In life, there are stereotypes that need to be addressed. Girls should only play with dolls; boys, toy soldiers. And of course, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are best-ridden while wearing leather vests with nothing underneath.
While we’ve certainly redefined the idiotic gender roles through time (thankfully), Harley-Davidson is still in its transition period to beating its age-old stereotype that dates back to time immemorial.
On a trip to Thailand, Harley-Davidson Asia invited us and a handful of media personnel from 9 countries to experience what the new H-D lineup is all about. Dubbed the DRT (Dirt, Road, Track) experience and staged at the Bira International Circuit in Pattaya, the company aimed to present the versatility of its 2022 model year lineup, fronted by the Revolution Max V-Twin engine that’s found on its newer breed of bikes.
And frankly, it was successful in doing so but up to some extent, mind you. It managed to cross the boundaries of what its bikes can do without completely turning its back to traditions.
Dirt: Pan America’s Freedom
The front-runner of the Dirt segment is, of course, the H-D Pan America. Announced globally in 2018 and debuted in 2020, the Harley-Davidson Pan America is an adventure bike that’s meant to go beyond pavements. It’s also the first Harley to use the new 1,250cc Revolution Max V-Twin engine, churning out 150hp and 127Nm of torque.
For the event’s purpose, H-D let us use the 2022 Pan America that now comes with an improved TFT display, extended Hill Hold Control, and a new color option called Fastback Blue/White Sand. Beyond the updates, the H-D Pan America retains its authoritative nature. I can say that it’s one of the best-looking adventure bikes out there.
On the dirt track on the outskirts of the Bira Circuit, the Pan America was in its element, easily conquering various surfaces. There was grass, sand, gravel, and puddles – all a cinch to the full-size adventure bike, the tallest that Harley has to offer. And while most adventure bike owners won’t probably use their bikes for hardcore trails, you’re assured that your Pan America has what it takes to go head against the segment stalwarts should you decide to do so.
Road: The Return of the Nightster
The Road part was my favorite, and that’s because it would be the first time I’d be swinging my leg over the all-new Nightster.
The Nightster is the latest member of the Sportster family and the third Harley to receive the new Revolution Max engine, albeit, in a smaller 975cc displacement. Despite that, the Revolution Max 975T engine makes 89hp and 95Nm of torque – decent numbers coming from an almost-liter bike.
And just like the Sportster S, the Nightster does away with the traditional hoop frame, with the Revolution Max engine a stressed member of the bike’s chassis. That said, the new Nightster is lighter, stronger, and more compact than its predecessor which was discontinued in 2012.
Those traits made the whole road experience memorable. The Nightster was easy to handle, be it on slow maneuvers or on fast turns. It leaned nicely when needed, plus it has a tight turning radius, which made U-turns relatively easy. Coupled with that notable handling was the Nightster’s power delivery even on the default Road mode. It was torquey on low and mid-range speeds, albeit a bit lackluster on the top-end beyond highway speed limits. Gear shifts were also smooth and indiscernible.
But the Nightster’s best trait was its comfortable riding position. Despite the low-rise handlebar, the neutral feet position makes for cozy seating even after the 60-kilometer cruise from Bira Circuit to a coffee destination, then back.
And then, there’s the design – the Nightster easily piqued my attention with its classic charm. It had the smallest footprint among the Harleys present during the event, which suits my taste. The standard bar-end mirrors and headlight cowling were reminiscent of a cafe racer, though the low seating harkened to its cruiser roots. The round analog gauge screamed retro, though it’s already integrated with a modern LCD display for the fuel meter, odometer, and riding mode display.
If there’s any initial gripe at this point, that would be the lack of cruise control found on the bigger Sportster S. But of course, the price has to be considered.
Track: The Gut-Wrenching Sportster S
Face-melting track performance isn’t exactly something that would describe any Harley. H-D Asia’s management knew that and admitted that the track exercise for the Sportster S was for us to maximize the massive bike’s potential away from public roads – and I’m glad they did.
The H-D Sportster S was far from being a track weapon but its straight-line speed was something you shouldn’t ignore. Its massive liquid-cooled Revolution Max 1250T engine makes 121hp and 125Nm of torque. While down on power compared to the similar mill found on the Pan America, the Sportster S wasn’t short of providing excitement while at the track. The key was the massive torque down low, which made acceleration from corners a bliss.
On straights, the Sportster S shines with a gut-wrenching pull at mid-range speeds and even beyond 100 km/h. At some point, I’m pretty sure I recorded a 150 km/h sprint; I just wished that the Bira Circuit was a bit longer because the bike can give more – way more.
But as expected, the 502-pound bike was reluctant to lean, primarily because of its thick front tires and front-set foot pegs. This resulted in constant oversteers, which meant I needed to use some rear brake brushing to get to where I wanted to. Then again, the Sportster S was not meant to break lap times, so there’s that.
A Turning Point
Harley-Davidson has proven to us that it can produce bikes beyond stereotypes. While the lineup staples, such as the Fat Boy and Low Rider, are there to stand as the old guards, the company is ready for the future with a new breed of bikes for every facade of lifestyle riding.
Even better, all of the mentioned 2022 model year bikes are available locally – save for the Nightster S that will be launched on July 16, 2022. It’s definitely something to watch out for.
Meanwhile, the updated 2022 Pan America is now available in H-D showrooms. However, the new Fastback Blue/White Sand color option can be had through indent order for now. Likewise, the 2022 Sportster S is already on sale locally, with the special green hue also available via indent order.
