Victory Motorcycles from the first one to the last one went to non-conformists. By definition, we’re not ‘the herd’.

Loyal and loving of the brand, yes, guilty on both counts.

 

Victory Motorcycles from the first one to the last one went to non-conformists. By definition, we’re not ‘the herd’.

And that was the very reason I bought into the Victory brand.

 

WHO, and HOW the hell do you buy a bike without knowing something about it?? Especially something like a cruiser/tourer as that is not likely the first bike in the stable.

It has to be a, 'well my buddy or circle of buds says this is what I should have so do-de-do, here I go' kind of mentality. I guess I get it, sort of, but I just cannot fathom spending my money on anything that I haven't explored to know if it will fit my wants and needs. Guess I'm jealous and wish I had that kind of throw away money.

 

I have no hate for Polaris Industries whatsoever. Just the opposite really. Polaris Industries gave me, just like @normthenomad, the motorcycle I’ve always wanted. I watched everything Polaris did with their Victory brand from concept through V92 production. I cheered them on 100% through all of that.

Then when I first saw the CR and the CC I knew I’d love it. So American, so unique and so well designed and thought out. These are truly motorcycles designed and built for true motorcycle enthusiasts.

I’m thrilled Victory DNA continues to be the best selling force behind Indian bikes Polaris has. That being the Scout and the Challenger series. Absolutely nothing about those bikes is ‘Indian’ except the name they’re branded with.

 

actually thinks there’s an Indian Motorcycle Company.

Oh no say it’s not so, next ur gonna say Santa isn’t real

the very reason I bought into the Victory brand.

I’m here for the kewlaids

I just cannot fathom spending my money on anything that I haven't explored to know if it will fit my wants and needs

Said Mag to the police officers questioning regarding his neighbors dogs buttholes, hey I’m just exploring my options over here!!!

 

Listen there's a family history with dogs and butt holes.....My dad confronted a neighbor once who, while walking his dog allowed said pooch to relieve himself next to our mail box. Told him, and I quote, "the next time he s^!ts next to my mail box I'm gonna wipe his a$$ with a 12 Ga." . So, don't look so innocent. I've heard about you helping push the sheep through the fence....

 

I've heard about you helping push the sheep through the fence..

Times have changed, to keep them from running off the trick is to put their hind legs into tall rubber boots……like Madonna sang, that ain’t my baaahhby

 

This will sound ignorant but with all of the knowledge and talent and pure love for the ride on this forum and many others, has anyone tried to put a newer thunder stroke engine into a Vic frame? Are the dimensions close enough to do a small bit of "chop, cut, rebuild" fitment to make a FrankIndVic. If not, why? Guys are out there dropping TCs and Evos into whatever frames they can and Shovelheads are all the rave because Panheads are priced just out of ratrod budgets and that's if you're able to find a decent one but still... Why not get a little crazy and do rad sh!t? If I had the time, knowledge and space I'd be doing this kind of stuff. Money can always be had but knowledge takes time and that's very limited at the moment. I only have just enough of each to be a danger to myself. Like to see some of this come to fruition.
Now... Does anyone know how to make a drawing board and better yet, have somewhere for me to put it?

 

I’m not sure if or how Polaris changed the Victory Cross bike frame for the 108” Victory designed (PP) motor. My ‘guess’ would be they didn’t change it much but that’s only a WAG.

On the other hand, they had to add a water cooling radiator so who knows. The changes to the wiring harness are likely more than the frame.

 

Why on earth would someone want to put a TS 111 or what ever on a Victory ? Maybe a PP 112 ?
Either way ….. I like that kind of stuff. Hell they live it in Cuba !

 

Why on earth would someone want to put a TS 111 or what ever on a Victory ? Maybe a PP 112 ?
Either way ….. I like that kind of stuff. Hell they live it in Cuba !

Because... 'Merica.
There are no boundaries other than the ones set by oneself.

 

647716[/ATTACH]
3541985, member: 2847"]
I’m not sure if or how Polaris changed the Victory Cross bike frame for the 108” Victory designed (PP) motor. My ‘guess’ would be they didn’t change it much but that’s only a WAG.

On the other hand, they had to add a water cooling radiator so who knows. The changes to the wiring harness are likely more than the frame.

Challenger

Victory

Similar, but not real close.

 

New paint maybe, are they still promoting burnouts in advertising?
I don't even bother looking...
Got my Victory's
All I need

 

I found that the locals around Kingaroy must be upset about the Victory shut down too. Was through there about a week ago, went out for a tour of a couple of this state's big drug production areas, on the way back I pulled up at a highway rest stop,

and found this graffiti on that picnic table.

 

Drug production areas????

Indians may relate to all the Indian truck drivers in the Transport Industry now🤔

 

Maybe, but I like my story better.

I'll get to the other bit in the ride thread, but maybe tomorrow.

 

Maybe, but I like my story better.

I'll get to the other bit in the ride thread, but maybe tomorrow.

We eagerly await the story.....

 

Farout!!!🤐

 

Always mystified me that polaris took the giant step backward and came out with a pushrod motor for the " Indian" after the Victory overhead cam motor which was a honkin' big air cooled V-twin.
Not to mention being dead nuts reliable and a real performer to boot.

 

It was all about competition with the MOCO.
Now they realize they can do things better and then the Challenger came. Sure it looked like a Road Glide in a sense. That’s competition for you. Make a better Road Glide than they do. Either way it’s all good and it’s all working on both ends. Only thing not good ???? The prices of these fancy scoots !
Indians next move ……. PP108 / 112 motor in a Chiertain / Roadmaster. Likely have a new redesigned infotainment system as well. Harley now has a powerful 117 as a base engine and 121vvt in the CVO. It seems it’s about big cubes these days yet no one can kick a cammed 106’s ass out of the box. These guys gotta spend money and way more of it than we did. Let the battle of the American twins continue !

 

I reckon they needed to start with the traditional looking pushrod motor, to make sure the leather tassel brigade was on board. Once they were sure of that, progress resumed. Although the Thunder Stroke was itself huge progress over an old 80 ci side valve engine.
I like the 111 motors myself. Rode a couple of them, quite liked the power characteristics, but that was within the first 2 weeks of owning the Hard Ball and I was still missing the Sportsters flywheel mass, hadn't yet explored the upper end of the Vic's power curve. If they had released the Springfield Dark Horse by 2014 I might have bought one then.
I really don't like the look of the Power Plus engines, find them ugly, never going to buy one.
At 71 I think the 2 Vic's and throw back Harley I have will see me out happily.

 

I actually would like to see an Indian Road Glide with a Thunderstroke motor.

 

Now there’s a twist ! Me too. Personally I would like to see the PP108 /112 in a new Victory !
ya know … I visited the wigwam yesterday. Been a few months since I’ve stepped inside to see what’s going on. New sales crew again. Not a one knew a dam thing about the bikes they were selling. They were ex HD sales guys and all owned Harleys. They were eager to learn and picked My brain til I was tired of talking. Great Guys and thankful for the time I spent. They knew and liked Victory and one did t even know Victory was the original Polarass motorcycle. Imagine buying a bike here and going over the features of the bike at delivery …….. ??
I told the one fella that he needed to ride the Indians he’s selling and he agreed. He plans on staying with them. He likes the bikes and frankly doesn’t know why he’s on a Harley except for the acceptance of the crowd. Atleast he admits it.

 

Regardless of what we feel about Indian and the Victory thing …… about HD and their blessed life long commitment…… we are still facing a world of motorcycles that are changing from what we knew and appreciate. It’s not a sport / hobby / pastime or lifestyle for anyone anymore. It’s not affordable for most and eventually it will fade out and the market will feel what they’ve done.

The big thing I see now is the younger crowd mainly late 20’s and 30’s bringing back the home made chopper. Yeah man it’s big down here and there are clubs and the guys dress the part with long beards and hair trying to li e the 60’s the way we did. So cool to talk to these kids.
One day leaving an establishment well known as a biker stop a group of them were there and had great conversation with my mates involved. As we all decided to leave the chopper crowd said “Hey can we ride along with “?
My buddy says …. “ you won’t be able to keep up on these things !”
The look on their faces ……
Well we left and they hung back a minute.
The ride to the next stop was 10 miles of beach road at highway speeds and after a few miles we look in the mirror and headlights were coming fast !
Around us they went doing atleast 100 mph ! Beards covering their faces and feet kicked up with their hands so close together on those custom made funky handlebars. The sound of their drag pipes was overwhelming as they roars by not even turning a head to acknowledge us and they stayed on the throttle till they were around the next bend and out of sight !
A few moments later as we enter town there’s a nice stopping area to view the widest point of the Intracoastal waterway and up ahead are the Chopper guys pulled over standing next to their bikes and all were bent over with their hairy Lilly white asses pointed right at us ! Slapping their cheeks as we went by ! I’m still laughing as I write this. It was a great day with a great memory of both present and past !
we all met at the next water hole and not a one of them had to pay for a beverage.

 

That's what the life is about right there.

That fad hasn't made it that way yet. It's still about who has the newest bagger.

I personally can't afford a new motorcycle with the current pricing. I ride to much to buy a bike with miles on the clock already. I know how to put them on myself. I also don't want to be wrenching on the side of the road I worry that when I'm ready for a new bike I'll have to settle for something I can afford and not want. For me that would take the enjoyment out of it. If the prices still the same I will be tempted to hang it up and get a hot rod instead. However, I think I wouldn't be happy with that either. There really isn't anything like being on two wheels.

 

With just about any road going bike being able to make 200K miles with basic maintenance, I just don’t understand avoiding a used bike.

I would walk from an older bike with under 1k miles annually but not one that’s been ridden 10k annually.

IMHO, there’s no better value than a Victory Cross bike with 50k+ miles that still looks and runs great.

Anyone who asks the mileage on my 2012 glorious gloss pearl white CCT doesn’t believe me when I tell them the actual mileage. But most tend to comment that ‘it’s a shame they stopped making those bikes’’. As it sits today at 98,900 miles it looks and runs like a new motorcycle.

I’d have zero hesitation to leave on that bike today to ride it coast to coast with a four corners trip thrown in for good measure.

Oil changes, replacement tires and brake pads are quite easy to do just about anywhere in the US.

 

Don't tell me... Big changes coming....
Added a new color? Fired all the upper Polarass management and brought back Vic centered folks?

 

Actually I was just reading Motorcycle.com publication about the new 108/112 PP motors
Going into the Chieftains and Roadmaster. They also note the 116 is t going away and an upgraded 121 TS will be available.
The Scout gets a new tubular frame and bigger displacement with 111 HP /82ft lbs in the new 101 model. Beefed up suspension and Brembo brakes.
Im looking forward to some of these changes as the Chieftain fits my frame better than a Challenger. Not sure if I would ever pull the plug on a new one but one never knows. Still I like good stuff American competition and it looks like HD & Indian are still at it. Too bad the prices are so crazy. It would be the base model for me and I would do the rest has always been my thinking. Less stuff to go wrong.

 

If there are any Vic centered folks left at Polaris, they're the old Victory Michael Song team of design and R&D engineers. The ones who have zero say in any direction Polaris would go. But, they hit the 'new, original and unique' marks out of the park with Victory.

 

Everyone’s situation is a little different.

I just got home from a local MC open house and most of those their were between a lot younger and somewhat younger than me.

Getting out into your local biker community is quite rewarding.

 

A 121” TS in a Springfield Darkhorse could be a hoot.

 

Lately I've spoken with four different "pre riders" aged from about 17 to mid thirties. (I don't say younger, cause every one is younger than me these days). Listened to their ideas about the bikes they thought they wanted and shared my experiences. All were not really aware of the Victory line but did know that Indian exists. I gave them a brief history lesson and strongly suggested that they find a Victory and at least try to ride it, if they are doing test rides. Also talked about the value in these bikes and the strength and reliability. Of course, the price point was of interest because these "newbs" were not flush with cash. Only one thought He'd like a new Indian. I didn't try to talk him out of it. Maybe it will work for him. I just know what I know from my own experiences.

So, yeah, there are some new comers still around.

 

Lately I've spoken with four different "pre riders" aged from about 17 to mid thirties. (I don't say younger, cause every one is younger than me these days). Listened to their ideas about the bikes they thought they wanted and shared my experiences. All were not really aware of the Victory line but did know that Indian exists. I gave them a brief history lesson and strongly suggested that they find a Victory and at least try to ride it, if they are doing test rides. Also talked about the value in these bikes and the strength and reliability. Of course, the price point was of interest because these "newbs" were not flush with cash. Only one thought He'd like a new Indian. I didn't try to talk him out of it. Maybe it will work for him. I just know what I know from my own experiences.

So, yeah, there are some new comers still around.

Yeah well it does say
INDIAN Since 1901
And not
Since Victory 1999
Shhhh don't let their secret out!!!!!

 

I think it’s safe to say ( in this group anyway) that the meaning 1901 just signifies the beginning. With all the interruptions along the way the Indian brand was not easy to resurrect and keep alive while Harley Davison and even the other brands that had stayed in business building motorcycles year after year were just a better bet. For a while there the indian brand in the 90’s was simply junk. Then the kings mountain bikes and who ever else took a crack at it made so little of them and so expensive that no one was interested except collectors. My friend owns a pre Polarass Indian Chief with the bottle top motor. All the fringes with the pale green and pale tan or yellow two tone paint. It’s a beauty. He doesn’t ride it much. Fast forward to Polarass ditching their own brand and putting all their R&D into the Indian brand they purchased today and you truly have the best Indian ever made. That’s because they know how to build a good motorcycle and Victory was that stepping stone. Indian has never had models like those available today. Atleast Polarass had the balls to do it and take the punishment along the way from all those they stuck it to like the Victory affiliates that got hurt in business. They lost a small percentage of business to acquire a bigger percentage of market share ( Indian ) that they could never do with Victory. Yep all their fault but a necessary move in order to stay in the MC building business. They built a bike like Victory that needed little service and continued with no changes over a decade long which meant no trade ins. HD poured on the advertising using the “ LIFESTYLE” as their main slogan and formed a club. Thes sold clothing and gave you a party every weekend.
So eliminating planned obsolescence and ignoring design changes ….they ( Victory) hurt themselves for sure but the lucky ones that get to own these bikes also get to enjoy that reliability and we can make our own party on the road and clothing advertisement was never my thing. No matter how good they think Indian is …. Victory was all around better, more affordable and more comfortable.
We are in the times today where apparently money is no object as I see daily on the book of faces that many are showcasing their new Harley or Indian. We know these bikes are $30k atleast. I also see many who were lucky enough to find a low mileage garage queen Victory for a bargain price. They are still out there and someday the Indians and Harleys built today may be at a bargain price also but who cares here ? Lol
Happy Memorial Day. Get out and ride ! Thanks a Veteran that you get to do just that !

 

If Polaris had come out as originally planned with their new water motor, they’d still be competing head to head with HD just as they are today.

I have no idea what Polaris paid for the Indian brand but I still have a hard time believing they actually turned a profit by doing so.

At some point Wine and Mennetto realized their Indian well was dry after the first series of bikes and that the Victory file was looking pretty good. They didn’t care a wit for Victory as it wasn’t ‘their baby’.

They purposely spent money foolishly doing stupid things (Pikes Peak/dirt track racing/Brammo/designing Indian bikes/etc etc. etc. with Victory to force the BOD into killing their own Victory brand.

By that time the BOD didn’t know their Victory brand either.

In reality, they had no option but to kill Victory as they were out of ideas for Indian.

Also, most Victory dealers were farm implement, boat and four wheeler side by side dealers. With little clue or a care about Victory.

Those who are paying attention will notice many of today’s Indian dealers are also multi brand and/or multi market dealers. Why, because a stand alone successful Indian dealer is quite rare.

Am I correct? I’m not sure but that’s how I saw it and that’s how remember going through it.

In the end, who cares. IMHO, I have two of the best motorcycles I could ever have dreamed of. I’m 100% content with Polaris Industries cast off/red headed step child brand.

 

I'm keeping my XC until it is no longer worth fixing or if I can't ride anymore. It has been the very best bike I've owned in my 53 years of riding. I liked all my Harley's but I didn't like how much time and money I had to keep putting into them to keep them roadworthy. Not one of them was as comfortable as my XC either. The 4 Vic's I've owned were more like a Toyota. Just do the maintenance on time, don't beat on 'em, and they will stay reliable and running good. Sure, the occasional throttle body boot or the dreaded C clip issue has happened on a small percentage of Vic's but mostly they are tanks.