After more than a year of building up a motorcycle that was six years in development, Victory Motorcycles executives finally gave members of the motorcycle press the keys to the first Vision motorcycles to roll off the assembly line. In mid-June, I joined my motorcycle media colleagues at Victory headquarters in Minneapolis to test ride the two versions of the Vision the Tour and the Street. The bikes are exactly the same except the Tour has a rear top pack that adds about 50 pounds to the bike.
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The question on all our minds was would the bike live up to all the hype, and did Victory accomplish what it set out to do that is build a luxury touring motorcycle that meets the style and comfort demands of its customers? Let me start to answer that by sharing my initial thoughts.
My first impressions:
1. Theyre big: From my 5-foot 6.5-inch, 30-inch inseam, 117-pound vantage point, the bikes are big 849 and 804 pounds without fluids respectively for the Tour and Street to be exact. Having spent thousands of miles each on a Honda Gold Wing and a Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, two of the biggest motorcycles out there, big doesnt intimidate me. Big just means I have to be extra careful in my footing and in my slow handling of the motorcycling.
2. Low seat: The first thing I hone in on when I sit on a motorcycle is seat height. Despite its bigness, the low seat on the Street allows me and those with similar or larger measurements to sit flatfooted with bent knees. The 26.5-inch seat height is the lowest of any of the big luxury touring bikes. Good thing. Shorter riders will benefit from the extra leg length needed to maneuver the bike when straddling it.
3. Very comfy seat: The next thing I notice is the seat. This one is extremely comfortable. Not too hard and not too soft. Victory boasts four inches of padding. I like how it curves up around my butt and lower back providing extra support. On these bigger bikes, I usually have to scoot up to reach the handlebars. Since the position of the bars is ergonomically correct for my body size, I enjoyed the comfort of the entire saddle. (See photo of me on bike above.) Riders slightly smaller than me as well as those larger will easily “fit” on the Vision. I noticed my male colleagues (of varying sizes, mind you) also enjoying the friendly ergonomics. Interesting how Victory could make a bike fit both a woman like me of average height as well as a guy 6-foot-2. Kudos for rider fitment!
4. Lots of cool gadgets: The coolest, I think, is the interface the bike has with an iPod. Victory worked exclusively with Apple to provide an accessory plug on the bike that connects only to an iPod. The rider can control the iPod using the bikes handlebar mounted audio controls and listen to it through the bikes external speakers. No need to use earphones. An iPod essentially replaces the need for a CD player. Note that this is an accessory item. All Visions come with MP3 player plug as standard equipment.
5. Tip-over protection:
I was real keen on the tip-over protection feature built into the bike. Victory engineers are well aware the Vision is big so they incorporated a metal “step” near each passenger footboard that sticks out just far enough that when the bike tips over it lands on the edge of that step preventing the bike from tipping over further and damaging it.
6. On-the-fly windshield adjustment: Vision models equipped with the premium feature package come with a windshield thats electronically adjustable. A button on the handlebar moves the windshield up or down on the fly, meaning it can be done while riding. Comes in handy when, say, youve turned onto a highway from a country road where you require more wind protection. Bikes not equipped with the premium package can adjust the windshield manually when the bike is stopped, of course.
7. Wind deflectors: Winglets, as theyre called, are nothing new, but they dont usually come standard on a motorcycle. The Vision is equipped with plastic side wind deflectors that can be manually moved to adjust air flow. Anyone whos used these gadgets know they make a significant difference in how much air flows towards the rider and passenger for a cooler ride. Oh, and the come in two different shades smoke and clear.
8. Extra large footboards: This allows riders to reposition his or her feet while riding. Feet can be stretched out far or placed right below the knees. The floorboards are that long. No matter what size your feet are, youll like this feature. On my long 400-mile test ride, I used the whole floorboard to reposition my legs many times. The passenger footboards, on the other hand, are a standard size a little smaller than my size nine boots and dont allow for any repositioning of the passengers feet.
9. Small saddlebags: I was disappointed with the storage capacity of the side compartments. The large cover gives the illusion theyre roomy. Press the lockable latch to open and youll find theres barely enough room to stuff a mans leather jacket in there. In fact, I dont think it would fit because my leather/textile mix jacket could barely fit. I tried to stuff my backpack in there, which included my camera case and personal items (wallet, lipstick, hairbrush, etc.) and it wouldnt fit. I had to take the camera case out and put it in separately on the other side.
The closure of the compartments seems flimsy to me as well. I was never sure if the side compartment was completely closed. The feel and closure sound dont feel and sound like its closed. Thats the only way to describe it. When it is closed there is a small gap where the side cover meets the bike. The two edges dont meet which made me think it was still open. I think this design could be improved. With that said, Im told the models we were riding were pre-production units. The models that customers receive starting in the fall will have body components that fit better.
9.Top pack decent: The size of the rear top pack on the Tour version is competitive with the size of the Gold Wings in that it can fit two full face helmets. That should give you an idea of its size.
10. Intuitive dash: Call me old fashioned, but Im not a fan of digital dashes thats why I like the the Visions all analog face. A big analog speedo and separate tachometer are flanked by an analog fuel gauge and temperature gauge. I can deal with the one control that is digital that shows you what gear youre in, and calculates mileage and gas consumption a bazillion different ways.
11. Comfortable back seat: I spent about 180 miles on the passenger seat of both the Street and the Tour. Mega comfort and lots of room. The passenger seat is very important to Victory as executives are aware of how much women will influence the buying decision of this motorcycle. I have to say this rear seat felt much like my time spent in the passenger seat of a Gold Wing (reviewed on the Passenger Page of WRN). You’re seated just above the rider, and when the windshield is moved up to its max position and the winglets are flexed out wind buffeting is reduced considerably. I’ll write more about my time spent on the back seat of the Vision in an upcoming review on the WRN Passenger Page.
12. Smooth ride: Enough of the creature comforts you’re thinking! Tell me about the ride! OK, OK. It’s smooth, very smooth. Victory has its new 106 cubic inch engine dialed in just right on the Vision, with plenty of power and torque right when you need it. Considering this bike is so heavy at more than 800 pounds, the engine is powerful enough to propel it forward with ease. Roll-on is crisp and responsive; the bike tracks well. Considering this a first year motorcycle, I was very impressed with how the engine was right on. At speed, the bike coasts along and goes right where you want it. Much like riding the Gold Wing, the Vision felt very “light” at speed.
So is the Vision a motorcycle women would enjoy? And does Victory care about marketing this bike to women at all? Click here to find out and read some background on the development of this groundbreaking motorcycle.
When you’re through reading the articles, click on TheVictoryVision.com to read more about the bike.
Excellent article (as are all of your articles)! What an interesting bike. I have an 07 Gold Wing that I absolutely love, but boy if I were in the market for a touring bike I'd certainly look at Victory. May go test ride one. Always enjoy your newsletter Gen. I always gain new knowledge. Keep up the good work.
Where can one buy an iPod plug. I have just an auxillary cable? Thanks in advance. Awesome article!
Turns out, the iPod plug was a special accessory equipped on our test models only. Standard equipment on Vision models accept only regular MP3 player plugs.
My wife and I love your Web site. She asked me to write you and tell you about our experience test driving a new Polaris Victory Vision. The ergonomics of the passenger seat were designed for use only by very long legged women. My wife is 5' 1″ 107 lbs. When she sat in the passenger seat, her feet dangled six inches above the passenger floor boards, which were not adjustable. And worse, the side luggage compartment covers come so far forward and stick out so much that she was unable to sit in the seat without great discomfort.
She insisted that I test drive the Victory Vision on my own. I loved it, but would never buy one because my wife always tours with me as my passenger. I am sure that I am not the only one who has a wife/passenger with an inseam of less than 30 inches. Everything else is near perfect except the passenger seat ergonomics. I am sure this will cost Victory at least 10-20 percent of potential sales since many wives like to ride with their husbands.
Hey Genevieve,
I had to write and tell just how on point you were on your evaluation of the Vision. This past September I drove down to Maryland to test ride the Vision and I totally agree with you on everything. Being only 5'8″ I can really relate on the inseam issue. I was so comfortable on the bike that the first ride I found myself creeping alone in traffic without feeling ineasy at all. That's something you usually feel after riding a bike for a while. I seemed to not feel that I was sitting on the bike but almost that I was sitting in the bike. It's so easy for the rider and the bike to become one. That might sound a bit poetic but that's how I felt during the test ride.
It's not so much what the bike does overly great, but what's important to me is that it doesn't do anything wrong. Victory has been hitting the ball with everyones' feeling and needs with the whole line and I feel with the Vision they've hit the ball out the park. I'll be retiring soon and I'm seriously considering the Vision as the retirement present to myself. Hope to see you guys out on the road. Ride safe, smart, and straight.