Information on Victory Vision, Victory Vegas, Victory Kingpin, Victory Hammer, Victory Jackpot, Victory CrossCountry, Victory Cross Roads, Touring Cruiser, Classic Cruiser, Victory Motorcycles

You are currently not logged in. Logon or register to access more features. Vision-Riders.com is a FREE service provided by Victory Riders Network. Search:

Riding Observations. Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]	View previous thread :: View next thread
Discussion -> Vision Discussion	Message format

edradio

Posted 2008-02-11 12:53 AM (#5162)
Subject: Riding Observations.

Cruiser

Posts: 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA baby!

EdServations from EdRadio
I adjusted the foot controls for the shifter and the footbrake to the rear adjustment hole 'cause I have short legs. This made a terrific improvement immediately. The butt placement versus foot placement and handlebar reach is just dandy compared to the 2007 Nomad I had.

My iPod sounds pretty darn good with the stock speakers. I used the WB2 (weather band) that is included in the tuner as I was haulin' across the desert mountains between home base Las Vegas, NV and Baker, CA for a gyro at the Mad Greek. The FM search worked pretty good, however a stronger antennae pull would be nice. I also like the ambient sound volume adjuster option, I am amazed that it works so well!

The cruise control is just dandy too. However, I have to remember to not let the temptation overtake me to ride without hands on the handlebars! I had the bike up to 115mph at one point for a few seconds stretching across the desert. I think it woulda gone faster, but I am ticket free. 70mph is where I set the cruise though, not wanting a ticket, never had one in all my 40 years of riding! Sure, people pass me constantly at that speed, so what. I grew up in Montana in the 60's/70's when there was no speed limit, so I got the need for speed out of my blood back then.

I did not need to shift down into 5th when the occasion came up to pass big trucks. Even going up the grades, the ViVi just pulled on out, up, and beyond.

Twisting the hand throttle forward at the top while on cruise will click the cruise set off untill you push resume or set again. It probably says that in the Rider's Manual, but I speed read it and wanted to go go go! I know touching either brake will do the same.

The windshield is just great for my shortness of 5'8". However as someone else mentioned, the distortion at the very top edge is just mildly perturbing.

I think they've added a bit of "flare-out" at the top for aerodynamics and that's what this visual distortion is all about.

My foot position on the floorboards is ergo-right-on.

On the '07 Vulcan Nomad, I often tried moving my feet back to the passenger's floorboards for some relief. The Victory Vision boards are long enough and low enough too!

I am still amazed at how this bike knows what I want from it when I ride. Cornering and lane changing are sooooo easy. I can do it slow, or fast, or anywhere in between and as I do think it, the ViVi makes it so! As I was cruising along and listening to my favorite blues, and kinda rockin back and forth to the music, the bike was catching on and weaving slightly with the beat too. Kinda comical at first, although the law-man would probably think a more serious note about it!

Dodging the desert bats as seen in "Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas" is actually kind of fun on this machine.

Riding at extremely slow speeds as required in some of the casino parking garages is also easier than my ex-Nomad!

The ride from 'Vegas to Baker is 90 miles of desert from about 2000 feet above sea level here in 'Vegas to up and over a 4700 plus feet above sea level range on the way to Baker. At approx. 60 degrees here, it was in the low 40's in the mountain pass, so I was inclined to turn the hand grip heaters on low, and that was all that I needed. My butt warmer wasn't needed, however it's nice to know it's available for heading off to other climes etc. The 106ci engine and it's closed loop fuel injection didn't miss a beat changing altitude! Yeee-haaa.

Yeah and each time I stopped somewhere, there is always the explaning about who Victory is. No they're not a new design of Harley, or Yamaha, or Kawasaki, or Indian, or Suzuki, or, or, or, ... Some folks have never even heard of Polaris, the parent company, so I just make sure they know it's "The New American Motorcycle" made in Spirit Lake, Iowa, US of A! Since I am a radio announcer/instructor, I usually mimic the narration from the DVD of the Victory and Vision section! Yeah! That works!

I also rode up an old (paved) gravel trucking road into the low desert mountains for a certain photo opportunity, and once again, the ease of bike operation was much easier than the Vulcan Nomad, much easier.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

varyder

Posted 2008-02-11 6:24 AM (#5165 - in reply to #5162)
Subject: RE: Riding Observations.

Visionary

Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA

Thanks Edradio. The ViVi is truly a new riding experience without a doubt.

edradio

Posted 2008-02-16 9:08 PM (#5363 - in reply to #5162)
Subject: RE: Riding Observations.

Cruiser

Posts: 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA baby!

Some of these, I posted on other threads...

My butt doesn't hurt, and I don't feel sore like I've done some strange excercises when I get back from riding. Having a fairing versus just a windshield makes a big difference. Being able to lower the windshield in heavy traffic, and street riding is great.

I finally just had to order the McCuff, after my second fuel-up. I'm short and fat, and just can't get a good look into the tank-hole especially with those dang-burned rubber fuel fume trapping doo-dads on the filler nozzles they use here in SoNev and SoCal!

I'm also glad that this bike has the low seat height that it does. Like I said about short fat me, and reaching the ground on uneven ground. Today while backing out of a fairly even spot, a dip in the pavement gave me quite a thrill as my feet were nearly paddling the air. Luckily the momentum and my great sense of balance carried me through. hardy harr har

I have 1-1/2 inch heels on all three pair of my riding boots too! Maybe I'll have my cobbler make them all into 4-inch platform soles!!!

That weird silver-gray they use on the rear tip over rail, the saddlebag hand rails, and the clutch and front brake reservoirs etc. reminds me of the industrial paint we used to cover aircraft tooling non-contact areas etc. Gloss black, polished aluminum, or chrome would probably be better looking.

I Just got back from a short 150 mile casino run to Searchlight NV - thru Nipton, CA, around to Primm/Stateline, NV back to 'Vegas. I just love the comfort of my Steel Gray Tour Premium. Electronic cruise control going over mountain passes is fantastic! I especially liked watching the computer readout of instantaneous mpg readout. 33 mpg uphill over the mountain at 62mph, and up to 70 mpg going down the other side. Average for the ride still came out to 40mpg.

I was trying to think of other things that I would change. Maybe a prerecorded audio walk-around tour for folks asking questions, like Kitt-Car? When someone asks about the bike, just push the audio tour button, and walk around pointing as the narration goes!!!

The air-conditioner attachment I ordered for this upcoming summer will be a nice addition when those 116+ days come to the sand-land I live in! An electronic cooler with a hose that attaches to a Nike rubber workout suit will be just fantastic!

More to come. SO how about some of your observations folks?

VisionTex

Posted 2008-02-16 9:23 PM (#5364 - in reply to #5363)
Subject: RE: Riding Observations.

Visionary

Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx.

edradio - 2008-02-16 8:08 PM

I just love the comfort of my Steel Gray Tour Premium. QUOTE]

Don't you just love the paint.......Super Steel Gray!!!! Put on the shades

it is brilliant. Ride on ED.

edradio

Posted 2008-02-16 9:35 PM (#5365 - in reply to #5162)
Subject: RE: Riding Observations.

Cruiser

Posts: 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA baby!

Yes, I think the steel gray has a bit higher visibility factor at night than the red or black. Steel gray, like a fine high dollar tweed suit, eh laddie? My half helmet has the drop down built-in shaded face shield, which is great 'cause I wear specs for seeing anyway.

On another note/observation; the bikes I've bought brand new here in SoNev are California models. My 2007 Nomad was, and my 2008 Vision is. I think it's because we have pretty much the same smog laws down here in the 'Vegas valley. I still think I have enough power for my purposes anyway.

varyder

Posted 2008-02-16 10:30 PM (#5371 - in reply to #5363)
Subject: RE: Riding Observations.

Visionary

Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA

Edradio, thanks for the invite to adding to your post about riding observations. It seems there will be a lot of them in the coming months, but the ride is someone worth sharing. I ride everyday, and each day is just another great experience on this machine.

I usually stop by the dealer on Saturday morning after my weekly prayer breakfast. I got there before it opened and sitting in the parking lot was a post-office tow-truck with a postal jeep on the hook. As soon as I pulled in, the driver came walking over and began asking me about the ViVi. He calls his bud who is doing the same thing, picking up sick postal jeeps and taking them to the repair facility. He tells him he is speaking to an owner of "that bike". What's it called, "Vision" "That's right a Vision." Within a couple of minutes he's there and they're asking all kinds of questions. One ask how heavy is it, I told him over 800lbs, but no concern, watch this. I'm standing on the right side of the bike and I grab the handle bar one handed and upright it with minimal effort. I tell him I could have never done that with a Wing, even my 1200 without fear of dropping it.

After the dealer opens I'm inside talking with a Winger. He's getting a used Honda VTX for his wife, which is a very nice looking bike. I asked him if he's ever looked at the Vision? Not really, too funny looking. I said, yes it's different but it rides like a dream. I tell him I used to ride a Wing but didn't like riding high in the saddle, the Vision has a lower seat, fantastic handling. Yeah, but he's got an 1800, he says. I told him that don't mind if they sit on one here, give it a try. Nope was his response. Okay.

Anyway, leave there and go home and the wife says let's go for a ride. I told her the high today is in the 40's. No problem, I want to go for a ride. So we wrap up and saddle up and head to Williamsburg, which is just under an hour from our house. She's never been on the Vision more than 15 minutes up to this point. She's been on my Wing for an hour at a time when she starts tapping me on the shoulder and says "Can we stop, I hurt?" We get on the Vision and I tell her about the heated seat. Wow, turn that on high she says. On it goes and off we go to Billyburg. We take the Nickel route (route 5) which is mildly twisty, and we get to Williamsburg at a traffic light and I ask how things were going for her. She says fantastic and I got a nap in too! What! I never knew she even nodded off.

Anyway, we eat and head back home the same way we came. When we got back to the house she said the ride seemed even shorter since she got more sleep in on the way back. To put all of this in perspective, the only bike she has rode with me on was the GL1200. We've made a couple trips to Va. Beach which is 2 hours away, and an hour was always pushing it for her. She would twist and shift and say we need to stop soon. On the ViVi, she sleeps.

The handling with my beloved Pillion of course changes a little, but still glides the highway effortlessly. Also, my gas mileage improved since I ride more civilized with her, and I almost achieved 40mpg according to the readout. On the ride down, I noticed on some of the curves that would hold concern on the GL1200 wasn't even noticable on the ViVi. Of course, with my pillion sleeping, there wasn't any "Whoa, slow down there cowboy" when we'd hit some of those long banking turns.

I'd like to add also, if you come to the Richmond - Hampton Roads area, we have what is called the Nickel-Dime ride. Depending where you are coming from, you can run up Rt 5 and then back on Rt 10. Both have some nice twisties as it meanders along country on either side of the James River. You can also catch the ferry at the Scotland-Jamestown landings to crossover. Great springtime ride, or even better in the fall when the leaves turn.

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

Main Forum Sections

Specific Content

Business

Networked Sites