Victory V92C and V92SC

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-47423994-1', 'fortunecity.ws'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <center> <br> <div> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </div> </center> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="128a11c3.gif"> <div> back to  <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Custom Bikes"><U><B>Custom Bikes</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CC00" FACE="Arial" ><B>Motorbikesforall.Com</B></FONT>     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CCCC66" FACE="Arial" >|   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Motorbikesforall.Com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>Victory V92C and V92SC   </B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="127f4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Victory V92C and V92SC   </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>          <IMG SRC="2ce6bfc0.jpg" border=0 width="363" height="252" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  </div> <div>                                                                                                                              V92C</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="786" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 307 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2cdc0fd0.jpg" border=0 width="192" height="253" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>              </div> <div>                               V92SC</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="575"><div> Naming a new brand of motorcycle after a gruesome lozenge doesn't seem like the best way to kick things off, but on the other hand, Victory's got to be a better badge than Fisherman's Friend. Question is, does owning a Victory V still single you out as a sucker? </div> <bR> <div> A bit of background's a good idea first, as there are plenty of UK motorcyclists who've never heard of Victory. The company was set up in the late 1990s by Polaris, a name that might ring a few bells as a major producer of personal water craft (or jetskis to most people, although that name actually belongs to Kawasaki). Polaris is also one of the giants in the USA in the production of ATVs, those weird little four-wheel drive things with fat, knobbly tyres. And which just happen to outsell motorcycles in America. Only Honda outsells Polaris in this market. The company started in 1954 in fact, inventing and manufacturing snowmobiles, and guess what, today it's one of the biggest companies in that field too.</div> <bR> <div> So Polaris is very, very big, has major engineering research and development facilities (with around 300 engineers and designers), produces all its own engines and makes 250,000 vehicles in its various categories every year.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>  </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="803" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 342 WIDTH="493"><div> And now it's decided to move into motorcycles, for all these reasons you have to take them seriously.</div> <bR> <div> Being American, where the majority of motorcycles are cruisers of one description or another, perhaps it was inevitable that Victory's first bikes should slot into the same vein. And so it was when 18 months ago the first Victory V92 appeared on the US market only - laid back riding position, lots of chrome, Harley-clone styling and of course, big V-twin engine.</div> <bR> <div> All predictably derivative, and seemingly entirely in contrast to Polaris' philosophy across its product range of being innovative and different. So what's unusual about the two models being introduced to the UK for the first time this summer, the V92C Cruiser and the V92SC SportCruiser? </div> <bR> <div> The Brembo brakes might give you a clue: Victory motorcycles might look like Harley's but they're designed to stop and handle quite a bit better. The bizarre claim in the press information that 'no bike can match the brakes of the V92SC' is not only wildly optimistic and hugely inaccurate, it also contravenes a few honesty laws, but notwithstanding that, both machines in Victory's range certainly do slow down and turn better than a typical Milwaukee product.</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="299"><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2cf2cdb0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="219" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> V92C primary cover, polished with cast in Victory logo </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="811" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 WIDTH="255"><div> <IMG SRC="2e3f1c10.jpg" border=0 width="241" height="193" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A single clock, but it contains a small tacho at the bottom plus comprehensive digital display which you scroll through via a switch on the handlebar </B></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="545"><bR> <bR> <div> V92C  </div> <div> The V92C is the more traditional option, being pitched straight into the mainstream cruiser market. The 92 cubic inch (1507cc) engine which give the bike its name is a 50-degree V-twin with balance shaft and conventional side-by-side conrods on a single crankpin, and it's smooth enough to be bolted directly into the tubular steel twin cradle frame without recourse to rubber mounting, meaning it's a stressed component of the chassis, which is significantly stiffer as a result. The vibes do start to get stronger when you start to spin it (which only means up to 5500rpm or so - this is a VERY low revving motor...) but most of the time those chunky shakes which do get through to the rider are rarely </div> <div> noticed.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Verdana" >It's pretty quick too, for this type of bike. You won't be troubling any ZX-12Rs of course, but it's got the edge even over Harley's new Twin Cam 88 motor. As for the old Evo-engined Harleys, they don't come close in either performance or refinement.</FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="756" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 277 WIDTH="448"><div> <B> </B></div> <div> Having said that, there's immediacy to Harley's throttle response and something about the particularly deep blat of the exhaust which means it's still a nicer engine to use, and now that the 88B is balance-shaft equipped vibration isn't an issue even on the notoriously shaky Softails any more. </div> <div> When it comes to handling, the Victory V92C's advantage is there but not great. You get the feeling that the Victory engineers were using the old Evo Harleys as their benchmark (which they must have been if they were developing their bikes two to four years ago) and although their designs are some way ahead, so are Harley's own latest models.</div> <div> The V92C has quite a taut frame and swingarm, but the rear end in particular is in need of much stronger damping. On some of the bumpier surfaces we rode, the back of the bike was pitching up and down enough to induce sea-sickness, and the tyre was skipping across the road at times despite the angles of lean being limited by uninspiring ground clearance.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="297"><div> <IMG SRC="2d22cc50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Handling of the V92SC is exceptionally secure and brakes very strong... for a cruiser </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="755" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 369 WIDTH="236"><div> <IMG SRC="2e4bf1c0.jpg" border=0 width="191" height="284" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The V92C is a more traditional cruiser - think Harley Road King. Handling is good apart from weak rear end damping </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="508"><div> he single front four-piston Brembo offered more feedback than any Harley stopper and was up to the job of pressing on at times, so no complaints there, while comfort was surprisingly good. Most cruisers give me lower backache after a short while, but I felt like I could spend all day on the V92C.</div> <div> For better handling, go for the V92SC. This is basically the same as the C but with firmer and much better damped suspension that makes a big difference to how fast you can corner. The bike has a very stable, secure sensation which really encourages faster riding, and the twin Brembos at the sharp end are powerful and highly tactile too. </div> <bR> <div> The SC's bars are lower (but not low...), and it has more serious rubber too, a 120/70 x 17 at the front in place of the C's 16 inch 130/90, and a surprisingly sporty 180/55 x 17 back hoop as opposed to the C's 160/80 x 16. The intent is obvious and the capability - for a cruiser - is well above any Harley, although this makes the ground clearance limitations even more annoying. We never got the 2000 models (both bikes tested are the new 2001 versions) but even though those were only one year old there have been more than 200 changes to the latest machines. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="758" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 229 WIDTH="752"><div> They're not all trivial, either: the entire gearbox and clutch are completely redesigned in response to complaints the gear change was far too heavy and noisy, which makes you wonder how bad it was, as the 2001 bikes are still quite stiff and clunky at times - Victory's engineers should maybe take out a Suzuki as well, next time they're benchmarking another Harley. Still, the transmission isn't obstructively bad, although the clutch action is heavy - I can't imagine many female hands managing a cross-town trip without a lot of grief.</div> <div> So why would you buy one over a Harley? They're not cheap at £12495 otr for the V92C and £11,995 otr for the SC, and they lack all that comes with the Harley-Davidson badge. Well, that in itself could be one reason - anyone that likes cruisers but doesn't want to be seen as a Harley rider might be tempted. </div> <div> Then there's the dynamic advantages - the Victorys do handle, go and stop better than Harleys, although you can't help wondering, if those factors are really important to someone, then surely they'll be looking at a completely different sort of bike anyway?</div> <div> You should be able to try one out for yourself, anyway, as each Victory dealer will be obliged to run demonstrators, the catch being, there'll only be about ten dealers nationwide after the first year.</div> <div> The jury's still out on whether that number will grow in the next few years...</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>    </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>