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Cruiser
Posts: 58
Saratoga NY area | I sold my roadstar this fall and became intrigued about the Vision in late fall when I went to a local Victory/Yamaha dealer and seen the bike. Ever since that day, I have been on numerous motorcycle forums, learning about (the Pro's and Con's) a couple other bikes that I was interested in. After, I went to the NYC motorcycle show, I became convinced that the Victory Vision is the bike for me this summer, when I am ready to purchase. My question is,,,,, How long do you have to endure the Jealousy from other motorcyclist who are not Victory owners?
OMG, the motorcycle forums are a buzz negative comments even though almost every magazine review states the Victory Vision is one heck of a bike.
The bike that commanded the most attention at the show was the Victory Vision. What a beauty. My wife loved the back comfort seat with radio speakers.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I go on Poker runs and charity rides and the only thing I hear is "How Do you like that ?' My bike is a real eye magnet everywhere I go people ask me questions and for the most part are very positive |
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Cruiser
Posts: 58
Saratoga NY area | It definitely is a "Love it or Be jealous of it" bike. I love it and can not wait til summer. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | The only bashing the Vision ever gets is from idiots who have never ridden one. Their opinion means nothing. |
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Tourer
Posts: 495
Carrollton, TX | I bought my Vision last march 1st and I have over 26,000 miles on it already. I started riding bikes when I was 9 back in 1964 and the Vision is by far the sweetest bike I have ever rode. No matter where I ride I draw crowds with the Vision. People love the looks of this bike and riders love the handling, comfort, performance and wind and weather protection. The only negative comments I get are related to the looks mostly from Harley riders that are lucky to put 2,000 miles a year on a bike where many of us do that in a weekend. Some of them have since bought a Vision. Non riders all love the Vision from kids to grandmas. As you will see on this forum that vast majority of Vision owners used to own a Harley but once they ride the Vision they are hooked. Buy the Vision and you will have the time of your life. Don’t worry about the poor pure blind fools that try to knock the Vision only because they don’t have a Vision. I have never bought anything I have been more happy with!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | zo6vette, I can guess by your handle that you like nice toys. The Vision will get 10 times the attention of the ZO6 because you have to be a car guy to appreciate that car. Like Spock says, the Vision will appeal to people that have never even liked motorycles before and they will tell you that. Nothing you have ever owned will get this kind of attention. Since it does not exude the obnoxious "one way" attitude endorsed by the other company, you will be much more approachable also. This will be a very fun summer for you. Build in extra time during gas stops. |
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Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | The only negative comments I get is from the Harley buddy I ride with. He's just jealous cause I can run circles around his without trying. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Like most, I've received my share of compliments on the Vision. People are genuinely curious, and they don't hesitate to ask questions.
I can't say that I've had that many negative comments. Some snubs, a few shakes of the head, some giggling and pointing. Those comments come from people that generally still have the price tags hanging off their leather, and more 'k's' in chrome than they have miles on the bike.
People can think what they want. When I fire the bike and head out on the open road. . .well, it's funny, thoughts of other people and what they've said or how they reacted just evaporate. I'm having too much fun to think about anything else.
And the one 'hard core', (in his mind anyway), weekend warrior that made it a point to offer his negative opinion of the bike, and how stupid it was, and how REAL BIKERS would never be caught dead on one, shut the hell up when I said, "Well, if it's good enough for Sonny Barger, that should tell you something about the ride.
He looked at me with a sneer and said, "Who the hell is Sonny Barger?"
He was so clueless that his friends had to be embarrassed for him.
Just get your bike, and then get out and ride. The only thing you'll be thinking about is how you can stop working so you can ride ALL the time.  |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | When something comes along like the Vision, it's a blow to many folks ego who have grown up with what they thought was "the ultimate ride."
It took me a little nearly two years to get my V92C to where I like it. Integrated sound and gps, windshield, heated attachments, etc.. I little over a year after I get it "perfect", what I consider the best Cruiser on the market for me in every aspect, along comes the Vision. Essentially negating and demeaning my hard work. I'm not exaggerating. I was on the phone and in emails with the manufacturer of the audio mixer working out ways to handle the ground loop issues of my XM Radio, GPS and Intercom devices. My rifle windshield was cut twice to get it exactly right, and the wind whippers when through THREE mounting configurations to get them in the perfect spot. Oh, then there was the seat reconstruction that took 6 months of modification, reassemble, ride, repeat. Then comes the Vision. Not only all the new technology, performance, and style points, but it already had all of the extra widgets I had spent nearly two years to develop.
I gotta be honest, I'm pretty thick skinned, but it was a blow to my ego for some reason. My reaction... decide if I want to get a Vision or not. Other people might take it harder. As lovely as a Goldwing or BMW, or even for those that like it a Harley Ultra-wide-fat-road-whatever it's called is....... no matter how much money you throw at it... it's not going to be what the Vision is for a fraction of the price out of the box. That's gotta hurt those that paid over 30K for their "American Iron" at least a little. Not the ones that bought a lifestyle, but those that actually ride, and spent their hard earned dollars for what was, for better or worse, the best the market had in the class at the time.
I'm guessing it's a little like the die hard Land Rover folks. Not the enthusiasts, but those that actually drive them, and use them in the deserts and fields and forest. Along came the Hummer. Even the "consumer version" and it's pretty much in a class by itself. Making that old "I can pull myself out of a ditch" commercial look kinda silly now. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | It will last indefinitely. Among all of those who are not motorcyclists, the remarks have been all complimentary for me.It's such a different looking bike, particularly from the cruisers,which are
archaic looking. The longer I own my 08 Steel Gray, the more often I feel psyched about riding it. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | +1
It's a love hate on the looks, and like may have said, the HD folks are the ones who usually hate it.
Funny story, so I stop in a SouthEast Harley in Northeast Ohio to get a Kaddy Kruzer cup holder. I park the bike out front (loud and proud), go in get my cup holder, eat (they have a diner in there) and come out. On my way thru the doors, a lady was on the phone complaining to the other end that these people don't know anything and you ought to see this motorcycle, it's gray, big, etc... Understanding that this fit the Vision description I asked her what she wanted to know about it. She told me she saw it driving down the road and did an illegal u-turn to check it out. (20 min conversation begun) During this time a number of HD owners were stopping in for parts and stopped down to look at the bike. The worse they would say (to my face) was that it was different. As SongFan said, plan on extra time when you stop and be prepared for 90% of the folks driving down the freeway to look.
John |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | remember these things
1 people who go out of their way to make a negative comment are going out of their way because it makes THEM feel better, not the message they are spouting. 92% of the time a negative comment is jealousy or insecurity based.
2. We unfortunately are an American society where we have 2 current generations of Americans who are more concerned with how they
appear to other people and where they "look" like they place in society rather than learn that the real issue is how they appear to themselves and are THEY comfortable with their own place in society.
3. There is only one person in this entire country JUST ONE who's name is on that pink slip and loan document and its that one person
whos opinion matters. I dont care if i am surrounded by people who feel like my motorcycle is ugly, cheap, stupid looking, etc etc
until THEY pay the bill for it, their opinion counts for nothing. Remember too, these are also the same people who dont own a motorcycle of any kind themselves.
All people who think outside the box have always throughout history been the brunt of closed minded thinking, judgementalism, cynicism,
etc etc. It was also these same people who thought outside the box, who fought for newer, better, smarter, more intelligent ways of improving those same closed minded peoples lives...... I for one want the one life I was given here to be UNIQUE, DIFFERENT, and MEMORABLE, otherwise I would be no better than those other people who sit and watch their life pass by. Again, and I say this all the time ITS NOT CALLED A VISION FOR NO REASON !!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 125
Kerrville Texas ( now a homeowner on six acres) | We baught our Vision on about25 Sept.2007. It is a 2008 vision tour premium.(black (and chrome and chrome)(did I say chrome??" . A month later (we had retired in that time) we put the bike in a trailer, hooked it behind a motorhome and took of around the country.(Sold the house the cars etc.) As of today we have accumulated 12,000 miles on the motorhome and 21,000 miles on the Vision.We have visited 30 or 31 states . From the trip up Pikes Peak to the trip down Phantom Canyon Road (Yes on the vision) we have had absolutely no trouble and everywhere we travel the Vision draws a croud.We have driven over twenty miles of gravel road in the desert on several occasions just because we heard it was a "pretty drive". The Bonneville salt flats just because we were there and we had never been there before.(only got it up to 60 mph)Washed it asap.I have had it serviced in eight or nine different dealers around the Country as we are on the move.
All to reiterate what all the others have been saying. The harly guys look and are reserved because they have just spent more money on much less equipment.ditty some of the Beemer guys.although on in the Chisos Mnts of Texas said he was trading as soon as he got back home.Most said they" had not seen one except as in pictures and the pictures did not do the bike justice".
Sorry its so long, but ,Thats just the way I am.
SMADGE |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | i notice HD guys in my area are very jealous! And alot of people think Victory is a Elite motorcycle.. The metric owners act like you have to be wealthy to Own a Victory... you never hear anyone in my area acting like Own a victory is owning a bargin basement motorcycle.. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 58
Saratoga NY area | I appreciate all of the comments and can not wait til the Summer. Now my hard choice is which color. Right now, it looks like Black (Since it is proven to be the fastest color) since it will match my car. Thanx |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | NEVER ENDS.... I drove to downtown Vancouver on the weekend and parked a couple of places. Crowds start before we get off the bike. Often we walk away and stop to look - more crowds. Cameras come out. Cellphone cameras come out. Always when we come back to the bike we get remarks - gist of which are "WOW!". NEVER ENDS.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | I park in dowtown San Francisco, and there is a seemingly endless stream of tourists taking their pictures standing next to my Vision.
now if I can only figure out a way to charge them... |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | Breaker - 2009-01-21 4:17 PM "Who the hell is Sonny Barger?" He was so clueless that his friends had to be embarrassed for him. That's funny!!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | When you go to a bike show you will draw just as much attention as a 502 Boss Hoss. But the only thing is that people will stay and look at the Vision longer. If you go to biker events expect to answer questions and talk to everyone. The Wingers love this bike. The last show I was at one Winger told me that if it had a CB then he would have bought one. I told him that he should have done a little more research. The following week I found out that he went to a local Victory Dealer and traded in is year old Gold Wing for a 08 Vision with a CB.
To answer your question it will not end anytime soon, and to me honest, I kind of enjoy the attention. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | In addition to the kinds of attention already mentioned, be prepared for people driving their cages to do weird things like following you for awhile on the freeway, then speed up and pass you slowly only to pull ahead and resume the same speed you and they were traveling before. It happens a lot. I quess they just want a closer look.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | rdbudd brings up a good point. Here is the progression of your first year of ownership: Phase 1 - You will pass cars slowly with lots of pride and will acknowledge the other people in the cages. You will find the sweet spot in your RPMs that sounds best for passing or being passed. When you pull up to a gas pump, you will let it idle just a hair longer than normal as you lower the windshield and turn down the tunes. People will take pictures with their cellphones at really random times. You will be a poser. Phase 2 - You will recognize the cages that are going to pull up on you and you will begin to get annoyed as they slow down and camp out in your blind spot. As noted by rdbudd, they will eventually pass you but they have no regard for the 18 wheeler you are rapidly running up on. They don't see it. You will still like the attention but you wish they would be a little more considerate. "Man this bike gets lots of attention." Phase 3 - You know what's coming and you want no part of it. You wait until the (blankety blank) just starts to disappear in your left mirror and then you roll it on and disappear. It doesn't matter if you have to go over 90 mph to lose this guy. You look for gaps in traffic and use slow movers to peel them off of you. "I hope he enjoyed his 10 second view of the Vision." When it's time for gas, you will have learned to lower your windshield and drop the radio volume down from 12-15 to about 5, all while making a turn into the gas station. You will still pause an extra second before shutting it down. About 70 percent of the time, the person at the next pump will comment on the bike and you will feel good again. You will drive much more aggressively with the Vision because of the gawkers. You have been warned. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | To the 'Next Contact' with an Alien species. Just ignore the sub-species and enjoy your ride and the admiration that follows you EVERYWHERE...
Edited by donetracey 2009-01-23 1:55 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| I haven't gotten any negative comments about my Vision. Over the years I have gotten negative comments for buying Victory instead of HD and way too many of them did not even have a driver's license yet?
I was at a 5 way redlight in FL riding my '03 V92C and an older fellow walked up next to me and asked, "Is that one of those Victorys?" We had a nice quick chat till people started honking their horns cause the lite had changed. I watched in my mirror as the man walked to his truck that was behind me and drove off.
So it's not just the Vision. Almost every time I stop for gas with the Vision someone will yell over, "Nice looking bike."
I have gotten the comment, "I don't like the looks of the Vision." at the IMS and other times when near other Visions but never my Vision. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 172
Prescott, Az | I don't fit on Goldwings. It's not that I'm supersized. I'm 6'1", 240 (short for my weight) It's just that the GW footpegs are made by and for small people. My last bike was a 1300 Honda VTX. It looked big, had plenty of HP for the highway, great leg position, but it was a cruiser bike and at 650 lbs just felt small for me.. I added on glass, bags, ect. but I wanted a touring bike that could handle anything on the Interstates and have plenty of storage for all of my meds, ect.
The options I had were Harley. I thought them to be way overpriced and prone to breakdowns. Besides, I don't barhop.
The BMW was too pricey and the pegs feel like the GW.
I rejected the new Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 for two reasons. 1. It was a Kawasaki 2. It was a first year model. I have a friend who is a manager of four dealerships who says the Kawa factory people do not have good customer service.
I was hot on the trail of the Yamaha Venture 1300 4v but, (here we go again with the numbers), 1. The dealershiops I found would not let you test drive one if they had one 2. Almost all the dealers were out until March. We have a large dealership where I live but they are "never allocated one" even thought they try every year to get one. WTF!
So, I left the Yamaha dealership and stopped off at the Victory dealer. They had a black new-in-the- box 2008 with almost $3000 knocked off. One test drive later and I was signing papers.
This is exactly the bike I was looking for in all of those Japanese back alleys. I will not look back. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Necktie, I wonder now who a Goldwing is made for? It's too small for you at 6' 1" and too big for me at 5' 8". I'm at a 30" inseam and I sat on my friends prized 2003 the other day and I felt like you shoved me into an MG, and my right foot as toeing with it on the sidestand.
But with as many of them sold and on the road, I guess they were made for many, or they just don't know no better. I'm glad we got the Vision so I didn't have to settle for what is out there, I got the perfect fit.... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 19
5 miles from nowhere | I've talked to several dealers and they say we've sold alot of the Visions! I've never saw one on the road? Does anyone know roughly the number produced, and of each color? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | SongFan - 2009-01-21 2:35 PM
The only bashing the Vision ever gets is from idiots who have never ridden one. Their opinion means nothing.
Dido....but they say ignorance is bliss....so they are full of it....bliss that is!
Edited by Vinner1 2009-01-26 4:18 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | smadge - 2009-01-21 5:09 PM
We baught our Vision on about25 Sept.2007. It is a 2008 vision tour premium.(black (and chrome and chrome)(did I say chrome??"). A month later (we had retired in that time) we put the bike in a trailer, hooked it behind a motorhome and took of around the country.(Sold the house the cars etc.) As of today we have accumulated 12,000 miles on the motorhome and 21,000 miles on the Vision.We have visited 30 or 31 states . From the trip up Pikes Peak to the trip down Phantom Canyon Road (Yes on the vision) we have had absolutely no trouble and everywhere we travel the Vision draws a croud.We have driven over twenty miles of gravel road in the desert on several occasions just because we heard it was a "pretty drive". The Bonneville salt flats just because we were there and we had never been there before.(only got it up to 60 mph)Washed it asap.I have had it serviced in eight or nine different dealers around the Country as we are on the move.
All to reiterate what all the others have been saying. The harly guys look and are reserved because they have just spent more money on much less equipment.ditty some of the Beemer guys.although on in the Chisos Mnts of Texas said he was trading as soon as he got back home.Most said they" had not seen one except as in pictures and the pictures did not do the bike justice".
Sorry its so long, but ,Thats just the way I am.
SMADGE
Skip....YOU ROCK!
Read that story above and try to "insert" HD where it says Vision....IT JUST WON'T HAPPEN! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 125
Kerrville Texas ( now a homeowner on six acres) | what I was trying to say is that at nearly every stop on our journey the vision drays a croud. It matters not the age of those around the stopping location, there are so many admirer it is simply incedible.
Thanks for that comment, Vinner1 !!!! (it helps keep an old mans egggohohohoh entact)
Smadge |
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How long does it last?