I agree. Find a good used Kingpin Tour. Love my '07 I'm 5'8" and found the XR too big for me.

 

You want to spend time in the saddle and be comfortable, go for the Cross Country and put a lower kit on it if you have to. I do a lot of travelling and spend anywhere of up to 10 /12 hours going from A to B. The bags hold almost the kitchen sink. Good luck on your decision.

 

traded my 06 sportster on a preowned 13 hammer, i can't believe a bike 100 lb heavier can handle so good, test rode a not so super glide, like my sportster poor brakes + suspension. inverted forks are a plus IMO. might want to look at preowned as you can save $$$$. Victory for sure!!

 

I like the Gunner but I really don't like the color. I would have a hard time living with that meh color.

Same here. I can't wait til victory gets their new paint facility up and running so we have more than one or two different options for paint on a cruiser. I mean come on. One color for a model year is pathetic. If the gunner had some normal black paint it would be awesome. But this suede kick their on right now, I want nothing of it.

 

If I were lookin for a cruiser, not like all the others I would stay away from the HD Dyna. I have a dyna street bob, I have spent a lot of time, makeing it unlike all the others. Now as for as the Vic's I would be lookin at the board walk, not much more money than your other choicesand IMO a classy lookin bike. love the floor boards but would get rid of the handlebars. The seat height is 25.9", has a lot of factory add ons, windshield, hard or soft bags, ect.that you canget as the budget allows. Now remember your the one who makes the final decision, everyone has there opinion and taste. Good luck and ride what fits you !!!!

 

You have been given some good advice and choices but I will just go with the 3 you mentioned and for that I Vote Judge .. Your Money, Your Call ..

 

omg I think you have been thinking about it too much lol. Go with what you feel is right for you and if it is a Harley then so be it lol. I Have owned so many bikes over the years and love al;l makes and models ,but I can say this and not trying to rubish the Harleys but I have nevr been a fan of them and would never buy one. I have a lot of mates that have hod them and have since made the switch to a Victory and would not go back to the Harley again. Now the thing I must admit most of my bikes in the past have bben Jap bike from sports bikes, road touring bikes and a coup[le of cruisers, I have only ever owned one European bike a BMW RT11oo and it was the slowest of all and the best bike ever. My latest bike is a Victory Cross Roads Classic I love it but have to say it is the only bike I have had issues that I needed to make a warrenty claim with. ( Nothing major just a new regulator, sh%t quality control on the soft bags and chrome work, plus the issue Victory is currently rectifiying the passangers rear seat. ) These are all small things and have not put me off a Victory , I would buy another one in the future but I feel that Victory could do a better job with the Quality control . Now I will put my flame suit on to protect me from the guys that are going to hate me for making these comments lmao. Last of all just go with your heart and do not worry what others think ,do your reseach and you will get a felling of what the bike is all about and what you would like. Then just buy the bloody thing and enjoy it. I love my Victory and I bought it with out riding one because I found out all I needed to know by asking questions and chatting to other owners then I sat on the Cross Roads ,it felt like it should be , end of a long answer to your question haha.!!
Cheers
Geoff

 

Out on a limb here but feel it is a valid suggestion, find a used late model Kingpin..it will handlke as well as any of your choices and run like a raped ape for you. Great handling and if you ever want to make isw a bagger it's as easy as 4 bolts.

I know there are a lot of Kingpin fans out there and I don't mean to insult anyone but to be honest, I can't get past those funky looking fenders. If the fenders were different, I would consider a Kingpin.

 

I know there are a lot of Kingpin fans out there and I don't mean to insult anyone but to be honest, I can't get past those funky looking fenders. If the fenders were different, I would consider a Kingpin.

Ride a KP and you'll forget about the fenders not being attractive you you. With the inverted front end, long travel rear shock, equal sized rims front and back (diameter) that makes for GREAT handling.... The fenders all of a sudden become an after thought. Hell I've had more people tell me this year that, they love my bike than ever before. And most if not all love the fenders. After riding 100 miles in pouring rain yesterday, I love my full fenders.

 

Ride a KP and you'll forget about the fenders not being attractive you you.

+1. I didn't like the fenders either at first. Then I rode one. SOLD!! Also, you can change the fenders if you want. People are always looking to buy a KP rear fender for other bikes, so you could trade easily. Front fenders don't last long on eBay, so you could swap out for another one there too (I think the Cross bike fenders fit a KP, but not 100% sure). Not trying to pressure you into anything. I just recommendthat youdon't eliminate the possability of a KP before you try it. I think it fits what you are looking for quite well. Good Luck.

 

My advice would be that the three bikes you've picked out would be the three least comfortable bikes to spend 8-12 hours in the saddle riding. Certainly capable, but not comfortable. I would steer you towards a Highball or Gunner because the Mustang seat for the Vegas will fit on them. With the Judge you're going to be looking to have to get a custom upholstery shop try and make that seat 8-12 hours comfortable. You seem to have done a lot of research, but I think you've been researching the wrong stuff. If you really want to do some research, ride a Cross Roads and then decide if it's too big and heavy. The Boardwalk is also a contender but honestly the Kingpin has a better suspension so consider doing this: Buy a used Kingpin for about 8 grand. A Vegas rear fender and a Hammer front fender bolt right on. A nice paint job and you have a killer bike for around 10 grand. But if you ride that Cross Roads I bet you a dollar you'll agree it does not ride or feel like a big heavy bike. It takes less effort to do a 20' u-turn on my Vision than on my Pin. And for all day comfort...can't be beat.

 

+1. I didn't like the fenders either at first. Then I rode one. SOLD!! Also, you can change the fenders if you want. People are always looking to buy a KP rear fender for other bikes, so you could trade easily. Front fenders don't last long on eBay, so you could swap out for another one there too (I think the Cross bike fenders fit a KP, but not 100% sure). Not trying to pressure you into anything. I just recommendthat youdon't eliminate the possability of a KP before you try it. I think it fits what you are looking for quite well. Good Luck.

It is amazing how people who own a KP really love them. I have had others suggest the KP to me as an option previously as well. It's kind of like the Harley Fat Boy, those who own them absolutely love them! .... You have convinced me to have another look at the KP. ... I do have to say though that I really like the looks of the Judge! Especially in the flat Orange color. .. Anyway, I will look at a few KP models today.

 

IF it were me, I'd look at the Gunner as well. It's a bit lower than a Judge, and costs less. Judge would be my first choice if only those three bikes you listed are on the menu. While I generally like Dyna's, I hated the rear brake lever position on the Lo Rider. Also, I've owned a number Dyna's over the years, and I've gotten tired of the Dyna's vibration and somewhat wonky engine mounting system. And let's not forget the engine/exhaust heat the 103 puts off! I got rid of my Fat Bob last year. It was the best Dyna I've owned, but I've since bought a Kingpin and a Gunner and I don't see a scenario where I'd go back to a Dyna.

 

Sit on each bike and try to back it up a slight hill.
That ability, or lack thereof, might help you decide.

 

It is amazing how people who own a KP really love them. I have had others suggest the KP to me as an option previously as well. It's kind of like the Harley Fat Boy, those who own them absolutely love them! .... You have convinced me to have another look at the KP. ... I do have to say though that I really like the looks of the Judge! Especially in the flat Orange color. .. Anyway, I will look at a few KP models today.

Ride one, don't just look.

 

Ride one, don't just look.

I have ridden the Vegas, Boardwalk and Judge.

 

I have ridden the Vegas, Boardwalk and Judge.

Not the same, at all. The rear suspension has nearly an inch more travel on a KP. Not the KP 8 ball, or KP low, just the regular KP. And the inverted Marzocci front suspension, is way better for ride, and especially handling.

 

"I have been riding for 15+ years and have owned mostly Harley's. I still own a Sportster which I spent the winter turning into a "bobber" and I love riding it around town. I am looking for something a little larger with a little more power that I can throw a set of bags over when I need to and that would be a little more comfortable on longer day trips. "

I don't see how you came about your 3 choices without including a Star/Yamaha or a Triumph on the list. Both make good mid-size cruisers with or without bags. You didn't mention it had to be an American brand.
I have a 2013 Judge, and I can tell you that you got to be either tall or have long arms since the bars are a bit of a reach especially for long rides. I swapped out the bars and got some Vegas bars put on which brings the bars 2 inch closer to me and it's still not as comfortable as my Vision. Vic did improve those ergos on the 2014 Judge though.

Save yourself some time and money and as others suggested, just get a Crossroads or any of the Cross bikes. These bikes are made for long rides. Once you experience wind protection, it's hard to go back especially if you're going to ride on the interstates.This way you won't have to upgrade later and endup with 2 Vics.Be warned - Stay away from Victory demo events!

 

My $.02:
The 3 bikes (Highball, Lo Rider and Judge) you're looking at seem to be in a similar category as the HD Sportster you already own. All good for riding around town and relative short day trips (100-300 miles). Yes I know the two Vics are larger, both in chassis and displacment but still they are designed for similar purpose - At least IMO.

If you want to do longer rides, look for something designed for that - somthing with out-of-the-box wind management, floor-boards (to change up your riding position) and maybe crusie control.

And if you ride a Kingpin and decide you really like it but still can't get past the funky fenders, a Hammer is there waited for you with the better suspension that the KP offers and functionally useless but good looking fenders.

Another personal opinion: all the Vic Crusiers look a bit misplaced with bags.

If I were you I would test ride a CR or CC....

 

I couldnt really see throwing bags on my High Ball. It's my fun around town bike. Longer trips I would take my indian. For what you're considering I think the Judge might be the best choice.

 

The Gunners are nice.

Yessir the are!
Coming off a sport bike, I'm still impressed at how well it corners!
... proud Gunner owner ;-)

 

I don't see how you came about your 3 choices without including a Star/Yamaha or a Triumph on the list. Both make good mid-size cruisers with or without bags. You didn't mention it had to be an American brand.
I have a 2013 Judge, and I can tell you that you got to be either tall or have long arms since the bars are a bit of a reach especially for long rides. I swapped out the bars and got some Vegas bars put on which brings the bars 2 inch closer to me and it's still not as comfortable as my Vision. Vic did improve those ergos on the 2014 Judge though.

Save yourself some time and money and as others suggested, just get a Crossroads or any of the Cross bikes. These bikes are made for long rides. Once you experience wind protection, it's hard to go back especially if you're going to ride on the interstates.This way you won't have to upgrade later and endup with 2 Vics.Be warned - Stay away from Victory demo events!

.. I'm sticking with an American V-twin but having said that I did ride a Triumph, T-Bird. It was a nice bike but very heavy and a bear maneuvar at slow speeds. I just don't want a bike heavy bike. The Judge, High Ball abd Lo Rider all fit me really well. You are rright, the 2014 Judge fits me much better then the 2013 but I could modify slightly the 2013 by adding Vegas bars. .... I have sat on the Cross Roads and just like all of the Victories, it's a nice bike but bigger than what I like. I'm also not interested in adding a windshield to any bike that I choose, only bags.

 

Ride all the cruisers and a couple different Harley's. once I rode the Hammer I was done. You can toss soft bags on anything and Victory makes add on bags for them all if you must have hard bags.

 

It's one thing to sit on them and another thing to ride them. I demo'd the Hardball ( a Cross Roads without a windshield and Highball style apes ) and I was amazed out how light and nimble the thing felt. And that aluminum chassis does out corner the cruisers. Ask your dealer to take the windshield off an XR and go for a demo ride. Maybe you don't change you mind, but you will be better informed.

 

After looking at your three choices.
The best choice is the Triumph Thunderbird LT.
Ride safe and post pictures.
I know you were all thinking I would pick a Victory and talk smack about the cult bike oh I mean HD