No doubt that Victory gets every year a larger share of the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market. It really started in New York City in January 2007 when the company unveiled the Victory Vision, probably one of the most revolutionary luxury touring motorcycles in industry history. Then in 2010 when the touring lineup was expanded with the addition of the Cross Country model. Its progressive styling and low mean look is not only favored by the bagger crowd, but as predicted, is becoming one of the very few bagger models on which custom builders like to show their skills. Victory touring bikes extending their popularity to Europe, it was no surprise for me to learn that during the last 3 months internationally renown custom builder Fred Kodlin was working his magic on a Cross Country, and becoming, as far as I know, the first builder to give a Victory bagger the tall 26″ front wheel treatment.
I know that some of you criticize, for different reasons, the use of tall wheels from 21″ to 30″ on a bagger. Let just say that 1- It looks pretty good. 2- That there is the wrong and right way to change your stock 18″ wheel (in the case of the Cross Country) to a taller one. 3- That this modification (above 21″) requires, like on a Harley bagger, a modification of stock frame and rake. Of course, Fred Kodlin did it the right way, extending the frame, adding 6 degrees to the 29-degree stock rake, installing a 7-degree triple tree, a 2-step process letting you fit a 26 x 3.5″front wheel dressed with 26 x 120 Vee Rubber tire without risk of interference on a maximum front suspension travel. To improve styling even more, Fred switched the lower legs to a set of Harley-Davidson and increased flowing lines by stretching the stock Victory fairing.
Thanks to its Freedom 4-stroke 50-deg V-Twin EFI 106″ with dual 45 mm throttle body, to its 6-speed overdrive transmission and single mono tube air adjustable 4.7” travel rear suspension, the Victory Cross Country has a superb reputation as a smooth, very reliable long distance tourer. So, Fred didn’t touch what he could not improve, focusing on all other cosmetic aspects of the bike. Below a shortened tech sheet. Fred Kodlin Murdercycles.
Name: BRD Victory. Owner: Falk. Model: 2011 Victory Cross Country. Time: 3 months. Exhaust: Victory/Kodlin. Wheels: Front, 26 x 3.5″ Metalsport/Kodlin 5-spoke (TUV approved). Rear, stock 16 x 5″. Front fender: 26″ Kodlin. Fender/bags. Metal by Kodlin with integrated turn signals. Gas tank: stretched and lowered keeping about a 5-gallon capacity. Handlebars: Kodlin Bonanza Fat. Oil tank: stock. Paint: Sinnwell (Design & Airbrush), House Of Kolor special mix.
I really dig the paint job, kind of reminds me of the bat-mobile from the TV series =). I wish the bag extenders didn’t cover the pipes completely though. I still kick myself sometimes for not getting the Cross Country when I had the chance. The CC Tour will probably be my next ride though.
Fred…superb job indeed!
Great looking bike…looks like HD has some very keen competition in the cruiser market.
With custom bikes like this built by Fred compared to HD, it now makes a Victory Bagger a damn easy decision for me.
Boss Hawg
26″ in front. How is handling affected? Anyone with experience?
That is the best looking Victory I have seen. Great job Fred
Looks awsome Fred!
Nice and simple, not overdone. Now get if off those train tracks!
I’d ride it! I think with the fairing off it’d look killer as well, I’d have to see if the fairing just off sets that front wheel look – great bars tho!
I think that is the best looking victory i have seen. Anyone riding this bike would stand out in a sea of Harley baggers. I am surprised the Ness’ didn’t come up with a 26″ first. I love the pinstriping.
Wow Fred way to go. But if it floated on air and went 300mph it could have really broke boundries….This is just paint and pinstripes and its grey and black to boot……how about some brillant colors like red and yellow (nice Ducati colors) or maybe even green(kawasaki) or Blue(suzuki) colors…….and some chrome ….this monolithic black sceem is gettin a bit long in the tooth.
SSDD;David
Stunning bike these baggers have been growing on me…it may be time to start looking for one of my own
David: see “Victory Ness Signature Series” =).
Like it and when customized looks more and more like a touring Harley…
Put a real front wheel/tire on that thing and it’d be one sweet ride. Nice lines.
Big Joe at Kewlmetal did the 26″ a while back.
This one is nice too. Clean and not overdone.
I’m not really a fan of the big front wheels but they do look kinda cool on someone else’s bike. 😀
Well done…
Good work as always fred,i have always admired your work.This is sweet ride,just love the old school pinstripping.
HOLY $H!T….. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IM LOOKING FOR. 6’4″ RIDER AND I TWORF THE HARLEY BAGGERS. NOT A BIG FAN OF 23′ OR 26″ WHEELS. I LIKE THE 21″ ON BAGGERS AND ITS MUCH SAFER WHEN GOING ON LONG RIDES.
FRED WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE BAGS. DO YOU HAVE AN EXTENSION KIT OR IS IT PRETTY MUCH ALL FIBERGLASS? WHO EVER COMES UP WITH EXTENDED BAG KIT FIRST IS GOING TO MAKE BIG $$$$$. ALSO WHAT TREES ARE YOU USING TO KICK OUT THE FRONT END?
VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY IS MY NEXT BIKE FOR SURE.
You’re all pullin’ my leg…right?
O.
Love the Victory line up, and this is a SWEET ride.
My favorite part is how you matched the bags with the rear fender. Nicely done!
Looks good.
Just one taboo as fa as I’m concerned. You replaced the inverted Vic forks for some hardley tubes? There goes the handling. Now ya just end up with a custom show trailer queen. Next time check out the custom tube covers available from Witchdoctor.
Oil Tank: Stock
What oil tank ?
That is on fugly motorcycle. As a CC owner, there is nothing about that bike that looks good.
Yikes. That is gross. Overdone and silly. Victory makes an amazing drivetrain but I’ve yet to see one that wasn’t in a butt ugly motorcycle.
Love the Victorys……I may have to get rid of my Electra for one of the Cross bikes — better looking and way faster. Not to difficult of a decision…gonna loose money on this deal but I want the best ride –
Hot, Hot, Hot !!!!
Been waiting to see what somebody/anybody was going to do with this platform.
Mr Kodlin did not disappoint !
I thought I read in one of the magazines that Rick Fairless and Stroker’s did a custom one of these awhile back also and Kewl Metal has a lot of stuff for Victory’s.
But I’m still waiting to see how accepted the Cross bikes are going to be by builders and/or customers who want to customize them.
Just the thought of something new on the horizon !!!!
I think I know what my next “bagger” bike is going to be ????
Hey Fred
Another gorgeous bike by the master designer and builder. A beautiful bike.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! WOW….Have had both Harley and Victory and both are great bikes but Victory is for me…I bought my own Cross Country and love that thing. I just wish I could afford to do all that stuff to mine. Slowly doing more n more tho. Victory definitely knows how to make a great bike.
Reminds me of a late ’60s lowrider, with the fins. We use to call this style, ” swoopy “. Beautiful build you guys.