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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| My husband and I have ridden Goldwings since 1995 (two Harley's were in the mix). Love the bike and especially love the Goldwing culture. But....my husband has recently acquired arthitis in his left knee and after no more than 30 minutes on the wing, it is killing him. He has highway pegs to stretch out, but they don't do any good until he can get off the bike and walk on it. His other problem, which he's had on EVERY bike he has ever ridden, is his tail bone. Some days he can do 200 to 250 miles and others, it hurts after 50 miles. We have spent thousands of dollars on different seats, to no avail.
We are taking a hard look at the Vision. He hasn't ridden one yet, but he plans to over the next few days. We live in the mountains of western NC (near Tail of the Dragon) and so I also have a questions about engine torque. Our Goldwing is outstanding on these roads. You can put the bike in 3rd or 4th gear and climb the mountains, get in to the curves, and have a blast. He only really has to shift if we get in to switchbacks. On the other hand, the Harley's were God Awful. He shifted up and down 100 times just to ride up one mountain and down the other side. It was ridiculous! How does the Vision handle in the mountains. A lot of shifting or does it glide? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | ride it he'll love it and so will you. I have done the tail, and you can lug around all day long. See if the dealer will let you go for a very long EXTENDED ride. It would be worth it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Hello to you, JoAnne in Western NC. I say, yes take a test ride, two up and hopefully in the mountains. The wife and I have rode two up on the interstate in the mountains and I think the Vision pulls strong. One up, I weigh over 200lb, and loaded with stuff, the Vision handles and pulls like a dream in the mountain roads. I have knee problems and road a GL1200 for about two years and after 1 1/2 hours my knees were killing me and it was painful to get off the bike. With the Vision I can sit in the saddle for 3 hours and only stop because I have to get fuel. When I do stop, I can hop off and feel fresh. I hope this helps. I know other folks will chime in with other good stuff about the Vision. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 15
Colorado Springs, CO | Hello... my $.02:
I am 6'6", 290, surgery on each knee due to hoops, back that needs surgery. Wife, 5'7", 140, both knees replaced, right hip replaced... We've owned a Harley and a Yamaha before this. The Vision is the most comfortable bike we have ridden. I don't have to get off the bike every hour now, I can stretch out and bring my legs back so they are 90 degrees or further... Plenty of power to haul us around the twisty, mountain roads in Colorado. I The bike just floats along and has great handling. We wouldn't ride any other bike, nope, never again. TOO Spoiled now.   |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| A test ride will tell you a lot! We were sold after our first demo ride.
You live in motorcycle heaven. Whatever you decide on, best wishes and ride safe. |
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Central Wisconsin | jomar - 2012-06-28 12:52 PM...He shifted up and down 100 times just to ride up one mountain and down the other side. It was ridiculous! How does the Vision handle in the mountains. A lot of shifting or does it glide? Welcome to the forum JoAnn, I haven't owned a GoldWing but have ridden them, they are smooth with plenty of power. I just couldn't get used to the cramped riding position. My wife and I have ridden in your neck of the woods three times, twice with the Vision. Going again this September, we will be staying in Pigeon Forge. My favorite is the Cherohala Skyway . The Vision has plenty of power for the mountains in all gears and you don't have to do lots of shifting. The below picture was taken last year in Colorado by Independence pass. 
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| Thank you for all this great feedback! Yes, we do live in motorcycle heaven and enjoy it very much. We have decided to ride over the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to Sevierville, TN tomorrow morning and rent a Vision Tour for 24 hours. We'll have the best of the best roads to ride home and back again on Saturday. That will give us some time and miles in the saddle so Mark can really see how it will affect his knee and tail bone. It's ashame it will be over 100 degrees this weekend! We'll just do mornings and evening. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Get your checkbook ready... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | varyder - 2012-06-28 3:22 PM
Get your checkbook ready...
+1 on having the checkbook ready. I hope ya'll have a safe ride and good times no matter what you decide about the Vision.
BTW The Dragon's OK but we prefer the Cherohola Skyway , just sayin' |
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| The last time we were on the Dragon (about 2 months ago when gas was $4 a gallon) the trucking companies had stopped routing the trucks around the Dragon and so they were using it. We came so close to what could have been fatal that we will never ride it again. This area of western NC is loaded with roads as good as or better than Deal's Gap/Tail of the Dragon. We don't need to risk our lives to enjoy a really good ride!
Examples: Wayah Bald from Franklin to 74 (Nantahala Gorge), 209 from Waynesville to Hot Springs, 64 from Franklin to Highlands, and the list goes on and on!
And, The Cherohola Skyway is outstanding! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | jomar - 2012-06-28 4:10 PM The last time we were on the Dragon (about 2 months ago when gas was $4 a gallon) the trucking companies had stopped routing the trucks around the Dragon and so they were using it. We came so close to what could have been fatal that we will never ride it again. This area of western NC is loaded with roads as good as or better than Deal's Gap/Tail of the Dragon. We don't need to risk our lives to enjoy a really good ride! Examples: Wayah Bald from Franklin to 74 (Nantahala Gorge), 209 from Waynesville to Hot Springs, 64 from Franklin to Highlands, and the list goes on and on! And, The Cherohola Skyway is outstanding! Not to take about from your orignal post, I road the dragon one evening, hardly any traffic at all, and when I got to deal's gap I realized I had done "the dragon". I went, "Huh?" There are tons more roads out there that makes the dragon look like a gecko, but of course, you won't get a sticker or a picture. I keep reading to that accidents are on the rise, and if you go the posted speed limit it's a real "whoopie" A few roads up around southwest Virginia are good also. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 15
Colorado Springs, CO | Thomas:
We did Indy pass to Aspen for lunch last weekend, right before the fires hit... we saw the start of the fire when it was about 100-500 acres, flames and a helicopter dropping water. It grew a little. http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2012/06/27/colorado-wildfires-...
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Hello to you, JoAnne in Western NC.......don't just take a test ride. Rent one for a day or two. A small price to pay to find out if it will work for your husband. Eagle Rider rents Visions in most major cities. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Hello to you, JoAnne in Western NC.......hope you find nirvana on the Vision!
Edited by MaddMAx2u 2012-06-28 3:48 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| If you live that close to the Dragon hop in the car take a ride over and see if there is a vision or 2 around and ask them. Maybe even get a ride on the back.
I haven't meet a lot of the vision riders in person but from what I know there a very friendly group. Yes there are more wings around but I don't think you'll be sorry. By the way there are some really Big guys riding these bikes and love them. A friend of mine is 6' 8" and he can't believe all the leg room there is. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| You might initially be disappointed with the power output from a factory EPA restricted Vision..... if so, don't worry, it takes very minor intake/exhaust mod to get the same or more power from the Vision than from your Wing... intake filter, exhaust, and fuel controller will get you near where your Wing is, add cams, and you exceed the Wing in power. However, the Vision will out handle the Wing.
Edited by Turk 2012-06-28 5:36 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| varyder - 2012-06-28 4:38 PM
jomar - 2012-06-28 4:10 PM The last time we were on the Dragon (about 2 months ago when gas was $4 a gallon) the trucking companies had stopped routing the trucks around the Dragon and so they were using it. We came so close to what could have been fatal that we will never ride it again. This area of western NC is loaded with roads as good as or better than Deal's Gap/Tail of the Dragon. We don't need to risk our lives to enjoy a really good ride! Examples: Wayah Bald from Franklin to 74 (Nantahala Gorge), 209 from Waynesville to Hot Springs, 64 from Franklin to Highlands, and the list goes on and on! And, The Cherohola Skyway is outstanding! Not to take about from your orignal post, I road the dragon one evening, hardly any traffic at all, and when I got to deal's gap I realized I had done "the dragon".? I went, "Huh?"? There are tons more roads out there that makes the dragon look like a gecko, but of course, you won't get a sticker or a picture.? I keep reading to that accidents are on the rise, and if you go the posted speed limit it's a real "whoopie"? A few roads up around southwest Virginia are good also.
I'm sure we've covered this before, but there are no good roads in TN, NC, VA, WV & KY.
Flatlanders, stay away. STAY AWAY. The riding in Florida is MUCH better.  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| Indeed! I couldn't agree more. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Ill be down your way saturday! leaving july4th. cant wait to hit the dragon on the vision |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| Take your Vision to see KevinX for some lloyds goodies and the Vision will out HP and TQ a wing and still be less $$ than a wing. Its a great mod to do on a Vision. Good luck and happy shopping. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 32
| Turk - 2012-06-28 5:35 PM
You might initially be disappointed with the power output from a factory EPA restricted Vision..... if so, don't worry, it takes very minor intake/exhaust mod to get the same or more power from the Vision than from your Wing... intake filter, exhaust, and fuel controller will get you near where your Wing is, add cams, and you exceed the Wing in power. However, the Vision will out handle the Wing.
Spot on, Turk....The difference between stock and the Stage 1 kit that Turk talks about is chalk and cheese, JoAnn. It's certainly a mod that I would recommend at time of purchase. I came from a Rocket Touring and noticed a big torque gap between the Rocket and the stock Vision, and the throttle response was not as tight. I bought a Vision with the Stage 1 kit, and my concerns about both the torque gap and throttle response basically disappeared. Mind you, I would have bought the Vision even without the Stage 1 kit improvements
Just as an aside, a mate and I were practising low speed turns the other day. He on his Goldwing and me on the Vision. He was trying it in 2nd gear as he had read this worked well on Wings and it was working brilliantly for him. I just didn't have the torque to do it. It could very well have simply been me..... .... Don't get me wrong, the Vision turns tight very, very well, it's just that it doesn't have that real low down torque of the Wing's 6 cylinders, as you'd expect.
You won't have that same trouble out on the open road as the Vision pulls very well. Not a lot of shifting in the curves, although we only really have "hills" out here in Oz, and no mountains to speak of I hope I have expressed that clearly enough, and not simply confused you
Pete
Edited by Peter Warren 2012-06-28 7:07 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | jomar - 2012-06-28 12:52 PM
How does the Vision handle in the mountains. A lot of shifting or does it glide?
It handles better than a Goldwing and is more comfortable. You've already said you're going to rent a Vision for 24 hours. You'll discover some minor differences between it and a GL1800, mostly saddlebag capacity and long range comfort. The GW has bigger saddlebags and the Vision is more comfortable. The Vision handles easier than a GW and has more cornering clearance.
I didn't like the forward controls of the Vision at first, but now that I've gotten used to them, the Goldwing feels weird to me.
I added a Lloydz cam, a fuel controller, and a top air filter, keeping the stock quiet exhaust, to my Vision and it now outruns my buddies' GL1800s and still beats them on fuel economy too. Before that, the GWs were a little faster than the Vision, but not by a whole lot.
The passenger will get more air on the Vision with the stock windshield, but gets to look over the driver instead of having to look around. Larger windshields are available. My wife absolutely loves the ability to see over me. She also loves the power windshield, asking me to lower it in hot weather. We've also got the lower wind deflectors, which are adjustable to bring lots of air in during hot weather, or to keep air out during cold weather. Highly recommended.
Ronnie
Edited by rdbudd 2012-06-28 7:29 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| Keep it safe and watch for 18 wheelers. Now that gas prices are lower, the trucking companies MIGHT be routing around 129. But, I wouldn't bank on it. Ask some questions before riding it and see if there have been very many big trucks lately. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| Hi All, Mark here, you guys have been extreamly helpful to JoAnn all day, and answered her questions in a very timely manner, Thank you for all of the help and advice. As JoAnn told you earlier, I've been riding since I was 14 (59 now) and been on Goldwings since 1995 ( a 2009 Airbag model) now. We've ridden Hondas, Harley's, Triumphs, Suzukis and BSA's. But this Victory Vision Tour rental tomorrow will be a first on a Victory. I didn't realize there was such a active and vibrant group of Vision-Riders.
I'm hoping that the Vision will give me the leg room (knees are going bad) and tail bone issue also that I need, I don't want to give up riding, there's still too many unridden roads to explore.
So, once again, thanks for all the help today. Mark |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Hey Mark!! You'll have a great ride tomorrow. One thing you should notice is that when you first sit on the bike it will seem like a behemoth. But one twist of the throttle you'll think you're on a smaller bike.... |
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Will a Vision work for us?
