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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | relic123 - 2011-09-13 9:13 PM
Hmmmm......Interesting comments, for me the ride is not about being in the shop while wasting precious days of summer, it is more about being on the open road with no destination only wishing I had more vacation to make the ride last longer. My frustrations are legit because let me tell you when your in Colorado in Estes Park and you realize your lights have burned out and there is no simple way to replace them at the next convienence store it kinda frustrates you. Also when your riding along listening to a banging noise and after pulling over to investigat your 19500 mile motorcycle you find your front/rear portion of the fender has all but fell off it kinda frustrates you.....To buy a bike that has a oil change interval of 2500 miles when oil is not falling in price, Kinda Frustrates Me...To sit in a seat on a 850 mile day from oregon to california, and realize that the damn foam has broken down to the point of needing replaced really frustrates me...To show up to my buddys home, hop on his newer 08 Vision and realize my front suspension is rough compared to his when only having 15000 miles on my machine pisses me off...To find a new little scratch daily in what victory calls a clear coat hurts my wallet knowing a new paint job will have to be done to keep the bike looking nice. To pull a speaker out and say "huh I wonder what china factory made that" dissapoints me in such a high end bike
Point is in all this is not to start a war on whos bike is outlasting the next guys. Its to point out the facts. If Victory is honestly going to play in the market of the "Touring Class" then they have to make the auxillary components of the bike last with what has to be one of the "Best" frame/motor combinations out there. Am I expecting perfection.....no! But am I expecting a bike that will compete in all aspect of other touring models like the "Goldwing/BMW".....Yes!!! Just looking at service intervels shows that this is not the case yet.
Again I will say this has been a magnificent Bike and over the previous 9 ive owned it has had some real highlights but unfortunatley has had some major downfalls that one would not expect in a "High end Machine"
Lets Face it if you bought a high end car what would your expectations be? Bad clear coats, cheap foamed seats...etc No way, we pay the price we pay to have the best and be above the rest in all areas of riding.
I appreciate and applaude Victory in there vision design and where they wanted to take this machine, but frown on some of the "shortcuts" taken on what instead of being a visionary bike ended up being "Just another Bike in my Garage"
i see your point, you mention if victory is going to stay in this market etc etc they have already Improved some of what you meantioned.. so they are "staying'" in the market. i had a 2008 vision and now have a 2011 and the seat is different, oil changes doubled. clear coat improved, you mentioned service intervals, talk to a goldwing own about their valve adjustments! $$$ or talk to a bmw owner who has to wait Weeks for parts. (at least here in pittsburgh thats how it is) i think when you buy a FIRST YEAR bike you can not expect perfection. i thought that was always the rule??? if you buy a first year anything you have to expect the next 1-2 years flaws would be taken care of. My 08 had some electrical issues that were taken care of under warranty and when they were repaired i noticed the parts had a revised part numbers (improved). so while we do have a 15000 mile fork oil change. we Dont have to pay for valve adjustments. Or how about this one, my friends gold wing takes HOURS to replace a air filter. I can have my air filter out in 2-3 mins. when people talk about how much this bike cost and how it shouldnt have problems. how about the goldwing owners that had to have their FRAMES rewelded! how would someone feel about that one? brand new bike and your frame is Unsafe!? so honda sends a person to reweld parts of the alumium frame.. I may or maynot get upset over a seat or clearcoat. but i would surely be pissed off if honda had to send a person to WELD my freaking frame! also another side of the coin may be. that goldwing owner doesnt have the right to complain about valve adjustments or air filter replacement if he would have asked to read the maintenance part of the owners manual before he bought that bike. or just asked the service department whats involved in the servicing of this bike... reminds me of my buddy who bought a sportscar and then got pissed at the price of tires and their short life.. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| ridingcowboy - 2011-09-13 10:49 AM
WELL YOU ARE ALL WRONG I AM NOT A HARLEY RIDER AND NEVER HAVE BEEN AND DONT WORK FOR HARLEY . ITS JUST WHEN YOU HAVE HAD BIKES THAT DONT HAVE PROBLEMS AND YOU START TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A BIKE AT 16000 MILES THAT 2 YRS OLD AND YOU HAVE HAD POLARIS PPODUCTS FOR YEARS AND HAVE GREAT SUCCESS WITH SNOWMACHINES YOU EXPECT THE SAME FROM THEM ON BIKES.SO YOU SPENT MORE ON THIS BIKE THAN ANY BIKE OR SNOWMACHINE YOU HAVE OWENED THERE IS A EXPEXTATION ON WHAT YOU ARE GETTING FOR YOUR MONEY AND WHEN A COMPANY ADVERTISES THAT THEY ARE THE NEW AMERICAN MOTORCYLCLE COMPANY YOU PUT YOUR TRUST THAT THEY ARE GIVING YOU MORE FOR YOUR MONEY THAN HARLEY AND NOT BEING CHEAP ASSES ON PARTS THEY ARE PUTTING IN THERE BIKES. IF YOU ALL HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE CHEAP PARTS THEY HAVE PUT IN THIS BIKE YOU SHOULD. MAYBE SOME OF YOU THAT THINK THAT THE SPEAKERS IN THE BIKE ARE OK CANT HEAR ANYWAY SO IT WOULD MAKE NO DIFF WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE BIKE FOR SOUND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A CHEAP ASS SPEAKER IN MY LIFE. AND IF ANY OF YOU RIDE FOR ANY TIME SITTING ON THE CHEAP ASS SEAT THEY PUT IN THE BIKE YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO OPEN THE SEAT UP AND LOOK AT THE CHEAP ASS FOAM THAT THEY USED ON THE SEAT.AND IF VICTORY WAS REALLY WANTED SATISFIED CUSTOMERS AND THEY KNOW THEY PUT OUT A CHEAP ASS PRODUCT ON THE 08 AND 09 MODELS THEN THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DID. SO THE SHORT OF THE STORY IS THE CONSUMER AS ALLWAYS PAYS THE PRICE....
That is the longest sentence I have ever seen!!! Great job with the spelling too!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
REXBURG IDAHO | For those of you that are hung up on my spelling ya i know i cant spell worth a shit so get off my back. and i can admit that. not like some of you that dont care that you spent a lot of money on a bike and got some great things but also got some cheap ass things. seams as though you are willing to accept that and be little men in the corners that will not stand up and tell victory whats great and whats not. you just accept the cheap ass parts and in turn try to tell me its ok to accept cheap ass shit from the new american motorcylce company. but there is one thing for sure i do know and that is what quality is. i am sure most of you have not taken a speaker out and looked at it or you would agree with what i am saying.i spent 36 yrs pleasing people in the retail world and do know that if you give people a great product and dont try to cut corners on the little things that matter in the long run everyone wins. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| What is it this year, the Season of the Trolls??? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| ridingcowboy - 2011-09-13 1:26 PM ya it would not be so bad if you could change your head lights in just a few min but have you changed a light bulb yet? o ya and do you know haow many cranking anps your battery puts out another cheap ass product you might want to ck o ya buy the way i did put some new spark plug wire upgrades on my 08 vision and it starts a lot better so the factory wires were anthor cheap ass product. Yes, I have changed my headlights multiple times as bulb life seems to be right around 10,000 miles on just about any motorcycle. Just try changing out the separate high and low bulbs on a GL1800 Goldwing and you will realize just how easy we actually have it with the Vision since all we have to remove is the air filter to access the bulbs (tipping the bike over on the left and right tip over protectors helps a lot too). Funny, the battery that comes stock on the Vision is the same battery used by Honda for the Goldwing, I have had mine in the bike since day one with no problems and I don't even use a battery tender except during the winter months although I will probably put a new battery in next year just to be safe (3 years was the average battery life on both the GL1500 and GL1800 Goldwings). Thanks for the info regarding the improvement found upon upgrading the spark plug wires, but then again that makes sense as not even on the high end automobiles do they use the best components available on the market. As far as your spelling goes, I do not know what kind of computer you are using to post or if you are using a smart phone, but when you are typing a word and you get to the end of it and and space, if a series of dots appear under the word that generally means that the word is misspelled, but those dots are also a help as all you have to do is to right click on that misspelled word and a pop up menu will appear with a selection of what the system thinks might be the correct spelling. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | +1 Arkainzeye!
I knew heading into the 08 Vision that it was a first model year bike and would have some issues. Past experiences with auto manufacturers have yielded much worse results (I personally lived thru this with my wife's 1990 Grand Am - left her stranded 3 times - out of the blue). I traded-in my 2008 for a 2011, not for the problems, but to get ABS (hard braking on tar snakes in an experienced riders course made me realize how much I wanted it). I literally almost cried when I parted ways with my 2008. I owned my bike for 3 years and it had 20,500 on it (I wish I could ride more, but work and life kick my butt).
In my opinion, I think you are taking a few minor issues and exagerating them to the point that the bike sucks and is cheap. The fork oil should be changed every 15000 miles. If people want to double that, they are taking on the risk of failure. Much like going to the dentist - you want to wait 2 years for a cleaning and check up, don't complain when you get a tooth ache. My bike never had any seat issues and I am 6'4" @ 245 lbs. Never changed a single bulb (headlight, brake or turn). My paint looked as good as the day I bought it.
The only annoyance I ever had was the exhaust popping, but that didn't start until I messed with the bike. Is that Victory's problem? Worked fine when they gave it to me...
To get a bike that was engineered for no problems would cost more than anyone could afford and you would never get away from maintenance. There is no motorcycle that is perfect, but this one is pretty darn close. Hell, I don't even think these bikes cost that much. Look at a CVO Ultra Classic at $38,000 and compare it to ours. I bet you could do all the maintenance and put on a leather seat much cheaper than that. |
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | If you don't like it, buy a new bike. If you like the bike enough that you're willing to deal with the issues, then keep it. But I think the main point of many people in this thread aren't necessarily they problems or issues you have with the bike, but rather the way you pointed them out. Calling it a piece of crap and whatnot. if you had presented your issues with the bike and company more professionally, a lot of these posts (including mine) could have been avoided and it would have developed into a more intellectual debate and back and forth instead of heated arguing.
Alexi |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | sfalexi - 2011-09-14 9:55 AM If you don't like it, buy a new bike. If you like the bike enough that you're willing to deal with the issues, then keep it. But I think the main point of many people in this thread aren't necessarily they problems or issues you have with the bike, but rather the way you pointed them out. Calling it a piece of crap and whatnot. if you had presented your issues with the bike and company more professionally, a lot of these posts (including mine) could have been avoided and it would have developed into a more intellectual debate and back and forth instead of heated arguing. Alexi +1 And let's NOT forget - MOST of us haven't had ANY of the problems talked about here. 4 years for me - same battery, same spark plug wires, same headlight, same seat - OH, I did change the speakers because I am a bit of a 'sound snob', and Victory upgraded the bad control under warranty, but THAT'S IT ! 4 years! I have owned 21 bikes - and all have had minor problems, but not one SERIOUS problem in 52 years. My '69 BSA 650 Lightning needed 2 hours of tinkering for every 1 hour of riding - but I thought that was 'normal' and didn't rant at the British. Blame the roads you ride on. Blame your riding style. Blame your climate. But LEAVE THE MANUFACTURER OUT OF IT, and get another bike from someone else if you get pissed off. Move on! |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | My blood pressure did not go up reading this thread, but the corners of my mouth did. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | Though I don't think Victory intentionally put lowest grade parts on the Vision, I have never seen lesser quality speakers in any vehicle since the 70's. The sound quality from the head unit is less than average too. I really like the functionality of the head unit. It's placement is nice and has an easy to read screen and big buttons for gloved hands. It's only problem is the sound quality.
From a design standpoint, I believe the Victory engineers were simply not familiar with certain components. Everything the Vision has that their other bikes did not have in 2008 was something new to learn. The stereo, the big cushy seat, e-windshield, heated grips, all the plastic, etc. Some things they got right the first time. Other things they relied on their vendors and maybe didn't get it quite right. Overall the Vision, in my opinion, is quite a success. There are definately a few things that need improvement, but I feel they did a fine job for their first stab at the full-dresser market. Their focus right now is on the Cross bikes. When Victory decides it's time for a product refresh of the Vision, I think will see some great improvements. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 166
Bullhead City, AZ | At 51 and having driven open air tractors for 15 years the speakers on the VV are loud and sound great. I can tell by the way all my neighbors heads turn when I go by , even the ones cutting their grass. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| ridingcowboy - 2011-09-13 10:49 AM WELL YOU ARE ALL WRONG I AM NOT A HARLEY RIDER AND NEVER HAVE BEEN AND DONT WORK FOR HARLEY . ITS JUST WHEN YOU HAVE HAD BIKES THAT DONT HAVE PROBLEMS AND YOU START TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A BIKE AT 16000 MILES THAT 2 YRS OLD AND YOU HAVE HAD POLARIS PPODUCTS FOR YEARS AND HAVE GREAT SUCCESS WITH SNOWMACHINES YOU EXPECT THE SAME FROM THEM ON BIKES.SO YOU SPENT MORE ON THIS BIKE THAN ANY BIKE OR SNOWMACHINE YOU HAVE OWENED THERE IS A EXPEXTATION ON WHAT YOU ARE GETTING FOR YOUR MONEY AND WHEN A COMPANY ADVERTISES THAT THEY ARE THE NEW AMERICAN MOTORCYLCLE COMPANY YOU PUT YOUR TRUST THAT THEY ARE GIVING YOU MORE FOR YOUR MONEY THAN HARLEY AND NOT BEING CHEAP ASSES ON PARTS THEY ARE PUTTING IN THERE BIKES. IF YOU ALL HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE CHEAP PARTS THEY HAVE PUT IN THIS BIKE YOU SHOULD. MAYBE SOME OF YOU THAT THINK THAT THE SPEAKERS IN THE BIKE ARE OK CANT HEAR ANYWAY SO IT WOULD MAKE NO DIFF WHAT THEY HAVE IN THE BIKE FOR SOUND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A CHEAP ASS SPEAKER IN MY LIFE. AND IF ANY OF YOU RIDE FOR ANY TIME SITTING ON THE CHEAP ASS SEAT THEY PUT IN THE BIKE YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO OPEN THE SEAT UP AND LOOK AT THE CHEAP ASS FOAM THAT THEY USED ON THE SEAT.AND IF VICTORY WAS REALLY WANTED SATISFIED CUSTOMERS AND THEY KNOW THEY PUT OUT A CHEAP ASS PRODUCT ON THE 08 AND 09 MODELS THEN THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DID. SO THE SHORT OF THE STORY IS THE CONSUMER AS ALLWAYS PAYS THE PRICE.... Sorry you don't enjoy your bike. My '08 is just fine. I've replaced my speakers but only so I could hear them at 85-90mph. At 70 they were fine. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Southern Va./2011 Vision silver | Im just a newbie here and this is my first Victory but Ive been riding for over 35 years , hd, yamaha ,honda , kawasaki ,suzuki , every one of em needed something sooner or later. I checked out lots of bikes before I bought my vision last saturday, ( I was searching for the most comfortable bike because of back problems) . There is nothing to compare this bike to but look around and see what you can get new for under 20k with the features that come on a vision , its not just the most unique and most comfortable motorcycle its also the best value . |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | victoryvisiontour - 2011-09-14 3:44 PM
Though I don't think Victory intentionally put lowest grade parts on the Vision, I have never seen lesser quality speakers in any vehicle since the 70's. The sound quality from the head unit is less than average too. I really like the functionality of the head unit. It's placement is nice and has an easy to read screen and big buttons for gloved hands. It's only problem is the sound quality.
From a design standpoint, I believe the Victory engineers were simply not familiar with certain components. Everything the Vision has that their other bikes did not have in 2008 was something new to learn. The stereo, the big cushy seat, e-windshield, heated grips, all the plastic, etc. Some things they got right the first time. Other things they relied on their vendors and maybe didn't get it quite right. Overall the Vision, in my opinion, is quite a success. There are definately a few things that need improvement, but I feel they did a fine job for their first stab at the full-dresser market. Their focus right now is on the Cross bikes. When Victory decides it's time for a product refresh of the Vision, I think will see some great improvements.
I believe you are right it was a learning curve for them the first year . I had a 2008 vision I now have a 2011 . and almost all of the complaint I hear about with the 2008 have been addressed . my radio on my 2011 is completely different from mike 2008 . the speakers are better , the radio is louder , reception is a hell of a lot better ! and even the display is easier to read ... I also noticed a very big difference in the seats as well . 1 of my favorite differences that is completely useless is the new wheels . I love the look of the black wheels . I do believe victory listens to us when we complain about stuff . that's why the vision keeps improving in years . |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | What's this guy, been eatin' Tansy? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | So new folks know, Victory doesn't make the radio. It is manufactured by www.radiosound.com. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | The vision as a model has been out for what 5 years ?? Victory will address problems as they come along. If not people will stop buying them, Mine's been a good bike so far, I never say great till they 50,000 + miles on them. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ridingcowboy - 2011-09-14 8:39 AM
For those of you that are hung up on my spelling ya i know i cant spell worth a shit so get off my back. If you don't care, why say anything?� and i can admit that. why admit that?� not like some of you that dont care that you spent a lot of money on a bike and got some great things but also got some cheap ass things. I cannot agree, nothing�is cheap on the Vision, though I will agree that they fell short on the seat covering. But hat doesn't bother me, one day I'm going to get it leathered. seams as though you are willing to accept that and be little men in the corners that will not stand up and tell victory whats great and whats not. I think the whole bike is great, and I've told them through two surveys. you just accept the cheap ass parts and in turn try to tell me its ok to accept cheap ass shit from the new american motorcycle company. still the same childish mantra that means nothing to anyone who owns a Victory or a Vision. but there is one thing for sure i do know and that is what quality is. doesn't take a brainiac to figure that out - I don't understand what your point is. i am sure most of you have not taken a speaker out and looked at it or you would agree with what i am saying. I've taken out a speaker and looked at it and have no clue what you are saying. I was cruising along today in traffic at 80+ and listening to my radio and didn't even have at full volume. i spent 36 yrs pleasing people in the retail world and do know that if you give people a great product and dont try to cut corners on the little things that matter in the long run everyone wins. so, I thought you said you were a miner? I'm curious to know what you did for retail.
Edited by varyder 2011-09-15 7:50 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | if victory made everything on the Vision 100% the best of the best. then the posts wouldbe read, (can you believe what they charge for the vision?!) |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Arkainzeye - 2011-09-15 8:55 PM
if victory made everything on the Vision 100% the best of the best. then the posts wouldbe read, (can you believe what they charge for the vision?!)
I know, right! I got more than I paid for. Cost is for how it handles and how comfortable it is, everything else is a perk. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | OMG. The 'Thread That Wouldn't Die'..... LMAO
Ha Ha - or something like that ....
Anyway - this thread is SO BAD - it brought VaRyder 'back from the dead!'. Hip Hip Hoorah !
Maybe now we can coax his current mileage out of him.... Chris ???? We NEED to know so that we can shut up the 'cry babies', or send them back to Yamaha or BMX
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | when we meet, you can see my odometer, if I can see yours. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | BMX? I meant Suzyq or Hardly Canrun ... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | varyder - 2011-09-15 6:15 PM when we meet, you can see my odometer, if I can see yours. You bad man you. I've SEEN your odometer... not fair. But I bet I can whoop you in a drag (or roll-on). |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Roadie, +1 and well said. I bought my Vision because it's the first bike I ever sat "IN" not "ON" I was looking for the most comfortable cruiser I could find. And the Vision is like a Lazy Boy that has power and speed to spare. And the price was great, especially compared to other bike companies. I got a hell of a lot for my money and a bike I can ride for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours.
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NEW AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY
