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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | I finally got to ride the Vision today. Heard all of you talk about how nimble it was, how well it handled at low speeds, how comfortable the seats are. My first left turn across traffic, I realized I had power steering. I stopped at a golf course's parking lot that was pretty empty, with no cars driving around, and did some tight low speed turns. I found myself on curves going at least 15 mph over the posted speed, and absolutely 100% effortless, not anywhere near the "lean her over", yell YEE-HAA kind of riding that I am sometimes known for, just a nice easy going putt.. I later did a U turn on a boulevard with a grassy center divider (legally, at a lighted intersection, with a left arrow). I found myself cutting in tighter and tighter as I made the turn, as it was effortless and very confidence inspiring. By the time I completed the U turn, I was going at least 15 mph with the bars almost locked to the left, tilted over, feeling 100% in control at all times. In summary, the word "nimble" does not adequately describe what I felt today. Y'all are gonna have to come up with a better description to properly inform those who have not had any seat time what this bike is like.
My wife was apprehensive about riding passenger on the bike, as she had not been "won over" by its looks. We routinely ride two up, so that was not the issue. To her credit, she DID come to the dealership with me today, looked over the various models and colors of Vision, attentively checking everything out, and when one was rolled out for us to ride, she climbed on, and off we went. Part way through the demo ride, I began hearing an ever increasing stream of positive comments coming from her, about wind protection, quietness, seat comfort, view from the passenger seat, etc. I believe she was mostly won over by the time we got back to the dealership at the end of the ride. There does not seem to be any residual apprehension on her part this evening after we got home.
A couple of things stick in my mind as the FEW things that do not seem totally natural to me when I climbed on and took off....First are the turn signal buttons...after riding MR H & Mr D's bikes for 25+ years, I'm used to left turn signal button on the left side, right turn signal on the right side. I had to look and concentrate to use the buttons wholly contained on the left side to signal turns. I guess I'll just have to retrain this old dog.... Second, I was a little surprised at the transmission gear noise in 4th and 6th gears. The salesman told me that it is typical Victory, and after a few oil changes and a good break in period, the noise will subside. No where near as bad as Mr H & Mr D's newly offered 6 speed that sounds like marbles in the tranny in 6th gear (my own personal observation on an ElectraGlide rental last summer in CA), but noticeable nonetheless.
Overall, I'm floored. It feels like a bike 1/2 its weight, it is mega nimble, mega comfortable, and now I'm in the (I see grins from you all now) position of doing the calculations on mothly payments. Yes, they have the Tour Comfort in Midnight Cherry that I want, and tomorrow I'll be conversing with the salesman over numbers, offers, combinations of accessories, etc. This dealer in the Denver area is great....I talked with the owner for almost an hour last Friday, and the salesman is just like an old friend, not a pushy "ya gonna buy, ya gonna buy" salesman type. Hopefully all will work out well, and we will be the proud owners of a Vision soon. If this transpires, watch out for a Colorado specialty plate on a red Vision that reads "NOMOHD".
Ted
space_cwboy | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Your dealer is right about the gear noise. After the 500mi oil change most of the gear noise will disappear. Im at 2400 now and the trans is very quiet. Just the neutral to 1st klunk but thats not as bad anymore. Comming off an e-glide the two things I had to get used to was the turn signals and the fairing not turning with the handle bars. | |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | Ted - Good Choice! Go for it! I especially like the lic plate of "NOMOHD". I lived in Colo for most of my life, and I always enjoyed the Colo mountain roads for riding. Did a week up there 2 years ago and I am ready for one this year. Nothing like the Miillion dollar highway on a motorcycle! Let us know when you have her in the garage. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | I must be one of the few that actually likes the great big ole KA-Thunk into first gear. I don't really notice any gear noise either. Turn signals no biggie, they are exactly like my first bike, except I had to cancel them. I just did circles in my driveway until I started getting dizzy, because I kept picking up speed and leaning it over.
Would a good description be "Fluid Movement"! or "Ecstasy in Motion" or "Triple S (Silky Smooth Steering)"! Power steering was good too!
My first bike had a fixed Vetter fairing so it was just like old times. I love it! | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Come on in Mr. Space Cowboy. I like your observation because I can't seem to describe the sensation that riding this machine gives either. I rode the old GL1500 today in hopes to get it sold soon. Man, it was like going back to using a manual typewriter. I thought about the old gas pumps you had to crank on one side to reset and then lift the nozzle and flip the handle to pump. Too many things to do to get that thing out on the highway. On the Vision is like riding a horse, it's giddy up and off you go in a screaming gait. You'll get use to the turn-signal thingy in no time, and if you turn up the volume on the premium sound system you won't hear the gears messin'. My pillion will go to sleep in the back saddle, something she never did on the wing.
Hope to get out to CO sometime or if you ride out this way, let us know. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Why do HD's have 2 turn signals? You don't have 2 headlight light switches. Cars don't have 2 turn signals. Is there some reason for their design? Thanks, Tim | |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | How about no turn signals, just hand signals- Wow I guess I just went in to the "Old Buzzard" era - sorry Poopckn | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | I've never owned H-D, just Honda and Yam. On those - and I've had tourers in both as well as street bikes, the turn signals were on one side and usually a single push in the direction of turn (as opposed to 2 buttons). Now, this dates 1993 and backward to 19** (I'm old, not dumb) and things may have changed with Honda, etc. To my recollection, it is H-D that is out of the mainstream on this and Victory is in with the crowd - for once. Like all things, it will quickly become second nature. I recall my first switch from the standard toe shift to an optional heel-toe shifter. At first, I thought it was odd, but I grew to quickly love it. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | SandCamelJim, you did say you were a "Wise Old Buzzard" oh, I mean "Intellectually challenged Geezer". No, that's not right either. Let me think "Wheelchair bound, seasoned by the sun and wind, two steps closer to the closed box, already planting seeds to push up daisies!' No, that wasn't it either. Man, its something, I know it. Oh, I remember now, "SandintheCrevicesJimmy, Ouch, sand there, OOOWWWEEEEE!!!" Next time use a blanket.
Edited by pollolittle 2008-03-25 2:27 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 256
Florida | I have to agree with Space about the turn signals. After going through a number of foreign bikes, when I got my first H-D, it took a bit of "getting used to" for the separate turn signals. But after a few days, I really liked them. I think they are easier to find with the thumbs than what we have on the Vision.
For those not familiar, H-D places a single, large button on each handlebar for the turn signal. The left button controls the left signal and the right...the right signal (Duh!) | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | PalmBeachRider - 2008-03-25 7:07 PM
I have to agree with Space about the turn signals. After going through a number of foreign bikes, when I got my first H-D, it took a bit of "getting used to" for the separate turn signals. But after a few days, I really liked them. I think they are easier to find with the thumbs than what we have on the Vision.
For those not familiar, H-D places a single, large button on each handlebar for the turn signal. The left button controls the left signal and the right...the right signal (Duh!)
Do you push both of them for 4-way hazard? Sorry, I had to ask. Don't tell me how they turn on the backup light.... | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| varyder - 2008-03-25 7:41 PM
PalmBeachRider - 2008-03-25 7:07 PM
I have to agree with Space about the turn signals. After going through a number of foreign bikes, when I got my first H-D, it took a bit of "getting used to" for the separate turn signals. But after a few days, I really liked them. I think they are easier to find with the thumbs than what we have on the Vision.
For those not familiar, H-D places a single, large button on each handlebar for the turn signal. The left button controls the left signal and the right...the right signal (Duh!)
Do you push both of them for 4-way hazard? Sorry, I had to ask. Don't tell me how they turn on the backup light....
Yep, pressing both sides at the same time and holding for a moment will cause all 4 signals to flash in unison as hazards.
BTW, BMW motorcycles also use the separate left and right turn signal switches. It was the British and then the Japanese who started the fashion of using a single switch on the left handlebar for the turn signals and I believe Yamaha came up with the "push to cancel" type of turn signal switch back in the early '70s. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | Thanks for the kind words all......
I'm gonna have to put a high priority on getting a heel-toe shifter modified and installed, as this old brain is gonna have a bit of overtime trying to work the new type turn signals. I agree with you PBR, the "turn signal button per side" is easier for me, but I'll just have to learn something new after 25+ years on H-D (1st one - a 65 panhead chopper - had NO turn signals....Yep, I'm a Buzzard too!). Set the deal in motion today, got $1200 off list, and the owner contributed his personal passenger backrest and Midnight Cherry filler panel (already notched for the rider backrest). I added the stage 1/level 1 exhaust/remap, with stock tips, and saddlebag cargo nets to keep track of our gloves & goggles. Downstream, I'll get the saddlebag & trunk liners for multi-day trips, a Utopia rider backrest for my feeble back (2 back surgeries in one year, and if you think THAT will curtail my riding, you're wrong!), an later on a rear shock pump for two up riding and loaded down trips. I'm planning to make my own trunk wall rack, and I'll have to put on numerous thousand miles to see if I really need the highway pegs or not.
pollolittle - I'm not at all knocking the big old KA-thunk of going from neutral to 1st, it's the gear noise in 4th and 6th that got my attention. It won't be long until I have enough miles on it to change oil & see if the gear whine subsides. With the level 1 exhaust, it already won't be as noticeable.
varyder - I like the comparo to a typewriter......It will be even worse for me when I hop off the Vision and onto my Heritage Softail...can you say stone tablet and chisel??? I'm probably gonna need to keep bungees on the bike to keep my wife from falling out of the passenger seat! She REALLY likes the new seat, although it doesn't step her up quite as high as the Heritage seat did, so she could see over my fat head..
TimS - Although the two turn signal buttons sound unfamiliar to you, it is one aspect of the HD design that feels natural, just like the majority of aspects of the Vision.
flint350 - I agree with the heel-toe preference, and will try to get the mod done to get the Vision into heel-toe mode soon. My 1st two HDs only had toe shift, but the Heritage has heel-toe, and it took me about 25 miles to be converted.
pollolittle & desertjim - You guys are a hoot!!! You sound like two old friends from long ago and far away! Would love to meet up with you some day for a ride and some tall tales. I'm a SA also, so watch out!
My wife has already downloaded, filled out, and had us sign for the "NOMO HD" (with a space) license plate for the Vision. We will be picking it up this Saturday morning when the dealership opens. Unfortunately, she leaves later that morning for a business trip to the west coast, so I'll be logging some break in miles solo before I also go there on Thursday afternoon to meet her, and visit with my daughter and grandkids on the weekend. Once back in Denver area Sunday night, I do a quick turn around for my own business trip to Baltimore/DC for the following week. Back on the evening of April 11, so that weekend (hopefully without snow at our 7900' elevation) will be filled with riding.
If any of you plan to head towards Colorado this summer, drop me a line. We have extra bedrooms, I've travelled most state highways (especially in the western half - the ones with serious twisties!) in the state, and can provide at a minimum killer recommendations for rides (or go with if possible). We were riding 10K/year on the Heritage, with only a real 3-4 month fulltime riding season, so with the better windshield/fairing protection of the Vision, the heated grips/seats, I'm guessing we'll do at least 15K/year. Can you tell I'm stoked??!!! | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | space cowboy you aint seen nothin yet, wait til the BUCKEYE joins in. By the way where has he been?
Im not complaining about the klunk, in fact I like it, because I understand the design and know its almost indestructable. Worth putting up with a little noise.
everyone here will tell you the gear noise does go away. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | In LA no one knows how to use or pays attention to turn signals so I stopped using them.
If you use the little hazzard button, the think your a cop and move out of the way!
I have yet to find a horn that can compete with a cell phone. Thank God new laws take effect in July! | |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | I am used to the left side turn signals from 40,000 miles on my Honda Shadow. Now let me tell you about the time I had the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico to teach motorcycle safety to some soldiers. They rented H-Ds for us to teach on. No problem. It took a few minutes to figure out where the right turn signal was, since I didn't know there was a difference! Then we went out into San Juan traffic  . Holy Frijole Ole! (Admittedly, I now know that it's nothing compared to the traffic here in Kuwait, but at the time I was pretty intimidated). No problems, though. We did fine until it was time to get in the right hand lane for our turnoff. The lead car signaled and went. My co-instructor signaled and went. I signaled and went... suddenly verrrry quiet and slowing down a lot as I whipped in front of the woman in the car. Folks, what button is right next to the right turn signal on a H-D? Bingo!!! THE KILL SWITCH (or the Engine Cutoff Switch for those who learn from the MSF). That was a pucker moment. However, I am proud to say that I was able to reset the switch and start the engine before the grill of that big ol' Buick had my bike for a snack. I took off and never looked back to see what kind of nonverbal signals she was giving me. Oh, and I really like the first gear clunk, too. It makes the bike sound solid. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I get button challenged more often than I want, by hitting the horn button when I want to signal. I don't know what folk think when I wanting to move into their lane and then blow the horn, but I sure feel stupid. I've actually sat and practice; this is the horn button below, and here is the turn-signal straight across. | |
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UH-OH