Harley Road Glide vs Victory Cross Country

[CDeucer]

Don't look back Harley.......... Someone is gaining on you:
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2010-harleydavidson-road-glide-vs-2010-victory-cross-country-89044.html

[Dennis The Menace]

Dont care what they think...that aint no Road Glide....its pure fugly, IMO.  If it were given to me, I would sell it and get a real Road Glide.

Try again, Victory.

menace

[CDeucer]

The Road Glide is my favorite also. But I saw the Cross Country and talked to the guy who owned it for some time. It is far from fugly and the owner is quite happy with it after owning a long line of Harleys. To each his own, but I am glad another company has got the Harley market in their sights. It can only make the MoCo stand up and take notice and maybe make a better bike for us. IMHO.

[IndyHarley]

I must have missed something as it looks like an exact copy of the Road Glide but I emphasize the word appearance so I don't see where the 'fugly' comes from unless you don't like Road Glides to begin with.

Competition is not always a good thing, especially when there are only two in the competition. However, developing products with the consumers concerns in mind is usually a good thing.

[dunbarton]

However mechanically good they may be, I just plain don't like the styling of any of the Polaris bikes. Seems the harder they try to emulate HD, the worse they look. No soul. If they grabbed the designers from HD.. look out.

[seattledyna]

I still like the looks of the RG, technically though Victory's are fine...just not my thing

[Dennis The Menace]

In my style sense, its fugly.  JMO  We dont have to agree.  I am on my 2nd RG, so I have a little bias.  ;-)

menace

[CDeucer]

Im just not sure how much Victory is trying to emulate Harley. Over all looks maybe a little, but the frame technology, suspension, 50 degree V twin, 4 valves per cylinder, w/ overhead cam & hydraulic lifters, and oil cooling seems to me that they are doing their own thing. It also seems to me that they listen to their customers and probably to Harley riders like us and all of our complaints of the way the MoCo does things. Why I bet they even monitor HTT so watch what you say. Your ideas may end up on a Victory! 

[ultra200922]

Talk to any dealer who sells Polaris snowmobiles or 4 wheelers they always have a shop full of machines to fix. Why would the bikes be any different. Cheap parts and poor engineering, I've worked on enough of them to know. Polaris (People Of Lesser Ability Ride Inferior S@#%)

[rkrdr2]

It is the Dyno #s that are an embarrassment for Harley...24hp/22ft/lb of torque behind...wtf...How long before MoCo makes the 103ci motor standard on all bikes....as for styling...MoCo is the winner hands down!

[noliners]

Polaris had to use KTM to make their engines for their Quads.  Their own engines were horrible!!!! Some made in China.  Keep your Victory.

[Jeffd]

They look way better in person.  I sat on one and if the price was right and I was in the market I would definetly think about getting one.  In my area there are as many Victory dealers as there are Harley dealers, of course my next new bike will probably be a BMW GS so the point is moot LOL.

[Moosedeuce]

I thought it was suppose to compete against the street glide. Yamaha has one to.

[attachment removed after 60 days by system]

[Tsani]

I don't see how it is an "exact" copy of an RG. Maybe I am missing something. BTW - Polaris (People Of Lesser Ability Ride Inferior S@#%), That a good one!  However, MOCO is catching up to the inferior S@#% part. They had better wake up, but to tell the truth, I don't think they give a S@#%.

[Jeffd]

I wonder how many Victory cranks have taken a crap?  Anybody know?

[Emptypockets]

  If it has to be explained you won't understand. Try going to friggin' VTT.

[seattledyna]

apparently there is a major problem/recall with Victory cranks

[flhpolice]

i wish a lot of luck to victory, glad to see another player on the market. competition is always good to customers

[ChromeWhore]

It's ugly compared to the RG... The Victory might look okay against foreign bikes, but the Victory is still nothin' to write home about... When are the numskulls going to get it and understand that no bike is more beautiful or come close to a HARLEY DAVIDSON!!! 

Read it here if you don't believe me....

--CW

[Dennis The Menace]

apparently there is a major problem/recall with Victory cranks

great, MoCo is making Victory cranks too?!?!  lol

[Kansas]

I recently read a review of four touring bikes of which the Vctory and Harley were included and the looks of the Victory were it's big sticking point for a lot of people.

[PoorUB]

Talk to any dealer who sells Polaris snowmobiles or 4 wheelers they always have a shop full of machines to fix. Why would the bikes be any different. Cheap parts and poor engineering, I've worked on enough of them to know. Polaris (People Of Lesser Ability Ride Inferior S@#%)

I don't know about that! I would not lump the 4 wheelers and snomobiles into the same group as the bikes! Victory bikes have been very dependable rides. Good think HD never has any issues! Cam chain tensioners, crabkshafts, heat complaints, death wobble....
I ride with a couple guys that own Vic's and HD's, both of them really like their Vic's, but are involved in HOG and that sways them a bit stronger toward HD. There is no Victory riding club, at least none with any strength in this area. Neither of them have had any issues with their bikes, except Victory had a recall and rebuilt the transmission on one of the bikes when it was well out of warranty. Try get HD to do that!

[PoorUB]

apparently there is a major problem/recall with Victory cranks

Care to back that up? I don't see any thing on the 'net about bad Vic cranks.
Now, on the other hand, if you do a search for HD crankshaft problems.....

[seattledyna]

I just went to Bing search and put in "victory motorcycle crankshaft problems" and came up with all sorts of things, all I can say about it

[Bigs]

To me the nicest thing about the Vic is the seat height. Not being tall and long legged it's hard to reach the ground on the Harley touring models. I'm glad to see they are lowering the seat height on the new ones.
   Bigs

[bouncingVman]

I hope Bouncing Vman buys one so I can get a little closer look at it, maybe even talk him into riding it.
Later,
Ray

Ray,

You are welcome to take a test ride if the day ever comes.

-Todd

[autoworker]

I like the looks of the Victory wheels compared to the Road Glide.It ends there though.

[PoorUB]

I just went to Bing search and put in "victory motorcycle crankshaft problems" and came up with all sorts of things, all I can say about it

I did Goggle, and found little or nothing, then went to Bing and found something on a cam chain drive gear recall on 2005 models. At least Vic is recalling the bikes for the problem, and just not pretending that .007" of run out is within specs!

[Clayster]

Dennis the Menace and Dunbarton nailed it.  Fugly and No Soul.  Pure wannabe...

[mark61]

  The victory cast alum frame would be what I worry about. Anyone can patch/ weld a steel frame on Saturday night after a screw up ride. What would you do for alumnium welder?

mark61

[JohnnyM]

A few years ago the magazines were giving glowing reports to the new Excelsior Henderson bikes.  Glad I didn’t buy one.  A friend bought a new Indian in 2000.  Glad I didn’t buy one.  Now another guy I know has bought a Victory.  Glad it’s his and not mine.   The Victory may well go the way of Excelsior and Indian.

[Dennis The Menace]

I suppose I shouldnt have been so harsh.  The Victory line is not so much fugly, but I dont like any of their designs on their bikes.  JMO.  I am not slamming their quality or ride or HP/TQ numbers.  I wouldnt be naive enough to say that HD is a better bike.  But, from a pure style perspective, I dont like them--compared to a HD.

Now, compare a Victory to a Honda, and yeah, I would rather have a Victory, style wise, than a Honda.  But, I dont know enough about either brand to really assess one is better than the other.  I just know I dont like the looks of either brand.

Ride what you want, I dont care.  Just ride, that is all that matters.

menace

[ch308]

Well said Dennis, Ride what you like!!!

[martida01]

The Victory dresser line has been Fugly since day one. 

I do like what Cory and Arlen have brought to the company.

There is a factory custom in my area.  See the guy on it all the time.  It looks nice, sounds nice, but at the end of the day, it ain't a Harley.

[dunbarton]

  It looks nice, sounds nice, but at the end of the day, it ain't a Harley.

Don't know that I can 100% buy in to the looks nice, but hey.. live and let live. To me the Harley, and perhaps the Indian have developed different but distinctive shapes that are both simple and pleasing to the eye, as well as.. synonymous with the brand. Although they have evolved over the years, todays bikes are unmistakably "harleys"... and the style lives on. That continuity is important because people eventually come to believe that is what a "real motorcycle" should look like. My bike has no badges on it at all, yet invariably anyone who comes over to look at  the bike, regardless of age or background always say.. that's a harley isn't it? Now what other brand of motorcycle has that sort of recognition.

[Upswept]

Too ugly for me, especially the engine. Plus, it has a resale value of a jap bike.

[Jeffd]

Too ugly for me, especially the engine. Plus, it has a resale value of a jap bike.

Best I ever did was with a KLR bought it new for $5000 and sold it 2 years later for $4200.  I could not get squat for my 04 flhtc with 76,000.  right now I think honda goldwings are doing better than most for resale.  Don't get me wrong I love my harley but I like all two wheelers.

[preacher son]

                                   
Ride what you want, I dont care.  Just ride, that is all that matters.

menace               
                               
     I agree menace. I have had people say to me " will you ride with me now that i ride a brand x"   
       I tell them , i dont care what you ride, bottom line, we screw up and slide down the road, we all hurt the same.
      My respect goes to any one who is willing to ride. It a gamble at best. Its an attitude and a need to feel the wind. 
                                                   Preacher Son

[Dennis The Menace]

...and, I might add, I wave to all bikes, and even scooters sometimes.  Honest.

uh-oh, not another wave topic.......lol

[harborjohn]

I feel symphathy for guys who have said " I never ridden or owned anything but a Harley " They have missed some of the greastest joys in life by not riding other brands/types or motorcycles. I am a Lover of Motorcycles and riding. I love my Harleys but I will jump on any other brand and enjoy a nice ride through the canyons or desert or the commute down the 405 fwy. They all bring a different feel and pleasure.

[Tsani]

Too ugly for me, especially the engine. Plus, it has a resale value of a jap bike.

I never bought a bike for it resell value. Bought em to ride em. To me that is just the wrong way to think about them. And I don't think the newer Harleys are going to have the resell value of the older iron. Just too many of them out there now. If Moco dropped their prices say 25%, what would that bike you bought a couple years ago be worth? It's basically the same bike.

[PoorUB]

Plus, it has a resale value of a jap bike.

When I traded my '05 on on the '10, it seemed to me that HD has resale of a jap bike now too!

[ChromeWhore]

PoorUB, trading your bike in at the dealership is a different animal from selling it to a private buyer... Everyone gets screwd on a trade in.

For your info: Trade-ins are not market value.... 

--CW

[texaskatfish]

apparently there is a major problem/recall with Victory cranks

great, MoCo is making Victory cranks too?!?!  lol

     

[PoorUB]

PoorUB, trading your bike in at the dealership is a different animal from selling it to a private buyer... Everyone gets screwd on a trade in.

For your info: Trade-ins are not market value.... 

--CW

I do know the differance between retail and trade in values!
I tried to sell my '05 before I traded it and got no bites asking low book retail for it. When the dealer offered $1500 less than what I was asking, on trade, I jumped on it!
My point was that HD's don't resale for what they did a few years ago.

[tinkerman]

Glad to see so many here that just like bikes....including their Harley's. That's always been my take on it....own, ride and tinker with as many bikes as I can fit in while on this side of the sod. I didn't buy the old Heritage cause I thought HD was the best thing out there...but I couldn't see going through to much of life without owing one and I am glad I did.

I have had a couple of the Polaris bikes out for a test run and I wasn't particularly drawn to them or turned off by them....there is just a long line of bike manufacturer's that I haven't tried yet that are on my bucket list ahead of the Polaris bikes.

Tink

[CndUltra88]

Ford, Chevy Dodge!
Who makes the better vehicle???
It is all about the taste of one person.
If anyone says they drive a better car than I or thier choice of paint is better than mine, well I just stand there and .
Dont care , cause I ride/drive what I like and what I can afford.
I dont care what others may think.
Just my humble opinion this fine 44 degree morning here on the West Coast.
Rob

[HenryJ]

I looked at Victorys.  The problem I had is that there are so many Harley dealers in the Austin TX Area that you can't throw a rock without hitting one and on weekends they are all packed with customers.  There is one Victory dealer in town.  I went there on a Saturday and even the crickets were bored.  I'll would need to see a better dealer network and customer base before I could even consider one.

[texaskatfish]

I like the lQQks of all the Victory line up (aint seen a 'Camel T0e'....er...............uh Vision in person yet.

Am I shopping for one? Nope (none other either - praying Gracie lasts at least another decade - TODAY is 9 years to the day of my very first ride on her - all 95 inched out and ready to break in)

I can promise yall I've spent more on maintenance and parts on this 1 Harley than all the other rides I've ever owned combined.(NOT a complaint - just a fact). Would I trade ANY of those bikes?
NOPE - cuz I loved every one of em!

[Jeffd]

One thing I think is kind of funny is that many of the posters who say they would not own a Victory because the lack of dealers are the same posters that are always complaining of the HD ""dealer"s".  I am lucky I have a great local dealer. 
This is not pointed at any one in particular just something I have noticed over the years.  I wonder what happened in the old days when there were few dealers and the bikes were not so realible.

[Hydroman]

I can promise yall I've spent more on maintenance and parts on this 1 Harley than all the other rides I've ever owned combined.(NOT a complaint - just a fact). Would I trade ANY of those bikes?
NOPE - cuz I loved every one of em!
[/quote]




10-4 on that Katfish! Live and let live gentlemen.

[neale]

No thanks, gimme the RG anyday.

[a8nsk8]

A few years ago the magazines were giving glowing reports to the new Excelsior Henderson bikes.  Glad I didn't buy one.  A friend bought a new Indian in 2000.  Glad I didn’t buy one.  Now another guy I know has bought a Victory.  Glad it’s his and not mine.   The Victory may well go the way of Excelsior and Indian.

Forget about Victory going the way of Excelsior and Indian, Polaris has way to much money to let that happen.. I used to own one of the early vic's 2000 to be exact. I got rid of it after finding out about their tranny problem. I went in for service forget exactly what it was for and saw a stripped down to the frame vic hanging from a ceiling beam and asked what happened?? Dealer told me it was the tranny that had to be replaced.. Bike was only two yrs old..It was covered by warranty which was a good thing for the guy who owned the bike..Those early vics had square shift dogs instead of round ones and boy did it clunk when going from first to second..Needless to say I did not want to be the next guy in line for this to
happen to. Sold that bike and got a Heritage and have not looked back. As far as ride I can only comment on the RG if money comes my way I will buy the RG with no problem. I plan on testing the vic soon as weather permits. I think however the Cross Country was meant to compete with the street glide and not the RG.