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I purchased a Harley Pan America from a fellow on the ADV rider forum. He is in Pensacola and I am in New Braunfels. A whole lot of I-10, but there are worse things in life. I coordinated a fly and ride for this past weekend (12/3/21).
Flew out of San Antonio at 5am. I paid extra for a front row window seat as I like to loot at the geography. No luck today as it was all fog until Mobile. Landed in Pensacola, the seller, Keith, picked me up, and we had a nice conversation on the way to his place near Eglin AFB. The bike looks great and everything checks out. We do the paperwork and I begin my journey. I get a couple miles down the road and the bike won't go past 4k rpm. I then notice a check engine light. Damnit Harley! I call Keith and he offers to come pick me up and undo the deal. Nah, lets just work this out. One really nice thing about the Pan Am is accessing diagnostics without a need for a GS911 or equivalent. The code is an ECM code for camshaft rear intake over-retarding. I just cleared the code and continued on. Now I am on the highway and the CEL is gone so I can really open it up. All of the reviews of the bike gush over the motor. They were all true. What a beast! This is a Harley?
I wanted to head west on I-10 and go through the tunnel under Mobile. That done, I decided to stay on I-10 until Louisiana. My plan is to visit Abita Brewpub and then find a hotel. No hotels were available in the Covington or Abita Springs area so I head west to Baton Rouge. I get a room and fall asleep at 8pm.
Next morning, I decided to once again just take I-10 until Beaumont. Then I called a friend in College Station to see if he is at home. I head north to Highway 105 to Montgomery. I want to see the old King's Cafe location, ride the forest, and just revisit old stomping grounds. What a change the last ten years have brought to Montgomery county! The place was packed. 149 was very busy and didn't thin out until I was approaching Anderson. At least FM3090 was still great. I meet my friend at BJ's Brewhouse in College Station and enjoy a much needed hefeweizen and some nachos. After visiting awhile I decided to stay for an overnight visit. This would also allow me to take the scenic route back west and not feel rushed by daylight hours.
Sunday late morning I head out. When I was at school at TAMU, I loved riding the forest and visiting with TWTEX folk at King's, but my favorite roads were due west toward Burton, Lake Somerville, Round Top, and La Grange. This morning was just a fantastic ride with perfect weather and low traffic. It felt like reuniting with an old friend to be back on these roads again for the first time in 12-13 years. A few side stops in High Hill and Flatonia, and then it was I-10 once again to Seguin. The San Antonio traffic begins to pick up at this point, but I am almost home.
The Pan Am is a great travel companion. The motor and chassis are very well done. I am enjoying the bike and looking forward to more trips in the future.
Flew out of San Antonio at 5am. I paid extra for a front row window seat as I like to loot at the geography. No luck today as it was all fog until Mobile. Landed in Pensacola, the seller, Keith, picked me up, and we had a nice conversation on the way to his place near Eglin AFB. The bike looks great and everything checks out. We do the paperwork and I begin my journey. I get a couple miles down the road and the bike won't go past 4k rpm. I then notice a check engine light. Damnit Harley! I call Keith and he offers to come pick me up and undo the deal. Nah, lets just work this out. One really nice thing about the Pan Am is accessing diagnostics without a need for a GS911 or equivalent. The code is an ECM code for camshaft rear intake over-retarding. I just cleared the code and continued on. Now I am on the highway and the CEL is gone so I can really open it up. All of the reviews of the bike gush over the motor. They were all true. What a beast! This is a Harley?
I wanted to head west on I-10 and go through the tunnel under Mobile. That done, I decided to stay on I-10 until Louisiana. My plan is to visit Abita Brewpub and then find a hotel. No hotels were available in the Covington or Abita Springs area so I head west to Baton Rouge. I get a room and fall asleep at 8pm.
Next morning, I decided to once again just take I-10 until Beaumont. Then I called a friend in College Station to see if he is at home. I head north to Highway 105 to Montgomery. I want to see the old King's Cafe location, ride the forest, and just revisit old stomping grounds. What a change the last ten years have brought to Montgomery county! The place was packed. 149 was very busy and didn't thin out until I was approaching Anderson. At least FM3090 was still great. I meet my friend at BJ's Brewhouse in College Station and enjoy a much needed hefeweizen and some nachos. After visiting awhile I decided to stay for an overnight visit. This would also allow me to take the scenic route back west and not feel rushed by daylight hours.
Sunday late morning I head out. When I was at school at TAMU, I loved riding the forest and visiting with TWTEX folk at King's, but my favorite roads were due west toward Burton, Lake Somerville, Round Top, and La Grange. This morning was just a fantastic ride with perfect weather and low traffic. It felt like reuniting with an old friend to be back on these roads again for the first time in 12-13 years. A few side stops in High Hill and Flatonia, and then it was I-10 once again to Seguin. The San Antonio traffic begins to pick up at this point, but I am almost home.
The Pan Am is a great travel companion. The motor and chassis are very well done. I am enjoying the bike and looking forward to more trips in the future.
