Photo: Melk
Since its introduction about three years ago, the Pan America has quickly grown from being the most unlikely Harley-Davidson in the current lineup to being a favorite choice for people looking for an adventure bike.
Because of its nature, the Pan America can be heavily customized right from the dealers' lots to suit whatever touring or off-roading needs a biker might have. That means the years that have passed since its introduction, although sufficient to catch the attention of custom garages the world over, did little in the way of actually giving us a lot of aftermarket-modified Pan Americas to admire.
We managed to find one though on the lot of a French crew called Melk. A Pan America took to the extreme not only through the fitting of custom parts, but also through the careful use of a limited number of colors that make the bike look like none other of its kind.
The two-wheeler is simply loaded with aftermarket bits from both Harley itself and garages that are in the habit of making parts and accessories for Milwaukee machines – more than 40 elements of the original bike were replaced with something better.
It all starts with the wheels, H-D-sourced wire pieces of hardware that replace the five double-spoke ones Harley usually fits on the Pan America 1250 Special. We're not told what dimensions they come in, but they look right at home in the overall design of the machine. The wheels move up and down while keeping the rider comfortable with the help of adaptive air suspension.
The frame is the stock one, and holds inside it the motorcycle's stock engine, the still-new Revolution Max 1250. The unit breathes however through a new exhaust system, supplied by Europe's favorite exhaust shop, Dr. Jekill & Mr Hyde, and a performance air filter of Harley make.
Up on the frame the French crew installed a seat large enough to hold two people, with the passenger able to rest their back on a top case. This element is accompanied on each side of the ride by large solid bags installed high above the ground.
A wealth of smaller elements, from the mirrors to the turn signals, have made their way on the build, and have been supplied by big names of the custom scene, including Kellermann and SW-Motech.
When all the hard work on the bike was completed, the Pan America was wrapped in a combination of black (in both gloss and matte forms) and bronze. A lot of highlights in carbon (the fairing, many of the covers, and front fender, among others) can be seen all over the ride.
This Pan America is bike number 36 in the Melk's portfolio, and can be replicated upon request for the equivalent of $33,000. Quite the expensive bike, if you ask me, given how much the American bike maker is asking for a stock Pan America 1250 Special, which is $20,399. But certainly just as delicious to look at as a French croissant.
We managed to find one though on the lot of a French crew called Melk. A Pan America took to the extreme not only through the fitting of custom parts, but also through the careful use of a limited number of colors that make the bike look like none other of its kind.
The two-wheeler is simply loaded with aftermarket bits from both Harley itself and garages that are in the habit of making parts and accessories for Milwaukee machines – more than 40 elements of the original bike were replaced with something better.
It all starts with the wheels, H-D-sourced wire pieces of hardware that replace the five double-spoke ones Harley usually fits on the Pan America 1250 Special. We're not told what dimensions they come in, but they look right at home in the overall design of the machine. The wheels move up and down while keeping the rider comfortable with the help of adaptive air suspension.
The frame is the stock one, and holds inside it the motorcycle's stock engine, the still-new Revolution Max 1250. The unit breathes however through a new exhaust system, supplied by Europe's favorite exhaust shop, Dr. Jekill & Mr Hyde, and a performance air filter of Harley make.
Up on the frame the French crew installed a seat large enough to hold two people, with the passenger able to rest their back on a top case. This element is accompanied on each side of the ride by large solid bags installed high above the ground.
A wealth of smaller elements, from the mirrors to the turn signals, have made their way on the build, and have been supplied by big names of the custom scene, including Kellermann and SW-Motech.
When all the hard work on the bike was completed, the Pan America was wrapped in a combination of black (in both gloss and matte forms) and bronze. A lot of highlights in carbon (the fairing, many of the covers, and front fender, among others) can be seen all over the ride.
This Pan America is bike number 36 in the Melk's portfolio, and can be replicated upon request for the equivalent of $33,000. Quite the expensive bike, if you ask me, given how much the American bike maker is asking for a stock Pan America 1250 Special, which is $20,399. But certainly just as delicious to look at as a French croissant.
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