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2011 Vision 8-Ball impression
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varyder
Posted 2010-08-29 1:03 PM (#68210)
Subject: 2011 Vision 8-Ball impression


Visionary

Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA
Just wanted to share my impression of the Vision 8-Ball after a demo ride Saturday at Region 2000. I have to admit I haven't read all the little details about the bike but since they had the Vic truck I decided to ride 2 hours to take a 20 minute ride on the bike and go home. While there I got to meet BLK08 and Prime Power, two great guys and wish we could have chatted longer. VaParadox was there with the Catlin gang. Good seeing everyone. Region 2000 is relatively a small shop and you can see that Polaris ATVs is the big push since they are in the hills and farmland of Virginia up by Lynchburg.

I ended up riding two bikes, one that I rode was the Vegas 8-Ball and then finally the Vision 8-Ball. They did have White Tour Premium with the accents and felt they did justice with the lines, making the bike all the classier.

My focus though was the Vision 8-Ball. After getting there and going through the liability row I went out to get my ride but the Vision8 was already taken. I hesitated to ride anything else because that was my focus, but I found myself taking a scoot on the Vegas8. It was its normally exciting self that I would use as my scoot for work and to get a pop or a burger or that two hour ride with the "guys". It did have some transmission whining, if that is the appropriate way to describe it. It was more like a singing noise, but it could be easily tuned out in no time by remaining focused on the ride. It felt good to be totally engulfed in the wind, something I sometimes miss on the Vision. However, after having recall being a very young man and riding with the wind in my face for 400 miles plus, I tell myself now that would be too much work to ride. After I went with a fairing, the bike no longer made me tired of riding for long trips and I admire anyone who can saddle without fairing for thousands of miles. The Vegas is my number #2 Victory bike and the low has always caught my eye from the first time I saw a matching midnight cherry right after getting the Bentley.

When we got back from that ride I couldn't get to the Vision8 fast enough and the guy who was taking it for a spin was much bigger than I. He had ridden one before but it had been a while and he was getting tired of his V-Star, so I was very cordial with him even though I wanted to kick him in the shins.

I waited patiently for that run and then had my helmet on the bike before he even got off it. In fact he nearly kicked it off when he got off the bike. All I can say is I'm mesmerized by this bike, it just begs to be ridden. Even though I was following the demo pack I was in my own little world and could have just kept rolling. On the Vegas I was a little skittish because the bike is not familiar, but with the Vision, I'm right at home. It seems when you talk with folks about this bike they wish it had all the "stuff" and continues to talk about the "stuff". Too me, the bike is perfect just as it is and my only "upgrade" besides anything on the motor would be the iPod connection with the power sound system, but I would do fine without it.

The bike sits perfect as you sink down into the seat which has greater support from the cut in the seat. With the lower windshield you feel like you're in a cockpit ready for flight and have a good view of the road and the gages. It was surprising how quiet it is compared to my rumbling Vision, but thought the stage 1 level 1 would have been louder. There again, that is okay, but I would make the exhaust an upgrade to make it "bungle in the jungle" when the throttle was twisted. The tranny was tighter than the '08 or so it seemed, and it does "clunk" but it was not as pronounced as mine.

They did take off the rear tip over and put pegs there instead, I don't find this to be a major problem, but I curious as to the contact point with just the front tip over and what would it take out if the bike fell over. The bike looked natural without the tip over, and with the low seat you would be hard pressed to drop the bike at all.

Overall, if I had the where withal today, the bike would be mine without looking back and saying goodbye to the Bentley. But with that, I hopped on the Bentley after talking with Steve the truck driver (lucky dog) and was back home in very familiar territory on my Vision. The Bentley is the best but the wife is the besty of my life. I hope that she and I can together put some miles on before the year is out. I'm back to reality and back to normal after the ride to Forest and back. I'm going to take those miles that keep calling my name everyday and save them for later.

I did find the Regions 2000 to be a very friendly place that made me feel right at home. They have room to improve as they find their niche in Victory. I did talked with a few folks that worked there and find they were knowledgable on the Victory line despite they looked to be more ATV oriented. The two hour ride is good for me and will find it a refeshing excuse to ride to see the dealer. 460 is a choice road for the wife unit to ride with me and I'm sure we can find good eats out that way. The good thing is I'm not dependant on a dealer, but know if something major would happen, I would have to toss up over Virginia Beach's All Outdoors about an hour away or the two hours to R2000.


Edited by varyder 2010-08-29 1:23 PM
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BLK08
Posted 2010-08-29 6:48 PM (#68222 - in reply to #68210)
Subject: RE: 2011 Vision 8-Ball impression


Puddle Jumper

Posts: 47
Lynchburg Virginia

Hey Varyder, Enjoyed getting to meet you on Sat. I rode the Vision 8 today and I can't put my finger on it, maybe its the lower windshield, but there was something about that ride that is very cool. I did notice the tranny makes less noise than mine but that has nothing to do with the cool factor. It wasn't untill I rode the Vision Tour that is noticed the change in handle bar mounting and style. I like the impression it gives that the bar goes straight into the fork tube. Of course thats not the case but it does make you look twice. For me the XC was the jewel of the lot. Thanks to Region 2000 and Polaris for making the bikes available for the rides. Rode some great new bikes. Met some great people. Time well spent. 



Edited by BLK08 2010-08-29 6:52 PM
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