Well after a short 5 day jaunt to visit some family in Clarksville Tn I'm home from my mini vacation. Not really in an energetic mood but I'm sure many are interested in a road report on these new bikes.
This is my report and you may have a totally different experience in your part of the world.
Lets start with me, I'm 41 6'3" and 235lbs and in great shape(HEY round is a shape). In other words, I'm a pretty normal guy, a very seasoned rider and currently on my 3rd Victory product dating back to late 99 when I bought a brand new V92C. I do several small trips a year(3000 miles or less) and 1 long trip a year(5000+). Average annual mileage for me is in 12-14000 mile range per year. That may not seem like much but also know I'm in Wisconsin. So there's a minimum of 4 months a year where it just isn't safe to ride(snow and ice) and 2 'border' months where riding can be dicey.
Ok so now for the trip, total miles was just over 1900 total. 600 miles to wife's Uncle in Clarksville and one day to the Smoky Mountains, then another 600 home with one 60 mile round trip jaunt to JPM motorsports in Hopkinsville KY.
I drove down on a Wednesday, rested Thursday, drove the Smoky's Friday, relaxed Saturday(rained like all get out in TN all day anyhow), drove back today.
Fuel mileage just over 40.3 for average(1900 miles/47.3 gals total), average speed was just over 58 mph. Chicago traffic was bad and a few other spots had some low speed and stop and go. Computer stated 42mpg, Saddle hours came in at 32 plus.
First day I was pretty tired, legs tired, felt a little windblown thinking maybe this bike does need better wind protection. This was also my first day on the new bike over 250 miles. Radio works great up to 80-85 then wind noise(full face helmet) takes over. I'm no audiophile but if I can understand the words and bob my head to the beat, I can hear it well enough. That is until my Ipod started to act up. Actually the Ipod is fine, the radio refuses to wake it anymore, sometimes won't even acknowledge it's there. However if I manually wake it it plays and controls fine. Towards the end of the trip distortion and other weird clicking noises made it unlistenable. Maybe the cabling but also may be the radio.
I'll do the easy first of checking the cables, then it'll go in for warranty work.
Cruise control, takes a little getting used to but works pretty well. If you don't hold the throttle while setting the cruise it'll buck you around a bit. Also because of the drag of a motorcycle, when it throttle's off and on you'll feel it a bit as well. Other than that it works well and gives you a rest that's well needed.
Being my height, I like the long floorboards but, since the angle goes up I can move my feet but don't get to stretch as much as I'd like. I do have the kewlmetal mounts for highway pegs but they come back a little too far for me as well to be able to stretch as much as I like. Also having my controls all the way forward and wearing boots they can interfere with each other which may be an issue in a panic stop situation.
I also had a front fork guard break off during the travels so I'll be ordering some metal replacements.
I did find that if I place my feet under the shifter and brake pedal 'straddling' the tank with my legs the wind noise is greatly reduced that hits the legs.
I did ride in the rain a bit and the floorboards seemed a little slippery at first, but it didn't rain long enough for me to decide if it's good or bad. Also rain will come at you from the lowest corners of the fairing and in my case also from under the radio.
The gas gauge, well I wish it worked a little better, it'll stay on F for 90 miles than drop like a rock and go to E with 1 to 1.5 gallons left. Not that I don't like early warning but going from 1/4 tank to E with the fuel light on in 20 minutes is a little disconcerting.
Stock grips, aren't that good. I've got the heated grips(pattern in the same). They're a little small for my hands and after a few hours I'd find my hands cramping. I wish I could get the comfort grips in the heated variety.
Enough of the downs, now for the good.
Storage, I packed for 5 days and 2 helmets(full face and half), basic tools, air shock pump, chaps, rain suit, 2 pairs of gloves.
The TLC bag liners are a godsend and fit very well. It makes packing so much easier and unpacking even better. I'm sure the Victory bags are of great use as well. A way to pack the tools, my cargo net and the pump are on my 'short' list so that they aren't just bouncing around in the bottom of the bags.
Fuel economy was ok, but I'm happy to announce there were times when I was able to go 220+ on a tank and still pump in just at 5 gallons. So with the right conditions and 'right speed' you've got a long distance cruiser here.
Ride, was extremely good due to the air shock. Good road feel, handles the abrasions well. As long as you're not riding too close behind certain vehicles wind and stability are great as well.
Handling in the mountains and the Dragon's Tail was top notch. I probably average 10mph faster on the tail with this bike then I could on my Kingpin without ever scraping the boards.
Several people talked to me about the bike and complemented it's looks.
Overall, the bike did very well and performed at expectations. The Ipod thing sucks for now as done the broken fork guard. I'd like a little better fuel economy but I did push it pretty hard at times. Even in the upper 80's I felt comfortable with no horrible heat issues.
600 mile days are hard on any bike but Cross Country fills the bill quite well.
In 3 weeks I'll be heading off to VITO and doing a similar style distance trip. Hopefully my experience only continues to get better.
This is my report and you may have a totally different experience in your part of the world.
Lets start with me, I'm 41 6'3" and 235lbs and in great shape(HEY round is a shape). In other words, I'm a pretty normal guy, a very seasoned rider and currently on my 3rd Victory product dating back to late 99 when I bought a brand new V92C. I do several small trips a year(3000 miles or less) and 1 long trip a year(5000+). Average annual mileage for me is in 12-14000 mile range per year. That may not seem like much but also know I'm in Wisconsin. So there's a minimum of 4 months a year where it just isn't safe to ride(snow and ice) and 2 'border' months where riding can be dicey.
Ok so now for the trip, total miles was just over 1900 total. 600 miles to wife's Uncle in Clarksville and one day to the Smoky Mountains, then another 600 home with one 60 mile round trip jaunt to JPM motorsports in Hopkinsville KY.
I drove down on a Wednesday, rested Thursday, drove the Smoky's Friday, relaxed Saturday(rained like all get out in TN all day anyhow), drove back today.
Fuel mileage just over 40.3 for average(1900 miles/47.3 gals total), average speed was just over 58 mph. Chicago traffic was bad and a few other spots had some low speed and stop and go. Computer stated 42mpg, Saddle hours came in at 32 plus.
First day I was pretty tired, legs tired, felt a little windblown thinking maybe this bike does need better wind protection. This was also my first day on the new bike over 250 miles. Radio works great up to 80-85 then wind noise(full face helmet) takes over. I'm no audiophile but if I can understand the words and bob my head to the beat, I can hear it well enough. That is until my Ipod started to act up. Actually the Ipod is fine, the radio refuses to wake it anymore, sometimes won't even acknowledge it's there. However if I manually wake it it plays and controls fine. Towards the end of the trip distortion and other weird clicking noises made it unlistenable. Maybe the cabling but also may be the radio.
I'll do the easy first of checking the cables, then it'll go in for warranty work.
Cruise control, takes a little getting used to but works pretty well. If you don't hold the throttle while setting the cruise it'll buck you around a bit. Also because of the drag of a motorcycle, when it throttle's off and on you'll feel it a bit as well. Other than that it works well and gives you a rest that's well needed.
Being my height, I like the long floorboards but, since the angle goes up I can move my feet but don't get to stretch as much as I'd like. I do have the kewlmetal mounts for highway pegs but they come back a little too far for me as well to be able to stretch as much as I like. Also having my controls all the way forward and wearing boots they can interfere with each other which may be an issue in a panic stop situation.
I also had a front fork guard break off during the travels so I'll be ordering some metal replacements.
I did find that if I place my feet under the shifter and brake pedal 'straddling' the tank with my legs the wind noise is greatly reduced that hits the legs.
I did ride in the rain a bit and the floorboards seemed a little slippery at first, but it didn't rain long enough for me to decide if it's good or bad. Also rain will come at you from the lowest corners of the fairing and in my case also from under the radio.
The gas gauge, well I wish it worked a little better, it'll stay on F for 90 miles than drop like a rock and go to E with 1 to 1.5 gallons left. Not that I don't like early warning but going from 1/4 tank to E with the fuel light on in 20 minutes is a little disconcerting.
Stock grips, aren't that good. I've got the heated grips(pattern in the same). They're a little small for my hands and after a few hours I'd find my hands cramping. I wish I could get the comfort grips in the heated variety.
Enough of the downs, now for the good.
Storage, I packed for 5 days and 2 helmets(full face and half), basic tools, air shock pump, chaps, rain suit, 2 pairs of gloves.
The TLC bag liners are a godsend and fit very well. It makes packing so much easier and unpacking even better. I'm sure the Victory bags are of great use as well. A way to pack the tools, my cargo net and the pump are on my 'short' list so that they aren't just bouncing around in the bottom of the bags.
Fuel economy was ok, but I'm happy to announce there were times when I was able to go 220+ on a tank and still pump in just at 5 gallons. So with the right conditions and 'right speed' you've got a long distance cruiser here.
Ride, was extremely good due to the air shock. Good road feel, handles the abrasions well. As long as you're not riding too close behind certain vehicles wind and stability are great as well.
Handling in the mountains and the Dragon's Tail was top notch. I probably average 10mph faster on the tail with this bike then I could on my Kingpin without ever scraping the boards.
Several people talked to me about the bike and complemented it's looks.
Overall, the bike did very well and performed at expectations. The Ipod thing sucks for now as done the broken fork guard. I'd like a little better fuel economy but I did push it pretty hard at times. Even in the upper 80's I felt comfortable with no horrible heat issues.
600 mile days are hard on any bike but Cross Country fills the bill quite well.
In 3 weeks I'll be heading off to VITO and doing a similar style distance trip. Hopefully my experience only continues to get better.
