Harley had a test ride day near Leek today, what piqued my interest is they were doing off-road rides with the Pan America so I booked on a 10am slot. I've tried the Pan America on road when it first came out and was interested to see what it was like off-road.
Fortunately they had put decent tyres on them, Mitas Enduro XT's I think.
Overall it was good, but I wouldn't buy it to take on the trails as it's a 19 inch front, and still quite a heavy beast, electronics worked well with it in Off Road Plus mode to disable rear ABS and put traction control on minimum. Amazing that a quarter ton bike can feel so easy to ride off road.
I asked what was free for the 11am ride and picked a 117 Street Glide, I was really interested in trying one of these as in my imagination this would have been a brilliant cruiser.
Thanks to the previous person who had taken it out the stereo was blasting out on switching it on which amused me. What a fantastic engine the 117 is, it had a nice amount of shove ! What surprised me, is I'm 6' on a good day, and the seat had my knees higher than my legs, with my hands not far from me knees. It felt like an awfully cramped riding position but I suspect I wasnt helping myself wearing enduro boots (Alpinestars Tech 7's). I loved the engine on the ride, but I just couldnt do more than 50 miles or so in that weird position. You cant shuffle back as the seat prevents it due to the step. The suspension was lovely on most of the roads, really compliant until I saw a mild pot hole and rode over it and heard such an unholy 'bang' from both wheels going over it. I was genuinely worried I had bent the wheels.
Loved the dashboard.
Didn't have to wear a tabbard
Overall it was a great couple of hours and kudos to Harley for arranging it, but I just can't get out of my head the weird midget riding position on the street glide.
I am genuinely thinking of changing my bike or adding another one but despite wanting to like the Harleys, I just dont think they are relevant for my sort of riding.
A battered sausage and hot chocolate were consumed in Matlock Bath, then home.
Fortunately they had put decent tyres on them, Mitas Enduro XT's I think.
Overall it was good, but I wouldn't buy it to take on the trails as it's a 19 inch front, and still quite a heavy beast, electronics worked well with it in Off Road Plus mode to disable rear ABS and put traction control on minimum. Amazing that a quarter ton bike can feel so easy to ride off road.
I asked what was free for the 11am ride and picked a 117 Street Glide, I was really interested in trying one of these as in my imagination this would have been a brilliant cruiser.
Thanks to the previous person who had taken it out the stereo was blasting out on switching it on which amused me. What a fantastic engine the 117 is, it had a nice amount of shove ! What surprised me, is I'm 6' on a good day, and the seat had my knees higher than my legs, with my hands not far from me knees. It felt like an awfully cramped riding position but I suspect I wasnt helping myself wearing enduro boots (Alpinestars Tech 7's). I loved the engine on the ride, but I just couldnt do more than 50 miles or so in that weird position. You cant shuffle back as the seat prevents it due to the step. The suspension was lovely on most of the roads, really compliant until I saw a mild pot hole and rode over it and heard such an unholy 'bang' from both wheels going over it. I was genuinely worried I had bent the wheels.
Loved the dashboard.
Didn't have to wear a tabbard
Overall it was a great couple of hours and kudos to Harley for arranging it, but I just can't get out of my head the weird midget riding position on the street glide.
I am genuinely thinking of changing my bike or adding another one but despite wanting to like the Harleys, I just dont think they are relevant for my sort of riding.
A battered sausage and hot chocolate were consumed in Matlock Bath, then home.
