The challenge. Not only to road test the 2013 Victory Judge model but also its first custom version. the NessCafe built by Zach Ness. Launched by Polaris with the slogan “The New American Muscle Bike” I wanted to know how much muscle the factory model really got and how much extra excitement Zach’s custom version could bring to me.
Meeting was set during Daytona Bike Week at the Victory Motorcycles display on International Speedway. There I got a full briefing on the Judge model from Victory executives Robert and Manny Pandya, then met with Lloyd Greer from Lloyds Motor Works, the motor guru who fully rebuilt the stock engine to turn NessCafe into a true Cafe Racer champion. The Judge is the first non-tourer model released by Polaris since 2006, a descendant of the Vegas, and an important step for Victory to impose its brand in the cruisers segment.
The Judge share several traits and parts with the Vegas, but a first glance it’s a much more compact bike ((64.8″ wheelbase) with strong sport-influenced styling. Although overall look is modern, in black (my choice), with very few chrome parts, racing side panels waiting to be customized with the number of your choice or whatever, 16″ five-spoke wheel (130 mm front, 140 mm rear) and Dunlop Elite II tires with raised white lettering, it will not scare away all those infatuated with the retro look. I smiled when I observed that on the Judge the headlight nacelle looks like belonging to the bike (wink at the Victory designers), and became very impatient to straddle the bike when it was mentioned to me that the low center of gravity and the 106″ 50-degree Freedom engine (1731 cc) serving 113 ft-lbs of torque would help me escape the Daytona traffic and find freedom of the road much faster that what I could expect…
With the promise from Zach Ness that we will switch bikes before returning to the Victory display, we both cranked our bikes for a few miles of cruising beyond Daytona city limits, then for many more miles of sport riding to test our bikes respective passing power… First impression on any model is riding comfort and position. Seat is low (just under 26″ to the ground) and very comfortable, Being 6 foot tall with long arms, bars position put me more in a cruising that in a sport position, but those shorter than me can expect a slightly forward and more sporty stance. Although the 2-into-1 exhaust styling from Cobra would not be my first choice, cruising is done with the music of a quite pleasant growl, something remarkable for an EPA sound emissions approved system. Clutch is firm but doesn’t require hand strength. Shifting clunk is somewhat loud (you will not miss a gear) but mid-mounted controls setup makes shifting the 6-speed transmission extremely easy, smooth and precise. While confronted with long traffic red lights and contrary to what I experience with many other factory bikes, I never failed to find neutral.
When it was time to test throttle response I found acceleration quite outstanding for a 660-pound bike. Playing catch up with Zach Ness racing NessCafe on the open road, I had to flex the Judge muscles and it was not too difficult to re-join him, up to the point where he was not exceeding a slow speed for him of 90 mph (beyond is another story, more later.) And when Zach stopped to find another open space direction I had the opportunity to test the Judge brakes. Separately or together, the Judge setup, a rear 300mm disk/2-piston rear caliper and a single 300 mm/4-piston front caliper handle their tasks correctly, without hesitation. And doing so, I applaud the fact that only a front left single disc necessary, it makes the Judge front end look much more appealing. That day, riding only on very smooth Florida roads I was unable to evaluate the bike behavior on uneven tracks. Continue reading ‘Judging The New Victory Judge Model And Zach Ness Custom Version’
At the time when custom builders realized that a 21″ or 23″ front wheel installed on a Bagger was considerably improving the look of a tourer, they had no other choice than to cut, stretch and re-weld the frame neck to be able to properly fit these over-stock sizes. Always a risky business if you are not a pro trained at modifying frames and a time consuming operation.
The American Motorcycle Girl’s Cannonball Diary
