HD Road Glide vs Victory Cross Country review

[Papa Lazarou]

Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit but it can be a bit of a laugh.... (sorry, wrong thread).

[chornbe]

 Disagree with your analysis. Yes, Kawasaki et al are copying the style.  Kawasaki & co are hungry for the buyers who will pay a premium price for something that actually requires less engineering excellence (=effort and cost) to develop than a sports bike. But demonstrating that Harleys are desirable machines to many people is a long way from demonstrating that they are good machines by any objective measure.

And we continue to disagree on this. It's my opinion that in a free-market society where a diverse market place can thrive, a "better" product will "bubble up" and will sell in greater numbers than a "lesser" product. There are many factors to "better"; quality, value, price, convenience, TCO, aesthetic and others.

Having owned other MFG's cruisers and having owned Harleys, I can say that from my experience, the Harleys were an absolutely fine product who did their intended job better than the competing products that I owned for the purpose.

Now, that's a fairly layered statement and there's room aplenty for caveats in there. I rather dislike absolutes especially when they are used in opinion-based discussion.

Having said that, the quality - including initial quality, fit-n-finish, reliability and after 2 years of some rather hard use, the Harleys I own(ed) are hands down better than the competing products I owned... in every regard except one: the Honda Shadow Sabre had far more lean-angle clearance than the Street Glide (which was a huge factor when I purchased it). That bike had lean angle capabilities that would put many of the touring and sport-touring bikes to shame. But it was not a universally better bike.

The Harleys I own(ed) (the Street Glide was recently sent on to a new home) have been excellent in quality, performance and reliability - in short - a great value.

Yes... they are "better" than many competing products. And many competing products fall short when they copy them.

I don't think the Harleys are excellent because I own(ed) them (ie... I'm not just "justifying my purchase")... I own(ed) them because they were the best choice for me in all the factors I considered.

Yes... objectively.





caveat: the Vision was not a viable choice when I purchased my Street Glide. I don't do first-year of anything.

[st ryder]

"The New American Motorcycle"

"A touring motorcycle that turns heads as it turns miles."

"... just plain Raw American Muscle."

" ... Its style and performance can't be matched,..."

"Its style & performance are awesome.."

"...comfortable ergonomics, smooth handling & a long, low, more alluring profile."

"... godfather of classic cruiser motorcycle style. From city streets to the open road, the smartly styled Victory *** conquers it all."

Victory Motorcycles are just as much about creating an image/"lifestyle" as any other motorcycle. All the above quotes come from their website. You'll notice the importance given to mentioning the "American" connection. I think it's  pretty  clear what they're trying to be, and that's not to be "just" a motorcycle that doesn't make any brand statements, but an alternative to*the* American motorcycle by offering a "style first", powerfull V-twin, American style, American buillt bike like their #1 competition, hoping to ride HD's coat tails to success.

Nice bikes, but, not the "real deal", and there's something to be said about the value in that.   I like Victory bikes, but I'd have to be *blown away* by the difference between them and a HD before I'd buy what in the end amounts to yet another clone, regardless of where it's built.

[SpitfireTriple]

And we continue to disagree on this. It's my opinion that in a free-market society where a diverse market place can thrive, a "better" product will "bubble up" and will sell in greater numbers than a "lesser" product. There are many factors to "better"; quality, value, price, convenience, TCO, aesthetic and others.

Having owned other MFG's cruisers and having owned Harleys, I can say that from my experience, the Harleys were an absolutely fine product who did their intended job better than the competing products that I owned for the purpose.

Now, that's a fairly layered statement and there's room aplenty for caveats in there. I rather dislike absolutes especially when they are used in opinion-based discussion.

That's such a reasoned, reasonable post...You've swayed me.  I'll try one one day, and try to keep an open mind, marketing BS or no marketing BS.

Though, whilst I am a complete believer in the market, there are many purchasers for whom BS image is worth a couple of grand on the price.  I'm not one of them.

"The New American Motorcycle"...
Victory Motorcycles are just as much about creating an image/"lifestyle" as any other motorcycle.

Another well-argued post.  Okay, I'll concede that Victory do try some of the HD BS.  Maybe they're just not as pushy with it as HD - or maybe it's just that their customers don't go for it in such droves.

[chornbe]

Don't get me wrong... the whole Harley Guy (c) (r) (tm) "lifestyle" is

They (Harley) saw a marketing niche and built it, and the people ate it up like kids in a candy store. I'm not a lifestyler by any means... I just like (some of) their bikes.

And there are plenty of things that irk me, or just leave me scratching my head about some of the choices they've made in some of the bikes. For instance, the V-Rod engine in the touring bike frame (with the '09 updates, mind you) would be THE bike to own for touring. Some of the touring frame bikes have the good forks while others don't...? Abs is only offered on one frame model...? STILL with the TC96 engine rather than the FAR smoother TC96B...? Bias ply oddball sized tires - STILL??? - on the Dynas and Sportsters...?

There's room for improvement - important and much needed improvements - no argument.

[Geoff]

Harley's Lifestyle campaign worked so well that it was the message for Yamaha's Star brand of Harley-clones. Remember the print ads? And who can blame Victory for the Cross Country and Cross Roads. Taking aim at Harley with similar products is good strategy. On the other hand, as they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

[st ryder]

Harley's Lifestyle campaign worked so well that it was the message for Yamaha's Star brand of Harley-clones. Remember the print ads? And who can blame Victory for the Cross Country and Cross Roads. Taking aim at Harley with similar products is good strategy. On the other hand, as they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

"'Often imitated, but never duplicated" is another axiom about imitation.

I remember those "real deal" Star ads; what a scream.   I also remember Victory's TV ad, where two greasy, lard ass bikers are sitting at a restaurant counter, and a "racer dude" wearing lightening bolt leathers comes in and sits bewteen them, and they scowl at him so harshly that "crotch rocket" rider gets the drift and moves on; then, a laconic, cool, mysterious dude sits between them wearing a Victory jacket, and they give him the nod of acceptance. Message? Buy a Victory and be accepted by fat greasy bikers.  

 

[Geoff]

I also remember Victory's TV ad, where two greasy, lard ass bikers are sitting at a restaurant counter, and a "racer dude" wearing lightening bolt leathers comes in and sits bewteen them, and they scowl at him so harshly that "crotch rocket" rider gets the drift and moves on; then, a laconic, cool, mysterious dude sits between them wearing a Victory jacket, and they give him the nod of acceptance. Message? Buy a Victory and be accepted by fat greasy bikers.

That's right. Social acceptance is the underlying message being sold in these ads. Perhaps the best example of this approach was Honda's 1962 campaign with the slogan, "You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda."  

Victory should sell the strength of its bikes. The lifestyle approach is passé. At the same time, Harley better watch its back. Victory is getting better and the Harley faithful are starting to take notice.

[atadaskew]

All the cruiser mfgs try to push the bad boy/independence etc angle.  It's not only Harley associated with that marketing BS. The others wish they could associate with it as well as Harley has.
Here's Honda's take:

[chornbe]

I have no idea how that VTX/Custom could take a turn with that rake.  

And frankly I'm getting sick of the word "custom" being used in a factory bike.

[county]

Face it, they're all good.  Only difference is can you take being considered a RUB/Pirate/Wanna be bad ass that comes with the Harley?

[Playinthestreet]

Face it, they're all good.  Only difference is can you take being considered a RUB/Pirate/Wanna be bad ass that comes with the Harley?

Yes

[Tpoppa]

I've never actually ridden a Vic, but I've been meaning to.  The X Country looks like a solid contender.

[atadaskew]

Face it, they're all good.  Only difference is can you take being considered a RUB/Pirate/Wanna be bad ass that comes with the Harley?

That's what they all want to be. See above.

[Geoff]

And frankly I'm getting sick of the word "custom" being used in a factory bike.

I agree.

The word "Anniversary" is overused, too. Harley offers them about every 3 years. The last ones were affectionately called "Duracells" because they sported an ugly black/copper paint scheme.  

[atadaskew]

That's like when car mfgs call some of their models "Limited".

[st ryder]

I agree.

The word "Anniversary" is overused, too. Harley offers them about every 3 years. The last ones were affectionately called "Duracells" because they sported an ugly black/copper paint scheme.  

  I like the 105 years annivesary colours; they keep going and going, oh...wait....

[st ryder]

Face it, they're all good.  Only difference is can you take being considered a RUB/Pirate/Wanna be bad ass that comes with the Harley?

And could you take what comes with a Victory, or any other HD "clone"?

[DCLXVI]

I think the Victory is a sharp looking bike and I guess I would consider one but I've lusted after a Road Glide since my neighbor brought one home and I took it for a spin. I've also owned 3 Harleys and enjoyed all of them without any complications. Based on that I'm pretty sure I would get the Glide.

[maddjack]

personally I think Victory is making FUGLY motorcycles.Yeah I understand they don't want to be look alikes to HD but geeze,the art deco,pointy thing is way outta jand over there. Make some thing that doesn't look like a 2 wheeled wannabe death glider and maybe I'l buy.
 as far as this comparo,I would like to ride both ,back to back over a couple of days myself to give an honest opinion. i have owned HD machines,I have owned metric machines in this class,its about a draw overall for me