Victory has made no secret about the fact it will soon introduce a production motorcycle featuring a high performance 1200cc, 60 ° v-twin with four-valve heads. Victory began promoting this motorcycle by racing a concept up Pikes Peak a few months ago. Next, Victory showed us the Ignition Concept developed by a European builder.
Now, we have the “Combustion” from American designer Zach Ness, which again incorporates the engine destined for “stellar performance in the 1200cc muscle bike class,” according to Victory. Here is the press release from Victory:
Victory Motorcycles has revealed the final instalment in its 1200cc concept series at the International Motorcycle Show (IMS) in New York City.
This concept, called ‘Combustion’, is powered by the new production engine that made its debut last month at EICMA in Milan, and was built by Zach Ness of Arlen Ness Motorcycles in Dublin, California.
“Our family has a long-standing relationship with Victory Motorcycles and has customised many Victory production bikes in the past,” says Zach Ness, third generation custom builder and grandson of the ‘Godfather of Customs’ Arlen Ness. “It’s always fun to look into the future, so to have the trust of Victory Motorcycles to create a concept bike has been great. Also, as one of the first to ride a bike with this new engine, it absolutely rips.”
This Combustion Concept follows the reveal of the Ignition Concept at the EICMA show in Milan, which was built by Urs Erbacher of Switzerland. While Ignition is a European take on what kind of bike could be powered by the new engine, Combustion is the USA’s impression of what a new bike could potentially look like.
Both the Ignition Concept and the Combustion Concept are built around the same engine that will power a new model to be revealed in 2016. The engine is a 1200cc liquid-cooled 60 degree V-Twin with four valves per cylinder.
“This new engine offers the most versatility in American motorcycling,” explains Motorcycle Product Director Gary Gray. “Both of the concepts, Ignition and Combustion, are intended to show what this motor is capable of in very distinct, visual forms. While the bikes are different, the powertrain is capable of delivering the performance in both cases.”
Steve Menneto, President of the Polaris Motorcycles Division says: “Victory Motorcycles has taken a strong positioning as the ‘Modern American Muscle’ brand and we are excited about the path we are taking. Our latest work will complement our existing line-up of motorcycles powered by the award-winning Freedom 106 design.”
Zach Ness created Combustion as an answer to what an American muscle bike could be. He says that legendary American muscle cars with high horse power and low weight were his inspiration.
Born into custom motorcycle royalty, Zach Ness is the third generation of custom builders. His grandfather Arlen, and Father Cory, established a relationship with Victory Motorcycles when Zach was only twelve, so the brand has been part of his entire adult life.
Surrounded every day by horsepower, style and innovation, Zach was the ideal builder to take on the challenge of creating the third concept around the new Victory Motorcycles engine (the first two concepts being Project 156 and Ignition).
Ness worked with the Victory Motorcycles’ Industrial Design team, led by Michael Song, to create Combustion.
Ness adds: “This bike is awesome – loads of power, and an insane engine sound too. I wanted to create a bike that was fast, light and ready to attack the next green light.”
Victory Combustion Concept highlights:
- A quarter fairing
- Semi-matte paint
- Intricate pin striping
- Sculpted side-covers
- A trim fender and the characteristic Victory Motorcycles raised spine that brings flows through the body
- Knurled grips
- Shift pegs and footpegs
- ‘Torque Box’ Air Cleaner
- Custom Handlebars
- Beveled brake rotors
- Arlen Ness by MagnaFlow Exhaust: a one-off stainless steel header design featuring Arlen Ness by MF exhaust billet clamp found on its “Low Down” series exhaust
- Custom piggyback shocks and billet accessories
- Hand control clamps
- Top riser clamps
- Engine covers
- Master cylinder covers
- Custom Wright Spoke Wheels
- Billet hub and rim with stainless steel spokes
- Goodridge brake lines and fittings
- Custom painted Brembo radial brake calipers on custom caliper brackets
- Paint by Eric Reyes
For more information on the Combustion Concept bike, visit http://www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us/COMBUSTION
See more of MD’s great photography:
I checked the Indian site and the touring models run 25 degree rake! HD does this too so the slow speed handling is good. Frame rake is where chassis performance begins combined with moderate trail in the 4-5 inch range.
It is not clear if there has been rake built into the triple clamps on the Ignition or the tourers but 25 degrees is a good solid number.
We need the Scheibner CMS system to dial in the right amount of rear shock length increase but 2 inches over might do it.
A bike that is heavy to the rear will tend to lose the front wheel and wobble exiting curves under power.
A performance Thunderstroke 111 would be a Dyna killer especially with that mill.
Ultimately we will require some custom production where you order something you can live during the Winter for Spring delivery.
Big point is that good numbers for geometry are very well understood now especially for bikes with a performance orientation and there is no reason to violate them for style purposes. This numbers for a Sportster beater would be about 25 degrees of rake, 100 mm of trail, and a wheelbase about 57 inches.
These are not extreme and greatly improved over the HD Sportster. Solid mount the engine to cut the frame weight and bring this unit in at about 450 lbs ready to roll – all easily done in 2016.
The 156 might be too much for the Market but that is no reason to degrade the concept to this overpowered wheelbarrow.
It appears even Victory owners are growing tired of these shenanigans from from Victory. Came across this survey on an owners club forum.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R8G93K6
This is a rebadged , recycled Scout . Yes they have refashioned the side covers . Why would the group build a complete new water cooled 4 valve twin with the unique Scout frame . They wouldn’t . The Scout engine is ripe for performance tuning and thats the Victory sales model . Hope you can retrofit cams , zorst , induction improvements to the Injun as I don’t want a Scout with Victory lipstick .
Exhaust looks awfully like an aftermarket Scout item which can be bought with a Power Commander Module and requires very good quality earplugs .
I prefer the ignition concept much before this one. Sorry, fat tires on spoked wheels does not scream performance, and the ignition concept is much more sleek and “integrated” look that I prefer. The headlight on the ignition is also more modern in my opinion. As others have said, still too much cruiser influence with the Ness version. Ignition wins hands down- unless of course you like everything crusier influenced. I don’t. To each his own.
Screen capture the side view of the red ’16 Triumph Street Twin and paste it into Paintbrush. Do the same in another Paintbrush window for the side view of the Combustion, then free-form select around the Combustion engine and copy. Paste that v engine onto the Street Twin and adjust size for correct proportion. THAT is the American bike of my dreams.
5 days and y’all are still commenting on a Pol/Vic/Ind custom and wishing for a non-Ness direction? Face it, you might as well forget about it. The old saying “if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself” – you have to build your own dream bike!
It still has the “Nessie” shaped gas tank. Victory has to find a way to get away from that. It isn’t attractive. To me it looks dated and not in the sense of classic.
Funny, that’s the only part of this bike that I like!
When you look at the two concepts shown so far, the only things they have in common are the engine, frame, and fuel tank. So I would guess that those are the pieces that will be on the production bike. The rest of the body work, suspension, wheels, etc. are what remain a mystery…
And I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll reiterate that it’s NOT a Scout frame. Or engine. Or fuel tank.
I’d venture a guess that the front half is shared with a Scout frame. Polaris made a big deal about how the Scout frame was a “modular” bolt together affair to allow for a variety of applications. That said, the rear is definitely not Scout, and appears to be specific to the Combustion.
To me looks like a modded scout with a fancy engine.
I am disappointed I thought it would be something that would stand apart from Harley Davidson since I see so many cafe style cruisers. Polaris should have made it similar to the Pikes Peak bike which is what I was looking for.
No doubt about it, I’m a living fossil in the MC world.
I mean, I find myself getting somewhat excited about the new offerings in the current market, but it’s only a temporary thing.
It seems to me just to be recycled same old bu!!$#!t, only now it has a radiator, more plastic and you can’t work on it.
Lots of complaints about this and that, but the reality of it is, if you don’t like what’s out there then buy yourself a vintage bike and make it your own.
Nothing wrong with having a modern bike in your stable (reliability).
Motorcycles are a lot like shoes, you need several . . . . . . . .
Re: “and you can’t work on it”
Shouldn’t our expectation in the 21st century be that there’s no need to work on it? 😉
Amen!
That’s one of my criteria when considering a bike purchase and why for the most part I avoid European brands. Fit, finish, reliability, dealer network are as important to me as power, ergos, style.
No need to be afraid of the new technology… Most of it is very reliable, and works so much better than the old days.
My Fuel Injection error light comes on about once a year when I try to start it (never while I have been riding). I turn it off, and restrt it, works fine. So sometimes yo may have to find and replug some sensors becuase the connector might be dirty after years of hard riding through wet and foul weather… Still, it beats cleaning and setting old Points and Breakers, or replacing fouled spark plugs because the carb is running rich.
Same goes for new cars… They still burn gas, need air intake and a spark on the plugs… Just the same, but with more sensors and emissions junk. Once you get to know what you are looking at under the hood of whatever you buy, its all the same.
Don’t be afraid…
Nothing wrong with this bike, I just want to see a bike that isn’t another V-twin that looks like something out of a Harley shop. I don’t want a better Harley, I want a better motorcycle. Is the Blast the best we can do?
Boy! We standard, sport, sport tourer, tourer and adventure bike fans must really be in the minority. Disheartening when so much attention is placed in the cruiser realm. I don’t mean here at MCD but in general terms.
I’m with you. I was hoping for a V-twin sport tourer with at least half fairing, good suspension and handling and not cruiser ergonomics.
I think they’ve got to build a standard before they might venture into an ST…which remains to be seen
I’ve never understood the American fascination with cruisers. I am American with 7 bikes in the garage, but not a single cruiser. I’d love to have an option to purchase an American-made motorcycle that isn’t a V-twin cruiser, but apparently that isn’t going to happen.
+1 How about an American v-twin Standard? (similar to MotoGuzzi V7 range, but preferably sized around a 6-footer) I was hoping Victory would eventually release something like that, but it’s just cruiser after cruiser.
I think they WILL get there Don. Eventually.
I sure hope so.
Me too… I was really watching for Motus to come out big (V-4 motor, 160-180 HP, under 600lbs. with top shelf brakes and suspension). Sadly Motus has gotten off to a slow start (just starting to roll bikes out this year and next), and they are not cheap ($32k for the “base” 160hp with really nice goodies, or $36k for the 180hp with Primo goodies!). I really want one, but I am not usually an early adopter, and knowing I could have 2 or 3 new bikes for that money is a tough sell!
The thing is bad ass! It looks great. Where do all of these nay sayers come from? Are you Harley Davidson employees?
You’re kidding right? This crowd are not even Harley Davidson fans.
See MGNorge’s description above yours which describes most of us
It looks a little gee-ay-why to me. Just another attempt to fit into the white-beard, howling wolf tee shirt, and faded tattoo crowd.
Looks like someone stole the mufflers. Too bad they couldn’t have stolen the whole bike to give Victory another stab at designing a new “Pikes Peak” racer..
I’m not a big fan of cruisers (being tall, I either have my knees under my chin or am forced into forward controls) but this looks good. I don’t think that anybody is going to beat HD by making HD clones; Victory/Indian needs to build something that isn’t a HD, but appeals to the same person. I think they are doing well with that idea.
But please, fix that radiator cowl – it’s by far the worst part of the bike.
This is the problem with this whole marketing strategy, doing these little “teaser” campaigns, and showing various one-off concept bikes: By showing bikes to the riding public which may or may not have *anything* to do with a real production bike to follow, all you do is give everyone a chance to get mad, take an attitude, and swear off your brand forever if the concept version isn’t exactly what they want to see.
Makes you wonder if it’s really a good idea to build these things. I don’t think they’re really receiving useful feedback from these concepts, because at this stage of development they’re way too far along to make significant changes. Maybe they should just keep everything under wraps until they unveil the “real deal”, and hope they get it right.
When they showed the Urbacher bike last month, I could see a really nice standard/muscle bike coming through. Raise the ride height in the rear by a few inches and it’s basically there. I like the body style, and all the components are correct for a true performance bike.
This one, however, takes a step back into Cruiserville. So now they’ve pissed off two different groups of potential buyers, and we don’t even know what direction the final product will take!
I’m still thinking positively about what they have in store. I hope they don’t let me down. I’ve always wanted to own an American motorcycle, but I’m still waiting for it to come along. Erik Buell *almost* had me with his last attempt, but apparently it was all smoke and mirrors…
I could not have said it better myself! ++++1 2nd paragraph is particularly true imho. Thanks again, Scott. Radio silence from my cave. Happy Holidays to All!
As for the “why isn’t it a roadster?” questions, I think the answer is the sales figures for the XR1200 and the Street Rod. Both of which I liked. But used versions of either are $8K ish and used ZRX1200’s are $4k ish. No contest. Sadly, I’m not holding my breath for the Pikes Peak model.
Those two bikes used ancient, overweight engines, and the chassis weren’t geared toward dynamic performance. Yes, they raced those XR’s – against each other – but they were very heavy, and in my opinion looked ungainly on a race track.
Victory has an engine here that’s potentially up to the level of Ducati’s and Aprilia’s recent iterations. Design a frame around that, and you could have a true performance standard that will compete against anything on the market, and appeal to those of us who want a great bike no matter where it’s made. The fact that it’s American would just be icing on the cake…
It always amazes me how everytime a manufacturer releases a picture of a motorcycle, there is always a group of people that seem to think that all motorcycles should be: a) a Panigale clone; b) a Super Duke clone; c) any SuperSport; d) a UJM clone that makes 200hp; or e); some combination of all of the above.
First of all, this is another CONCEPT. The key word here being CONCEPT. It is not a model they have announced to be headed for production. Having said that, if you were a business person, (which most of the critics here clearly are not), and your livelyhood absolutely depended upon designing a motorcycle that will absolutely sell to Americans, in the U.S.A, you would not design anything other than a cruiser, or some variant of a cruiser.
Don’t agree? Just look around, how many Panigales, S1000RR’s, Ninja H-2’s, Super Dukes, Aprilia’s, and other assorted non cruiser bikes have you seen lately? I live in a metropolitan area of 6 million plus people, I ride a UJM, (not a cruiser person either), I am on the road a lot, both driving and riding, I see a lot of bikes. I have NEVER seen a Super Duke, I have only once seen a Panigale, and have only seen a couple of S1000RR’s in the wild. How many Cruisers have I seen? Hundreds of them. If you were selling motorcycles for your survival, (not riding them), what would you sell? It’s a no brainer, sell cruisers, or go out of business. That’s why there are no successful American companies selling sport bikes, (even the Japanese sell cruisers), or overgrown motocross bikes, (Super Duke), because most Americans won’t buy them.
I do think that there is a trend these days towards “standard” motorcycles, and I would love to see Victory produce a “standard” bike offering high performance, or better yet, a true sport touring bike. In reality, their best shot with this motor is to offer a bike similar to the one in this “concept”, that will post a 10 second quarter mile. Americans, as a rule, love to drag race, that is the niche they should be trying to fill. Just my opinion, I hope they succeed no matter how they go about it.
BTW, I am not a fan of cruisers at all, but this concept bike has potential IMO. If they can simplify it a little, I would like it. Just tone down some of the plastic stuff. I like the lines of the bike, and if it can lay down 156hp, and feature a respectable curb weight, it can be a very fun bike. Smoking hot performance will be the real key to it’s success. Again, just my opinion.
Pardon me for violating my radio silence. Maybe we should just let those of us who are truly interested in the original Project 156 have our little fantasies? You must understand that we, as you note, are not all business persons. However, trying to use rational thought processes on motorcyclists is probably a losing venture. The biggest portion of our passion is not tied up in logic and business sense. I just get excited when I see something I like and wish I could have. I do understand the fact that bike manufacturers want to make money. I also understand that General Motors makes the Corvette, Dodge makes the Viper and Hellcat, ad infinitum. These models are not the big sellers but they do make a statement that appeals to many (not all) of us. I’m sure that most of the good ol’ boys in the boardroom are grimacing when an economically unfeasonable model manages to sneak past. All I can say is Thank God it happens. Can’t we agree, none of us would be riding if we were practical and wouldn’t it be boring if economic viability were the only ruling factor in decision-making. It would just be refreshing if some American motorcycle manufacturer would take a chance. So please let me lust after my bike of choice. Level-headed reason is not going to make me stop hoping and dreaming.
Victory will have to compete with some company other than Harley if they want to sell me a bike. Waiting for that is sort of like waiting for the Cleveland Browns to go to the Super Bowl though.
How disappointing.
Moo moo.
How disappointing. So many ways to go and they throw it all away on another uninspired derivative of the boring American cruiser.
They need to make money and their best bet is the customer base lacks the imagination to do anything but follow the cattle.
Great concept and direction. Nice to have a standard option from the US for those of us who don’t do cruisers. Inverted fork is a must for this category.
When you look at this bike, you see a “standard?” Granted, it isn’t a full-forward controls cruiser, but I certainly wouldn’t call it a standard (and I wish I could). That these Victory concepts are still cruisers does not seem to bode well for the coming production model. And that frame-incorporated, exaggerated radiator housing is not growing on me, either.
I guess that exhaust if for people who aren’t getting enough heat from that rear cylinder.
In general, I don’t have a problem with trying to make cruisers into something less “cruiser-ish”. It’s a good idea. But, aesthetically? When Chevy and Pontiac stuck plastic cladding all over their vehicles it didn’t work for them either. That mess all around the radiator has got to go. It ruins an otherwise decent look.
Can we please raise the rear fender another 6 inches, its to close to the tire!
I’m glad to see them build a hot rod with the Indian Scout motor. It’s not Project 156 but it’s a step in the right direction. 1200cc water pumper, should be fun. For guys with different multiple bikes, it’s a natural. I love my Road King, Scout, and BMW, and Yamaha dirt bike but now I might have to make more room in the garage.
This is just an RSM rip off
These U.S bikes are just ridiculous! New color, new stripes, new “style” and HEUREKA :NEW BIKE!
I agree with most posts from this group but standards are not where the money is at in USA. Nor is it ADV bikes. There are trends and then there are long standard buying public traditions. ADV, Scramblers and flat tracker bikes are the trend right now. Long standard top sellers in the good ol USA are CRUISERS. Business models of cruisers is simple. Invest up front and run the model for YEARS without much change.
Any other model type is like chasing a wheelie. You are always having to feed it more to keep it on top of the marketing curve. This is not a great return on investment. Indian is grabbing up some serious market share selling bikes most of us would not own. Great business model. Sucky for innovation. It all comes down to the bean counters. My personal wish was this bike would be built up in a flat tracker style. For now I’m having a ton of fun on my Italian version, the Ducati Full Throttle Scambler.
OK, granted, the cruiser market is the biggest and maybe where the money is. All I am asking for is 1, just ONE standard lightweight minimal cc bike to get the ball rolling. There simply are none made in the US. Pathetic!
Well Tommy, it’s not like Victory doesn’t have any cruisers in their line up
Diversification would be a good thing
all it would take is one American naked or sport tourer to test the waters. I think they would sell more than they think if they did it right
Agreed. IF they did it right.
You are right that standards aren’t huge sellers in the US (they are in other markets). But that really isn’t to concerning unless you rely on huge volumes. Buell probably sold something along the lines of 10,000 bikes per year at the peak if I remember correctly, the majority of which were standards. But while that isn’t a huge number to Honda or Harley Davidson, even half that figure would represent huge growth for Victory. They should go for it, IMO.
Good point Jeremy. Buell leaving the market left a huge gaping hole for lovers of that type of bike, an American made standard/adveture type bike, one that their owners seemed to love even though they were slow and shook badly due to the powerplant EB was forced to use. That same type bike with a smoother more powerful motor like Victory is capable of producing, could have huge appeal. One would think Victory would recognize that and be eager to jump into that gap with a unit of their own.
Leaves me scratching my head.
That’s exactly what I’m counting on, Mickey! They definitely have the money. They seem to have the technology. All they need is the DESIRE to build this kind of bike – unlike HD…
Honestly, I thought Victory and/or Indian would jump all over the hole Buell left in the market. It makes sense for either of those brands considering the relatively small number of motorcycles they sell. A lot of people like that Buellish formula of a sporty, US-made, v-twin motorcycle. Many of those guys are still holding onto their Buells determined to keep them running forever pending some other bike that meets those criteria while others have thrown in the towels and gone with foreign brands.
I think a performance-oriented standard from Indian or Victory would find a solid market. Heck, Polaris could launch a standard through both brands – something with a vintage flavor through Indian and the same platform with a more modern vibe through Victory – and really maximize the sales potential of the underlying platform.
I just wonder why the US manufacturers are so afraid of building a standard? As long as they continue along this heavy cruiser trend, they will discourage sales to many interested buyers with disposable income.
Huh, I went to hte NY Motorcycle SHow, and didn’t visit the VIctory stand, since cruisers don’t appeal to me. Looks like I didn’t miss much.
I wish the manufacturers would release more cruisers. So little to choose from at the moment.
i love motorcycles ,i wouldnt look twice if i seen it in person
We now have a uglier V Rod, this is what the first V Rod must have looked like before production.
This was very wicked of you to bring this up, true, but wicked
From the press I was expecting something along the lines of the 1290 Super Duke. I don’t think it will be challenging anyone on Pikes Peak next year.
Having said that it looks a little lighter than the Scout, which in itself is a featherweight in the segment, and got a lot of positive press.
If they give it another 10-15% HP it will eat the V-Rod on the drag strip.
Wow! Read between the lines much? This is Victory, after all. We can HOPE for a street standard if we’re lucky, but a Super Duke? Come on, man, baby steps…!
Scott, once again I find myself complimenting you on your intuition. It seems very likely the fact Victory chose these two custom builders for their initial concepts hints the intended final production model will be of a “similar” genre. Otherwise, I’m guessing the Roland Sands Team would have been retained throughout the process.
Dear Victory..don’t go to Sturgis for your focus groups. Instead go to Circut of America, and talk to the guys that rode there from at least 500 miles away.
They don’t want to hear that answer because they don’t want to ask it. I just spent 4 days ice fishing and hunting, where there’s no phone and internet, and I come back to yet another cruiser— jeez! I’m going back out again to see if I can freeze my brain, maybe then it’ll make sense.
It’ll probably look moderately okay in person although I don’t like the rear fender or the lower radiator fairing. Old school suspension. I do like the headlight and it’s fairing. Could have done a 2-1-2 “X” pipe exhaust to eliminate how close that bumped out pipe gets to your leg. It’s nothing special.
It’s basically a 1200cc, tarted up Scout. I hope when the production bike comes to market they retain the mid controls on this iteration.
No. It’s not. Just like the previously posted CONCEPT, this bike shares almost no parts with the Scout.
This is another CONCEPT bike using Victory’s new engine – not a production model.
Has anyone seen a specific release date for the production model? All I’ve seen is “2016”.
Looks awesome. They should make a sporty-er, standard-er version. I love the idea of an American hotrod of a bike with proper ergos.
I just photo-shopped that engine into a pic of my ZRX1100 and send it and an order form to Victory. I’ll report on it when it shows up…
looks like those pipes would cook your leg , I’m older , image means nothing , I want American made , but I can’t just follow stupid
The only thing that I disagreed with on the Scout
is the one thing that they kept on this bike.
THE GAS TANK IS TOOOOO SMALL!!!
And has pointy angles in front. Make it rounded, and this bike is almost right.
Wow, what a bunch of downers (see below).
People often complain that Victory is just a bunch of big, chromed cruisers. Yet when they diversify into a different direction, we just hear….more complaints.
Is this really a different direction? It may be different in the same way an FZ-09 is different from an FZ-07, but I’d hardly call that a different direction.
Diversify? What can you do with a bike like that? No range, can’t carry significant other, uncomfortable dumb ergos, loud obnoxious exhaust, incinerate your inner thigh, ugly angular lines? Just….why?
+1
Ouch – harsh, honest, and not inaccurate – remind me never to ask you what you think of my new toupee…
Sounds like you just described every sport bike ever made.
2″ further up on seat height, 2″ further up on the suspension, reduce the rake, lower the brake pedal (seriously, did no one ride this before they showed it?), realistic exhaust. Done, print.
Third generation it’s a Zach (N)mess. Agree with all previous comments and just reiterate that Polaris has got to sever ties with the entire Ness family.
The way Victory touts the Ness bloodline speaks volumes for how out of touch they are with the targeted buyer of their product. Ness never dominated anything or sold very much of anything, other than occasional weird shock-value custom layouts in Hotbike or other chopper magazines. Why base an entire product line on the styles and whims of a Edsel-like fringe designer? Just my 2c YMMV.
I hear ya. I’ve been saying this for years.
The whole “Ness” thing is so late 90s.
Is Polaris gonna give a free yellow t-shirt with each purchase so the buyer can pretend he’s in the Hamsters?
The Polaris/Ness relationship goes back to Victory’s infant years when no aftermarket company would develop or carry anything for Victory Motorcycles. Sampson exhaust wouldn’t even list them on their “American” site. They listed them as a foreign bike. Arlen Ness was the only large aftermarket provider to step forward and a deal was made. They would start designing accessories, and in turn Victory would build special “Ness models” showcasing those accessories.
These bikes are just more of the same. I’m thinking that fairing, bars, pegs and grips and maybe exhaust will appear in an Arlen Ness catalog before too long.
Also, contrary to popular belief, Arlen Ness has never designed a single motorcycle for Victory.
I’ve seen Arlen Ness turn an R1 into a gawdawful chopper-looking thing. It seems to run in the family.
But once again, this is just a styling exercise like the last one. I’m still holding out hope that the actual production bike will look cool and run well. We’ll have to wait and see…
Yup! If Victory wuz smart, they would never let another Ness near their bikes. JMHO
Looks like a poorly executed copy of those old silver KZ-1000 cafe bikes.
All this time waiting for a new bike based on the Pikes Peak bike, and…. this?
Ness(sigh). I dunno, somebody up at Vic thinks its a good marketing move. So sad, really.
I don’t mind the looks of it, besides that ridiculous exhaust. The foot position is at least nearer to something normal…but in the end, it’s just a custom Victory Scout.
If this is it. If this is all that came out of all the fervor around Project 156, I can’t help but feel like it’s just a huge wasted opportunity for Polaris/Victory to do something meaningful for American motorcycling.