Equipment and accessories for Victory car enthusiasts from the USA

RU-MOTO rating

• Reliability
• Chassis
• Appearance
• Comfort

5

Verdict

Everything in the Cross Country Tour is provided for the most comfortable ride: heated seats and steering wheel grips, roomy hard trunks, a high windshield for effective wind protection, a platform for the passenger’s feet that is adjustable in three positions, a 12 V socket and much more.

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Victory Motorcycles USA, a division of the largest manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and jet skis of the Polaris concern, a year after its founding, proved that it was not in vain that it was born. Their brainchild, the base model V92C motorcycle, was named the best cruiser of the year in 1998. The success of one of the first developments was repeated by the choppers of the Victory Cross line.

Appearance of the Victory Сross Сountry motorcycle

Winged Follower

This line is divided into several models. The most common among American and European consumers are Victory Cross Country motorcycles. A powerful 4-cylinder power plant, 6-speed manual transmission and electronic fuel injection, together with a stylish aerodynamic tail, invite the rider on a long journey.

For additional rider comfort, the creators have provided:

1. Heated side grips and double seat.
2. Large adjustable windshield on the fairing.
3. Spacious luggage cases located on both sides.
4. Wide leg extensions.
5. Wide, comfortable, low-slung seat.

On the basis of this cruiser, a new model Victory Сross Сountry tour LE was developed and presented for the 15th anniversary of the company. The interior of the motorcycle is even more adapted for long trips. This special bike is equipped with a computer, audio system and anti-lock braking system, a larger windshield and a more streamlined tail.

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Technical features of Victory Сross Сountry

The American concern Polaris Industries, located in Minnesota, has been specializing in the development and production of snowmobiles and ATVs since its founding. And the idea of ​​starting motorcycle production was, of course, a matter of time. This is what happened in the nineties of the last century. In the mid-90s, he decided to present his version of a “purely American motorcycle.” The management of the concern, seeing the success of the Harley-Davidson brand, decided to organize the production of competitive motorcycle models, and for this purpose created the Victory Motorcycles division, the assembly plant of which is located in the city of Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA, and in a short time the design of a heavy cruiser motorcycle was developed. And already in 1997, the debut model V92C was presented to the public at Planet Hollywood, and in 1998 the motorcycle went on sale. With the exception of the Italian Brembo braking system and the British fuel injection system, all parts and components of the V92C were made in the USA, which was an additional marketing advantage. At the beginning of 1998, the first motorcycles of the new American brand arrived to customers. The debut turned out to be successful. The model has won many prizes, including the honorary title of “best cruiser of the year” from the authoritative American magazine Cycle World. The sales network of these motorcycles in the United States includes about 500 dealers. The base model V92C is a typical cruiser, embodying the “big iron motorcycle” idea that Americans have worshiped for decades. Clean, rounded lines, an abundance of chrome parts - all this is reminiscent of the style of the era of the 40s and 50s. The huge two-cylinder V-shaped engine with an impressive (1507 cm3) displacement attracts attention. The engine is equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection system, four-valve cylinder heads, and hydraulic valve lifters. Since the engine is incorporated into the duplex tubular frame's load-bearing structure, it has a balancer shaft to reduce vibration. The gearbox is made in a block with the engine, the motor transmission is made by gears, and the drive to the rear wheel is by a toothed belt. An interesting detail is that the design of the motorcycle uses high-quality European-made components: Marzocchi telescopic front fork, Brembo disc brakes. The rear suspension consists of a closed triangular swingarm and a monoshock absorber located under the saddle. For the 2000 season, engine power was increased due to the use of camshafts, an exhaust system and an air filter of a new design, as well as reprogramming of the injection control system.

Victory Motorcycles decided to build on the success, and already in 2000, customers were offered the V92SC SportCruiser, which differed from the head model mainly in the increased diameter of the wheels, higher ground clearance, and a change in the driver's seating position. The market received the V92SC cooler than its predecessor, thus showing that buyers are not yet ready to accept the concept of a sports cruiser. The V92SC (Sport-Cruiser), according to its creators, represents a new class - a sports cruiser. The vehicle's driving characteristics have been significantly improved due to modifications to the suspension and braking system. The diameter of the supporting pipes of the Marzocchi telescopic front fork has been increased from 45 to 50 mm, and a Fox monoshock absorber is used in the rear suspension. The wheel diameter has increased from 16 to 17 inches, the front wheel is equipped with a Brembo double disc brake. The driver's position is close to sports; instead of wide platforms, regular motorcycle footrests are installed. The exhaust system received a canister-type muffler, which creates less resistance to exhaust gases.

But the manufacturer continued to work in this direction, and the Victory Hammer model, with a V-Twin engine of 1731 cubic meters, 97 horsepower and a stylish aggressive design, continued the sports line.

A completely different ideology is embedded in the Victory Vision Tour motorcycle. This touring motorcycle has style like no other. The motorcycle is equipped with a Freedom engine with a volume of 1731 cubic centimeters. For the convenience of long tourist trips, the handsome car is equipped with heated seats and steering wheel grips, as well as a cruise control system.vision3

In 2013, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of motorcycle production. In honor of this event, the American manufacturer presented a special Victory Cross Country Tour LE bike. The presentation took place at the IMS exhibition in New York. The bike features a black and red paint scheme inspired by the color scheme of the original 1998 Victory V92C, which was the first bike to roll off the Victory factory in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

The anniversary bike features a custom saddle, forged wheels, chrome accents, a removable saddlebag with removable liners, Garmin GPS navigation, XM satellite radio, Kicker speakers, a black windshield and an iPhone/iPod jack. In addition, it is worth noting identification marks: a Victory anniversary badge and a plate with the personal number of each motorcycle.

The Victory Cross Country Tour LE is equipped with the signature Victory V-Twin engine, six-speed transmission, ABS, cruise control and a comfort control system that allows the biker to adjust the aerodynamics on the fairing. A total of 150 Victory Cross Country Tour LE motorcycles will be produced, priced at $30,000 ($8,000 more than the base model).

What's the fly in the ointment?

The owner of a Victory Cross Country may be disappointed by the incorrect reflection of fuel sensor information. Riders complain that if there are 6-7 liters of fuel in the tank, the display indicates the need to refuel. There have also been cases of a “false” full tank. The weak point of a cruiser in our latitudes is the electronics.

Due to manufacturing defects in the crankcases, manufacturers recalled about 1% of motorcycles from the Victory Cross Country model range produced in 2014-15. For the rider, such a gap can result in a jammed engine while driving and an accident. Therefore, management suggested that motorcycle owners contact dealers for inspection and necessary repairs.

Blog

Victory Motorcycles is a fairly young brand, compared to others, that has managed to positively establish itself in the modern motorcycle market.

The beginning of a glorious journey

The promising idea of ​​​​creating a “100% American bike” came to the minds of the management of the Polaris concern in the mid-nineties. For this noble purpose, the Polaris concern has created a special division, Victory Motorcycles, which produces modern motorcycles under the brand of the same name. The main task facing Victory Motorcycles was the development and production of competitive bikes.

In the shortest possible time, Victory engineers and designers calculated the design and created a model of a heavy cruiser motorcycle. The original Antares model, made in red and black colors, appeared at the factory in Iowa.

Brilliant debut

The debut presentation of the company's first-born historical model V92C took place in 1997. The basic V92C model from Victory Motorcycles, which embodies the idea of ​​​​creating a “faithful iron friend of significant power,” has a motor equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection device, cylindrical heads with four valves and a hydraulic pusher. Its engine is equipped with a balance shaft that reduces vibration. The design of the model includes high-quality components made in Europe. The main advantage of the “debutante,” which went on sale in 1998, was its individual appearance, stylized as bike models from the forties and fifties. The technical equipment, smooth features, many chrome parts and the impressive weight of the car captivated experts and buyers. The V92C model, which won a significant part of the prizes, was named “the best cruiser of the year” by experts from the authoritative Cycle World magazine. To this day, the debut V92C model from Victory Motorcycles is considered the epitome of a living classic of American motorcycles.

Creating a cutting-edge sports cruiser

Building on the success of the debut model, Victory reprograms the fuel injection control, increases engine power through the use of camshafts and installs a new air cleaner design.

A number of technical innovations, a larger wheel size compared to the previous model, significant ground clearance and a modified driver's position allowed the company to present the V92SC SportCruise model to connoisseurs in 2000. The cutting-edge concept of a sports cruiser was received coldly by the public. Despite this, Victory Motorcycles continued its research in the same, promising direction in their opinion.

Freedom Follows Power

The period 2001-2002 was marked by the development and start of production of a new generation of “Freedom” power units. Unique in their configuration and characteristics, engines with a significant power reserve and a smaller oil cooler have made it possible to significantly expand the range of motorcycle models produced. Thus, in 2003, a new model of the unique custom cruiser Victory Vegas was released, which has a standard engine and is equipped with a five-speed transmission, which won many awards, including “Best Bike”, “Best New V-Twin Bike” and “Cruiser Of The Year”. During the demonstration performance, the presented model was awarded an award in Las Vegas. The popularity of the Victory Vegas model among buyers served as an impetus for the improvement of this model in 2006.

Establishing partnerships. During the Hummer

Established in 2004, the Victory Motorcycles-Arlen Ness partnership has expanded significantly, thanks in large part to the unveiling of the Arlen Ness Signature Series model to the general public. At the same time, the new Kingpin and KingpinDeluxe models, equipped with additional options, were presented to the public.

Thanks to fruitful cooperation, Victory introduced the concept of a “power cruiser” in 2005, equipped with an engine with a six-speed gearbox. The world-famous Motorcycle Cruiser magazine recognized the Hammer as “Cruiser of the Year.”

Final custom style

Developed in 2006, the Vegas Jackpot raised the bar in the custom cruiser category, earning it a Forbes magazine "Best American Bike" award. During the same period, the popular Vegas, Kingpin and Kingpin Deluxe bikes were equipped with a more powerful engine and a new gearbox.

Deserved love

In honor of its tenth anniversary, Victory Motorcycles released a limited edition Vision Tour model of one hundred copies, which sold out within seven minutes. At an event marking the event, this bike won the 2008 Motorcycle of the Year award. The Vision Tour model is recognized as the most luxurious bike in the company's history.

New advanced motorcycles

In 2010, Victory introduced a cruiser model with a brutal character, which was called Victory High – Ball.

In 2013, the Victory Gunner bike opens a new generation of cruisers for the company. The unique combination of timeless design, high performance and an unforgettable riding experience allows this model to rightfully be considered the dream of any self-respecting motorcycle racer.

New speed records

In 2009, the company's official driver, Gregor Moy, set a world speed record on the salt flats. The recorded speed was one hundred sixty-five miles per hour.

In 2014, an official driving a Victory Hammer, which was built with the help of teenagers recruited through the Horsepower program, set a new world land record, reaching a speed of one hundred and seventy-three miles per hour while driving through a salt marsh.

Currently, motorcycle models from Victory Motorcycles provide real competition to Japanese manufacturers and the legendary “iron horses” from Harley-Davidson.

To buy or not to buy?

When choosing a motorcycle, most bikers choose cruisers from the Victory Cross line because they:

1. Suitable for long journeys.
2. They have a comfortable fit.
3. Some models are equipped with new electronics.
4. They have a spacious 22 liter fuel tank.
5. In terms of technical parameters, they outperform analogues (Honda, BMV, Ducati).

Problems with electronics and manufacturing defects can be resolved by monitoring refueling and technical inspections at dealers.

Victory Vision Tour – TEST

2007 in, 1731 cm3, 92 l. s, 395 kg, 170 km/h, 700,000 rub. (approximately)

text: Vladimir Zdorov photo: Nikita Kolobanov

In the photo: Vladimir Zdorov

“Minnesota has its own view of the world of large tourist ships, as well as the authorities recognized for centuries. It is in this state that, since 2007, they have been producing a real American Baroque - a machine that currently has nothing in common with any of the large touring motorcycles, the Victory Vision Tour. It is curious that the 2007 model, which we tested, is almost no different from the 2014 model, the fundamental difference being the absence of reverse gear and ABS on the “old man”. Otherwise, these are two completely identical devices.

Iron The main thing in Victory Vision is “drawn” on the facade, stern and sides - this is style. Then - again style and, finally, again style. Or, if you prefer, a way of life. Victory is a real Yankee, down to the snow-white shine of his teeth: he invariably has a great mood, unique, let’s face it, rude manners and complete stars-and-stripes authenticity. In fact, the Vision is a classic American truck, say, a Mack Kenworth, only in its modern, aerodynamically adjusted version... Any attempts to evaluate this motorcycle within the framework of generally accepted values, no matter Russian or European, are a priori doomed to failure. Vision was created exclusively for the States and their inhabitants, with corresponding, very specific requests. Hence the excessively “bloated” front part of the device, which actually makes it impossible to somehow move between the rows, and the endless platforms-footrests, where my modest 46th motorboat simply got lost...

This motorcycle has almost all the usual details, much more than on any “European” and even on another thoroughbred Yankee - Harley-Davidson. For example, the brake pedal can easily break the back of a couple of bears, and the long “horns” of the steering wheel will decorate any purebred deer. However, no matter what anyone says about the Victory tourer, we must pay tribute to the company’s designers, who created a unique, extremely charismatic image in which a huge air-cooled “two”, cosmic forms of fairings and integrated cases with neatly “fitted” looks quite harmoniously. "underneath them are long cigar mufflers. By the way, about this very “deuce” - a real example of heavy equipment builders: a very torquey, but not at all revving engine, already at 5000 rpm “arriving” at the cut-off point. But don't take this as a disadvantage, because almost all of the serious torque is available at 2000 rpm, which is enough to propel the leviathan relatively briskly up to 120 km/h.

One can hardly expect any revelations from a design with a single camshaft and a compression ratio of 9.4:1, but, let me emphasize once again, here this is the manufacturer’s initially formulated message, such a philosophy. However, all this anachronism gets along well with an aluminum frame and a very “calm”, “civilian” reach and fork angle (29°/137 mm). Taking into account the fact that the diameter of the fork stays is a respectable 46 mm, and the center of gravity of the motorcycle is extremely low (for example, the height of the driver’s seat is only 673 mm, one of the lowest values ​​for standard cars!), the whole colossus is unexpectedly easy to control and, as soon as your speed exceeds 10 km/h, it does not show even the slightest attempt to collapse or fall anywhere. Of course, miracles do not happen, and at extremely low speeds, stops and when maneuvering in confined spaces you need to be extremely careful. The manufacturer does not provide exact figures for the curb weight, however, knowing the data of the dry weight of the Vision, you can easily calculate that with a full gas tank and a lot of parts “unaccounted for” by the factory, such as all technical fluids and sometimes even a generator and battery, we can talk about at least 430 kg curb weight! However, this should not be a problem for the driver - let me remind you once again at what height the seat is located.

American dream As noted above, all you have to do is just take off, and all the problems and weight of the Victory tourer literally dissolve in a sea of ​​comfort and monumental stability of the motorcycle both on a straight line and in corners. It’s clear that the engineers responsible for the chassis don’t eat their hamburgers in vain! Despite the fact that the suspension is tuned exclusively for overall comfort, Victory Vision, as noted above, knows its course exactly and does not confuse the pilot, frightening him with unnecessary stern vibrations and other dubious “values” of some heavy cruisers. To be honest, in a country of endless highways and police that instantly appear out of nowhere in case of minor speeding, as well as for a country where in most states it is prohibited to ride a motorcycle between rows of cars, I see the Vision as a very interesting option.

Of course, in Minnesota they did not forget about the most important equipment of any American transport unit - cruise control. But, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find any cup holders, which is somehow suspicious... Even on average roads, the motorcycle is as calm as three concrete rocks, and easily “eats” the average road debris. The ground clearance of 137 mm, which is not the worst by class standards, also allows you not to worry too much about speed bumps and other destructive things on the road. All the charm of the Victory tourer can and should be revealed exclusively during travel, which, in fact, is directly reflected in the name of the model. Only there, on a long journey, will it be possible to fully appreciate the fantastically comfortable seat (for both driver and passenger), enjoy the impressive volume of three panniers (137 liters!) and completely “escape” the American dream: to be on the road a “correct” cruiser, with an ideologically correct large-volume air “two”. Yes, it would be desirable for this to be California...

The Spaceship Victory Vision Tour is eclectic down to the most ornate top case or boomerang-shaped brake light. This “American tourist” looks more like a spaceship than a motorcycle for long-distance travel. It, as befits a real American, is full of its shortcomings: in the city you will be practically doomed to stand idle in traffic jams along with the cars... but at the same time you will always be the center of increased attention, because even in Moscow, which is satiated with almost any exotica, the Vision Tour model — is still a very rare guest on the roads. But I perfectly understand those who will choose this futuristic Yankee: in the modern world of proliferating GL1800 and other monotonous H.-D. & company Victory Vision Tour remains a distant star in space, incredibly beautiful, but understandable and accessible to very few. And in this case we are not talking about price at all. /

Under the sign of victory

The company with the simple but loud winning name Victory Motorcycles has existed since the end of the last, 20th century, when in 1997 it was registered in the state of Iowa. The slogan its creators came up with was quite simple, but ambitious: “The New American Motorcycle.”

The company released its first model already in the year of its founding, designating it with the alphanumeric code V92C (the motorcycle went on sale the following year, 1998). The numbers in the name corresponded to the engine displacement in cubic inches, which equals 1.5 liters. From this alone it became clear that the company is not going to waste time on trifles and its ambitions are quite healthy. Moreover, all the makings for this were there: the first-born of the brand was equipped with the latest technology, and most likely according to the standards of the next century - Italian Brembo brakes, rare for “Americans”, English electronic fuel injection on the V-twin so beloved by Americans. It was a classic cruiser.

The process began, and the new brand announced itself loudly (and not without reason). Since then, new models have poured in like cornucopia, expanding the range of classes and increasing the size of engines.

New word

Already in the second decade of this century, the word “bagger”, invented overseas, came to us - this is how the Americans dubbed cruisers with large standard side luggage racks. Some believe that the name comes from the English word bagger, which means “excavator”, “dredge” or “dredge”. And although the bike doesn't dig anything, it's name is probably given because its side panniers look like backhoe buckets. However, I prefer the version according to which the motorcycle was named so not in honor of the dredgers, but because a bagger is also a person who carries bags (bag - “bag”). And the Victory Magnum model, which is discussed in this material, is classified by the manufacturer as just one of these same baggers. And he occupies the highest level in his hierarchy!

The Cross Country model opens the line of baggers with the letter V on the gas tank. The word cross in its name does not mean that it is intended for motocross. The main thing is that it is convenient to cross the entire huge country - even from north to south, even from east to west. But not off-road. Magnum, which appeared later, adheres to the same philosophy. In fact, it has become a more comfortable and equipped, and therefore more expensive, model of the Victory bagger. And more individual (not to say more selfish): the Magnum, unlike the Cross Country, tends to be called a single-seater. Although it does have passenger footrests and a seat. But it’s unlikely that the rear rider will be comfortable there.

Bagger Victory Magnum is a typical American chopper, made in a typical American style. There is a windshield above the headlight fairing, but it is virtually absent, rising above the plastic only to the height of a matchbox. The Yankees called this “windbreaker” Boomerang. There is practically no sense from it, but there is a style that reminds them of the glorious past.