“I had almost written off the Pan as a contender when looking at new large tourers when my wife said get something more comfortable than the Bandit GT or I am hanging up my leathers. So we went out to look at and try some for size. Kwak 1400 - too small and not good for pillion. Yam FJR1300 - again poor for pillion comfort. BMW RT - could never get my head round that engine and their quality is all smoke and mirrors. BMW 1600 - just too big. Narrowed down then to the Pan or the Triumph Trophy. Visited Trumpet dealer to sit on and it passed that test so how about a test ride on one with a top box? Well the dealer could not seem to accommodate that for a few weeks! Not impressed we went to the Honda dealer about 6 miles away.
Sat on one first in the shop, with top box on, passed test. Asked about a test ride and within half an hour we were out on a used one, with top box, and I immediately got the Pan thing that I had heard about. A year and 6000miles later and I am even more impressed.
Circumstances have meant that I have done 2 mini tours of Scotland solo and a few weekends with pillion and the bike has been faultless. The most recent Scottish excursion with a mate on his BMW 1200GS adventure bike thingy left him with a sore backside, numb hands and looking for a new bike after seeing me ready to turn around and do it all again immediately when he was so happy to be home.
Sure they are low tech compared to some of the latest stuff - is that really a bad thing? My ten year old, 43000 mile Suzuki GSX1400 (all my miles and years) is pretty low tech too but has never gone wrong and still makes me smile every time I ride it. Now the Pan does too when touring.
Of course the Pan will not suit everyone and some just seem to have to buy the latest thing and then not go far on it anyway but I strongly advise you to try one if you are looking for a big tourer before you commit to buy anything else.”
“This is an excellent bike for both touring and commuting, its a half way house between an out and out tourer and a regular commuter.
I have now sold this bike for a Goldwing, which is fantastic as you would expect.
The Pan however impressed me in that I got half the price I paid for it as a p/ex allowance, 10 years after buying it, so the retention value is amazing.
What other vehicles give you back 50% of the upfront cost, 10 years down the line?”
“I do 500+ miles a week commuting and then of late may be another 500 miles a month visiting relatives.
There is an oil drip which two bike firms have tried to sort and haven't.
Ride on motorways dual carriageways A roads two up been great - perhaps not quite as good as my R1100rt I had on the smaller roads.
About to retire and the Pan ride to and from work is the reason I still go in”
“I have now sold my Pan due the sheer weight of the bike, mainly due to the tight space I had to put park it in.
The bike itself was very good and a joy to ride especially on long journeys.
Honda need to update the model reducing the sheer weight of the machine.”
