Harley-Davidson is arguably the most famous name in the American motorcycle industry. This kind of fame is a double-edged sword, though. While most will agree that notoriety is a good thing for marketing purposes, it also means each bike that comes out has the weight of expectation placed firmly upon its shoulders.
With the brand having an image to uphold, it follows that innovation, and indeed change, comes a little slowly. For some, a little too slow. Playing it safe and sticking to what you know works well for a time, but eventually, stagnation will set in. In an effort to stave off stagnation, Harley waded into uncharted territory a few years back and surprised everyone with a bike that was about as far removed from a conventional Harley cruiser as it possibly could be.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution.
A Couple Of Impressive Used Alternatives
Over the past five years or so, the adventure bike market has seen explosive growth. But, with most riders now gravitating towards lighter middleweight bikes, some of the luxury full-sized bikes have been the victims of rapid depreciation. The 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is one such model, and even though it has pretty much every motorcycle feature imaginable – including semi-active suspension – you can find one for between $11 and 13k.
If you prefer to follow the herd, the ever-popular BMW R 1250 GS is a safe bet. It has not been hit quite as hard by depreciation, but it is also pretty hard to tell exactly how much these bikes have actually depreciated. With the vast majority of these bikes being fitted with expensive BMW-approved options, the used prices of between $13 and $16k are slightly inflated.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 S vs BMW R 1250 GS
With the Pan America, Harley-Davidson has BMW firmly in its sights, but does it make the kill?
The 2022 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special Makes More Sense Used Than New
Price Range: $10,000 – $14,000
Harley-Davidson surprised everyone back in 2021 when the Pan America 1250 Special was launched. It was not so much of a surprise that Harley brought out an ADV, but what was surprising was just how good the first effort was. What was not particularly surprising was the fact that the first year model – which actually sold in huge numbers – had a few teething problems. Unfortunately, with so many owners getting treated like beta testers for the platform, it got a pretty bad name. By 2022, most of the kinks had been worked out, and this model year is a significantly safer bet. Trade value is currently sitting at $9,840, and the retail value is pegged at around $13,500. For a bike that costs in excess of $20k new (out the door), this is a pretty good deal.
New Harley-Davidson Pan America ST And Pan America Special: Which One To Buy?
The Pan America ST and Special have the same MSRPs but serve two different customer bases
Boasts Harley-Davidson’s Most Advanced V-Twin Engine
Power: 150 Horsepower
Over the years since it first came out, there have been several minor tweaks and fixes, but the Revolution Max liquid-cooled V-twin has remained largely unchanged. It is by some margin the most powerful engine Harley makes, and offers incredible performance potential. This tractable twin makes the bike stand out from the crowd. Even though it doesn’t have the most power in its class, it feels more powerful thanks to how early on the torque kicks in.
Getting Hot And Heavy
The unfortunate side effect of an engine this size in an ADV is the fact that it nullifies the bike’s off-road potential. As is the case with pretty much any potent adventure touring bike, its weight makes it a handful to ride off-road. Then, if you are moving too slowly, it gets hot. Really hot. This is far from ideal if you plan on doing long stretches of off-road riding where you won’t often get above 40 MPH. It just isn’t designed for that, nor congested cities, but it comes into its own on the highway.
Why This Pan America Is The Most Exciting Harley Of 2025
The Pan America ST is the closest thing to the much-hyped Bronx today
The 2022 Pan America Special Is A Feature-Rich Adventure Tourer
The big calling card for the Special was its semi-active suspension. It was one of the very first bikes to offer an adaptive ride height feature, where the bike lowers as you come to a stop. A genuine point of difference for shorter riders who traditionally struggle with the tall seat heights commonly associated with ADVs. It also has an IMU, so cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control are both standard features. The usual features you would expect to find on a bike like this, including cruise control, ride modes, and a big TFT dash, come standard, too. The quickshifter was optional, so if you find a bike that has it, consider it a bonus. The adjustable windshield offers excellent wind protection, and it is a genuinely very comfortable bike, more than capable of covering big miles without much fuss.
10 Adventure-Touring Bikes For All Budgets
Adventure is for everyone – you don’t have to pay through your nose for it!
Part Of A Dying Breed
The Pan America came out the same year the game-changing Yamaha Tenere 700 arrived in the US, a bike that represents a turning point within the adventure bike segment. It showed everyone what could be achieved with a lighter, more agile ADV. Since then, more and more riders have switched over to lighter middleweight bikes, all equally capable of handling long highway stints, but more competent off-road. Adventure-tourers like the Pan America have since become more of a niche offering. Bikes that are fantastically comfortable, but heavy and awkward off-road, have become far less desirable, and as a result, far less valuable. If you know what you want, this still offers a lot of bang for the buck on the used market, and most certainly makes more sense than the new bike. Just don’t expect it to hold its value, as prices seem destined to drop further in the coming years.
Source: KBB, Harley-Davidson