Tech Talk: Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250

A closer look at the Revolution Max V-twin and Adaptive Ride Height

2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special review
2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 in Deadwood Green (photo by Kevin Wing)

In July 2018, Harley-Davidson announced a five-year growth strategy called “More Roads to Harley-Davidson,” a plan to add new products, provide broader access, strengthen its dealer network and amplify the brand. Expansion beyond Harley’s typical cruiser, bagger and touring models would include the LiveWire electric motorcycle, which debuted for 2020, and “middleweight adventure touring, streetfighter and high-performance custom models.”

RELATED: 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special | First Ride Review

The “More Roads” strategy offered the first look at the Pan America adventure tourer, with few details beyond its displacement and what could be gleaned from a photo of the prototype. At the 2019 EICMA show in Milan, Harley unveiled the Pan America and the Bronx streetfighter, both to be powered by a liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin engine platform called the Revolution Max — 1,250cc in the Pan America and 975cc in the Bronx — and launched in 2020.

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In February 2020, amid financial troubles, Harley-Davidson announced a revised five-year strategy called “Hardwire” that would, among other changes, “selectively focus on opportunities in profitable segments.” Plans to expand the company’s product portfolio were scaled back. The Pan America made the cut, the Bronx did not. Then the pandemic hit, which pushed the Pan America’s launch from late 2020 to early 2021. Details about the Pan America 1250 and up-spec Pan America 1250 Special were finally announced last February, and we got an opportunity to test ride the Special over two days in April.

Revolution Max 1250

Harley-Davidson Revolution Max 1250
Cutaway of the Revolution Max 1250 that powers the Pan America (photo courtesy of Harley-Davidson)

According to Harley, its all-new, modular Revolution Max engine will be offered in four displacements ranging from 500cc to 1,250cc. In addition to powering the Pan America, it will likely replace the aging, air-cooled mill in the Sportster and may replace the liquid-cooled Revolution X in whatever entry-level models fill the gap for the discontinued Street 500 and Street 750.

In the Pan America 1250, the Revolution Max displaces 1,252cc, has a 13.0:1 compression ratio and makes a claimed 150 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 94 lb-ft of torque at 6,750 rpm. Like the Revolution V-twin that powered the V-Rod and the Revolution X that powered the Street models, the Max’s cylinders have a 60-degree included angle. The two crankshaft connecting rod journals are offset by 30 degrees, resulting in a 90-degree firing order for smooth power delivery. Dual overhead cams use roller-finger followers to actuate four valves per cylinder and hydraulic lash adjusters eliminate periodic maintenance. Computer-controlled variable valve timing (VVT) independently advances or retards intake and exhaust timing through a potential range of 40 degrees of crankshaft rotation, with the goal of broadening the powerband to deliver ample low-end torque as well as high-rpm horsepower. Dual spark plugs optimize ignition and a robust, dry-sump oiling system is designed to withstand the demands of adventure riding.

Harley-Davidson Revolution Max 1250

Because the Revolution Max is a stressed member of the Pan America’s chassis, it needed to be strong and light. Harley used finite element analysis and optimization techniques to reduce material mass in cast and molded components. Complex casting techniques allowed oil and coolant passages to be integrated into the engine in such a way that minimized wall thicknesses. Single-piece aluminum cylinders have nickel silicon carbide-surface galvanic coating, pistons are made of forged aluminum and the rocker, camshaft and primary covers are made of magnesium. An engine that vibrates less endures less stress over its life cycle, allowing components to be made lighter. A spiral-shaped, chain-driven balancer in the crankcase minimizes primary vibration, while a small balancer located in front of the cylinder head between the camshafts minimizes secondary vibration.

Revolution Max engines are built in Harley’s Pilgrim Road facility near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and complete Pan Americas are assembled in York, Pennsylvania.

Adaptive Ride Height

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Adaptive Ride Height ARH
Adaptive Ride Height is a factory option on the Pan America 1250 Special, and it offers several modes. (Photo by Brian J. Nelson)

To be competitive in the adventure touring segment, the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special are equipped with state-of-the-art electronics like riding modes and Harley’s RDRS Safety Enhancements. The Special is equipped with added features, including Showa semi-active suspension that adjusts damping rates on the selected ride mode and automatically adjusts spring preload to provide 30% sag regardless of the load.

But the real innovation is the Adaptive Ride Height (ARH), a factory option available only on the Special. Using an array of sensors and algorithms, ARH automatically lowers the motorcycle’s ride height by 1 to 2 inches when the motorcycle comes to a stop (the amount of ride height adjustment depends on preload). Lowering the ride height lowers the rider’s seat, which accommodates a wider range of riders and adapts to a wider range of conditions than other full-sized adventure bikes, even those with semi-active suspension.

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Adaptive Ride Height ARH
The Pan America 1250 Special’s semi-active suspension is made by Showa. (Photo by Brian J. Nelson)

In standard ride modes, the default setting for ARH is Auto, but in custom ride modes ARH can be turned off or set to Auto with Short Delay or Auto with Long Delay, and those settings will be retained in that mode after the ignition is turned off. In Auto mode, ARH will not lower the motorcycle in an condition where speed is greater than 15.5 mph, but lowering could begin to occur at 15.5 mph if the rider is braking very hard. Speed, brake lever pressure and deceleration rate are all used to determine when to lower the motorcycle. ARH targets the bike to be lowered when the rider would typically be moving their feet off the pegs to put them on the ground, which typically happens at speeds much slower than 15.5 mph under casual braking.

In technical off-road conditions at low speeds, especially if there is a lot of stopping and starting involved, it may not be optimal to have the motorcycle repeatedly lower and raise itself. In Short Delay mode ARH will not lower the ride height at all until 0.5 second after the motorcycle comes to a stop. Long Delay mode waits until 2 seconds after coming to a stop before lowering the bike.

Since ARH is a factory-installed option, it cannot be added to a Pan America 1250 Special after purchase. The beauty of ARH is that it offers a lower seat height without reducing suspension travel or otherwise compromising the motorcycle’s performance or capabilities.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Really like this engine and it must find it’s way into several models and hopefully a smaller cc size as well to broaden the range of bikes even further. The adaptive ride height is interesting tech though seems really only befitting to taller bikes.

  2. Would not want to see a repair Bill when things no longer function. Too many components in the engine and body.

  3. Did an hour long test ride on a 2021 Pan America today. i must begin by saying i am a dual sport/adventure bike rider and have owned over 60 bikes in my life (i know its a disease, just ask my wife). Rode up with my buddy and his 2019 BMW R1250GS. the dealer told us to take the bike and flog it, they truly wanted our feedback. off we went after a brief demonstration of the new electronic controls for rain, sport, and off-road mode. i am not a harley guy and never have been, not a hater, just never rode a bike from the company that matched my riding needs. well….they did their homework on this one. the pan america engine is very ktm feeling, gobs of torque and it just kept pulling once you hit 6500 rpm. the bike was very flickable and felt good like they centralized mass very low. not top heavy feeling like the big triumph adv touring bikes. it had tubeless spoke wheels much like the ones on a bmw gs, and a very informative digital touchscreen display with navigation. it shattered my preconceived notions i had in my head before riding it! my buddy and i pulled the r1250gs by a half to a full bike length every time we pitted them against each other, switching bikes back and forth between us. it had “the” best factory seat i have ever sat on, better than my $600 sergeant. in corners i found myself doing the BMW paranoia thing worrying about my heads scraping and then realized “you don’t have that concern on this bike”. the suspension soaked up everything we through at i, from gravel road roosting to interstate seems. this engine felt flawless, better than ducati, better than triumph, very near the feeling of the big ktm’s with more low end and a nicer pull on the top. i have to say i wouldn’t feel like i was downgrading to go from a GS to this, and i have never found a bike i could say this about. i definitely never thought harley would be the ones who would make that bike. somebody has done their homework.

    • Yes, very helpful review Josh. Your comparisons to the competition helps folks be more informed so we can make smart decisions. The adaptive ride height is truly innovative and unique. Brilliant that Harley saw how that it would make the bike less intimidating to shorter riders. That light handling, awesome power, comfort, and great looks (not “bug-like”) sure makes me want it!

    • I am not an adventure bike rider(mainly due to my 32″ inseam), but Josh’s review has perked my interest. So I’m off the Harley dealer to “Flog” one.

      • Dale, i am similar height and it is jsut about right with standard seat, though if you were two up, and with weight of panniers/ top box, luggage etc, it may be a little of a challenge to keep it upright, on uneven terrain when yup you foot down..even with the adaptive ride height >

        They do a lower seat too, so you can gain an extra 1 inch or two .

        I’d have loved it if I had a chance to open it up, but it popped the engine warring light on and I had to get it back to the dealer…

  4. Took one out today from my local dealer as a test ride.
    had been waiting on it all week.
    It does ride nicely , but after about 4 miles the tyre/ABS warning and engine light came on.
    It was still rideable, and did accelerate, but was lacking all grunt..was in some limp home mode.
    Got it back to the dealer after having done just 10 miles. bike has only 150 miles on it in total.

    I then dropped it on to the crash bar/exhaust on the ground ! 🙁 was stopping, put my right foot down, but the leg of my Rocker armoured jeans caught in/on the foot peg, and my foot was stuck, as the bike toppled on it side just about trapping me.
    Bloody foot pegs in bad place..they either take out your shin or catch in your jeans stopping you put your foot down.

    Need to cable tie your jeans or wear boots that you can tuck your trousers in to.

    Gonna cost me for the repair too i guess..bloody thing ..wont be buying one

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