Hey all,
Just picked up my brand spankin new KP 8 Ball last night. Very excited while at the same time, in great pain! Here are some first impressions from a first time rider.
Having only had a couple short test rides under my belt, I wasn't sure what freeway riding and 30 miles would feel like. The bike, although physically heavy, feels light and easy to control. Even for a total newbie. Took it to a parking lot and was doing slow speed turns and stuff, nearly dropped the damn thing. But because of the balance I was easily able to drop my left foot and catch the bike and put it upright. Thank you Victory engineers! Hello Lindby Multibar!
The dealer installed the black Ness Fly Bars and the Touring seat. Sitting on the solo seat with a basic mock up of the Ness Bars, it seemed it had enough pullback. But it ain't. Maybe cause I am built like a T-Rex. Big head, little arms. Maybe the tour seat sets you back (it has no driver backrest). I don't know, but I can't live with it as it stands. I also read some conflicting information. Mustang seats website reports their seat moves you back 1.5 inches. One of the posters here (ZZ I believe) said the seat moved him forwards a couple inches. If that is the case, then that would help a lot. But with the width of the seat, it splits me like a wishbone on Thanksgiving Day! But my feet are up more than not. And my back would appreciate the relief. I wonder if the Mustang seat can be modified so that it is more narrow at the front? Also just read that the Vic touring seat with backrest pushes you forward. Maybe another option. But that seat needs to go to Russel to make it viable long term. I need to talk with the dealer today about both seat options, as the Ness bars can't be brought back any using risers. And they just look too good to replace.
At low speeds there seems to be a ton of tranny noise and belt whine. And it doesn't like to move at speeds less than 5mph. It lugs and chugs and complains. So I have to play in the friction zone and throttle up. No biggie, 1st gear seems pretty tall so I just have to adjust to it. And the bike has 30 miles on it, so obviously I will wait and see how the break in goes.
Plenty of giddy up for 2 up. I had no doubts but was worried how I would do with the wife on the back. Never having ridden with a passenger. I was nervous. But on this bike, the only way you know you have a passenger is when they squeeze the crap out of you, cause you just grabbed a handful of throttle. Very cool.
Brakes seem good enough. As long as you use both at the same time. I know it would affect the look, but I would appreciate dual front discs.
Stock exhaust. No questions there, it sucks. But I am out of money til next season to replace them. And the pipes I want, RPW and Victory don't have in stock. I will put the S&S intake and the RPW Thor 2-1 pipes in Black on the bike. Then I will be one happy camper (assuming I fix the ergo issue).
Thanks for the input from the Forum members here who helped me make the decision to get a Kingpin and not a Jackpot. It is more comfortable, and the wife appreciates it! Although she already burnt the **** out of her calf when she threw a leg over the bike just after I rode it and char broiled herself on the exhaust! Ouch.
And as I am sure that no one here has ever seen pics of a basically stock '09 KP 8 Ball, check out the pics in my gallery.
Just picked up my brand spankin new KP 8 Ball last night. Very excited while at the same time, in great pain! Here are some first impressions from a first time rider.
Having only had a couple short test rides under my belt, I wasn't sure what freeway riding and 30 miles would feel like. The bike, although physically heavy, feels light and easy to control. Even for a total newbie. Took it to a parking lot and was doing slow speed turns and stuff, nearly dropped the damn thing. But because of the balance I was easily able to drop my left foot and catch the bike and put it upright. Thank you Victory engineers! Hello Lindby Multibar!
The dealer installed the black Ness Fly Bars and the Touring seat. Sitting on the solo seat with a basic mock up of the Ness Bars, it seemed it had enough pullback. But it ain't. Maybe cause I am built like a T-Rex. Big head, little arms. Maybe the tour seat sets you back (it has no driver backrest). I don't know, but I can't live with it as it stands. I also read some conflicting information. Mustang seats website reports their seat moves you back 1.5 inches. One of the posters here (ZZ I believe) said the seat moved him forwards a couple inches. If that is the case, then that would help a lot. But with the width of the seat, it splits me like a wishbone on Thanksgiving Day! But my feet are up more than not. And my back would appreciate the relief. I wonder if the Mustang seat can be modified so that it is more narrow at the front? Also just read that the Vic touring seat with backrest pushes you forward. Maybe another option. But that seat needs to go to Russel to make it viable long term. I need to talk with the dealer today about both seat options, as the Ness bars can't be brought back any using risers. And they just look too good to replace.
At low speeds there seems to be a ton of tranny noise and belt whine. And it doesn't like to move at speeds less than 5mph. It lugs and chugs and complains. So I have to play in the friction zone and throttle up. No biggie, 1st gear seems pretty tall so I just have to adjust to it. And the bike has 30 miles on it, so obviously I will wait and see how the break in goes.
Plenty of giddy up for 2 up. I had no doubts but was worried how I would do with the wife on the back. Never having ridden with a passenger. I was nervous. But on this bike, the only way you know you have a passenger is when they squeeze the crap out of you, cause you just grabbed a handful of throttle. Very cool.
Brakes seem good enough. As long as you use both at the same time. I know it would affect the look, but I would appreciate dual front discs.
Stock exhaust. No questions there, it sucks. But I am out of money til next season to replace them. And the pipes I want, RPW and Victory don't have in stock. I will put the S&S intake and the RPW Thor 2-1 pipes in Black on the bike. Then I will be one happy camper (assuming I fix the ergo issue).
Thanks for the input from the Forum members here who helped me make the decision to get a Kingpin and not a Jackpot. It is more comfortable, and the wife appreciates it! Although she already burnt the **** out of her calf when she threw a leg over the bike just after I rode it and char broiled herself on the exhaust! Ouch.
And as I am sure that no one here has ever seen pics of a basically stock '09 KP 8 Ball, check out the pics in my gallery.