Harley-Davidson Pan America ST - Redefining the Horizon

If ever a bike surprised me and exceeded my expectations, the Harley-Davidson Pan America ST is it.

Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson is an iconic American brand with a rich history that evokes a sense of tradition and authenticity. Harley-Davidson is one of the most evocative and recognisable brands in the motorcycling universe, and beyond. 

Defined by their heavyweight, air-cooled 45-degree V-twin engines that sing a song about freedom and rebellion, drenched in Americana, with heritage and legacy that most other brands can only dream of.

Harley-Davidson and its loyal customer base would never be accused of being cutting-edge and technologically advanced. The brand has been loyal to its roots: traditional American iron with a heavy, robust frame, solid, iconic styling and a large-displacement, air-cooled V-Twin engine.

Then, in 2021, Harley-Davidson released the Pan America 1250, an adventure touring motorcycle that marked a major departure for the brand. In 2025, they released the Pan America ST, a road-focused version of the Pan America, aimed at sport-touring, with a more aggressive stance and an emphasis on high-speed, on-road performance. A brief that is fulfilled very well.

The Pan America ST (Sport Touring) iteration is a seismic shift, a bold, eloquent declaration that Harley-Davidson can take on the Europeans at their own game.

With the Pan America 1250 ST, Harley hasn't just entered a new segment; they’ve redefined what a touring bike from Milwaukee can be. This machine is a thrilling, unapologetic, and immensely capable sport-tourer that deserves to be taken seriously.

The ST takes the already imposing stature of the Pan America and imbues it with an undeniable sense of purposeful luxury. Our press bike was dressed in ‘brilliant red’ paint with black trim, and looked great. Our bike was also equipped with robust, aluminium detachable luggage: Left Side Case: 45 litres (due to the exhaust cutout on the right side), Right Side Case: 37 litres, Top Case: 38 litres, making a total volume of 120 litres of practical storage. The luggage adds 30kg (empty, of course) to the bike.

Completely at odds with my expectations was the engine. I was expecting a low-revving, low-power, heavy, pushrod Harley-Davidson V-twin, but boy was I wrong. 

The beating heart of the Pan America ST is the Revolution Max 1250T engine, a masterpiece of modern engineering. 

When you open the throttle, it unleashes a throaty, yet remarkably refined, torrent of power. The delivery is instant, linear, and utterly intoxicating. The 1252cc V-twin produces 127 Nm of torque at 6750 rpm, which is more than the Ducati Multistrada V4, and 150 bhp at 9,000 rpm, not an insignificant number. This is a quick bike that loves to rev.

This Revolution Max engine is a twin cam, twin spark, liquid-cooled V-twin, with 4 valves per cylinder and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). The engine is a stressed member, so no heavy steel frames on this Harley. This goes some way to explain the low kerb weight of 246 kg.

This is a massive step change from Harleys of old. It even has forged aluminium pistons and magnesium cam covers. 

The gearbox is as good as any modern sportsbike, better than most. Standard fit on the Pan America ST is the Screamin' Eagle Quickshifter. This is a bidirectional (up and down) quickshifter that is fast and smooth. In addition to the quickshifter is the Assist and Slipper Clutch. This reduces the effort needed to pull the clutch lever (that’s the assist part), and it helps to prevent rear wheel hop and lock-up during aggressive downshifts (that’s the slipper part). 

The motorcycle's electronic rider aids include a Drag-Torque Slip Control System (and a Cornering version, C-DSCS), which electronically manages the engine braking to prevent excessive rear wheel slip during deceleration or downshifts, complementing the slipper clutch.

Brakes are also typically high quality. Brembo front and rear, with Brembo Monoblock radially mounted four-piston calipers on 320mm discs at the front. They are excellent, offering a lovely feel and immense stopping power.

All of this works seamlessly to make this an incredibly fun and engaging package. You can really have fun with it. 

I often ride with a pillion who is short. She found the Pan America to be very comfortable. The luggage rails on the paniers were well placed and made great handles for her to hold on to. The luggage didn’t get in the way either.

Suspension on the UK-specification Pan America 1250 ST is high-quality Showa, front and rear.

At the front, you have 47mm Showa inverted upside-down forks, fully adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping.

At the rear, you have a Showa monoshock, also fully adjustable for compression and rebound damping, with a remote preload adjuster.

I made a few adjustments to the suspension, adding some compression and rebound at the front and preload at the rear (for pillion riding) and found the chassis to be superb. It’s agile, soaks up bumps in the road without getting out of shape, it’s comfortable and communicates what’s going on underneath you. 

I like to make good progress, and the Pan America ST rewarded enthusiastic riding with a very capable chassis, offering lots of grip, feedback and confidence, even with a pillion.

Due to its road focus, the ST has less suspension travel than the full-on adventure bike spec Pan America. Coupled with the 17” cast aluminium wheels, this means the ST has a lower seat height of 825mm. 

Interestingly, the US of A version of the Pan America ST has semi-active electronic suspension.

The 'Touring' aspect of the ST trim is where the machine truly shines as a premium lifestyle choice. Heated grips are not a novelty, but a necessity for the early morning departure. The comprehensive TFT touchscreen is a command centre of clarity and intuition, seamlessly managing navigation, ride modes, and the extensive electronic suite.

The integrated panniers swallow luggage with a discreet efficiency, carrying everything needed for a week away. 

The Harley-Davidson Pan America ST is more than just a successful foray into a new category; it is a definitive statement. It offers uncompromising capability paired with genuine, high-fidelity luxury, ensuring that the journey itself is as memorable and comfortable as the destination. 

In our opinion, the Pan America ST is, without question, one of the most exciting and capable grand touring machines Harley-Davidson has ever conceived. It marries thrilling performance with cutting-edge technology and all-day comfort. 

For the discerning rider seeking a long-distance partner that boasts a truly unique personality and performance to rival the world's best, the Pan America ST should be on your list. It’s Harley, but not as you know it. It’s a wonderful thing.

Seat Height, Unladen - 825 mm

Tire, Type - Michelin - Scorcher "Sport"

Tires, Front Specification - 120/70ZR17 58W

Tires, Rear Specification - 180/55ZR17 73W

Fuel Capacity - 21.2 l

Weight, In Running Order - 246 kg

Engine

Revolution™ Max 1250

Displacement - 1,252 cc

Engine Torque - 127 Nm

Engine Torque (rpm) - 6750 rpm

Horsepower - 150 HP / 112 kW @ 9000 rpm

Suspension

Front Fork - 47mm inverted fork. Aluminium fork yokes/triple clamps

Rear Shocks - Linkage-mounted monoshock with compression, rebound and hydraulic spring preload adjustability

Wheels - cast, satin black aluminium

Brakes 

Front Brakes - Dual hub-mounted 320mm discs. Brembo Monoblock radially mounted four-piston calipers.

Rear Brake - Single 280mm rotor (disc). Brembo single-piston floating caliper.

Electronics

• Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS)
• Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS). This also incorporates Wheelie Control.
• Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control System (C-DSCS)
• Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB)
• Selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road, Rain, Off-Road, Off-Road Plus)
• Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) / Hill Hold Control (HHC)
• Cruise Control. (not adaptive)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• 6.8-inch TFT Display and Connectivity
• All-LED Lighting

Starting at £16,995 +otr