When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My two month old Ness Victory Cross country was found burnt ruined in my garage the 15th. How it did not burn down my whole home is a mystery. Investigation to commence after holidays. I don't need a fire starter motorcycle in my garage-house again. I have a Victory veags still and a GS 1200 BMW.
I am looking to get a Harley again. I need the riding position and wind protection because I am getting to old for other bikes. Wife is cancer survivor, but she will not be riding much.
I want some good handling as much as possible. The cross country did that pretty well.
Any help on what model of Harley I might pursue would be appreciated.
I will try and post a picture of the Victory. Polaris is being very quiet. My insurance company is after them..
Oooof. Sorry about your luck on that. I'll avoid all the cheap shots.
Welcome to the Forum from Colorado!
If you're used to riding a touring bike, A Road Glide, or Electra Glide are the bikes to look at. Take one of each for a test ride! Good luck with your search.
Sorry to hear about your bike and garage - that's not good. But at least it didn't take your house, so there's that.
The Cross-Country is, I believe, Victory's shot at a Street Glide. The CC Touring was more of a Electra Glide competitor. Although the Street Glide looks great, it loses an inch of suspension travel compared to the other HD touring bikes. I'd agree that the Road Glide should be on your short list. And I think the Ness versions are Victory's 'customs' so if you don't mind dropping the coin, you can look at the HD CVO bikes - good features but not cheap.
Glad you're both okay, the garage can be fixed - and I hope whatever you end up getting gives you years of great riding...
Welcome to the forum. Wow, so glad for you that the fire only consumed the bike! That was a small miracle!
Might want to look at the Dyna Switchback. Smaller & lighter than the big touring bikes but with power (103 motor), bags and windshield. Lot of people like'em.
Best of Luck, it's obviously already on your side!
Bring the cheap shots. The Victory guys are in pure hatred for me posting a pic on their forum of my experience. I have found 2 other X bikes that might have done the same if someone was not around to hear the bike churning. My Dowco bike cover saved my whole place. It contained the issue till battery terminal melted off battery. Bike was two months old..
Anyways. I have to have automobile type cruise, lower back support and tunes.
Fire is life threatening and I do not think Polaris can convince me to return to any of their products at this point. The insurance is really going after them big time. I never seen anything like it in my 40 yrs of auto body business. This is going to be interesting.
Anyways. I have to have automobile type cruise, lower back support and tunes.
That kind of eliminates the Switchback and Heritage - I think any of the touring bikes will have electronic cruise, the Road King won't have tunes standard (windshield vs. fairing) but the Street Glides, Road Glides, Electra Glides will all have cruise and tunes. All have handlebar mounted batwing fairings except the Road Glide which has a frame mounted fairing. People who buy the Road Glides fall in love with them, but the looks are controversial, some love 'em, some not so much. But the Roadie gets great reviews as a highway tourer.
As to back support, you're probably gonna have to get an aftermarket seat if you want good support. I know HD has some seats with rider/passenger backrests but most will tell you that an aftermarket seat (I use a Mustang with rider backrest) will give you the best bang for your buck.
Best thing you can do is to know what kind of riding you're going to be doing, what is important to you, and what your budget is and then hit the HD website, then the dealer.
That kind of eliminates the Switchback and Heritage -
The 2016 Heritage does have factory cruise.
Also you can always add tunes via handlebar mounts or do as I have and add a full fairing with tunes.
As for the back; there are many nice aftermarket seats out there to provide outstanding support.
I think the OP needs to visit a local dealer and view all the bikes that are available.
Then dwindle down the selection by what appeals to them to the eye.
Then they can start looking at all the options from the short list and start taking some test rides.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.