HD Look Out. You have serious competition

[pcmikey]

I rode to Freepeort Florida today to test ride a Victory Vegas Jackpot. It was everything I expected, and more. I got called out by the rear ride monitor for excessive weaving. The bike is awesome. I seriously doubt that HD has any thing comparable. After the ride I was told that the Jackpot was the worst handling bike in their fleet!? I am going to add one to my collection. I will buy no more over-priced, over-logoed, PR driven HDs.

pcmikey

PS I will keep my Tri Glide, so wifey will ride with me, but I will wind up rebuilding it to bring it up to standard quality.

[sandrooney]

I test rode a victory a couple years ago. The heat was unbearable as was the viberation. It was so uncomfortable I only took it for a couple blocks and went back. I was so glad to get back on my nice comfortable over PR'ed Harley.
Just my experience,
SR

[adaptolife]

My local bank will loan money for a Harley, to buy or use as collateral, at the drop of a hat. They are as good as gold. No other brand ride holds its value. My bike is the ultimate. Many mfgrs make decent, quiet, soft bikes. None meet my needs or wants.

[10rhrk]

I rode to Freepeort Florida today to test ride a Victory Vegas Jackpot. It was everything I expected, and more. I got called out by the rear ride monitor for excessive weaving. The bike is awesome. I seriously doubt that HD has any thing comparable. After the ride I was told that the Jackpot was the worst handling bike in their fleet!? I am going to add one to my collection. I will buy no more over-priced, over-logoed, PR driven HDs.

pcmikey

PS I will keep my Tri Glide, so wifey will ride with me, but I will wind up rebuilding it to bring it up to standard quality.

I see you got up early this morning and already starting trouble Mike...

I looked at Victory real serious back a few years ago. The only thing that worried me was the lack of Dealer's. I think that's changing now!

[Blondie Gal]

We went to Rick Fairless' Strokers in Dallas (a Victory dealer) in May for a TOI-TX event and the only reason we didn't walk out of there with a Vision (a GORGEOUS two-wheeler) was that I kept tugging on John's sleeve - with a vengence!! If we do add to our menagerie, that'll be the one!

[Ol' Grey]

A bud and I were gassing up in the Phoenix area. Just as I was finishing topping off, a solo rider pulled up on the opposite side of the pump. By the sound, I naturally assumed it was a Harley. We exchanged a friendly nod, then my bud and I parked in what little shade we could find to take a break at the edge of the parking lot and near the shoulder of the road.

The other rider headed out, then pulled up on the shoulder briefly. He smiled and said "I just had to tell someone. Just went over the 100,000 mile mark on the clock"......We offered our congrats as he was obviously jazzed. Turns out he was from Canada, his bike was a Victory, looked good like so many H-D Big Twins, sounded great. He'd ridden from Canada to Daytona, was now in Arizona and then heading back home..........bike looked good, sounded good and obviously ran like a top.

Don't like dishing on any bike........this guy's ride was truly very nice, but some of the Victory models I've seen just don't do it for me visually. To each their own...........Ride Safe

[1550vt]

I think that if Victory can get Arlen Ness out of the building and away from the drawing board, they are capable of making a very nice and marketable trike. I want to see a model that does not look like it is going to hurt you if you bump into it. I also think they will have to improve their dealer network, which would improve with increased sales. There is no dealer close enough to me to warrant my interest. You have to hunt for somebody that Polaris has authorized to do maintenance work around here and it is not very high on their priority list.

I ride with a guy that has taken his Victory 2-wheeler well over 60,000 miles. I think they have a solid motor and drive train as well as a well-engineered oil cooling system. If the right one came along, I would buy it in a heartbeat as opposed to a new toaster oven.

[screwball]

Victory Motorcycles: Touring, Cruiser, Muscle, V-Twin & Wide-Tire

Here, you may like it better there. Don't want to rub elbos with us old Harley guys

[americanbadass]

Been riding HD for 30 years-but I would buy a VIC, if I buy another 2 wheeler. I like a lot of things about Victory, and that 106 motor has some balls, without spending 2500 bucks to soup it up-plus they are different looking, I think I am bored with the HD design.

[JohnC]

I owned a Victory Cross-Country prior to purchasing my TriGlide. It was an awesome machine, very modern, very powerful, and very reliable. If Victory made a trike version of the Cross Country, that's what I'd be riding now instead of the HD.

[adaptolife]

Nice Victory!

[1550vt]

I have been "an old Harley guy" for some 25-years and 20-or-so bikes. It's them that have left me...not me leaving them. Victory has to dump the Ness-effect before I buy one...which means I likely never will.

[Duffy]

Test rode an 8-Ball a couple of years ago and liked the power but not the price. The pipes were so hot that it damaged my leathers.

[pcmikey]

We went to Rick Fairless' Strokers in Dallas (a Victory dealer) in May for a TOI-TX event and the only reason we didn't walk out of there with a Vision (a GORGEOUS two-wheeler) was that I kept tugging on John's sleeve - with a vengence!! If we do add to our menagerie, that'll be the one!

You go girl!. PS the Vegas Jackpot has 200 mph on the speedo. It is a 6 speed and you could twist the throttle in any gear and get a kick in the pants.

[pcmikey]

Victory Motorcycles: Touring, Cruiser, Muscle, V-Twin & Wide-Tire

Here, you may like it better there. Don't want to rub elbos with us old Harley guys

I am a Harley guy!, to the tune of $46,000+, not counting my wife's clothes and bling. We are going to celebrate our 50th next March by renewing our vows, and will exchange Harley rings that we bought at the Fall Thunder Beach ralley. I love my Tri Glide, and will keep it from now on. Just sayin'---the world is a bigger place<(#

Mike

[pcmikey]

A bud and I were gassing up in the Phoenix area. Just as I was finishing topping off, a solo rider pulled up on the opposite side of the pump. By the sound, I naturally assumed it was a Harley. We exchanged a friendly nod, then my bud and I parked in what little shade we could find to take a break at the edge of the parking lot and near the shoulder of the road.

The other rider headed out, then pulled up on the shoulder briefly. He smiled and said "I just had to tell someone. Just went over the 100,000 mile mark on the clock"......We offered our congrats as he was obviously jazzed. Turns out he was from Canada, his bike was a Victory, looked good like so many H-D Big Twins, sounded great. He'd ridden from Canada to Daytona, was now in Arizona and then heading back home..........bike looked good, sounded good and obviously ran like a top.

Don't like dishing on any bike........this guy's ride was truly very nice, but some of the Victory models I've seen just don't do it for me visually. To each their own...........Ride Safe

I agree completely. Some of their models look like they would give you slant-fin slash like the late 50's cars. The Vegas Jackpot is another matter. It is a badass machine.

Mike

[pcmikey]

My local bank will loan money for a Harley, to buy or use as collateral, at the drop of a hat. They are as good as gold. No other brand ride holds its value. My bike is the ultimate. Many mfgrs make decent, quiet, soft bikes. None meet my needs or wants.

More power to you. I don't buy for investment---I buy for the pure pleasure of riding. I have a 2009 Vulcan 900 Custom that is the best handling machine I have ever ridden (been riding 60 years). The Vegas Jackpot is the same rush with twice the engine.

Mike

[Blondie Gal]

I owned a Victory Cross-Country prior to purchasing my TriGlide. It was an awesome machine, very modern, very powerful, and very reliable. If Victory made a trike version of the Cross Country, that's what I'd be riding now instead of the HD.

John, get your wallet out . . . Lehman Unveils Victory Vision-Based CrossBow Trike

[JohnC]

Blondie - I've seen that Vision trike kit before. Definitely not my cup of tea. However, if Lehman was smart, they'd make a trike kit for the Cross Country - Cross Roads bikes. They use the same frame as the Vision so they already have the design for the rear swing arm and axle. They need only come up with a better body for the back end, something not so fat and bulbous-looking.

[Ol' Grey]

I agree completely. Some of their models look like they would give you slant-fin slash like the late 50's cars. The Vegas Jackpot is another matter. It is a badass machine.

Mike

Looked up some pics and I agree, the Vegas Jackpot is one of the better looking machines in the Victory line (at least to my eyes)

I didn't know that Arlen Ness was involved in Victory design until "1550vt" mentioned it and I appreciate that insight as it explains a lot. Have some mixed feelings about Ness, but nothing bad or earth shattering. To his credit, he paid his dues, along with many others, in the original chopper days. He was also savvy enough to build his own little empire with his very successful aftermarket parts business. But designing individual parts is different from designing a complete bike and that's where he loses me (not that Arlen Ness is losing any sleep over it, LOL!) Victory still sells motorcycles, so there's obviously a customer base. It's just that my eye gravitates towards more traditional styling is all.........Ride Safe