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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Fellow Riders
Today I dropped off my VV to get the reverse kit installed. I had the opportunity to talk with the Victory mechanic. He shared with me that he is seeing little things slip when it comes to fit and finish on some of the Victorys they are getting in. Case in point, he opened up the left side saddle bag. He should me the scuffing that is occurring between the top lip of the saddle bag and where it meets the rear valance/tail section. Chris, has been taking it on his own to add a protective rubber strip to stop this from occurring. He also said he has passed along a number of quality issues on to Victory and Victory has not pushed back on any of them. Victory is sending out tech bulletins to their dealerships for the things Chris has submitted. I will try to get more details on the issues he is seeing.
The mechanic contributes the slack attitude in quality to Polaris' focus on their ramping up the Indian product line.
This may be writing on the wall where Polaris is heading???? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I bougth my first Victory in Nov 2007 and learned quickly, while the bike is quality, fit and finish falls short. I like riding too much to hassle over stuff that doesn't matter in the long run, I have a go bike, not a show bike. I know that cranks some folks, but I made the mistake of "fussing" about the dimples in the saddle bags (anyone remember those in the '08) and had my bike held hostage by the dealer during the month of June, waiting for Victory to respond. It's the only time I was mad and let them know it so they finally released by bike after they completed there service they were suppose to do the day they got it. So with that said, Victory is not slipping, that is just the way it is. If he hasn't been getting the bad bikes until now, he can count himself lucky. With that said, I feel the fit and finish is acceptable, just not a Bentley and realize that so I'm happy. Indian on the other hand, ought to be superb in fit and finish. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | You should have been around back in the early days of Victory.
They're way more better now.
Ronnie |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| I agree with Varyder to a point..Some issues are just not worth worrying about on the Vision and other Victory bikes..But some are...I have had no mechanical issues, as yet, on both my Vic's but as far as fit and finish is concerned, Victory has a lot to learn from HD and Honda..Granted Vic has only been in the bike business a few short years, but on a $22,000 bike like mine, there is a lot to be desired on the fit and finish of the bike...JMHO |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | I don't think you really have too much to be concerned with. Paint quality has dramatically improved over older models. Most things have gotten better overall and manufacturing has improved. Best thing to do in your predicament is RIDE, JUST RIDE! |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | Awe the good old days |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | All...I love my VV and I have no issues with the fit and finish. I am just sharing what a mechanic shared with me. He has been working on Victorys for many years and has prepped a lot of Victorys over the years while working at the dealership. He was just sharing his observations.
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Cruiser
Posts: 76
| Since Victory and Indian are seperate companys I don't seee cwhere one would effect the other. Just my opinion! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Actually, isn't it the opinion of your mechanic? Let's try this, take any vehicle and look for defects. How many Toyotas, Hondas, GMs and Fords have had recalled over the years?
Someone praised Honda of course you forget the broken frames on the Goldwing starting in 2004. Maybe if you do research BEFORE stating your opinion less mistakes will be made?
Many people say that Americans don't build them like the foreign manufacturers but isn't the person saying that an American worker?
There will always be "defects", "mistakes" made in everything even machine built parts.
I hope no one expects a manufacturer to change anything over night? Research has to done as to the cause, then a solution has to be found and then it has to be acted on. When I built submarines it normally took 4 years before a drawing was updated to the new change. Of course there would be engineering notices during that time. Like anywhere the biggest problem is people not taking the time to read the paperwork. They assume everything is the same as when they last built it.
HD quality? Does anyone else remember all the oil leaks before AMF bought them? It was not HD that solved them. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 134
, MO | Good post red! But I know more than a few hd that still leak oil and they are new....lol |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Hey RonBou
Yes they are 2 seperate companies but they roll up to their parent/corporate company - Polaris. Polaris makes the calls when it comes to where they are going to invest etc.
Thanks to everyone for the great input. I absolutely agree. What I found interesting though....the mechanic submitted whatever issues he was seeing and Victory agreed with him. The tipping point is Victory acted upon his input and issued service bulletins. If it was just fit and finish issues I'm sure Victory would have said thanks but no thanks. The bottom line is ITS A GREAT MOTORCYCLE and I am proud to be an owner and a member of this awesome forum! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 170
Barrington, NH | I have seen that "rub" you are refering to on many 08 Visions as well, the lighter the color the more obvious it is. I am with varyder, I care more about the ride than the look! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | The way I read it, two seperate companies, share no employees except for one. One parent corporation. Victory is what it is. Quality is what it is. They aren't drawing off any talent from employee group or money pool to fund one subsidiary or the other..........The fit on my 2013 is better than the 2008 I still have, and it ( the 2008 ) is not bad.............
That being said: I can't wait to see the new Chief this August/ September..........
Edited by XRsteve 2013-05-01 8:24 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | copatlarge - 2013-04-30 8:24 AM
Good post red! But I know more than a few hd that still leak oil and they are new....lol
+1
I like that a mechanic is interested enough to let Ma Vic know about an issue, and even more impressive is that Ma Vic has posted messages about his fixes to every dealer in tech bulletins. Seems to me everyone from Corporate on down is working to make Vic a better bike.
JM2C - Just my 2 cents. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I have an early (pre order) 2008. The only major problems I had were the dimples and the head pipe heat shields not installed correctly. The left bag is dimple free thanks to some one side swiping me. the replacement is perfect. Considering that the only way the right one is getting replaced is if I get hit again, I hope the dimple is with me for a long time. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
| Street Eagle - 2013-04-29 2:21 PM
Fellow Riders
Today I dropped off my VV to get the reverse kit installed. I had the opportunity to talk with the Victory mechanic. He shared with me that he is seeing little things slip when it comes to fit and finish on some of the Victorys they are getting in. Case in point, he opened up the left side saddle bag. He should me the scuffing that is occurring between the top lip of the saddle bag and where it meets the rear valance/tail section. Chris, has been taking it on his own to add a protective rubber strip to stop this from occurring. He also said he has passed along a number of quality issues on to Victory and Victory has not pushed back on any of them. Victory is sending out tech bulletins to their dealerships for the things Chris has submitted. I will try to get more details on the issues he is seeing.
The mechanic contributes the slack attitude in quality to Polaris' focus on their ramping up the Indian product line.
This may be writing on the wall where Polaris is heading????
That doesn't sound like quality is slipping. It sounds like Victory is listening to the tech and sending out bulletins to improve quality. |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | I did not buy my '08 Vision for its looks, so the fit and finish issues were not important to me. It is a great tour bike that eats Harleys for breakfast (kevinx'd) and this old man can ride 6-700 miles a day in comfort. In spite of fit and finish issues, my Vision still gets more compliments about its looks than my Harleys ever did. The Victory Vision is a win/win machine! |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | RedRider - 2013-04-30 4:31 AM
HD quality? Does anyone else remember all the oil leaks before AMF bought them? It was not HD that solved them.
I remember it well, I was there. AMF was almost the end of HD, they drove that brand to the brink of bankruptcy. If the oil leaks were all that they focused on, maybe that would help explain it. When HD started building the EVO engine is when that company turned around and that was not under AMF. Let AMF make footballs, they know nothing about building bikes.
OK, end of rant. Please stick to things that you know about.
Edited by Oldman47 2013-05-06 9:23 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Raleigh NC | Do not get me wrong, I like my vision, have invested alot into it, more so than the BMW k1200Lt that I once owned, another great bike, but Polaris could spend a little more on their plastic, it is thin and flimsy and breaks extremely easy, never had a problem with the BMW (Plastic). I do not know if I would buy another Polaris product but time will tell. In my opinion, Harley has the best paint job of any mfg, (I have never owned one) but you see them everywhere and they are small for my 6'4" size with no room for me to stretch out. I hope Victory (Polaris) can keep it going and come out with more touring bikes such as the Vision but improve upon their Plastic and Paint. Mechanically a sound machine. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Indian posted a shadowy figure of the new Chief on FaceBook. Can't tell much from the picture, one thing you can see at least in this configuration is it dosen't have a fairing or windshield........ Hope there are other configurations set in full touring rig mode. |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | Here's the 2014 Indian from Cyrils page. Not much to go by, but it looks like they went nostalgic with it.
http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2013/05/13/new-2014-indian-chief-to-be-rev... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Looking at the bike's silhouette, it looks like there is a Ness influence alla the bags to tail reflect the Visions and XC body lines. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 209
| sure....anything can be made better, but at who's expense? yeah us! I can't afford a new one now.Better to keep quality where its really need... mechanical... |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | It'll be a hit at that price. I know the quality Polaris is capable of. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Went over to the Indian site just to play "what if" with the accessories. I asked myself "How much would I add out of the catalog to get it like I would want it for starters?" The only piece of chrome I added was the arrow shift rod. All the leather add-ons plus a Stage 1 exhaust came out to $7788. I know these are starter numbers in the Harley world but still......wow. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 56
| Higher build quality than Honda. ..so what if a little paint rubbs off....it runs...and runs....and. uns. Every bike has its flaws...but I trust my vv as much as anything. I see it too...some things are a little weak...but for 21k....and everything you get on this bike. I still love my choice.
Vic makes one of the most bullet proof bikes...I believe the expensiveitems will hold up with time |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Stopped by Gastonia NC Indian dealership. They only have 1 of the Polaris/Kings Mtn type Chiefs left all others have been sold....... Should get first new Chiefs in early September. |
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Victory Quality and Polaris' Focus on Indian