Common Tread

Video: Riding Harleys to the top of the world

Jan 26, 2022

Harley-Davidson is introducing several new motorcycles later today, some of which will be expensive, limited-edition CVO models — more the kind of bike Harley is known for and exactly what you wouldn't want to take on the epic trip depicted in this video.

A group of five riders in India rode Harley-Davidson Pan Americas to Key La, a Himalayan pass where the dirt road rises to 18,603 feet. The claim, which seems sound to me, is that it's the highest anyone has ridden a Harley-Davidson. Certainly, you wouldn't want to try it on a Low Rider, but the Pan America opened new routes for Harley-Davidson.

The riders ranged from a former rally racer to a leader of the Harley Owners Group in India who, by his own admission, had rarely ridden off pavement before taking on this trip to the world's highest dirt road, including a detour through some rocky terrain that would test any off-road rider.

We'll have more Harley-Davidson news later, but consider this your video intermission until then. The video is available on YouTube.