Victory Vision V-Twin Touring Bikes

Anyone who regularly reads motorcycle magazines has already seen numerous sketches of these not very secret motorcycles from Victory. Now, in conjunction with the New York International Motorcycle Show, Victory has formally unveiled the Victory Vision Tour and the Victory Vision Street, two brand new luxury touring bikes with a completely new style. They will be available from dealers this fall.

When you visit the Victory website you're greeted with this not too subtle comment, "We're not rewriting American history, we're writing its future." Hmm ... I wonder what other American manufacturer they're hinting at? Victory has definitely staked out new territory in the V-Twin touring market with this aerodynamic design which they say offers superb weather protection and from the appearance of the bike I would have no reason to doubt it. Features include six speeds, six gallon forward positioned gas tank, optional electrically adjustable windshield, adjustable rear suspension and all put together in what is a distinctly American style. This is no Gold Wing or BMW.

The Victory Vision comes in two flavors, Tour, with 6750 cubic inches of storage space and Street with 3370 cubic inches of capacity. Seat height is a low 26.5 inches and the seating position is relaxed with a lot of room to move around thanks to integrated floorboards.

Interesting is the lack of specifics on engine displacement, with some time left before it shows up on the showroom floor, it may be a decision that is not yet final.

Overall, this looks like a very clean and new design. It remains to be seen which potential customers will be won over to the Victory Vision, ... Harley or Honda? Or both?

Polaris press release follows:

In a highly anticipated world unveiling, Victory Motorcycles, a division of Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII), today launched its new Victory Vision™ family of luxury touring motorcycles at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City. The new bikes, the Victory Vision Street™ and Victory Vision Tour,™ boast Victory’s own thunderous V-Twin engine, unmatched comfort and breakthrough styling - redefining what it means to be an American touring bike.

“We spent nearly six years researching and developing this bike, and more than 28,000 miles riding with customers and are confident that the Victory Vision will fulfill the dreams of people looking to tour on an American Luxury touring bike,” said Mark Blackwell, vice president of Victory Motorcycles and International Operations. “The Victory Vision is perhaps the most pure example of what riders have been asking for: a modern, American V-Twin touring bike.”

A powerful combination of style and comfort, the Victory Vision bikes have four inches of cushion in their seats, a relaxed, feet-forward riding position, the best aerodynamic wind protection and airflow management for all weather riding, ample storage space with modern American styling. The new bikes will be available to riders across the country beginning in fall 2007.

“This is a proud day for Polaris and Victory Motorcycles as we launch a family of motorcycles that 30 years from now people will look back and say, ‘Those bikes fundamentally changed the design of American motorcycles,” said Tom Tiller, CEO, Polaris Industries. “We launched Victory Motorcycles in 1998 with the belief that an American company could design and build the best motorcycles in the world – while not the biggest, we are confident based on feedback from our buyers Victory is the best.”