Harley-Davidson has been a part of the American police force since 1908. The Pan American Police Concept is unlike any other cop cruiser that the motorcycle maker has introduced. The concept bike was first unveiled at the Annual Police Motor Rodeo organized by the Orange County Traffic Officers’ Association. The motor rodeo event is an opportunity for police officers to showcase their talent through various skill competitions and raise money for charity. Harley-Davidson’s sales team reached out to a Los-Angeles based dealer Laidllow known for its YouTube channel and custom work on Harley-Davidson bikes. Laidlow customized the Pan America 1250 Special with Harley-Davidson accessories that fit on an adventure bike.
The Pan America Police Concept is a capable machine built by Harley-Davidson to be ready for any terrain and catch the bad guys. Here’s a look at the Harley-Davidson Pan America Police Concept.
Pan America 1250: Designed To Compete
The spirit of the American off-road motorcycle is deeply rooted in the Pan America 1250 Special design. With minimal rear and a large fuel tank, the bike has taken the shape of its own. The main concept behind the outline is to ensure proper handling performance and a high-speed ride. For the Police Concept, Laidlow added several features that turned it into a true cop cruiser. The bike has an additional set of panniers with a larger case for carrying additional cargo. The standard-issue police kit is installed with red and blue LED flashers for an authentic police bike look.
Additionally, the handguards are also accessorized with LED light flashers. Underneath the bike’s headlight, a set of red and blue flashing LEDs and auxiliary LED lights make it a proper Police Concept. The Pan American 1250 Special was introduced as a concept bike. Still, it is expected to come equipped with a radio and siren, which will run on a second battery since the main one will be used to operate the bike. The Pan America Police Concept should also have a shotgun mounting system commonly found in all cop cruisers.
Pan America 1250: A Versatile Ride
The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is truly a one-of-a-kind bike, an all-terrain long hauler that is composed and intuitive on all terrains. For the new generation of Harley-Davidsons, the Revolution Max 1250 Engine is introduced with the Pan America. It is a structural component situated in the chassis that reduces the bike's overall weight for smoother handling. The Max 1250 Engine provides an output of a powerful 150 HP and 94.4 lb-ft of torque. It has a displacement of 1,252 CC. The Pan America 1250 Special is equipped with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection system that provides 43 MPG of fuel economy.
The Semi-Active Suspension System handles the suspension speed, throttle, vertical speed, and brake inputs based upon the selected Riding Mode. There are five riding modes - Comfort, Balanced, Sport, Off-Road, Soft, and Off-Road Firm. These modes truly help the bike maneuver through every difficult terrain for the police to get the job done. The Comfort Mode provides more suspension. The Balanced Mode gives an all-around riding comfort and control, and the Sport Mode has high ride control and damper rates. The Off-Road Soft absorbs larger obstacles and is ideal for rocky terrains, while the Off-Road Firm is made for an aggressive riding experience.
Laidlow’s Harley Davidson harnessed the Pan America Police Concept with heavy-duty skid plate and wire-spoke wheels so that the cruiser could ride through all terrains when the pursuit goes off-road on uneven terrains.
Entering Top-Notch Competition
Cop cruisers in the Harley-Davidson group are considered to be the most elite bikes. They are geared with top-performance accessories that aren’t available for everyone. Even if the Pan America Police was a concept bike, Harley-Davidson has caught the attention of everyone by adding gears to an already mighty Pan America 1250 Special. Other than Harley-Davidson, several other motorcycle makers have been on the police radar as the top bikes for on-duty pursuits. These include the Honda ST1300 and BMW R 1250 RT. While these bikes also provide safety and comfort while riding, they do not possess the range of features and accessories provided by Harley-Davidson’s Pan America Police Concept.
Compared to the Honda and BMW models, the Pan America Concept is just as capable to ride on a variety of terrains and for an off-road experience. The concept bike has a high ground clearance and longer travel suspension to pursue the city’s paved roads and long highways for urban areas.
Harley-Davidson has not confirmed whether the bike will be manufactured in its production unit. Since the Pan America Concept was commissioned by local law enforcement and a regional fleet of the police sales department, the Pan America can be expected to be first seen in Milwaukee if they are built for the law enforcement officers. With hopes to see the black and white Pan America on the street, the Harley is sure to rise above the expectations and set the tone.