[ARTICLE]By Nicky Zarras – Feature Editor – STAReview Magazine/NV

 [idroitex=250]http://www.sporttouring.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=175&stc=1&d=1335746166[/idroitex]On October 5th and 6thVictory had a demo truck at Ride Now Powersports on 3800 North RanchoDrive, North Las Vegas, Nevada (www.ridenowrancho.com). They had their full product line of cruisers: as the High-Ball,Vegas Jackpot, Hammer S, Vegas 8-Ball, Hammer 8-Ball, Vegas, and Kingpin; and Touring: as the Cross Country Tour, Cross Country,Cross Roads, and Vision Tour. The two days were great for testing these fine machines as it was 63-73 degrees and intermittent light to heavy rain and wind. For this test I concentrated on the touring category. Each model is powered by a 106 cu in/1731cc 4 stroke 50 deg V-Twin with EFI on 45mm Throttle bodies. Brakes are ABS dual 300mmdual piston front and single 300mm single piston rear. Rear suspension is air adjustable and 43mm front inverted cartridge telescopic fork on all models except the Vision which is a 46mm front conventional telescopic fork. Tires are 130/70R18 front and 180/60R16rear Dunlop Elite 3. Gas tanks are 5.6 gallons for all but the Vision which is 6 gallons. Even though most of the underpinnings are the same each model has a unique personality.

[igauchex=250]http://www.sporttouring.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=176&stc=1&d=1335746199[/igauchex]Ride Now Powersports had food and drink and a raffle to make the riders feel comfortable. The tour was a 26mile run on city and highways that gave you a great opportunity to see what the motorcycle could do. They gave an excellent detailed briefing covering all components of each model, the route; formation, safety issues, and rider conduct prior to each test ride.

I drove the 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour (CCT) in Solid Sunset Red first. The CCT is traditionally styled and a very comfortable V-twin for the touring rider. It has the comfort control system with lower fairings and adjustable fairing deflectors for airflow control. It has 41 gallons of storage, more than any competitor, for your touring needs. The full up fixed windshield extended above my six foot frame, and had little to no buffeting at any speed. Clutch and throttle control was very user friendly. The engine has loads of low end torque for this 845 pound machine. Once underway the bike’s weight disappeared and along with the Vision felt most comfortable at speed. Handling in the rain and windy conditions was impressive and very comfortable. The transmission was precise with a digital gear indicator. ABS braking was smooth with plenty of travel. The ergonomics were very comfortable. Mirrors were smaller than the Vision but quite adequate with no vibration. At under 4000 rpms, this as the other Victory tourers had very little engine vibration making these very comfortable long distance touring choices for the V-twin crowd. Engine power up to redline was strong on all the models. The CCT was loaded with heated grips, split heated seats, cruise control, iPOD and full radio controls for tunes for your ears.

[idroitex=250]http://www.sporttouring.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=177&stc=1&d=1335746236[/idroitex]The second bike was the Victory Vision in Bronze Mist and Sandstone Metallic. This was our STAReview Vol 28 No 3 cover bike. With its futuristic styling it is only 24 pounds more than the CCT. On the road the ride felt firmer than the CCT through the transitions. The Vision is fully faired and has excellent wind protection at all speeds. The Vision also has the linked ABS braking system. There was less travel in the front and rear brake actuators. The Vision seating holds you tighter. You sit back more than on the CCT. One thing to remember is to keep your feet forward on takeoff from a stop or they can bump into the rear tip over plates on takeoff. Mirrors are very large and imbedded in the front fairing with no vibrations. The windshield is powered vs. fixed on the other Victory tourers. The Vision has 29 gallons of storage room for your sport-touring needs. The Vision is outfitted with heated grips,heated seats, AM/FM, WEATHERBAND, MP-3 compatibility, with CB, iPOD,and XM radio capability. The modern styling will draw a crowd at every stop.

[igauchex=250]http://www.sporttouring.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=178&stc=1&d=1335746276[/igauchex]The third bike I rode was the Cross Roads in a Solid Sunset Red which at 745 pounds is 100 pounds lighter than the CCT. There is no front top and lower fairing just a clear Plexiglas windshield. Due to the lighter weight and no fairings the Cross Road is a perfect choice for the rider who wants a cruiser but also wants to put on a windshield and bags. This tourer comes with side fiberglass bags with leather covering. The side buckles are decorative and user friendly plastic clips hold the lid down. The multiple gages on the CCT are replaced with one gage that has your rpms, gear indicator, fuel, conventional speedometer and warming lights. It was equipped with cruise control. On the road the Cross Roads was very playful, more sport-touring like in handling, with lots of personality. It handled very well in the rain at highway speeds. I think it is a better choice than a cruiser for anyone thinking of doing some traveling but want the boulevard cruiser look.

[idroitex=250]http://www.sporttouring.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=179&d=1335746163[/idroitex]The last model I rode was the Cross Country in a Solid Imperial Blue. It is identical to the CCT without the lower fairing, topcase, and full windshield. That lowers the weight to 765 pounds. With all the features of the CCT the Cross Country was a very stable and comfortable platform. At higher highway speeds I was experiencing wind buffeting off the abbreviated fixed windshield so I would want a taller windshield that I can look over but still have more wind protection.

In summary I was very impressed with the Victory Touring line. The styling, fit and finish is first rate.The power delivery, handling, and stability in the wet weather at speed were impressive. ABS Braking was also excellent and easily modulated in the wet weather. Seat comfort was set right for the touring rider. So if you are in the market for a V-Twin tourer then drive down to your Victory dealership for a test drive. You will come out with a big smile on your face and be definitely impressed with this product line.[/ARTICLE]