HD Road Glide vs Victory Cross Country review

[Gar]

For me it's about dealer locations and touring comfort on long ass days.  Victory just doesn't have the dealer network. (It may be better then BMW though). I wouldn't buy anything with fewer dealers than KTM, which effectively knocks out Victory, BMW, Ducati, Aprillia - everyone but the big 4 Japanese, KTM and H-D. I still consider Triumph(I love Triumph) for new bikes, but they don't make what I want right now. As for the Road Glide, it is an excellent LD mount. Most comfortable bike I've owned.

[Geoff]

For me it's about dealer locations and touring comfort on long ass days.  Victory just doesn't have the dealer network. (It may be better then BMW though). I wouldn't buy anything with fewer dealers than KTM, which effectively knocks out Victory, BMW, Ducati, Aprillia - everyone but the big 4 Japanese, KTM and H-D. I still consider Triumph(I love Triumph) for new bikes, but they don't make what I want right now. As for the Road Glide, it is an excellent LD mount. Most comfortable bike I've owned.

I'm not aware of a single KTM dealer in the Chicago area. I seldom see the bikes on the road.

[MadMax96]

I'm not aware of a single KTM dealer in the Chicago area. I seldom see the bikes on the road.

Team MCC in Villa Park is a KTM dealer.

http://www.teammcc.com/

I agree with Gar about the dealer network.  I have a friend who really likes the HD and the Victory - but the closest Victory dealership to him is like a 48 mile drive.  In the Chicago burbs that's a long way!  I know they'd be even more scarce outside of a populated area.  I think there are a half dozen HD dealers within a 30 min drive of him.

I bet a lot of people do want a HD alternative, but when you add it all up there's almost too hassle and inconvenience when it comes to a smaller company like Victory.

[chornbe]

I always considered the dealer network as part of the ownership experience and it was a factor drew me TO Harley rather than simply settling due to viable alternatives.

[maddjack]

I agree ,dealer network is important,there are machines I would love to own,but if I need to go to some obscure location to buy any OEM part,forget it.

[wvrider]

I agree ,dealer network is important,there are machines I would love to own,but if I need to go to some obscure location to buy any OEM part,forget it.

Recently I wanted another bike with touring amenities meaning ABS, Radio, Communications, comfort, luggage all basically together in the package. I've owned BMW in the past and certainly would have considered a new RT (or gently used) but the closest dealer is now over 2 hours away through heavy traffic for some of the route (3 dealers) making it a non choice for me in the end. I didnt want the bland "non motorcycleness" of the Wing after riding it several times (love the motor but also found no real joy there). The Victory was right up there as there is a dealer nearby but no ABS unless I buy the new $24k Vision model...no thanks. Found riding the Harley touring bikes perfectly comfortable and the local dealer sane (not over the top "pirate") and so ended up buying a used Glide. I do many things on my bikes myself but I dont want to cross the country with a bike on a trailer just to get something taken care of.
I LOVED the Cross Country when I sat on it at the show, most comfortable saddle to sit on if a little low behind the windshield....too bad Victory doesnt see it necessary to offer ABS on it and too bad they found it necessary to go too far form over function with the style of the Vision (plus the dealer wouldnt let me ride one and there is no way I buy a $20k plus bike without riding it).

Phil

[atadaskew]

 Victory doesnt see it necessary to offer ABS on it and too bad they found it necessary to go too far form over function with the style of the Vision (plus the dealer wouldnt let me ride one and there is no way I buy a $20k plus bike without riding it).

Phil

Smart move.  I've ridden a few Visions and some may not like their tiller like handlebars which make slow speed handling a bit 'awkward'.
Also the dominating aural characteristic is not a pleasant v-twin thump like on Harleys, but gear whine and mechanical clatter.

Crazy comfy bike though.

[gritsngravy]

Crazy comfy bike though.
[/quote]





There is a point on every tour where mile deep chrome, belching exhaust and the "right" vibes just don't mean a thing.  Comfort is everything on a touring bike.

[atadaskew]

Crazy comfy bike though.






There is a point on every tour where mile deep chrome, belching exhaust and the "right" vibes just don't mean a thing.  Comfort is everything on a touring bike.

The E-glides are crazy comfy too.  Their bonus is they have the mile deep chrome, 'right' vibes, and belching  exhaust to go with it.
Comfort AND luggage capacity is everything.  The rest is a bonus.  The Harleys give you that bonus.  The Vision does not.  And has lousy luggage capacity with its tiny saddle bags.

[chornbe]

The E-glides are crazy comfy too.  Their bonus is they have the mile deep chrome, 'right' vibes, and belching  exhaust to go with it.
Comfort AND luggage capacity is everything.  The rest is a bonus.  The Harleys give you that bonus.  The Vision does not.  And has lousy luggage capacity with its tiny saddle bags.

I did 6600 miles across this great country in an 18-day contiguous run on my e-glide, with stock luggage. I wished and wanted for nothing. The bike was super comfy, handled wonderfully in the mountains, loped along beautifully on the highways, strafed the sweepers with aplomb and at the end of each day, I was very comfy and regretted packing the bike away each night.

It's one of the few bikes that completely and wholly nails its purpose-built design... while still coloring outside the lines a bit and letting you do stuff that most people don't consider "touring" bikes for. I ran twisties, I did 100-miles of dirt roads. I ran through snow  . I chased sport bikes. It's a great machine. I have nothing but good to say about it.

[gritsngravy]

The E-glides are crazy comfy too.  Their bonus is they have the mile deep chrome, 'right' vibes, and belching  exhaust to go with it.
Comfort AND luggage capacity is everything.  The rest is a bonus.  The Harleys give you that bonus.  The Vision does not.  And has lousy luggage capacity with its tiny saddle bags.

I guess it all depends on how much crap you need to carry and what kinda vibes get you off.  

[atadaskew]

I guess it all depends on how much crap you need to carry and what kinda vibes get you off.  

Yup.  Thing is if you don't need to carry that much crap then the bike should be smaller.  The Vision is just as large as an Eglide yet carries less crap.  So what's the point?

This actually also applies to other touring/St bikes.  My Duc with it's hard luggage (same thing with your VFR) can carry just as much crap as an FJR, C14, ST13 etc yet weighs less.  Which is why I don't get bikes like the FJR, C14 etc.  IMO they are bigger just because the are bigger.  Butt that's another thread!
 

[wvrider]

Yep, I thought my ST2 with bags and top box had plenty of space for any trip for two...and reasonable comfy but not much amenities.

Phil

[gritsngravy]

Yup.  Thing is if you don't need to carry that much crap then the bike should be smaller.  The Vision is just as large as an Eglide yet carries less crap.  So what's the point?

This actually also applies to other touring/St bikes.  My Duc with it's hard luggage (same thing with your VFR) can carry just as much crap as an FJR, C14, ST13 etc yet weighs less.  Which is why I don't get bikes like the FJR, C14 etc.  IMO they are bigger just because the are bigger.  Butt that's another thread!
 

I don't see a problem with the physical size of the Vision or any hard bagged cruiser/tourer.    For me, and I suspect a lot of long distance riders feel this way, the bigger the better when traveling, especially two up.  The piece of mind and stability afforded by a long wheel base is a Good Thing.   I just don't think folks riding cruiser tourers expect gsxr handling qualities, its all about the comfort.    

[atadaskew]

I don't see a problem with the physical size of the Vision or any hard bagged cruiser/tourer.    For me, and I suspect a lot of long distance riders feel this way, the bigger the better when traveling, especially two up.  The piece of mind and stability afforded by a long wheel base is a Good Thing.   I just don't think folks riding cruiser tourers expect gsxr handling qualities, its all about the comfort.    

I understand what you are saying. My point about the Vision is that if it is that big it had better also be able to carry a lot of stuff.  But it can't because it's side cases are tiny.
This is an issue Victory has fixed with the X country and X roads bikes.

I owned a Wing 1800 and while it was a better 2-up bike than my Duc St4s that I replaced it with (for passenger comfort), the Duc actually is far more stable and rides better.  Stability is not just a result of size, but other things like suspension quality where the Honda suffered in comparison.
Weird thing, my older Wing 1200 had a much better ride quality than the 1800.
Anyway, now I'm digressing.

[rauchman]

I found myself looking at this type of bike quite a bit at the IMS show.  Aesthetically, I liked the Victory Cross Bones the best.  When picking it up off the stand, I liked it the least.  I didn't like the weight distribution or where my feet landed.  The HD was what I expected.  Solid, comfy and what not.  I sat on the Kawi version (forget the name) and while it was nice, it felt ..... like a copy with nothing startling about it.  The surprise was the Yami Stratoliner Deluxe.  Pulling it up off the stand, it felt the lightest of the bunch.  I wish Yami had moved the gauges to the handlebars though.  

If I were going out to look at one of these bikes today, it would be between the HD and the Yami.

[chornbe]

I found myself looking at this type of bike quite a bit at the IMS show.  Aesthetically, I liked the Victory Cross Bones the best.  When picking it up off the stand, I liked it the least.  I didn't like the weight distribution or where my feet landed.  The HD was what I expected.  Solid, comfy and what not.  I sat on the Kawi version (forget the name) and while it was nice, it felt ..... like a copy with nothing startling about it.  The surprise was the Yami Stratoliner Deluxe.  Pulling it up off the stand, it felt the lightest of the bunch.  I wish Yami had moved the gauges to the handlebars though.  

If I were going out to look at one of these bikes today, it would be between the HD and the Yami.

FWIW, the Yami's engine in Harley's frame would be the absolute winning combination. Their engine is just amazing.

[rauchman]

FWIW, the Yami's engine in Harley's frame would be the absolute winning combination. Their engine is just amazing.

While I haven't ridden any of the 1800+cc Yami cruisers, I used to own a Yam Road Star.  After the HD, I think Yamaha has the best cruisers out there.  Although, the Triumph TBird looks promising as well.  From everything I've read about the 1800cc Yami cruisers, the engine in that thing is "IT".  The only niggle I have about the Roadliner/Stratoliner is non standard sizes on the tires and the gauges being on the tank.  Past that, I think they are beautiful bikes that, from what I've read, are really great bikes.  I used to be a bigger fan of the Victory's, but for some reason, they've lost their luster on me.

[wvrider]

THat Yamaha 1800 is a great motor. It should be at 1800 cc. The Liner Deluxe did seem real nice to sit on but it was just a regular liner with some aftermarket looking fairing on it...the key location, guages everything were in stock locations...very unfinished. The Victory Cross Country just seemed so much more completed in comparison for the same money.

Phil