Where are all the Victory's? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

HogDreamer · 09-06-2008, 05:15 PM

I live in Minnesota, the same state as Polaris who makes the Victory motorcycle. I don't know if Victory motorcycles are more popular in other states but I see very few here in MN.
I think I can count the number of Victory's I've seen in over 9000 miles of riding so far this season on one hand. Now I'm sure there have been a few at a distance that I missed but very few close enough to see what brand they are.
I've seen two Victory Visions and that is all. Two! And this is a motorcycle which can't be mistaken for anything else from at least a quarter mile away.
I sure hope that Victory motorcycles are selling well in other parts of the country or even in parts of my state where I do not ride. I would hate for Victory to go the way of Excelsior Henderson or Indian motorcycles.
Anyone know the actual number of motorcycles that Victory sells each year? Are the dealers selling what they have in their inventory? Is Victory's future bright or is the tough economy making it difficult for them to survive?

CherokeeTad · 09-06-2008, 05:53 PM

Oklahoma here and I have seen a few around here but not many. Last report I found said they sold approx. 10,000 units (motorcycles) in 2007. It is really hard to find the numbers as Polaris only publishes total dollar amounts sold or percentage of increase which is misleading if you aren't selling many bikes. Last time I stopped by the local Victory dealer, he was more interested in selling Segways than the Victory bikes.

robertopod · 09-07-2008, 02:25 AM

The dealer I bought from in the KC area sold 42 bikes in August. Sounds pretty healthy to me. The Victory division is profitable for Polaris so I can't see where they would get rid of it.

03GLIDE_ · 09-07-2008, 07:01 AM

I see quite a few around here. I know we have a Victory dealer here in town. I see around 3-4 a day. I work with a guy that has one and there is another around my neighbor hood.

robertopod · 09-07-2008, 10:22 AM

To me that was a huge selling point. The fact that you don't pass 300 of them every day. Obviously you won't see as many of them because they have only been making them for 10 years. I love the fact that mine doesn't look like every Harley or Harley imitation out there. I love being unique. I can find it in the parking lot.

WEINERDOGBONE · 09-07-2008, 12:34 PM

Cherokee is pretty close. I think I read that Victory sold 9,800 bikes last year which was down slightly from the previous year. I don't see more than 1 or 2 a summer around here. They are nice bikes though.

OhioGlider · 09-07-2008, 06:49 PM

They are nearly non-existent here.

Their sales averaged out to about 196 bikes per state at 9,800 sold, which seems pretty poor for a years sales. Especially if you have one dealer who claims to have sold 4.11% of Victory's yearly total or 25% of his state's average yearly sales in one month

Here, too, the Victory's get sold at a combination motorcycle/atv/watertoy/Suburu dealership thing, and you see few of them. In the case of the Vision, seeing fewer is better for your eyes.

Although, really, you may be seeing more than you realize. Every time you pass a generic "homage" cruiser, think " that may be a Victory" and you may be right.

As many big-ticket leisure activities are taking a hit this year, Harley is looking to have final sales figures drop to about 320,000 units for 2008. This is a solid trend in the larger bikes across the board, and certainly includes Victory.

robertopod · 09-07-2008, 10:25 PM

I always thought when I was growing up that Harley riders wanted to be different. Be a rebel. Ride something different than everyone else. Wear different clothes and enjoy the freedom of being an individual.

My how times have changed. All they talk about now is how many dealers they have and how many other Harley's are out there just like theirs. What a boring world if the remaining free thinkers all rode Harley.

robertopod · 09-07-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

They are nearly non-existent here.

Their sales averaged out to about 196 bikes per state at 9,800 sold, which seems pretty poor for a years sales.

That puts them behind the big 3 Japanese bikes and Harley. They aren't like Indian or Excelsior because they are owned by Polaris that has deep pockets and other profitable motorsport divisions. As long as they gain market share and make some money then they will keep making and improving them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

Although, really, you may be seeing more than you realize. Every time you pass a generic "homage" cruiser, think " that may be a Victory" and you may be right.

I always think. "There goes another Harley,or Honda or Yamaha" Since they all look the same. Victory is the one making original stuff now, and the other are paying attention. Bigger motors, 6 speeds, better styling. Although with Harleys overheating,crank shaft run out, oil pressure problems I'm hearing about everywhere, they might want to take better notes.

Maybe they need to make less?

highrider · 09-08-2008, 01:49 AM

I was contemplating buying a Jackpot, but their MSRP is TOO HIGH imho. the Ness Version's colors while flashy are really quite boring for a custom again imho.

Their resale value is lower as well ( I hope to pick up a Jackpot for 15k or less next year)

I do like them, but they have a large image problem competing against HD especially in these tough times.

Bluzmn59 · 09-08-2008, 08:22 AM

I saw one of those horribly ugly Visions once on the Interstate, but have never seen one around town here (Augusta, GA).

robertopod · 09-08-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

I do like them, but they have a large image problem competing against HD especially in these tough times.

Yeah to me thats the problem. When did riding a bike become about image?

OhioGlider · 09-12-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertopod

Although with Harleys overheating,crank shaft run out, oil pressure problems

You really need to learn something, & not just read.

Overheating issue? Some pansies are complaining that a large displacement air cooled engine between their legs puts out too much heat for their comfort if they have to stop for long periods. That is far from an overheating issue.

IF you have looked into this, you would have seen this.

I can't get my '07 to leak or use oil. The '05 fails to do it either, even at nearly 40K miles. Can you help me with this? What am I doing wrong? pssst: I hear "everwhere" that there are giant albino alligators in the NYC subway. Must be true......

At least you admit that the first run of Victories were, um, "derivative," to say the least. And who did they copy?

Yes, the new models are distinctive. Of course, they sell like crap so maybe this is not such a good thing? Hey, the Yugo was distinctive, too! I wonder how many of those they sold a year?

robertopod · 09-13-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

You really need to learn something, & not just read.

Overheating issue? Some pansies are complaining that a large displacement air cooled engine between their legs puts out too much heat for their comfort if they have to stop for long periods. That is far from an overheating issue.

IF you have looked into this, you would have seen this.

Pansies riding a Harley?!?!?!Okay they aren't overheating, they just suck to ride. Don't have that problem with my larger displacement

air/oil cooled engine from an innovative company. I'm sure Hardley will be doing that soon also.

You didn't come up with an excuse for the crank shaft run out issue!?!?!?!? That's quality right there!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

I can't get my '07 to leak or use oil. The '05 fails to do it either, even at nearly 40K miles. Can you help me with this? What am I doing wrong? pssst: I hear "everwhere" that there are giant albino alligators in the NYC subway. Must be true......

You have two Harleys that don't leak. I guess anyone that say's they have one that leaks is lying!! Must be true OhioGlider said so!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGlider

At least you admit that the first run of Victories were, um, "derivative," to say the least. And who did they copy?

Yes, the new models are distinctive. Of course, they sell like crap so maybe this is not such a good thing? Hey, the Yugo was distinctive, too! I wonder how many of those they sold a year?

The Yugo was the one that had the mechanical problems. Not the superior product. The Yugo is also the only vehicle ever built with less power than a Hardley

Thats why they didn't last. People slowly come to the better built product. Victory has only been around 10 years. The sheep will defend HD because they want to try to keep what is left of there quickly fading resale value. Why is everyone with a HD so worried about getting rid of it?

I put extra smilies in here because I know you like them.

xandvphyle · 09-21-2008, 08:33 AM

The big problem that Polaris has is finding dealers that represent and service their product well. The bike and ATV division are separate and operated as such. I owned a 99 numbered bike and really liked it. If the dealer didn't pop to train a wrench they got treated like a red headed step child. I could get my dealer to work on warranty issues by calling the factory myself and talking with a rep. The dealer couldn't get authorization. This was a dealer that was a top ATV/waterbug sales dealer. He got so disgusted, he quit polaris all together. I don't like the direction that Vic has gone but I think they may be visionary. Refine those BUGLY visions and bring back a cruiser looking 92C and I would really consider going back with the dealer there in Richmond. (Caitlin)
just an opinion/
bob
incidentally, that 92C was a damn fine bike when it was running!