My old workhorse has issues now. Something is definitely broken in the transmission. The time has come to make a decision.
Choice #1: Fix it.
The mileage is very high and needs a new EVERYTHING, so it's not that simple. Taking it apart and fixing the major issues I could maybe get another 10K miles out of it? But it still needs a clutch basket, compensator, starter, starter clutch... the list goes on... so this choice is a temporary Band-Aid at best.
Choice #2: Complete rebuild.
I feel that this option is simply too cost prohibitive and I really don't want to put that much more coin into this bike.
Choice 3: Buy a salvage engine and build that.
Again... we're talking 5-6 thousand dollars. For what I really want to build even more than that. Too much money to drop into a 2006 Kingpin.
Choice 4: Replace the bike.
The old workhorse is ONE AWESOME MOTORCYCLE. Finding something to replace it is a TALL ORDER.
What motorcycle would be the bike to meet my needs and thrill me like the old workhorse did? Hell, what class of motorcycle? I think what we need here is some criteria.
I like big V-Twins best.
It needs to be 500-mile-day comfortable.
It needs (at least the capability to have) storage for 5 days worth of clothes and necessities.
It needs to handle/corner/stop/track at speed at least as well as the Kingpin.
It needs wheels in sizes to accept GOOD/STICKY radial tires (I could never go back to bias ply).
It needs to weigh around 700-ish lbs (Not looking for a barge).
It must be quick, fast, torquey as hell, and make me wanna scream YEEEEE HAAAAAA! when I roll the throttle on it.
It needs to be at least somewhat cool looking or edgy looking so I have to give a look back when walking away from it.
Another Victory? Not unless they get a whole lot better at transmissions and engine refinement. I would not buy anything that currently exists in the Victory line-up. Will they come out with "the bike" within the next year or so? Well, I've been waiting and waiting since 2014... and nothing... they've done away with models and haven't refined sh!t. Bikes they have come out with (Judge/Gunner/Highball) don't get close to the criteria. Where does a guy get a 140mm x 16" sticky radial tire? How you gonna put 120+ HP on the ground with a 140mm bias ply tire? The new Scout-derived bike does not interest me at all.
How about a sport-tourer? Sure, there are some that would get pretty close to meeting the criteria... but I won't get the big twin and they just have zero style.
How about an adventure-tourer? I have to say the ability to take it off-road is intriguing but it will compromise the on-road part. These bikes are typically tall and definitely look form-over-function.
Aww hell... I don't even know what I want.
Choice #1: Fix it.
The mileage is very high and needs a new EVERYTHING, so it's not that simple. Taking it apart and fixing the major issues I could maybe get another 10K miles out of it? But it still needs a clutch basket, compensator, starter, starter clutch... the list goes on... so this choice is a temporary Band-Aid at best.
Choice #2: Complete rebuild.
I feel that this option is simply too cost prohibitive and I really don't want to put that much more coin into this bike.
Choice 3: Buy a salvage engine and build that.
Again... we're talking 5-6 thousand dollars. For what I really want to build even more than that. Too much money to drop into a 2006 Kingpin.
Choice 4: Replace the bike.
The old workhorse is ONE AWESOME MOTORCYCLE. Finding something to replace it is a TALL ORDER.
What motorcycle would be the bike to meet my needs and thrill me like the old workhorse did? Hell, what class of motorcycle? I think what we need here is some criteria.
I like big V-Twins best.
It needs to be 500-mile-day comfortable.
It needs (at least the capability to have) storage for 5 days worth of clothes and necessities.
It needs to handle/corner/stop/track at speed at least as well as the Kingpin.
It needs wheels in sizes to accept GOOD/STICKY radial tires (I could never go back to bias ply).
It needs to weigh around 700-ish lbs (Not looking for a barge).
It must be quick, fast, torquey as hell, and make me wanna scream YEEEEE HAAAAAA! when I roll the throttle on it.
It needs to be at least somewhat cool looking or edgy looking so I have to give a look back when walking away from it.
Another Victory? Not unless they get a whole lot better at transmissions and engine refinement. I would not buy anything that currently exists in the Victory line-up. Will they come out with "the bike" within the next year or so? Well, I've been waiting and waiting since 2014... and nothing... they've done away with models and haven't refined sh!t. Bikes they have come out with (Judge/Gunner/Highball) don't get close to the criteria. Where does a guy get a 140mm x 16" sticky radial tire? How you gonna put 120+ HP on the ground with a 140mm bias ply tire? The new Scout-derived bike does not interest me at all.
How about a sport-tourer? Sure, there are some that would get pretty close to meeting the criteria... but I won't get the big twin and they just have zero style.
How about an adventure-tourer? I have to say the ability to take it off-road is intriguing but it will compromise the on-road part. These bikes are typically tall and definitely look form-over-function.
Aww hell... I don't even know what I want.
