"American Muscle Never Died, It Just Needed Handlebars" - New Victory...

[Rincewind]

A new 2013 Victory model is being teased.  What's more, it will be shown this weekend at the NYC IMS which I'm hoping to attend

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/forget-2012-its-time-for-the-2013-models/19882.html

It's supposed to be a departure from the existing Victorys, and the video shows riders with FF helmets in a lean-forward position.  I have my fingers crossed for a new naked sport-oriented bike!  

http://youtu.be/iiGyOZdQCU8

[ConPilot1]

Betcha it will be along the lines of the XR1200.

[Papa Lazarou]

I like Victory. Gimme all your money and I'll help the US economy by buying one.

[Rincewind]

Betcha it will be along the lines of the XR1200.

That would be pretty awesome, IMHO.  

The manufacturers page, but it doesn't have any additional info yet -
http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/Victory-Motorcycles/sweepstakes/jan-12-bike-launch/Pages/entry-form.aspx?WT.ac=CRP-AD-US-HOME-VIC-JAN12BIKE

[radon222]

Yea but what kind of twist does this add?

TWO CYCLONE ADV HELMENTS

[black hills]

the adventure bike market would be the logical target IMO. GS seem to sell very well even with thier high cost?

[Rincewind]

The only thing ADV in that video was the unpaved road.

[Mr.Black]

Looks like a bunch of fucking windmills.

[black hills]

Looks like a bunch of fucking windmills.

maybe it electric..

[Mr.Black]

maybe it electric..

Or that new pneumatic one.

[caddydaddy]

I'm impressed with Victory bikes, I just wish they'd make something other than a cruiser.  

[bomber]

I've been hoping for something like a Buell from them for years, all we get is Ness-styled cruisers. I guess they are just going where the market is, in $15000-to-start cruisers. For me, there are a lot of better choices for that much money. But they are pretty.

The other thing I want from Victory is a straight-out 883 Sportster competitor. With their engine they might kick some Sportster ass, but I doubt they could get the price low enough, close enough to the Sportster, even if they set it up as a loss leader. I like the 8-ball, but at $13500 I think of it as more of a Dyna competitor.

ANYTHING from them with sporting intent is a win. I get that the market hasn't been there in the last few years. But the market is weak for $30000 Indians, too.

I wish Victory would  do something interesting with all the money they make from sleds. But I will be surprised if we see it. We'd already have hints from spy shots if there were anything cool coming up.

This -- it'd be great to have an American made choice that didn't look like it was designed in 1937 and modified in 1947 . . . . .

[Fourstring]

Front page of the site is showing a single disc setup on the front wheel, so whatever it is, it probably won't be all that sporty.

[Meemuh]

interested...

[Rincewind]

Front page of the site is showing a single disc setup on the front wheel, so whatever it is, it probably won't be all that sporty.

The tires shown are of the touring/custom variety as well.  So, sorry, this will probably just be a new Hammer, probably the 9-ball version.  It's just... that video 3/4 of the way, after most of the windmills, it seems to show riders in a stance that could be mistaken for a Speed Triple... probably my imagination.  I won't hold my breath, but I will take pics of whatever it is if I get to the NYC show this weeknd.

I am of the same opinion as nochrome on Victory expanding as a brand.  Good points made there.  One point in Polaris' favor is the recent investment in the US e-bike maker Brammo.  We'll see if that develops into something or not.

[Rincewind]

Yeah, maybe they'll buy EBR and we'll get something that way.

Fat chance.

I wonder if this new bike may be related to the Polaris purchase of Indian.  A lightweight naked Indian!  Ha, well, I can dream.

[radon222]

A lightweight naked Indian!  Ha, well, I can dream.

Sorry but we're not allowed to post THOSE kinds of photos anymore  




 

[Meemuh]

Fat chance.

I wonder if this new bike may be related to the Polaris purchase of Indian.  A lightweight naked Indian!  Ha, well, I can dream.

Pocahontas?

[R Doug]

Front page of the site is showing a single disc setup on the front wheel, so whatever it is, it probably won't be all that sporty.

Bummer, it would be great if it was something like HD's XR1200.  

[TwoWhldTerror]

Betcha it will be along the lines of the XR1200.

Which is hideously ugly. If, when, I buy a Harley it will be a Dyna of some type, or even a Vrod, not that abortion of a bike that is the XR1200.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I'd like to see a new V-twin muscle standard of some kind.  Along the lines of the old VX800 or the Yammie MT-01

[JReazor]

Which is hideously ugly. If, when, I buy a Harley it will be a Dyna of some type, or even a Vrod, not that abortion of a bike that is the XR1200.

Different strokes. I think the XR is the best looking bike in HD's line up.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Different strokes. I think the XR is the best looking bike in HD's line up.

That bike and the Nightsters are the only HDs I like in their line up.

[R Doug]

Different strokes. I think the XR is the best looking bike in HD's line up.

+1

That and the Rockers do it for me.  

I recently rode down to Charlotte to stop at a euro dealer (Duc, Tri, BMW, MV, etc...).  I passed by a big HD dealer and stopped to take a look around.  They had an XR right as you walked in the door.  I thought, "wow, this is their featured bike.  how cool."  What I leanred was, "oh, this is a bike they are keeping far away from the rest of the showroom bikes because they're trying to sell it at $1,800 off list."    In other words... it may have had an HD tag on it, but it was being treated as a Buell.  

The other part of this story is, I was able to sit on any bike I wanted in the euro dealer.  But, the big HD dealer, they asked me to get off of the XR as the receptionist pointed to a sign in the showroom reading, "please do not sit on the bikes without our assistance."  I had to wait for a sales person was present before I could sit on a bike.  

 

[jeepinbanditrider]

The XRs will probably go the way of Buell also.  IMO it has more to do with the dealers treating them like leapers and less with the fact that people don't want them.  I mean if you walk into a dealership wanting to look at an XR and they tell you eh you don't want that bike it's not a real Harley they are shooting themselves in the foot to even attempt to break into the standard/sport-standard market.  

[Rincewind]

The new Victory is to break cover at 2pm today @ the NYC IMS, though it may be online as soon as 11:30am per one article I read.

[Meemuh]

The new Victory is to break cover at 2pm today @ the NYC IMS, though it may be online as soon as 11:30am per one article I read.

Victory website claims 11:30.

[gradus]

Pocahontas?

Marlon Brando?

[Rincewind]

Victory website claims 11:30.

Thanks.  To repost that link:
http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/Victory-Motorcycles/sweepstakes/jan-12-bike-launch/Pages/entry-form.aspx?WT.ac=CRP-AD-US-HOME-VIC-JAN12BIKE

The view from NYC IMS

[jeepinbanditrider]

I('m on the website watiting on the countdown as I'm curiuous as to WTF it looks like.  LEss than 30 seconds now.

[radon222]

Here come the Judge!

http://youtu.be/L2GedGTWex8

[Rincewind]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.422735154954.61355.125034104954&type=1

[Rincewind]

Oh. Oh my... Oh my goodness yes.

It doesn't seem like much of a departure from their existing line-up... at all.    What am I missing?

$13,999

[ConPilot1]

Looks like just another Holy Dildoson Motor Company clone to me, only with drag bars and mid controls, which they enthusiastically pointed out in the beginning of the vid
because that's the only departure aside from the 106 engine..

I give it a big MEH.

We seriously need some more ingenuity in the American bike market like Motus and Buell.

I guess their ad/PR/Mkting departments thought that pointing out the bars, mid controls, and showing the riders in gear + FF helmets
would make it appealing to the likes of us.  FAIL.

[Rincewind]

[jeepinbanditrider]

Eh not impressed.  Those are pretty foward "mid" controls IMO.  Looks like any other generic cruiser with a neato flat paint job and a big motor.  

Hey Victory

[Baz]

Looks like just another Holy Dildoson Motor Company clone to me, only with drag bars and mid controls, which they enthusiastically pointed out in the beginning of the vid
because that's the only departure aside from the 106 engine..

I give it a big MEH.

We seriously need some more ingenuity in the American bike market like Motus and Buell.

I guess their ad/PR/Mkting departments thought that pointing out the bars, mid controls, and showing the riders in gear + FF helmets
would make it appealing to the likes of us.  FAIL.

 


Of course, if they come up with an outstanding accessory line (belt buckles, wife beater T shirts etc)............

[Meemuh]

not interested

[Tyrroneous]

Blah...All that fuss over nothing new.  I guess Victory is stuck in a rut too, just like Harley.  I was sure hoping they'd be a little more ambitious than just spitting out another chaps 'n vest bike.  

How is this bike different from the Victory Hammer save for the Hammer's ridiculous 250mm rear tire?

[Tpoppa]

Part bin bike.  Yawn.

[Gary B.]

At least it ain't ugly.


It just looks like way too many others.

I agree, meh...

[atadaskew]

What a let down

All the hoopla and I couldn't pick it out of their current line up.

Lame.

[stromgal]

It's *closer* to sporty than anything else they've made yet.  But:

Shocks are too short; lean angle is limited.

As mentioned, the 'mid-controls' are rather forward.

Low seat height with forward-ish controls means not being able to get in the right position for really railing curves.


That said, I've found the Vic engine to be highly entertaining, and at least THIS time they didn't put a beach ball on the back rim; it's a reasonable 150.  (The raised-white-letter Elites made me laugh, but they *are* radials.) With shocks and a taller seat it could be a hoot.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Should read some of the comments on the facebook page  

One guy insists they are branching into another section of the cruiser market cause they didn't have a bike that had low bars and "mid controls" before  

I'm gonna go put clip ons on my FZ6 and higher rear sets so it can go into the supersport market  

[ConPilot1]

I'm gonna go put clip ons on my FZ6 and higher rear sets so it can go into the supersport market  

I'd be more impressed if you put ape hangers and fwd controls and chrome running boards on your FJR and go into the "real bike" market.

[atadaskew]

Harley again beat Victory to the punch by several years with their version:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/fat-bob.html#/c/overview

Fat bars, decent suspension (for a cruiser), ok riding position.  Looks better too.

[Justin]

Oh good - Victory made another cruiser.

[Baz]

My wife loved that name when she 1st saw it.

Fat BOB.

Fat Battery Operated Boyfriend.

[TwoWhldTerror]

Harley again beat Victory to the punch by several years with their version:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/fat-bob.html#/c/overview

Fat bars, decent suspension (for a cruiser), ok riding position.  Looks better too.

True...my wife is in love with the Fat Bob look and that is what she is considering as her next bike.

[SSLT1KID]

Looks like a bunch of fucking windmills.

Thats Tehachapi, CA

[R Doug]

I'd still rather have this with a set of Hogslayers on it.  

[Rincewind]

A pic from the Judge's debut in NYC.  I liked the matte paint, but otherwise it looked like the same old Victory to me.

Harley again beat Victory to the punch by several years with their version:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/fat-bob.html#/c/overview

Fat bars, decent suspension (for a cruiser), ok riding position.  Looks better too.

Maybe so, but I believe the Vic have more punch in the terms of torque.

[atadaskew]

Maybe so, but I believe the Vic have more punch in the terms of torque.

The Vics may have more powerful motors, but for the design brief, Harleys have enough power as these are all cruisers (no matter how Victory spins it).
But where Harley is much better, and this makes for a better feel going down the road, is their engines are smoother (the isolating mounts basically make the vibes disappear once you move off), and the gear boxes are much better with more positive shifting and no gear whine.

What is that round thing under the seat meant to be?  An oil tank? Looks, um, not good.

[Gary B.]

I thought it kinda looked like a number plate.

[Justin]

Victory has everything in place to unseat Harley except they are not a Harley.

ftfy

"Harley" riders don't buy motorcycles, they buy Harleys.

[stromgal]

I thought it kinda looked like a number plate.

Yep, I have a 'Fuel Cafe' sticker that would look plenty good there.  

My .02-  the Vic powerplant just feels 'stronger' to me.  That said, a lot of folks in this market buy for the intangibles like 'who's looking at me' and 'do I gain entrance to the inner circle'.  Despite good design, Victory has trouble competing in these areas.

[atadaskew]

My .02-  the Vic powerplant just feels 'stronger' to me.  

It is stronger.  But it is also vibier and has much more whine.
I'd pick a smoother, slightly weaker motor everytime over that.

Cruising up Pacific Coast Hwy, past Cambria, watching the scenery all I want to experience is the sights, the sounds and the road.  Not the buzzing in the grips and the whine from the gears.

[Rattlehead]

ftfy

"Harley" riders don't buy motorcycles, they buy Harleys.

I used to own a Harley and spent a decent amount of time on the Harley boards. Your statement is dead on the money. To them, there are "Harleys" and then there's everyone elses "motorcycles". I can't count the number of times I heard/read "If there were no Harley, I wouldn't ride" or "I'd give up riding if I couldn't have a Harley". I never understood that. If there were no Suzuki I'd gladly buy another brand (lots of good bikes out there to choose from). If there were no "real motorcycles" I'd ride a scooter just so I could be on 2 wheels.


As far as the Vic goes, I say meh.....
I like Victory and if I were going to buy a cruiser they would be my first stop. I REALLY like the crossroads   and I could see myself putting some serious miles on that thing. The "Judge" though is just OK. I don't see it as anything new and quite frankly, it just furthers my opinion that Victory is in a rut. If the Judge had 6" less wheelbase, sat 2" higher and were 150lb lighter (Sportster sized) I would have a COMPLETELY different opinion of it.