Cross Country Cockpit

We were recently invited to a private unveiling of the 2010 Victory line at the Walt Disney Concert Hall here in Southern California. The big news for 2010 is two new touring models from Victory designed to compliment the full-dress Vision Tour, and fill out its product offerings.

When Victory introduced the Vision Tour a few years ago, it was well received by the press from a functional perspective, but its styling was highly controversial . . . and polarizing. It was a “love it or hate it” design, something that even Victory was willing to acknowledge. Victory clearly had the powertrain and chassis dialed for excellent touring performance, but the styling of the Vision was limiting its market, and Victory quickly took action.

For 2010, the Victory lineup will include not only the Vision (and a stripper 8 Ball version of the Vision), but two additional touring models, including the Cross Country and the Cross Roads.

Both the Cross Country and the Cross Roads share a new frame design that is similar to the Vision frame, but customized for these lighter machines. With the engine as a stressed member of the chassis, Victory’s “CORE” technology combines with careful mass placement to provide both the Cross Country and the Cross Roads with “exceptionally low centers of gravity for easy handling at all speeds” according to Victory, and also making both bikes the lightest bikes in their class, again according to Victory’s claims.

The 2010 Victory Cross Country is pretty clearly aimed at Harley-Davidson’s successful Street Glide model. The chopped-fairing look and minimalist hard bag layout has proven popular, and Victory now has the Cross Country to cover this market.

The Cross Country features the Freedom v-twin engine displacing a full 106 cubic inches (the same displacement found on the Vision) putting out a claimed 92 horsepower and 109 foot/pounds of torque. We have sampled this engine in the much heavier Vision, and can guaranty that it will pull smartly in this lighter-weight package.

Cross Roads’ Rear End

Both of these new tourers have exceptionally long suspension travel out back (4.7 inches) when compared with the competition. This single shock system is air adjustable. Up front, 43mm inverted cartridge forks provide 5.1 inches of travel. The braking system on both machines includes dual 300mm floating rotars in front (gripped by four-piston calipers) and a single 300mm rotar out back (utilizing a two-piston caliper).

All of the Victory tourers for 2010 get “Roulette” wheels, that are lighter, hollow-spoke designs. Ergonomics of both the Cross Country and Cross Roads models include very generously sized seating positions for rider and passenger, a low 26.25 inch seat height and 18-inch long floorboards (the longest in the class) allowing the rider to adopt different foot placements and leg angles to increase riding comfort. Victory even thought to eliminate the heel lever for shifting (the shifter is toe-only) in order to leave additional room for foot movement on the huge left floorboard. Complimenting the ergonomics, a wiring harness is available on both of these new tourers that will allow the installation of driving lights, heated hand grips, cruise control and heated seats.

Both the Cross Country and the Cross Roads are tourers, of course, and saddlebag load capacity is a critical component. Victory went big here. The dual saddlebags on each model have a total cargo capacity of 21.3 gallons, and each bag is rated to hold roughy 25 pounds of cargo. According to Victory, this cargo capacity is roughly 70% larger than that offered by the Yamaha Stratoliner and 25% more than the H-D Street Glide.

Back to the unique features of the Cross Country model. The stylish fairing was carefully designed to serve the aerodynamic purposes of the rider, according to Victory. Computer modeling and wind tunnel testing went into the fairing’s final design, which includes a ridge running across the front face of the fairing to deflect wind and rain to the sides, beyond the rider’s hands. A small channel at the base of the windshield also should improve airflow to the rider, and reduce the tendency of some fairings to suck the rider forward. Optional windscreens and lower wind deflectors will be available. The Cross Country gets fairly extensive instrumentation and an audio system. AM/FM radio is standard, and the Cross County can be equipped with an iPod or satellite radio, as well. Other accesories will include a GPS unit designed to be mounted on the left handlebar.

The Cross Roads model, in addition to the features shared with the Cross Country, gets its own unique look and a windshield designed through wind tunel testing. The more traditional Cross Roads can have its windshield removed quickly for a naked look (sort of like an H-D Road King), but also comes with lower wind deflectors when maximum wind protection is desired. The Cross Roads has simpler, more elemental instrumentation, including an analog speedometer together with an odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge, neutral indicator, high-beem indicator, turn signal indicator, hazard lights indicator, and warning lights (such as low fuel).

The 2010 Victory Cross Country is available in Solid Black, Solid Midnight Cherry and the radical Black and Graphite with “Extreme Skulls” (as opposed to your run-of-the-mill skulls). The Cross Roads, meanwhile, comes in two color choices, including Solid Black and Solid Midnight Cherry. Both bikes feature the 106 cubic inch engine and 5.8 gallon fuel capacity. Six-speed transmissions are standard, with sixth gear a true overdrive to improve mileage on the highway.

Other touring highlights from Victory for 2010 include a new Vision Tour ABS model. In addition to ABS, the rear brake is hydraulically linked to the front brakes in this system. Detail improvements for 2010 on the Vision include new power outlets (now cigarette lighter-style), a side stand extension that makes it easier to park your bike, quieter air intake noise level and higher-resolution graphics on the audio display. Finally, Victory is introducing a lower priced 8 Ball version of the Vision Tour with lowered suspension and seat height, and blacked out styling.

The remainder of the Victory line for 2010 receives various refinements, including primarily lower seat heights. The Vegas, Vegas 8 Ball, Kingpin 8 Ball and new Hammer 8 Ball each receive lower seat heights for 2010. Ergonomics on the Vegas and Vegas 8 Ball were also refined with footpegs set 2.25 inches rearward, and handlebars featuring an additional two inches of pullback.

The Kingpin 8 Ball gets the same ultra-low seat height of the Vegas models (25.2 inches), floorboards set two inches rearward from last year, and handlebars with an additional two inches of pullback. Detail refinements on the Hammer model include black gas cap, together with black wheels, rotars and brake components. The Hammer S will be available in two paint schemes, including Suede Black and White with Red Stripe or Boardwalk Blue with White Racing Stripes, and each paint scheme has its own distinctive color scheme for its “X-Factor” wheels and forks. Finally, the Hammer S has a color-matched headlight housing for 2010.

Victory returns for 2010 with new, custom, limited edition models styled by Arlen Ness and his son, Cory Ness. These bikes not only feature distinctive paint schemes, but other detail features reflect the designer’s preferences (such as the lowered suspension on the Arlen Ness Victory Vision). We will refer you to Victory’s web site for all of the details on these special models, but we are including pictures of each Ness model with this article.

For all of the details, specifications and pricing, visit Victory’s web site.

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