By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 (RA1) vs Pan America 1250 Limited (MY2026)
Climb off the 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 and onto the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Limited, and you'll feel the gap before the wheels turn. The Pan America 1250 Limited sinks itself toward the pavement once you're in the saddle. Both boots go flat, and it's suddenly manageable.
So which one do you buy?
The Pan America 1250 Limited has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Pan America 1250 Limited
Day in, day out, the Pan America 1250 Limited nudges ahead in traffic. Most of that is friendlier manners. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Edges it: Pan America 1250 Limited
For a day of interstate and back roads, the Pan America 1250 Limited makes a little more sense. Sit on both, because the gap is modest.
Real off-road capability
Narrow edge: Pan America 1250 Limited
On a washboard dirt road, the Pan America 1250 Limited edges in front. It's close, so ride both on gravel if you can.
What makes each one tick
2021 Pan America 1250
The 2021 Pan America's liquid-cooled V-twin pulls hard and keeps charging toward a sporty rush near the top of the revs. There's a mechanical sound to it. A rocky bump on a dirt climb meets 7.5 in (190 mm) of travel at each end, and the chassis isn't out of its depth off-road.
Pan America 1250 Limited
As the road tightens, the Limited's mischievous side comes out. Through hairpins and long sweepers its front keeps talking back, and the rear settles as the throttle opens on the exit. There's no spike from the twin. The bars, pegs and seat stay quiet.
Nils rode the Pan America 1250 Limited in Austria in 2026 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Pan America 1250 Limited has the lower seat: 33.1 in (840 mm) vs 35.2 in (895 mm).
- The 2021 Pan America 1250 has the lower wet weight: 540 lb (245 kg) vs 659 lb (299 kg).
- Electronic Suspension: standard on the Pan America 1250 Limited, option on the 2021 Pan America 1250.
Which one for the way you ride
Look at twisty roads and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2021 Pan America 1250
What owners say
Strengths
- Powerful Revolution Max engine
Pan America 1250 Limited
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- ARH Earns Trust Instantly
- Power You Use Like A Tool
- Planted Through Any Corner
- No Buzz, No Rattle
- More Sport Than It Looks
Trade-offs
- Soft Initial Brake Bite
- Hiccup On Tight Upshifts
- Startup Glitches On Low Volts
- Faint Starter Whine
What they share
- Displacement
- 1252 cc
- Engine
- 60° V-twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Torque
- 94 lb-ft (127 Nm)
- Fuel capacity
- 5.6 US gal (21.2 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-19
- Rear tire
- 170/60-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 2021 Pan America 1250 | Pan America 1250 Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 35.2 in (895 mm) | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 540 lb (245 kg) | 659 lb (299 kg) |
| 2021 Pan America 1250 | Pan America 1250 Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 148 hp (110 kW) | 150 hp (112 kW) |
| 2021 Pan America 1250 | Pan America 1250 Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in (210 mm) | 6.1 in (154 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) | 7.5 in (191 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) | 7.5 in (191 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2021 Pan America 1250 | Pan America 1250 Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Option | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Standard | Option |
| Luggage System | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
