Victory is providing early introductions of four 2013 Baggers: 3 Cross Country models and the Hard-Ball. Additional 2013 Baggers will be introduced with the complete 2013 Victory lineup on July 30. Plus, information is available now about these additional early release models. The early release 2013 Cross Country models have a custom styled fairing with premium integrated audio, and large, lockable hard saddlebags. They all feature the Victory Freedom® 106/6 drivetrain – a 106-ci V-Twin (106 ft-lb of torqueand) 6-speed transmission with overdrive.
Colors of the early release 2013 Cross Country models are: • Antifreeze Green – A custom-look model with black flames and chrome trim – including the stylish forged highway bars. • Solid Black – with tubular highway bars for easy customization. • Sunset Red with blacked-out trim, black tubular highway bars and black drivetrain cases.
The 2013 Hard-Ball retains the bad-ass styling that appeals to the “outlaw” in every rider. No frills, no extra shine. Just bad to the bone Suede Black paint, red pinstripes, blacked-out components from end to end, 18” black laced wheels and ape hangers. The large bags – ideal for holding essential riding gear – make this bike the bad ass with bags. (Stay tuned for the introduction of the complete 2013 Victory lineup on July 30, 2012.)
I’m sorry but nothing jumps out at me as gotta have it. to me they just look like the bagger for the Dentist/doctor crowd…. dare i say it , goldwingish…
The hard ball is a big bike to me. I’d rock the green one.
Well Cafe Sporty I can tell you have never rode a Vic or you would not make the comments you have specially the winger comment. Victory is an american Motorcycle with a soul like a harley but handling and dependability of the finest european bike. There is one big difference Victory is 100% american and very few repairs are needed. by the way i have had dozens of harleys in my lifetime so I am talking from experience unlike you.
Reliability, low maintenance, more power than other air-cooled V-Twins in its class, and forward thinking styling are Victory’s main selling points. The styling won’t please everyone much like every other model and make out there today. I like the new badge. Unfortunately the “V” has been done a million times and looks similar to other V designs done before.
The Kingpin has been dropped from the line up but a new “Boardwark” is being introduced on the 30th. Most folks are thinking it’s a Cross Roads convertible style bike that can run without the saddlebags without looking funky. Just a speculation at this point so we have to wait till the 30th to find out.
By the way; bumping up the hp/tq to well over 100/100 is ridiculously easy on this bike with drop in cams available from Lloydz Performance.
I’m glad they are trying to achieve their own identity and not just making Harley knock-offs. I personnally don’t care for all the flash and accessories that come with the Victories. I believe if you need all the stereos, Bluetooths, GPS, adjustable windscreens, beverage holders, intercoms, just buy a small cage convertible and be done with it!
If all you victory cheerleaders would go buy one, maybe they would sell more than 5000 units this year!
But …….. where’s the ‘ new’ ( cough … hack … sputter ) Indian that Victory has been promising us since last year ?
As to Victory and their lack of sales on the showroom floor ? Well maybe if they’d offer up something other than just another Harley Davidson pastiche they might sell a few more .
Why buy a Victory , that may be ever so slightly more reliable than an H-D when you could a had an H-D … or if reliability is your main concern ….. one of the JapaCruisers . And if its something truly unique … well heck ….. look no further than your local Triumph dealer and their Thunderbird and Rocket offerings
See the point there Victory advocates and jonesy ? There just aint no real reason To buy a Victory … of any kind 😉
The Vision I can see calling Goldwingish, not really seeing anything winglike on these bikes though. I don’t have a problem with doctors or dentists personally. I suppose if they want to play dress up on the weekends no skin off my back. But, I think I have a pretty good idea what the dentist that wants to be a pirate for a weekend buys…and I bet he has about a hundred thousand friends that buy the same bike.
DragonBob, i didn’t say what i said to piss you off, but opinions I guess have a tendency to do so. no doubt they are a very fine motorcycle, but the styling is what doesn’t speak to me. If that’s enough to hurt your Victory “feelings” than sorry….
Does anyone out there actually KNOW how much of the Victory line (in dollars) is American made. Assembly of course is American…I’m wondering about PARTS? If anyone knows would you please advise and supply your source. I just looked and found nothing. thanks!
CafeSportyTC
Clue me in. Who is entiteled to ride what and for what reason. How does one gain this title of designating who can throw their leg over a motorcycle.
May I ask ? Where on the totum pole do you stand and at what time in life did you reach this pinacle.
Not trying to piss you off, just curious LOL
Down on some one for riding a particular style / type bike because of profession or social status proves what ?
One should be a general laborer to look another in the eye to be Cool ! Not that there’s anything wrong with that, to be politicaly correct – woops !
As I remember it has been some sort of a bragging right [chest thumping ] that people with proffesional expertise joined the ranks of being bikers.
Didnt I see several ads from the Motor Co proclaiming such. After all they do spend big bucks.
P.S.
Not picking on you for im sure your a nice guy, just dont get it
Fuji
Funny when people always point to reliability to sell these plastic looking things. It’s not like HD is still in the AMF days. My 2001 FXST has never needed anything other then Oil Changes. I have had no problem going all over the country & unlike Victory, if I ever had a problem, there are thousands of dealers with the parts I need on their shelf. Victory you’d have to find a dealer & then wait weeks to get the parts.
Bottom line is if Victory didn’t have Polaris behind it, they would have been out of business. long ago. It took 15 years for Victory to turn a profit. If it was just Victory Motorcycles, they’d be just like Big Dog & American Iron Horse right now…DOA. Victory from numbers posted on the net, makes yearly what HD makes quarterly.
Also not so sure about 100% American. I mean it was posted here last year Polaris was moving some of the Victory stuff to Mexico…It’s great if every part is made here, but for sure some assembly is south of the border. What I honestly think is it is great to have another American motorcycle company. I think competition will force both Victory & HD to get better…it’s just so far Victory hasn’t put out a bike I’d buy before an HD. The Highball is my favorite bike they make, but there are still way to many parts I’d have to change to get it to look the way I’d want…..so not even getting to things I’d want to do performance wise to the bike & I have read by many that the CAM is 1 swap they’d do on the Victories.
As for Indian, they are holding onto everything until Sturgis when they will unveil it. I am hoping they do something good with it, but I fear this will be just another attempt to whore the brand name for every nickle they can get & it should have been left in the burial ground. Hopefully I am proven very very wrong. I hope they make some good bi9kes as more then 1 line is coming out & I hope they give it the 15 years they gave Victory if they do make something descent.
I am still having a hard time understanding why Polaris wants 2 cruiser type bike companies under their banner. Yep, I understand they are keeping Indian a “premium brand” which means still ridiculous $30 K price tags which is a dumb marketing plan if you ask me. Still it’s competing with themselves. The same people who’d want an Indian are the same people you’d want to target for a Victory……goes back to the HD dealer in Wisconsin who added Victory. That dealer isn’t going to rip 1 bike to sell the other. My guess is that dealer really wanted the snowmobiles & ATVs which they also have on their floor now, but I still question both bikes being on the same floor.
I never get tired of reading the BS that gets plastered on here every time anything Victory appears. Incorrect details, opinions and just plain BS. Why must people always bring HD into the article? This is not about HD it is about an American motorcycle company that is growing and producing a good product. Like it or not, they are growing and the brand is catching on. This is no different than the Ford Chevy debate that has been going on forever. It may not be your bike but it is better than another outsourced piece of crap. Support American or it will disappear.
Also check your facts before you post.
I can’t put my finger on what, but there’s something visually subtle that I don’t care for. However if Dr.Pain hops on one to ride home to his family after doing a drill and fill on my teeth, it’s no bother to me. Ride what you like/can afford.
Well said Riverat!
There sure are alot people that would like to see another American company go under. These are the same people that ride around on weekends with the American flag proudly displayed.
Go figure.
Riverrat, I’m not going to dig up my comments from years past but I will tell you that if you care to do so you will see careful analysis of Polaris financial statements, not “incorrect details, opinions, or just plain BS.” If anyone is incorrect, it is you by claiming that Victory is “growing and catching on.” Victory gives the illusion of a successful brand by advertising aggressively, but the sales in units have been flat for a long time and still represent about 2% of Harley’s volume. Now I’m not saying there’s anything wrong that, but don’t be fooled into thinking they are actually competing with the big boys. Brett is on the money that Victory would have been dead a long time ago if they weren’t subsidized by the four wheelers. The really interesting question is how long can that go on?
Polaris built a plant in Mexico that exports Polaris Rangers and ATV’s to the Latin American market. Not a single Victory has ever been made anywhere other than Spirit Lake Iowa. Victory has only been making motorcycles for 14 years and has turned a profit for the last three . Yeah what was that about a down economy? Victory did not buy Indian, Polaris did. Why did they do it when they already own Victory and it took them over TEN years to turn a profit? I dont know, maybe they just like motorcycles and thought they could take two brands in two different directions…Some of you haters should either ride one or shut up, your not representing yourselves well with such misled comments. Personally I hope Victory never gets as big as H-D. I really like Harley’s but they’re so dang common it became a bit of a turn off. I would attempt to explain all the reasons I did switch but honestly if you haven’t ridden them you just won’t get it.
I hope for the best for Victory motorcycles. The bikes though do not appeal to me at this time. They seem overly styled. I’m not stuck on the HD design as I find some of the Euro designs original and exciting.
There will always be different tastes in style. Your either a Beatles guy or a Stones guy…right…but honestly these Vs are more like Elton John.
Better but still not best!
Love the Vic hate the color selection!!
@richard
Just like Harleys many parts are made overseas. There no such thing as 100% American made.
I wish motorcycle manf. had to post the domestic content stickers on new units like the auto industry does.
Can’t we all just get along and say no to Facebook!
I’ve just spend a few weeks riding and playing with a Hardball, going for fast blasts in the twisties and making a couple of 500 mile interstate trips and back. The Hardball drew attention everywhere I went and I only heard positive comments. Oh, and one or two “Where’s Batman?” type of humorous quips. It is powerful, has the best suspension of all the cruiser/tourers that I have ridden over the past forty or so years and very comfortable. ABS, Cruise Control, large capacity gas tank and the aforementioned power and suspension effectiveness – what more could you want in a cruiser? Loud music you say? Get a bagger!
People are entitled to their opinions whether uniformed or not. BobS’ last post accurately sums up the truth about Victory. If you don’t like the looks of a particular bike, you probably won’t test ride one. Once you get past the looks, it’s amazing what riding one does for your perception.
Opinions are like rectums..everybody has one
Fiji, In no way am i trying to talk down on Victory’s , I just don’t like the way they look. when it comes to the dentist doctor comment, sorry , i just happen to notice lately on my trips to the doc that the bikes sitting outside tend to look like these. they were mostly Goldwings and the like. and since the victory’s look alot like Goldwings and the like it seemed like it would fit in that catagory of bike riders. Ignorant statement , sure, but not meant to piss anyone off just as much as you not liking my Chevy wouldn’t piss me off. just a matter of opinion.
God so many uninformed people posting so much WRONG information. Victory is very proud of the fact that their bikes not only destroy the comparable Harley in every category, but they do it with 20% MORE American manufactured components. All you guys complaining that they claim to be 100% American when they have never ever even eluded to that. -Just that 20% MORE of the bikes parts are American. And Yeah, when Polaris started Victory the aim from day-1 was the American heavy-cruiser market. That’s where the buyers are, that’s where the money is, that’s where Harley owns more than 50% of the market. Victory jumped from 6th place in the American heavy cruiser market to 2nd place in 2010. Yep, in the middle of the worst economy in 60 years, little ol’ Victory jumped over the four Japanese brands to take 2nd place… after only 10 or 11 years in the business. And they did it with the most American-made motorcycle. out their. Air/oil cooled, V-twin, too. Also, a lot of you make comments that you don’t like the way they look. Well duh, the last thing you’d want to do is try to create a Harley clone like the Japanese did (VStar, VTX, Boulevard, etc) Victory’s are state-of-the-art in technology and performance so rightfully so their designs are forward thinking. (not the paint, that’s just being trendy, giving the public what they want). Anyone who has nothing good to say, who is absolutely content being another face in the crowd, riding what EVERYBODY else rides, has never thrown a leg over a Victory, taken one out, and discovered not only the smooth power, but the insanely good handling. You immediately know that your Harley isn’t even close to being as good a motorcycle as the Vic. That alone makes the styling cues 2nd.
Agree w Rodent! peace
It’s still perplexing to me why Cyril can post articles about Honda’s, Triumphs, Royal Enfields and any other foreign brands yet none of those stir as much controversy/passion in this blog as when Victory is mentioned in the headline.
The Victory Guys are very passionate, I will give them that! 🙂
spaz.
Good write. Superlative
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CafeSportyTC
Peace.
You owe it to yourself to ride one of those Doctor bikes. I would bet it would be all about the ride and nothing else.
Sorry Spaz, but fair is fair. Not only do you not know what Victory’s parts content is, Victory has no idea what Harley’s part content is and would never make such a claim as ” 20% more American “. Yes they are #2 in the world in heavyweight cruisers…as long as you define heavyweight cruisers as over 1500 cc’s. There are an awful lot of Japanese cruisers that are 1100, 1200, and 1300cc motors and not too many would look at them and think “lightweight”. I’m a big Victory fan and rider, but honesty trumps stretching the truth always.
I own 5 Harleys and added a 2011 Victory Jackpot last year. It truly is an amazing bike, second to IMHO
I have a 2008 FXSTC stage 1 and is also an amazing bike.
I suggest you fellows test drive some Victorys , you will be surprised,
The one down fall, Bling parts are very limited, so you basically get what you buy in a Victory
The X Bikes are nice
I kinda like that Green scoot
front forks are marzocchi,, brakes are brembo and victory is for the beginners
Hey everyone, you are missing the point. If you want to buy an American motorcycle, we now have a CHOICE! A real and viable choice. Indians, Big Dogs, & American Ironhorses at $30K+ were not viable choices. Understand that Vic will push Harley to make their bikes better. Vic will push to make their bikes better to keep up with Harley… and who wins? We the American Biker win. Don’t lose sight of that.
Vic vs. Harley. Same petty bickering as Indian vs. Harley of 60+ years ago. Enjoy having a choice.
Ride safe,
V
Victory is for the beginners??? The beginners of what, not being a kool-aid drinking douchebag? Enjoy your cup of cherry red!
I have owned Harleys {and one ’69 Triumph Bonneville} all 36 of my 54 yrs. and to hear the same B.S. about Harleys, Hondas, BMW’s, etc., etc. really baffles me. Funny thing is, everybody seems to think that their bike is better than ‘those ones’ over there. Given a chance, and a test ride, let’s face it – whatever gets the most ‘Thumbs Up’ from people driving past must be riding the best bike, right? Again this crappola on doctors and dentists riding Goldwings and Beamers, well yes they did, until this last generation and then it was all about custom Harleys!!! Why would a doctor or dentist want an American made bike like the Victory? Especially when it is so hard to get parts? They buy on dependability. Not a whole lot of parts needed when nothing is broken and on the side of the highway, now, is there ? Victorys color schemes push the limits on what a majority would like, but again, climb aboard, and watch all of the ‘Thumbs Up’ !!! Let’s face it, most all of us swing the same leg over our irons and that’s when we all share the same passion.Spend time enjoying the ride, not arguing who has the better one.