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shotgunpipes
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2009
Total Posts : 2

Posted 9/18/2009 7:56 AM (GMT -8)

...then I came across an article saying that Sonny Barger swears by the Victory Vision. This must be some bike if a loyal rider of Harley's for 40+ years is now making the switch.

Being new to the game, how much should I read into this? Is Victory the real deal while Harley is living off their image?

Thanks in advance for the guidance.

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CaddmannQ
Random Moto-geek

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 17145

Posted 9/18/2009 8:16 AM (GMT -8)

I don't know what Victory paid Sonny to say that, but I suspect it wasn't trivial. OTHO I've heard he slanders Harley from time to time. My feeling is that he's pissed at Harley because they don't make a better bike and have continually lost credibility since the 60's.

Still the Victory is a really nice machine.

I don't care for the Vision so much, but the past few weeks I've been riding with a guy who owns a Victory Kingpin, and it is a really nice bike. Clean looking, powerful, tight, and lighter, it really just runs away from my Nomad, on any road.

My Nomad routinely runs away from stock Harleys.

His bags are really small though, and though the bags on the Vision look huge too, they're really small inside. All that swoopy bodywork is mostly dead space. Go look inside one and you'll be amazed they didn't get more use out of all that plastic.

"When in doubt, ride."
Cadd................................Clovis CA
2004 Nomad 1500............"Baggins"
caddmannq at yahoo dot com

http://hooligancruisers.proboards102.com

martinjmpr
08 Triumph Scrambler

Date Joined Jun 2003
Total Posts : 4196

Posted 9/18/2009 9:17 AM (GMT -8)

Other than being the leader of the HA 40 years ago, what are Barger's qualifications to judge motorcycles?

If some gang member/rapper said the SIG was a better pistol than the Glock it wouldn't mean a damn thing to me because I would have no respect for the man nor any confidence that he is in any way a competent judge of firearms just because he carries one.

Martin

Englewood, CO (Denver suburb)

UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) Fanatic

Vintage Rice, a tribute to the UJM

martinjmpr
08 Triumph Scrambler

Date Joined Jun 2003
Total Posts : 4196

Posted 9/18/2009 9:19 AM (GMT -8)

What's Barger's next gig going to be?

Late night infomercial huckster?

Dancing with the Stars?

Celebrity Rehab?

Martin

Englewood, CO (Denver suburb)

UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) Fanatic

Vintage Rice, a tribute to the UJM

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 9/18/2009 10:16 AM (GMT -8)

shotgunpipes said...

Being new to the game

A Vision is not the bike for you.

I've ridden several, and they are a handful at slow speeds. Even compared to my old Goldwing 1800.

Taking advice from a convicted felon like Ralph Hubert 'Sonny' Barger also is something I don't do...

Pick better role models.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

Smitty
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 18448

Posted 9/18/2009 10:20 AM (GMT -8)

To me with sportbikes, to personally made Cafe Racers (some yrs prior to big four with sportbikes), to a love for 250cc ex-road racers to the Yamaha RZ to RD350LC screamers the Victory bike simply looks massive in size.

Sorry to say this, for in reality, I do not make any comments on Cruisers or HD bikes. Also some yrs back the Victory people were in asking us if we would like to handle their oncomming bike. When I said "I take you are refering to a Cruiser & not a dirt comp bike" his answer was YES they would be coming out with a dirt bike to also a road racer" I still rejected the idea & sure enough it was a cruiser though QUITE interesting & somewhat different to a HD of the attempts of the Big Four in JPN with their early cruisers. I guess this is all due to being 79 yrs of age, of riding in '46 to now & from '47 to '89 into basically dirt competition. i have always had this love for light to easy to handle bikes to being one of the first to start into comp with 200cc two-stroke engine due to ease of handeling. Which in time & different makers I started to win & so up came 250cc from Bultaco, Montesa, Ossa, to also some other European bikes to the big four doing the same thing against the most powerful HD could offer, like on the Daytona & such.

Times tend to change I must admit, like I really am not sold on a Goldwing once they added all the ruddy extras. The original 1100 was an ideal cruiser, though still to big for my liking as 750cc was BIG to me then.

Remember all the others on the road are crazy & out to kill you.

Post Edited (Smitty) : 9/18/2009 6:28:59 PM GMT

ianisme
Typical Bloody Brit!

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 8110

Posted 9/18/2009 11:30 AM (GMT -8)

Jeez, he's one ugly SOB. I wouldn't take his advice on anything.

Peekamoo!

Richard47
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2004
Total Posts : 3953

Posted 9/18/2009 11:42 AM (GMT -8)

The bike don't look too good either IMO.

Toilet Brush Dog Owner

ghunt81
Finally cruisin'

Date Joined Jun 2007
Total Posts : 353

Posted 9/18/2009 12:05 PM (GMT -8)

Nah.

Looks like he's in pretty good shape for being 70 and having a hole in his neck, though.

'08 V-star 1100 Midnight Custom
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'94 Ford F250 4x4 diesel
'78 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin-sold
Morgantown, WV- Home of the Mountaineers!

GeoffG
Harley Ninja!

Date Joined Jun 2003
Total Posts : 9196

Posted 9/18/2009 7:38 PM (GMT -8)

Desmolicious said...

shotgunpipes said...

Being new to the game

A Vision is not the bike for you.

I've ridden several, and they are a handful at slow speeds.

I agree with Desmo...I've ridden a Vision, and it's a large, heavy bike--not one I'd wanna learn to ride on.

Triumph Guy
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2008
Total Posts : 1274

Posted 9/18/2009 8:22 PM (GMT -8)

So many years of riding lost. However there is fame I guess, if fame is important. Rather just ride and enjoy life's simple pleasures.

Asphalt the greatest tattoo remover.

EdbearNZ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1047

Posted 9/18/2009 11:09 PM (GMT -8)

Style is a funny thing. I actually think the Vision looks okay, but Cadd's point about room in the bags is an interesting one. My "little", C50T has about the roomiest bags of any cruiser I've come across, including the C90T, yet I reckon they look good as well.

As for weight, at 246kg, (540lb) dry it is lighter than most and also simply walks away from any other cruiser in the twisties, especially Harley's which can't stay within a long sight even when I'm not trying. Top gear acceleration was equal to my Bro-in-laws 1340 Softail, both of us two-up, although the new 1600 was able to pull away and my other Bro-in-law's C90 could pull ahead on the hills where I had to drop to fourth to keep up. Not bad for "only" 805cc.

Pic is my brother and his partner at their place but shows the bags.

Dyslexics Have More Nuf.

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GAJ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763

Posted 9/19/2009 10:54 AM (GMT -8)

I like the Victory line, though I've never ridden one.

The "8 Ball" looks cool.

shotgunpipes
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2009
Total Posts : 2

Posted 9/21/2009 9:10 AM (GMT -8)

Thanks for all the feedback. While I agree Sonny isn't getting nominated for any image awards soon, I do think he's going to ride the bike that best fits his needs, and for him to "make the switch" told me that when you take image out of the equation, Victory makes a superior product.

From my POV, I feel cooler when I ride a Harley, but the Victory's ride feels much better.

How much should resale value enter in to this equation?

Thanks

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 9/21/2009 10:35 AM (GMT -8)

Don't bother w/ resale value. Get the bike you want. Any bike's value plummets if you actually ride it and put miles on it.
it's about enjoying yourself...

Børk! Børk! Børk!

Richard47
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2004
Total Posts : 3953

Posted 9/21/2009 11:57 AM (GMT -8)

I've had many bikes since the sixties, the thought of their value when I had finished with them never once entered my head.

Toilet Brush Dog Owner

Treefort
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2006
Total Posts : 2125

Posted 9/21/2009 8:46 PM (GMT -8)

shotgunpipes said...
I feel cooler when I ride a Harley, but the Victory's ride feels much better.

I'll answer like this. In 10,000 miles of riding, would you rather "feel cooler" or have a bike that rides "much better?"

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.

Jimmy Carter

CrossStateLines
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2009
Total Posts : 34

Posted 9/22/2009 4:23 PM (GMT -8)

martinjmpr said...
What's Barger's next gig going to be?

Late night infomercial huckster?

Dancing with the Stars?

Celebrity Rehab?

Well, he could be a stand in for Billy Mays?.......

louemc
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 15451

Posted 9/23/2009 1:31 PM (GMT -8)

shotgunpipes said...
...then I came across an article saying that Sonny Barger swears by the Victory Vision. This must be some bike if a loyal rider of Harley's for 40+ years is now making the switch.

Being new to the game, how much should I read into this? Is Victory the real deal while Harley is living off their image?

Thanks in advance for the guidance.

Who says Sonny Barger is a Harley loyal? He has said it was the worst bike (don't remember the exact words or context, though).

Focus the forces, Be The Force

Andy VH
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Apr 2005
Total Posts : 3999

Posted 10/8/2009 9:51 PM (GMT -8)

I agree about "resale value". Buy it to ride it and enjoy it. If resale value is a concern, buy it and don't ride it, and you'll still loose at least 1/3 the bike value. Besides, HD resale values are dropping since there are so damn many of them in the used bike market.

I'm not much a fan of crusier style bikes, but if I were to buy one, I'd opt for a Victory over a Harley. At least the Victory comes with some engine right from the start. It doesn't take Sonny Barger to convince me of that. The Vision does little for me, but the new Cross Roads and Cross Country look pretty nice. Guess I'm an old fart bike wise.

Many of the old, old HD guard gave up on HD loyalty as soon as AMF showed up and just after the Shovelhead was replaced by the Evo engine. Sonny goes back to the early days of the Shovelhead and Panheads. I do like a quote he made once, something like, "only dogs understand the feeling of having the wind blast you in the face like when you are riding a bike" in response to trying to explain to non-riders what is the attraction of riding.

Training, the best safety and performance "equipment" you can get!

Get MSF trained, check out: http://www.msf-usa.org

Geddy
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2009
Total Posts : 6

Posted 10/9/2009 10:03 PM (GMT -8)

I'm getting a Vision or an XC next spring, and I just got a Jackpot last Saturday...I love it so far

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www.chopsueycycles.com
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2009
Total Posts : 8

Posted 10/10/2009 12:42 AM (GMT -8)

i have a tendency to say, if you want it done right, do it yourself.

and if you dont have the tools or ability to do it, then let someone who can.

i build bikes here in phoenix az, and sonny lives just 15 minutes up the road, and hangs at a local bar in cave creek. he rides a victory because he probably didnt have to pay for it, and it is a smoother skooter than any harley. and harley kinda sucks now.

buy what ever bike you want. i dont believe in any of the so called "made in america" bikes.- mostly junk. but i have heard nothin but good about the victory.

btw- who the hell cares what sonny rides?

www.chopsueycycles.com -home of the "cheaper chopper"

602.717.5550

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 10/13/2009 8:47 AM (GMT -8)

www.chopsueycycles.com said...

i dont believe in any of the so called "made in america" bikes.- mostly junk.

Sez the guy with one post who is trying to sell his "not made in america" junk...

Børk! Børk! Børk!

www.chopsueycycles.com
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2009
Total Posts : 8

Posted 10/13/2009 9:15 AM (GMT -8)

IN CASE YOUR IGNORANT MIND DIDN'T PICK UP ON IT, I WILL POINT OUT THAT MY JOIN DATE IS OCTOBER OF 09. SO 1 POST IS ALL I HAVE DONT JUST YET.

GOOD TO SEE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHO THE HATERS ARE, THOUGH. KEEP THAT AMERICAN HATE, I MEAN "PRIDE" GOING STRONG THERE FELLA.

OH, AND BTW...YOUR "MADE IN AMERICA" IS MOSTLY MADE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. SHOULD BE TITLE- "ASSEMBLED IN AMERICA BY FOREIGN PARTS"- LOL. BUT KEEP THE MINDSET GOING STRONG, HATER.

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 10/13/2009 10:03 AM (GMT -8)

I saw the junk you are selling. 'Nuff said.
You want to see how this is done right, then check out

http://kottmotorcycles.com/Kott_Motorcycles/Home.html

Those are sweet Japanese modded bikes. Done right. Does that make me a 'hater'?

But nice try baggin on other bikes to sell your own.
What you should have done is said "here is an alternative at a great price'.

Hey, at least you doubled your post count!

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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