Glad to hear your 99 was solid for you. I never had a pre-2002 Vic but might some day.
They came out with a redesigned motor in 02 which has been very reliable. I just posted this to it's own thread but might be applicable since the question is between 2 brands:
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/motorcycles
BTW, I like roadstars, but Vic's are still my preference.
I would recommend looking at used Victory's. They are way undervalued right now due to their marketshare. You can get a 92 CI Kingpin barely used for 10k (sometimes less) and spend the extra money on goodies.
06+ Vegas' and KP's are 100ci 6 speeds
Good Luck!
schwartzkm wrote:Victory Opinion:
I had a victory and it never left me stranded. The engine was rock solid the three years I had it (I used it as my primary form of transportation while I owned it). The only thing I did was basic maintenance type stuff that would have to be done on any bike (change tires, brake pads, oil etc..) From what I have heard, the engines and transmissions in the newere model are MUCH better than in my 99 victory.
Problem:
1) Steered like a firetruck. I think all the big cruisers suffer from this, though. I like smaller, more nimble cruisers for commuting. (I would get a naked sports bike but my wife will not let me get anything that looks fast. Ohhhhh, the trade-off us married people make! Speed Triple or Ducati Monster rocks!)
2) The older model had all its components in the headlight. Why is that a problem? The amps it draws forced me to keep it on a battery tender otherwise it would not start if I didn't ride it for a few days (bad weather weeks).