I went to Harley-Davidson Asia DRT (Dirt, Road and Track) Experience in Thailand

I’ve been in this wild motorcycling industry for about half-a-decade and believe me or not, it’s still as exciting as ever. As motorcycle tech, variants, engines, segments and sub-segments continue to emerge, producing a wide range of selection for riders like you and me. Harley-Davidson is fashionably late in the game, but I think that is how rockstars gate-crash the parties. In celebration of its 120th Year anniversary, 2023 is a milestone for Harley-Davidson. They are offering innovation, evolution, emotion, especially emerging markets.

This event was a lot of firsts for me. It is my first time to visit Thailand.  This was my first international media event and first to encounter a riding activity that involves 3 different riding segments (Dirt, Road, and Track). We went there to try the new Revolution Max models for an exclusive ride experience for media, customers and content creators across Asia. We’re all set up to experience different Harley-Davidson models, in different terrains.

From Bangkok, we arrived at a posh, Lacol Hotel in the afternoon. I was able to rest a little bit before the dinner-briefing with the Harley-Davidson Management. I had a great night since I was able to meet a lot of passionate individuals from different countries in Asia, including India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. It was a short but sweet dinner party, to prepare for a long day ahead of us.

The following day, we head on to 8-Speed Khao Yai Race Track. It is over a kilometer track, with a pretty long straight with about 6-7 corners. Beside the track is an air conditioned briefing/waiting area, and outside the track is a short fire road with a few turns, climbs and a pretty deep water crossing at the end of the track. Our group we’re divided into 3, where we simultaneously ride on dirt, road and track.

Our group was the first one to go on the road. It’s my dream to ride in every country I’ve been to, and this was all I ever wanted. We used the Harley-Davidson Sportster-S. At first glance, the bike looks burly and flexes a lot of muscle. It now has the new Revolution Max 1250T engine with 121HP – 127Nm torque. I sat on the bike with forward controls, but I got switched with the mid ones since one of our teammates can’t fit the adv boots on the clutch pedal. The handlebar is quite low, so you have to arch your body up front a little bit. Since I had the mid controls, I felt quite comfortable. I immediately felt the power for such a compact, light bike. It feels like a mad buffalo trying to throw you out of the bike, but once you tame it, it will follow your commands.

We we’re playing catch up with the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250, and we got to enjoy the wide, left-hand traffic, savoring the mountainside ride of Khao Yai towards the outside of the national park. We took pictures and rested for a few minutes, then we headed back to the track. On our way back, I tried the Sport mode. The bike suddenly went from mad to wild. The power was immense, that you had to hold on for dear life. I immediately thought how exciting this bike can be, especially on long wide roads where most riders easily get bored. Our road session was quick but definitely fun.

Then, it was our time to hit the track after a long break. I took the same Sportster-S on the track to feel its cornering capabilities. I immediately fired it up the long straight and managed to prepare the bike towards the uphill right hander. I leaned at an angle until the pegs started to scrape, flipped the bike on the other side and prepared to meet the third apex before the next long stretch towards the last hairpin right hander. I was blown away by the bike’s character, as a power cruiser that can manage corners.

It actually feels pretty light for a power cruiser, brakes fine, but you can instantly feel potholes. The choice of tire sizes are probably for aesthetics but it doesn’t help the bike feel more agile bearing the sporty name, but definitely a small rocket that could blast you outer space.

I honestly have very little expectations for the latest Harley-Davidson entry bike, which eventually became a stand-out among all test ride models. The moment I took it on the track, it blew me off. The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special is a middleweight predecessor of the Sportster, now with the new 975cc Revolution Max engine, 89HP – 95Nm engine torque. It has decent ground clearance, but the 100/90-19 front and 150/80-16 mix of tires make it a very good handling sport H-D. The Nightster Special is totally manageable, even for a small track like 8-Speed.

I could only imagine this on road and long distance travels, this one should be on anyone’s cruiser cart if you’re in the market for one. I find it easy to handle, good power, with a lot of convenience and technology to it. It’s a good choice for future first-time H-D owners like me. Would I get one? Probably, but I can’t stop thinking about it for a few nights now.

Immediately after the track, we lined up for our last session – ADV Pan America. I was trying to prepare myself, wrestling with the monster ADV, until I saw a lady rider screaming in excitement after finishing her offroad session. If she can do it, probably I can too. When I took the Harley-Davidson Pan America inside the track, I almost forgot it’s running on a 1250cc power plant! The first gear is abrupt, but not as snatchy as other bikes would. It’s a tame OX, but can run wild if you command it to.

I initially felt the tank is wide, which makes it hard for me to limb-manage the bike. I tried agile moves but the bike won’t budge. I could feel the 250kg tussle but certainly can manage some b-road fun. Harley-Davidson is late in the ADV game but it surely is better late than never. It is a full-sized powerbomb ADV for the H-D big boys coming into the segment offering sheer power and muscle, which makes a perfect long-distance tourer and a qualified off-road machine. The Harley-Davidson Pan America is a presence-establishing ADV, equipped with ride modes. A significant step for the American brand steering away from the usual path. If I could have one wish, it’s putting the 975cc engine in the Pan America platform. It could arouse a lot of interest with this cross-platforming trend.

Conclusion
More than just riding bikes, meeting more passionate people broadens my perspective, especially for the H-D brand. I have met legitimate owners from different countries and I had a full immersion about what the H-D community is all about. It is warm, fun loving, energetic and overflowing with passion in motorcycling in general.

The new Revolution Max engines and models somehow proved that customers can enjoy the sphere of H-D by offering new riding experiences. The brand simply can’t wait for the new market to finally choose to buy a Harley-Davidson when the time is right, but the company started to figure out how to connect to the new market by innovating, meeting the demands of the new generation. The brand can’t just sit and wait for people to grow, but they need to stay young to keep up. Harley-Davidson is undeniably evolving but continues to preserve the value it provides its customers worldwide. You can’t simply leave the party yet because it’s just getting started.

Come to your nearest Harley-Davidson Dealers and test ride new bikes. Special thanks to Harley-Davidson of Cebu for letting me be part of this activity.

My versatile riding gear as follows:

From Ride Manila
Spidi Super Net Tex Jacket, Spidi Cross Knit, Kriega Trail9 Adventure Backpack, XPD Moto Pro Sneakers

From Grit Moto
Grit Back Protector, Grit Base Armored Underwear, Grit Daily Trousers

From Bilmola Helmets PH

Bilmola RC-1 Forged Carbon