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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
| I was hoping for a core based ride, that would have been AWESOME. This ride is cool, bit a snoozer overall. I think some more modern wheels (instead of spokes) would have appealed to the younger crowd. It's just not as cutting edge as I was expecting based on the hype.
Mike |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Old school bobber may get us more riders. I know a lot of folks that were taken back by the swooping lines of the Vics. With the High-Ball, I think the time is short lived for the Kingpin.  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
| Sorry Songfan, but that thing is no comparison to a Vision. Sure the Vision is a little bit out there, but the Highball looks like an old school Harley on a Victory frame. I'm sure the Harley guys are laughing at us now trying to duplicate their bobber, which IMHO is a big mistake. I feel Victory has taken a few steps backwards. Whats next?? A chopper to compete with the dysfunctional OCC?? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | uh, dependable is nothing to be laughing at, probably crying.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
| But Victory trying to clone a Harley is!! |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | I gotta say.... It is sweet in person. It has attitude as a badass bike. The big front tire. wide whit walls and matte finish paint just lay it out there as badass. |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Btw, I'm sitting around the table at a NYC Mexican restaurant with a cross-section on Victory engineers,marketing, sales reps and production line folk and they are all checking the forums to find out what you think of the highball. LET THEM KNOW!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | It's safe. It's nice for what it is and will attract certain buyers. The Victory timeline looks like a big bell curve to me. The '99-'02's looked like old school typical cruisers without the pushrod motor. They were nice but not unique or cutting edge. The '03 Vegas ramped it up and really gave Victory a platform that looked like a custom made bike. Kingpin, Hammer, Jackpot...all nice, all safe. '07/'08 - The Vision - The bell curve just spiked off the chart! Holy crap, who are those guys! One of the most unsafe, in your face, outrageous, unique moves in the history of motorcycles. An American company is making that!? It was an emotional tsunami for those of us who watched it come to life. It didn't divide the room, it tore it in half. 2010 - The Cross Bikes - Unanimous in their beauty. A really safe move but still showed the forward thinking of Victory design with the cast frame, comfort, storage and gorgeous lighting. These are bikes that a lot of different riders could relate to. 2011 - The High Ball - The bell curve just dropped a big notch. It is another safe move, backwards, literally. It is a minimalist, tube frame, stripped down Vegas. It is $3,500 cheaper than a Harley Crossbones and has just as much attitude. I get the feeling that the Victory design team has peaked. They got their own modern look with the Vegas, blew it away with the Vision, stayed on top of the game with the Cross Bikes and are now coming back down to earth among the mortals. I can see how Mike Song and Greg Brew would want to go to the other extreme after the Vision project. The High Ball will get a lot of good press and accolades. It is at the bottom of the Victory price list and will attract younger riders. For what it is, it has hit the mark. It just doesn't give me the same passion about how I explain the difference between a Victory motorcycle compared to everything else (even the stuff they had done in the past). The Vision and Cross Bikes have set the bar so high that I think they will be tough to top, even in house. |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | Jedi Jeff - 2011-01-20 9:49 PM
Btw, I'm acting around the table at a NYC Mexican restaurant with a cross-section on Victory engineers,marketing, sales reps and production line folk and they are all checking the forums to find out what you think of the highball. LET THEM KNOW!!!
Wasn't going to respond as I LOVE my Vision...
But will say this is a fine looking bike! Beautiful classic look, with the heart and soul of a Victory. I really like it, and if I move to an area or change situations to where I don't need a big bagger this one will certainly get a look.
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | I for 1 am disappointed with the new bike. To me it is too similar to the others. Same exhaust, tank, side covers. I guess I was hoping for a fresh design, not just different fenders, wheels, and paint.
Edited by handyhiker 2011-01-21 2:37 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ | I'm chiming in on the positive/like it side. I like the look, topped off by the wide whites; I sure wouldn't mind having one in the garage. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | Not exactly to my taste, the new bike makes sense in today's economy... basically a parts-bin bike, at a very aggressive price.
For me, I would repaint it completely in matte black ("murder it out" ), lose the white walls, get rid of the turn indicators, replace the mirrors with an upside down round single mirror (black), remove all reflectors, install a round headlight housing, lose the belt guard or lose the belt (go chain), replace the pipes with a set of wrapped ground-pounders, side mount the license plate & clean up the R fender, which is now nekked, Red leather seat, red rim striping, small red tribal art on F/R fender tops, bore kit, Lloyds cams, heads flowed, VRC III, intake mods, serious dyno time... done.
Edited by buddahead 2011-01-21 3:18 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| I like it. I never cared for that headlight. I think the Hammer round style in black would look better. I would do the engine fins in black, also. Hopefully a "color" choice will be all matte black with only the whitewalls a different color.
I think this is a good direction. Same assembly line, basic off the shelf parts and a great price line. The economy makes no since in building a "starter" bike assembly line.
Now if the buyers of this bike get them to start a line up of the "old" V92C models.  V92C on a Core frame anyone?
Did Russell give them design tips? :P http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=19 Great guy.
Edited by RedRider 2011-01-21 5:17 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | What would make a pretty pair? A Vision 8-Ball and a High-Ball in my garage! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | the horsepower is a mistake. It says somewhere else on the site that it has 97 hp. I think it's cool, probably never own one but i think a lot of people will like it. It will appeal to a different crowd. I think it needs a classic round headlight though. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | just because some on the forums don't like it doesn't mean it won't be successful. There is a demand for a bike like this and Victory has met it. We are all spoiled with them putting out premium ground up creations like the Vision and X bikes. Victory is just getting started. They have put out a model that will take yet another bite out of the competition. Victory bikes are ahead of the competition in virtually every way. An HD rep told me one time that the question was posed to a high ranking HD executive, he was asked "when you look in your rear view mirror, who do you see?" The person who asked the question expected him to say something like Big Dog Motorcycles but to his surprise, the HD executive said "Victory". Victory is clawing their way to the top while HD sits on top of the market content to just idle along. Make no mistake, there is something coming in their rearview and it's coming with a Vengeance. yeah, I know, I can be dramatic |
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
| jimtom - 2011-01-21 6:15 AM
I could'nt agree more!
just because some on the forums don't like it doesn't mean it won't be successful. There is a demand for a bike like this and Victory has met it. We are all spoiled with them putting out premium ground up creations like the Vision and X bikes. Victory is just getting started. They have put out a model that will take yet another bite out of the competition. Victory bikes are ahead of the competition in virtually every way. An HD rep told me one time that the question was posed to a high ranking HD executive, he was asked "when you look in your rear view mirror, who do you see?" The person who asked the question expected him to say something like Big Dog Motorcycles but to his surprise, the HD executive said "Victory". Victory is clawing their way to the top while HD sits on top of the market content to just idle along. Make no mistake, there is something coming in their rearview and it's coming with a Vengeance. yeah, I know, I can be dramatic |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | jimtom - 2011-01-21 6:15 AM
just because some on the forums don't like it doesn't mean it won't be successful. There is a demand for a bike like this and Victory has met it. We are all spoiled with them putting out premium ground up creations like the Vision and X bikes. Victory is just getting started. They have put out a model that will take yet another bite out of the competition. Victory bikes are ahead of the competition in virtually every way. An HD rep told me one time that the question was posed to a high ranking HD executive, he was asked "when you look in your rear view mirror, who do you see?" The person who asked the question expected him to say something like Big Dog Motorcycles but to his surprise, the HD executive said "Victory". Victory is clawing their way to the top while HD sits on top of the market content to just idle along. Make no mistake, there is something coming in their rearview and it's coming with a Vengeance. yeah, I know, I can be dramatic
I agree also jimtom and Victory is making gains. However, though Harley is idling, their market appeal is their image of owning a Harley. Great-grandpa did, grandpa did, dad did and now you've joined the family. Most of the Harley folks I know embellish the Harley name from one side of their mouth and tell of all the crappy woes they've had in owning one out the other. And while they are complaining, they are talking about buying another one, or idlizing on the one they really like to have.
I will say that is the base of the market share and as you move up, you'll have the folks that want dependability and ride over the name. Victory will have a lion's share of the market, but it will be a few more years, say around the 25 year mark, that they will significantly gain or be equal with the harley name. Keep in mind, birds of a feather flock together, so as a Victory customer you may feel this doesn't sound right, but there is still more people who doesn't even know who Victory is, but even kids today know what a Harley is, making it synonymous with motorcycle.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-01-21 7:48 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Please, don't build the other guys bike and expect me to buy it! There are so many Milwaulkie middlebuster clones already out there from Asia, India, and Eastern Europe, they all look the same.
One of the things that first attracted me to Victory and the VISION was it's distinctive styling and 'break the mold' innovations. I take a lot of pride in NOT seeing myself come down the road 100 times in a mile. If I wanted'me too' styling I would have purchased a Road King or a CAMARO with a 350 and a turbo 350.
I love pulling up to a light and having a middle buster rider pul up behind me and catch him in the mirrors looking then looking away like 'I didn't see nothin' and then looking again, like a cat trying not to get caught by the bird it's watching, in case another Wisconson 'me too-er' is around.
Don't just lay down and do what everyone else is doing, like in racing if you follow a guy, you'll follow him to the finish line and no one remembers who finishes second. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 114
Southeast, AZ United States | I can tell you that if (when) I add a cruiser to my stable, I'll buy one. I love my Vision and it perfectly fits the needs I have for road trips. The HighBall is just what I want for cruising around town...I think Victory hit it out of the park with this machine.
Ride Safe,
Ken |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | There is a lot of looks to some of the retro bikes that I like as well as many other folks. I really don't get, "if it looks like a harley I won't buy it mentality" from the Victory crowd. First, it is hard to take two wheels and a motor and make it look signicantly different, and if you do it is usually body work that makes it look different. Second, besides the "sheep" syndrome, I wouldn't buy a Harley because I cannot afford it, and that is not saying when I first buy it, I can't afford the maintenance cost. One reason Harley riders don't ride much, because it means maintenance. One thing Victory is a mile above Harley on is they don't need the maintenance, and the starting price is cheaper. When I see the High-Ball I see a distinctive Victory motorcycle, down to the headlight, with a bobber style set up. Personally, it is ingenious and I applaude Victory and the gang very loudly for thinking out of the box on this one. Guarantee this is the new sweetheart of Victory. For you traditionalist Victory guys, you still have your 'Pins, JPs Vegas', and for forward thinkers we have the Vision, and for the honey to draw the other bees in, we now have the HB! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
Midlothian, Va. | Can you run Amsoil in it? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Biscuit - 2011-01-21 8:03 AM
Can you run Amsoil in it?
LOL! Here we go! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | The response so far on this forum is probably just about where Victory thought it would be. This motorcycle has a lot of character to it, and I believe it will compete well in the motorcycle market place. Put on a set of sport handle bars and a 2-1 exhaust, plus the Lloydz cam full treatment and this would be a serious bike in the twisties with that 16" wheel in the front. Victory has added another very nice bike to their stable. Good luck.
So Jeff, your sitting aound the table eating chips 'n salsa with the Victory elite, the insiders, and you only talked about the High Ball. No conversation about the one, the only, the premier motorcycle in their line up...what gives. Vision - Riders really want to know about OUR passion.
Edited by VisionTex 2011-01-21 9:51 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 49
Lillian, Alabama | I like it. I have an 08 Vision and love it...I plan to keep it for many, many years as my touring bike for the wife and myself. I also have an 05 Roadstar 1700 Custom. I like the star, because I enjoy the classic cruiser style and feel when riding around town solo. Living in the south I ride almost every day so I really enjoy having a little variety. I've been thinking about selling the star and getting a kingpin...but now I'd have to consider the Highball. I think it's a great looking bike and would probably fit my needs very, very well. It may attract a portion of the riding public that so far hasn't been all too fond of the Victory models. I think it's a good move and a nice addition to the line up. |
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Victorys new bike LOOKS like a chopper
