| Author | Message | ||
     Danger_dave |
Picking one up in the morning. Got the NZ exclusive. What's the gossip? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Seems like they're getting pretty good reviews. Mechanically, they seem very well thought out, with good power and good handling for that type of bike. Appearance opinions run from "coolest looking bike EVER" to "I will gouge my eyes out now that I have seen true horror". IMHO- not exactly what I'd want to ride, but a pretty cool bike. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I've got 'Goldwing meets Cadillac' from the photos. | ||
| Jaimec |
My major complaint regarding the Vision: It is the ONLY luxury tourer at that price point without available ABS. According to their market research, it wasn't important. I'd fire their marketing research team because they apparently don't know ****. Even Harley has ABS available on their touring bikes now! Another issue is the saddlebags. Externally, they look like the biggest saddlebags on the planet. When you open them, however, they're REALLY tiny. Worse, their opening is actually SMALLER than the size of the internal compartment. If you fully stuff the saddlebag liner, how the hell do you jam it through that tiny opening into the saddlebag itself?? I know Victory will say they make up for the tiny saddlebags with their "ginormous" trunk, but the trunk is the WORST place to put your luggage. You want it down low by the axles for best handling. You should only put lightweight, bulky items in the trunk (like an extra sweatshirt, rainsuits, etc). I like the looks... in fact, I was even planning on getting rid of my K1200LT for one of these things. I got a very favorable impression from the test ride, but it all fell flat when I opened the bags. I thought I'd wait out till 2009 to see what might change, but unfortunately... no dice. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Goldwing's weren't that huge either. Wouldn't fit a full face - 2 in the top box. | ||
| Bbbob |
I got to ride one just before its official release. For a big bike it handled pretty well, good power, comfortable, low seat for a big bike. Fit & finish OK, I've heard the production ones are better. It should have ABS. Styling wise, take it or leave it. I like the looks from most angles except looking at the front straight on, to me looks like Bozo the Clown. | ||
| Lightstick |
 | ||
| Bill0351 |
I thought it looked really stupid in the magazine pictures, but I saw one on the road this weekend and it looked pretty sharp in person. | ||
| Trackdad |
I first saw one in person at the S&S 50th party and I thought I was entering the "Twilight Zone". I'd like to see one run Road America!!!! | ||
| Kurbennett |
I agree, you either like the way it looks or you dont. I immediately labeled it hideous at first sight, and havent managed to change my opinion. | ||
| Hughlysses |
BTW- a guy successfully finished the Iron Butt Rally on a Vision in 2007. | ||
| Jaimec |
I haven't seen any mileage figures on this bike yet either. I know it has a six gallon tank, and that puts it about a half gallon less than my K1200LT. Unless it gets phenomenal mileage it'll be hard put to match the range I see from my current tourer. This past weekend's trip to Watkins Glen, Darien Lake and Syracuse netted an average mpg of 51.6 mpg. Not bad for a 1200cc, 4 cylinder, DOHC, 16v, fuel-injected motorcycle that weighs 850 lbs full of fluids... | ||
| Bads1 |
I was told that Eureka had hand in its design. | ||
| Brumbear |
FUGLY actually but I hear they are pretty fun to ride. I await your comments as I really do not know but 1 person with one and that is only an aquaintence ya know no pillow talk as they say | ||
| 4cammer |
Saw one for the first time on the move yesterday while at the Springfield Mile. Pass for me, but I can see how some would want it. I'd rather have it than a Goldwing. I have no idea how anyone can ride anything so big. | ||
| Gschuette |
Not a fan. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Rides very nicely - looks better in the flesh (they all do). Neat handling , good (for the class) cornering clearance. Nice stereo. Desirable vehicle, not for the shy. | ||
| Wolf102 |
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/Tour-front-be auty.jpg  } | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
it looks like a Barber's chair with wheels. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Never underestimate the value of a good photographer :-)  | ||
| Danger_dave |
it looks like a Barber's chair with wheels. Everything in the class does. | ||
| Wolf102 |
its definitely not an hd road glide imatation (Message edited by wolf102 on September 03, 2008) | ||
| Danger_dave |
I had a good ride on some of the other models today too. Bit too much of a competitor's product to dribble on about them here - I'll stick some pics on the mixed breed forums later. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>it looks like a Barber's chair with wheels. << Actually....when I think about it....how would I know??? it's a VERY long time since I saw a barber's chair. | ||
| Oddball |
It is a polarizing design. It's interesting to me because it's not another poor HD clone like the spy photos of some fugly creation wearing HD or HD like badges, nissin looking calipers and a liquid cooled engine it appears. The vision must have something. It is the one thing of late my bickering seasoned citizen parents actually agree on. They like it. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
(Message edited by nevrenuf on September 03, 2008) | ||
| Nevrenuf |
another question is, how does it handle two up. does your better half ever go with you on these little jaunts of yours DD. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Oh yeah - co pilot is an essential part of the missions. I told you I had her on the back of the Goldwing didn't I? Some guy solo on a Rocket III thought he might be faster through the twisty bits and parked it in front of us. Pulled his pants down. Vision will be lounge chair comfortable 2-up like the wing and it's heavy enough so that a passenger won't make any difference anyhooos. We only need to spend some Saddle Time on a K Series Bimmer and we'll have done the full set of luxury tourers. She rates all the passenger allotments for the mag. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I figure the styling on this thing is a lot like what Dodge embraced for their "new generation" pickups ~14 years ago. Dodge had consistently come in a distant third among U.S. truck sales, with something like only 10% of the market. Ford and Chevy swapped for first on a regular basis. Dodge decided they were going to come out with an all-new truck. They built two prototypes, one conservatively styled and one with the then-radical center radiator grill, semi-separate fenders, etc. Dodge showed showed the two designs to focus groups. For the conservatively styled truck, 50% of the people thought it was OK and 50% didn't like it that much. For the radically styled truck, 75% of the people HATED it and 25% LOVED it. Now 25% doesn't sound like much, but Dodge correctly reasoned that if 25% of the overall market bought their truck, that would more than double their existing sales, so THAT's the truck they put into production and it worked out for them. I'd bet Victory followed a similar strategy with the Vision. | ||
| Jlnance |
For the radically styled truck, 75% of the people HATED it and 25% LOVED it. Now 25% doesn't sound like much, but Dodge correctly reasoned that if 25% of the overall market bought their truck, that would more than double their existing sales I'm thinking scoops on the 1125r  |
