2005 prototype
Pantera motorcycle from
Pantera Motorcycles

I was at Hacienda Customs and I ran across Demetri Melekos. He is with Pantera Motorcycles and is in Dealer Development. He was introducing this great ride to Skip, hoping to have Hacienda Custom's carry their new Pantera.

After talking to him for a while he offered the keys to me and said he would like some feedback on the new Pantera. After a brief negotiation of a three-day ride he talked me down to a quick trip around the surrounding area. Although it was a short trip I did make friends with this new beast. You can make up your own minds on the looks. I like it. I am sort of a sport kinda guy. Obviously it is on the fringe and does turn a lot of heads. I told Matt, with Hacienda Harley-Davidson and Buell owner, that this was like a Scottsdale Buell on steroids.

This machine is not for the faint of heart. I was able to exercise it on the on-ramp to the 101 a couple of times and it does move. 0 to 65 in about 10 feet. Demetri told me that the 124cu S&S is running about 130 hp with even a little more torque. He also told me that on a Dyno it was turning in 9.4 sec in the 1/4 mile run. This is a stock bike off the floor. Zoom plus. It sure does make a very impressive grin appear.

The bike was very easy to ride. The extended rear tire was not a distraction and added comfort when you twisted the grip. It turned just fine and was smooth running down the road. This is a bike I would like to ride just about any place except stop and go traffic.

The downside was the front control pegs. They should never be on a sport type bike. Demetri told me that they have optional center pegs and even drag pegs. I guess front control pegs would be good for road trip. While stopped with my feet down, I noticed the bolts from the external primary rubbing my pant leg. I quickly learned to keep my feet a little farther out while stopped. The only other things were cosmetic. The mirrors were worthless and the instruments (digital LED) were almost unreadable with sunglasses on in the noonday sun. He also told me that they would be coming out with analog gauges. That would be a good thing. I do not want to have to focus on hard to read gauges when you have a lot going on in front of you.

The price points are also not for the faint of heart. This model was priced (MSRP) at $48,750.00. For more information on the bike you can go to their Web site www.panteramotorcycles.com or call Demetri Melekos. He can be reached at (858) 401-9012.

Ride safe.

Kirk

phoenixbikers.com