I have a confession.

I told Ma Vic not to make any upgrades that would make me jealous and want a new Vision since I really shouldn't be buying one right now as mine is still perfectly fine.

I can see that I have really caused yall some sleepless nights and will tell them that next year they can come out with upgrades and I will just have to deal with it.

Im sorry.

 

:FIREdevil: Devilish! :rofl3::rofl3:

 

OK, we're on the subject, so I'll bite. ..... I like my Victory, a lot, and there is nothing out there that is better for my purposes that would pull me away from it. I suspect this will be my last bike and I plan to repair/rebuild/upgrade as needed. I don't think very much will be needed, either. For example, if the rear shock goes, and at 24K there's no sign of that happening, I'll replace with the best upgrade possible.
.
.On the other side of things, I just don't feel compelled to own a Harley, or an Indian before I quit riding (or die) whichever comes first. They don't do what I want out of a bike, so owning one would only be for the purpose of stroking my ego. That's never been a motivator for me. Getting what I want, and having money left over, making "the deal"......These things get me stoked. And, since I already have that.....game over......I win!! :hat1:

 

An adendum : Since this will likely be the last one, I'll keep it up and ride it until I can't. And since getting my money back is not the priority, I will most likely give it to my son as part of his early inheritance.

 

I'm somewhere in the middle. I like the vic line. Alot. And I believe Polaris has a plan for victory. Whether I agree with the plan, who knows. Only time will tell.

Here's the thing regarding whiners and doom and gloomers. Either this brand draws them out of the woodwork and we've all somehow coincidentally ended up in the same place where we all get to voice our negativity together to make ourselves feel better....OR there might be just a little bit of merit to the gripes. The former seems like kind of a stretch if you ask me.

We all have our reasons for wanting more from the brand. Personally, I'm not in the market for a new bike right now, so I can't complain too much. But at 30 years old, I'm relatively young and hopefully I stick around for a while longer to enjoy the open road.

If I'm lucky enough, I plan on owning several more bikes before I call it quits. So that's why I have a reason to want progression. And hope like hell the brand doesn't go under. I want to have a victory option when I am ready for another.

My most important upgrade I'd like to see is a larger displacement motor with a higher baseline and even higher potential with performance upgrades. I'd love to see a package in perhaps the rocket 3 roadster class, but with victory looks, suspension, weight, balance, ease of maintenance and reliability. That would be amazing. Or maybe something in the xdiavel class with the aforementioned attributes. I'd like a monster performance cruiser and I'd like it to come with a victory badge and maybe a cheese wedge. OK.. that took longer than expected.

 

Some have said since the Vision hasn't been upgraded that means it's being discontinued. Really? Why have a 2017 model if you're planning on discontinuing it? That just doesn't make sense.

That would depend on how many Vision body parts they have in the factory already... maybe they are using them up.

The Cross bikes. Maybe Polaris views the Magnum and Magnum x-1 upgrades? It's true much can be done to refine and improve the models. Integrating the cruise control for sure.

Do you expect a product to have improvements over time? Do you expect the manufacturer to shake the bugs out and make improvements to the product? Is the shifting OK with you? Do you like the engine racket? All people want is gradual product improvement. Santa Clause could bring what the consumer is asking for. The Cross bikes have been out since 2010, so they've had 7 years to work the bugs out... the Vision since '08... When they did the transmission "Improvement" a few years ago, they made it worse!

Honda does the same bullsh!t. Goldwing riders have been asking for SIX GEARS and an ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD for YEARS! Honda revamps the 'Wing in 2013. Guess what? It got NEITHER!!! Talk about a bunch of dumbasses!

Victory has been teasing us for 3 years with the "power" and "muscle" and "performance" and "innovation" that is coming for the Victory brand. Is it wrong of us to ask "Where (the fuk) is it?".

So, what HAS Victory given us in the last few years? Flat paint... Apehangers.... Whitewalls... 16" wheels... 140mm rear tires...
Oh yeah, the baggers sell, so we get some nice bagger upgrades... but it's all cosmetic. No substance. No real improvement in the machine. The audio is better... to drown out the sound of marbles in the engine.

 

That would depend on how many Vision body parts they have in the factory already... maybe they are using them up.

Do you expect a product to have improvements over time? Do you expect the manufacturer to shake the bugs out and make improvements to the product? Is the shifting OK with you? Do you like the engine racket? All people want is gradual product improvement. Santa Clause could bring what the consumer is asking for. The Cross bikes have been out since 2010, so they've had 7 years to work the bugs out... the Vision since '08... When they did the transmission "Improvement" a few years ago, they made it worse!

Honda does the same bullsh!t. Goldwing riders have been asking for SIX GEARS and an ELECTRIC WINDSHIELD for YEARS! Honda revamps the 'Wing in 2013. Guess what? It got NEITHER!!! Talk about a bunch of dumbasses!

Victory has been teasing us for 3 years with the "power" and "muscle" and "performance" and "innovation" that is coming for the Victory brand. Is it wrong of us to ask "Where (the fuk) is it?".

So, what HAS Victory given us in the last few years? Flat paint... Apehangers.... Whitewalls... 16" wheels... 140mm rear tires...
Oh yeah, the baggers sell, so we get some nice bagger upgrades... but it's all cosmetic. No substance. No real improvement in the machine. The audio is better... to drown out the sound of marbles in the engine.

Your damn right. We get nothing but lipstick on the pig. No effort what so ever has gone into improving Vic's for years.
I expect a lot more when I play in this price range.
It's been nothing but a let down year after year.
Makes it hard to tow the line.
And yes I belive there is lots of parts to keep the Vision alive for years. But that doesn't mean it has a future. I bet the parts on a 2017 have been on a shelf for years.
I guess they consider muscle that S&S cam. WTF!

 

I don't want Vic to completely replace the cross bikes that have new designs that doesn't crossover. I just want them to do small refinements to the bikes they have.

 

There are 2 types of bikes... 1's that you like... And that 1 that makes your pants wet!!!! This notion of upgrades... Comes from the cagers aka automobile sector.. Vic line is good, Change colors is good... Indian is doing good.. Mainly because HD trade ins... I like my Vision.. Will keep it till I get tired of it and buy another Vic... Many complain but few recommend what upgrades.. Vision I know side bags But I knew this going in... Enough room for me!! Stereo I DID NOT KNOW and wish a upgrade.. Soon will be fixed with hmd520.com OK I finished!!

 

HMD520 are good people. I have been to their shop. It's a quality operation.

 

I've admittedly been very critical of Victory for awhile now and it comes from watching a company slowly lose it's core, not to mention new owners. Literally, there is less to look at when you enter a dealer than 5-6 years ago. Not to mention the small refinements that could boost sales with current owners without huge MSRP increases seem easy from my standpoint.....if you're not moving forward you're going backwards.

 

The F6b that i sat one had something that looked like a radio, but it could have been just a warning thingy to remind you to wave at the other rider, not sure now..... But the killer for me as far as the F6B was the fact of not been able to fit a reverse kit to it...... They did strip a lot of stuff off the standard wing to make the F6B.....

As for all the disappointment from existing Victory riders, I say fooey..... I bought the CCT because at the time, for the money value of it, it was the best buy for me personally........ The Kawasaki Voyager was ten grand cheaper, but no reverse again made it a no no for me..... The CCT has every thing I was looking for in my motorcycle ideals and I am happy with that. The mods I have done, I am not totally sure of as of yet as I cannot seem to get back the mileage it gave me, before I went off and changed the air cleaner, exhausts, timing wheel and a PC-V....

I do not see why it should be expected of Polaris/Victory to change things that as most of you attest to, a motor that has both longevity, and maintenance ease. Of stuff that does not come as standard on a lot of bikes out there for the same price range....

I am a happy customer of Victory, even though with the mods I have I could maybe expect to get the same as others say they get with the same setup. I don't, that is not the fault of Victory, but as some learned people on here say all the time, what works on one bike, will not necessarily work on another of the exact same calibre.....

 

I think you guys might be confused on the F6B radio thing. I remember it missing things like cruise control and/or ABS but there was at least some type of basic radio on there.

 

I think you're right. It wasn't that it didn't have one. It was that it sucked.

 

I'm not sure what to say about the redheaded stepchild thing and all the complaints I do agree with HC about the bikes should be refined a little bit each year and Not lipstick. BUT

I went for a long ride today and man was my bike running sooo smooth and responsive and the handling was spot on.. I hit some great tight S-curves you know the one that just flows through from one side of the lean to the other and it was effortlessly done.. I scraped my boards on a couple but just touched it not a hard scrape man it was awesome...
I road with a couple new HD's today with about a thousand miles on them and I had never road with theses guys before ,so it is always interesting to see how they react to my Vic at the beginning of the ride as opposed to the end of the ride...I tell them how good it handles and stuff kinda brag but not really (I let the bike do the talking for itself.).. They kinda give you that we will see if you can even keep up with my Harley look and I doubt you can...poor guy has no idea... The S curves above I could have went faster but the guy behind me that I couldn't see or hear was at the max because even though I couldn't hear his pipes I could hear his floor boards and it was really loud ... so with that being said refinements yes doom and gloom no...and the guy has a whole new respect for my VICTORY BRAND motorcycle and complimented me on how nice the bike is at the end of the day...I told the guy how much I paid and what I got on the bike for the price and you could see his face like ****ing hell I bought the wrong bike...and his bIke makes all the same noises as mine I can hear his lifters and valves and what nots. Sorry so long guess I just love my bike the way it is except for the stereo ...

 

I went for a long ride today and man was my bike running sooo smooth and responsive and the handling was spot on.

Yes, these bikes have a great chassis and are a nice package... Competent and fun... but they could use a little love in the details.

 

It's a shame all they change is the paint on the vics we need engineering improvements like the gearbox issues sorted, like the lash and vague shift feel, don't get me wrong I love my vic but there are things that could be done better considering the engine gearbox combo runs in all of their models except the octane. And the bars should come internally wired imo.

 

If a frog had wings.........

 

He wouldn't bump his ass on the ground.
If my aunt had balls... she'd be my uncle.

 

What strikes me is the "Modern American Motorcycle "
Is the most antiquated.

Harley and Indian.
Got the Infotainment
Motor upgrades.
Electric shield Indian
Wheel changes. HD
New models
A boutique show room.
Clothing line.

Victory got stripes.
Lost the chrome accents on the Cross bikes. Only on Magnums now.
Lost the Cross Roads.
Keeps dropping models.
Only Vegas got a wheel.
Vision (flagship that started it all )
Got nothing at all.

No doom and gloom. Just the facts.

 

Here's the question that I am trying to formulate. Is it an either / or or ......Well, let's try this from another angle. You have a good and hard fought start up. It's successful (victory). Then you add to the 'line' (Indian). It's even more successful. And suddenly spending pretty much dries up regarding the first effort? We're talking about a bike that ,in that size class, handles better than anything else out there, (it's arguable, I know). Ok, mostly better than just about anything out there. It's a dream to ride. It has lots of features and advances. All that's really needed is a few (minor) adjusments, but investing in a sucessful venture to make it more successful is typical. So, Why is it not happening? Now, my question : Are there just not that many people out there who know how great a ride victory really is, or ; Are there really that many morons (yeah, it's how I see it) who would rather spend more money on the latest "this really makes me feel good" even if it lacks handling and rideability? I thought we bought motorcycles to ride, not to make our peckers look bigger. Or maybe I'm different (and I certainly don't need any more Pecker). Many served, never a dissatisfied customer. :22yikes:

 

Could be both? Polaris had Vic roughly 15 years before they acquired Indian, so I think it's safe to say that when they entered the motorcycle realm, they had no intention of selling Indians at the time, unless someone at that company has that depth of foresight, which I don't really see.

What may have happened was they said "we're making better bikes, why aren't more people buying them?" Then research begins to figure out what appeals to the masses. It turns out they're not interested in a well built bike. They want what's 'in' which is heratige in the motorcycle world. It just so happened that an iconic company was sitting dormant, waiting to be scooped up by someone with deep enough pockets.

Indian has the heratige angle which has mass appeal and always will. Victory has a good reputation for being a well built bike that takes to performance upgrades really well. All along victory has been fighting a losing battle. Here's an analogy I used in another thread. Victory was advertising a hidden oasis that served craft beers and has stunning women and only the locals know about it Harley was advertising spring break in your favorite tourist trap with domestic beers. It didn't take long before Polaris said "if you can't beat em, join em". Now we have two products that appeal to tourists and one that still is only known by the locals.

 

I see a lot of complaints about styling changes on Vics for the last couple of years. I personally like the changes and more importantly I find that it appeals to a younger audience and that's something that Vic (and Indian and HD) must keep in mind. My previous bike has lots of chrome and similar styling to the Indians and it got attention from men and woman over (often well over) 50 and an occasional "nice bike" from younger people.

On my 8-Ball I still get as much attention from the older crowd but now I also get kids in their 20s and 30s telling me how much they like the look of the bike and sometimes asking some questions.

 

It is what it is.
Indian is hot on Harley's a$$
They have to stay in the game. They are the direct competitor.
Feckin Slingshot gets more attention than Victory.

Remember back just a few short years when Victory did all the advertisement and had a spot light? The Ness family came out and played and the Gunny was a Voice. Signs and banners everywhere. Free test rides everywhere. " Ride one and you'll own one " !
Gone !

On Sept 9 th. There will be a 3 part mini series about the birth of Harley.
This is good for the brand.
Wait and see if Indians even in it.

No one knows who Victory is anymore. Cept true enthusiast.
Up and coming riders have HD and Indian in their face. Not the modern American motorcycle. The one born 18 years ago on the same day we celebrate our countries independence.

To me it's amazing as I sit and look in the parking lot and my 2011 Vic XC still draws the crowd even in a sea of Harleys and sport bikes.
If so many love it and go ooh and aahh. Then why are they on a Harley?
I say no balls ! Worried about opinion and peer pressure. sheep !

 

Funny the only one that gave me a disagree rides a Road Glide.

Maybe you either misunderstood or I put my opinion out wrong.

The guys.... and I know a few. Who ooh and ahh Victory settled on Harley or another brand like Indian. It's not about dissing Harley. It's about not accepting Victory.
It's American as it gets and it's well engineered. Like an anvil.

I get asked questions showing a huge interest in the brand. Then comes the great compliments to my bike.
They say they would own one yet they still complain about the one they own. They say they would buy another Harley or might decide on an Indian cause they think they might be better bikes today. I can only think it's about nostalgia and brand recognition at this point.

What ever....... I get it.
Harley has done a tremendous job as the sheep herder brand. Indian wants some sheep too and they are definitely getting there's. Evident by all the used HD I've seen in the parking lots.

Truth is I'm a Road King and Slim fan
I like the Indians and really dig the the Cheiftain Dark Horse and the Sprinfield.
We all have our short comings.
I made my choice and say it's still the best of the bunch.

This isn't about brands. They all need help. It's about people. Some you can never help.

 

I like Oasis and specialty beers.
I will consider my self one of the lucky ones.
You can always have what everyone else has. That would be just ordinary.

At a local pub I heard a rider ask another " what kind a bike you ridin"?

" a street glide ...... What else "? Lol"
I mean Baaah bhaaaah ..........!

I couldnt stop laughing.

 

Funny....and true! The sad thing is, I was once sucked into the HD machine. Had to have a HD, rode an HD. I was prey to the branding...but more than anything, It was because I wanted an American V-twin. When I found out that Vic was an option for me, and it was an amazing bike, and I didn't have to be like the masses, I got the bike I fell in love with and still do to this day. But being able to pursue the best option is not for everybody.

 

How can we compete with a household name like Harley Davidson?

I know! We'll buy a household name of our own... INDIAN!

Apparently, that sh!t worked.

 

Agree it works. But Victory is so close to getting the upper hand with a couple models that Indian is not really grabbing.

The Vision is so close to being the best two up long haul bike over the Road Glide, and the Cross Country (Magnum) is light years ahead of the Street Glide in every way except infotainment and perhaps transmission depending on your view.

The people who were responsible for getting Victory to where it is, have stagnated.

Oh and whoever handles Victory garb must be clueless.

 

On the bright side, there will always be a market for those that are curious and willing to try something new. That market just isn't nearly as vast. Especially in the world of American motorcycles, as we've come to realize.

 

I see a lot of complaints about styling changes on Vics for the last couple of years. I personally like the changes and more importantly I find that it appeals to a younger audience and that's something that Vic (and Indian and HD) must keep in mind. My previous bike has lots of chrome and similar styling to the Indians and it got attention from men and woman over (often well over) 50 and an occasional "nice bike" from younger people.

On my 8-Ball I still get as much attention from the older crowd but now I also get kids in their 20s and 30s telling me how much they like the look of the bike and sometimes asking some questions.

Yep, and with younger riders come smaller bank accounts that aren't going to drop $30K on a bike.

 

I got mine as a "leftover" from the previous year for less than $15k.

 

I think part of the problem is Brand recognition. So many would be Harley riders won't buy a Vic but they might buy an Indian. It's really not Polaris's fault that people won't buy the new brand, I guess we are a special bunch but growing all the time. We will never be Harley Davidson and probably not Indian as well. We are a niche and I'm not sure if Polaris really knows what they will do with the Victory brand.

 

I think part of the problem is Brand recognition. So many would be Harley riders won't buy a Vic but they might buy an Indian.

I have friends like that. To them, the Scout is cool, but the Octane is gay... because it's a Victory.

 

When you're a H U G E company like Honda, from weed whackers to the NSX sportscar, you can toy around with models for the hell of it. So many have become orphans over the years that it's impossible to count. They came with innovation and disappeared just as fast. Here's a good example of a 1 year (2003) wonder. Dealer price in Canada was $35,000 way back 13 years ago - the Valkyrie Rune.

I don't recall ever seeing one on the road. I would have remembered because it's so outlandish coming from such a carefully orchestrated company. Suits and button down shirts.

I have to agree with those here who are wondering about the longevity of the Victory brand. A few years ago, the CC bagger came with 7 or 8 colours. At least there was that choice. Now they only offer 4. All the other models are given one or 2 choices. And bland colours they are. I totally agree that there must be improvements every year, even slight ones, or your new 2017 is just a 2010 with fresher paint and less miles on the odometer.

 

the Valkyrie Rune.

View attachment 32465

View attachment 32473

I don't recall ever seeing one on the road.

We sold 2 where I was working. I rode them both. Meh.

 

I think I have it figured out. You gotta remember to think like a motorcycle company and not a rider or a brand fan. Remember what Victory is, just as on the very first year of production all the way to 2017, Victory is a failed attempt to steal some of Harley's 250,000 / year buyers. Polaris aimed square at Harley when they created Victory and that market rejected Victory. about 10,000 / year of us found out what great bikes they are, but that's still a failure at taking market share from HD. Now Indian on the other hand, is being accepted by that market and it's growing quite nicely. But back to Victory. Street Glide buyer doesn't care that the Cross Country is more comfortable, handles better, has more storage, or a more powerful engine. They reject Victory. Victory could change up the cruise control switches, add an electric windshield, infotainment touch screen, or a smoother transmission. Doesn't matter, the HD market would still reject the Cross Country even if it got all those things. So why is Victory going to add all those things? Victory sales have grown every year except last year when manufacturing (paint) problems slowed production and shipments. Victory is this nice little niche, they ship a chunk of bikes and add to Polaris' bottom line. It's entirely possible that Polaris is quite content with that. Doesn't mean the brand is a red-headed step child, we're being short changed, or the end is near. I'd like to see awesome new Victorys probably as much or more than most. But maybe Polaris looks 5-10 years down the road and sees 80,000 Indian sales and 20,000 Victory sales and thinks "job well done".