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did 500 miles with 3 new Victory bikes.

6K views 33 replies 31 participants last post by  CalVet 
#1 ·
did a 500 mile ride with an old buddy and his two friends today. We did about 500 miles of playing around and I gotta they are nice bikes. stock they trounce my RGU with SE 254 cams and supertrapp 2.1 and even tho I get excellent mpg they got better mpg. I was more familar with the roads we went on so they were not as aggressive in the twisties and would lag behind but on the straights they sure have good accelleration. One of the guys had a new cross roads and he did complain about the poor wind management and said that the shield was causing him to see triple it was creating such and updraft behind the shield. The other two did not complain. My buddy did say that you have to replace the drive belt every 40,000 miles but it is a simple procedure not a major headache on the road like on a harley. He said when they travel they carry a spare just in case. the guy with the cross roads model was black like my RGU but it did appear to have a better paint finish altho I did not care for how some of the little trim pieces were as they looked cheaply done. I know many will say "gee why not get one if you like them so much" Not likely I will be getting one because I love harleys and mine is paid for but I was impressed and wish harley would come stock with the giddy up of the new Victorys.
 
#2 ·
I'm sure the Vic are a fine machine,but...Can't put my finger on it,but I would always rather be on a Harley.Just something about it makes a Harley more fun to me.

A bit faster stock would be nice though.
 
#3 ·
Stock Harleys are definitely not known for power and speed, a 107 and a good tune will make it a whole lot better though. Victory is ok, but I'm a Harley guy also.
 
#5 ·
It all comes down to aftermarket and warrenty for me. After I blew the motor in the 09 SERG and Harley jerked me around for a little while I tried to convince myself that I was ready for a victory but I couldnt. The lack of aftermarket support and lack of pride in ownership with any other motorcycle made me come to my scenses. I love the brand and love my 22 RG. Just my 2cts...
 
#6 ·
I don't think there is anything wrong with them if they are your kinda bike, and certainly wouldn't down anyone for owning one. For me though, I would rather ride the HD, and like dbell66253 said, a 107 cams and a good tune, and wala, getty up... :D I will stick with HD, kinda hard to switch up obsessions at this point in my life. :D

Rowdy
 
#7 ·
I know of two Victory dealers within 70 miles of me who both got out of the business. Their yearly sales were less than 12 units each. Not well accepted 'up heah in Maine'.
 
#8 ·
I only see one problem with a Victory.......IT AINT A HARLEY. NUFF SAID. Did anyone say I was biased?
 
#9 ·
I think they have some good looking bikes, and know quite a few owners, but after riding one, I was underwhelmed.

The 20HP advantage they claim, I just wasn't feeling it. It was more peppy, but not peppy enough to make me want it.

The hand controls look like an afterthought, and I don't like the fairing.

Love the rest of the looks, I think the rear fender and taillight area on the cross bikes is awesome looking, and the bags are good sized and look great.

Here is a pic of my RG with a cross bike in front of me. I know I'm biased, but I love my RG!:D

 
#10 ·
Like others have said, I think the Victory's are pretty nice bikes. I particularly like their 8 ball treatment. But, somethin' about a Harley...
 
#11 ·
I agree some of the detractors with the victorys are the little things like cheap looking levers etc but another thing that struck me as positive was how mechanically quiet they are. No sewing machine tick etc. I got a new roadking every year since the t/c came out thru 08 for work and put over 80,000 on my own EGC and I am now over 20,000 on my 2011 RGU which by the way is the quietest mechanically of any twin cam I have been around and its been around a bunch (I had to put on 1000 break in miles on 6 new bikes every year)

Two of the bikes had stock pipes and one had a bassani pipe. The one with the Bassani sounded good but loud. The other two had stock mufflers and idleing they sound good but when they would pass me on the straights you could not hear them. this was at 120 indicated so kind of eery to say the least.
 
#12 ·
While I do like the engines in them I can't stand the look of them. Especially the big space ship tourer that they make. HD for me, but would def like to see more people by USA than a Honda or Kawi.

I don't know the name of it but the blacked out bar hopper looking one is pretty cool. I think it's the 8ball.
 
#15 ·
I only know one guy with a Victory and he was a die hard Harley guy for years. He loves HIS Victory and that is cool. I love MY Harley and that is all that cool also.
 
#16 ·
They're touring bikes are too spacey for me, I don't mean as in roomy, I mean to sci-fi. I sure wouldn't trade my H-D to have any victory bike, but I would consider having the 8-ball high as a contingent bike. There is nothing like owning a Harley Davidson.
 
#18 ·
I looked darned hard at the Victories when I was ready to trade in my Electra Glide Ultra but I did not like the impression of sheer size that I got sitting on the seat of one. It seemed like it was a mile long before you got to the windshield / fairing. My shark is plenty long in that area without a bike that felt even longer. I never did test drive it or it might have changed my mind but first impressions do count. Add to that the thumbs down that I got from my wife because of the way it looks from behind. She definitely did not like the blended look of the rear fender and bags.
On the other hand, if I had been able to reach the ground from the seat of the BMW, I would be on their forum today, instead of here. Their touring bike is a sweet ride if you have long enough legs for it. With a 30 inch inseam, I am barely big enough to ride a stock shark and am several inches too short in that area for the Beemer.
 
#19 ·
I'm not the Harley loyalist that many others are. If I hadn't found my RGC I'd probably be riding a Victory now. I took a good, hard look at them and was pretty impressed. I really like the "space ship" look of the Vision.

Why didn't I buy one? Well, fist of all I discovered the RG. And with all of the folks I know who ride I couldn't find one single person who owned a Victory. Nobody. Couldn't even find someone who knew someone who owned one. Harley definitely rules in N. Texas.

Remember the old Avis commercials when they said they tried harder because Hertz was #1 and they were #2. To me, Victory is like Avis. They're really trying harder while Harley makes the occasional update here and there, they've been resting on their heritage for years.

I just saw the preview of the 2013 Victorys. Loved what I saw and if I was in the market for a new bike I might lean that way. But for now I love my RGC. And besides, I just sent PC Pain a bunch of money for yet more "stuff" for my RGC, so I'll stick with what I've got.
 
#21 ·
One of my previous bikes was a Victory (Hammer S) and it was an outstanding bike with zero maintenance aside from oil changes.






I never thought I'd own a Harley. The Vics are more powerful, equal to better handling, better brakes, smoother (no vibrations at idle or while riding), less maintenance, and the baggers have a lot more storage.... but when I decided last week that I wanted to buy a bagger, I ended up buying my RG instead.

My day started out at the Vic dealer to test ride a Cross Country (not spaceship looking at all, that's the Vision) and while all I've said above remained true, I had a few things in my mind that weighed in against the Vic.

My closest dealer is 65 miles away. That's a hell of a long way away IF you need service. If you're on a long trip you could go more than 150 miles between dealers in any given area, some areas I've heard as much as 300 miles from dealer to dealer. HD has a dealership every 25 feet it seems. Also, Vic dealers are usually way off the beaten path, in small towns (and typically are tractor/lawnmower dealers primarily) whereas HD dealers are more often than not right next to a major freeway, or at the least very easy to find within a couple miles of the freeway.

The fit and finish of the small parts on a Harley are better designed, and better quality. Just look at the cruise control or any handlebar controls on the HD's and the Vics.

I prefer a keyless-go system (I became accustomed to this on my Ducati Diavel Carbon), and the HD had it while Vic still does not.

The aftermarket for HD is legendary whereas the Vic aftermarket is still far too small. And dollar for dollar, part for part... Vic aftermarket is more expensive.

While I wish my RGC had free factory installed iPod integration, and the power that the Vic has (my RGC feels anemic, but it also hasn't broken in yet either...) I am honestly happier with my HD purchase than I would have been with the Vic.

While I am not a lifestyle rider, I have noticed that when visiting my HD dealer, I've had some great conversations with a LOT of various different HD owners who come and go, and it feels good to have some commonality. I'd rarely get a head nod from other Vic riders while at the Vic dealerships.


When you break 'em down, each have their strong points and both make great bikes, but sometimes the small details will win you over. I will own a Vic again someday, but my RG ain't going anywhere and I also see myself owning at least one other HD to go alongside her.
 
#23 ·
Compressor

I like the Victories, a lot of great engineering in the motors, a lot less parts than the HD's but I just can't get by the "Compressor" looking motor. The other issue is the re-sale value.........

An lastly, you can't beat the sound of HD.

R
 
#25 ·
The one advantage of owning a Harley is all of the after market parts. This is where you make the bike fit you, you don't have to adapt to the bike. If you need to lower it, as I had to, the parts are available. Want to change the cam, easy chore and many to choose from. Want to join a club, many available. Want to buy clothing with the brand on it, many available. Want to change the accessories and the look, too many choices. Shall I mention windshields, seats, pipes, chrome, etc. Want to spend lots of dough after you shelled out lots of dough, way too many options.
 
#27 ·
I seriously considered a Victory a couple years ago when I was in between owning the Fatboy and Electra Glide. But, I couldn't quite get past the look, and they just didn't "fit" me very well. I know you can mod anything to make it fit, but the seating position of the Harley just feels better. As far as performance, the HD's have plenty of power for me since I'm not a speed demon anyway. I took a demo ride at Victory's open house at the plant in Spirit Lake, IA last summer. Rode a blacked out 8 Ball of some sort... it was a blast, like riding a rocket.

I didn't see a whole lot of price difference between the Cross Roads (or was it Cross Country?) and the Street Glide I was looking at at the time. And the dealer only had one and didn't know when he'd get another one.

But, now that I've gotten the Road Glide, I don't see myself changing bikes for a long time. :D
 
#28 ·
Had a Vic Vision 08, had Loyd's do the engine, put about 65K onit, had no intention of going back to the HD, didn't brag about the look, but the ride and power is what mattered to me and the Vic had it all - Bike week 2011 at the HD Tent they asked when I was coming back to HD, told them when they could match what I had, they had me try the Ultra CVO, told them I'd keep the Vic - then they brought out this double head light thing, well, I was back to HD, what the hell, I put up the the looks of the Vic cause of the ride, certainly could put up with the HD!!!:D. And besides like the Vic, the Shark actually starts looking OK after awhile:rolleyes:
 
#29 ·
I test rode a cross country, cross roads and the vision last year at demo days. I tried to like the victory's but the engines seem buzzy to me kinda like a "B" motor on a softail. the fast you go the worse it got. was glad to get back on my Hd and ride away.
I'm interested in what they do with the Indian name. hopefully they will be somewhat affordable to the general touring buying riders and not CVO prices.
A victory engine in classic style bike might be a big seller. The triangle shapes don't do much for me. :D
 
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