BMW F 900 R versus Harley-Davidson Pan America Special

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW F 900 R

Naked
Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Pan America Special

Adventure

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2019 bis 2024~
Built von 2021 bis 2024~
RRP 9.400 €
RRP 20.895 €
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Pros:
  • Engine
  • Basic price
  • Comfort
Pros:
  • Engine with lard and character
  • Extremely well equipped incl. semi-active chassis
  • Large TFT touch cockpit with mobile phone connection (incl. navigation system)
  • Plenty of space for driver & passenger
  • Suitable for smaller pilots thanks to "Adaptive Ride Height"
Cons:
  • Windbreak
  • Pillion comfort
Cons:
  • Payload could be higher
  • Short service intervals
  • no quick shifter available
  • no gimbal
  • Operation requires training

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.518 mm
Length :
2.140 mm Height : 1.130 mm
Seat :
815 mm
Weight :
211 (max: 430 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.585 mm
Length :
2.270 mm Height : 1.510 mm
Seat :
850 mm until : 875 mm
Weight :
258 kg

Engine

Motor design: In-line motor 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 895 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 86 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Motor design: V2 Revolution™ Max 1250 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.252 ccm
Hub: 72 mm
Hole: 105 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 216 km/h
Performance: 105 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.500 U/Min
Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
310 km

Performance: 152 HP at 8.750 U/Min
Torque: 128 NM bei 6.750 U/Min
Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption:
6 l
Reach:
385 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Bridge frame in shell construction (steel)
Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 135 mm)
Rear suspension:
Directly hinged central strut, spring base hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable (travel 142 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17
Frame type:
Three-piece alloy frame with tube, cast and moulded parts, motor supporting (aluminium)
Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, 47 mm, with electronically adjustable semi-active damping system (travel 191 mm)
Rear suspension:
Central spring strut with automatic electronic adjustment of spring preload and semi-active control of compression stage and rebound of damping (travel 191 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70R19 60 V
Rear tyres: 170/60R17 72 V

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brake, floating brake discs, 4-piston radial caliper ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, 1-piston floating caliper ( 265 mm)
Front brake
Double disc, radially mounted four-piston monobloc fixed caliper brakes ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc, single-piston floating caliper brake ( 280 mm)

Ideal for a sporty short trip

If things go the way they did with their predecessor, BMW has a potential bestseller in its range with the F 900 R. Why not: The machine is quite cheap for BMW ratios and at the same time quite good.

You just have to know what you want. This bike is ideal for a sporty excursion without great travel ambitions. Whose wish this was always: Test drive please!

The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann and Söhne in Pinneberg near Hamburg.

Price / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 8.800€
  • Years of construction: since 2020
  • Colours: red-silver, blue, black

Conclusion - what sticks

I really like the new Pan America. Above all, the optics have done it to me. The machine looks like a V8 MuscleCar or like a locomotive, which then became a motorcycle. Of course, this bike polarizes and especially the front will not appeal to everyone. But rather so than uniform porridge. The Harley has character and is immediately recognizable on 10 km.
 
With the Pan Am, Harley has not only shown courage, but also put together an amazingly good adventure bike in the 1st throw. It will certainly not overtake the GS, but we are sure: This bike will already find its buyers. Maybe even the travel enduro faction, which would like to ride something different, something special. Well done, Harley!
 
The test bike was provided to us by MTK, the Harley-Davidson dealer in Kiel.

Price/Availability/Colours/Years of construction

  • Price: from 17.995 €
  • Availability: from 06/2021
  • Colours: black, grey, green, orange