This year at Americade I had the pleasure of demo riding the Victory Vision Street. Guns90 requested that I share my thoughts. I hoped to ride the
"tour" but victory used a "First come first Served" system and the first 10 people or so in line all wanted to ride the Tour, so I let the
couples ride the tour.
Over all I felt right at home on the Vision. It reminded me so much of the Tourer that I think I missed 70% of the 1-2 shifts because I was pressing on the nonexistent heel shifter. While it had good power (more than the tourer, less than a wing/k1200lt) I didn't particularly like the nature of the motor, it was very slow to wind up. Very tractor like, it was usable power but I feel a motorcycle should have a motorcycle engine. The tourer's motor is much more rev-able in comparison. The 6 speed transmission was somewhat clunky but running a bit over 2000 RPM on the highway was very nice.
Wind management was very good. I found the power windshield to be unneeded as I had it in the full low position the whole time, bringing it up had me looking through the windshield and totally shutting off any breeze. The bike I rode had some leg lowers; even in the windy position there was some engine heat on my feet. This was in the morning, the temp was most likely in the 60's that air cooled motor could be a problem, baking the legs when it is hot out.
Seating was good for the 30 minute ride and I like the large floor boards that allowed multiple positions. At 5'11" it fit me very well. It handled acceptably for a bike its size at low speeds, the flip side was that it fantastic on the highway. Between the low revving motor, good wind management and large size this made a great highway bike. I did find the stereo to lack oomph at higher speeds sounding very tinny. But I very much enjoyed the handlebar controls for the stereo.
Over all I liked it better than I anticipated; despite the small complaints, over all the bike worked. I did not get to try it on any real twisties but as a highway bike I very much liked it.
Over all I felt right at home on the Vision. It reminded me so much of the Tourer that I think I missed 70% of the 1-2 shifts because I was pressing on the nonexistent heel shifter. While it had good power (more than the tourer, less than a wing/k1200lt) I didn't particularly like the nature of the motor, it was very slow to wind up. Very tractor like, it was usable power but I feel a motorcycle should have a motorcycle engine. The tourer's motor is much more rev-able in comparison. The 6 speed transmission was somewhat clunky but running a bit over 2000 RPM on the highway was very nice.
Wind management was very good. I found the power windshield to be unneeded as I had it in the full low position the whole time, bringing it up had me looking through the windshield and totally shutting off any breeze. The bike I rode had some leg lowers; even in the windy position there was some engine heat on my feet. This was in the morning, the temp was most likely in the 60's that air cooled motor could be a problem, baking the legs when it is hot out.
Seating was good for the 30 minute ride and I like the large floor boards that allowed multiple positions. At 5'11" it fit me very well. It handled acceptably for a bike its size at low speeds, the flip side was that it fantastic on the highway. Between the low revving motor, good wind management and large size this made a great highway bike. I did find the stereo to lack oomph at higher speeds sounding very tinny. But I very much enjoyed the handlebar controls for the stereo.
Over all I liked it better than I anticipated; despite the small complaints, over all the bike worked. I did not get to try it on any real twisties but as a highway bike I very much liked it.
Doesn't anyone want to make motorcycles for dwarfs?
