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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta |
Currently No. two in the heavy cruiser (over 1,400CCs) market behind Harley-Davidson, the Polaris Victory cruisers are sold through about 350 dealerships and had sales of about 7,500 units last year, said Robert Pandya, external relations manager for Polaris Motorcycles. The Victory has been known as "The New American Motorcycle," since Polaris began producing it in 1998.
Read more: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/business/local/article_d6eb1603-7aa... | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | encouraging news. Victory is gaining traction, especially with the tour bikes. Good move to target the geezer crowd. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| It's taken a little longer than I thought it would but people are slowly moving to Victory. | |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | I'm not an expert, but I honestly believe that a larger, stronger Dealer network for Victory could just about double, or more, sales. The more people see it, and ride it, the more people like it. imho | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | One thing that Victory will learn from Indian is the importance of a dealer network. Even if you don't have a dealer close by, you can take your Indian to a certified motorcycle technician and Indian will provide all the required guidance to the wrench to get you on the road. I guess at 40 grand you should get some kind of special treatment, at 20 grand, not so much so, hmmmm. Anyway, me thinks times are a changing. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I have to agree with the dealer support discussion. Not only the number but the experience from dealer to dealer is so uneven. And Polaris needs to step up their factory support. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | kris1956 - 2011-09-23 9:21 AM
It's taken a little longer than I thought it would but people are slowly moving to Victory.
Yea, like these people 
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | They can vary from person to person.............. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I know Rick Fairless at Strokers is having his shop build him a custom Cross Country. He rarely rides his Harley.
Edited by kris1956 2011-09-23 9:54 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | I just don't know where to go on this one. From a rider's point of view, I just have to believe that a stronger dealer network is key. But from a business standpoint, how do you accomplish that? A dealer, any dealer has expenses. And it takes a given income to meet those expenses. Where will the income come from? We have seen time and time again, right here on this site, where people will travel multiple states away to get what they 'perceive' to be a better deal on a new bike. In many cases not even saving the cost of the transportation. Almost all of us want to do our own work on the bike. Yet when it involves something we can't do, we expect a competent, trained, supplied, Vision mechanic to be at the end of our street. The only way I could ever see a 'dealer' network being a reality would be if all the major manufacturers got together and shared facilities. Break your Vision, or any other brand, go to the nearest dealer, HD, Honda, Victory and they will fix it with the full support of the bike manufacturer. This could happen one day. Otherwise, there may come a day when you order your new bike factory direct and it comes to you in a box. If it breaks, send it to the "nearest authorized service center". Just like a toaster.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Didn't HD selll over 200,000 bikes last year? And Vic sold 7500? That's just piss poor. There is no reason with such a great line of bikes for them to be so far behind. I wonder how their sales compare to everyone in the industry. Just above Indian, which has to be in last place?
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I LIKE having a 'rare' bike - not driving the same thing as everybody else - and not seeing another one for months at a time. My dealer is 45 minutes away, and the next closest is 2 hours in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Fine with me - never been a problem in my 3 1/2 years of ownership.
I also LOVE you guys who paint your bikes some other color - makes my Midnight Cherry look like custom paint - without the cost! | |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| I agree with Don about a bike that is not seen on every corner..I had my Midnight Cherry Kingpin Tour for over 3 years and only saw one other like it on the road..Since owning my 2011 Silver/Black Vision I have not seen any like it around here...Although I would like to see more dealers around, especially since the one near me went out of business,I found a multi-line dealer about 35 miles away that services and sells Victory and hired my tech from the closed dealer, which was great...So far not a problem, and, if and when, this stinking economy ever turns around (probably not until that IDIOT in the White House) gets booted, Victory sales should increase more as they have a great line up of bikes......
Edited by opas ride 2011-09-23 1:06 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
| You have to realize that some of the Harley group will never switch bikes because of the "status" behind owning a Harley. They won't even go test rdie any other brands, so with a mentality like that you will never out grow Harley. Like it was stated before it is kind of nice not seeing 15 or more bikes down the street that look like yours and where you have to look at the license plate to see if it is your bike or not. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| You guys talk about better dealer network but what do you do for your dealer? Do you hand out his/her business card when someone asks where do you go? Do you organize rides starting or ending at the dealership? Do you get a bunch of friends together to ride over to the dealership for fun? I haven't even mentioned buying accessories from them or having work done by them. Go by any HD dealer and you see small groups of owners hanging out even during the week. Positive things are what helps. I can remember putting TheVMC business cards that I paid for materials and placed at the 3 dealers until some people whined that they were not VMC approved. i had a lotof people talk to me after grabbing a card and a lot signed onto the site.
If we get non-Vic riders to ride with us to the dealer I bet some of them will take test rides and decide to buy. If you work with your dealer maybe they will supply an area where all the bikes can park so they are visible from the road.
Try this, I know the builders that rented to Subway back when they started out. Subway asked if they could rent another location. John and Louie said they were having trouble paying rent on the place they had. Finally they rented them a spot in a strip mall that wasn't full. We know the rest of the story. It's what the public perceives. If they come to this site and others and all they read is whining what would they do? They read how bad the dealership network here so what do they do? Instead of what Victory can do, what can you do to help the brand? | |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| RedRider I did all that you stated above for my former dealer..Even got two friends to buy bikes there...Went on dealer supported rides, wore their T-shirts, talked them up to local riders, including HD riders, but they still failed. Some was due to poor management practices, so I am told, but mainly due to the horrible Michigan economy.....I also passed out business cards, had all my service done there, purchased all my parts from them. etc.etc. I am not about to bad mouth any Victory dealer, I just hope that they can continue to grow and give good service in future...Personally I prefer to go a stand alone Victory dealer, but there are not many, if any, left in Michigan...
Edited by opas ride 2011-09-23 3:03 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | ............It's what the public perceives. If they come to this site and others and all they read is whining what would they do? They read how bad the dealership network here so what do they do? Instead of what Victory can do, what can you do to help the brand? Spot on Redrider! It amazes me how those that complain the most do the least to correct a problem. They want Walmart cheap and then b!#ch when there aren't any good paying jobs in their town. They want the government to take care of everything, and then turn around and complain about the national deficit and high taxes. They can't stand people that get rich because they create a great business (and employ lots of people), but the same people will go out and buy a lottery ticket twice a week hoping to get rich!! Come on guys, Victory has pulled off a monumental success story in the face of a behemoth rival that's been around almost a century longer. And believe me the folks at HD know who Victory is. You don't hear any trash talk from the Execs at the top of the MoCo about Victory, and that's because they have a healthy respect for what they see happening before their eyes. All the trash talk comes from overly proud owners who have fallen for what the HD execs want them to believe. No, you aren't going to see a mass exodus within the Harley faithful, they are way too intoxicated with everything Harley represents to them. They are addicted to the cool-aid and couldn't face their friends if they suddenly jumped ship. Now to Redrider's point, what are you doing to build up, or tear down the brand. No we shouldn't go around making outrageous claims about victories like others do about the other brand. Be honest, but be positive. Every young company goes through growing pains, but the honest truth is that Victory makes a damn good bike. And by percentages I'd bet the quality far surpasses what the big company can claim. One last point. I am the only person that rides a Victory at my company. I ride almost every day that I can. There are over 12000 people that work at the same site. There are dozens of people who ride and many who ride a lot. But I only know of two that ride as much as I do. Many bikers and non bikers come up to me every week and ask about my bike, "I notice that you ride almost every day, what it is, who makes it, are you happy with it, have you had any trouble with it, is it better than a Harley," etc etc. Point is lots of people notice my bike and want to know more. It stands out and they are interested enough to walk over and ask questions, even while other riders are present in the area with their bikes. At that point the door is wide open! I rarely see this happen to other bikers when they are out at their bikes in the parking lot. As owners we have far more influence on the success of the brand than Victory does. Sure they have to make a good product and provide reasonable service, but they are doing that. We have way more effect on the expanding interest in the brand than any commercial or business sign will ever have. All we've got to do is set a good example and stay on the positive side of the conversation. The rest is just a matter of time. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | I agree on the issue of dealers. I have two very good examples. If ya'll want to know ask and I'll respond. Vic needs to work on the dealers.
Wayne | |
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Tourer
Posts: 390
| Until the economy improves and people have disposable income , sales will be flat. As for Harley out selling Victory...well duh! More time building bikes than Polaris. Improving market share comes with time, there is no magic to improve this. Victory will continue to design and build the modern machines that we love. New dealers will open when they can. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | 10,000 a year will be a milestone. 20,000 will be a really big deal.............Victory will get there, the Vision and Cross Country are A#1 touring rigs.... | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 639
Tri Cities, WA | hoosiervic - 2011-09-23 12:30 PM
?............It's what the public perceives. If they come to this site and others and all they read is whining what would they do? They read how bad the dealership network here so what do they do? ?Instead of what Victory can do, what can you do to help the brand? ? ? Spot on Redrider! It amazes me how those that complain the most do the least to correct a problem. They want Walmart cheap and then b!#ch when there aren't any good paying jobs in their town. They want the government to take care of everything, and then turn around and complain about the national deficit and high taxes. They can't stand people that get rich because they create a great business (and employ lots of people), but the same people will go out and buy a lottery ticket twice a week hoping to get rich!! Come on guys, Victory has pulled off a monumental success story in the face of a?behemoth rival that's been around almost a century longer. And believe me the folks at HD know who Victory is. You don't hear any trash talk from the Execs at the top of the MoCo about Victory, and that's because they have a healthy respect for what they see happening before their eyes. All the trash talk comes from overly proud owners who have fallen for what the HD execs want them to believe. No, you aren't going to see a mass exodus within the Harley faithful, they are way too intoxicated with everything Harley represents to them. They are addicted to the cool-aid and couldn't face their friends if they suddenly jumped ship. Now to Redrider's point, what are you doing to build up, or tear down the brand. No we shouldn't go around making outrageous claims about victories like others do about the other brand. Be honest, but be positive. Every young company goes through growing pains, but the honest truth is that Victory makes a damn good bike. And by percentages I'd bet the quality far surpasses what the big company can claim.? One last point. I am the only person that rides a Victory at my company. I ride almost every day that I can. There are over 12000 people that work at the same site. There are dozens of people who ride and many who ride a lot. But I only know of two that ride as much as I do. Many bikers and non bikers come up to me every week and ask about my bike, "I notice that you ride almost every day, what it is, who makes it, are you happy with it, have you had any trouble with it, is it better than a Harley," etc etc. Point is lots of people notice my bike and want to know more. It stands out and they are interested enough to walk over and ask questions, even while other riders are present in the area with their bikes. At that point the door is wide open! I rarely see this happen to other bikers when they are out at their bikes in the parking lot.? As owners we have far more influence on the success of the brand than Victory does. Sure they have to make a good product and provide reasonable service, but they are doing that. We have way more effect on the expanding interest in the brand than any commercial or business sign will ever have. All we've got to do is set a good example and stay on the positive side of the conversation. The rest is just a matter of time.?
+1 I agree with your stamet bud 100% | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | hoosiervic,
There are approx 30 riders at my work. I too am the only one that rides every day. People come up to me and ask about the Vision and Victory, but seldom ask about other bikes. I like all bikes, but it seems Victory is turning a lot of heads and creating conversation.
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2011-09-25 8:47 PM
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