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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | As some of you know, I bought my 09 Vision Premium Tour about 2 weeks ago but could not ride her home due to tearing my Bicep tendon at work. While I felt good enough today and finally brought her home. Some thoughts on my first ride.
Handles like a dream, smooth as silk.
Controls are nicely placed.
Lowering windshield I thought I would never use it. What a great idea. I was wrong about that feature.
Radio worked better than I thought but I kept her at lower speeds for break in and getting used to her. I never had a radio on a bike before so she sounded real good to me.
Seat was so much better than the mustang seat I have on my 02 V92C.
The Chrome pieces really make her look so much better than the grey pieces she came with.
We managed to get 80 miles on her before the arm and shoulder started to get sore. I can not wait for the years of enjoyment I plan on getting.
Bad habits die hard:
I've always had a heel & toe shifter, I have no idea how many times I raised my heel and tried to shift. I even looked down at the shifter at least twice looking for the heel part of the shifter. I guess that will be another $175.00.
Never knew how much that trunk would be in the way for mounting and dismounting.
I did experience on oddity that I need comments on. I normally do use both the front and rear brakes together when stopping. Well I was at a red light on a very steep hill. I used my right hand to scratch my nose or something and the bike very slowly drifted backwards even though I had my foot on the brake pedal. I pushed the pedal harder, which did no good. Then I began to experiment with the rear brake. It works and slows the bike down. I tried to use just rear brakes for some local lazy stop signs and had to engage the front brakes cause the foot pedal would not stop her completely. Is this the linked brakes that I need to get used to? Are the brakes "breaking in"? Any ideas? I did check the brake fluids and both are at the right level.
new feeling
We always see people looking at us when we are on any type of bike. But damn, this bike really drew some head turns, double takes and a few long ass stares.
Some pics of our addition
(0913101203.jpg)
(0913101203a-1.jpg)
Attachments
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 0913101203.jpg (44KB - 3 downloads)
0913101203a-1.jpg (56KB - 1 downloads)
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Lennox, SD | Enjoy the new ride!
I was also used to a heel shifter but after the first 1000 miles I have not missed it at all, I saved my $175 for other bling. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 118
Spfld, IL but temp Bay area, CA | I had to get the heel to toe shifter also but waited until all gray pieces were replaced with chrome--except for the passenger grips which I cannot find in chrome.
I may have to send them off later this winter. |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | Congrats and enjoy the new ride, I can't ride mine enough to get tired of it yet and I'm pushing 13K miles after just 5 months. Regarding your foot brake, it should stop the bike very well and hold without effort at a stop light. Yours isn't right, get it looked at by the dealer! Thanks for the update and good luck. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | The back brake should hold firm....get it checked. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Congrats on the new bike. I hope you really enjoy the ride. Try to get the bike back to the dealer soon as the back brake should hold and stop the bike as you have been used too. For a new 09, there maybe an issue with it, as it has sat in a crate for quite awhile. May just need to be bled. I see you have the passenger arm rests. After a few miles, could you or your passenger give us a review of that option. I have not heard too much about them. Take care. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Vancouver, B.C. & La Quinta, CA | It sounds like your rear brake is faulty. Mine holds firmly notwithstanding the event. I recommend you get a Victory dealer to remedy this immediately for your own safety.
I feel the same way about my Vision, the best touring bike I've ridden.
Cheers |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
New York City | One advantage of not having the heel shifter is the veeeery long floorboard which gives lots of rooms to shift your legs and feet on long trip. That really comes in handy |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Try bleeding your brakes, you have to do both, front and rear with each session because of the linked brakes. I think the book will tell you exactly how to do it.
Glad to hear you got to ride, hope you can enjoy many more miles. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
West Knoxville TN | The vision is the best. Enjoy your new ride. The long floorboards are to handy to clutter up with a heel shifter. Sooooooooooooooooo much room. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | Congrats on the new ride. If you do your own brakes, don't forget to really stand on the rear brake petal when bleeding the middle vavle( both sides) on the front brakes. If you don't, they will still have air in them. ET |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
Edmonton AB, Canada | The rear brake pedal should stop the bike to a stand still and if you push down hard enough you should get a little front fork dive even without touching the front brake lever.
Love the chrome! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Edmonton, AB Canada | I love my heal shifter. It only sticks out about an inch, so I don't find that it interferes at all with using the whole floorboard.
Rest your arm and shoulder so you can enjoy the long rides you will always want to take. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Had the heal shifter installed when I bought her. I keep forgetting to toe shift on demo rides.  I don't feel like I loose any floorboard space.
Like others have said, get the brakes checked. Once they are fixed go out and get used to the linked brakes. You will like them once they are working properly.
Enjoy your new ride. |
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thoughts on my first ride 09 vision tour
