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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | One of the Harley guys at work walked by me in the hallway today. "Hey Tom, I'm picking up my new bike today." I replied "Oh yeah? You getting the Road Glide?" "Yep." There is a very interesting change among the Harley guys at work. He is the fourth one to change over to the Road Glide Ultra. The first guy to buy a Road Glide was considered the local dork among his peers three years ago. He was 50 years old and bought it as his first bike ever. He tagged along on group rides and it took him a couple of years to really feel comfortable on the bike. Last year he upgraded to the RG Ultra when it came out. The other guys noticed that the RG dude was very aggressive in curves and never seemed stressed about it. He also had very little to say about getting blown around on windy days. About six months after the "dork" got his Ultra, the Alpha wolf of the pack traded in his beloved Ultra Classic for an RG Ultra. They had fun leading the pack and running away from the others in the twisties. Eventually another guy switched from a Street Glide and finally, today, the fourth guy traded from a Road King. Two years ago, not a single one of the established Harley diehards would have considered the RG. All the typical excuses based on ignorance, including "It's too fugly for me". After my encounter with the new RG owner, I saw the original RG buyer, Bill (the former dork). "Hey Bill, Dave says he's picking up a new Road Glide today." "Yep, Canary Yellow." "Huh....(pausing for effect) Weren't you the first guy in this building to buy a Road Glide?" "Yep." "And now there are four of them?" "Yep." "Wow, they all want to be like you. How awesome is that!" He broke into a huge grin. Priceless. None of them is ready for a Vision yet but progress is progress. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | It just takes time. ET |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cary, NC | The first sticker that I put on my helmet was "BIKERS ARE A RARE BREED HARLEY RIDERS ARE A DIME A DOZEN". Could explain why so few of us own a Vision. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 131
Edmond, OK 2012 Vision, 2012 Cross Country | Should they start giving you greif about your riding Victory your come back should be, I see the new plant in India made your bike, they have a puzzled look on their face and ask what makes you think so, well it has a dot on the headlight! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Running 6-digits on my Vision, the HD riders are asking what problems have I had. They are amazed at the short list. They asked about the adjustments and I just shrug my shoulders and tell them there is none. Change oil and tires and go leaves them speehless... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Salina, KS | Me and the better half went to the local H-D dealer to ride the Road Glide Ultra and an Ultra Classic, to see what we're supposedly missing. The RG was way more nimble, offered more room and the handlebars didn't feel as though they were laying in your lap. Itold the salesman that RG was by far a better fit for us and he agreed, butsaid it just doesn't carry the reputation as the Ultra. BTW, neither were better than my Vision in any aspect except braking, both had incredible braking I thought. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| SongFan, your co-workers are a day late on the RG find. Harley started actually selling them in some quantity in about 2007, so in 2008 they took a HUGE jump in cost. A 2007 was around 3k cheaper than the same EG classic that year, with all the same equipment. The RG handles better in the twisties like the Vision as compared to the EG's due to the frame mounted fairing. Of course I think you'll be holding your breath a long time before they give up their HD's in favor of a Vision, love or hate design. But yep the RG has become REAL popular.
I'm on my second new ride since parting with the Vision at 43k. Put another 30k on an EG Classic I replaced the Vision with and since September I'm riding a 2011 BMW RT. The Beemer handles like the Vision only liter and with bent legs, lol, but I like it a lot.
Anyhow glad to see some of the ole Vision gang are still hangin tough here. I was tempted by a Ness Vision a week or so back......
I'm still riding with the Victory club here as a founding member. Ride safe all!!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cary, NC | I have a friend who has an EG Ultra. He refuses to try out the Vision. I think he may be afraid that he would like it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Most won't try out the Vision because it doesn't fit their image, but a person serious about the ride will. It's the same with the Wing and Beemer crowd I'm around. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
| As we're telling of our experiences. I was invited out with a local group for a country ride. We all met up at one of the fellows and as I rode up one yelled "Where's the Dylithium Crystals?". I smiled and replied "Right next to the Photon Torpedoes!". It was a good ride. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I didn't notice the Road Glide getting a lot of respect until the '09 models. The upgraded frame, chassis and swingarm really broke it out of the pack compared to the other HD touring bikes. I remember VisionTex and I chasing a 2009 CVO Road Glide that was running with a Concours 14 through Texas Hill Country twisties. We were stunned at how well the RG was handling. It also had special LED tail lights that to this day are the brightest I have ever seen on a motorcycle. We stopped and talked to those guys at a rest stop and it turns out the RG rider had about 200,000 miles of sport bike and sport touring experience under his belt. The CVO RG was his first HD ever. He'd had it about two months and was really surprised at how well it handled. Funny side note: They admitted that they saw us coming and tried to run away from us but we kept chasing them down, always staying about 100 yards in trail. They had never seen Visions before and said felt like a scene out of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Pinkerton Posse kept dogging Butch and Sundance until they finally looked at each other and said "Who are those guys?" |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| rebelce - 2012-03-25 7:34 AM As we're telling of our experiences. I was invited out with a local group for a country ride. We all met up at one of the fellows and as I rode up one yelled "Where's the Dylithium Crystals?". I smiled and replied "Right next to the Photon Torpedoes!". It was a good ride. I need to remember that one. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | I can see that, I have a Road Glide as well as my Vision. The RG is the best offering from the Motor Co. It is physically smaller than the VV and does seem more nimble at slow speeds than tha VV, that being said, at speed the VV handles a little bit better even though it weighs about 75 lbs more. The newer frame and mono shock make all the difference. One other thing: the VV is more comfortable because it is physically bigger AND it would sure be nice if the RG had an adjustable height windscreen like the VV......I won't buy another Harley until they replace the Twin Cam engine with a more modern mill. |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | The Road Glide is a beautiful bike.
I have an 81 Tour Glide that is extremely comfy, not as comfy as my Vision, and the Shovelhead engine ain't up to modern standards, but still a great ride. I bought it about 18 years ago. I had the HD shirts to go along with it and whenever I went somewhere it was inevitable some douchebag would see the shirt and say "You ride, Bro?" I would reply about my FLT and they would say "Oh, is that the one with two headlights? ugh, thats ugly!" I tried to convince them of the benefits of frame mounted fairing but it was futile.
Ahhh, the good old days.....
I expect in about 10 years I will be hearing about how the Vision was such a great bike by the people who never owned one, or had the balls to step away from brand X for fear their buddies would tease them. Johnny Come-Latelys.
If you are too weak to handle a confrontation, then buy an HD. Like all the other tough guys.
Sorry Songfan, I went on a tangent!
"How cool is that?" Good one |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | rwilly - 2012-03-25 12:18 PM
The Road Glide is a beautiful bike.
I have an 81 Tour Glide that is extremely comfy, not as comfy as my Vision, and the Shovelhead engine ain't up to modern standards, but still a great ride. I bought it about 18 years ago.
I had an 81 FLT as well. I put a lot of miles on that bike back in the mid 80s. Very comfy. Mine was a 92CI stroker. I was the second owner, the original had the dealer install the kit before he even took delivery of the bike. I have to say, other than a top end rebuild, the bike was gas and tires. |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | rebelce - 2012-03-25 5:34 AM
As we're telling of our experiences. I was invited out with a local group for a country ride. We all met up at one of the fellows and as I rode up one yelled "Where's the Dylithium Crystals?". I smiled and replied "Right next to the Photon Torpedoes!". It was a good ride.
When ever I get that I just reach into my saddle bags and pull them out!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-TREK-DILITHIUM-CRYSTALS-SHOW-USED-PARA...
(dylcrys.jpg)
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 dylcrys.jpg (96KB - 0 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Way back in the way back. I had a 81 FLT. It was the precursor of the Road Glide, and the regular crowd thought it was so ugly; you could pick one up for dirt. The de-raked trees made it handle better then anything until the 82 FXR came along. Bike was a total piece of shit, but I still wish I had it today |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
| these Harley guys are just learning about 'frame mounted fairings' and the effect it has on handling? i wonder why the 'brave' people buying Victorys are choosing the Cross Country over the Vision? motorcycles have to appeal aesthetically to the buyer... all the manufacturers must realize this... Harley has suffered from the double headlight on the RG... and Victory suffers from the 'plastic window dressing' on the Vision... i luv my 8-ball.... and the way it rides... and the aesthetics of the bike are interesting - and even cool from certain angles... but it is no surprise that it hasn't been commercially successful... i think of other great products that were never appreciated when available for sale.. the Land Rover Defender 90 ... probably cost more used than they did new... the Subaru Baja pickup-car.... the Kawasaki Drifter that looked like an Indian... the Honda Hawk GT650... all interesting concepts - but all lacking enough appeal to sustain marketability... and all worth more - when production stopped... i believe that will be the fate of the Vision.... underappreciated while available... and highly desirable when no longer available...
it doesn't take anything away from how well any of these vehicles function.. and the more you ride your Vision.. the more you can appreciate it...
but i always fear losing objectivity when looking at the bikes... Harley has a winning formula for producing hulking metal machines that are reminiscent of motorcycling's past... almost every model plays on that theme...
Victory has not clearly defined what they are trying to do with their products... they are a mixed bag.... some make more sense than others.. some sell well, some don't... but a frame mounted fairing hasn't done anything for Victory's bottom line... |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Vision really is holding it's own, it's not out yet and EVERY dealer I have spoken to says the Vision sells very well, comparable if not better than any one Cross bike. Any other dealer would like to chime in or other folks who have asked their dealers how well the Vision sells? While Vision is a new concept bike, it is proven and highly appreciated by those who ride. It is not a wannabe or a radical design like a Rune. It has a very appealing design that catches the eye even by those who don't ride. I've had more than one person tell me that it is the most beautiful motorcycle they have ever seen, and strangely, they never even straddled a motorcycle. One women told me her son had a Harley all decked out with chrome, but my bike was way more beautiful than his. She said she would never tell him. While I will not predict the future of the Vision, it is a champion contender against any bike on the market. The truly brave people will go to the Vision, while the rest will be stuck with other people's view of what a motorcycle should look like.
Edited by varyder 2012-03-25 10:41 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Rfreddy. Don't know who you have been talking to, but the Vision has been a definite commercial success for Vic. At our store the still sell at about one to one against the X bikes. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I certainly hope the Vision continues to be produced. I've spoken with several HD owners who claim they will be purchasing a Vision when they can get out from under their Harley. I know one that kept his HD and bought a Vision a couple weeks ago. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
Tifton, GA | Thanks for the link on the Dylithium Crystals I may get some even though Liandra uses a Mimbari Jump Drive or Hyper Space Jump Gate not a Warp Core.
Note to self stop reading posts at least 1 hour before going to bed. I dreamed that I bought a Road Glide Ultra and gave Liandra to my wife. NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Liandra, You're obviously reading the wrong thread before you go to sleep! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | I live near Milwaukee and I don't have any issues with Harley riders.
Sometimes one will ask "you like that thing?" I answer "yes I do" and I start sharing Victory ride stories. Some are interested and others slowly walk away.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
| maybe 'commercially successful' was the wrong way to phrase it... i don't think the Vision has lost money for Polaris... but i wouldn't say it was the most popular model they have ever rolled out... what leads me to believe that... the local dealers here tell me they sell 3 cross bikes to every Vision... there are no shortage of leftover Visions for sale (why are there 2011 and 2010 models leftover if the model is selling well?) ... and of course, the MSP dropped $3,000 from 2011 to 2012... in my business - when we do well with a product... we raise the price (or at least maintain it) ...
either way - the bike is different from what is out there.. but it ain't setting the motorcycle world on fire... and i doubt Harley Davidson is really concerned with Victory threatening their livelihood... there is enough room for BMW K1600's, Goldwings, Visions and all the various Street Glides, Road Glides, Ultras, etc... from Harley...
i know why i ride a Vision... but i am not deluded... it is a motorcycle.. some positives.. some negatives...
my observations don't make me any less enthusiastic about the product.. i just try to stay grounded in reality... i don't have to believe the Vision is God's gift to motorcycling to enjoy it... there are other bikes... and there are good reasons to own some of the other ones... I'm just sayin |
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Harley Observation
