Surprising about the buffeting. I'd have guessed they'd pay close attention to that. Nice looking bikes though and some nice features compared to HD.

 

You can not argue with real experience, but I'm a bit surprised at the lack of performance statement.
Perhaps another try. I know from my own experiences, a short test ride can be really deceiving.

 

I like the bags on Victories, bigger and easier to open. I haven't tried the new Harley ones, but maybe they paid attention there.

Whoever invented the lids on Harley bags should have been fired, whoever let it go a 2nd year should have been kicked in the nuts.

 

Somebody pn the forums has a kit to convert old style latches to the newer style. Not sure if it needs a new lid or you get a template to drill your existing one Fairnigs Plus, I think.

 

A good buddy of mine bought a Cross Country 2 years ago. He swears by it. Road sofa. Puts a lot of miles on it too. Back and forth between Charlotte, NC and DC. It's his first touring bike so no comparison to the Harley touring bikes but...

Just out of curiosity, was the bike you took out right off the floor? Or was it a bike reserved for that purpose? Not that a Victory dealership would risk putting you on a poorly maintained bike - after all, they're trying to sell one to you. I just wonder how many people took that same bike out before you did and roasted it. Could be it just hasn't been "tightened up" with proper routine maintenance by the techs at that dealership.

 

Just out of curiosity, was the bike you took out right off the floor? Or was it a bike reserved for that purpose? Not that a Victory dealership would risk putting you on a poorly maintained bike - after all, they're trying to sell one to you. I just wonder how many people took that same bike out before you did and roasted it. Could be it just hasn't been "tightened up" with proper routine maintenance by the techs at that dealership.

I believe the bike I rode is reserved for demo purposes. I was told it had a Stage 1 exhaust system and was also told that this really doesn't do much for performance as it does for sound. I didn't notice the mileage on it. Hell, for all I know it could have been a very low miles trade-in. There would have to be some serious loose sh!t to make it vibrate like it did though.

 

I don't know about 'road sofa', but this one certainly wasn't. I did a search on Victory vibration and found several others having the same experience. No one else mentioned the buffeting, but the 'buzz' and performance were a key complaint.

I can't say it vibrated more than a Harley, but it was a different vibration that was quite annoying and it just never went away no matter the speed or RPM. Could it have been something wrong with that particular bike? Perhaps, but if others have complained about the exact same thing, I can't discount what they say. There are people that are too critical and maybe it could have been the first time on a bike of this type for them (Harley included), so didn't know what to expect, but I certainly could not see myself going any distance on this thing and keeping my sanity. My Dyna was far smoother than the Victory.

As to performance, yes the Cross Country is about 100 lbs heavier than my Dyna and I took that into consideration. I'm also not running a stock motor, which I also weighed into the equation. So, stronger motor and 100 lbs lighter is at first going to make you feel like the bigger stock bike is 'lazy', and I got on the Vic with this in mind. But, what I wasn't prepared for is how lazy it really was, or felt to me.

Performance aside, it will get you moving and maybe if I spent some time on it the performance may not be as bad as I perceived it to be, but that damn buzz I just couldn't live with and just the way it moved. The only way I can think to describe riding it was like driving an old beater pickup. Shaky, rattling, buzzing all combined.

 

I don't know about 'road sofa', but this one certainly wasn't. I did a search on Victory vibration and found several others having the same experience. No one else mentioned the buffeting, but the 'buzz' and performance were a key complaint.

I can't say it vibrated more than a Harley, but it was a different vibration that was quite annoying and it just never went away no matter the speed or RPM. Could it have been something wrong with that particular bike? Perhaps, but if others have complained about the exact same thing, I can't discount what they say. There are people that are too critical and maybe it could have been the first time on a bike of this type for them (Harley included), so didn't know what to expect, but I certainly could not see myself going any distance on this thing and keeping my sanity. My Dyna was far smoother than the Victory.

As to performance, yes the Cross Country is about 100 lbs heavier than my Dyna and I took that into consideration. I'm also not running a stock motor, which I also weighed into the equation. So, stronger motor and 100 lbs lighter is at first going to make you feel like the bigger stock bike is 'lazy', and I got on the Vic with this in mind. But, what I wasn't prepared for is how lazy it really was, or felt to me.

Performance aside, it will get you moving and maybe if I spent some time on it the performance may not be as bad as I perceived it to be, but that damn buzz I just couldn't live with and just the way it moved. The only way I can think to describe riding it was like driving an old beater pickup. Shaky, rattling, buzzing all combined.

If I can make a suggestion. You did a search on " Victory vibration" so naturally you found lots of results of people having problems with vibration. Perhaps searching "Victory Cross Country Reviews" or something similar might have gotten more objective results.

 

The buzzyness is the same reason why I traded my 2014 Indian Cheiftain for a Roadglide.
Among some other issues I had with the bike. I think the Polaris bikes are well made, and have ridden the Vic bikes several times. I think the HD touring bikes ride better, cut the wind better and the electric controls are WAY better. The new 14 HD's make noticeably more power than the past. Set of pipes, AC and a tune and most folks would be very happy. Overall HD is moving in the right direction, things only get better from here!

 

Also, I think the new bags and TP are awesome!

 

You might find this interesting although not exactly on point

 

That seemed like a pretty fair comparison of the two bikes. They both have their pluses and minuses. I looked at the Chieftain before buying my Ultra Limited. I wanted the trunk for travel and I do like the electronic goodies on the Limited a whole lot more. The 15 Roadmaster has a trunk, but the looks of the Harley are much more pleasing. Both are great bikes and they give people a hell of a choice to make.

 

I wouldn't be seen on the ugly thing.

 

I showed the wife a picture of the Cross Country today since she didn't know what they looked like and she said pretty much the same thing.

I don't think they are too awfully terrible in the front, but that ass end I just can't wrap my head around.

 

I like the Indian okay but when I road one, I didn't like the engine much. HD has all the low end grunt and Indian has more top end power.

 

Harleys look great, but being a slave to cosmetics has been there downfall too.

 

I'm not arguing with you dude. Every post in this thread has suggested sticking with the HD touring line. Mostly because of electronic do-dads and styling cues. To be honest, I won't even try on a Victory when I'm ready to get on a touring. I rarely ride above the posted speed limit, so I really don't care much about "high performance" - performance is good enough for me. When I'm ready, it's a Road Glide for me.

Let us know what you go with (and why) and ride safe.

 

Did not look at the Victory Cross Country so I don't have an opinion about it. I do have an opinion about the SGS, it's a great ride. I like that I can ride it solo or within a couple minutes have the big comfortable seat and tour pack on it so the wife is happy on the back. Performance is a whole lot better than the 88B TC that I have, we're very happy with the bike. The cherry on top...the title came in the mail yesterday. WooHoo

 

I've ridden the Chieftan and the Criss Country and liked them both. Especially the Chieftain with the factory stage 1. Was so much nicer than stock. Having said that after multiple test rides on both I'm always happy when I get back on my FLHX. The only thing that really erks me is the suspension on the Harley but just plain Sucks. I mean really. Two inches of travel on a touring
bike and three on the Limited. Just plain dumb. The suspension on the competition is so superior than Harley's. I've put the 13 inch HD Premium shocks on my SG and it made a huge differance but still won't soak up the bumps like the competition. If Harley would put some serious effort into their suspension I wouldn't even look further.

 

Compromises...
The Victory has that big engine bolted solidly in the frame and the engine IS the chassis. Yes, you feel the engine.

The Harley mounts the engine in rubber so the engine is isolated from the chassis. Once above idle, the engine cannot be felt. In exchange for that, the chassis loses rigidity... lots of parts are available to brace/stiffen the chassis because of this.

2 approaches... 2 solutions

If you are sensitive to vibrations and the priority is smoothness, the Goldwing comes to mind. V-twins shake. It's the nature of the beast.

 

Having owned both, I am riding Harley by choice. Just in the past 10 years, I've owned a 2005 BMW, 2006 Street Glide, 2006 Ultra Classic, 2006 Road King, 2010 Victory Cross Roads, 2012 Victory Cross Country, and now ride a 2012 Road Glide Ultra.
I bought a the 2010 Victory Cross Roads brand new,and the 2012 Victory Cross Country Ness Edition used, both have been sold. I've rented the Victory Vision for a 3 day road trip. The Vision was actually a great ride, but it sucked in the side winds, otherwise it was a fun ride. We rode two up, hit rain-snow & wind, and I loved it-perhaps because it wasn't my bike!
The CR is a great bike, there isn't a lot of power down low, it comes on pretty strong when you get rolling though. There is a lot of mechanical noises, you just can't focus on them. Don't believe the dealers story about how cool they run, I had oil temp gauges in mine, they ran almost exactly what my Harleys did. The controls are pretty easy to use, the cruise is easier that the pre-'14 Harley touring bikes. My issue is the parts network, they are really lacking in this dept. If the dealer needs a part, it's a week if the warehouse has it, if not, you are going to wait. With HD, if you need a part, the dealer checks the warehouse than other local stock, and there is the huge aftermarket.
I suggest finding a Victory dealer that rents them, and take it out for a weekend ride. Going around the block on the dealer demo ride just isn't enough.

 

Having owned both, I am riding Harley by choice.

You have more experience than most. But past practices being what they are you will probably sell the Harley too and buy something else.

When I see guys who go through lots of bikes, I always take it with a grain of salt, cause they like to buy and sell bikes, or just don't like to ride.

One loves to get new bikes, one is never comfortable, cause they don't like to ride, or they keep buying little bikes and wondering why they are not comfortable.

Like I said though, you have more experience then most.

Harley does have a better dealer network. But it seems to have gotten worse, and I am spending more time waiting. Not sure if it is a matter they can't afford to sit on inventory these days, or with all the changes they just don't have what I want.


The good and bad of Harley was they rarely changed. Rarely fixed anything, but dealers had the same defective part cause it had been used for 20+ years. I got an 07, which is a 1 year bike, then 08 is a 1 year bike too.

My 01 is just to old for Harley to care about sometimes it seems.

If I found a Vic I really like, I might take the chance that I have to pay $$$$ for next day air while on vacation, or rent a Uhaul and bring it home to work on myself, which is probably what I would do anyways.

 

If you're complaining about the "buzziness" I'm guessing you've never ridden a Softail. Like the Victory, it has a solid mounted engine with ballencers. That's why some don't like softails. I have one and just returned from a 4,200 mi round trip to Sturgis and the "buzz" just isn't an issue for me. Belive the new Indian uses the same basic technology for it's set up.

As for the comment that a stage-1 does nothing to improve power... I'm at a loss for words.