2005 Victory Hammer & 8-Ball
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3,415 Posts
Re: Can't touch this
Good one, LOL
I like the 8 ball, looks like the kind of cruiser I'd buy if I was in that market, the Suzuki dealer down the road from me carries Victory, so I check them out from time to time. Didn't see the red leather parachute pants though.... musta' been sold out.
An 80 degree riding day in October?.... this morning the windshield on my van and car was frosted, good thing I rode the bike or I'd have have to dug out my ice scraper
Good one, LOL
I like the 8 ball, looks like the kind of cruiser I'd buy if I was in that market, the Suzuki dealer down the road from me carries Victory, so I check them out from time to time. Didn't see the red leather parachute pants though.... musta' been sold out.
An 80 degree riding day in October?.... this morning the windshield on my van and car was frosted, good thing I rode the bike or I'd have have to dug out my ice scraper
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10,900 Posts
Re: Can't touch this
I like the newer Victorys also. I wish them success because the more American competition for Harley, the better. Harley is still selling us the engine upgrades right now instead of bolting 'em on from the beginning.
I just read that the Victory line makes up only about 5% of Polaris' total sales so they've got a long way to go. I've seen very few of them on the road here.
I like the newer Victorys also. I wish them success because the more American competition for Harley, the better. Harley is still selling us the engine upgrades right now instead of bolting 'em on from the beginning.
I just read that the Victory line makes up only about 5% of Polaris' total sales so they've got a long way to go. I've seen very few of them on the road here.
Those are very nice looking bikes. I think both are a little pricey though. I have decided to get a cruiser to park alongside my ZX 11 and was seriously considering a Mean Streak or a Road Warrior. Of course, both of those, especially a used one, can be had for half the price of the Hammer.
But, I am still going to check them out when I get home. By the way, those Jawas are pretty popular here on the streets of Baghdad!
But, I am still going to check them out when I get home. By the way, those Jawas are pretty popular here on the streets of Baghdad!
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17,449 Posts
That 12,999 price for the 8-Ball moves Victory down in a more reasonable price range. When you consider the cost of adding Brembos to a basic HD Superglide (which costs 11,995) the Victories are now in line with the "real thing". I'd been intersted in Voctories all along, but the 15K+ price tags were daunting for a startup company. With metric cruiser prices nearing the same range Victory just might sell a whole passel more bikes.
I just wish Victory didn't have those overtall cylinders.
Still, if I were in the market for a big V-twin the Victory would be right in consideration with the Superglide, Mean Streak and Warrior.
And Victory doesn't sport the Warrior's blooie pipe.
I just wish Victory didn't have those overtall cylinders.
Still, if I were in the market for a big V-twin the Victory would be right in consideration with the Superglide, Mean Streak and Warrior.
And Victory doesn't sport the Warrior's blooie pipe.
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17,449 Posts
Re: Can't touch this
I wonder if I could hook a snowmobile drive train up to a Victory. Then I might, just might, be able to snowmobile up to my cabin without the aggravation of my POS Polaris snowmobile. Snowmobile conversion kits might increase Polaris' market share. Someone used to sell kits for Triumph Mountain Cubs back in the 60's. Why not start again?
Who knows. It might start a new trend. Motorcycle/snowmobile convertibles.
The thought of the barhoppers cruising Yellowstone in winter with apehangers and EZ-Leakers(tm) is a bit disturbing though. Does anyone sell insulated armchaps?
I wonder if I could hook a snowmobile drive train up to a Victory. Then I might, just might, be able to snowmobile up to my cabin without the aggravation of my POS Polaris snowmobile. Snowmobile conversion kits might increase Polaris' market share. Someone used to sell kits for Triumph Mountain Cubs back in the 60's. Why not start again?
Who knows. It might start a new trend. Motorcycle/snowmobile convertibles.
The thought of the barhoppers cruising Yellowstone in winter with apehangers and EZ-Leakers(tm) is a bit disturbing though. Does anyone sell insulated armchaps?
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10,900 Posts
The tall jugs are due to the overhead cams which is why the early versions were so disjointed looking.
I think Victory's biggest problem is that they don't have an entry level bike. 13-grand ain't entry level. A lot of people have Softail tastes on a Sportster budget. You can get in the H-D kingdom for a mere 6-grand if you have to.
Lexus tarted up a Camry and put it on the lot with the LS400 when it came out. Honda will start you on a Rebel and sell you a Rune later on.
I'm afraid they'll be nibbling at the edges until they can come up with something below $10,000.
I think Victory's biggest problem is that they don't have an entry level bike. 13-grand ain't entry level. A lot of people have Softail tastes on a Sportster budget. You can get in the H-D kingdom for a mere 6-grand if you have to.
Lexus tarted up a Camry and put it on the lot with the LS400 when it came out. Honda will start you on a Rebel and sell you a Rune later on.
I'm afraid they'll be nibbling at the edges until they can come up with something below $10,000.
Re: Can't touch this
Excellent job working in the MC Hammer reference.
Perhaps the low percentage of Polaris sales that Victory comprises is as much a function of the size of Polaris as a company as to the relative small volume of bikes they sell?
I like the way Polaris is incrementally improving the Victory marque. First they came out with a functional if somewhat bland product that proved they could make a reliable motorcycle. Then they took a chance and released a highly stylized product, the Vegas. They've improved the engine along the way. Now they are getting as much as they can out of the Vegas design before (hopefully) doing their "next big thing". While they jumped into a hot cruiser market, it was a still a major risk to get into motorcycles. I think they've done a good job of taking just the right amount of risk at the right time. I hope they continue the trend.
Excellent job working in the MC Hammer reference.
Perhaps the low percentage of Polaris sales that Victory comprises is as much a function of the size of Polaris as a company as to the relative small volume of bikes they sell?
I like the way Polaris is incrementally improving the Victory marque. First they came out with a functional if somewhat bland product that proved they could make a reliable motorcycle. Then they took a chance and released a highly stylized product, the Vegas. They've improved the engine along the way. Now they are getting as much as they can out of the Vegas design before (hopefully) doing their "next big thing". While they jumped into a hot cruiser market, it was a still a major risk to get into motorcycles. I think they've done a good job of taking just the right amount of risk at the right time. I hope they continue the trend.
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3,415 Posts
Re: Can't touch this
Even with the dealer right down the road I hardly ever see one out.
I agree it's chicken-s**t of HD to sell the stage-one and two kits. With the competition and market heating up for "power cruisers" maybe they'll step up.
If they can get them past the EPA with the kits on, then it's just a money grab to make the faithful pay extra for decent performance.
Even with the dealer right down the road I hardly ever see one out.
I agree it's chicken-s**t of HD to sell the stage-one and two kits. With the competition and market heating up for "power cruisers" maybe they'll step up.
If they can get them past the EPA with the kits on, then it's just a money grab to make the faithful pay extra for decent performance.
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3,415 Posts
I thought the biggest ugly-factor on the early Victorys was the tank, and the gap between it and the fork top clamp.
A Sportster/ standard type bike from Victory would require a different engine design to fit a more standard frame. I don't think the current engine will work in anything but a cruiser platform
I guess they could shrink it down to 3/4 size and make it a 500 or something. Instead of a "Vegas" they could call it an "Indian Casino"
A Sportster/ standard type bike from Victory would require a different engine design to fit a more standard frame. I don't think the current engine will work in anything but a cruiser platform
I guess they could shrink it down to 3/4 size and make it a 500 or something. Instead of a "Vegas" they could call it an "Indian Casino"
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579 Posts
The 8-ball is what the Night Train should be.
Were I in the market for an upscale cruiser.... and well... I will be soon... There is no question that the 8-ball will get a long hard look.
No way I'd buy a harley over a victory at this point.
Were I in the market for an upscale cruiser.... and well... I will be soon... There is no question that the 8-ball will get a long hard look.
No way I'd buy a harley over a victory at this point.
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579 Posts
that's odd... There's a couple dealers within a few minutes drive of me... and there is a huge one in Murphreesboro Tn... They seem to be doing great.
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