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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 35
El Paso, TX | Just saw the May 08 issue of bagger magazine and it contains a pretty long review of the Vision. Needless to say it wasn't too kind to the Vision. I'm not surprised considering they mainly cater to the HD crowd. I think this was the first review I read that was negative toward the bike. It had a few good things to say about the bike like the engine, and wind protection. It even went so far to say it was a big scooter. The last paragraph states that there are better tourer bikes out there. I have ridden a wing before and can honestly say that the Vision is more comfortable. I haven't ridden a HD ultra, but would bet that the Vision is better at touring also.
Just my two cents. |
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Tourer
Posts: 319
| I agree Bagger was just being biased toword HD. The FLH series bikes cant hold a candle to a Vision......... I sold a Street Glide to get my Vision.Now I look forword to riding  |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I read the review, sounds like the rider was blaming the Vision for his short commings as a rider. Things werent like his HD, so it must be wrong. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | pault754 - 2008-04-04 1:38 AM
Just saw the May 08 issue of bagger magazine and it contains a pretty long review of the Vision. Needless to say it wasn't too kind to the Vision. I'm not surprised considering they mainly cater to the HD crowd. I think this was the first review I read that was negative toward the bike. It had a few good things to say about the bike like the engine, and wind protection. It even went so far to say it was a big scooter. The last paragraph states that there are better tourer bikes out there. I have ridden a wing before and can honestly say that the Vision is more comfortable. I haven't ridden a HD ultra, but would bet that the Vision is better at touring also.
Just my two cents.
There have been other articles in other mags as well that I have read. I doubt I'll read this one, but the others that I have read are suspiciously bias. They make statements to claims that I've never come close to experiencing. The main thing to consider is that this bike is different in it's handling and therefore requires time to adjust to the handling. I experienced this when I got my GL1200 and it needed tires when I first bought it. I rode for a couple months since there was sufficient tread. When I did get new tires I went to the Dunlop E3 bias and what a difference it made. I felt like I had a new bike and it took a while to get use to how it handled. The same it is with the Vision, so the rater is not taking in consideration all of this and going from a luggy bagger to an agile innovative tourer and trying to compare without an adjustment time.
It is also an underdog who is just trying its hand at the long haul market, and with the struggles the other big bikes are having, they don't need anything to bring them down. The Vision will stand the test of time, and I believe it will be bigger than Victory has imagined. There is very little improvement to be made, and the styling is also a result of the engineering involved. By this, I mean, it would be hard to make it look any different to cover the frame work from this design. I see it very functional even down to the gapping hole in the fairing. The engine needs wind and the driver needs an envelop. Considering all of this, I don't think it can be changed much. I've given thought to the heat on the right leg that some experience is most likely because of the oil cooler being mounted on the left side causing more air to push down the right side, and the fact the exhaust is there as well. None the less, probably the best combination at this time. Those issues will work themselves out as the engineer explore other possibilities. It'll take a while for the Vision to change looks but I see some morphing coming up. Look at the Wings over the years. At first glance it is hard to tell a GL1500 1993 and a GL1800 apart if you're not that familiar with them and they are not side by side. I don't know if I'm looking at a 1960 harley or a 2000 harley as there is very little difference. H-D is even digging in and pulling up the 1950's style with the Cross Bones.
One of the things we fail to mention is that the frame is solid with the engine being part of the frame. That means there is no give in the corners, nada. That makes it stay to the road. On other bikes, there is a "walk" to the bike in the corner as the frame twist and gives. I don't know all the techy details, but I do know the feel on the Vision going "fast" in an unexpected tight turn and she did it with extreme ease. Whereas when I've done that on the Wing, I had to stop and take a breather.
Well pault754, you triggered my rambling button, but I thought I'd share.
Since I only get perplexed looks when trying to discribe the ride in comparison to anything else, I just say, "I enjoy it." and leave it at that. If they are in the market to buy, then I may go into more detail, but for the most part, I'll let the world go on by as I happily ride down the highway on the best ride to date.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
| read it also but bagger is not a tour mag its a what i call stripper tour how the wheather in old el paso. heading there in nov. later |
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Cruiser
Posts: 136
CALGARY ALBERTA | I have close to 30 years of continuous HD ownership and riding. I too currently own a Street Glide as well as the other bikes listed. I have had many other bikes along with my HDs. I find the difference between myself and the average HD guy is that I am an enthusiast for motorcycles and not image. The last thing you want to do is strip a man of his power or image. So we won't do that here. The reality is that the Vision is bar none one of the best bikes I have been able to ride and now own.
As I mentioned in other posts that this bike is on the same platform as Harley's own Roadglide which started out as the TourGlide in 1980. All the HD folks hated it. Did I say they HATED it. Why? It was rubber mounted, dual headlight fixed fairing, 5 speed tranny etc. That same platform is what you see for all of the HD touring line up now. Where are all of those old spindoctors. Most like searching out parts for their obsolete shovel heads telling their friends please don't change me. And we won't be the ones to do that. The same was applied to the Excelsior Henderson that tried to make a come back but was hit with all of the spindoctor stories as to why it didn't meet their standards. V twin, overhead cams, fuel injection and a bigger motor than HD at the time.
The good news is that Victory has already surpassed these battles with a strong design and product reliability.
In the mean time I'll actually be riding my bike with new designs, technology and a big grin. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks for your comments bobbybhb. I little confused in your comment...
bobbybhb - 2008-04-04 7:57 AM
...The reality is that the Vision is bar none one of the best bikes I have been able to ride and now own.
As I mentioned in other posts that this bike is on the same platform as Harley's own Roadglide which started out as the TourGlide in 1980.
Are these two statement supported of one another? When you say platform, I'm thinking that the Vision has no comparison. I've never heard of any other bike with the engine as the main support member. Usually the engine is mounted into the frame, and though support can from the engine mounting, it is not a direct member of the frame as with the Vision. I explain this to help you for my sake to clarify the "same platform" reference. Thanks again.
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Cruiser
Posts: 82
Northwest of you | Every time I ride, I am "blown away" by the handling and smoothness of this bike. Riding a Hammer or Jackpot or my wifes Kingpin I scrape on turns and feel the pressure of pushing the bike in the turns. I have yet to feel the slightest pressure on the Vision and although I only have about 500 miles on it, since the second time I rode it, I have been trying to get it to "scrape" on a turn (I have a lot of twisties where I ride). The last couple of times out, I finally got a little "brush" on a couple of really tight turns, but, I think it is the hiway pegs I put on it, they extend about a half an inch lower than the floorboards. Each time I take certain roads, I pay attention to how fast I take the turns and each new time I pick it up 5mph, so yesterday coming through some posted 20-25 mph turns I was at 60 and 65 mph respectively and the bike, calmly sailed through them. It's a real thrill to watch that "fixed" fairing "dive" into a turn. I do not consider myself a "professional" driver. I have a lot of experience and feel very confident on a bike, but, I credit the Vision with this "great performance" not me. I would not do this on my wife's Kingpin and for sure not on my Jackpot. Reviews aside, it sounds to me like the consensus is that this bike is unusually nimble and stable. I couldn't be happier. I didn't think I would like driving this bike this much. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I've got it to do a good scrape in an on ramp onto the interstate. I can almost do it on demand. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Nebraska | I was told by a reliable source that the Father of the guy that wrote the article owns a Harley dealership. Why read the rag? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | Hey nowor218 --
When you were taking that 20-25mph curve at 60-65, did you hear any clanging? I agree that the bike is incredibly nimble, especially for its size, but there must be some mighty big cajones banging together to push it that hard!!! ENJOY THE RIDE!!!
Ted
space_cwboy |
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Cruiser
Posts: 294
rhode island | One of the best reviews on the vision was given by mike shultz of arizona victory, he also caught some heat from corperate from his
unaproved test ride. For you new guys to this site a must read. |
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Tourer
Posts: 550
Tacoma, WA | It is an easy bike to scrape, but then again, so is the GL1800. On my test rides, I scaped both bikes with the G/F on pillion. It is indeed one nimble bike. The Ultra was WAY easy to scrape, but seemed not nearly as controllalbe. With the Vision, I tend to take corners maybe a bit too fast, and that could get me into trouble!----Metalguy |
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Cruiser
Posts: 136
CALGARY ALBERTA | The same platform, means the same frame and motor chassis combination. Even though the Tour Glide was dual headlight fixed fairing, the bike later was built using the bat wing fairing. Hence forth as the Electraglide. So what you see now in the Electraglide series was spawned out of a bike that the hard core group hated. http://vtwin-gallery.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1426
The new 2008 HD is essentially the same frame (slightly modified over the years)
http://www.milehigh-harley.com/newbikes/2008_Harley_Davidson_Tourin...
These are all pictures of the same 45 degree V twin motor wrapped by a frame and the cosmetics changed to make a "new" model.
As you can see the same bike 28 years later,but now more widely accepted.
BB
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 35
El Paso, TX | Went for a ride yesterday to run some errands around town and decided to stop by a local Walmart. While coming out to leave I had about three guys just standing around admiring the Vision. All three loved the looks and one is already considering buying one. I probably stay there about 15 minutes just talking about the bike. One guy said the bike looked like it was doing 80mph just sitting there. The bagger mag describe the Vision as looking like a scooter. Well, I think it's design will stand the test of time. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 35
El Paso, TX | banditotattoo,
read it also but bagger is not a tour mag its a what i call stripper tour how the wheather in old el paso. heading there in nov. later
THE WEATHER IS GREAT DOWE HERE IN EL PASO. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THE OCCASIONAL SPRING WINDS. CAN RIDE YEAR ROUND HERE. |
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Bagger Mag review