For the PAS They should have used off-road custom mode or created a custom mode based on off-road mode. Off-road custom disables the traction control and rear abs. In off-road-custom you can also disable to adaptive ride height for off-roading. The ground clearance issue they speak of for off-road going downhill becomes much less an issue. The adaptive ride height is an awesome feature, but you do have to be aware when you have it on and need to put the jiffy stand down if you are on a slope with the higher part of the slope to your left and the lower part of the slope to your right.

Harley started in the dirt and raced on a beach before a wood wall. The historic legacy of Harley predates BMW and KTM. It's nice to see Harley return to their roots.

‘I didn’t record an intro, because I forgot’. Bloody love this content 👌🏼

Enjoyed seeing these bikes actually used in mud and ruts. Most reviews I watch they are on fairly tame gravel roads that just about any bike can handle. Great job!

Great review of the new PAN. I have owned one now for 6 months and am surprised that it did so well in the test without the use of the offroad plus mode. I find it a pig without the bike in that mode in loose terrain. Easy to operate in that mode without the bike trying to auto correct traction control and ABS. Can only be accessed when bike at full stop and must be reset every time bike has been shut off (push and hold offroad button until it turns purple). As far as suspension I have been happy, but if you must find something that needs improvement, that is just as good as it doesn’t come with a cup holder.

I just wanted to let you know that although I initially played this video just as a morning snack companion, I slurped it like it was a good evening movie. Informative, honest, super pleasant for eyes and ears, and generally fun to watch. Please do continue making these.

Terrific content, well thought out and produced in very challenging conditions. I’m a GSA fan but I’m actually quite happy to see HD joining the AV community with the PA. Competition breeds innovation and HD joining the frey is a positive thing for the ADV MC community at large.

Sweet, never thought I’d see my two favourite bike KZfaq channels collaborate

I agree. I love my GSA but Harley did an outstanding job for a first attempt.

Great vid as always! I’m a KTM fan..owned a bunch of them, but I tried something different. Bought a 21 GS. Very surprised by how much I enjoy it. I thought it might let me down with fun factor, but nope…great bike in my opinion. But the 1290r is a bad boy also!!

This was a fantastic review of all three motorcycle’s. My question is… did you play with the H.D. settings at all. It has a off-road hard suspension setting and multiple settings that allow for more tire and suspension feedback.

Nice comparison video. I was lucky enough to take a Pan America around the course at the ABR festival at Ragley hall. It was a very capable off road behemoth of a bike. I haven't ridden either of the other two so cannot compare them, however with all the electronic wizardry the HD seemed as capable if not more so on the course than my 19 year old 1150GS.

Nice review, I very much liked you music choice. Was surprised to see a collab with the lads, I've been subbed to the 44teeth channel for a bit now, yours is one I hadn't encountered yet but glad I did now. The YT algorithm gods have done well to serve me your video. You've put these bikes on some hard off-road so well done on your part. Cheers

Really great video. Easy to listen to, very frank, moves at a great pace. Thank you!

Amazing job! Truly appreciate the perspective on the feeling of the traction and suspension. Most reviews just say its soft or hard or whatever and put it aside. Awesome ride you guys had!

Having owned an older GS, loved it. Was going to get a brand new one, the dealer had a KTM1290s as well as the BMW, I thought i would be rude not to at least take it for a ride. After riding the KTM I just couldn't own the new BMW. The Bemmer did everything well, smooth, composed, everything you would expect. The KTM inspires confidence from the moment you get on it, it feels alive in a way the Bemmer just doesn't. It is the naughty school boy, go hard, go down a gear and open me up. I think both bikes are fabulous, its more about the riders personality, the Bemmer is more sensible, the KTM will favor the more confident aggressive rider. I think the Harley will improve over the next few years. For now the KTM works for me, love it.

In the end your video turned out exactly what I thought it would be. Nice video

Well done guys for putting up with the rain and I know how hard lanes like those are, even on a much smaller bike. I’d love to have seen the Africa Twin in the test.

I went to try HD but it went up pretty tall to me. I am waiting the fully loaded version to have the lowering suspension. On my CB500X I am ball of my toes but kind of used to it. With this one I could touch the ground with my two feet. Great video as always.

I can really appreciate what you said about the KTM feeling connected to the road. I have the 2018 S model, with sticky tires and -1 tooth on the gearbox socket, it's a great toy while still being able to cruise for hundreds of km. I like the GS, but at least the slightly older models felt too soft for me whereas the sport suspension settings make the KTM stiffer than most roadsters, on twisty roads it's a lot of fun.

First time watcher. Excellent review,very entertaining and great backing tracks. I'm subscribed now

I love 44 teeth! Good to see y'all collab with them. Good, talented guys over there.

That’s some serious hard riding and trails. Hats off 🎩

Good video. I have a KTM and absolutely love it. Those hills with loose rocks are very difficult.

Amazing comparison and review. On road, off road, and detailed breakdown all with great edits. I think this video is gonna give you many more sub's. Thanks for posting!! 🔥💪

Llel, Lovely report, so glad to see the monsoon conditions haven't changed since I rode the GWT Sept 20, :) Like you said , some of those lanes are a bit of a challenge on bigger toys ( we had a 790 R and a T7), absolutely loved the hill climb by Fingals bridge. Let us know when its dried out a bit, we'll come and have another go.

Always really great narration, thanks.

👍👍Thanks for great content as always. No one is selling their GS's or KTM's to buy the H-D. It's just not there. But, H-D loyalists are buying it in spades. Despite their marketing hype, I think that's what H-D really wanted. If H-D really wants to be in this segment, they will have to throw away their own rule book and start from scratch.

I'm glad to see that HD has entered an entirely new motorcycling segment. I believe that the loyal HD riders will keep it going and Harley will make improvements refining the Pan America into a true world-class ADV bike.

I have a GS Adventure. I don’t like riding in dirt at all. I just love the bike for how fun and smooth it is on the road.

Awesome video, great to see Boothy and Al working with you. I was wondering why you wouldnt have taken your Multistrada Enduro along too, how do you feel it compares with these 3?

Nice film Lel, really enjoyed watching that, can’t believe you took the Harley through that lot!! 😂

Excellent review. I like how you talked about bike feel and feed back from road or dirt. Knowing how far you push before losing it. No one ever talks about. If your experienced rider that's very important to have that feed back, dry or wet weather. Thanks for the excellent comments and honest review.

These bikes are for riding from Florida to Alaska & camping a couple miles down a gravel/dirt road along the way, not for riding off road from Naples FL to Miami crossing the Everglades.

The PANAMERICA 1250 special has arrived in the top class of adventure motorcycles. Since 26.06.2020 I own a PAN Special beside my BMW GS 1250 HPA. With my friends from K+M Harleyworld we got startet with the project 1-100.000 km. Our vision is to check the usability, the reliability and the sustainability of the new HD Motorcycle. Challenge 1 and 2 related to the usability and reliability was already completed end of October. We mounted a lot of useful stuff to make the Pan really usable for off-road adventures. Therefore a lot of innovations are mounted on my PAN „Elvis“ to make it fit for purpose. Then we crossed all high alp passes on gravel and asphalt in July. In August we went to the island of corse to cross also all high passes under high temperature conditions (40 degrees or hotter outside temp) At least my PAN has felt sand under its tyres for the first time. In September / October we got started with challenge 2. We moved to Morocco to the high Atlas region. We crossed all high Atlas passes including the Col de Ouano on gravel, we circled the big duna of Erg Chebbi on old rally Dakar tracks and we checked out heavy city traffic under high temperature conditions. Result: The PAN collected during 4 month almost 30577 km on its meter. Almost 15% of this driven kilometers where been carried out on unsaved roads, mud, gravel or sand. So unter the line the PAN made it on all playgrounds where the competitor brands usually run their shows. This without breakdown or other serious problems….. On 31st October, I have shipped my PAN to Chile. On 3rd of January 2022 I will start my adventure „all the way up“ riding the Panamericana highway from Argentina to Alaska. This last and long lasting test is mainly relayed to the point sustainability. Chapeau Harley at this point… If you are interested, check out Biker.Jo on KZfaq or Instagram …KR Jo

Very helpful review. It prompted me to go and see the Harley firsthand. I did buy the KTM super adventure r instead. However I Would consider the next gen Harley. They nearly hit a home run.

doing a legit job, homey. keep it up. subbed

What an awesome video Llel, well done!! 👍👍

“Harley and the Davidsons” Nice Miniseries about the History of Harley!

Thanks lev, this is great. What tires did you have on the GS?

KTM crew checking in.

This is a great video. Needs a better title though so people are aware the 1290 and 1250GS are reviewed here as well.

Very happy with my PA- sold my 1200 tiger, this feels way more nimble on road- mainly bought this for light offroad and touring ( I'm tall)- none of the trouble some keep reporting online...so far!!

Great review man !

Interesting how you described exactly what I experienced. The 1290R really does make you feel you are going fast and the GS does lul you into this false feeling of safety and not going fast, while you really still are going fast. I was trying to put it to words myself, but this does describe it very well.

You mad lads! I look forward to Stratham and Boothy's perspective in their video. Honestly, 200kg wet should be the max for that kind of off-road shenanigans. Hell, some would say even that is too heavy.. Great video as always!

Great video. Very good mix of technical data and feel. Seems like the GS still comes out on top but great to see KTM continue to improve its bikes and HD get into the ring. All this will only benefit us consumers.

Quality content 🔥🔥🔥 well done, subbed 👍✌️

Great vid! Love all your vids honestly 💪🏽However I see a lot of people testing the PA not knowing how to unlock the offroad+ settings. Without this setting unlocked, the PA sucks when you hit the trails. I do agree there is still a lot of room for improvements, but it's a lot better then you think. Main reason use the right settings second it takes time to get to know this bike a weekend test doesnt cut it compared to bikes you ride for years. I own the Pan Am special with a lot of mods, since it came out in NL. Now 8.000km in with 4.000 offroad km's (50/50). I have a lot of experience pre-PA. I absolutely love the pan am! I will trade it in for the next version for sure, no reason to go back to other brands.

I got the PAN AM for light off-road use and touring. I like the upright position for long hauls.

Brillant. Really enjoyed the review and got a lot out of it

Really well done video and review. Thank You

The Pan Am has 2 offroad mode? Soft and A stiffer mode? I wonder if the stiff mode was used during the review

Epic! Really enjoyed this 👍👍

Great video. Can I ask you witch Fox jacket you are using in the video? It's a very nice jacket .

Great video. I sometimes wonder if the GS leaves me believing that I'm better than I actually am 🙃

I have a Pan America and at first yes it feels different but after 1000 miles and got used to how it does things it’s an absolutely weapon on the road so stable and flickable, in the wet in rain rode or road the most secure bike I’ve ever ridden in OE tyres. I’ve not done off road yet but not what I bought it for really as want a fast touring machine with plush suspension which the Pan America does so well. I have over 30 years of riding experience on and off road and personally I love this bike and it’s lesser things it does I forgive as a first attempt by HD and what a first attempt!!

This is going to be a blast to watch on night shift 👍👍👍

What do you use in your helmet visor during rain? Thanks

What a great product this video. Congrats and thanks so much fro. Costa Rica 🏍🇨🇷

As most riders with adventure bike will never ever get this extreme ..its really what model you like and can afford...harley need a big thumbs up for 1st atempt.... but whether you agree or not gs doz amazing job (im vstrom 1050 xt owner) nearly half the value of my mates gs.....horses for coarses folks....cracking honest vid...

Great video… fair overall comments & conclusion 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

"British experience" - have a similar one living in the Seattle area. Some of those muddy trails look like parts of my commute on a bad day! Exaggerating, but not by much. Thanks for the informative video!

It seems to me the best thing about the HD is that it could bring more street riders that love Harley’s into the ADV world. As a big brand with resources, they will undoubtedly improve the Pan America over the medium term, and it may even be the bike that keeps the MoCo afloat. Their rider demographics suck long term unless this bike or the Livewire can bring in younger buyers. All that said, this review is definitely putting highly skilled riders on these bikes and taking them to their limits. Most riders will not take most of these bikes on anything worse than a forest service road, where the HD would probably place a less distant third. Still third, but not so obviously the wrong bike for the mission. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to your next video! Cheers!

This was excellent, thanks!

Enjoyed the reviews & lol riding with you all. Did a lot of this type riding over my life. I’m now a lot closer to 60 then 40 years of age. For my type of riding & where I will spend more riding time the Harley’s strengths & weaknesses play well. I’d enjoy any of the three and appreciate its particular strengths or quirks. Having a good local HD dealership to work with I’m going to add another HD to the stable. Before HD came out with this bike I had been eyeing the 1290. Thanks for taking us along on the ride and sharing your thoughts & experiences.

Great video! Shame up here in Scotland there are no green lanes as all the land has private land owners. Keep up the great reviews 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤘🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Very informative great video 👍

Ole' John Deacs territory methinks. Great review Llel. Great lanes in the South West

Fun vid. Cool bikes. Interesting comparrison.

Where is the location with the trees side by side around the 29:05 mark? That looks nice.

FINALLY someone answers the obvious question of what happens with the auto-height thing in deep mud! Great collaboration!

Have you had issues finding grip on rocky uphills on the 1250GS? That is my main issue and my mates have no problems on other bikes.

Is there no way to put the Harley in a stiffer suspension setting and disable the adaptive ride height?

BMW, Ktm, Ducati, and Triumph have literally decades of experience between them making large displacement adventure bikes. There is no way in hell I would put down $25,000 on a bike from a company’s first attempt. I’m not anti-HD. I would consider the PA maybe in a couple of years once they have more experience building this type of bike. But for now, no way.

Great video!! Would have been nice to see the new Multi!!

Awesome video guys

What do uou guys use to secure your bike ,s,?

I know this video is a year old but I’ve gotta say a few things. One is you can completely adjust all of the settings to make the abs and suspension be however you want, and you can save those settings as a “mode”. Two, with 140 horse I definitely feel nervous anytime I’m pushing the bike hard. It’s just so quick that it really hits me how fast things can get out of hand. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s just not the best bike to get on and absolutely wring the piss out of. It’s just too fast for that.

Nice review. I'm sure there are other places to find the objective characteristics of these bikes, but I'd like to know at least the weight of each. I'll offer guesses - for off-road. H-D Pan Am: Too heavy. BMW 1250 GS: Too heavy. KTM 1290 Super Adventure: Too Heavy. I'm basing this on the weight of the bike bike I've been riding for the last six years, a KTM 1190 Adventure: Too heavy. Used selectively, the power that comes with the weight can be a lot of fun. I'll stop on a deserted country road and take my 1190 from zero to 100 or 110 (MPH). But I'm now looking for another bike and I'm leaning toward a KTM 690 Enduro 'R' - about 75 HP and 325 pounds. A friend is pushing for a Yamaha Tenere' 700, which also has about 75 HP, but it takes a second cylinder and over an extra 100 pounds to get it.

Just an excellent review. Thanks

Amazing video

I keep hearing about the traction control but then hear you can turn it off via a button. Maybe just gotta figure it out

Would be great if you had impressions of the Triumph Tiger 1200 in comparison to these 3.

excellent review, video is awesome. I had the 1250GS for two weeks on the road in France with my wife as pillion, 1600 miles. On road I loved it, but my MTS950 is much more fun. Did not miss the heat my Duc throughs on any day. Will have to better my off road skills on the MTS, because the 1250GS just did not do it completely for me. The 1250GS was much more comfortable especially with pillion and offers much more ability in all aspects but the motor did not get in my head as the Duc. The HD is cool for sure and I think you called it perfectly with this comparison. What a great review, really well said and done. Best review for these three I have seen, heard or read. Thank you.

A pesar de entender muy poco el idioma inglés, me entretuve mucho viendo el video, obviamente me quedo con la 1250 GS y con un espejo no se queda atrás, buena producción, felicitaciones desde Chile

Yeah - that's it. The first "off road" section with a short uphill climb and the 260+kg "adventures bikes" are in heavy trouble! These complete overweighted marketing creations are great to cross the Alps onroad. But if you need a real offload bike everything beyond 170kg is bullshit. No matter what they tell you.

Loved your video, Subscribed 💐👍

Quality vid lel two thumbs up!

Great review. Could you do a test with the new Multistrada V4? Would be great to know if it is a capable bike when the roads get dirty.

You are doing great research and efforts there, just add simple accessories to your work, like a hydrophobic film on your gopro lens and you'll be good to go 🤞🍀

A bit surprised that the Africa Twin wasn’t included in this. Wouldn’t that be a pretty direct competitor to these bikes?

Well done!

Well done! I’m on my 4th GS and looking forward to a 2021+ in the near future.

Excellent analysis.Pity you cant do a test like this in SA where getting to dirt roads of any type is a breeze.Thanks

Whats that song playing in the beginning ? For example at 9:10?

I will need a Poison Oak detection system on my adventure bike or its a no go for me.

I would just like to see that Africa twin in this comparison yeah it's way down on power but it's a very balanced bike all the way around & does pretty damn good off-road especially the newer model adventure sport 👍👍 badass review

06:30 Traction control can be disabled in any ride mode. Why would you leave it on during the technical bits?

As someone who owns an HD PAS i was very interested to see your review. I was surprised about your comments regarding front end grip. What tyres were you using? I don’t ride much in the wet admittedly, but the roads here in the Kansas City area have very low grip compared to UK roads and my bike has exceptional front end grip compared to my other bikes (Rocket 3, CB1000R, Street Twin). I don’t think HD designed the bike for “long way round” style off-roading even though it was obvious the “Long Way Up” bikes were Livewires’ with Pan Am front ends and rear swing arms/suspension. All their marketing shows it running in the desert or forest fire roads. Which is what most people do here in the US. Great review, just in case you thought i was criticizing.