Harley-Davidson Pan America Street Tracker Is One Tasty Carbon Fiber Treat
By: Silvian Secara Courtesy AutoEvolution
Based in SoCal and owned by one Carlos Pena, Whiplash Speed Company specializes mostly in parts fabrication for various Harley models. The firm takes pride in delivering the highest possible quality for everything they sell, and that philosophy extends to the occasional custom builds they indulge in, as well. Case in point: the ravishing carbon-clad tracker shown in this article’s photo gallery.
Carlos and his teammates started with a Harley-Davidson Pan America from 2021, stripping away much of its factory equipment as it was being taken apart. On the one hand, the original wheels were ditched in favor of Dymag alternatives measuring 17 inches in diameter. These bad boys are shod in Dunlop Sportmax Q5 rubber front and back, so grip will never be an issue for this modded Pan Am.
For improved stopping power, the brakes were upgraded with higher-spec Brembo calipers on both ends. Whiplash also did away with the bike’s ABS, while revising its suspension to better suit aggressive street riding. But the heavy lifting took place in the bodywork department, where we now find a complete carbon fiber outfit replacing the stock garments. It radically alters the Pan America’s aesthetic while serving the more practical purpose of weight reduction.
Starting with the rear end, you’ll notice a custom subframe considerably shorter than stock, topped with a CFRP tail section and a handmade solo seat. There is an LED taillight mounted on the left-hand side, and then you’ve got that carbon fuel tank fitted center-stage. The proportions are absolutely spot-on and complemented by a whole load of tracker flavor at the front.
There we see a plain and flat number board replacing the Pan America’s huge stock fairing, joined by a new custom fender lower down. Of course, these parts are also made of carbon fiber like the other bodywork components. A ProTaper handlebar occupies the cockpit area, and the factory TFT dash has been repositioned on a tailor-made mount.
Moreover, an aftermarket steering damper also lives nearby to prevent any terrifying encounters with the death wobble. The Whiplash squad installed a smaller yet equally capable radiator to further reduce visual bulk, but that’s not the only powertrain-related mod performed here. One may also spot a premium exhaust system from Akrapovic, running a two-into-one configuration and eventually ending in a small muffler.
Other bits worth pointing to here are the CNC-machined foot pegs, way more suitable for the bike’s new application than the OEM items. And finally, the use of paint is very minimal here, as the experts at Whiplash Speed Company wanted to let their carbon fiber goodness do all the talking. They definitely knocked this project out of the park, so we hope it won’t be long until they deliver more like it.
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