Two funky new Harley-Davidson models revealed for 2021
1250cc Custom joins the Pan America in next year’s post-pandemic H-D line up
‘It couldn’t come at a better time’
Harley-Davidson will release two new models next year – with both sharing a common engine platform: the Pan-America adventure bike and the new 1250 Custom. We’ve known the Pan America has been coming for some time but the 1250 Custom was missing presumed mothballed after the huge internal shake up at the Bar and Shield brand. When new CEO Jochen Zeits was installed earlier this year, just as the pandemic began to really bite, H-D quietly removed the Bronx streetfighter from their future models page. The 1250 Custom was always planned to be the last of the three to be released and with no news about it until now, it was assumed it had gone the way of the Bronx. The 1250 Custom couldn’t come at a better time for Harley. The company have struggled to attract newer riders for some time while competitors like the Indian Scout offer more modern and more powerful options, plus Honda’s 1100 Rebel is the new wolf at the door. There has also been the looming threat of tightening emissions standards, which appear to have hammered the final nail into the Sportster coffin. There’s very little info about the new model available but we do know it will be powered by Harley’s new water-cooled 1250cc 60-degree V-twin Revolution engine. Harley have already said the new engine produces ‘at least’ 145bhp and 90lb.ft of torque, although we imagine it will be retuned for less power and more torque in the Custom. Harley have also said the new engine will be modular as the Bronx was originally slated to be 975cc, which could be perfect for an entry-level A2 compliant cruiser.
So when will we see it in UK dealers? The whispers are that Harley-Davidson are moving to a traditional ‘European style’ unveil cycle; expect the bike to be shown in full in November 2021, in dealers the following Spring.
The Pan America meanwhile is expected to get its full unveil soon, quite probably in the first few weeks of the New Year.