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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | Put 250 miles on the BatMobile yesterday. Also found time for a little photo session at a local overlook.
I very much like the bike. The engine started loosening up a little already. More willing to rev now. Enough power for riding here at altitude. Shudders under 2k - wants to be above that if you need to accelerate. Still was able to use 6th quite a bit on flat sections and slight uphill sections above 60 mph. Got 50 mpg. That's very good. Probably will go down a bit once broken in but still very nice.
Excellent cornering clearance - have not dragged anything yet and managed to do that on all the other cruisers I tried on the first test ride.
Seat is very comfortable - more than any other stock seat I have used in my 30+ years of riding. No squirming at all after about 3 hours in the saddle. Promising. Good seating position for me at 6'2" with 34 inseam even though the seat is so low (I do not fit on the Gold Wing). Excellent.
Somewhat clunky transmission but not as bad as the Kawi Voyager and the Glide. Not a single mis-shift yet so that is good. Is the shifter lever height adjustable? Have a bit of a tight fit getting my boot under there.
Instruments are easy to read. Like the LCD.
Some gripes....
You need a high pressure hand pump to adjust the suspension but they don't give you one? What's all this talk about a dryer? Hand pump will cause condensation at higher pressures and medium to high ambient humidity?? Strange.
The comm system should be included at this price. If you want one you need to buy the CB radio also...
The power outlets inside the cubby holes are useless for heated clothing etc, so have to spend more $ on putting on external ones. is there a preferred place to source the power other than the battery so it's switched? Could rig up a relay off something switched I guess.
Is it possible to remove the body work without the special tool? What are you all using?
Need to find some kind of baggie for the "tank"
Will have to put some dark tinted car window foil over the top part of the aluminum trim under the dash to reduce the reflection in the windshield. Can't believe they did not notice that after making the bike for 3 years...
Anyway the pros far outweigh the gripes. I will be very very happy after addressing some of the above.
below are some pics from yesterday's ride...
(IMG_0344.jpg)
(IMG_0346.jpg)
(IMG_0348.jpg)
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 IMG_0344.jpg (80KB - 1 downloads)
IMG_0346.jpg (70KB - 0 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | The link that hooks on the shifter is adjustable in length, this will change the toe height.
The suspension is not high pressure and uses a small hand pump to adjust. I usually ride 1 up with no trunk, and 5 psi in the suspension.
You can strip all the body work with a metric allen set and a metric socket set. I would suggest you invest in a shop manual if you are a tinkerer. There is nothing rocket science, but tasks are far easier if done in the suggested order.
Some have found the reflection objectionable and have painted, papered, or otherwise changed the center console. I myself never found it that big a deal after getting used to it. Besides I personally like the contrast. |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | The powerlet plugs are available as a pair from victory or from other powerlet suppliers on line. The wiring harness on the bike already has pre-wired plugs under the cover panel in front of the seat and also one for the passenger that can be accessed by simply removing the seat and rear seat trim. The plugs match the plugs on the powerlets. The front one is switched by the key. The rear one is always hot and can be used as a place to plug in a battery maintainer during the winter season. The entire install can be done in about two hours or less. The powerlet plug in the storage compartment is good for plugging in a cell phone while on the road, only on while the key is on. I think you will find that some of these upgrades can be a way to get to know your bike. It really is a well designed bike that you will learn to love more the longer you own and ride it. Good luck and enjoy! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | hoosiervic - 2010-08-12 3:34 PM
The powerlet plugs are available as a pair from victory or from other powerlet suppliers on line. The wiring harness on the bike already has pre-wired plugs under the cover panel in front of the seat and also one for the passenger that can be accessed by simply removing the seat and rear seat trim. The plugs match the plugs on the powerlets. The front one is switched by the key. The rear one is always hot and can be used as a place to plug in a battery maintainer during the winter season. The entire install can be done in about two hours or less. The powerlet plug in the storage compartment is good for plugging in a cell phone while on the road, only on while the key is on.? I think you will find that some of these upgrades can be a way to get to know your bike. It really is a well designed bike that you will learn to love more the longer you own and ride it.? Good luck and enjoy!
Thanks much hoosiervic - this is good info. I immediately called my dealer - they were going to splice them in somewhere. They are a relatively new Victory dealer and it appears they have a lot to learn...
Hoosier Pass (between Breckenridge and Fairplay) is one of the nicer road rides in my area BTW :-)
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | picard - 2010-08-12 6:33 PM hoosiervic - 2010-08-12 3:34 PM The powerlet plugs are available as a pair from victory or from other powerlet suppliers on line. The wiring harness on the bike already has pre-wired plugs under the cover panel in front of the seat and also one for the passenger that can be accessed by simply removing the seat and rear seat trim. The plugs match the plugs on the powerlets. The front one is switched by the key. The rear one is always hot and can be used as a place to plug in a battery maintainer during the winter season. The entire install can be done in about two hours or less. The powerlet plug in the storage compartment is good for plugging in a cell phone while on the road, only on while the key is on.? I think you will find that some of these upgrades can be a way to get to know your bike. It really is a well designed bike that you will learn to love more the longer you own and ride it.? Good luck and enjoy! Thanks much hoosiervic - this is good info. I immediately called my dealer - they were going to splice them in somewhere. They are a relatively new Victory dealer and it appears they have a lot to learn... Hoosier Pass (between Breckenridge and Fairplay) is one of the nicer road rides in my area BTW :-) Glad to help. Take the time and do as much searching on this site as possible regarding your possible mods and accessories. We have learned a lot about the vision model and its all posted and discussed here, a true wealth of knowledge that will save you some headaches just like the one you just avoided. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Nice bike and all, Jean-Luc, but I have to admit that those pix have one thing banging around in my head.... "I miss Colorado". |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
Midlothian, Va. | I was in Co last June ('09) and rode the RMNP loop out of Denver and loved it. Next morning left Denver and took 119 to 72 to 7 and then 34 up towards Wy for Devils Tower and then spent 3 days in SD. 4900 mile trip on my 1800VTX and now I want to go back on my Vision before I get really old.
Edited by Biscuit 2010-08-13 12:08 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | Biscuit - 2010-08-13 11:08 AM
I was in Co last June ('09) and rode the RMNP loop out of Denver and loved it. Next morning left Denver and took 119 to 72 to 7 and then 34 up towards Wy for Devils Tower and then spent 3 days in SD. 4900 mile trip on my 1800VTX and now I want to go back on my Vision before I get really old.
Nice ride indeed. Did a loop on PTP (119/7) yesterday and squaw pass to Mt Evans today. Like it more and more though had an issue today (see separate post) |
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Tourer
Posts: 562
SC, Bluffton | picard - 2010-08-12 10:45 AM
The power outlets inside the cubby holes are useless for heated clothing etc, so have to spend more $ on putting on external ones. is there a preferred place to source the power other than the battery so it's switched? Could rig up a relay off something switched I guess.
For my wife's (passenger) heated jacket & gloves, I use the power outlet in the trunk. I have the cord going down into the black whole of the trunk, and then back up behind the passenger's pillion and underneath the passenger's backrest. When not in use, it hides pretty well.
Herb
Edited by g1nomad 2010-08-16 3:26 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | g1nomad - 2010-08-16 4:25 PM picard - 2010-08-12 10:45 AM The power outlets inside the cubby holes are useless for heated clothing etc, so have to spend more $ on putting on external ones. is there a preferred place to source the power other than the battery so it's switched? Could rig up a relay off something switched I guess. For my wife's (passenger) heated jacket & gloves, I use the power outlet in the trunk. I have the cord going down into the black whole of the trunk, and then back up behind the passenger's pillion and underneath the passenger's backrest. When not in use, it hides pretty well. Herb An alternative to the loose plug feeding from behind the seat is to purchase a Powerlet plug and install in the location shown below, beneath the right rear speaker.
(Jacket Plug & Controller Rear.JPG)
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Jacket Plug & Controller Rear.JPG (81KB - 2 downloads)
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First Impressions
