You seem to overlook that the sportster and earlier kr engines are unit construction. Beyond that even with all the balancing in the world the design of the harley v twin motor though capable of producing higher power rapidly loses reliability as the revs increase. And at a disproportionate rate. The four valves per cylinder has also been known to actually reduce power below 5000 revs and to this point various systems have been utilised to operate only two valves upto this point. The v-rod engine relied on outside expertise and can only be seen as a huge success but as the evolution engine continued to sell in huge numbers and so did the aftermarket crate engines it is clear many of us still appreciate the old tech. Do the new harley engines produce better power? More power perhaps but to be in line with Japan 200 bhp per litre is not uncommon from normal aspiration.
I think most of us V-twin guys, including myself, are in the mindset that it’s either Harley or Indian, mostly for nostalgic reasons and no one can compete with these two iconic brands in the big V-twin cruiser/bagger market. I like the victory motor and agree with ya that it was probably styling. Classic HD and Indian styling is just too awesome. HD styling is perfect.
You'd think after building the same bike for over 100 yrs they'd get it right. By the way I own a Road King. Oh if you're a fan it's for sale so I can put a down payment on a Goldwing.
@@jamesgarrett2129 Goldwings always remind me of a fancy car on two wheel, they also sound boring and that's why you've gotta the radio up high, I've never liked anything by Honda, boring bikes
@@brettdavis80 nope I found a disgruntled Harley owner who wanted it so bad his teeth were hurting (normally an easy 1st step). Buy low and sell for a profit/ buy a good bike. Really not hard to do at all.
I was sold on HD power when in 1970 road trip, my buddy on a BMW ran off the road and his bike was in a tree. My buddy on a 1961 Pan pulled it out of the tree & back up the ravine using rope and chains. He also drug a 1 1/2 foot round by 6 foot long tree trunk up the hill into our camp that we used as a couch!
A bit of engine understanding could help. What you call torque is just horsepower at low rpm. Torque doesn’t do anything. Not without movement. Moving torque is hp
As someone who has over 1.5 million miles driving heavy haul nationwide I couldn’t agree more. My experience trucking and riding a 2 stroke dirt bike when I was a teenager has made me really appreciate low rpm torque rather than high rpm ringy-ting-ting-ting. When I finally got a Harley in December of 2021 after years of wanting one I bought an ‘06 FXDWGI. I was thumping it around at low rpm for the first month or two, but then I let it wind one day and to my surprise it got pretty strong at mid range and a bit higher. Could be the shorter stroke of the 88 TC that makes it respond to the revs more than I thought it would. It’s kind of nice to have the option and have the low end if you just want to tool around the back roads or to crank it up if you’re in a hurry.
Roadking special 2018 . Chug along at 3k rpm 30,000ks . Not one issue with this sled. Love it. Still sit in the shed with a victoria bitter after a sunday ride through the Adelaide Hills looking at the beauty 👌 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I worked with a guy who always had something negative to say about Harleys. It went on until one day I got tired of hearing it. I told him you can go to any motorcycle salvage yard and find a pile of what you ride. You never see any Harleys there. That shut him down hard, and he actually agreed with me.
Harley's are generational bikes, meant to be passed down from generation to generation which is why i own 3 Harley's, i cant bring myself to sell them because you personalize them to a point that i just dont want to. Indian, Victory, honda, Suzui and all the others, well they are throwaway bikes, sure they look good when you get them and you can keep them for a dozen years or so, but when something serious happens to them, they end up in the scrap yard Wth a Harley, i dont care if your bike have the Evo, TC 88, 96, 103, 110 or the M8, you will be able to buy paths for them today and 20 years from now, this is what makes the Harley a generational bike and the rest a throwaway. This is why I own a 2009 Rocker C, 2014 Dyna Wide Glide, 2021 Street Glide
Yup ; got same thing ; he finally came by on his road glide he got for a steal . Well ; it is about they can’t afford one like my buddy always said !!!-
The Victory engine was bulletproof. For me it was mostly the styling, with the sharp angles of the body work and spaceship like looks. Another issue for me was the hand controls, the cruise control buttons and other controls looked like an after thought the way they were mounted.
Life in the fast lane over 40 years and still riding the ZX-14R. Over 60 now and bought a street glide special and love it. Really like the torque drift out of turns. No one would believe how well this thing rides and turns. Back shocks and seat was garbage and that's where they are.
You nailed it. Where else can you go and customize an engine anymore. The ability to throw goodies on the engine to open it us now is amazing. Makes the bike come alive to run and handle like they should. But I get it, not all want to go that step. Good stuff. Thanks.
Just put stage 2 Woods XE on my 18 Street bob, 110hp, sold the GSXR finally after that, 05 Road king 70k miles for wife and I road bike still the BEST! I love Jesus and HD!
Always dreamed of owning a Harley. Maybe a Japanese cruiser did cross my mind. But I never sat there and dreamed of owning one. I do like other brands of motorcycles. I love restoring old 1960s and 1970s Honda's. I like KTMs adventure motorcycles. But for just out cruising nothing beats a pushrod v-twin.
love my 05 harley, crusie all day long in comfort and style. 104hp and 104tq. it's not a racer, but it's just plain out cool looking bike. no other bike can touch the look and style of the harley line.
It was the styling that did victory in, or at least kept me from buying one. When my kids were young there was a Batman cartoon that the cars had the same sweeping lines as Victory had on their bikes. Every time I see one of them I think they poached the design from the cartoon
I work in HVAC and did the ventilation on the Polaris paint booths is Storm Lake, IA. Watched new Victory and Indian bikes roll off the assembly line. No comparison as far as looks. The problem with the Victory is 100% styling. The motor was hideous and they kept that theme going.....lol!
I watched a Victory Hammer with 88,000 miles undergo 4 cam changes in a day with immediate hard dyno runs. The owner didn't care if it blew up, it didn't. The engines were incredibly tough. Anyone who had work done by Tim Sutherland or Lloyd Greer had a very fast and ultra durable machine. Lloyd was cracking the 120/120 threshold with a 100 cubic inch base. That was just a cam, torque tube air cleaner and a tune.
I started on sport bikes and the smooth power was something else but I'll say Harley's looks,design and sound ... That can't be replaced . Name it and in a lot of there bikes it all goes good together
I now ride a 1200 Sportster, 2009 model year. It's the fourth bike I've ever owned, the first Harley, and the only one that feels right at highway speed in top gear. The others all felt like they needed one more gear to bring the cruising RPM down. Also, the Sporty starts, almost instantly, no matter how cold it is or how long it's been sitting. The other three bikes, at freezing temperatures, would crank and crank and maybe decide to fire or maybe run down the battery.
This is just a guess but I think the reason Victory didn't have the following was because there wasn't an aftermarket like Harley-Davidson. You can literally build a Harley-Davidson type motorcycle and not use any Harley parts. I have had many discussions over my 52 years of riding with people saying that Harleys aren't this and they're not that. I say well, I guarantee you my 1949 Panhead will still be running 50 years from now and will sell for a lot more money than your Japanese bike. They are infinitely rebuildable.
I just lost my victory vision in an accident. My experience is I loved the bike loved the power. Victory’s failure was marketing especially here on the west coast in California. Even with Indian you don’t see it here. I live in the SF Bay Area and work for a Harley Dealership and there is always things happening events,ads, promotions ect Harley makes a point to be known and constantly involve the customer and that brings more in. I had nothing but great response from people while owning my victory on how much they liked it and those curious of what it was. Having only 11 Indian dealers in the state does not help and we may see Indian go the wayside the same as victory did. Even more to consider is that California sells more new bikes per capital then any other state. Personally it’s a shame the Victory is a fantastic motorcycle and Indian is just as nice.I also own a 2008 FLSTN and love it.
With the victory the main reason why people got rid of them for a Harley is parts availability. A friend of mine was on a ride with his wife and they got a flat tire and they lost 2 days of a trip because even the tires are different than what most shops carry and special orders take time. There are little to nothing for after market parts, so what you get from the factory is mostly what you get.
I was on the verge of buying a Victory for its unitized drivetrain...until Polaris announced they were discontinuing the brand, and eventually dealership service support. Dealership network support became an important consideration for the 2-up touring we planned to do. Competing dealerships were too few and far between. Oh, and nothing sounds AND feels uniquely like a solid H-D. As a pro test rider, I understand why Eagle Rider rentals are predominantly H-D.
I owned 2 Vics....a cruiser and touring bike. Absolutely loved the touring bike but after market support was weak. My last Vic was the Gunner but was plagued with electrical issues (with 192 miles on the clock). I was on my way to get the Gunner fixed when I saw a 2017 CVO Pro Street Breakout parked in front of the HD dealership. Pulled over, took a ride and the Vic was traded. Didn't even miss it but the CVO was an absolute pleasure to ride and the looks department was impressive.
I had a Victory V92C and it was ok but was hard to handle at low speed. It sounded good and looked ok . Me and my buddies used to make fun of Harleys but I decided to buy an old 93 Sportster and loved that thing. I’ve had three more Harleys since then. Another 94 Sportster, an 01 Harley Heritage and now I have an old 93 Harley Heritage with the old Evo. They have a character all their own and this one I have now has been cammed and has Jim’s Hydrosolids and it runs great and sounds awesome. They are just different. I’ve had other bikes. Had a Honda Super Blackbird and really enjoyed it. It was a rocket and smooth as glass. Wish I still had it but Harleys are just fun to ride. You just like what you like.
Hi, speaking for myself over the pond in the UK I can honestly say as a person who has owned multiple Harleys over the years that the only other bike I considered was a Victory - in fact I came very close to purchasing a Vegas 8 Ball. The main problem for me was the styling. Where Harley has had over a hundred years to hone and refine their particular style, Victory's efforts always looked a bit off to me, a bit clumsy. I particularly didn't like the way the fuel tank swooped down at the rear where it met the seat; it looked contrived and put me off. The other model I seriously considered was the Gunner as I really like bobber-style bikes, but Victory did a horrible job with the overall styling on that model, I don't know how they managed to make it so bad, but they did. After buying another Harley I felt vindicated when I learned that Victory had ceased production and were not supporting the brand. I suppose I dodged a bullet there but if it hadn't been for the off putting styling it could have been a different story
Nothing else comes close to Harleys. The quality of the paint chrome switches etc is 100 time most others. The sound! Where the power comes on. Try to find a crank or rods for a 30 year old anything else. A replacement anything.. I can order a brand new anything and everything for my 25 year old heritage
No question - styling was too futuristic with the Victory line. The engine was spectacular. Having owned both, it was hands down the Harley legacy, mystique, community, dealer network and overall look and feel that have sold me on Harleys for over 25 years now!
That controlled misfire is the key to the Harley engine. For me it's all about feel and sound, and absolutely nothing about power. My 1989 FXRS Low Rider supposedly makes 58 hp, and I absolutely love it. I used to have a Kawasaki Vulcan 750 that was much lighter, almost half the displacement, and made about the same power. While it didn't have the low end torque of the Harley, it had a whopper of a top end, and a 9000 rpm redline. It would rev like crazy. Felt like a crotch rocket motor. But it was super boring. It had a completely even exhaust sound, you could make it louder, but it still sounded like a lawn mower. And it had no feel. It was a counterbalanced 55 degree super short stroke V twin, it had 4 spark plugs, dual carburetors, four overhead cams, four cam chains and 2 jackshafts, four cam chain tensioners and a bunch of cam chain guides, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, and it was liquid cooled. It had about twice as many parts as it actually needed. But it lacked any kind of character at all. And to me, vibration and sound is what riding a motorcycle is all about. British motorcycles of the 1950s and 1960s also got that part right. Back in the mid '80s I had a 1966 Triumph Bonneville. It was a pushrod 360 degree long stroke 650cc twin, it made a nice sound, and it would practically shake your teeth out. Then along came Honda with their CB750 inline four and ruined everything.
I’ve been riding for 20 years. I average 15k miles a year, and I’ve owned around 25 motorcycles. From my experience. All roads lead to Harley. I did enjoy the Vstrom 650 and 1000, but aside from those two. Nothing has compared to my Harleys. I can sit on my 18 year old road king all day long. I am considering an Indian to compliment my collection. I sat on one at the Daytona Indian dealership a few months ago. That thing felt like a couch.
Agree with you on most of what you said, i am 57 and have owned a lot of bikes over the years, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory, Indian and Harley and for me, all roads lead to Harley. I currently own a 2009 Rocker C, 2014 Dyna Wide Glide & 2021 Street Glide, Harley has always been one of my favourites; however, the Yamaha V star was an awesome bike, my wife and i bought twins back in 2002, she got the 2002 Yamaha v star 650 and i went with the 1100, we actually sold them in early 2021 when she gave up on 2 wheels, so we had them 19 years with no problems. Ive owned Indian and while i did enjoy the bikes, the dealerships are the reason i sold them (sold both same year and bought a new 2021 Street Glide) The dealerships at Indian are great when they think they will make a sale, will bend over backwards to help and answer questions; however, once the sale is made you are dead to them, sure the salesman may stick around a while and will try help but ultimately the dealerships are useless which is why i will never go back to Indian, they are OK while you have warranty, but once that is gone, the dealerships are worthless at Indian I am waiting to see a larger version of the Rev Max engine put in a Street and/or Road Glide, when that happens, i will buy another but i will never go back to an Indian dealership EVER!
I've worked on yamaha and harleys that I've owned. Love my Harleys!!. The sound, the possibilities etc. Consistency is what has given them the edge imo. Thx for video bro🔥🧡
I started out riding 2 stroke dirt bikes as a teenager where you had to keep them screaming to get any power. Later, after over a million and half miles over the road doing heavy haul/oversized loads, I really appreciated torque, especially at low rpm. After this I tended to really like Nortons and even more so Harleys due to them not having to be wound out to put out reasonable torque. When I finally bought my first Harley, this last January, at the age of 66, I thought the power from the 88 TC in my ‘06 FXDWGI was adequate. But that was when I was riding it like I used to ride a friend’s ‘88 Softtail Custom, keeping it at low rpm. When I started giving this Twin Cam some rpm it really came alive. No screaming rpm, but not just leisurely tooling the backroads either. Initially I had planned cams and maybe more cubes to add some power, but after letting it have some more revs I found it to be enough for this old man. I’m going to keep my modification bucks in my back pocket, or maybe buy a new pistol.
Always wanted a Harley-Davidson since I was a small child. Rode lots of bikes and love them all, even if they are junk. The first Victory I saw was a customized V92 all dressed up with fringed leather. Too cool for old school. Found a dealer to check out The New American Motorcycle. 2004 just came out with the Victory Kingpin Tour. I fell in love. They were fixing a wrecked V92 with performance exhaust. Fired that bad boy up and revved it up. I was hooked. Not hooked enough with those little lunchbox saddlebags. I pulled the trigger in 2010 and bought a new 2009 Kingpin, 100 c.i. 6 speed. Got 3 older Harleys and love them but won't get rid of my Kingpin. Yes I was pissed when Polaris announced they were shutting down Victory Motorcycles.
If Harley changes things to much, they would probably lose a portion of the fan base. Also can you put the shelf up behind you, it just doesn’t look right without the shelf.
I've had many road bikes over 43 years - Hondas, Kawasakis, a Suzuki; all were great. But my '99 Road King is the best balanced, most fun bike I've ever owned - hands down. The low end grunt and the heavy, yet incredibly balanced feel is superb.
Im not a fanboy nor do i get emotionally attached to a machine, make or model. As a Victory owner, as well as others, i find the Vic to be rock solid. All my buddies that have riden it think the same. Even the Harley guys tell me my 100 would smoke their Harleys. As far as the look, i find them to have smooth lines that flow well. From the tank seemlessly rolling over the seat and down off the fender. Ironically, a lot of custom bikes out there end up having the same looks to them. Especially with the stretched hard bags. I still think the Vision is goofy ifeel the same about all the big touring bikes. If they were still in production they would be a top competitor.
I actually own both a Victory and a Harley Davidson. Nothing wrong with the style of the Victory bikes. For all the Harley people that say the everything copies the Harley look. That’s one of the main reasons I love my Victory Cross Country. Had absolutely no issues with the overhead cam and gear driven primary. Simple and easy oil changes that where cost effective. With a suspension on the rear with more than 2” of travel to boot. Road more then 66,000 miles and still everything with engine was original except for the oil filter and battery. So the problem with Victory, honestly it was Polaris buying Indian what killed Victory. The money for developing Victory was gone and they pushed the same bike for 10 years that did them in. No infotainment center, Bluetooth radio, adjustable windshield, and automatic locking bags. Plus they made no updates or improvements to the 106 engine. When Polaris came out with a new 111 engine for Indian and Harley just introduced the M8 motor, put the death nail in Victory after that. Was the aftermarket not very much. No it wasn’t but when the motorcycle you bought straight from the factory is actually what you wanted, you really don’t need a lot of additional expenses to improve the bike you already like. A very long story short, Polaris stopped investing in Victory and that’s what killed Victory. For that is the one and only reason I’ll never own a Indian motorcycle.
I love all motorcycles and will never sell my old Harley or my GoldWing. Both have their place in my world. I may add an ADV bike to the stable next spring as a third option.
I know what killed Victory but I still ride a very unique 2013 Victory Vision Crossbow Trike and I get all the attention everywhere I go with it. It's super reliable and has awesome low end power from the fabulous Freedom 106 C I engine! I started riding a Victory Vision in 2009 after buying my last H D ultra classic new off the showroom floor in 2008 and was worse handling bike ever! Polaris killed Victory for Indian.... Necessary Business decision and what helps provide the great technology that makes the Indian challenger what it is today.. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I love those unique Harley Vtwin engines, but also love the unique BMW boxer engines. They stick to those flat twins since the BMW R32 in 1923, up till today.
What I felt killed Victory motorcycles (at least for me) is that the V-twin design sounded somewhat like a Harley at idle but when you got the rpm’s up a bit it sounded more like a metric motorcycle than an American V-twin. Also the styling resembled more of a custom look than classic…. I do understand that the performance was good but at the end of the day, the Victory just didn’t contain enough attractiveness in any one category to lure me away from Harley-Davidson…
Back when Victory was trying to compete I was on a poker run with some friends. We were just leaving for our third stop when a guy rolled up on a brand new Cross Country. We all immediately hated the Jetsons look of the thing and when the guy got off his bike one of my friends asked him, "What happened, did you lose a bet?"
My humble guesstimate would be that people who want a Harley will save for it and purchase it instead of saving a few bucks to purchase the wannabe clone
I had a XVS 1100 Yamaha, lovely bike, super comfortable, handled well but it just wasn't a Harley, even though I don't care for the Harley lifestyle. So I sold it and bought a Springer Classic. It's a work of art, I'm in my lounge looking at it because it lives in the house. Is it a better bike than the Yamaha, nope but I love it.
I did that too. Came home with a 2022 Heritage in Reef Blue/Vivid Black end of September. First Harley added to two other Asian brand bikes in my stable.
I have been a BMW fan for 40 years. Bought my first HD in 2003 heritage springer, then a Road Glide Ultra 2011. Last June 2022 Road Glide ST. Love both 🇩🇪🇺🇸
Since you asked: The Victory looked too progressive compared to Harleys' traditional look. I think anyone that grew up in the '30s to the '90s will have 'imprinted' to Harley and would find Victory 'odd'.
For me it’s a lot of it’s about the look. The Harley sound is another factor for me. In the early ‘80s my friend and boss asked me to go along to the Yamaha dealer when he bought his 920 Virago. The dealer was pushing them pretty hard and the price he was offering almost got me to jump, but I was recently married and it was just to soon to be facing a divorce. One of the few good things that resulted from the divorce that I was drug through years later was there was no one left to nag me when I finally bought my ‘06 Dyna Wide Glide a year and a half ago. The kids don’t even mind, although they may be looking forward to an early inheritance! I miss the stress challenged self behind you GixerFoo. I used to tune into your videos just to see how many more cans it was going to take before you ended up wearing it. For a while there I thought that might have been the reason you ended up hospitalized! Thanks for keeping your videos coming, I’ve learned a lot.
I think the overall styling of the Victory was its downfall.. I never liked the way the bikes looked.. especially the engine. Harley engines had what I thought looked like a cap or end to their cylinders, from knucklehead up to the M8. Even the flathead engines looked good. I think that’s why Indian is still around!!
I know this video is over a year old but I had a victory, a v 92 sport cruiser and I put 20k or more on it and besides the exhaust, computer chip and high flow air filter I never had to touch it and it ran great. I really didn't like the gear drive primary it was noisy and herky jerky, but otherwise it was a good solid machine
I remember when Victory came out and they had some really really janky transmissions, they sounded awful. They got them fixed and when they ended production they had some really awesome machines.
I was close to buying a victory, I test rode the ugliest best handling big bike I have ever rode. The vision. That bike handled very good for a big bike and was very smooth riding. Bought a used CVO limited instead. Never looked back
What killed the Victory was greed It didn't grow as fast as the investors thought it should, when Ness sold Victory to Polaris. Then Polaris had a debate within, because they had also obtained Indian. Having the two brands in the cruiser line did not makes sense. So, the new kid on the block (Victory) got chopped. I am Hoping that Polaris at least keeps the Indian for the foreseeable future and it doesn't go by the wayside again.
My 124 Road King puts out 145 torque and 126 HP and is full as hell to ride. Aweseom in the summer when I pop the windshield of and all you see is a streak of chrome flying down the road.
I have a triumph Bonneville america I had a triumph rocket3 and a fatboy I really prefer the triumph over the hatley However parts availability is just so much better for the harley
take a 114 and put a tourqe cam in and ss aluminum intake. 101 hp and 114 tourqe at rear wheel at 4800 rpms.thats all you need ..if I want to go fast I'll buy a sport bike..a different ride for a different situation .
Harley Davidson is more than a brand, it's a survivor, it's an heirloom product that I am willing to pay a premimum for, no other brand has the mystic and heritage of Harley Davidson. Victory wanted a premimum price for it's bikes, they were good but they weren't a Harley Davidson.
I'm a visual designer. Here's my take on engine aesthetics, the more rectangular a motorcycle engine appears the less attractive it looks. Aesthetically Victory had a boxy-looking engine and their styling was a modern-looking bike. Harley styling has always had a fair amount of vintage in their overall look. They have do-dad details visible allover their engine and bike. Certain amount of busyness looks good on something mechanical. Victory's engine looked sterile.
As a former victory owner, the dealership network was weak. These bikes were part of 4 wheelers, jet skis, and even boats on the sales floor. The dedicated space to Victory and dealer supported accessories was horrible. Tim's at Murrell's inlet in South Carolina was the only dealer I ever saw that was all in to the bike side.
I think that Victory was way ahead of its time, I don't think it was the style of the bikes, with the Vision being the exception. LOL I fell in love with the Cross Country, I think that was the best looking bike they made, in my opinion. I think that Victory failed because other motorcycle companies had the market sewed up, for the most part, because you had all the other brands fanboys out there. Fanboys will buy there brand no matter what, that is the reality of it, but I think Victory was and still is a great motorcycle.
Can’t comment on Victory, as I didn’t really see or hear much about them in my area of the US. I will say, I recently got my 1st HD (2019 Road King Special) - and it’s been a unique experience transitioning from metric sport/touring bikes to the HD. The ergos, the overall feel, and good lord that roll on power… I finally see and understand what it’s all about.
I really think there is something to the large displacement with relatively low power output. You get the feeling of ringing out a ton of motor and the exhilaration of it without the consequences of toxic speeds that you would have in a modern water cooled 4 cylinder sport bike.
I've rode Harleys for bout 23 years now started on small metric bikes when I was a young whippersnapper got my first Harley in 2000 sweet little sporty dressed up then got a 90 softie custom then climbed the mountain and got a 03 road king classic I won't ride nothin else got the best of both in the softtail custom and the twin cam look pretty cool to as far as the victory's just couldn't get around the styling and that damn tail light
I agree there is nothing like a Harley Davidson, now off course a lot of that statement in my opinion is the fit and finish of Harley Davidson compared to Victory or even Indian in my opinion is that Victory and Indian look closer to a japanese cruiser and they are try to charge a premium price for a bike that look cheap in its fit and finish. So in a nutshell for me it's the fit and Finish.
I still own a box stock '72 FLH I bought in 1980 and redid(no engine or tranny work.) I'm currently redoing it for the second time since 1980(still no engine or tranny work.) I did have to change a broken oil pump drive gear shaft about 15yrs ago, and I've been through a couple of tires, clutches, sprockets, chains, and brake pads. I'll keep my 51yr old 74ci Shovel.
I bought my first Harley a few years ago after a lifetime of jap and European bikes. I love it, 2013 Road King with lots of work done and it's so nice to ride, the hauling bottom end is the best. Never fails to make me smile
Several have tried, but few if any can capture the mystique of the Harley Davidson big twin. HD will in time have to bend to the demand of the market. The last Harley I bought, will be the "last" Harley I buy. I've had my 2003 Fatboy for twenty years now and I love the damn thing.
![เป็นไปได้ไหม - WanMai [Teaser] | 05-12-24](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P5Uto6e453w/mqdefault.jpg)
Do think Harley-Davidson should update to a unitized design instead of the divorced transmission?
They should not.
Why? It works
No way !
NO!
You seem to overlook that the sportster and earlier kr engines are unit construction.
Beyond that even with all the balancing in the world the design of the harley v twin motor though capable of producing higher power rapidly loses reliability as the revs increase. And at a disproportionate rate.
The four valves per cylinder has also been known to actually reduce power below 5000 revs and to this point various systems have been utilised to operate only two valves upto this point.
The v-rod engine relied on outside expertise and can only be seen as a huge success but as the evolution engine continued to sell in huge numbers and so did the aftermarket crate engines it is clear many of us still appreciate the old tech.
Do the new harley engines produce better power?
More power perhaps but to be in line with Japan 200 bhp per litre is not uncommon from normal aspiration.
You've got the most helpful information on TH-cam. Lack of dealer network killed Victory.
What I like is how you just slowly roll the throttle shift the gears and look down & your doing 70 mph at 2700 rpm & you got there effortlessly
I think most of us V-twin guys, including myself, are in the mindset that it’s either Harley or Indian, mostly for nostalgic reasons and no one can compete with these two iconic brands in the big V-twin cruiser/bagger market. I like the victory motor and agree with ya that it was probably styling. Classic HD and Indian styling is just too awesome. HD styling is perfect.
Nah. Harley or none 😁🤙🤘
I was just talking with my brother about how, despite knowing all their problems and cost, seeing a Harley always brings a smile to my face
They do too! Even with all the extra stuff lol.
You'd think after building the same bike for over 100 yrs they'd get it right. By the way I own a Road King. Oh if you're a fan it's for sale so I can put a down payment on a Goldwing.
@@jamesgarrett2129 So, you bought a Harley so you could get the better trade to put down on a Honda Goldwing?
@@jamesgarrett2129 Goldwings always remind me of a fancy car on two wheel, they also sound boring and that's why you've gotta the radio up high, I've never liked anything by Honda, boring bikes
@@brettdavis80 nope I found a disgruntled Harley owner who wanted it so bad his teeth were hurting (normally an easy 1st step). Buy low and sell for a profit/ buy a good bike. Really not hard to do at all.
I was sold on HD power when in 1970 road trip, my buddy on a BMW ran off the road and his bike was in a tree. My buddy on a 1961 Pan pulled it out of the tree & back up the ravine using rope and chains. He also drug a 1 1/2 foot round by 6 foot long tree trunk up the hill into our camp that we used as a couch!
That should have been filmed on 8mm. Footage for the Harley museum.
lol, i am not sure "drug" in context you are intending is actually a word lol
Maybe 'pulled' or "dragged" but certainly not "drug" lol
@@snakebite6511 hey man, he's talking 1970. "Drug" probably had something to do with it. 😉
@@snakebite6511 thanks for verifying
@@thejerseyj5479 yes we were loaded, check out "Split the Early Years; a Psychedelic Motorcycle Adventure"
Horsepower isn't everything but torque just about is.
Yes it IS !! Makes for great cruising, V twins and triples have featured heavily for me for that reason 👍✌
A bit of engine understanding could help. What you call torque is just horsepower at low rpm. Torque doesn’t do anything. Not without movement. Moving torque is hp
As someone who has over 1.5 million miles driving heavy haul nationwide I couldn’t agree more. My experience trucking and riding a 2 stroke dirt bike when I was a teenager has made me really appreciate low rpm torque rather than high rpm ringy-ting-ting-ting. When I finally got a Harley in December of 2021 after years of wanting one I bought an ‘06 FXDWGI. I was thumping it around at low rpm for the first month or two, but then I let it wind one day and to my surprise it got pretty strong at mid range and a bit higher. Could be the shorter stroke of the 88 TC that makes it respond to the revs more than I thought it would. It’s kind of nice to have the option and have the low end if you just want to tool around the back roads or to crank it up if you’re in a hurry.
Roadking special 2018 . Chug along at 3k rpm 30,000ks . Not one issue with this sled. Love it. Still sit in the shed with a victoria bitter after a sunday ride through the Adelaide Hills looking at the beauty 👌 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I worked with a guy who always had something negative to say about Harleys. It went on until one day I got tired of hearing it. I told him you can go to any motorcycle salvage yard and find a pile of what you ride. You never see any Harleys there. That shut him down hard, and he actually agreed with me.
Harley's are generational bikes, meant to be passed down from generation to generation which is why i own 3 Harley's, i cant bring myself to sell them because you personalize them to a point that i just dont want to.
Indian, Victory, honda, Suzui and all the others, well they are throwaway bikes, sure they look good when you get them and you can keep them for a dozen years or so, but when something serious happens to them, they end up in the scrap yard
Wth a Harley, i dont care if your bike have the Evo, TC 88, 96, 103, 110 or the M8, you will be able to buy paths for them today and 20 years from now, this is what makes the Harley a generational bike and the rest a throwaway.
This is why I own a 2009 Rocker C, 2014 Dyna Wide Glide, 2021 Street Glide
Harley Davidsons don't end up in landfills
He believed you? Who goes to a junk yard and looks at motorcycle parts?
Yup ; got same thing ; he finally came by on his road glide he got for a steal . Well ; it is about they can’t afford one like my buddy always said !!!-
Why did he shut down? And what is so good and original about a HD? What did HD invented? Name one thing please. Just one.
The Victory engine was bulletproof. For me it was mostly the styling, with the sharp angles of the body work and spaceship like looks. Another issue for me was the hand controls, the cruise control buttons and other controls looked like an after thought the way they were mounted.
Life in the fast lane over 40 years and still riding the ZX-14R. Over 60 now and bought a street glide special and love it. Really like the torque drift out of turns. No one would believe how well this thing rides and turns. Back shocks and seat was garbage and that's where they are.
You nailed it. Where else can you go and customize an engine anymore. The ability to throw goodies on the engine to open it us now is amazing. Makes the bike come alive to run and handle like they should. But I get it, not all want to go that step. Good stuff. Thanks.
Just put stage 2 Woods XE on my 18 Street bob, 110hp, sold the GSXR finally after that, 05 Road king 70k miles for wife and I road bike still the BEST! I love Jesus and HD!
Who HD don't trow all that "good stuf" inside whyle the engine is still open?
Hey brother I've owned many bikes over the years but your right nothing like a Harley and never will be it's in my blood now.
All the best from NZ 🇳🇿
Always dreamed of owning a Harley. Maybe a Japanese cruiser did cross my mind. But I never sat there and dreamed of owning one. I do like other brands of motorcycles. I love restoring old 1960s and 1970s Honda's. I like KTMs adventure motorcycles. But for just out cruising nothing beats a pushrod v-twin.
love my 05 harley, crusie all day long in comfort and style. 104hp and 104tq. it's not a racer, but it's just plain out cool looking bike. no other bike can touch the look and style of the harley line.
It was the styling that did victory in, or at least kept me from buying one. When my kids were young there was a Batman cartoon that the cars had the same sweeping lines as Victory had on their bikes.
Every time I see one of them I think they poached the design from the cartoon
I work in HVAC and did the ventilation on the Polaris paint booths is Storm Lake, IA. Watched new Victory and Indian bikes roll off the assembly line. No comparison as far as looks. The problem with the Victory is 100% styling. The motor was hideous and they kept that theme going.....lol!
I watched a Victory Hammer with 88,000 miles undergo 4 cam changes in a day with immediate hard dyno runs. The owner didn't care if it blew up, it didn't. The engines were incredibly tough. Anyone who had work done by Tim Sutherland or Lloyd Greer had a very fast and ultra durable machine. Lloyd was cracking the 120/120 threshold with a 100 cubic inch base. That was just a cam, torque tube air cleaner and a tune.
@@carlbruhn1772 a great powerplant no doubt....just unsightly to look at....lol!
I started on sport bikes and the smooth power was something else but I'll say Harley's looks,design and sound ... That can't be replaced . Name it and in a lot of there bikes it all goes good together
I now ride a 1200 Sportster, 2009 model year. It's the fourth bike I've ever owned, the first Harley, and the only one that feels right at highway speed in top gear. The others all felt like they needed one more gear to bring the cruising RPM down.
Also, the Sporty starts, almost instantly, no matter how cold it is or how long it's been sitting. The other three bikes, at freezing temperatures, would crank and crank and maybe decide to fire or maybe run down the battery.
Yep one of mine is an 08 1200. Fantastic bike all around. I go for that one quite often.
This is just a guess but I think the reason Victory didn't have the following was because there wasn't an aftermarket like Harley-Davidson. You can literally build a Harley-Davidson type motorcycle and not use any Harley parts. I have had many discussions over my 52 years of riding with people saying that Harleys aren't this and they're not that. I say well, I guarantee you my 1949 Panhead will still be running 50 years from now and will sell for a lot more money than your Japanese bike. They are infinitely rebuildable.
Aftermarket support was clearly lacking for Victory. There were some brilliant Victory guys out there but it was very limited.
I just lost my victory vision in an accident. My experience is I loved the bike loved the power. Victory’s failure was marketing especially here on the west coast in California. Even with Indian you don’t see it here. I live in the SF Bay Area and work for a Harley Dealership and there is always things happening events,ads, promotions ect Harley makes a point to be known and constantly involve the customer and that brings more in. I had nothing but great response from people while owning my victory on how much they liked it and those curious of what it was. Having only 11 Indian dealers in the state does not help and we may see Indian go the wayside the same as victory did. Even more to consider is that California sells more new bikes per capital then any other state. Personally it’s a shame the Victory is a fantastic motorcycle and Indian is just as nice.I also own a 2008 FLSTN and love it.
Very well said. I couldn't agree more.
With the victory the main reason why people got rid of them for a Harley is parts availability. A friend of mine was on a ride with his wife and they got a flat tire and they lost 2 days of a trip because even the tires are different than what most shops carry and special orders take time. There are little to nothing for after market parts, so what you get from the factory is mostly what you get.
I agree, lack of parts and a dealership network.
thats the exact reason i sold mine
I was on the verge of buying a Victory for its unitized drivetrain...until Polaris announced they were discontinuing the brand, and eventually dealership service support. Dealership network support became an important consideration for the 2-up touring we planned to do. Competing dealerships were too few and far between. Oh, and nothing sounds AND feels uniquely like a solid H-D. As a pro test rider, I understand why Eagle Rider rentals are predominantly H-D.
I owned 2 Vics....a cruiser and touring bike. Absolutely loved the touring bike but after market support was weak. My last Vic was the Gunner but was plagued with electrical issues (with 192 miles on the clock).
I was on my way to get the Gunner fixed when I saw a 2017 CVO Pro Street Breakout parked in front of the HD dealership. Pulled over, took a ride and the Vic was traded. Didn't even miss it but the CVO was an absolute pleasure to ride and the looks department was impressive.
I had a Victory V92C and it was ok but was hard to handle at low speed. It sounded good and looked ok . Me and my buddies used to make fun of Harleys but I decided to buy an old 93 Sportster and loved that thing. I’ve had three more Harleys since then. Another 94 Sportster, an 01 Harley Heritage and now I have an old 93 Harley Heritage with the old Evo. They have a character all their own and this one I have now has been cammed and has Jim’s Hydrosolids and it runs great and sounds awesome. They are just different. I’ve had other bikes. Had a Honda Super Blackbird and really enjoyed it. It was a rocket and smooth as glass. Wish I still had it but Harleys are just fun to ride. You just like what you like.
I'd have an 8 Ball now if parts were abundant in my country, my old Evo will do me just fine, I like carburetor simplicity n the vintage vibe
Hi, speaking for myself over the pond in the UK I can honestly say as a person who has owned multiple Harleys over the years that the only other bike I considered was a Victory - in fact I came very close to purchasing a Vegas 8 Ball.
The main problem for me was the styling. Where Harley has had over a hundred years to hone and refine their particular style, Victory's efforts always looked a bit off to me, a bit clumsy.
I particularly didn't like the way the fuel tank swooped down at the rear where it met the seat; it looked contrived and put me off. The other model I seriously considered was the Gunner as I really like bobber-style bikes, but Victory did a horrible job with the overall styling on that model, I don't know how they managed to make it so bad, but they did.
After buying another Harley I felt vindicated when I learned that Victory had ceased production and were not supporting the brand.
I suppose I dodged a bullet there but if it hadn't been for the off putting styling it could have been a different story
i never like the rear swingarm on the victory. something about an old dirty rusty harley still looks atactive were as a old vicory never would.
Nothing else comes close to Harleys. The quality of the paint chrome switches etc is 100 time most others. The sound! Where the power comes on. Try to find a crank or rods for a 30 year old anything else. A replacement anything.. I can order a brand new anything and everything for my 25 year old heritage
The quality of Harleys chrome is crap compared to what it was in the late 80s and 90s. That being said it's not plastic or chrome vinyl layover
@@carlbruhn1772 mine is a 98 so I guess that is what I'm comparing to lol
Great video Gixx, maybe a future video about the different kinds of bearings and Harley's history with them?
Thank you!! Hey that's excellent idea, they've changed it up a lot over years. We always seem to be converting back to what they used to use.
Victory bikes were amazing. Best cop bikes ever made too imo
I think victory would do amazing today. I LOVED their looks. It was hard to get word out these days it’s easy
No question - styling was too futuristic with the Victory line. The engine was spectacular. Having owned both, it was hands down the Harley legacy, mystique, community, dealer network and overall look and feel that have sold me on Harleys for over 25 years now!
That controlled misfire is the key to the Harley engine. For me it's all about feel and sound, and absolutely nothing about power. My 1989 FXRS Low Rider supposedly makes 58 hp, and I absolutely love it. I used to have a Kawasaki Vulcan 750 that was much lighter, almost half the displacement, and made about the same power. While it didn't have the low end torque of the Harley, it had a whopper of a top end, and a 9000 rpm redline. It would rev like crazy. Felt like a crotch rocket motor. But it was super boring. It had a completely even exhaust sound, you could make it louder, but it still sounded like a lawn mower. And it had no feel. It was a counterbalanced 55 degree super short stroke V twin, it had 4 spark plugs, dual carburetors, four overhead cams, four cam chains and 2 jackshafts, four cam chain tensioners and a bunch of cam chain guides, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, and it was liquid cooled. It had about twice as many parts as it actually needed. But it lacked any kind of character at all. And to me, vibration and sound is what riding a motorcycle is all about. British motorcycles of the 1950s and 1960s also got that part right. Back in the mid '80s I had a 1966 Triumph Bonneville. It was a pushrod 360 degree long stroke 650cc twin, it made a nice sound, and it would practically shake your teeth out. Then along came Honda with their CB750 inline four and ruined everything.
I’ve been riding for 20 years. I average 15k miles a year, and I’ve owned around 25 motorcycles. From my experience. All roads lead to Harley. I did enjoy the Vstrom 650 and 1000, but aside from those two. Nothing has compared to my Harleys. I can sit on my 18 year old road king all day long. I am considering an Indian to compliment my collection. I sat on one at the Daytona Indian dealership a few months ago. That thing felt like a couch.
Yep. My Electra Glide turned 20 this year. She has NEVER let me down.
Agree with you on most of what you said, i am 57 and have owned a lot of bikes over the years, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Victory, Indian and Harley and for me, all roads lead to Harley. I currently own a 2009 Rocker C, 2014 Dyna Wide Glide & 2021 Street Glide, Harley has always been one of my favourites; however, the Yamaha V star was an awesome bike, my wife and i bought twins back in 2002, she got the 2002 Yamaha v star 650 and i went with the 1100, we actually sold them in early 2021 when she gave up on 2 wheels, so we had them 19 years with no problems.
Ive owned Indian and while i did enjoy the bikes, the dealerships are the reason i sold them (sold both same year and bought a new 2021 Street Glide)
The dealerships at Indian are great when they think they will make a sale, will bend over backwards to help and answer questions; however, once the sale is made you are dead to them, sure the salesman may stick around a while and will try help but ultimately the dealerships are useless which is why i will never go back to Indian, they are OK while you have warranty, but once that is gone, the dealerships are worthless at Indian
I am waiting to see a larger version of the Rev Max engine put in a Street and/or Road Glide, when that happens, i will buy another but i will never go back to an Indian dealership EVER!
I've worked on yamaha and harleys that I've owned. Love my Harleys!!. The sound, the possibilities etc. Consistency is what has given them the edge imo. Thx for video bro🔥🧡
I loved my V-rod, it was very fast, very strong all night long
I started out riding 2 stroke dirt bikes as a teenager where you had to keep them screaming to get any power. Later, after over a million and half miles over the road doing heavy haul/oversized loads, I really appreciated torque, especially at low rpm. After this I tended to really like Nortons and even more so Harleys due to them not having to be wound out to put out reasonable torque. When I finally bought my first Harley, this last January, at the age of 66, I thought the power from the 88 TC in my ‘06 FXDWGI was adequate. But that was when I was riding it like I used to ride a friend’s ‘88 Softtail Custom, keeping it at low rpm. When I started giving this Twin Cam some rpm it really came alive. No screaming rpm, but not just leisurely tooling the backroads either. Initially I had planned cams and maybe more cubes to add some power, but after letting it have some more revs I found it to be enough for this old man. I’m going to keep my modification bucks in my back pocket, or maybe buy a new pistol.
Always wanted a Harley-Davidson since I was a small child. Rode lots of bikes and love them all, even if they are junk. The first Victory I saw was a customized V92 all dressed up with fringed leather. Too cool for old school. Found a dealer to check out The New American Motorcycle. 2004 just came out with the Victory Kingpin Tour. I fell in love. They were fixing a wrecked V92 with performance exhaust. Fired that bad boy up and revved it up. I was hooked. Not hooked enough with those little lunchbox saddlebags. I pulled the trigger in 2010 and bought a new 2009 Kingpin, 100 c.i. 6 speed. Got 3 older Harleys and love them but won't get rid of my Kingpin. Yes I was pissed when Polaris announced they were shutting down Victory Motorcycles.
If Harley changes things to much, they would probably lose a portion of the fan base. Also can you put the shelf up behind you, it just doesn’t look right without the shelf.
There is no other sound in the world like the sound of a Harley-Davidson at start up.
I've had many road bikes over 43 years - Hondas, Kawasakis, a Suzuki; all were great. But my '99 Road King is the best balanced, most fun bike I've ever owned - hands down. The low end grunt and the heavy, yet incredibly balanced feel is superb.
Im not a fanboy nor do i get emotionally attached to a machine, make or model. As a Victory owner, as well as others, i find the Vic to be rock solid. All my buddies that have riden it think the same. Even the Harley guys tell me my 100 would smoke their Harleys. As far as the look, i find them to have smooth lines that flow well. From the tank seemlessly rolling over the seat and down off the fender. Ironically, a lot of custom bikes out there end up having the same looks to them. Especially with the stretched hard bags. I still think the Vision is goofy ifeel the same about all the big touring bikes. If they were still in production they would be a top competitor.
I actually own both a Victory and a Harley Davidson. Nothing wrong with the style of the Victory bikes. For all the Harley people that say the everything copies the Harley look. That’s one of the main reasons I love my Victory Cross Country. Had absolutely no issues with the overhead cam and gear driven primary. Simple and easy oil changes that where cost effective. With a suspension on the rear with more than 2” of travel to boot. Road more then 66,000 miles and still everything with engine was original except for the oil filter and battery.
So the problem with Victory, honestly it was Polaris buying Indian what killed Victory. The money for developing Victory was gone and they pushed the same bike for 10 years that did them in. No infotainment center, Bluetooth radio, adjustable windshield, and automatic locking bags. Plus they made no updates or improvements to the 106 engine. When Polaris came out with a new 111 engine for Indian and Harley just introduced the M8 motor, put the death nail in Victory after that.
Was the aftermarket not very much. No it wasn’t but when the motorcycle you bought straight from the factory is actually what you wanted, you really don’t need a lot of additional expenses to improve the bike you already like.
A very long story short, Polaris stopped investing in Victory and that’s what killed Victory.
For that is the one and only reason I’ll never own a Indian motorcycle.
I love all motorcycles and will never sell my old Harley or my GoldWing. Both have their place in my world. I may add an ADV bike to the stable next spring as a third option.
Why gold wing tho?
@@terpy6001 …. Comfort, dependability, easy to maintain. And ……. I’m 62. I need those things when shredding miles
I know what killed Victory but I still ride a very unique 2013 Victory Vision Crossbow Trike and I get all the attention everywhere I go with it. It's super reliable and has awesome low end power from the fabulous Freedom 106 C I engine! I started riding a Victory Vision in 2009 after buying my last H D ultra classic new off the showroom floor in 2008 and was worse handling bike ever! Polaris killed Victory for Indian.... Necessary Business decision and what helps provide the great technology that makes the Indian challenger what it is today.. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I hope you've had a chance to ride the new Harleys because they ride night and day different from the 2008 models!
I love those unique Harley Vtwin engines, but also love the unique BMW boxer engines.
They stick to those flat twins since the BMW R32 in 1923, up till today.
The Harley-Davidson engine is kinda simple like a Briggs and Stratton engine. Not fast ,but lasts forever (at least the older ones)
What I felt killed Victory motorcycles (at least for me) is that the V-twin design sounded somewhat like a Harley at idle but when you got the rpm’s up a bit it sounded more like a metric motorcycle than an American V-twin. Also the styling resembled more of a custom look than classic…. I do understand that the performance was good but at the end of the day, the Victory just didn’t contain enough attractiveness in any one category to lure me away from Harley-Davidson…
The main complaint I heard from Victory riders was difficulty finding qualified technicians to service them.
Do you know anything about the screaming eagle twin Cam C &c ported heads
They aren't bad for what they are, but you can save some money and get a better port job through Hammer Performance or Feul Moto.
Back when Victory was trying to compete I was on a poker run with some friends. We were just leaving for our third stop when a guy rolled up on a brand new Cross Country. We all immediately hated the Jetsons look of the thing and when the guy got off his bike one of my friends asked him, "What happened, did you lose a bet?"
Couldn't get past Victory styling. No matter how good the bikes actually were.
No, keep the transmission separate, great video Gixx. You're getting closer to an invite to a Harley event!
My humble guesstimate would be that people who want a Harley will save for it and purchase it instead of saving a few bucks to purchase the wannabe clone
That's what I did 🍻🍻🍻
I had a XVS 1100 Yamaha, lovely bike, super comfortable, handled well but it just wasn't a Harley, even though I don't care for the Harley lifestyle. So I sold it and bought a Springer Classic. It's a work of art, I'm in my lounge looking at it because it lives in the house. Is it a better bike than the Yamaha, nope but I love it.
I did that too. Came home with a 2022 Heritage in Reef Blue/Vivid Black end of September. First Harley added to two other Asian brand bikes in my stable.
I have been a BMW fan for 40 years. Bought my first HD in 2003 heritage springer, then a Road Glide Ultra 2011. Last June 2022 Road Glide ST. Love both 🇩🇪🇺🇸
Harley is just like Jeep!
“There’s only one!”
They are also similar in that they keep improving on the original timeless design!
Since you asked: The Victory looked too progressive compared to Harleys' traditional look. I think anyone that grew up in the '30s to the '90s will have 'imprinted' to Harley and would find Victory 'odd'.
Victory styling was like The Jetsons on acid. Sort of cool, but mostly too weird.
I agree with your opinion that styling was the inherent downfall of victory.
especially that butt ugly Vision, what an ugly bike, something George Jetson would drive
For me it’s a lot of it’s about the look. The Harley sound is another factor for me. In the early ‘80s my friend and boss asked me to go along to the Yamaha dealer when he bought his 920 Virago. The dealer was pushing them pretty hard and the price he was offering almost got me to jump, but I was recently married and it was just to soon to be facing a divorce. One of the few good things that resulted from the divorce that I was drug through years later was there was no one left to nag me when I finally bought my ‘06 Dyna Wide Glide a year and a half ago. The kids don’t even mind, although they may be looking forward to an early inheritance!
I miss the stress challenged self behind you GixerFoo. I used to tune into your videos just to see how many more cans it was going to take before you ended up wearing it. For a while there I thought that might have been the reason you ended up hospitalized! Thanks for keeping your videos coming, I’ve learned a lot.
I think the overall styling of the Victory was its downfall.. I never liked the way the bikes looked.. especially the engine. Harley engines had what I thought looked like a cap or end to their cylinders, from knucklehead up to the M8. Even the flathead engines looked good. I think that’s why Indian is still around!!
I know this video is over a year old but I had a victory, a v 92 sport cruiser and I put 20k or more on it and besides the exhaust, computer chip and high flow air filter I never had to touch it and it ran great. I really didn't like the gear drive primary it was noisy and herky jerky, but otherwise it was a good solid machine
I remember when Victory came out and they had some really really janky transmissions, they sounded awful. They got them fixed and when they ended production they had some really awesome machines.
I was close to buying a victory, I test rode the ugliest best handling big bike I have ever rode. The vision. That bike handled very good for a big bike and was very smooth riding. Bought a used CVO limited instead. Never looked back
The Twin Cam and the EVO Sportster were the last Harleys to vibrate! RIP HD! ☠
What killed the Victory was greed It didn't grow as fast as the investors thought it should, when Ness sold Victory to Polaris. Then Polaris had a debate within, because they had also obtained Indian. Having the two brands in the cruiser line did not makes sense. So, the new kid on the block (Victory) got chopped. I am Hoping that Polaris at least keeps the Indian for the foreseeable future and it doesn't go by the wayside again.
My 124 Road King puts out 145 torque and 126 HP and is full as hell to ride. Aweseom in the summer when I pop the windshield of and all you see is a streak of chrome flying down the road.
Victory never got the styling right. Indian is a little off for my tastes too. God bless Mommy, Daddy, and my 97 Road King.
I have a triumph Bonneville america
I had a triumph rocket3 and a fatboy
I really prefer the triumph over the hatley
However parts availability is just so much better for the harley
The Victory’s styling did it in
That why I got rid of mine and got a gold wing says made in the USA on the valve cover plus it's a greener option no drips.
Victory killed itself ✌🏻
take a 114 and put a tourqe cam in and ss aluminum intake. 101 hp and 114 tourqe at rear wheel at 4800 rpms.thats all you need ..if I want to go fast I'll buy a sport bike..a different ride for a different situation .
I didn't buy my Harley to set land speed records. I bought it because it was a Harley.
Always hilarious when a sport bike person says Harley’s aren’t fast. I don’t wanna go fast bud. You can go on ahead…
Love your videos, very informative, thanks much 👍👍👍
I bet you my Sportster with 400000 MI will pass a leak down test better than a year Old Milwaukee 8.
Harley Davidson is more than a brand, it's a survivor, it's an heirloom product that I am willing to pay a premimum for, no other brand has the mystic and heritage of Harley Davidson. Victory wanted a premimum price for it's bikes, they were good but they weren't a Harley Davidson.
I put 46,000 trouble free miles on my victory cross country. I love that bike. I also love my road glide. We'll see which one I love more in 7 years.
I'm a visual designer. Here's my take on engine aesthetics, the more rectangular a motorcycle engine appears the less attractive it looks. Aesthetically Victory had a boxy-looking engine and their styling was a modern-looking bike. Harley styling has always had a fair amount of vintage in their overall look. They have do-dad details visible allover their engine and bike. Certain amount of busyness looks good on something mechanical. Victory's engine looked sterile.
As a former victory owner, the dealership network was weak. These bikes were part of 4 wheelers, jet skis, and even boats on the sales floor. The dedicated space to Victory and dealer supported accessories was horrible. Tim's at Murrell's inlet in South Carolina was the only dealer I ever saw that was all in to the bike side.
As always excellent video
I think that Victory was way ahead of its time, I don't think it was the style of the bikes, with the Vision being the exception. LOL I fell in love with the Cross Country, I think that was the best looking bike they made, in my opinion. I think that Victory failed because other motorcycle companies had the market sewed up, for the most part, because you had all the other brands fanboys out there. Fanboys will buy there brand no matter what, that is the reality of it, but I think Victory was and still is a great motorcycle.
Can’t comment on Victory, as I didn’t really see or hear much about them in my area of the US.
I will say, I recently got my 1st HD (2019 Road King Special) - and it’s been a unique experience transitioning from metric sport/touring bikes to the HD. The ergos, the overall feel, and good lord that roll on power…
I finally see and understand what it’s all about.
I really think there is something to the large displacement with relatively low power output.
You get the feeling of ringing out a ton of motor and the exhilaration of it without the consequences of toxic speeds that you would have in a modern water cooled 4 cylinder sport bike.
Thanks for another great video
It is most definitely the styling! they just look cheap a bit like what the chinese done to Honda style bikes
I think the v rod kinda flopped was the front half of the bike , the style of the forks , fake tank was too squashed down .
But it did run for 16 years. Not too bad.
Your AC looks like ours at the shop, 1970 model. Nice video.
Victory has a cool look and Indian is the king of the mountain for sure
I've rode Harleys for bout 23 years now started on small metric bikes when I was a young whippersnapper got my first Harley in 2000 sweet little sporty dressed up then got a 90 softie custom then climbed the mountain and got a 03 road king classic I won't ride nothin else got the best of both in the softtail custom and the twin cam look pretty cool to as far as the victory's just couldn't get around the styling and that damn tail light
I agree there is nothing like a Harley Davidson, now off course a lot of that statement in my opinion is the fit and finish of Harley Davidson compared to Victory or even Indian in my opinion is that Victory and Indian look closer to a japanese cruiser and they are try to charge a premium price for a bike that look cheap in its fit and finish. So in a nutshell for me it's the fit and Finish.
Where are you located at and what State? Love your knowledge and input
howdy brother. Good seeing you again
Hey there!
The Victory didn’t look right without the push rod tubes!....just love this push rod tubes!✅👍😊
I’ve had a lot of bikes over the decades: Hondas, Yamahas and Kawasakis. My only Harley is my favorite bike and it has been very reliable.
I still own a box stock '72 FLH I bought in 1980 and redid(no engine or tranny work.)
I'm currently redoing it for the second time since 1980(still no engine or tranny work.)
I did have to change a broken oil pump drive gear shaft about 15yrs ago, and I've been through a couple of tires, clutches, sprockets, chains, and brake pads.
I'll keep my 51yr old 74ci Shovel.
I went Stage 2 on my 2010 Ultra with Rinehart true duals and the difference was night and day.
I bought my first Harley a few years ago after a lifetime of jap and European bikes.
I love it, 2013 Road King with lots of work done and it's so nice to ride, the hauling bottom end is the best.
Never fails to make me smile
We love Harley's because they are different. It's that simple 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇦🇺🇺🇸
Several have tried, but few if any can capture the mystique of the Harley Davidson big twin. HD will in time have to bend to the demand of the market. The last Harley I bought, will be the "last" Harley I buy. I've had my 2003 Fatboy for twenty years now and I love the damn thing.