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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Wife and I hit up Bairs in Ohio for the demo truck rides.
****First up - White 2011 Vision Tour w/ABS****
4&6 gear noise - We both wear 3/4 helmets and really don't hear the dreaded 4&6 gear noise too much on our '08 anymore. While I will say it appears to be quieter, it is really hard to tell with the demo bike having stock pipes and our having S1L1 pipes with the cams. I was listening hard and would say it may be reduced by about 50%. It is no where near totally gone. It also felt like it may be tougher to get into gear. I am trying to remember if mine was like this with only a few thousand on it (i don't think it was this hard).
Neutral - REALLY easy to get into neutral. I liked this the most. I also never found neutral once riding. Big plus.
Gear Indicator - Clutch in, display gives you dashes (--). Still a delay like our older models. You finally get to a stop at an intersection and may have NO idea what gear you are in. You better be watching or counting and engaging the clutch occasionally on downshifts or you might lose count.
ABS - You can keep it! This was the biggest disappointment for me. I found it to be way too sensitive. When I would downshift, using engine compression to slow, the front brake handle would pulsate when there was no reason to (not being able to reproduce it was my biggest frustration). I was not aggressively braking (maybe around 30% braking force). It pulsated about 20 times on a 15 mile ride and it was only the front (no there wasn't anything on the road).
Radio - Display is a lot clearer and has higher resolution (less blocky). Radio reception is greatly improved for the little I listened. Not sure if it is fixed in the '11s or not, but it was significantly better (never lost reception).
****Next up - Cross Country with Touring Pack****
Same gear indicator nuances from the Vision. Didn't mess with neutral too much as we were cold after riding the XC. It was 55 degrees, overcast and no way to plug in our jackets  . If I was in the market for a cruiser / light touring bike, this would be the one. Besides the gear indicator differences between my '08 and the '11, there is NOTHING negative to say about the XC. If you were to throw cams and fuel controller in this, it would be a rocket.
Rear Seat Comfort - Wife said the rear seat had a little more room than the Vision, but felt like her knees were too high. She is 5' 2" and we run the risers on our '08 VV. If your woman unit is taller, it may even be uncomfortable for her. Tour pack also adds rear speakers.
Final conclusion - I'll be keeping my '08. I also think that we NEED to ride other models more often to truly appreciate how great the VV is. While the XC was very good, I sure did miss my lower wind protection today.
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I just found out the truck is coming to San Antonio on October 23-24, 2010. I will have to go and check them out. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I am curious if the ABS was a fluke and if you experience the same thing. |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | ScoreBo - 2010-10-02 6:34 PM I am curious if the ABS was a fluke and if you experience the same thing. Interesting your comments regarding the ABS system. I have the ABS option on my 2010 and have never experienced what you spoke of. The only time I've had an unexpected feedback in the brake lever/pedal is once when I was applying braking and hit a rough set of bumps at the same time and I felt the pulse in the hand brake. Other than that I would have no idea they were even installed on my bike (14700 miles). I guess I need to go out and intensionally try to lock it up just to experience what they really feel like in an emergency stop. I don't do a whole lot of riding in wet conditions but my guess is that they could be a real life saver when traction is reduced. My thoughts.
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
Edmonton AB, Canada | I have never noticed that on my 2010 either.
I have braked hard but have to be in slippery enough conditions to feel the ABS |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I really think there may have been something wrong with the bike. I was only using about 30% of the brake and downshifting when it seemed to have happened. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 166
Bullhead City, AZ | Took the 2011 bikes out today in Las Vegas. Never mised neutral on four different bikes, didnt notice the whine in 4th or any gear but I don't notice it on my 08. What did whine was me when the gear indicater showed a line with the clutch in. This ended when the guys with non Visions reminded me that the other Victorys have never had a gear indicater. Was also told by the factory rep that they may change this later. The other observation that I have is that I am to old to ride a bike without a windshield at any speed over 40 mph and still enjoy it like I used to. Although the Hammer with a 106 throwing me down the road like projectile vomit will get the heart going. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ | Those who have ridden the '11's..................interested in your take on the claimed "66% reduction in drive-line lash". Did you notice any difference? That was probably my chief issue with the '09 I had. I am seriously considering a V8 Ball, and on the fence about picking up a leftover '10 model or waiting for an '11 model. Some pretty good discounts on the '10's make it pretty hard to justify going for an '11, UNLESS the differences are significant.
Any info is appreciated. I missed the Demo truck/fleet down in Tucson today, and next one in my area is another month away. |
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Tourer
Posts: 400
| Rode 4 bikes yesterday. Let me start out with I am 5'10". Also, be careful when you test ride. A guy dumped an 8 ball Kingpin while making a right hand turn. He hit some sand and down it went.
First Bike - Jackpot. Handle bars were a little too far forward, so felt I was leaning forward a little. Tranny felt different from the other bikes I tried. This one seemed extremely responsive to the clutch and wanted to "jump" when easing out on the clutch. Fast, felt like I was sitting on an angry bull. I think someone about 6' to 6'2" would really like this bike.
2nd Bike - Vegas 8 ball with swept pipes. Hands down my favorite of the day. Extremely comfortable position and very fast. Pipes had a great sound. I had this thing up to 100 mph at one point. Could easy ride 60-70 mph in 5th gear. This bike could run one gear lower than my Vision, which has S1L2 with fuel commander. A couple other guys who rode this bike really liked it. At $12,500 + the cost of the upgraded exhaust system, this bike would be a steal as far as performance and enjoyment.
3rd bike - Kingpin with cobra exhaust. Not as responsive as the 8 ball and pipes were not quite as loud. I can honestly say I was very dissapointed in the Kingpin. I was extremely uncomfortable on the bike. Floor board position did not fit me well at all. I was very cramped and I had to take my foot completely off the floorboard to be able to change gears. I rode a 2005 Kingpin a few years ago and really liked the bike. Sat on a 2007 and liked it. The really, really do not like the design changes that have been done to this bike. I will say a guy that was about 5'7" loved it. I took it out 3 times on the demo ride and did not like the vegas.
4th bike - hammer. Riding position was very similar to the Jackpot, but I didn't feel like I was leaning forward. The bike did not seem to "jump" like the jackpot did. Overall, I enjoyed the hammer.
Observations in general - I liked that the single display will toggle and show rpm and it also has a gear indicator. I may keep my eyes open for an 8 ball vegas down the road. I just can't say enough about that bike. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I may head back down today and ride another '11 Vision if the rain clears down there. It is a whopping 48 degrees here in beautiful Northeast Ohio today.  Thank goodness for Gerbing. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | I second that about the Gerbing and or Widder electric gear................. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Keep in mind that the demo truck bikes are some of the most abused in the world. The drivers/mechanics are good but not magicians.
Edited by OldGringo 2010-10-03 6:35 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I failed to say that this one was pulled from dealer inventory and had only 100 miles on it. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 36
coweta ok | I have a 10 8-ball vision and have ridden th 11s. I can't tell enough difference in the 2 to switch. Find a 10 model and get a good deal IMO. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | My current bike has ABS and what you are describing does not sound like anything my bike has ever done.
I don''t have linked brakes on my current bike so that might have something to do with what you have described.
I will be test riding the same bike (most likely) next week at All Ohio Motorsports in Bedford, Ohio.
I will definitely check the ABS out as that is the only reason I don't currently own a Vision.
Did they have the 2011 Silver with black striping Vision on display or on the test truck down at Bairs? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Demo truck has the vogue silver with stripes. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Thanks for the quick response.
Are they offering the $1,000 accessory coupon still? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Not sure. I have no interest in trading in my 08, so I didn't ask any questions. I just wanted to see how the new 100,000 mile transmission worked. :-)
Edited by ScoreBo 2010-10-03 7:35 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 400
| bigfoot - 2010-10-03 7:33 PM
Thanks for the quick response.
Are they offering the $1,000 accessory coupon still?
Cross country is excluded, and I can't remember if the cross roads is excluded. |
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Victory Demo Truck Rides - My take
