Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special specs: can you green lane it?
The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special weighs 263kg wet, has a seat height of 850mm and 175mm of ground clearance, and makes 150hp. Expect Not officially published, for a range of Not officially published from its 21.2-litre tank.
2/10
Holloway Green Lane Score
A powerful, well-equipped and comfortable semi-active adventure bike that is much better on gravel than its weight suggests, but 263 kg and road-biased tyres make mud a real risk. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
2/5
Road usability
5/5
Technical off-road capability
1/5
Green-lane suitability
1/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£17,745
Engine1252cc
Power150hp
Torque128Nm
Weight (wet)263kg
Seat height850mm
Fuel tank21.2L
Real-world rangeNot officially published
EconomyNot officially published
Wheels (f/r)19" / 17"
Ground clearance175mm
Suspension travel (f/r)191mm / 191mm
ABSYes
Traction controlYes
Ride modesYes
Service intervalCheck the handbook
Licence requiredA
Stock tyre sizes (f/r)120/70-19 / 170/60-17
Stock tyresMichelin Scorcher Adventure
Where the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special sits
Wet weight against ground clearance for every bike in the finder that publishes both. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit. Tap a dot to open that bike.
Figures are manufacturer claims. Clearance is measured differently by different makers, so treat small gaps as a draw.
Will your feet reach?
The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special has a 850mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Tyres that fit the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special
It runs a 120/70-19 front and a 170/60-17 rear, on Michelin Scorcher Adventure from the factory. 28 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
Compare the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special
The Pan America 1250 Special is Harley-Davidson's big adventure bike, with a 150hp 1252cc V-twin, semi-active suspension and Adaptive Ride Height that drops the bike at a stop so you can get your feet down. Cycle News says it keeps its composure on gravel and dirt but prefers hard-packed surfaces to soft sand, and that the 19 inch front floats in soft stuff. For UK green lanes that means it suits dry stony byways, but a wet, rutted lane with a 263 kg bike is hard work.
Pros for green laning
Adaptive Ride Height lowers the bike at a stop, which helps with a tall seat and slippery footing.
Semi-active suspension with 191 mm of travel in both ends smooths rough, rutted lanes.
Cornering ABS and traction control, with riding modes that suit gravel.
Strong 150hp, 128Nm engine and a 21.2 litre tank for long road links.
Cons and limitations
263 kg in running order is very heavy in mud and clay ruts.
Only 175 mm ground clearance, less than most rivals.
19 inch front wheel and standard Michelin Scorcher Adventure road-biased radials limit grip in soft lanes.
High price (from 17,745 pounds) and expensive electronics to repair.
Before taking it seriously off-road: A bash plate, handguards and engine protection, plus off-road tyres for wet lanes, and a plan for lifting a heavy bike on your own. Learn the ride mode settings before you ride a lane.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
