I had a bit of a debate recently with a buddy of mine who is a Harley tech. You see, I just picked up my first victory. A 2004 kingpin that I got for next to nothing cuz it's been sitting for years. He went off when I stopped by his place (bike still on the trailer ) talking major trash on victory bikes. One of the things he said was they're not American. He said "only the motor" after I busted his balls on all the parts I've seen come off Harley bikes thatre stamped china or mexico I've owned two older Harley Davidsons in the past that constantly had problems. Long story short can anyone confirm that victory is more American than Harley? I know they're assembled in Iowa, but what about components and electronics?
Dr. RoosterTail
Shock, calipers, wire looms, switches, etc., etc., are probably made all over the world, as is undoubtedly the case with most bikes. My guess is that the American content was similar to Harley’s.
I had a 2000 Valkyrie Interstate that was assembled in Ohio. I remember such discussions on the Valk forums. For the earlier years, they had Made in USA on the seat, if I recall correctly, but in their later years that was not displayed, because they couldn’t quite make the 75% (or whatever the figure was) content cut-off. You ask a very difficult question.
I had a 2000 Valkyrie Interstate that was assembled in Ohio. I remember such discussions on the Valk forums. For the earlier years, they had Made in USA on the seat, if I recall correctly, but in their later years that was not displayed, because they couldn’t quite make the 75% (or whatever the figure was) content cut-off. You ask a very difficult question.
I remember seeing something years ago that said over 80% for Victory and over 40% for H-D. Though I don't recall what year(s) or models were being referenced. I'm not sure I'd believe that Victory doubled the USA content compared to H-D either. But at one time Polaris was passionate about the brand they created. Being an American product was also quite important to them.
Welcome to the VOG from a fellow Pinhead. You'll love the bike. If it's been sitting a long time you probably have a lot of rubber rods replace along with the fuel filters.
And show us some pix of your ride!
:worthless:
And show us some pix of your ride!
:worthless:
I could sware I read something some years back and not that many that read 88%. And I think that # stuck in my head because when I switched to victory, I can remember breaking Balls of HD riders when they would tug on my chain a a bit. Things like if you rode a true American made bike as I do I could almost listen to you
I remember reading when I was buying my ride back in 2015 that Victory was 80% vs HD at 61%. Something about that HD had to meet 60% to still claim American built. At either rate the Victory is a superior ride and the HD believers jealousy of Victory is wide spread, which I never got. Ride what works for your needs and the experiences you desire. Like riding it and not standing around drinking beer and working on it all day. I think VVB has a point. Great, and better choice on your part.
My '99 V92C has MADE IN USA valve covers & also a small American flag with Made In USA decal on the rear fender. It did inter into my decision to purchase "The new American Motorcycle" over twenty years ago. I believe the domestic content percentage dropped off & they could no longer claim Made In USA after the first couple of model years but has always had a higher percentage over HD.
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Actual parts content has never been published. It’s required for cars, not for motorcycles. What I can tell you is the motors were made by Polaris in Osceola WI. The steel tube frames were made at the Spirit Lake IA assembly plant. The cast aluminum frames as well as a bunch of other cast aluminum parts like swingarms were made by a supplier in Davenport IA. The Polaris factory in Roseau MN also supplied parts but I’m not sure which ones. And some parts were sourced overseas.
One thing I always come back to is we ‘re supposed to be capitalists not socialists right? Well in a capitalist system if a company like Victory or Harley can price the product more competitively or make a more reliable unit by outsourcing some parts, that means more American jobs in the long run. Imagine if Victory made every single part in house: A, they probably wouldn’t be as good as parts made by companies that specialize in those parts. B, the bikes would cost a lot more, therefore sell less, therefore Victory goes bankrupt and then zero jobs.
Victory is a very American bike, anybody that has a problem with it is just jealous.
One thing I always come back to is we ‘re supposed to be capitalists not socialists right? Well in a capitalist system if a company like Victory or Harley can price the product more competitively or make a more reliable unit by outsourcing some parts, that means more American jobs in the long run. Imagine if Victory made every single part in house: A, they probably wouldn’t be as good as parts made by companies that specialize in those parts. B, the bikes would cost a lot more, therefore sell less, therefore Victory goes bankrupt and then zero jobs.
Victory is a very American bike, anybody that has a problem with it is just jealous.
I have many buddies that are pure Harley even within the family. Not one of them have ever given me a hard time about Victory and how American they are. These people are also pretty in the know about where things are made, too. In fact, the most I hear from them is how they can't believe the line was shut down. I seem to get a lot of respect to being an owner of a Vic.
Speaking of American Victory's.....smokin' deal.
https://cdn1.cycletrader.com/v1/med...ality=70&bestfit=true&upsize=true&blurBackground=true&blurValue=100&upsize=true
https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2012-Victory-VISION+ARLEN+NESS-5021255782
https://cdn1.cycletrader.com/v1/med...ality=70&bestfit=true&upsize=true&blurBackground=true&blurValue=100&upsize=true
https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2012-Victory-VISION+ARLEN+NESS-5021255782
Worked for 3 dealerships from the '70's. The last one was Ft Myers H-d. Harley started using Kayaba forks in '73. After that more and more Japanese parts showed up on them. In the mid 80's Chinese stuff started to creep in. By the mid 2000's almost all the accessories were made in China. Most of the cutesy gee-gaws were from Taiwan or China with very rare exception.
The clothing line was mostly from eastern Europe. India made their contribution as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan later on.
Victory seems to have started using more foreign stuff in '08. Was surprised to notice the fuel pump on my '13 Judge had made in China molded into the fuel pump access door. Not so with the '06's and '07's that I owned. They never approached the percentage of foreign parts that Harley did.
The parts they outsourced before '08 were top quality, like Marzocchi front forks and Brembo brakes. In '08 they switched to Showa suspension and Nissin Brakes. Brembo sold out to India about 10 years ago, so a plague on them too.
So tell your buddy to stuff it.
Having said all that I've got two Vic leather jackets, one made in Viet Nam the other Made in Indonesia.
Sh!t, we don't make much of anything here anymore.
The clothing line was mostly from eastern Europe. India made their contribution as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan later on.
Victory seems to have started using more foreign stuff in '08. Was surprised to notice the fuel pump on my '13 Judge had made in China molded into the fuel pump access door. Not so with the '06's and '07's that I owned. They never approached the percentage of foreign parts that Harley did.
The parts they outsourced before '08 were top quality, like Marzocchi front forks and Brembo brakes. In '08 they switched to Showa suspension and Nissin Brakes. Brembo sold out to India about 10 years ago, so a plague on them too.
So tell your buddy to stuff it.
Having said all that I've got two Vic leather jackets, one made in Viet Nam the other Made in Indonesia.
Sh!t, we don't make much of anything here anymore.
My mag wheels are from China... bummed me out.
I've replaced some of the plastic items with American Billet items.
Just keep changing the stuff that bothers you. :FedExTruck:
Conquest Customs is a good place to start.
I've replaced some of the plastic items with American Billet items.
Just keep changing the stuff that bothers you. :FedExTruck:
Conquest Customs is a good place to start.
We do call him screwdriver but mostly because he's an alcoholic
My xct's wiring harnesses say made in china on the wrapping tags but whatever
I seem to remember 80% and Lord knows it is somewhere on the site. As the fuel injection was British, brakes Italian, heard the pistons where possibly German, wiring and circuits like everyone else, China. However the bulk is American and never heard of any Mexican components and I did hear HD can't pass any Restaurant that serves Curry...
Welcome. Nice Vic……Get a new buddy…. Or straighten his ass up and tell him to ride that Vic once it’s up and running. He will shut up after that. I have 3 friends that rode mine and now own one parked next to their Harleys. Some will never get it. Some will and some don’t care. Polaris is an American company making American powersports products ….. yes including Indian. Surprising how many don’t know that. Amazing how many times I had to straighten out a brain washed HD riding wanna be biker that Victory isn’t made by Bombardier and they are not Canadian. If they were I still would have bought my two Vic’s because they are what I want to ride.
My son can buy any bike he wants. I suggested a chieftain 116 he said he’d rather ride a Vic. Now he’s looking for a Magnum.
The HD lifestyle lives on and appears to be stronger than ever. They can thank Victory and Indian for their strong existence today. Otherwise I don’t think they would have made it thru the last 10 years. Today the real deal is finding a good pre owned Victory unless your into $30,000 motorcycles or low mileage Harleys that need rebuilds by 30k on the clock.
ok rant over …… use 20/40 Golden 4 Spectro oil engineered for victory. Your gonna ask later.
My son can buy any bike he wants. I suggested a chieftain 116 he said he’d rather ride a Vic. Now he’s looking for a Magnum.
The HD lifestyle lives on and appears to be stronger than ever. They can thank Victory and Indian for their strong existence today. Otherwise I don’t think they would have made it thru the last 10 years. Today the real deal is finding a good pre owned Victory unless your into $30,000 motorcycles or low mileage Harleys that need rebuilds by 30k on the clock.
ok rant over …… use 20/40 Golden 4 Spectro oil engineered for victory. Your gonna ask later.
^^^^^ And Cory aka RT Thor here @ Hammered Steel Performance & Noe Martinez aka Noemtz here are also gurus with deep knowledge of victory’s, on an older bike my first three calls for anything would be to Cory, Noe & Rylan, they are the best options
Really.....who the "F" cares? I have been hearing this ****z for 40 years! Nothing is "All American" anymore. NOTHING! Where did the steel come from, the rare earth metals, the plastic, the wires, the rubber. Then where were the parts made? Where was it assembled? Stop being children and chiding each other about "all American". Grow up. Go out a ride. Enjoy it. As long as it rides, who the "F" cares where it was made!!
Just me 10 cents (Inflation)!
Just me 10 cents (Inflation)!
@MaddMax2u Dude I love your avatar pic, that's pretty damn kewl dragging finger tips on an "old peoples bike" love it, ride on brother!!
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