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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | Sorry... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Harley Touring bikes are geared similar to the Vision if they are six speeds. Around 3000 @ 80mph. The old Five speeds will be spinning at around 3500 @ 80 mph. It won't hurt either. My 2003 RoadGlide is a five speed and it's got 52,000 miles on it, most of the miles on the highway at 80 mph. However I've geared it a little taller since I put a Axtell 107" engine in it. It now turns 3200 rpm @ 80 mph. This being said the Vision turning only 3000 @ 80 mph is nicer and one thing about highway riding: no matter what you do to an ElectraGlide OR RoadGlide it won't be as comfortable as the Vision, because the Vision is bigger and longer in the saddle and floorboards............ |
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Cruiser
Posts: 69
AZ | "Harley Touring bikes are geared similar to the Vision if they are six speeds."
Are you referring to gearing ratio ? If so that is not what my experience from the saddle has been. I've also read that the vision is geared (taller?) for touring and I believe it.
From off-idle to 3800rpm, @ 10 to 40% throttle my 2011 RGU has snappier acceleration and "feels" saddle-quicker. That range is where I do 95% of my riding...I'm not a WOT in every gear kind of rider.
I "wish" my Vision was geared similar to my RGU...it already has the cubic inches and power. Maybe someone can direct me to where I can change out the pulley(s) either at the engine or rear wheel ?
regards |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | As a free rider, I do the speed limit plus 5 or 10 as a rule 'cause, well, we got no income tax here in WA State, so the voracious predators in the capital have instructed the local law to make revenue on the roads, and they eat their own citizens to do it. It's for the children, after all, -not yours or mine, mind you- but theirs. LOL
That's why WA drivers get a bad rap elsewhere in the country for being so slow-we're tired of donating to the DOT. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Mine still ride with me but all I hear is how much better their Harleys are. This after I outrun, out corner and out brake them. But we have Harleys is the standard response. I just shake my head............... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 119
| Good topic. For reference we own a 2008 Vision ....all black.....and I mean all black We go on rides held by ole time motorcycle club and most of the bikes are Harleys. So far we own the only Victory. What I have found is every person on the rides has a keen interest in our Vision and ask many questions the first time they see the Vision. At gas and eat stops we sometimes are there with another group......again mostly Harleys......and many owners ask questions and passengers on the Harleys come over and talk to my wife also. So in this environment where we are part of the Harley group everything works out fine. I have found most will say they like that Victory is made in America and some will say a friend of theirs has bought one or is thinking on the purchase. Others never have seen a Vision close up and in general like the styling far more in person than photos or at least this is what they say. Passengers are impressed with the Vision seating and some have ask for a test sitting ...if you will. In general when we are riding alone it is different at gas stops where there is a group of Harley Owners and half the time they simply ignore us by intent. At eating/ice cream stops when there is one or two Harleys most often they stop over and we talk about each others bikes. On the road with us riding alone some Harley owners will wave, most to not. Same for BMW owners. Couple times a year another a Harley not riding with other bikes will want to give it a go.....in this case I show no mercy and the results are predictable. Sooooooo.....what do we tell our Harley friends? Nothing......we let their conversation or questions lead the way and go from there. Frankly......we dont have to preach about the Vision nor would we....it pretty much speaks for itself and when you are riding with 15 Harley owners and some have 40k plus in their bikes and at a gas stop non riders and other riders not in the group show up and walk right past their bikes and come over and talk to us......what is there to tell them. Mike |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | I possibly agree with RGS about the throttle 'feel' of the newer HD vs the Vision with one exception. On the Victory the last 2/3's of the throttle are there for something other than decoration. I am guessing that is in the makeup of the 4 valve heads with dual throttle bodies. |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California |
good analysis 222. The fact of the matter is that most Harleys CAN keep up with us unless we are riding hard, then, as you say, the results are predictable. I think my problem is that a couple of my Harley friends don't want to ride in a group and tend to fall back. So, on a tour if you are riding at plus ten and they are just maintaining the speed limit, in the two hours between gas stops, they fall twenty miles behind you, and you end up waiting an extra fifteen or twenty minutes for them to catch up, only to repeat... (I don't want to wait.) Maybe this is just the nature of a "group ride". The slow poke takes the chance of being alone on the highway in the event of a breakdown and loses an hour at the pool at the end of the day. Most of my rider friends are happy with the ten plus program with an occasional wild hair. Life is good, so I probably should not worry about the slowpoke.
I started this thread looking for a way to convince my slowpoke friends that their bikes are totally capable of running at 80-85mph by the hour. But now I'm thinking the real problem is between the ears of these guys. So who wants to say that the REAL problem is between MY ears because I want to ride a little fast? Chances are that that person does not ride a Vision.
BTW, I've had only one speeding ticket in fifty years on the highway.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| i have yet to have a Harley keep up in the twisties. This is where they simply can not keep up.
I like to tell Harley riders that give me a hard time....." id like to have a harley, but I cant afford the tools" |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Springfield, TN | I'm with team222, I usually let the other guys bring up the questions and let it go where it leads. Usually I have great "back up" with me as my main riding buddy is a former H-D mechanic with nearly 10 years experience in a high profile H-D dealer's shop before he moved on to bigger and better things. He bought a King Pin in '07, as he puts it, "before he knew about the Vision's soon release... (Dammit)". All I do is say, "Ask Steve why he's riding a Vic..." It gets pretty interesting sometimes. One of his standard explanations is pretty simple, "The Victory comes out of the crate with everything you guys want and pay extra to have done... oh yeah, at thousands less than your stock H-D!"
What more can I say? The other day a Canary Yellow Ultra Classic 110 Screamin' Eagle snuck up on us at a traffic light and tried to get the jump on us... I guess he was surprised to see a stock Vision and a Stage 1 KP pass him after he got a jump on us! We pulled into a gas station a mile or so up the road and he just kept going... nothing more to be said. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 199
Salt Lake City | My best buddy, who I ride with 95% of the time, also has a VV. I won't ride with anybody else who has something different; what would we have to talk about?!
The only other bikes I'm even moderately interested in are one-off customs-they might get a glance or wave.
Edited by wilsondude 2011-04-27 1:28 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA |
"BTW, I've had only one speeding ticket in fifty years on the highway."
Until you said that...LOL
Edited by rainryder 2011-04-27 1:45 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 119
| I guess this is the part I left out in my prior reply.......sorry. Their group rides have good destinations, but normally they poke along on the main highways so our work around is to not ride back to the clubhouse with them. We pick other routes or places to see and sometimes a few decide on the ride to along at which point we are leading the ride and more/less in control. Also not covered in my reply is we ride about 75% of our time with just us and the Vision and we also ride with my friend and his wife...he does not own a Harley. Mike Blue Sky Guy - 2011-04-27 11:12 AM good analysis 222. The fact of the matter is that most Harleys CAN keep up with us unless we are riding hard, then, as you say, the results are predictable. I think my problem is that a couple of my Harley friends don't want to ride in a group and tend to fall back. So, on a tour if you are riding at plus ten and they are just maintaining the speed limit, in the two hours between gas stops, they fall twenty miles behind you, and you end up waiting an extra fifteen or twenty minutes for them to catch up, only to repeat... (I don't want to wait.) Maybe this is just the nature of a "group ride". The slow poke takes the chance of being alone on the highway in the event of a breakdown and loses an hour at the pool at the end of the day. Most of my rider friends are happy with the ten plus program with an occasional wild hair. Life is good, so I probably should not worry about the slowpoke. I started this thread looking for a way to convince my slowpoke friends that their bikes are totally capable of running at 80-85mph by the hour. But now I'm thinking the real problem is between the ears of these guys. So who wants to say that the REAL problem is between MY ears because I want to ride a little fast? Chances are that that person does not ride a Vision. BTW, I've had only one speeding ticket in fifty years on the highway. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 199
Salt Lake City | wilsondude - 2011-04-27 12:26 PM
My best buddy, who I ride with 95% of the time, also has a VV. I won't ride with anybody else who has something different; what would we have to talk about?!
The only other bikes I'm even moderately interested in are one-off customs-they might get a glance or wave.
How full of crap am I?!! Actually my buddy does own a VV, but neither of us cares who rides with us, or what they ride. All my friends know that I'm gonna give them heck/crap about something-maybe their bike-but it's all in fun. And of course, I expect them to give it back in spades!! Keep it all on the light side, ya' know?! I even get after him, 'cause he doesn't have as much chrome as I do - always messin' around! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 119
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See my reply below that you and others can use if you want when it gets tense at times with other riders related to the notion that one bike brand is mandatory for all Americans.
>>>>>> My uncle was killed in WWll.....my dad and his brothers served and made it home. They did this so all of us would be free.....and also..... have the freedom to pick the bike to ride we wanted. That is that! wilsondude - 2011-04-27 3:47 PM wilsondude - 2011-04-27 12:26 PM My best buddy, who I ride with 95% of the time, also has a VV. I won't ride with anybody else who has something different; what would we have to talk about?! The only other bikes I'm even moderately interested in are one-off customs-they might get a glance or wave. How full of crap am I?!! Actually my buddy does own a VV, but neither of us cares who rides with us, or what they ride. All my friends know that I'm gonna give them heck/crap about something-maybe their bike-but it's all in fun. And of course, I expect them to give it back in spades!! Keep it all on the light side, ya' know?! I even get after him, 'cause he doesn't have as much chrome as I do - always messin' around! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Springfield, TN | Amen! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | team222 makes a very good and valid point............ |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | RCS: you are correct about the lower gears, The Harleys are geared lower AND maybe have better spacing than the Freedom tranny in the first three gears. I was comparing 6th gear only at highway speeds, Both the Harley 6th and Vision 6th are right at 3000 rpm at 80 mph. Which is way nicer than 3500 rpm on the old five speeds.........
Edited by XRsteve 2011-04-30 6:39 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | True, the six speeds are "way nicer" than the five speeds, but I believe that driving a five speed all day at 80-85 mph is not going to do any serious damage. Maybe I'm wrong. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I remember the day.......when we were all brothers as we were all bikers. Yes, I have been riding for 40 years (since I was 14) I still do not understand the recent need to bash riders of other brands/types. Seems this phenomenon has arisen over the last 10 years. It matters not what brand you ride. It matters not if you ride a crotch rocket or a V-twin or a chopper. We are ALL family. We are ALL brothers and sisters in a world of cagers. I wave to all my passing brothers/sisters. I stop to offer help to every biker that needs road side assistance. I don't give a schit what they ride. All that matters is that they ride!! It seems motorcycling has become such a large community that many feel the need to play "I'm better than you" Here's a clue........your not! What you ride is just a matter of personal choice, not a symbol of how great you are.
Now go to your room and think about it. Come out when you are ready to play nice. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Hmmmm, I can't imagine where all the hostility would come from. There surely has never been a group of bikers who thought they were better than everybody else and they had the only "real" motorcycles. Gee, this phenomenon just reared it's ugly head over the last 10 years? Funny, that's about when another American company came along and gave us all a choice. Let me go to my room and think about it while I make some more posters. |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | It started more than 10 years ago.
It has been evident since I started riding on the streets 20 years ago, and when I look through my old Easyrider magazines, the attitude is there also.
Ever heard of the "Honda drop"? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Was out on the Vision today, stopped where a bunch of Harley guys were gassing up and talked to them for a while, they were all interested in the Vision, even more so when I told them I still have a 52,000 mile RoadGlide with a 107" Axtell engine in it.............. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Was out on the Vision today, stopped where a bunch of Harley guys were gassing up and talked to them for a while, they were all interested in the Vision, even more so when I told them I still have a 52,000 mile RoadGlide with a 107" Axtell engine in it.............. |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | OK, I've been in my room long enough. I don't understand where this hostility came from either. My first ride was on the back of a police Harley in 1946. I was happy to be there. My next ride was on an old Harley 45cu with a foot clutch in 1958, and I was glad to be there. Through the 60's and early 70's I rode a number of different metrics, and I was glad to be there. When I turned 65 I signed up for Social Security and bought a new Harley both in the same week and was glad to be there. A couple of years later I made the mistake of taking a Vision for a test ride and instantly became superior to any other human being on the face of this earth.... NO.... but I was riding what I believe is a superior machine. I still love my Harley friends and my metric friends too. Who am I to bash the rider of another brand of motorcycle.... wasn't aware that this was happening. If anyone out there feels "bashed", please forgive me..... May I go outside and play now? |
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What do you tell your Harley friends?
