BMW R 1200 R versus Harley-Davidson Pan America Special

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW R 1200 R

Naked
Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Pan America Special

Adventure

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2007 bis 2017
Built von 2021 bis 2024~
RRP 13.100 €
RRP 20.895 €
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Pros:
  • relatively light for a boxer machine
  • powerful engine with character
  • upgradeable as an agile tourer
  • no technical overload
  • safe driving experience
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:
  • not cheap
  • Windbreak underground
Cons:
  • Payload could be higher
  • Short service intervals
  • no quick shifter available
  • no gimbal
  • Operation requires training

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.515 mm
Length :
2.165 mm Height : 1.300 mm
Seat :
790 mm
Weight :
232 (max: 450 ) 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: Boxer 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.170 ccm
Hub: 73 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Luft
Drive: Kardan
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: 220 km/h
Performance: 125 HP at 7.750 U/Min
Torque: 125 NM bei 6.500 U/Min
Tank contents: 18 Litre
Consumption:
5 l
Reach:
363 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:
two-part frame concept consisting of the main frame and the rear frame bolted to it, supporting engine (steel)
Front suspension:
Upside-down 45 mm (travel 140 mm)
Rear suspension:
Mono strut (travel 140 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever
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 ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Disc ( 276 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)

Conclusion - what gets stuck

Wonderful, this BMW R1200 R. Not only beautiful, fast and safe, but also potent enough for an Alpine tour. Of course, this requires a suitcase system, which goes quite well into the money at BMW. And just a touring disc, which is to be used in the secondary market (e.B. MRA) for about 150 euros. In the mountains you should ride the other bikers quite nicely around the ears, because the 1200s brings everything you need: strength, agility, agility and above all the feeling of security that you can't really do much with this bike.

Price/Availability/Colours/Years of Construction

  • Price: 12,000€
  • Used (7 years old): 8,000€
  • Years built: 2006-2014
  • Colours: white, matt grey, black, blue, red

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