CVO Pan America – Fancy Don’t Let Me Down

Reba McEntire famously sang “Here’s your once chance, Fancy, don’t let me down.” The same sentiment can now be associated with the new Harley-Davidson CVO Pan America. Harley-Davidson’s CVO models are famous for their flawless and glossy paint finishes, supplemented with selected high-quality parts and an extra dose of performance. These admirable attributes do make the price tag a bit breathtaking, though.

Venturing into 2024, this latest CVO creation from Harley-Davidson is the first from their Custom Vehicles Operations intended to brave gravel roads where an unlucky stone could damage the impeccably painted surface. Fortunately, the bike itself is built to withstand such potential hazards, even if the rider might be apprehensive.

So what does the starting price of $34,599 for the CVO Pan America get you (just under $10,000 more than the base Pan America Special)? Most noticeable is the distinctive paint scheme, said to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the debut CVO models. This classic design earns our approval – you simply can’t go wrong with the iconic Number 1. You’ll notice the engine guards and subframe are painted to match. Then comes a generous amount of CVO badging. Given the extra 10 grand you’re paying, you might as well flaunt it to yourself and others. To cap it all, you also get laced wheels, a comprehensive luggage set, and handy knee pads attached to the tank.

The powertrain on the CVO Pan America is the same 150hp liquid-cooled twin found in the base Pan America, which, in our opinion, is a perfect selection given that the bike was never short on power.

When it’s time to head out for a long ride, the CVO Pan America provides a good touring package and an attractive paint job. But here’s a valid point — the CVO represents a pretty good deal when you start calculating the cost of the additions. The laced wheels alone will cost $1,200 to replace the cast rims on the base model, the mounting system, and top case/saddlebag kit will add around $2,950 (assuming you install them yourself). The priciest paint job on the base model (Red Rock and White Birch) adds $900, so let’s estimate the CVO paint to be worth $2,500, give or take. These items alone account for two-thirds of the price difference with the base Pan America Special. Add the extra trim, lifting, grips, etc. that we’ve not factored in, and the total cost adds up.

Overall, it seems Harley-Davidson has made a successful departure from the traditional CVO path with this offering. Initially, the idea of a CVO Pan America seemed to contradict the Pan America’s purpose – it’s supposed to get dirty, it’s supposed to take the occasional scrape, dent, or scratch. It might even topple! But here the sum of the parts truly does justify the cost.

Luxurious, but not overly so. And it shouldn’t disappoint you.