Is there something I'm missing here
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Depends on the bike. Lots of wide tire customs have right side drive to maintain alignment and balance.
So yes, right side drive is better on his Victory. Left side drive is just fine on your Harley.
So yes, right side drive is better on his Victory. Left side drive is just fine on your Harley.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
I have a friend who has a Victory and he loves the bike. (Doesn't claim it is better than a Harley, though.......just what he could afford.) The advantage of the right side drive is that you don't have to remove the inner primary to replace the final drive belt. This makes replacing it a less costly/time consuming proposition.
We have a Vegas in my group, I have drove it several times. drives about like a Softail but with more power. Nice bike and I like it, but I like Harley's more.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
Every brand of every item pushes their particular feature as better than the competition. Example Ford's new V6 engine is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but chevys and dodges and toyotas are pretty dang good too. I just think it depends on what you like and what you can afford. But now that Victory Vision.....FUGLY !
I like the of the vics and HD, I'm not to hip to the Ness custom ones, just dont like his style to round for me, but as far as the ride is concerned I have ridden one, it was ok, cant say that it was good enough for me to sway me away from HD when I was buying. Nice bike though, just not for me. Love the Ultra!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
+1, The biggest advantage to the right side drive is the fact that it's easier to kick the tranny pulley out further to run a wider tire without affecting the balance of the bike or shifting the tires out of alignment. Another side benefit is the ease of changing a drive belt, but honestly, you shouldn't have to change a belt that often so who cares about that?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Since Victory was made latter, they had a built in advantage to engineer features that were considered more advanced than their target competitor HD.
Thus gear drive to the trans which is great. OHC another plus. Engine a stressed part of the frame. Less weight also a bonus. Mass centered weight al la Buell. Rider can right a tipped over bike without help.
Victory is ahead of HD in everything except what counts. Sales volume and resale value. I don't know what the future holds for them, but I sure want to add a Cross Country to my collection. Now if I could find a dealer within a 100 miles. There was one 140 miles away but it folded.
Thus gear drive to the trans which is great. OHC another plus. Engine a stressed part of the frame. Less weight also a bonus. Mass centered weight al la Buell. Rider can right a tipped over bike without help.
Victory is ahead of HD in everything except what counts. Sales volume and resale value. I don't know what the future holds for them, but I sure want to add a Cross Country to my collection. Now if I could find a dealer within a 100 miles. There was one 140 miles away but it folded.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 444
From: South Florida
RHD has to do with centerline and wheel offset. On a lot of the older bikes, not sure about the more recent ones, the two wheels on the bike are offset. In layman's terms, that means one tire sticks out on one side more. Right hand drive bikes have a straight centerline, for the most part. They tend to flex less in the corners.
Better or worse seems subjective. A lot has to do with weights and balances.
Better or worse seems subjective. A lot has to do with weights and balances.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,110
From: Florida
I have a friend who has a Victory and he loves the bike. (Doesn't claim it is better than a Harley, though.......just what he could afford.) The advantage of the right side drive is that you don't have to remove the inner primary to replace the final drive belt. This makes replacing it a less costly/time consuming proposition.
Fact is, a Vic does what it does VERY WELL,maybe even better than a Harley. But when all is said & done, & the ride's over, you still gotta stand back & look at it. Kinda like doinkin' an ugly babe--a lot of fun to ride,but after you throw your cheese & you're lyin' there lookin' at her, you say to yourself "WTF did I just do???"
Last edited by dickey; Apr 28, 2011 at 01:24 AM.