Thoughts on buying a used Victory motorcycle

[SIR REAL ED]

IIRC, there are a couple of Victory owners perusing this forum.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the bikes and availability of parts.  I believe Victory is no longer in business.  IIRC, Polaris has essentially closed down Victory and is concentrating on Indian instead.

I would expect the Victory bikes to maintain their value fairly well or possibly appreciate due to limited numbers.  Not sure if that viewpoint is sensible or not.

Any years/models to avoid or pursue as the most desirable?  thanks in advance!

[twowheeladdict]

They had major depreciation back on 2014. I thought about getting one for pennies on the dollar, but kept hearing my wife in my ear telling me not to buy because it is a bargain, but because I really want it.

I don’t see their value has gone up except for inflation.

[Italianmotofest]

They are built like bricks. Love mine. But I can’t remark as to parts availability because I’ve not needed anything other than relays. Seriously.

The original V92’s had an issue with third gear. If it’s still working now it probably got the factory updated gear. But Polaris just blew off many of the original owners complaints. That and the way they abandoned Victory, and Victory owners, is why I’ll never own an Indian. Or any other Polaris product.

I can’t foresee a drop in value as time goes on. I suspect they will always be a cool footnote in the motorcycle community.

Bill

[blu guzz]

I owned a 2007 Kingpin Tour Deluxe.  It was a looker for sure.  I traded it on the day it turned 25,000 miles.  In those miles it needed only tires, plugs, air filter, oil and gas.  The most reliable bike I ever owned.  It was a mistake to trade it for what I traded it on which was anything but trouble-free. 

[kballowe]

Having owned four Victory motorcycles.... the aftermarket parts selection is thin and sometimes hard to get.  And expensive.

There are no more Victory dealers, and of the three former dealers that I know of, they no longer work on Victory motorcycles.  There are probably independent shops that will.

One example is my 2013 Boardwalk.  Wanting a rear rack, and seeing one listed in the parts catalog.... but I discovered that Victory never made such a rack, and so I had to fabricate one.  And getting parts is sometimes very frustrating.

I vote no.  Just because.





 

[MarkPell]

I owned 3 Vics and really liked them.Good performance for cruisers and all were reliable but you should stay away from 99 and 2000 models for tranny issues.
Having said that, unless you can find a local Polaris dealer who will work on them and has at least some parts inventory, I would stay away. I personally don't think they will ever appreciate in value to make it worthwhile.

[Motormike]

After once owning an MZ Bagheria and a Buell, I make it a point to not buy orphaned motorcycles any more. 

[SIR REAL ED]

Excellent advice Gents.  thanks.

this was the ad that got my attention:

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/mcy/d/ferrum-the-victory-hammer-fuel-injected/7441074167.html

In my mind, a purchase that should not be made unless I would be happy parting it out in the event of catastrophic OEM part unavailability.

That and the fact that it is not really a bike I would want to own other than "it's so cheap, I can't afford not to buy it!"  Those are almost always bad decisions.

The free market is making a statement.  The bike that retailed for $16,500 in 2005 now has a book value of $2400-3600.

One of the nicer looking motorcycle engines in my opinion.

Another looker:

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/mcd/d/newport-news-2014-victory-vision-ready/7439262197.html

One motorcycle test had an interesting tidbit.  A lot of the shops they visited said they could not change the 250 section rear tire.  Probably less of a problem today than back in 2005.

[twowheeladdict]

I went to many victory demo events over the years.  Those fat rear tire bikes are sketchy in the curves.  You can feel the rear lift as you lean it over. 

The bike I came close to buying at a "I can't afford not to buy it was the "hardball". 

The green Cross Country was my favorite looking Victory.

[Moparnut72]

A Triumph + cash? Doesn't he have that backwards?
kk

[JJ]

* Bought my Victory Vision Tour brand new for about $22K back in 2014.  It is bone stock except for a 1" factory lowering kit so the seat height is only 22 inches off the ground.  You sit "in it" not on it.  Mine has a little over 13K miles on it now and it is garaged kept an in mint condition.

* Never had any issues with it whatsoever.  It is a phenomenal long-distance touring road bike and gets 47-48 MPG.
It is 871 pounds, but loses 200 lbs. the minute you let the clutch out in first gear.  It handles better than any of the five Big Twin Harley's (Electra Glide Sports and Road Kings) that I have previously owned.

* Polaris discontinued the Victory line in 2017.  They said they would support parts for the next 7 years...so  I guess 2024 is it.  I believe they still have a "Cult Following" and if I can still get parts for my 24-year old 1998 Moto Guzzi Centauro GT, I should be OK...

* I recently checked used prices for seven (7) 2014 Victory Vision Tour for sale on line, and the spread went from a low of $7,999 to $12,499, with an average price of $10,883.

* I was thinking about selling mine in the spring, but then, I take it for a ride...and smile

* "Moby Dick - aka, The Great White Whale" 

* Hope this information helps...

[MarkPell]

That hammer is identical to the last vic I had. I wouldn't call it's handling "sketchy" in the curves, but you did have to put a little more pressure on the handlebars countersteering. You get used to it pretty quick. Considering the price it's certainly worth checking out. How much can you lose at the end of the day if at worst you're forced to part it out?

[Guzzitenn]

Victory made the best American motorcycle. It’s a travesty that they shut it down. That Vision is an awesome starship
And so is the Crosscountry . Those tour models are more roomy than the Harley tour models too. I guess the cult
Following HD had carried the day it’s a shame. Victory owners are very loyal and they all felt backstabbed when Polaris
Shut them down.

[LowRyter]

The people that love them, love them. 

I rode the original V92 and was somewhat impressed with it.  Those bikes were standard bikes, not Harley-esque.  They seemed to be moderately sporty with good performance and handling.   The later models, post Arlen Ness, were quite the opposite with wild styling and exaggerated cruiser riding positions.   I suppose the one "nit" is the power delivery that has good low end torque but abruptly stops at about 5k rpm.  I think they're all pretty reliable.  Before I'd write them off due to being orphan bikes, a person might check the internet and find out how riders keep the running.  Isn't that what we do for our Guzzis?

[SIR REAL ED]

Very good points one and all.  thanks for all the good info!!!

I would guess that parting it out would not result in much money being lost, just a matter of how fast it would be re-couped.  Looking up OEM prices, just the wheels and a few tidbits would cover a good deal of the cost of the bike.

Bigger concern for me than money is weight.  My garage/drive situation often requires me to muscle a bike into reverse.  Don't think I'm man enough to do that with a bike that weighs twice to 4X every bike I currently own........

[twowheeladdict]

Very good points one and all.  thanks for all the good info!!!

I would guess that parting it out would not result in much money being lost, just a matter of how fast it would be re-couped.  Looking up OEM prices, just the wheels and a few tidbits would cover a good deal of the cost of the bike.

Bigger concern for me than money is weight.  My garage/drive situation often requires me to muscle a bike into reverse.  Don't think I'm man enough to do that with a bike that weighs twice to 4X every bike I currently own........

It would definitely be different than anything you currently own.

[SIR REAL ED]

It would definitely be different than anything you currently own.

Yeah.  Victory dry weight is 300 lbs more than the DR or the KTM wet weight.  500 lbs more than the Beta, and 150 or so more than the Seca which often strikes me as a fat pig!!!!

I've become a real wimp in my old age....

[usedtobefast]

Many people buy a used ~$15K motorcycle, ride it a few years and are super happy to sell it for ~$10K.
Many people buy a new $25k motorcycle, ride it ~5 years, and are happy to sell it for $10k-$12k.

So at a ~$4k purchase price, geez, go get it!! 

I doubt it would ever be < $1000 ... so you'll be out max $3k to ride it as much as you'd like.   And realistically, say you keep it 3 years, and it still runs great, price then?  Probably $3k ish?  So only lose $1k. 

But ... if you were thinking you could buy it for $4k and one day it would be worth $6k or $8k+, then nope don't do it. 

I've been tempted to buy a Vision, what a quirky looking bike!  But most of them are still selling kind of high like $8k-$12k.  Too much loss in that for me. 

[SIR REAL ED]

Many people buy a used ~$15K motorcycle, ride it a few years and are super happy to sell it for ~$10K.
Many people buy a new $25k motorcycle, ride it ~5 years, and are happy to sell it for $10k-$12k.

So at a ~$4k purchase price, geez, go get it!! 

I doubt it would ever be < $1000 ... so you'll be out max $3k to ride it as much as you'd like.   And realistically, say you keep it 3 years, and it still runs great, price then?  Probably $3k ish?  So only lose $1k. 

But ... if you were thinking you could buy it for $4k and one day it would be worth $6k or $8k+, then nope don't do it. 

I've been tempted to buy a Vision, what a quirky looking bike!  But most of them are still selling kind of high like $8k-$12k.  Too much loss in that for me.

Amen Brother!

Your post reads like you have been reading my mind during my latest bout of rationalization.  Good to know others are also practicing!

Unfortunately, money is really not the object, more important is will I ride it much, or almost always reach for another set of keys?  Other important factors are weigh tooo much weight for me and my situation, not a bike well suited to my preferred roads to ride, and lack of garage space.

I'm gonna pass, but still a very cool bike.  Bigger garage, flatter land and roads, and I'd jump all over it.

Bigger house and it would be a nice substitute for a coffee table.

[Stormtruck2]

My son and I bought an 07 Victory Vegas, in white pearl in 2010. I cosigned and it is really his bike.  Been down once due to a episode of rampant stupidity. Dented the tank is all, and easily replaced.   Over 100,000 miles on it now, and never needed parts except for maintenance items, and tires, lots and lots of tires.  Victory is a great bike, better than any current Indian. I'd buy it for the joy of riding it.  Oh, the digital speedometer does read triple digits.   

[TN Mark]

I've only owned one Victory, a 2012 Cross Country Tour. I bought it new in March or 2013 from Randy's Cycles in Marengo, IL. I wanted one in gloss pearl white and Randy found one for me at a Montana dealer who shipped it out. I only have 88K miles on it now but it's been 100% perfectly reliable. I only have one bike so it simply has to be 100%, and it is. Just like seemingly 99.99% of every other Victory 106/6 bike out their. I traded 3 bikes in at Randy's to get the CCT. In the first year I had aftermarket cams, mufflers, air filter installed along with a PCV and had it dyno tuned at The Vic Shop in Iowa. It still puts out 114 rear wheel HP and 116 Ft/Lbs of Torque so it's also a fun ride. 3000rpm in 6th gear is 80mph and at that it gets nearly 40mpg. MPG falls off, a lot, over 95mph.

Again, everything has been 100% reliable.

When Polaris killed off their Victory house brand for the Indian name they bought, they promised parts for ten years. Therefore, parts will be around until 2017. Actually, I can get any factory part for my CCT delivered to my door within 48 hours. Victory dealers are actually readily available in most parts of the country as well. The fact is, you very likely won't need a Victory dealer. The only time my CCT has seen the inside of a dealership is for tires. When I have the tires replaced I also have them bleed the brakes. Otherwise, I do oil/filter changes every 2500 miles. A Simple external spin on filter and a single drain plug. Easy peasy in 15 minutes taking your time. I replace brake pads, the battery, fork fluid and the fuel filter at regular intervals. The bikes are very easy to work on. I have yet to replace the belt and it still looks brand new. Polaris says the belt should be replaced every 30K miles but no one does that. Many owners have well over 100K, 125K and even 150K miles on the original belt and clutch. There are many Victory owners on the forums with over 200K miles on their bikes and they still look and run great.

Many parts that fit the Victory also fit the Indian. But again, between aftermarket parts and used parts, you won't have a long list of parts you'll actually have to buy from a Victory dealer. About the only thing you'd need Polaris for with a Victory is if you need factory new body parts. Otherwise, for used body parts, the internet has sources a plenty.

That being said, there are two caveats; 1. Polaris seemed to have given up on the Vision well before they shut the brand down. Therefore, some parts for that model 'could' be an issue. 2. Accessories. Polaris canceled every accessory contract with their suppliers at the same time they killed the brand. Prices for accessories, when/if you can find them will be quite expensive. For instance, I removed the CCT lowers in favor of the Victory forged bars many years ago. I paid $400 for a new set of forged bars before the brand was killed off. Today, even a set of forged bars with crash damage will be close to $1000. A set in perfect condition like mine would fetch closer to $1400. Crazy.

As I get closer to 100K miles, I plan on adding a second bike to the mix. At this point I'm looking at a Victory Cross Roads, a Victory Highball, a Victory Boardwalk or perhaps an Moto Guzzi Eldorado 1400. My 2012 Victory CCT won't be going anywhere. Even if I totaled it in a wreck, I'd replace it with another Victory CCT.

Victory really only ended up having 3 lines. The Cross bikes - Cross Roads, Cross Country, Magnum and Cross Country Tour. These were far and away their best sellers. The 106" engine with the 6th speed transmission has been excellent. They also made the Steel frame bikes - Vegas, Hammer, Gunner, Judge, Boardwalk etc. Many of these bikes also share the same basic components with the exception of some body parts and either a 'narrow' or a 'wide' rear wheel. They designed the Octane and showed it to Victory dealers years before they changed a few design items and released it as the Indian Scout.

Polaris also showed the 108 water cooled engine to the Victory dealers as the replacement for the 106". Obviously it came out years later in the Indian Challenger.

As has been mentioned, the early V92 models had a sketchy transmission gear. If it's still running today, it will very likely continue to do so. Same for the 100" and then the 106" motors. They tend to run forever without ever leaking oil etc.

It is a bit funny reading about only a few Victory dealers on a Moto Guzzi forum. In reality, the Victory dealer network never was very strong. IMHO, it's much better today with the Indian/Slingshot/Victory dealers.

Another good thing Polaris did with the Cross bikes is used the same brand and sizes for the tires as the Honda Goldwing at the time. Therefore, just about wherever you are, there may be a Honda dealer around with a set of Goldwing tires in stock and readily available. Even dropping the rear wheel is a 10 minute affair, if you know what you're doing, once the bike is on the stand.

[LongRanger]

For me, I wouldn’t be interested. Not a knock on the bike, but at some point parts and service will become an issue. I feel the same way about Buell, Motus, MZ, Hodaka, etc. — I can do without the drama. As far as appreciation potential, for my dollar you’d be better off buying the stock of a company with the ability to grow earnings than a used motorbike from a defunct manufacturer. I’ve never viewed a motorcycle purchase as an investment, but simply a discretionary expense that enables enjoyment.

[TN Mark]

Parts, service and even accessories for most later model Victory bikes are much more available than a later model Moto Guzzi. There are several avenues to get things from. Yes, Victory is a dead brand but they were sold in enough numbers to make them a viable option for the lifetime of anyone on this forum. Some of you may be surprised at the number of new and used parts and accessories for many later model Victory’s on eBay, Facebook and the owners forums. I bought a nos Victory helmet and ‘corporate’ dress shirts last week. But trying to find a new or used passenger backrest luggage rack for a V92TC would be a tall task.

Moto Guzzi is a current brand but trying to find accessories for their later dead models (1400 range) is a tall task as well as a very expensive one. This is much easier and much less costly with a Victory. Partly due to the greater number of bikes sold and partly due to the interchangeable parts and accessories of the different lines.

The Hammer being discussed in this thread likely isn’t a money maker except possibly for the OP if he chooses to flip the bike. The wide tire models like the Hammer are great bikes but they didn’t sell in great numbers like the many of the other models.

The greater ‘value’ of many Victory bikes is the uniqueness of them combined with their wonderful reliability.

[twowheeladdict]

Mark, are you saying the octane was only shown to dealers, but never sold?  If so, then now I am kicking myself for not buying the on at Sloan’s I saw for sale.

Also, don’t forget about the Victory EV bike. Out long before the livewire.

In my area most Victory dealers became Indian dealers and Sloan’s had them side by side in their showroom before Victory got killed off. Indian was the heritage line while Victory the modern line of bikes.

Now Indian is morphing the line up into heritage and modern.

[bad Chad]

Polaris sold an EV motorcycle under the Victory brand???

[Aaron D.]

The Octane was sold, there are a few around here. Some of the current Indian line are Victory models that were rebranded. The Scout Rogue is very much like an Octane. The Challenger seems to be a Victory model...

They tried to keep Victory going but they always struggled to make money. Indian  was the better brand name-so even though Victory was bikes were great there was no way they could keep the separate line going.

[steven c]

Polaris sold an EV motorcycle under the Victory brand???

Polaris bought Brammo and sold them for a while.
https://www.polaris.com/en-us/news/company/polaris-acquires-electric-motorcycle-business-from-brammo/

[twowheeladdict]

Polaris sold an EV motorcycle under the Victory brand???

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2016-victory-empulse-tt-review

[bad Chad]

Ahh, yes I remember Brando, forgot it was Polaris that bought them.   They apparently bought them and quickly deep sized the whole concept.  In the the seven plus years they since the buy out they have nothing to show for it.

[TN Mark]

The Octane was shown to Victory dealers around 2014 as the ‘entry level’ model they were asking for for years. But Polaris delayed its release because they want to rebrand it as the Scout. It was then that most Victory dealers knew Polaris couldn’t be trusted and would likely kill the brand. At the last minute, Polaris released the Octane as a single 2017 model year bike. Likely because they built them for Victory a couple years previously and wanted them gone.

I suspect Scott Wine, who was the Polaris CEO at the time, made a planned decision to kill Victory. After spending the Victory brand into insolvency by the Victory Pikes Peak project (with no bike to sell for the expenditure), buying the Brammo line and rebadging it as a Victory, they went drag racing under the Victory brand and worse yet, they used and charged Polaris ‘Victory’ engineers to design the Polaris Indian bikes. The fact is the Victory line languished with poor to mediocre dealers and the Vision until they came out with the Cross bike line. After about 2011, the bikes were selling quite well despite the lackluster efforts from Polaris.

IMHO, Polaris hasn’t shown anything ‘new’ under Indian name that wasn’t promised, designed and shown as a new Victory before they killed that brand. It’s like the Polaris design team spent every new and unique idea they had under Victory with nothing left for Indian.

Many Victory owners greatly enjoy the Polaris Indian bikes because Polaris certainly knows how to build an excellent motorcycle. Most Victory owners also don’t trust Polaris or see them as a serious option for the long haul. Years ago Polaris killed off their jetski line in the exact same fashion they killed off Victory.

Why trust someone to care for their adopted child after they killed their own child?