I'm curious what the folks on this forum think about Victory motorcycles. I stopped at a dealer near me to satisfy my curiosity. I think that if you like the classic Harley look, you won't like the Victorys. They have the lines of the bikes I often see on the biker-build-off type of shows. Sweeping lines and low. Not bad looking, but not really my style. One thing about Victorys that I do like is the dealers actually encourage you to take the bikes for a test ride. I have yet to find a Harley dealer that will let me do that.

The dealer gave me a ten minute lecture regarding why Victorys are better designed than Harleys. Some of his selling points were better designed tranny (gear ratios spread more evenly apart to provide proper power in every gear), higher capacity oil tank, and right side drive (can't remember why he thought that was better than the Harley's but I think it had something to do with balance of the bike).

The guy seemed like his speech was well rehearsed to try to lure away Harley riders. He even said that most of their buyers were Harley riders.

Anyway, have you checked these bikes out and what do you think?

I like em except for that Vision, that thing is Butt Ugly. I am talking U.G.L.Y.!!!!

I thought about buying one back in '04. I really didn't like the way the swing arm looked on them. Dealer network somewhat spotty but it is getting better. Definitely better than some of the Japanese bikes that are trying to get part of the market.

I am very narrow minded, inless Victory is a Harley model I am not interested.

The Vision ain't no vision.

ORIGINAL: DLW_FLHTC

I am very narrow minded, inless Victory is a Harley model I am not interested.
+1

do most of your dealers ~not~ let you take test drives? [:'(]

Seriously - all 3 I've been to gladly handed me a bike and keys to go try them out, even several times. That's why I buy bikes from them and always will

I looked in 07 and rode one, they are nice. The price is not much less than a Harley.

I bought an 08 RKC, and I like it. My RK is a fine product (mho) The main thing about

Victory. What happens to resale if they don't make it? The Victory dealer in my

area, was the old Indian dealer. Nice bike, but too big a chance for big loss.

I like the looks of this bike quite a bit.

http://www.psndealer.com/powersportsdlr/images/NewVehicles/NV39303_1.jpg

Some of them are OK, but the Victory Vision is not for me. Maybe George Jetson mightbuy it;)but not me.

A good buddy of mine has an '06 Vagas & he loves it. It's an OK bike but I would never buy one, I'm sort of biased, you know.

I think the overall bike is nice looking, the only thing I don't care for is that they lack detail. If you look at the engine/trans, it looks a little too clean, its not the look I am going for. I have never rode one, so I can't tell you if I like the ride or not. Oh yeah, one other thing, that vision is one ugly bike, IMHO! I have never really been a Ness fan, and that bike is one more reason why!

I gota say....I like allkind ofbikes. I took a Victory for a test ride and I was very impressed. It's a very well bult bike. Fast as hell and handled great. I don't think Ness would put his nameon apiece of ****.I just don't think they have cought on yet. Give the company more time and you'll see great things from them. But all that said...I still would rather have my Street Glide.

I'm very open mindedabout it. I'll consider any bike as long as it is air cooled and says "Harley Davidson" on the tank.

+1 on the George Jetson comment. I thought I was the only one who thought of him the first time I saw the Vision. Yucch!

ORIGINAL: JohnB445

The main thing about Victory. What happens to resale if they don't make it? The Victory dealer in my area, was the old Indian dealer. Nice bike, but too big a chance for big loss.



Unless things go totally haywire, Polaris would not have ventured into this without a good business plan. They have been in business for over 50 years.

The rebirth of companys like Indian, Excelsior Henderson, etc had to start from ground zero. They had to build shops, establish dealer networks, etc. Unless these companys had great sales initially to keep the cash flowing, they knew it was going to be tough.

Victory will be around and I would expect them to come out with different products in the future.

$.03

the vision was a hallucination and i wouldnt mind trying out a Hammer S i recall there also being a toolkit for every victory model that is stored under the seat that has is only one tool an allen wrench shaped device with an allen head on one end and a phillips on the other and the bikes components were designed around it

I like the 8 ball, have not heard anything negative about the brand, other than it's not Harley. But also of I'm of the opinion the Vision is FUGLY. I'd be willing to take a closer look at any of them but that.

Victory, shmictory........they all suck.......JMHO

i would have to ride on before making a decision about victory. that 8 ball looks alright tho. as for now, for the little bit of price difference, ill stick with the night train.

I like the looks of a couple of them,except the vision.For the money they want you can buy a Harley.

metric bike

totally ugly..........and not a Harley

I like the looks of this bike quite a bit.

http://www.psndealer.com/powersportsdlr/images/NewVehicles/NV39303_1.jpg
+1 ---I will add that I own a Polaris sportsman 500 atv that has been a great machine! ;)

a buddy has a Hammer and he loves it. when i had my Warrior, he would always compare his to mine.

if i were to buy another non-HD, it would be a Yamaha Raider

http://www.psndealer.com/powersportsdlr/images/NewVehicles/NV58408_1.jpg

I have owned 2 Victory MC. I now ride a HD and would never go back for lots of reasons. Nuff said.

Couple of the Victorys don't look too bad, the Vision is a Nightmare, but I think the thing that put me off most was that the dealer I talked to spent most of his time bad mouthing Harley...wrong tactic with me...you need to sell me on your product, not run down someone else's...

ORIGINAL: MikeK02048

I'm curious what the folks on this forum think about Victory motorcycles.

I own 2 Polaris ATVs and love them. They are good quality products with great engineering. The company seems to stand behind their products. If the motorcycles are anything like the quads then they are good products. Unfortunately the closest Victory dealer is 160 miles and the local Polaris ATV dealer does not service the bikes ... so that kept me from chosing a Victory this time around. I did get a chance to ride a Vegas last year and then a Vision this year. They seemed like decent bikes.

Checked them out at bthe Bike Show last year at the NEC in Birmingham (UK) and they weren't for me - I'm quite happy with what I have got.

Trouble I have is the lack of an extensive dealer network. That's fine if you live near one and never travel out of the area, but I wouldn't want to run into problems in the middle of nowhere.

My Father-in-law has an 01'Victory Cruiser, he has never had anything bad to say about it. But he is always talking about selling it to get a Harley. So take it for what its worth.I am convinced almost everyone would own a Hraley if they could afford it. Since I have had my V-Star all I think about is owning a Harley, granted I can take the old mans Street Glide anytime I want and regularly do but for a 23 year old college student a harley really isn't in my price range. Except for a sportster or a dyna. To me I might as well save up and get what I want, so hopefully next year after saving up and getting a better job after graduation my first purchase will be a Fat Boy.

It's just another v twin metric cruiser to me. Also, I've not seen one of those "Vision" things on the road. Hope they didn't bet the farm on that thing.

Our local Polaris dealer became a Victory dealer last fall. I have not been in to look. I don't think they make a model like the Road King, even so I'd stay with the original (HD). I saw one of those Visions go by the other day, better in person but still very odd looking.

See Scott
See Scott's Hammer
See Scott look at my Street Glide
See Scott trade Hammer for Harley as soon as he gets home from Afganistan
Although Victory is made in US it is still a wanabe

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg273/Bpepn/IMG_0147.jpg

I've ridden Victorys. Theyre fast but I dont like how the engine/trans sounds. I would not buy one over a Harley...ever. And the Ness editions really suck.

I like the look and feel of the few I've sat on. Prolly a nice scoot. However,the only non HD bike I'd buy would be the new Indian, though. I just can't get my brain around the Vics nor the Jap cruisers. To each his own, though. Ride what ya like ... ride it like ya stole dat beeyatch.:D

Four or five years ago the price difference was enough to make me consider a Victory over a Harley, American made V twin,yada yada. However, when I got ready to buy in 2007 the Victory prices had gone up considerably and for the little extra I bought a Harley.

I also talked to several used Motorcycle dealers and they all stated that Victory was a good bike but the resale on them sucked.

Now I'm riding a Dyna waiting to upgrade to a Roadglide.

ORIGINAL: hdpearson13
metric bike


That's the nail on the head right there. I test-drove a couple of Kingpins (07 and 08) and the Vision. If I was going coast to coast on a ride, I might consider taking a Vision, as they are very, very comfortable to sit on. However, the low-speed and off-the-line dynamics of the bike are terrible. From the pilot's position, you can't see the front wheel. Yeesh. It did have features I appreciated, like the fact that the volume on the stereo went down when you put on the brakes or rolled back the throttle. And the heated grips worked really well compared to the aftermarket ones on my Dyna. And the heated seat was nice. Oh, that was really nice.

The Kingpin is a much more approachable bike for someone looking for a cruiser, but it reminds me a lot of a Honda as far as the handlebar controls, light detail, gauges, etc. Furthermore, I don't like the way the engine sounds; it kind of has a sewing machine clack to it, something like you hear in a Triumph. Iron versus aluminum, maybe?

ORIGINAL: sporty06
Now I'm riding a Dyna waiting to upgrade to a Roadglide.

Me, too, except I think I may go with a Road King instead of a Roadglide. Someone here has a sig pic of an RK that sits low and has wind guards on the highway bars. It's sort of a champagne color. That bike is beatiful, and if I could have a bike like that with a tour pack and a fairing waiting in the garage for long rides, I'd be in heaven.

well to me the have NO character the handlebar controls look cheesy.they 're like copies of jap bikes.
my opinion

Wel, I guess you can call me George Jetson and a Philistine, besides.... I love the Victory Vision and would have one in my stable if I had the cash. As it turned out, I could only afford my used RK at less than half the price tag.

Nothing against Harley, my King is my liege.... but the Vision really appeals to THIS noob.

Were Polaris screws up is the price. They are more expensive than the compariable Harley model and have much less aftermarket parts available.

If I am gonna spend 16 K on a new bike, its gonna be a Harley, not an immitation.

+1

I couldn't believe how much they'd gone up in price over the last couple of years...the $$ they're asking for several models are Harley territory, and none of them appeals to me as several HD models do for that kind of $$. ;)

I think they look too smooth much like the custom bikes that are on the slide in favour of the old school/bobber look. Saw the Vision recently, jeez that bike isugly i think they have aimed at a very small potential market there.
Over here (UK) they have dropped the price of the vegas by £1500 ($3000 ish)to put it £700 cheaper than the cheapest Dyna. Signs of desperation or over priced to start with, probably a little of both. LOL

Test rode a Hammer and a Kingpin a while back. The Hammer was cool, lots of power, smooth ride, those ugly A$$ pipes had to go. not a bad motorcycle for the price.

BUT IT AINT NO HARLEY!!

ORIGINAL: Old Bones

See Scott
See Scott's Hammer
See Scott look at my Street Glide
See Scott trade Hammer for Harley as soon as he gets home from Afganistan
Although Victory is made in US it is still a wanabe

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg273/Bpepn/IMG_0147.jpg


See Scott have heart attack when sees resale value for said Victory.
(I think they are nice bikes.)