[ringo912]

Anyone have experience with the Victory bikes? My son really wants a Fatboy but it is out of his price range. He is looking at an 03" Victory V92C, 92CI 1507 cc. Any input would be appreciated.

[Goose]

They're reliable, decent designs mechanically. Arlen Ness has never been one of my favorite designers and he's the inspiration, it seems, for Victory now days. I don't know a whole lot about 'em, but I know a little more about Polaris ATVs. They are not up to the Japanese in design, in some ways, but they hold up pretty well unless abused. I say this because I have a regular Polaris using commercial customer who does environmental contract work and has been working in the area. WOW, do those guys know how to tear crap up. I've been all through the ATVs, very modern in design, though like anything else, they goof once in a while.

I've not worked on any of the motorcycle products, but would expect them to be little different in design and execution to the ATVs mechanically. They do have good, solid motors. Style and such are matters of personal taste. That new touring Victory..... WAAAAY too Arlen Ness for my tastes. What is it called, Vision, I think? Anyway, it's also pricey, another problem with 'em new. For what they cost, you can run down to the Harley shop and buy the real thing cheaper! This is why our local Polaris/Victory dealer dropped the Victory line. He told me even his buddies would show up on Harleys after they'd talked to him about Victory. LOL! I haven't a clue about used Victory pricing, though. But, I think if the new Victories were priced realistically, as with metric cruisers, they'd sell like hotcakes being American made. They can't hope to compete one on one with HD, though, let alone being priced HIGHER. Amazingly, though, they seem to be turning a profit. They're selling enough of 'em SOMEwhere to SOMEbody, I guess.

[SPORSTERBOY]

They Use To Be The Harley Alternative For American Made Bikes, But Like Was Said Got To Pricey, When You Can Go Buy A Harley, Kinda Like The Indian Thing, Basicly Your S&s Bolt On Crusier With A Name. Can't Say I'm A Arlen Ness Fan Either, Your Everyday Chopper Guy Gone Yuppie. I Guess If Your Out To Make The Money. Same Thing With All Your Discovery Network Guys. Myself I'm A Billy Lane Fan, I Like His Work, And Still A Every Day Joe. Mainly It's All About What You Want To Ride, Price Shouldn't Be The Issue, I'm Sure You Can Find Any Of Your Common Brands At A Reasonable Price. The Mistake Will Be, If You Want A Harley No Matter What Else You Buy, You'll Still Wish You Got That Harley.

[ringo912]

I don't like the Ness designs myself. The Victory Vision looks hideous to me, something George Jetson would ride.

The Victory 92ci looks like a knockoff Fatboy. The newer Victory's are all Nessed out, and of course the price is Nessed out too. My son can get an 03' with 7K on it for about $6-8K. He has about $9K to work with, won't find a Fatboy for that price. I'm sure he'll get the fatboy down the road, but wants to ride and for now, has to ride what he can afford.

Speaking of Billy Lane, what ever happen with his court case for killing the old guy on the moped?

[Goose]

I've ridden a few. My fravorite was probably the butt ugliest they've ever built, but handled well and had good brakes, the SC for sport cruiser. It didn't sell, of course, as most cruiser buyers buy on looks rather than function and this thing looked, well, not good. LOL! I ain't into floorboards at all. The older ones all seemed to come set up with floorboards. I want pegs and normal controls and, if possible, forward touring pegs on what i ride. I don't like forward controls, either, and that's the tack they've taken in the Arlen Ness years. So, well, I've just never been real interested in anything they've built to this point. But, it's mostly on personal taste, not mechanical flaws or anything. They run well, hold up well.

[FlynDutchman]

Originally Posted by ringo912

I don't like the Ness designs myself. The Victory Vision looks hideous to me, something George Jetson would ride.

I think George would have something a lot cooler....

[Lucifer]

I would say if he really wants a Fat Boy to go look for one thats a few years old.The prices on used HD's is getting reasonable now. He could find an Evo FatBoy for prolly less than the 03 Ness Victory and would still have 100,000 or more good miles left in it. Like the guy above said if he wants a FatBoy and gets a Victory he'll still be wanting a FatBoy. Then when his wallet fattens up sell or trade the FatBoy for a newer version if he still wants to.

[skull2007]

other than the looks i've never heard anything bad about them. heard they have great customer service

[AFNurse]

I will NOT profess to be fully knowledgeable on Victory, but I know a few things.... It is a company that began in Clear Lake Iowa (not a clue what year!). I have a friend that has a small business of reviewing bikes for manufactures....not sure it is published data, but basicly, he gets a couple bikes off the line, and wrings them out.....then writes up a report for the company. He told me that "IF he had to cut back from the 6-7 bikes that he has in his garage down to only 1....he would strongly consider Victory"..... They run hard, service easily, and he has one bike that has over 100K of HARD riding (going through all the paces) that has only required routine maintance...oil and such..... HE was sold enuf on it that he convinced a few people to look hard enuf at them that they bought...he has no financial interest in Victory, so did not gain anything.....all those that got Victory have exceedingly happy with them.....Now, I don't know much about the new ones...most the info I have was from the bikes that were 2+ years old.

[strickt9Rob]

That's funny because my son's thinking,the same way. I went with him to a dealer.and I know a couple a guy's that own and ride them .They're pretty reliable, and have nice lines to them.There's a sh*t load of after market crap for them.Just like everything else today. Good way to work your way into the real thing.I think they come 100 ci ? Havn't heard anything bad about them it's The New American Motorcycle.I think he's looking at the Vagas 8 Ball or Jackpot. He's my younger son so at least he's looking at a cruiser. My oldest is still riding 70 percent of the time with his front wheel in the air on his 07 1000RR....kid's for ya................later

[cowboy]

my son-in-law has A 07 100 in vegas 8 ball , very fast 7 very reliable ,I have talked to many owners of the 100 in & the 92 in & all seem to real like the bike , talk to one guy with the arlenn mess & he said he paid way to much for it , the paint & bigger tire was not worth the extra money as the engine are set the same as the 8 ball my son-in-laws has the short pipes & remapp & his 8 ball is sport bike fast , it holds the road in corners we all did a blue bonnet ride last year & some sport bikes tried him on & they all wanted to know what kinda of bike it was when they finnley cought up to him , he was stopping for a smoke

[ringo912]

Thanks for all the responses, I'll pass it along to my son. Sounds like their a pretty good machine.