Over the last year, the automotive industry has been battered. One sector that has seen growth though is the adventure bike market.
For those who still have disposable income the opportunity to just get out on a motorcycle and explore nature is an enticing one. Social distance requirements all over the world tend to restrict movement in an overlander, 4x4 or any large off-road vehicle. A motorcycle on the other hand pretty much speaks for itself, giving you the freedom to explore on your own. The motorcycle of choice; the BMW GS, it has long been the Adventure motorcycle of choice, there is however a new machine making waves and could well steal sales from the German manufacturer. The Pan America has surprised everyone who has seen it and ridden it, here’s how it compares to the best in the business.
BMW R 1250 GS Adventure
For the best part of two decades, there was almost no competition, then the market just exploded, and they were forced to come up with answers to the improving competition.
Although the big GS is still considered the staple, able to take you anywhere and back again in relative comfort, the competition offers some incredible alternatives. For those who prefer the off-roading aspect of the adventure, there are better, lighter machines that are far more dirt-focused. If you prefer something more road focussed, there are a bevy of sports touring options out there now that will leave the GS in their dust. What they cannot replicate is the all-round ability of the BMW, add to that the updated GS has an incredible array of electronic aids from electronically adjustable suspension to one of the most comprehensive TFT displays in the industry.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250
We can only really go by the specs at the moment with only a handful of actual riders' impressions, and if we are to believe those impressions Harley-Davidson has gone and done the unthinkable; they have gone and created an all-conquering Adventure bike, a worthy competitor for the venerable GS.
It doesn’t hold any punches when it comes to pricing either, sitting rather neatly in the same bracket as the BMW, although this may seem ambitious you do get what you pay for as it comes with all the bells and whistles. It gets lean-sensitive ABS and traction control, 6.8 inch TFT display with several ride modes that are tailored to whatever road condition you may experience. On paper it also outperforms the GS with 150 horsepower to the GS’ 136, adding to that a slightly lower wet weight.
Conclusion
With all the different options out there buying a motorcycle is a very, very personal experience.
It is for good reason that there is such a wide selection of motorcycles out there, we are all built differently and we all want different things out of a bike. When we look at the Pan America and the GS, it is hard to escape how similar they are. Although they have significantly different drive trains with the boxer/shaft drive coming up against the v-twin/chain drive everything else is almost like for like. Frankly we think Harley-Davidson may well have been better served going the route of most other manufacturers on this one and offer something a little closer to what they are comfortable manufacturing. What they ended up doing is making a very good GS, with a Harley badge and engine, it is hard to say if that is a good thing or not. For now the R 1250 GS is still the best big Adventure bike on the market.