04 Victory Kingpin

[huh]

go ride a victory and you can decide for yourself.

I have. I rode a Touring Cruiser last year, it was a very nice bike but not enough to make me trade the Harley in for one.

Again, I ask you - as you were a dealer mechanic I'd like to hear your opinion on why Harleys are behind in technology.

Why does everyone clam up when I ask for detailed answers???!!!

clam up?? dude your a typical harley cult member. i can throw facts at you all day long and you will always think your harley is better.

here is the short. better handling, more power, better brakes, and most important better price.

[Gummiente]

Because it's more fun to tease someone with non-specifics then it is to come out and say something mean. We tease cause we love, not because we want you to blow a gasket.

Thanks, sweetie. I love you, too.

[Gummiente]

dude your a typical harley cult member. i can throw facts at you all day long and you will always think your harley is better.

Cult member? Right. Obviously you missed my "Confessions of a Harley owner thread". Start throwing facts, not generalities and maybe we can have a decent conversation here.

Better handling - which models are we comparing here... Touring Cruiser to FLHT? Ok, I found the TC to be a little vague under hard cornering and the lack of ground clearance on the left was a nasty surprise. Still, the TC was a very nice riding bike.

Better brakes - yep, the Victory wins this one. Very responsive front brakes but I did find the rear hard to modulate and easy to lock up under emergency braking.

More power - debatable. The TC was quicker off the line but my FLHT seemed to have more punch in the midrange.

Better price - depends where you live. A new Touring Cruiser was only $1k less than my FLHT. And from what I've seen in the classifieds, the Harley outright smokes the Victory in resale value. But that is irrelevant to me anyway - I bought mine to ride, not to treat it as an investment.

The FI on the Victory was well sorted out except for a flat spot when cruising in the 3,500-4,000rpm range. I'm told this has since been sorted out on later models. Oh, and I found it much easier to cold start then my carburated FL, but that's my fault for not getting the FI option.

[huh]

dude your a typical harley cult member. i can throw facts at you all day long and you will always think your harley is better.

Cult member? Right. Obviously you missed my "Confessions of a Harley owner thread". Start throwing facts, not generalities and maybe we can have a decent conversation here.

Better handling - which models are we comparing here... Touring Cruiser to FLHT? Ok, I found the TC to be a little vague under hard cornering and the lack of ground clearance on the left was a nasty surprise. Still, the TC was a very nice riding bike.

Better brakes - yep, the Victory wins this one. Very responsive front brakes but I did find the rear hard to modulate and easy to lock up under emergency braking.

More power - debatable. The TC was quicker off the line but my FLHT seemed to have more punch in the midrange.

Better price - depends where you live. A new Touring Cruiser was only $1k less than my FLHT. And from what I've seen in the classifieds, the Harley outright smokes the Victory in resale value. But that is irrelevant to me anyway - I bought mine to ride, not to treat it as an investment.

The FI on the Victory was well sorted out except for a flat spot when cruising in the 3,500-4,000rpm range. I'm told this has since been sorted out on later models. Oh, and I found it much easier to cold start then my carburated FL, but that's my fault for not getting the FI option.

ok fine. here is the facts you want so bad.

your standard electra glide with its single keihin carb (yes not american) is the best bike in the world.

[Sev]

Because it's more fun to tease someone with non-specifics then it is to come out and say something mean. We tease cause we love, not because we want you to blow a gasket.

Thanks, sweetie. I love you, too.

*HUGGS!*

Personally I don't think I'll buy a Harley just because they seem to cost so much more (right now) then the equivalents offered by the japanese manufacturers. That and I love my current ride to much.

[Gummiente]

Personally I don't think I'll buy a Harley just because they seem to cost so much more (right now) then the equivalents offered by the japanese manufacturers. That and I love my current ride to much.

Cost is a major factor, that's for sure. And on some models you sure don't seem to get much for your dollar - it still puzzles me why a base Softail with no windshield, saddlebags, crashbars or floorboards costs more than my base Electra-Glide that comes with all those features.

And the E-Glide did cost more than the two other bikes that had made it onto my shortlist. The Kawasaki Nomad and the Victory Touring Cruiser were both great bikes and good deals but in the end I went with what made my heart beat faster (although there were a few more reasons than just that one). Probably the same reason you bought a Honda 599 rather than the equivalent offering from Suzuki, Yamaha or Kawasaki, no?

[Gummiente]

your standard electra glide with its single keihin carb (yes not american) is the best bike in the world.

Look, I've asked you nicely and politely three times to back up your statements and I still haven't gotten a decent response from you. I haven't resorted to name calling or insults or threats, so I really don't see what the problem is here. You said you were a dealer mechanic that worked on Harleys - to me that means you should have much more experience with them than the average rider and should therefore be able to offer some factual insight to the brand. I've had conversations with dealer mechanics of many different makes and have learned quite a bit that way, so I'm curious to hear YOUR opinions on why the Victory is a better bike than the Harley. Or is this too much to ask?

As for the single Keihin carb, well no sh*t Sherlock. If I'd wanted a totally American made bike I would have bought a Gold Wing, Kawasaki Concours or a Victory but there were more factors in my decision than just the amount of American content. BTW, I'm Canadian so it really doesn't matter to me where my bike(s) are built. Check the Start Your Engines section here for my "Gananoque Greetings" thread, you'll see that it just isn't Harleys that I've ridden over the past 23 years. And like I said before, you obviously haven't taken the time to read my "Confessions of a Harley owner" thread in the Total Motorcycles section.

[CentralOzzy]

I have had a lot of Motorcycles over the years, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki & Harley. I loved all my bikes & never did give a Rat's arrz about what anyone else thought of my choice.

However....out of all these Marques it always seems to be the Harley that gets beat up by other (mostly metric) riders most often....such as "The brakes are no good" "they leak oil", they break down" "they cost too much" "They Vibrate too much" Sheesh! enough with the winging already....you bashers sound like a pack of rabid children! Hey....your supposed to be Motorcycling 'Men'.... Yes?
Anyway....I'm sure us Harley riders have heard it all by now don't you think?
I still don't really 'ultimately care' what H-D bashers think....but why do people have to weigh in & dump on this brand & not the faults of other bikes?

Perhaps if you 'the said bashers' gave more of a qualified answer like Gummiente is asking for we'd all be allot wiser about your specific opinions.

Harleys have been making great reliable machines now for decades & I'm up to my 7th Harley & have had no major problems.

You want a more modern Tech H-D? Just take a look at H-D's new V-Rod/Street-Rod & tell me what's wrong with that model, I think it's great & plan on buying a Street Rod some time in the near future.

Sure it's more money than a BMW or a metric cruiser but I don't care about price if I want something. Not like some of you tight fisted people (you know who you are) out there, I'd never buy a bike subject to just PRICE. It's funny to me, that some of you, are riding your second choice because of price!

Having said that, it doesn't mean I want you to GET a H-D, no no no....you just get want makes you happy & I'll do the same.

Why don't you just go for a ride?

[CentralOzzy]

Oh I almost forgot....











I think I liiiiike the.......

[BuzZz]

I have had a lot of Motorcycles over the years, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki & Harley. I loved all my bikes & never did give a Rat's arrz about what anyone else thought of my choice.

However....out of all these Marques it always seems to be the Harley that gets beat up by other (mostly metric) riders most often....such as "The brakes are no good" "they leak oil", they break down" "they cost too much" "They Vibrate too much" Sheesh! enough with the winging already....you bashers sound like a pack of rabid children! Hey....your supposed to be Motorcycling 'Men'.... Yes?
Anyway....I'm sure us Harley riders have heard it all by now don't you think?
I still don't really 'ultimately care' what H-D bashers think....but why do people have to weigh in & dump on this brand & not the faults of other bikes?

Perhaps if you 'the said bashers' gave more of a qualified answer like Gummiente is asking for we'd all be allot wiser about your specific opinions.

Harleys have been making great reliable machines now for decades & I'm up to my 7th Harley & have had no major problems.

You want a more modern Tech H-D? Just take a look at H-D's new V-Rod/Street-Rod & tell me what's wrong with that model, I think it's great & plan on buying a Street Rod some time in the near future.

Sure it's more money than a BMW or a metric cruiser but I don't care about price if I want something. Not like some of you tight fisted people (you know who you are) out there, I'd never buy a bike subject to just PRICE. It's funny to me, that some of you, are riding your second choice because of price!

Having said that, it doesn't mean I want you to GET a H-D, no no no....you just get want makes you happy & I'll do the same.

Why don't you just go for a ride?

Been saving that up for awhile, huh Al?
Let's ride.......