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| bnz433 | | Jupiter |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/06/2011 | | Posts | : | 1,842 | | Location | : | Clifton Park (Upstate), NY, United States |
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| | Posted : 24 May 2012 - 12:25 Post title : Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm | | | So I dropped the Storm back at the shop to get the squeaky rear issue figured out (only 1mo left on warranty). Just so happened to coincide with our local Victory dealer's Demo Days. Full stable of new Vics, ride any/all that you want.
#1) High Ball (with the mini-apes) - Believe it or not, the bars aren't too bad. And adjustable, so for me could've been lowered a notch, but was okay for the 6 mile loop we did. I was actually suprised how easy it was to get used to the bar position, and made it pretty easy to "flick" into the corners. The closely matched tire sizes made it handle pretty good, but nowhere near what I can do with my Storm. I might attribute that to the "new" feel of the mini-apes compared to how well I know my Storm, but that's my opinion. Cool looking bike with the mini-apes (if it's your bag) and the white walls. But mechanically, this thing made more noises, clunks and clanks than I could deal with if I were to own one (and before I saw my Storm, I was heading to the Vic dealer to buy a Vegas Jackpot!). Neat bike to ride, loud, raspy exhaust note, but I wouldn't own one.
#3) Vegas Jackpot - Big ass rear tire (250mm) and skinny ass front, with some rake to it. Takes some getting used to with the tire differential, in the turns, but between the skinny front wanting to "walk" along any nook or cranny in the road, felt unsettling at times (NY roads suck to begin with). With the big rear, and our "crowned" roads (for drainage), the rear wanted to follow the slope in the road. Mechanically, as with the High Ball and the next bike, this thing clanked and clunked with every shift. One upshift it got "lost" in between gears and was just grinding until I dropped a gear and back up. I only rode this one because it's one of their top-sellers up here. If you like the "chopperesque" look and feel, it's yours....and you can have it for a mere $18k US. Still happy I never went to Victory before seeing my T-bird Storm.
#3) Hammer S - Same rear, shorter/wider front. Man, this bike has GRUNT!!! I'm not positive, but this one may have had the factory Stage 2 done, but it's a beast. With the drag pipes, it was loud and proud. I liked it, but not $18.5k-19k kinda like. As with the others, it was quite noisy with every gear shift...clunkity.
The route we took for the demo is very familiar to me, so I know what my Storm does compared to these 3. All three were very, very stiff. This could be due to the dealer setting them all up for "larger" riders (i'm 190lb), but even the front ends felt too rigid. I felt every bump, crease, or unevenness in the pavement. The route took us over a bumpy railroad crossing, and nearly shook my teeth out each time. Not on my T-bird, though!!!
For the Jackpot and Hammer, the bars fell right into place, so were very comfortable. But where the tank meets the seat, it felt a tad wider than my Storm. And the gear shift and rear brake pedal were tucked in close to the bike. I'm average height at 5'10", w/ 32" inseam, and this made me sit very "bow legged" to get to the pedal/shifter. On all three bikes, even for a short 6mile loop, I felt my hands getting a tad "tingly".
Riding along with a dozen other Victory bikes (all models were there), was pretty noisy. They gotta do something to smooth out that transmission. 12 bikes coming to a red light and all you hear was CLUNK x12 for each downshift. Quite annoying, really.
So if you're looking at Victory (any cruiser) vs the T-bird line, go ride them first, then take a spin on the Bird. While Victory has some nice bagger options now (not talking about the Vision or anything), and more aftermarket options, you'll be one of many...and noisy. Glad I have my Storm cuz I can roll around for a year, barely see another one, and be comfy for very long stretches at a time. Plus my butt dyno tells me that I can pretty much eat up anything except maybe the Hammer S....unless they're all Stage 3.
| Bennington Triumph Bash - 31May-2June 2019. Home of the (tied in '14 & '15) US RECORD T-BIRD FLOCKING!!!!!
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| edbob | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 04/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 931 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 24 May 2012 - 14:57 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: bnz433) | | | wow - thanks for that - I almost got a Judge, but the Triumph was reputed to handle better. I will try to test ride them soon. Any riding plans this memorial day weekend BTW?
| "You will ride eternal shiny and chrome"
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| bnz433 | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 10/06/2011 | | Posts | : | 1,842 | | Location | : | Clifton Park (Upstate), NY, United States |
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| | Posted : 24 May 2012 - 15:34 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: edbob) | | | EdBob - I have my Storm in getting a squeak diagnosed (I'll post update soon), but have a busy weekend with my girls starting tonite. So unfortunately no riding til Tue/Wed next week, followed by a nice long Fri/Sat/Sun ride out at the Bennington Triumph Bash.
Whereabouts are you???
FYI - a bunch of guys I ride with are Victory "enthusiasts". And most were at the Demo Days helping out. Not one of them wanted to take a 2nd ride on the Judge. I sat on it, but didn't like the "feel" right away. I like the look/shape (except that circular side cover, maybe...might grow on me), but when Vic-experts said no to a 2nd ride, I opted for others. If we had time for another ride, I probably would've taken it out to see for my self, but no dice...it was beer-thirty for everyone
Jamie
| Bennington Triumph Bash - 31May-2June 2019. Home of the (tied in '14 & '15) US RECORD T-BIRD FLOCKING!!!!!
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| steve59 | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/07/2012 | | Posts | : | 29 | | Location | : | carol stream, IL, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Aug 2012 - 01:33 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: bnz433) | | | Thanks for the quick reviews, I stopped by a victory dlr today and they are sharp. the judge painted red caught my eye so I threw a leg over it. nope. I'm too short 5'7" & too old 52 as soon as I reached for the bars my low back woke up. thats OK cause I really am happy with my storm. btw I pulled up next to a dude on a street glide at a red light and I thought the fairing was gonna fall off the bike was vibrating so bad. In the 70's triumph's were "poor mans harley" to bikers. Today I am proud , maybe a bit arrogant that I have such a nice bike regardless of price.
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| TBERD | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 30/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 125 | | Location | : | Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
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| | Posted : 26 Aug 2012 - 08:51 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: steve59) | | |
steve59 wrote:
In the 70's triumph's were "poor mans harley" to bikers. Today I am proud , maybe a bit arrogant that I have such a nice bike regardless of price. |
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 Couldn't have said it better myself
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Aug 2012 - 12:22 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: TBERD) | | | Good to know about the Vics, almost bought a X-Roads instead of the Bird but couldn't find a demo bike in the time frame I was going to buy in. The price was objectionable as well so looked at the 2010 SE and bought it. I just came back from a 2000 mile trip in Western NC and Eastern TN riding the twisties for 9 days. I rode every stinking road with a turn it several times and I can tell you of all the bikes I've had the past 40 years the Bird even with the bags on and Windscreen handled the roads great. I pushed the bike pretty hard into some of the tightest turns on the Skyway and Dragon several times and she rode like a champ. Not one HD could keep pace with me, they would try and catch me going in to the turn and I would leave them coming out as they were on the brakes and grabbing gears. This is the first time since buying the Bird I've had a chance to really push the bike and see what it can do and I will say I was very happy with her at the end of the trip. If the Bird doesn't fall apart in my driveway now I think I'll hang on to this one for a while. Going to jettison the Windscreen and get a fairing though.
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| feduke | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,441 | | Location | : | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 Aug 2012 - 13:26 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: Daycruiser) | | | I rode the Victories at the Daytona Bikeweek demo. Great seat! It was very comfortable, but my Russell seat is better. I was disappointed in the brakes and handling. The transmission was VERY clunky on shifting and while the power wasn't bad, it was hardly any competition to even the 1600 TBird. I wouldn't trade.
| I'm a secondhand vegetarian. Cows eat grass. I eat cows.
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 27 Aug 2012 - 17:23 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: bnz433) | | | Good write up!! I agree with you assessment all the way. I rode every Vic they had to offer while in Sturgis last year, including the Vision. Even though the Hammer has grunt it does not rev to high before the rev limiter kicks in. I have run a couple Vics and the 1700 TB will walk it every time.
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 27 Aug 2012 - 17:28 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: Daycruiser) | | |
Daycruiser wrote:
Good to know about the Vics, almost bought a X-Roads instead of the Bird but couldn't find a demo bike in the time frame I was going to buy in. The price was objectionable as well so looked at the 2010 SE and bought it. I just came back from a 2000 mile trip in Western NC and Eastern TN riding the twisties for 9 days. I rode every stinking road with a turn it several times and I can tell you of all the bikes I've had the past 40 years the Bird even with the bags on and Windscreen handled the roads great. I pushed the bike pretty hard into some of the tightest turns on the Skyway and Dragon several times and she rode like a champ. Not one HD could keep pace with me, they would try and catch me going in to the turn and I would leave them coming out as they were on the brakes and grabbing gears. This is the first time since buying the Bird I've had a chance to really push the bike and see what it can do and I will say I was very happy with her at the end of the trip. If the Bird doesn't fall apart in my driveway now I think I'll hang on to this one for a while. Going to jettison the Windscreen and get a fairing though. |
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It makes you smile doesnt it!!! I took the TB on the dragon shortly after I got it and it licked all the other cruisers clean!!! I also rode all through the Black Hills in SD last summer. I was getting yelled at and getting the middle finger because I was passing HDs on the outside on corners. Had a few try and catch me, LMMFAO  . They could not out brake me into the corners and I was able to roll on it a lot sooner with a lot more vigor. I had to get a new tire when I got home...
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| intimidator32 | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 27 Aug 2012 - 23:19 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: CornerBanger) | | | had a chance to ride my buddies hd softail slim this past week and i have to say i liked it, even though the tranny is clucky and if you stop the heat off the headers is pretty bad i thought it rode good and has power comparible to my 1600 bird but in a different way. he has way more riding experience than i do but i was able to keep up on a very twisty road. considered victory myself but the styling on those bikes is not my taste. happy with my bird except for the noisy topend of the motor.
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually 
| | Post edited by intimidator32 on 27 Aug 2012 - 23:20 |
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 28 Aug 2012 - 01:28 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: intimidator32) | | |
intimidator32 wrote:
happy with my bird except for the noisy topend of the motor. |
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Go faster, you wont hear it...  Or put a full face on with blue-tooth and listen to your favorite tunes.
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| intimidator32 | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 04 Sep 2012 - 22:48 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: CornerBanger) | | | thinking about the full face blue-tooth option
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually
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| intimidator32 | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 04 Sep 2012 - 22:54 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: feduke) | | | feduke, thing i like about them are the giant saddle bags. if i had the funds for a second bike i might consider a used x-country for the long hauls but i'd have to test ride a rocket3 tourer first. and then turn my bird into a badass muscle bike o'wait it already is
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 05 Sep 2012 - 12:26 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: intimidator32) | | |
intimidator32 wrote:
thinking about the full face blue-tooth option |
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That is how I ride to work and on long journeys. A little AC/DC in the morning helps get the blood pumping and the throttle twisting...
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 Sep 2012 - 20:16 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: CornerBanger) | | |
CornerBanger wrote:
intimidator32 wrote:
thinking about the full face blue-tooth option |
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That is how I ride to work and on long journeys. A little AC/DC in the morning helps get the blood pumping and the throttle twisting... |
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Ball and a Biscuit by the White Stripes works for me.
Styling of the Victory's not right either - motors better than HD though but the T'bird is the daddy!
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| intimidator32 | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 05 Sep 2012 - 21:23 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: BlueNose) | | |
BlueNose wrote:
CornerBanger wrote:
intimidator32 wrote:
thinking about the full face blue-tooth option |
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That is how I ride to work and on long journeys. A little AC/DC in the morning helps get the blood pumping and the throttle twisting... |
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Ball and a Biscuit by the White Stripes works for me.
Styling of the Victory's not right either - motors better than HD though but the T'bird is the daddy! |
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i'm thinking Judas Priest, everything on BRITISH STEEL but especially BREAKING THE LAW 
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 Sep 2012 - 15:11 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: intimidator32) | | |
intimidator32 wrote:
BlueNose wrote:
CornerBanger wrote:
intimidator32 wrote:
thinking about the full face blue-tooth option |
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That is how I ride to work and on long journeys. A little AC/DC in the morning helps get the blood pumping and the throttle twisting... |
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Ball and a Biscuit by the White Stripes works for me.
Styling of the Victory's not right either - motors better than HD though but the T'bird is the daddy! |
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i'm thinking Judas Priest, everything on BRITISH STEEL but especially BREAKING THE LAW |
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Most of all just about any Led Zeppelin song will get my juices flowing, as they are my all time favorite band!!
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| SmokinLoon | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/06/2012 | | Posts | : | 154 | | Location | : | South Dakota, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Sep 2012 - 00:49 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: bnz433) | | | Victory makes a good bike, they were my second choice behind Triumph. Mind you, I say "second choice" loosely because it is a very distant second place almost to the point of not an option. I sure as fudge wasn't going with the orange and black. 
I will agree that the seats on the Victory bikes seem to be a quite comfortable, that was the first thing wifey said when were took one of the baggers for a test ride.
| I notice when I arrive at a typical rally all of the HD riders bow down down out of respect. My friend (an HD rider) says that I'm mistaken and that the HD guys are bending over to pick up rocks to throw at me. Thankfully, I have yet to be hit by a rock and if need be I can out run them all.
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| intimidator32 | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2012 | | Posts | : | 913 | | Location | : | lexington, ky, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Sep 2012 - 11:06 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: SmokinLoon) | | |
SmokinLoon wrote:
Victory makes a good bike, they were my second choice behind Triumph. Mind you, I say "second choice" loosely because it is a very distant second place almost to the point of not an option. I sure as fudge wasn't going with the orange and black.
I will agree that the seats on the Victory bikes seem to be a quite comfortable, that was the first thing wifey said when were took one of the baggers for a test ride. |
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yea, my wifey was not a happy camper on her first ride on the bird and the stock pillion but after the long haul seat came in
i haven't heard a peep out of her, about the seat that is
| currently on a slow Harley but will have another Triumph eventually
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| BATMAN | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 3 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 20 Sep 2012 - 14:12 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: intimidator32) | | | I've been a Victory owner since they came out, and now ride a '02 TCD. (still one of the old school looking Vic's with hard bags and windshield) I've been complaining about the tranny since they came out too, clunky, and hard shifting. BUT, I'm at 93,000+ on my beast, (Lloydz 104 kit/S&S box - 106hp/110lbft torque) and it is as reliable as a rock. I do plan on picking up something new soon, and the T-bird is at the top of my list so far.
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 20 Sep 2012 - 15:50 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: BATMAN) | | | Have you ridden a TB yet?
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| FTL40 | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 13/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,122 | | Location | : | massachusetts, United States |
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| | Posted : 24 Sep 2012 - 00:15 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: BATMAN) | | | i wish we had a Lloydz for our bikes
| 2010 tbird 1700 silver (fastest color) BC exhaust, BC airbox removal
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| metalb00 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 02/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 343 | | Location | : | union, nj, United States |
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| | Posted : 22 Oct 2012 - 17:44 Post title : Re: Victory Demo Days - Rode 3...still Love my Storm (Re: SmokinLoon) | | | I had a tbird 2010 1700 installed, ill be getting another one as soon as i can unload this harley, but i will deff keep my Cross Country Tour. the thing i noticed w the victory, clear coat sucks, has a unfinished feel to it like seems in the body you can see into and there looks to be a mess of wires. but boy does it handle and pull, its no 1700 tbird but its a nicely capable touring bike, more comfortable than the tbird on a 6 hr ride
the tbird has a superior finish to it, paint seemed better assuming better quality. everything was tied down and hidden for the most part. and the performance was amazing hands down power, suspension brakes alsmost everything. the only downfall was the ergo of it, i would get cramped up after longer rides
| 2013 Thunderbird ABS Caspian Blue and Black Meercat crossover, D&D slipons, Black Wrapped Pipes, K&N air filter, Avon Grips, Hardstreet Slimline bags, Long haul dualseat, QR Sissy Bar
2012 Victory Cross Country Tour World Rally Blue Pearl and Obsidian Black Pearl
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