and the only thing going for it was it was cheap. They use the 500 for their beginner riders course but as a cruiser they should just use the 883's
Man I sat on a PA at my local HD dealer and its BONKERS good from a sit. Ergonomics are excellent. Everything is where you expect it... But we all know that KTM 1290 Super Adventure R or S is twice the bike for $3000 less.
Respect to Spite for learning more ADV skills and having fun in the desert. For an OFFROAD review by an Offroad expert rider : Brake Magazine channel video see : Does the Harley Davidson Pan Am really compare? - vs BMW 1250 GS vs KTM 1290 Super ADV - Full Review Have fun watching.
Noob question (non rider) - do ADV riders loosen the clutch lever /brake lever a bit so they can give in those situation. I’m a MTB rider and that is a must to avoid replacing levers each bail!
As a non American (UK) I do quite like this bike and how it looks. I reckon they could do quite well with adv dad's over here tbh. They'd probably eat up the patriotism.
@@karlcain1068 how many of them are out selling bmw in a market they made and dominated for that last what 30 years. I think the people buying them and testing them are plenty happy, I've seen people dump any adventure bike and scrape it up, if that's a reason a bike is a bad bike your opinions are based on some really quite stupid factors, nobody buys a dirt bike over another because the plastic scratches less
What am I missing here, is this a joke video? 😕 Why are the slalom cones so far apart, you can definitely turn the bike in and out quicker than that... Edit: okay, I think I get it. You don't know how to ride offroad, and you're calling it heavy at 5 hundred pounds, so you aren't used to riding anything but sport bikes.
Actually wrong, even on a street bike at slow speed in a McDonalds parking lot you should be counter leaning your turns to maintain a good centre of gravity. Try it. Now at high speeds both bikes on pavement you lean inside. Off pavement you counter balance.
