Victory test ride

[Jack]

  I test drove a 2011 Victory Cross Roads one with a fairing & radio the other with a W/S. Nice bikes rode nice, great seat, lots of room good floor broads but it was a V2 you could feel it in the feet. But for 100 HP bike I think the Valk would blow it away it just didn't feel fast I hit the rev limiter right away it red lines at 5200 RPM. The bike didn't seen to be geared right (too tall) in town 2nd gear was too tall and 1st too low on the highway 4th or 5th gear was good but at 60-65 MPH 6 gear (overdrive) it felt like it wad dead if you wanted to go faster you would have to drop 2 or 3 gears on the Valk you just give it some gas. At the end everyone loved the Victory but me. I was thinking they should test drive a Valkyrie.
 It felt good to ride the Valkyrie back home I think I'll be on the old Valk for another 10 plus years
  

[NITRO]

I'm with you on this one, Jack. I rode the Vision and the Hammer S this spring. I didn't care for the Vision whatsoever and my wife hated the vibration in back. The Hammer was a blast to ride, but incredibly uncomfortable.

[ValkThree]

I find on most Vtwins you have to shift a lot as the power curve is pretty narrow. I know on the wing,valk and ST I normally idle through town in high while my HD buddy is busy downshifting/upshifting non stop. Same holds for passing on the hwy - I roll on the power and they shift almost in desperation.
I also own a Vtwin (EH) and downshifting is just part of the deal.

[cookiedough]

Agree, constant shifting with Vtwins/HD's is not for me.  My HD neighbor didn't believe me when I said I can go down to 20-25mph in top 5th gear and roll on the power without downshifting.  I've also talked to a few HD owners who have 6 gears and they say anything under 65-70 mph shifting into 6th gear is pretty much a dog.  Maybe the 'rumble and vibration' for the passenger is needed for them since they are lacking 'that' at home?   

[ValkThree]

Keep in mind the engineer at Harley has figured out how to convert gasoline directly into noise without the side effect of horsepower.

[cookiedough]

Keep in mind the engineer at Harley has figured out how to convert gasoline directly into noise without the side effect of horsepower.

Yep, new logo has been long overdue.

[Chicago Mark]

Obviously a V-twin has a very different feel and rev characteristic than a Flat 6. The Victory Cross Country is one of the most comfortable motorcycles I ever sat on. The ergonomics fit me fine and the leg room was awesome. If I had more time to ride and more money to spend on a motorcycle I'd buy a Cross Country in a minute. I also like that nearly every facet of the Victory in American made: design, marketing, manufacturing, sales etc.

I've been on Moto Guzzis for many many years. I understand the feel and apprciate the power curve of a high revving twin like the Guzzi. The Victory twin revs considerably lower but it does have a nice torque curve.

All the best,

Mark