I just received the top box for Christmas, love the construction, the look and storage. The install of the top box is way more involved. 😬 Great video and I can’t wait till I get the side boxes.
Installed mine today, had the same issue, used a small pry bar to achieve the basic alignment, started the top two bolts and bingo bango all done. I’m using Kriega soft bags.
My Pan America Special overheated and blew the engine at 5,000 miles halfway through a 2,500-mile trip. The bike has now been in the shop for three weeks, and today, I finally got an update on the cause. The Tech tells me the manifold going from the Oil Pump to the engine's top-end came loose. They are still waiting for Harley Corp tech support to get back with further instructions. I love the bike, but it doesn't seem like the dealerships want anything to do with servicing and repair it. I hope Harley takes care of me, but I'm skeptical due to being in the shop for three weeks and not getting any update other than they are waiting on Harley's tech support. I did ask the Tech how much internal damage there was, and they said Harley had not instructed them to make any more tear down; they just wanted pics of the cause. However, the Tech did tell me that they did a compression check on the cylinders, and they are entirely different front to back, and there is coolant in my engine oil. Fingers Crossed!
Yep..... One of the items I was pondering with this new PA was servicing em and warranty. Own a few HDs (along with metrics) and to say current HD techs as savy to what is required on the PA is a stretch (if it isnt easy $$ wrenching bolt on mods to an aircooled HD, they dont wanna have anything to do with it). My 1st thought was back to Buell days (even those early ones retained HD motors) and the techs treated em like blacksheeps and didnt wanna work on em. A PA may be in my future, but for now my Yamaha Super Tenere fits all my needs in spades. If I do pick one up itll be in a few years after the initial HD public R&D phase is over. I hope they take care of ya!
Wow this is unfortunate, I find the majority of people online praising the Harley dealerships for their service and standing by their product. Hope you get the service and help you need to get you on the road asap. I have had mine for 2 weeks, my bluetooth sucks and get the whine of death, but love her more each with each ride.
@@ladymarmalade2138 I'm not saying that the Harley Dealerships aren't doing everything they can. However, they have replaced the Engine, Complete Wiring Harness, Front Left Fork Leg, and rear swingarm. These are all significant repairs Harley has covered under warranty in the first 5000 miles of ownership. But, for me, this doesn't work for an adventure bike. I can't have it breaking down every time I ride it, no matter how good the dealership's service is. Supposedly everything is fixed now, and there aren't any more issues. But I will never know because I have sold the bike back to the dealership that it came from at a loss to me and purchased a 2022 GSA.
@@AdventureGlide yeah I would be pissed. No one should have to go through all that on a brand new $20k+ motorcycle...they should have offered you first dibs on a 2022 model at no cost to you. Hope the 2022 GSA is doing right by you!!
Frick… I have a new 2022 pan America and it overheated in the first 2 riding hours 😬😬took it back to the dealer expressing my concerns and they said --DONT WORRY ….. it should be fine 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Touratech uses latches that do not need locks to function. And the lid retainers are easy to disconnect when you want to take the lids off, they are cable with a plastic retaining nut. My version, the latches that connects the pannier to the rack is inside the pannier. So it is harder to quickly remove them to take with you at the end of the day. The Tourtech cases, the locks are optional but you can get them keyed alike. A different key is no big deal, just carry a spare, ignition key too. I will not be surprised if Harley goes to a keyless system for the ignition like they have done for the other bikes. The SW Motech racks made for bikes in Germany have a quick disconnect fittings so they can be removed when not using the panniers, something to do with German law I believe. The lids when removed make handy parts holders and other things. Carry handles are a nice addition, there are some that are straps that use the mounting points on the lids. Make carrying them very easy to do like when going to your room when traveling or to your bike if you do not leave it with the panniers in place (saves space in your garage or wherever you park long term.) While black looks cooler, they show scratches easier and get hotter when parked in the sun. If they use standard SW Motech latch systems you might be able to get smaller cases should you decide you want to carry less or have a narrower bike. When riding with the wide cases, remember they are back there otherwise you may have some embarrassing moments. But it looks like the SW Motech cases are reinforced at the lower, and upper, latch point. Tourtech cases can be bent inwards at the mounts if you drop the bike. (They can be bent back out with some effort and tools, like a couple of wood blocks and a small hydraulic jack) But having cases that are made by a long term company means that should you need to replace them a decade into the future you can. Something that is an advantage with ADV type bikes as they are more universal. Plus the cases, and bikes themselves, are expected to be dropped than the usual street bike. I am sure there are pouches and nets that are made to fit inside the lids. Check with Twisted Throttle, they are importers of the SW Motech panniers and parts.
Great video, very informative. I find the fitment issues shocking for the extreme high pricing they put on the luggage system as a whole. For mine im probably going to wait a bit and see what the aftermarket is going to do.
Thanks for the video! I had a similar experience with the screamin eagle exhaust instructions LOL, but the install was easy enough to figure out.. I see you’re in Maine, we’ll have to ride some time.
I would think the ability to detach the caps to the boxes is if you wanted to use them as a cooler or something similar? I don’t really know on that one.
Vague is right. I was fortunate enough that my dealer had the side boxes, mounts, top box and mounting plate along with the pad. Yes, there is a pad that you have to drill into the top box to get some back relief and is a separate part number. $1700 is alot for all the hardware you need for the complete setup, but id say its well worth it.
I have been trying to find a combination lock for those cases. I don’t want to have the key when I ride cross country this summer. I also have a key fob holder that attaches to my iWatch band making it almost impossible for me to loose my keys unless I loose my watch.
Great video, got my Pan-Am special last Thursday, and considering how soon to mount the boxes, I'm wondering is there a difference between Pan-Am and Pan-Am special. I don't know, but I'm see options for which model. Thanks for the video.
I just installed my rack and panniers a couple days ago. Everything went smooth as silk. The only small hitch was installing the locks in the cases. The date of mfg was in March of 2021, maybe they updated their bends or got sloppy with some batches. Next project is to install the day-maker aux lights on the crash bars...warning, you have to remove the gas tank and do some tear apart to get to the wires needed. Also, my kit was missing the spacers used for mounting the on/off switch on the clutch handle.
Question: I have friends that have BMW GS and have quite a bit of stability issues (buffeting and wobbling) with the similar cases on the GS at highway speeds. Can anyone comment on how these bags affect handling at highway speeds on the Pan America? Thanks.
Great video and very informative….a quick question….what is the average install time for the 2 side cases….Harley is saying it’s 5 hours for all 3 cases
Very helpful. My used 2022 came with the soft dry-bags which I think I'll stick with to save some dough, but very informative to see you go through the install and quality review.
I just installed a the top case and the top latch pin fell out the first ride. I found the pin and one side pin. The other side I jammed an old screw into so I could at least close the case. I'm aggravated about having to use the key each time also.
This may be a dumb question. But say you want to take the cases off , but now you have those big metal bars there. Is there any attachment that kind of hides the big bars? like you would attach it just like you would the case but its just for looks and concealment ?
Nice video, i just installed mine and the wife wanted me to make a video, but 'what's the point', you covered it all :-) I'm not sure if H-D told SW Motech to get their QC fixed, but the mounting hardware I just bought yesterday and installed this evening didn't give me any problems; yes there was a little misalignment, but fortunate for me keeping everything pretty lose until I'd got all the fastenings a few turns in, and then tightened up and everything pulled in, even the brace across the back was pretty much in alignment. One Q I have for everyone - I got 6 lock tumblers, but clearly, only four are required!!! What'sup with that? :-) Anyway, thanks for the video, I always thought H-D were good with their instructions, but on this occasion, a little help from your video helped the install go smoothly.
I hear you on the key gripe, bro. I have the same issue with my top box: has to be locked to get the key out. Irritating when you quickly have to grab your rain gear, for instance. Have to go fishing for my keys in my pocket, unlock the box, get my gear out, lock the box and stow away my keys again. Annoying when you're in a hurry. Also: almost an inch of misalignment on a brand new (expensive) piece of gear? Come on, H-D!
Not being an ADV rider but interested in this bike as I ride a Harley Sportster currently here in the UK. What is the advantage of these cases over the sport panniers which just clip on with no need for the additional mounting hardware and are slimmer due to that fact and also can store a helmet which those aluminium cases can not?
If you set a bike down the aluminum cases will actually provide protection. They are very well built. The sport cases, which I did see in person, are cheaper. Mostly plastic. I don’t think they will keep gear dry either. My 2c
I was under the impression from Harley that the Panniers are actually from SW-MOTECH, who is a well known manufacturer of quality stuff for ADV motorcycles. Is that correct? And...IF it is....they they make the brackets also......or is someone else making them?
Any specific reason why you didn't keep the locking mechanism towards the front. That way you can open the lids while sitting on the bike? Or were these boxes left and right marked?
Weeks of waiting, and still waiting for the mounting hardware and now we see its poorly fitting. A double punishment from HD for being brand loyal. What a joke. Someone should get their backside kicked up to the back of their neck at HD for this.
Agreed. I was so disappointed and had to weigh sending it back and then waiting on a replacement for months. I rolled the dice and bent it. Scary stuff to do with brand new parts.
Take it back. Why even bother trying to get it to work. That’s the reason manufacturers get away with this because people just “oh well I’ll try and get it to fit.” Then you can’t take it back because you altered it.
Great video Pete. Nice to see an actual owner working on there own machine and the real word issues that pop up.
I just received the top box for Christmas, love the construction, the look and storage.
The install of the top box is way more involved. 😬
Great video and I can’t wait till I get the side boxes.
Installed mine today, had the same issue, used a small pry bar to achieve the basic alignment, started the top two bolts and bingo bango all done. I’m using Kriega soft bags.
My Pan America Special overheated and blew the engine at 5,000 miles halfway through a 2,500-mile trip. The bike has now been in the shop for three weeks, and today, I finally got an update on the cause. The Tech tells me the manifold going from the Oil Pump to the engine's top-end came loose. They are still waiting for Harley Corp tech support to get back with further instructions. I love the bike, but it doesn't seem like the dealerships want anything to do with servicing and repair it. I hope Harley takes care of me, but I'm skeptical due to being in the shop for three weeks and not getting any update other than they are waiting on Harley's tech support. I did ask the Tech how much internal damage there was, and they said Harley had not instructed them to make any more tear down; they just wanted pics of the cause. However, the Tech did tell me that they did a compression check on the cylinders, and they are entirely different front to back, and there is coolant in my engine oil. Fingers Crossed!
Yep..... One of the items I was pondering with this new PA was servicing em and warranty. Own a few HDs (along with metrics) and to say current HD techs as savy to what is required on the PA is a stretch (if it isnt easy $$ wrenching bolt on mods to an aircooled HD, they dont wanna have anything to do with it). My 1st thought was back to Buell days (even those early ones retained HD motors) and the techs treated em like blacksheeps and didnt wanna work on em. A PA may be in my future, but for now my Yamaha Super Tenere fits all my needs in spades. If I do pick one up itll be in a few years after the initial HD public R&D phase is over. I hope they take care of ya!
Wow this is unfortunate, I find the majority of people online praising the Harley dealerships for their service and standing by their product. Hope you get the service and help you need to get you on the road asap. I have had mine for 2 weeks, my bluetooth sucks and get the whine of death, but love her more each with each ride.
@@ladymarmalade2138 I'm not saying that the Harley Dealerships aren't doing everything they can. However, they have replaced the Engine, Complete Wiring Harness, Front Left Fork Leg, and rear swingarm. These are all significant repairs Harley has covered under warranty in the first 5000 miles of ownership. But, for me, this doesn't work for an adventure bike. I can't have it breaking down every time I ride it, no matter how good the dealership's service is. Supposedly everything is fixed now, and there aren't any more issues. But I will never know because I have sold the bike back to the dealership that it came from at a loss to me and purchased a 2022 GSA.
@@AdventureGlide yeah I would be pissed. No one should have to go through all that on a brand new $20k+ motorcycle...they should have offered you first dibs on a 2022 model at no cost to you. Hope the 2022 GSA is doing right by you!!
Frick… I have a new 2022 pan America and it overheated in the first 2 riding hours 😬😬took it back to the dealer expressing my concerns and they said --DONT WORRY ….. it should be fine 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Touratech uses latches that do not need locks to function. And the lid retainers are easy to disconnect when you want to take the lids off, they are cable with a plastic retaining nut. My version, the latches that connects the pannier to the rack is inside the pannier. So it is harder to quickly remove them to take with you at the end of the day. The Tourtech cases, the locks are optional but you can get them keyed alike. A different key is no big deal, just carry a spare, ignition key too. I will not be surprised if Harley goes to a keyless system for the ignition like they have done for the other bikes.
The SW Motech racks made for bikes in Germany have a quick disconnect fittings so they can be removed when not using the panniers, something to do with German law I believe.
The lids when removed make handy parts holders and other things. Carry handles are a nice addition, there are some that are straps that use the mounting points on the lids. Make carrying them very easy to do like when going to your room when traveling or to your bike if you do not leave it with the panniers in place (saves space in your garage or wherever you park long term.)
While black looks cooler, they show scratches easier and get hotter when parked in the sun. If they use standard SW Motech latch systems you might be able to get smaller cases should you decide you want to carry less or have a narrower bike. When riding with the wide cases, remember they are back there otherwise you may have some embarrassing moments.
But it looks like the SW Motech cases are reinforced at the lower, and upper, latch point. Tourtech cases can be bent inwards at the mounts if you drop the bike. (They can be bent back out with some effort and tools, like a couple of wood blocks and a small hydraulic jack)
But having cases that are made by a long term company means that should you need to replace them a decade into the future you can. Something that is an advantage with ADV type bikes as they are more universal. Plus the cases, and bikes themselves, are expected to be dropped than the usual street bike.
I am sure there are pouches and nets that are made to fit inside the lids. Check with Twisted Throttle, they are importers of the SW Motech panniers and parts.
Overall GREAT video. Glad to see I’m not the only “Lucky” owner to get inconsistent parts from subcontractors factories! Bravo zulu!
I just put my side bag brackets on. Perfect fit. Sorry to hear you had a problem.
Great video, very informative. I find the fitment issues shocking for the extreme high pricing they put on the luggage system as a whole. For mine im probably going to wait a bit and see what the aftermarket is going to do.
Thanks for the video! I had a similar experience with the screamin eagle exhaust instructions LOL, but the install was easy enough to figure out.. I see you’re in Maine, we’ll have to ride some time.
You got it! Meet ya at the Fryeburg Fair bub!
I would think the ability to detach the caps to the boxes is if you wanted to use them as a cooler or something similar? I don’t really know on that one.
I just put mine on. Lined up perfectly, took about five minutes.
Vague is right. I was fortunate enough that my dealer had the side boxes, mounts, top box and mounting plate along with the pad. Yes, there is a pad that you have to drill into the top box to get some back relief and is a separate part number. $1700 is alot for all the hardware you need for the complete setup, but id say its well worth it.
Great video. You really explained the whole process very well and easy to fallow.
History on 10-55 radio call ;-) What did you use for liners for the sidecases?
Great video !! It's going to helpful when my brackets show up 🤦♂️😄
how were your brackets???
How is getting on and off the bike with the boxes?
I have been trying to find a combination lock for those cases. I don’t want to have the key when I ride cross country this summer. I also have a key fob holder that attaches to my iWatch band making it almost impossible for me to loose my keys unless I loose my watch.
they dont make them
Great video, got my Pan-Am special last Thursday, and considering how soon to mount the boxes, I'm wondering is there a difference between Pan-Am and Pan-Am special. I don't know, but I'm see options for which model. Thanks for the video.
Congrats, picked mine up last week, love her....Of course 0 accessories available
Harley-davidson instructions are just about as handy as a football bat.
I just installed my rack and panniers a couple days ago. Everything went smooth as silk. The only small hitch was installing the locks in the cases. The date of mfg was in March of 2021, maybe they updated their bends or got sloppy with some batches. Next project is to install the day-maker aux lights on the crash bars...warning, you have to remove the gas tank and do some tear apart to get to the wires needed. Also, my kit was missing the spacers used for mounting the on/off switch on the clutch handle.
Question: I have friends that have BMW GS and have quite a bit of stability issues (buffeting and wobbling) with the similar cases on the GS at highway speeds. Can anyone comment on how these bags affect handling at highway speeds on the Pan America? Thanks.
SuperTrick set-up and great install !!!
Thanks! 👍
Great video and very informative….a quick question….what is the average install time for the 2 side cases….Harley is saying it’s 5 hours for all 3 cases
No way - maybe 2.5
From Russia thank you!)
Very helpful. My used 2022 came with the soft dry-bags which I think I'll stick with to save some dough, but very informative to see you go through the install and quality review.
Extremely helpful video.Thank you for making it.👍👍
My pleasure 😊
I just installed a the top case and the top latch pin fell out the first ride. I found the pin and one side pin. The other side I jammed an old screw into so I could at least close the case.
I'm aggravated about having to use the key each time also.
got to be a way to file down a notch on the key so it can be removed
This may be a dumb question. But say you want to take the cases off , but now you have those big metal bars there. Is there any attachment that kind of hides the big bars? like you would attach it just like you would the case but its just for looks and concealment ?
Don’t think so
Mine went on super easy
congratulations... top box!
Nice video, i just installed mine and the wife wanted me to make a video, but 'what's the point', you covered it all :-) I'm not sure if H-D told SW Motech to get their QC fixed, but the mounting hardware I just bought yesterday and installed this evening didn't give me any problems; yes there was a little misalignment, but fortunate for me keeping everything pretty lose until I'd got all the fastenings a few turns in, and then tightened up and everything pulled in, even the brace across the back was pretty much in alignment.
One Q I have for everyone - I got 6 lock tumblers, but clearly, only four are required!!! What'sup with that? :-)
Anyway, thanks for the video, I always thought H-D were good with their instructions, but on this occasion, a little help from your video helped the install go smoothly.
They give you enough tumblers to cover both side cases and the top case
Removability of lid is to make a tool/parts tray when underway…
Thanks for this video!
I hear you on the key gripe, bro. I have the same issue with my top box: has to be locked to get the key out. Irritating when you quickly have to grab your rain gear, for instance.
Have to go fishing for my keys in my pocket, unlock the box, get my gear out, lock the box and stow away my keys again. Annoying when you're in a hurry.
Also: almost an inch of misalignment on a brand new (expensive) piece of gear? Come on, H-D!
Right on
Not being an ADV rider but interested in this bike as I ride a Harley Sportster currently here in the UK.
What is the advantage of these cases over the sport panniers which just clip on with no need for the additional mounting hardware and are slimmer due to that fact and also can store a helmet which those aluminium cases can not?
If you set a bike down the aluminum cases will actually provide protection. They are very well built. The sport cases, which I did see in person, are cheaper. Mostly plastic. I don’t think they will keep gear dry either. My 2c
I was under the impression from Harley that the Panniers are actually from SW-MOTECH, who is a well known manufacturer of quality stuff for ADV motorcycles. Is that correct? And...IF it is....they they make the brackets also......or is someone else making them?
Made for HD. They do not offer any support for them, have to go thru HD. The brackets are made by HD.
Any specific reason why you didn't keep the locking mechanism towards the front. That way you can open the lids while sitting on the bike? Or were these boxes left and right marked?
R/L specific, cannot change.
A bike that new. Im taking it to harley to install
You are getting better at your clickbait titles 😁
Thanks you're awesome
Sure there's a lock to keep the box attached.....but remove 2 bolts to defeat the lock..?! Not very secure
I still like my Buell XB12XT
I still like them too!! Twas a good bike
It's not a Harley thing, those side pieces need to be very very loose and everything put together first. My GIVI rails were the same on my Tiger.
That setup is really cool, it's a Harley, of course you need a hammer to fix it
👍🏻💪🏻
Weeks of waiting, and still waiting for the mounting hardware and now we see its poorly fitting. A double punishment from HD for being brand loyal. What a joke. Someone should get their backside kicked up to the back of their neck at HD for this.
Agreed. I was so disappointed and had to weigh sending it back and then waiting on a replacement for months. I rolled the dice and bent it. Scary stuff to do with brand new parts.
The instructions are bad. They show the mounting bracket behind the footings and they're supposed to be in front. Thanks for that.
Norm McDonald?
I get that all the time. But my name is Turd Ferguson.
Take it back. Why even bother trying to get it to work. That’s the reason manufacturers get away with this because people just “oh well I’ll try and get it to fit.” Then you can’t take it back because you altered it.
agreed