Help with Victory trike kits

[lonestarmedic]

I see that there are basically three options for the Cross Country. The California Side Car, Motor Trike, and Roadsmith. Each one is the same basic approach. Of course each has a different suspension idea. The best looking to me seems to be the CSC. However, it looks to be the one with the smallest lower trunk.

I would love to see pictures of the open trunk showing width, depth, and how the door opens. Manufacturers love to put pics of the back showing off the lights and the lines of the bike.

Next is where do they all put the factory communications equipment? The Cross Country series loads all the optional items UNDER the fender from the factory. Such as the CB/Intercom and the XM/Sirius.

Also, since the factory antennas mount between the saddlebags and the rear tire area, what do they do with them?

Our plan is to get the trike now and have it paid for before we retire. Do not want to be saddled with debt at that time. We still run on two wheels and at 53 I have zero muscle, joint, or back problems. So this is for the future. We think month-long trips would be easier in a trike while still giving us the experience of the motorcycle.

As you can tell, we like Victories. Have been planning a Cross Country Tour purchase as soon as we are able. Kind of watching the economy and my job. I am probably on the government sequester list.

Any help and pictures would be appreciated. I am asking the same questions to the above mentioned manufacturers.

JB

[americanbadass]

I think the CSC is a deeper trunk-than the MT. The CSC and RS offer an extended wheel basel-more stability, and a smoother ride are inclusive. I like MT, but they are all IRS kits, and if the money is similar, I would go with the CSC. I really like the engineering on the CSC.

[tinker]

I have a roadsmith and i love it. I can keep up with all the cruisers in curves and rides smooth and i love it on the interstate. I rode a tri-glide and it suck! any thing with a vw irs rear end and you cant go wrong.

[bikerbillone]

Yes, Road Smith, I vote Road Smith.

[lonestarmedic]

Thanks for the input so far. I am going to attempt to see all of them in person.

Interesting that the CSC should possibly be the larger trunk area. Must have a longer body so that it compensates for the sloping back end.

JB

[americanbadass]

Thanks for the input so far. I am going to attempt to see al of them in person.

Interesting that the CSC should possibly be the larger trunk area. Must have a longer body so that it compensates for the sloping back end.

JB

It is largely due to the fact that the CSC kit elongates the wheel base 8 inches.

[Salty]

I can't tell you enough good about the CSC kit, follows victory lines best I think Independant suspension, I have the lowers and the CSC trunk, which is large. And better built then the victory trunk. My antenna is in the fairing and we run an iPod which the builder relocated from the bag to the Lower trunk. CSC has something for the antenna also.

Will, one of the engineers at CSC came up here when they displayed mine at two,MC shows in January. CSC is a class leading product and company


Awesome conversion, I have the first one in Canada

[lonestarmedic]

Salty- What is the difference between a Victory trunk and one from CSC?

I looked at the wheelbases and do see the difference in lengths. And that is without a rake/trail kit.

How is the suspension on the CSC in regards to holding weight? I see that they list up to 650 lbs. But how is the adjustment from on up and 200lbs. to 2 up and then full of luggage?

JB

[Copasetic]

I also have a CSC and had a similiar "trunk size" discussion with Salty before his kit arrived. I'm afraid I deleted the pictures I sent him but I can take more if you like.
I have the white XCT shown on CSC's website. I bought their demo direct from them.
I drove all three Victory conversions at Sturgis. It wasn't a totally fair comparison because neither Roadsmith or MT had their rake kits installed yet.
The trunk on the MT is the smallest (by far as I recall). It looks deceiving when it is shut but it isn't all trunk (only the center area) as you can see when its open.
Mine has the Victory factory upper trunk and its very large. I've not seen CSC's upper trunk like Salty has.
I did a lot of research. It came down to Roadsmith or CSC. I liked the styling of the CSC best. i thought their kit integrated best with the unique Victory design. I also love the handling.
I'm very pleased.

[Copasetic]

BTW, I always assumed the Victory satellite radio, that I had dealer installed, is in the front fairing, behind the headlight. I could be wrong. I only know it's fully integrated and works well.
Mine does not have a CB so I can't comment and there is no visible antenna that I have ever seen.

[Salty]

The victory trunk is ABS and good, roomy. The CSC trunk is fibreglass, thicker waled and also roomy. Well carpeted, hinges etc. personal taste only, I don't care for the light in victory trunk. Many many do, personal choice only!

COPASETIC has plenty of mileage on his' I also prefer the lowers for looks and keeping crap off the trike from the road. I think CSC calls them ground effects. CSC has the nicest lines keeping with victories smooth lines, no "boxes" added to the back. Good luck, all 3 have pro and cons!

[lonestarmedic]

I take it the CSC trunk then follows the same lines as the factory unit? Haven't seen any pictures that I can really see the difference.

From the install instructions I have seen, All of the add on electronics actually fit under the rear fender. Kind of a weird spot if you ask me. Not enough roomin the fairing, cannot put them in the side bags because of the quick release, and the same with the trunk. So, I guess this was the available spot. CSC is sending me some pictures so I can understand the trunk and electronics. The rep who mailed me wasn't familiar with the trike enough to answer my questions.

JB

[lonestarmedic]

Here is the picture I was sent from CSC. The top box must be theirs. I do not see the factory brake light like on a Cross Country Tour. The trunk below looks fairly roomy but I cannot tell how far towards the differential it extends or if it goes behind the tail lights. On one of the other conversions I think the whole back section swings down, including the rear of the fenders.

JB

[lonestarmedic]

This is the trunk area on the Roadsmith version. Similar tail lights. The CSC body is more integrated to the Victory original lines. And I noticed the CSC has made a rear lower valance panel that makes the pipes look a bit more tucked up under the bike. Not sure how that would work when changing out pipes, but it looks very good with the factory mufflers.

JB

[ben721364]

Both kits are nice so it's a matter of personal choice and the installer's experience/competence. The CSC suspension and drivetrain are more complex, heavier and (mostly) made of proprietary parts, assuming the Victory kit is similar to the GL1800 kit.

[Ozarkryder]

the Motor Trike trunk "door " is the whole rear section of the kit. the back portion of the fenders, tail light and all swing to access the trunk, which is a lot more narrow than the width of the section that swings down. MT says the opening is 25.5" x 13.5" and claims 3.3cu.ft. of space. Roadsmith claims 4.5 cu.ft. (they add 10" to the wheelbase, more room for the trunk) and the CSC website says it has 6.2 cu.ft., but I believe they also count the stock top box, where M.T. and Roadsmith just count the kit storage.
Here is a link of the Motor Trike kit pictures, on has the MT trunk open:
Motor Trike Vortex IRS Conversion for Victory Cross Country, Cross Roads & Hard-Ball

[THEREALTRIKKY]

the Motor Trike trunk "door " is the whole rear section of the kit. the back portion of the fenders, tail light and all swing to access the trunk, which is a lot more narrow than the width of the section that swings down. MT says the opening is 25.5" x 13.5" and claims 3.3cu.ft. of space. Roadsmith claims 4.5 cu.ft. (they add 10" to the wheelbase, more room for the trunk) and the CSC website says it has 6.2 cu.ft., but I believe they also count the stock top box, where M.T. and Roadsmith just count the kit storage.
Here is a link of the Motor Trike kit pictures, on has the MT trunk open:
Motor Trike Vortex IRS Conversion for Victory Cross Country, Cross Roads & Hard-Ball

If the statement about CSC is accurate; Victory claims approx 20 gallons storage in their tour trunk (which is 2.67 cu ft). That would mean CSC's lower trunk is approx 3.53 cu ft of storage space. Based on those figures, that would put the MT kit and the CSC at almost the same as far as storage capacity goes. Maybe it's just me, but the larger opening on the MT kit would make it a bit more "user friendly" for storage as well from what I'm seeing.

[Rick Kay]

Here is the picture I was sent from CSC. The top box must be theirs. I do not see the factory brake light like on a Cross Country Tour. The trunk below looks fairly roomy but I cannot tell how far towards the differential it extends or if it goes behind the tail lights. On one of the other conversions I think the whole back section swings down, including the rear of the fenders.

JB

If this kit is like my Daytona, the trunk ends, for the most part, where the differential begins. There should be two storage areas which extend up and forward on each side. The width of the trunk extends the entire width of the body.

I am surprised how much room this trunk has. When coupled with a tour pak, there is more storage than we ever had with saddlebags. We can pack for a week with ease, complete with tent and sleeping bags.

[Copasetic]

If the statement about CSC is accurate; Victory claims approx 20 gallons storage in their tour trunk (which is 2.67 cu ft). That would mean CSC's lower trunk is approx 3.53 cu ft of storage space. Based on those figures, that would put the MT kit and the CSC at almost the same as far as storage capacity goes. Maybe it's just me, but the larger opening on the MT kit would make it a bit more "user friendly" for storage as well from what I'm seeing.

I'm telling you from looking at both, in detail, in person, and from owning the CSC for six months that the MT trunk is not anywhere near as large as the CSC's. MT's looks like it will be big when you look at the trunk from the exterior but in actuality it is not.
Also a design comment. In my opinion, Roadsmith just put the design from their other trikes onto the Victory where CSC designed a kit to compliment the design of the Victory. No comparison in my opinion.

[Rick Kay]

CSC lists the Tour Pak as an available option, and claim almost twice the capacity of their competitor's trunks. 6.2 cu feet seems correct to me...