harley 103 vs 106 dyno comparison
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 1,208
From: Ohio
To each his own but that Victory/Ness stuff is just hideous....god awful ugly. I have a riding buddy that owns one...their version of a Streetglide and it's not perfect. We were on a trip in July and he was having problems with it randomly stalling. His has a stage 1 and he keeps up just fine but I would be shocked if he could pull away from us.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 4
From: The Great River Road, Wisconsin
Generally the Freedom 106 in stock form will produce 80-84 HP at the rear wheel and 97-100 ft/lb torque. I've never known a H-D Stage I 103 to come close to that. Having owned several of both brands performance wise they are closer than the numbers indicate. Off the line the current(2013 and before) 103 hits just as hard but as speed increases the Vics pull away.
About the Victory Vision.....
OVERALL....probably the best motorcycle I've owned to date. Really unbelievable handling especially at any speed. My only gripe is the saddlebags are a little small with a small opening...
That's my CURRENT bikes.....the SG is being traded for a 2014 Ultra
Limited....
About the Victory Vision.....
OVERALL....probably the best motorcycle I've owned to date. Really unbelievable handling especially at any speed. My only gripe is the saddlebags are a little small with a small opening...
That's my CURRENT bikes.....the SG is being traded for a 2014 Ultra
Limited....
None of them are everything we want out of the wrapper, so we spend the first couple years making them what we want, to accomplish what we want.
As has been proven by the Street Glide, it would get pretty boring if we all rode the same thing. Differences are what make bike nights as fun as they are. If we all showed up on the same thing, it would be over in 1/2 hour for there would be nothing different to share and explore.
How we tour has a great input, for some like to putt in pure luxury, while some like to giddy up and get there calling for a different machine. Some like to tear it up in luxury. There are sooooooo many variables that 1 machine can not accomplish all of this. Harley's sales are off the charts the past years and their paraphernalia sells like no others.
Competition is good, for we all see that in many facets of our lives, so good for the companies trying to take a bite out of the MoCo's market shares. They have saturated the market, and some of us are heavily enough invested to not fear the competition but welcome it. I may think snide comments when I see something I don't care for go by, or pull up next to me at a light, but keep them to myself. That part is human nature.
The guy riding the XXXX next to me feels as much pride to be different as I do the pride of ownership, that I can relate on that level and we are both having a ball. Maybe a little deep, and even wordy here this morning, but, I welcome the differences versus feeling threatened by something different.
Hell, I used to get nauseated when a Fugly (road glide) would go by, and the MoCo has tweaked them enough the past few years I can even see their charm. Yikes........
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 9
yes, there is a harley dealer on every corner...could it be because they are always breaking down and you don't have to go far for help! the honda goldwing is probably what all touring bikes should be judged against. quiet, dependable, powerful, handles well, and long lasting. if harley would put as much effort into building a better motorcycle as they do in marketing, then you would have an awesome motorcycle.
the harley is the best looking touring bike-classic styling and lots of nice features, top notch paint and chrome and fit and finish. for an all around one up touring bike, the bmw r 1200 gs in hard to beat. tons of power, dependable, handles well and you can ride the thing down "the path less traveled". see a gravel road that looks interesting? that bmw will carry you down it easily...good ground clearance and weighs over 300 pounds less than a harley bagger. the goldwing would get my vote for best 2 up touring motorcycle.
having said all of that, i can't wait to see the new road glide when it is re-introduced next year. that will be my next motorcycle.
the harley is the best looking touring bike-classic styling and lots of nice features, top notch paint and chrome and fit and finish. for an all around one up touring bike, the bmw r 1200 gs in hard to beat. tons of power, dependable, handles well and you can ride the thing down "the path less traveled". see a gravel road that looks interesting? that bmw will carry you down it easily...good ground clearance and weighs over 300 pounds less than a harley bagger. the goldwing would get my vote for best 2 up touring motorcycle.
having said all of that, i can't wait to see the new road glide when it is re-introduced next year. that will be my next motorcycle.
Novice
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Repentigny, Qc, Canada
I agree with VTL nut about competition and diversity. For the rest, to each his own. Personally, last year I traded a 2011 Sedona Orange SG for a 2012 Cross Country. After a 100 miles, I couldn't believe how much more comfortable and easy to handle the Vic was. In fact, I loved the ride so much that I did away with the engine stalling when blipping the throttle, the dust covering the inside of the bags, etc.
But this year was another story. Long list of problems and many trips to the dealership got the best of me and I guess I still had orange blood in me so I traded it for the very first Charcoal Pearl SGS that was delivered to the local dealership. As a matter of fact, the same salesman who sold me my first SG called me to come and help him uncrate it. 3 hours later, I was riding it.
Even though I had a bad experience with Vic and the resale value killed me, I won't bash on them for I had some great rides with the bike and I guess it was part of my journey. Now, I'm back with Harley and couldn't be happier.
As far as numbers go, and seat of the pants feeling, the Vic was way more powerful than my 11 SG. But that 14 SGS with the 103HO and the new cams, is something else. Huge amount of torque at any speed and alot more powerful than the 106. No numbers to back this up. Just my feeling. But then again, I don't really care about numbers. What I do care about, is the fun I have each time I get on the bike and the people I meet
But this year was another story. Long list of problems and many trips to the dealership got the best of me and I guess I still had orange blood in me so I traded it for the very first Charcoal Pearl SGS that was delivered to the local dealership. As a matter of fact, the same salesman who sold me my first SG called me to come and help him uncrate it. 3 hours later, I was riding it.
Even though I had a bad experience with Vic and the resale value killed me, I won't bash on them for I had some great rides with the bike and I guess it was part of my journey. Now, I'm back with Harley and couldn't be happier.
As far as numbers go, and seat of the pants feeling, the Vic was way more powerful than my 11 SG. But that 14 SGS with the 103HO and the new cams, is something else. Huge amount of torque at any speed and alot more powerful than the 106. No numbers to back this up. Just my feeling. But then again, I don't really care about numbers. What I do care about, is the fun I have each time I get on the bike and the people I meet
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 4
From: The Great River Road, Wisconsin
My '10 Limited 103: $2k in D&D Fatcat,Heavy Breather,SEPST dynoed@ 80hp/98 ft. lbs
My '11 Vision 106: $800 in Ness exhaust,ac,stage 1 download (typical dyno #'s for what I have) 92hp/106 ft.lbs
The extra ft.lbs./horses didn't sway me either.The handling,ride,maintanance costs,reliability,creature comforts and sticker price did though.
I've been to 3 different dealerships in 18k mi. in a year.When I bought it,500 mi. service/stage1 added,a full service on the road out in Gainesville, Fla.@ 7500 mi. last summer and a new rear tire @15k mi.
"Beauty's in the eyes of the Beholder" I didn't buy it to just look@ it.
My '11 Vision 106: $800 in Ness exhaust,ac,stage 1 download (typical dyno #'s for what I have) 92hp/106 ft.lbs
The extra ft.lbs./horses didn't sway me either.The handling,ride,maintanance costs,reliability,creature comforts and sticker price did though.
I've been to 3 different dealerships in 18k mi. in a year.When I bought it,500 mi. service/stage1 added,a full service on the road out in Gainesville, Fla.@ 7500 mi. last summer and a new rear tire @15k mi.
"Beauty's in the eyes of the Beholder" I didn't buy it to just look@ it.
That thing is just plain homely dude.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,282
Likes: 2
From: Northwestern Nevada
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
From: Houston, OH
Is the top one a long coat? I was torn between the long and stock when we bought our GSD but ended up with the stock coat. My dogs father had a really plush coat and we were hoping for that, but she is looking good with her stocker.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 14
From: Pollock La
I sat at a dealer for about 2 hours with my 07 street bob looking to trade for a victory cross country.... the price was pleasing, wasn't set on the looks, but they aren't "bad" imo! after about 2 hours, and they almost made me laugh with their trade in offer on my low mileage street bob.... i figured i'd try a couple HD dealers... the local one was about the same, crappy trade in offer, wouldn't budge off sticker price, wouldn't come up on trade in.... wend down the road 100 miles to another dealer ... they more than trippled the first harley dealer on trade in and i got them down 3K on sticker...
and that's why i still own a Harley lol! no complaints at all! glad it all played out the way it did!
and that's why i still own a Harley lol! no complaints at all! glad it all played out the way it did!