Victory 8-ball - Harley Forum

stephenw · #1 09-24-2009, 11:17 AM

I love the look of them. And they seem like great value.
I'm on my second Sportster now after having enough of being bent in two on sportsbikes.
I use my bike all year around and find the sportster fantastic. It's built like a tank. I gave it air suspension and it's a great bike.
As I live miles from anywhere I have to do all my own servicing. I gather the intervals are 2500 miles on the Victory against 5000 on the Sportster.
Are they a bike suited to year 'round riding and home servicing?
Are they as well built as Harleys?

There's no one selling Victory bikes here so I'd have to make a trip over to the UK to get a spin on one.
Is it worth making the trip or am I better sticking with Harleys and if I want bigger looking at a Dyna?

botzman · #2 09-28-2009, 07:07 AM

A friend of mine has a Victory. He's looking to unload it and buy a Harley. He's having tranny problems and all the dealers here on Long Island have vanished except one. The one still available seems to be totally uninterested in repairing this bike. Honestly, I dont think they know how to fix it. Calls to Polaris were useless. Dont know how others have faired with Victory but my buddy has had enough. He took it to an indy shop who called the manufacturer. They were told there is no tech support and if the dealership cant help basically your on your own. I rode this bike briefly to try and diagnose the problem. I couldnt get off it fast enough. What a load. It is an older model so maybe the newer ones are better. Based on what I experienced I wouldnt buy one. Good luck though. Enjoy whatever you buy.

street bob · #3 09-28-2009, 02:44 PM

No support for Victory, especially out on the road.
I wouldn't buy one!!!!

stephenw · #4 09-29-2009, 06:06 AM

Thanks fellas. You've made up my mind.

Crimsonaro · #5 09-29-2009, 12:01 PM

I'll take the opposite stance on a few things. I own a numbered Victory. There is only 436 Vics older then mine. I just took it on a 1000 mile Iron Butt ride this summer. Put 1470 miles on it in two day. I really love the bike.

Now admittedly, it is a first year bike. I did my research and knew the issues they had before purchasing it. There is several issues. The only big one being the tranny. They sucked. Depending on how you rode them they could die early or go along ways. After buying the upgrade at owners expense the older bikes are fantastic. Support at dealers for the older bikes is the worst of all. Fortunately here in Minneapolis I know at least one "original" dealer that is really good.

Dealers.... If your used to the huge dealer network that HD has and won't be happy with less, then DON'T buy a Vic. You will be sorely disappointed. Vic does not have the dealer network mature-ity that HD has. 10 years is a lot different then... How long has it been? The economy and dealer closings over the last year or so has made it even worse.

The bikes... The new bikes are leaps and bounds over the older ones. It's amazing the progress that Victory has made in only 10 years. I rode an 8-Ball on a demo days ride last summer. That was an amazing bike. I was following the lead guy and pushing him and we were flying.

If you really want to know what they are like, try to find a place to test ride one. You would be wise to try and get opinions from both crowds and accept the inherrant bias that we all have. Ask similar questions on www.thevmc.com . It is a Victory website and you will of course get very one sided pro-vic opinions.

Needless to say I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. I think they both rock, but make sure you know the pros and cons before making your decision.

Botz. I know some people that know some really good dealers out there on the east coast. There is a friend here in Minnesota that just broke an AMA land speed record at Bonnieville on a Vic this summer. His engine was built by Loyd's some where out there on the east coast. I can ask around if you like, but more then likely it is a long haul from your at. I can ask around if you like.

Gotta run.

botzman · #6 09-29-2009, 01:00 PM

Crimsonaro,

Thanks for your input. My friends bike is also a first year Victory. His tranny is toast. Clunking, clanking, you name it...its doing it. I dont know what he plans to do. If you do know a good dealer on the east coast I'll gladly forward the info along. Thanks. Mike

Crimsonaro · #7 09-30-2009, 01:52 AM

Botz. I'll put out the feelers as soon as I can. In the middle of moving right now, so I will probably get busy over the next several days. Feel free to remind me at any time. I will say clunks while shifting is normal, but it sounds like he has it far worse. In 07' Victory offered a rebate program that consisted of half price parts, but the owner still had to pay full labor. Saved about around $750 or so. Unfortunately that expired and they won't honor it now. To get a tranny replaced on a first year 99' is pretty expensive. I think in the neighborhood of $3500 give or take. It costs more for Vics like mine and his because we have to upgrade the trapezoid toothed belt to a round toothed belt. Basically more pulleys. You would have to really want to keep the bike to justify it.

I do know a guy selling an entire engine that he says has the upgraded tranny out of his wrecked 99'. Shipping would suck and I don't know what he wants for it. I was considering it myself since I still have the original tranny, but I can't spend that cash right now and don't yet need the upgrade. I'll ask him what he wants for it just in case.

Sorry Stephen. I kind of hi-jacked your thread.

If you do make it to the UK dealer, ask them about the new 2010 Crossroads and/or Crosscountry. You probably can't test ride one yet, but they are touted to be the best handling Vic on the market. Supposed to even be better then the spaceship(Vision). I road a Vision once. I was amazed at how nimble that big bike felt. Almost like riding a feather. Only problem with the CR or CC is it is a relatively new platform. Best to purchase that on a second year or later bike. There is always potential for flaws in new models.

In answer to your home service question. Most things are pretty home serviceable. Specially if you have service manual. I can't speak from person experience on the reliability of the newer bikes, but the pro-vic camp I hang out in rarely has issues. but of course opinions vary greatly.

Tony

stephenw · #8 09-30-2009, 06:55 PM

Thanks Tony (& everyone else),

What you had to say was interesting.

Haulen Ass · #9 10-08-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by botzman

Crimsonaro,

Thanks for your input. My friends bike is also a first year Victory. His tranny is toast. Clunking, clanking, you name it...its doing it. I dont know what he plans to do. If you do know a good dealer on the east coast I'll gladly forward the info along. Thanks. Mike

Not sure where you are in NY but you can check out
Utica to Old Forge New York, Yamaha, Polaris, ATV, Motorcycle, Dealer, White Lake Polaris in the Adirondacks by Old Forge
or
RochesterThunder.com - Fall Into Savings Sale in Rochester, NY
Rochester Thunder is closing down its bike sales but parts and service are still open.