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Cruiser
Posts: 55
Las Vegas, NV | OK all. I've posted several posts here several times. I finally bought the bike of my dreams (a Vision Tour Premium) about 7 weeks ago. I bought it from the Ness dealer in Las Vegas. I sat down with them and designed the bike I wanted and they built it.
Now that the bike is officially "broken in", my wife and some friends planned a trip from Las Vegas to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's about 320 miles each way. We left on Tuesday. I had only 600 miles on the bike. After riding the 320 miles in about 5.5 hours, I got to the North Rim and I was TIRED! The Vision performed perfectly. Amazing power. I was able to pass those 3 trailored semi's with ease. Set the cruise at 85 and relax. However, when I finally got to the Grand Canyon, I was exhausted. My legs were sore and I couldn't wait to go to sleep. Now, I know most of you are wondering WTF?? Give me a bit and I'll explain it...
I pulled into the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge and got a parking spot right in front. (we stayed there the last 2 days they were open... it was down to 20 degrees at night)
The Vision was in the parking lot for about 48 hours as we walked through the various trails through the Grand Canyon. Several times through the day, I'd look outside the cabin to the parking lot and see up to 7 or 8 folks around my bike. I'd walk out and field no less than 40 questions about the Vision. I truly believe I sold a ton of bikes for Victory!!
Many of these folks had heard of the vision, but this was the first time they'd seen one. Overall, folks were seriously impressed with it. No less than 5 Road King riders said "I'm buying one of those!"
So, I did my best to be a Victory Ambasodor.
Now for the ride home:
I was SORE from the ride up, but mostly in the legs and lower back. I thought this through... I realized I was "forcing" the Vic through the ride. I decided I'd let the bike find the way home. The close to 350 miles I'd put on it, I realized it just knows how to handle and I need to trust it.
Early this morning, I mounted the Vision and hooked up all my gear. I swear, the bike felt like part of me. I rode my own ride and just let the bike show me what it can do. I made it home in record time and NOTHING is sore. This trip taught me all about the Vision. I'm now a much better Vision rider and I have to tell you, I've never ridden a better motorcycle. I realized, I was afraid of this bike. After the ride up to the Grand Canyon, I realized the bike is part of me and I have nothing to be afraid of. I love this bike. The way home was 5 hours of nothing but joy!
I know some folks have had problems with these bikes and I hope I never have to experience that. After putting 650 miles on the bike in 2.5 days, I have never ridden anything like it.
So far, so good for me. I love this bike and I can't wait to set a new mileage record!!
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Relax, it gets better. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Might take a look at this post about relaxing while riding http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1933&start=1 Here's an excerpt from it....... "But if you loosen up a bit the buffeting does die down quite a bit and will almost go completely away. Start off by loosening the handgrip a bit, let the fingers free-up, rest your palms on the grips. Then follow up the arms and bend your elbows a bit more than you usually do. Keep going up the arms and let your shoulders droop down and maybe slighlty forward, don't "push" them forward, just let them kinda "fall" forward. Now go to the neck, allow your head to do what it wants. Relax your back muscles, maybe don't sit so straight up as usual. Go to your hips and thighs, QUIT squeezing the tank with your knees!!" | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | Yep, relax is the important thing here. My wife and I took a 5400 mile trip from Colorado to Washington state, around Vancouver Island, through British Columbia, down into Montana, and back home. Having all the comforts that the Vision provides made it one VERY enjoyable trip. Because we avoided large cities, the traffic was light, we were able to relax and enjoy the ride, and I could not have imagined a more enjoyable time on any other motorcycle.
Don't get me wrong....You still need to use all your motorcycle skills, watching for potential problems while motoring down the road. But you can still be very safe and relaxed at the same time. Ride WITH the bike instead of trying to man handle it, and you will enjoy your miles much more on the Vision.
Ride safe and enjoy!!! | |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | I agree with everyone else about relaxing. This is one incredible bike! I just got back from a weekend trip from Los Angles to Napa, California, in some fairly high winds. Even with all the weight and surface area on the bike, the ride was relatively smooth and uneventful. The Vision was rock solid and stable, and with the exception of the occasional gust that got my attention (but didn't seem to bother the Vision too much), my only real problem was the wind blowing trucks and motor homes into my lane. Stay relaxed and you will find that the ride just keeps getting better! | |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 29
Hendersonville, TN | I concur with everyone here; I had a 300 mile trip back from the Blue Ridge mountains in the remains of hurrican IKE; the sky was absolutely a beautiful blue, but then the winds came and I thought boy is this going to be a wild ride...I had roughly 40 mph wind gusts which at first startled me, than after about 30 minutes of that I just settled in and rode through it like you would on a normal day...then the rain came, I was able to keep my speed at 70 mph and I barely received even a drop of water on me...my shins were damp but my short sleeve t-shirt was dry...I was having a blast; the looks of all the cars on the interstate was very entertaining to say the least. This ride gave me a lot of appreciation for the Vision... | |
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | space_cwboy - 2008-10-17 8:28 AM
Yep, relax is the important thing here. My wife and I took a 5400 mile trip from Colorado to Washington state, around Vancouver Island, through British Columbia, down into Montana, and back home. Having all the comforts that the Vision provides made it one VERY enjoyable trip. Because we avoided large cities, the traffic was light, we were able to relax and enjoy the ride, and I could not have imagined a more enjoyable time on any other motorcycle.
Don't get me wrong....You still need to use all your motorcycle skills, watching for potential problems while motoring down the road. But you can still be very safe and relaxed at the same time. Ride WITH the bike instead of trying to man handle it, and you will enjoy your miles much more on the Vision.
Ride safe and enjoy!!!
Hey...another CO rider. Dropped you a private email...
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | Hey Biff,
You are right...relaxation is the key!
Quick story...
I had my bike no less than two weeks and just cleared the 500 mile mark and put on the S1L2 pipes before heading to Vegas from Denver. The total ride is just at 800 miles. I ride many miles almost every weekend (avg about 250 a day) and I figured that 400 a day was doable. So, off I trekked. I headed south on 285 through the mountains to get there. Beautiful ride but Windy the first 150 miles or so. Total pain! STopped in Pagosa for the night and up early to for the rest of the ride into V.
I got to Vegas and enjoyed the week there for a convention and hanging out with friends that I know there.
I had to leave on Saturday and planned to be on the road at 6am to beat most of the heat. Well, my happy arse forgot that people set alarms for evening times instead of mornings so I didn't roll out of bed until 8 and hit the road at 9:30 or so. I had planned to ride straight through and I figured that a late start would curtail this in a big way.
Well, I headed out and did about 95 most of the way to my first fuel stop. Left there and hit I-70 east bound and fueled up about every 250 miles or so. I was completely enjoying the ride. Most people were wondering why I was so relaxed. I was riding with no hands at one point for a few miles. A guy in a cage followed me into the next stop and asked what I was riding...etc. and then explained he had never seen someone just enjoying the ride and so relaxed as to do things other than appear to be riding. Do NOT get me wrong. I was paying attention and making sure I was safe. But man...this thing almost rides itself.
The best part of the ride (actually it was the worst but gave me such an appreciation) was the ride over Vail pass at about 1030 at night. I had left most of my cold weather gear at home. So, I was missing my neckerchief and a few other "nice to have" odds and ends. But I had the essentials. So, I thought, what the heck, lets do it.
I hit the road out of Glenwood Springs heading east and I watched the thermometer dropping to ungodly low temps for ME. I thought, man...if it hits 45, I will have to find a place to stay for the night. Ha! NOPE!
I rode over the first pass and the temp was 32 degrees indicated on the gauge. Wow! I was actually quite warm considering and it felt like a typical cold 45 degree day which is my limit. I continued on and hit the Eisenhower tunnel where the temp was actually closer to 40. By this point I felt warm and thought, "I can lower the windshield a bit to get some air moving around my full face helmet. UGH! NOPE...I couldn't get it back up quick enough! OOOOF it was coool....BRRRR!
I put it back up and continued on. I got home that night at midnight and crashed out around 1am. I woke up at 9am and was ready for more riding. It was blustery day so I just cleaned the bike and hung out at the home front.
But what a joy to realize that I could ride as long as I needed. 800 miles in one day and I felt like I did when I rode my old Kaw for 400 which generally made me pretty wiped but no so much I couldn't ride the next day.
Enjoy your new ride! The noisy engine and clunky tranny will settle in more and get quieter and smoother over the next few thousand miles which will make you fall in love ALL OVER AGAIN!
Take care and keep the shiny side up!
Edited by ElroyJ 2008-10-17 4:39 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 129
Leander,Texas | IM at 7600 miles and the fjirst thing i learned about my Vision is learn its balance and learn how it rides. what i mean is go to a parking lot and take the sharpest turns and the fasted stops you can..more aor less learn evasive manuvering. Once you realize how she rides you wont be as tense and fighting how the bike rides. I ride daily and It my dream to own this bike forever!!!! god i love it! | |
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All of my hopes were realized!!