Victory 2005:Hammer And 8-Ball
Victory more than lived up to its promise of a new bike every year, expanding its line to eight models by rolling out four new motorcycles or variations on existing ones: the 1634cc, six-speed Hammer; the 8-Ball, a blacked-out, lower-price variation of the Vegas; a Ness Signature Series Kingpin; and the Kingpin Deluxe.
A fresh take on styling and the new Freedom 100/6 powertrain make the Hammer a distinctively different member of the Victory line. The company sees power cruisers as an emerging and growing market segment, and the Hammer hits that target right on the mark. The power part of the formula comes from a pumped-up version of the already potent Freedom V-twin. Bored out for an additional 127cc to 1634cc so it can boast 100 cubic inches (it actually comes up about 5cc short), the engine has revised camshaft and oil-pump drives and new primary gears, a narrowed sump and a more muscular profile. The sixth speed is an overdrive to lower engine speed out on the highway, but Victory claims the added power means you can still pass without a downshift. Labels proclaiming "100 Cubic Inches" and "Overdrive 6 Speed" ensure that you don't miss the Freedom engine's new stats in the Hammer.
The Hammer strikes outside the engine bay as well. It's pretty hard to overlook the huge 250mm-wide rear tire, which also brings a narrower belt for the final drive. But you don't have to stand behind the Hammer to be struck by its looks. A new side cover and seatback/tailsection treatment give the Hammer a hard-hitting profile as well. It is also the first cruiser to use a sportbike-type removable passenger-saddle cover to streamline the look but make the seat usable when you want it.
Rolling in at the other end of Victory's model range is the Vegas 8-Ball, designed to get in under the $13,000 mark, which the company regards as a significant price point for cruiser buyers. However, the route Victory took to get there is certain to make the bike more appealing to some buyers. By blacking out many of the polished and chrome pieces, giving it a solo seat and identifying it with a simple 8-Ball graphic, Victory cut costs and also created an edgier, tougher style. Although the wheels, pipes and speedometer case remain shiny, Victory darkened the engine cases, fork sliders, triple clamps, handlebar, belt guard and sprocket, turn signal cases and other details to create its gritty style.
The Arlen Ness Signature Series Vegas returns for '05, though this year is was actually put together by Cory Ness, Arlen's son. The '05 version has a new purple color, new wheels, braided-steel cable sheaths and an animal-pattern-textured seat cover. However, this year also brings an Arlen Ness Kingpin with a similar treatment-lots of Ness-designed billet, plenty of chrome, Ness wheels and a unique black-and-blue paint job. There will be limited runs of both of the Ness Signature bikes.
Victory's final addition to the line is the Kingpin Deluxe, a Kingpin with a windshield, leather-covered hard saddlebags and a passenger backrest. Counting the Deluxe, Victory's line has doubled, since the '04 models-including the Vegas, standard Kingpin, and Touring Cruiser-all return. The Vegas gets a saddle reconfigured for greater comfort, and it and the Kingpin now have self-canceling turn signals in addition to the usual color changes. The Custom Order Program will again be available to buyers at Victory's site (www.victorymotorcycles.com) between August 1 and October 27.
Victory now has enough products to draw almost any cruiser enthusiast into its showrooms-and keep his head swiveling once inside.-Art Friedman
Suzuki's Boulevard Brand
Suzuki kicked off a major new commitment to the cruiser market by introducing a new sub-brand called Boulevard. Initially it simply encompasses lightly massaged and renamed versions of Suzuki's existing cruisers, but over the next year it will bring increasingly fresh and exciting new bikes. And Suzuki has promised a continuing stream of new bikes well beyond the 2006 model year.
Belatedly admitting that its involvement in the cruiser market has lagged, American Suzuki President Masaaki Kato told dealers, "It's not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important launches in Suzuki's 41 years of selling motorcycles in the U.S."
The old familiar names are gone, replaced by alphanumeric designations, with a letter denoting the type of cruiser as a prefix for the engine size in cubic inches. The old slim-style cruisers-the original Intruders and Savage-are now the Boulevard S models. Thus the Intruder 1400 becomes the S83, the Intruder 800 becomes the S50, and the Savage is now the S40. The classically styled machines have a C prefix, and the Intruder 1500 and Volusia 800 become the C90 and C50, respectively, and both get fuel injection along with the Cs. All of those bikes are slated to hit Suzuki showrooms in Boulevard form in August. By the end of the year, touring versions of the C series are also due. The C50T and C90T will have windshields, leather saddlebags and passenger backrests.
The musclebike-style cruisers that were formerly Marauders lead off with an M, although the old Marauder 800 is gone, and at the June dealer meeting Suzuki said it was unsure of the future of the Kawasaki-built Marauder 1600, which if carried forward would become the M95.
However, the M series seems to be where Suzuki will initially make its most important moves. Early next year it will debut the Boulevard M50, a freshly styled, fuel-injected, shaft-drive 800 V-twin that replaces the Marauder 800. In a year, it will roll out the M105, a liquid-cooled V-twin of approximately 1700cc, presumably fuel-injected. The concept drawing Suzuki flashed suggests a long, low bike with hidden rear suspension, a small fairing, a 19-inch front wheel and a riding position with the pegs and handlebar well forward. Discussions of the Boulevard line repeatedly mentioned "Suzuki DNA," which it defined as "a blend of advanced technology, uncompromising power and performance, nimble handling and outstanding value." Most of those characteristics suggest performance cruisers.
Although Suzuki's first step in its trip down the boulevard may seem a bit disappointing, we think this move could hold great things for fans of Suzuki cruisers. The changes to the carryover models are small, but they are positive. The minor styling changes are well-executed. The small sissy bars are gone from the S83 and S50, and the tool kits have been moved to faux airboxes. We had the chance to ride the bikes briefly, and though we couldn't feel any additional power from the GSX-R-style fuel injection on the C50 and C90, throttle response was a bit crisper. The C50 would have been as dominant in our 800 comparison as the Volusia was. Suzuki has also given new emphasis on customization, with an expanding line of Boulevard accessories, that includes everything for bolt-ons for the bikes (and the new additions for the converted models should fit the old bikes they replace), a large line of Boulevard apparel and even stuff like Boulevard-brand finish-care products. Suzuki is also encouraging and educating its dealers to get more involved with cruiser customers.
Suzuki was the only major company that hadn't made a strong push into the cruiser market, and its Boulevard series (which won't be called that in Europe because of some trademark conflicts) signals that it is now ready to do so. It also seems to be doing so without leaving fans of its existing bikes out (except perhaps for owners of the Marauder 1600, who might be able to boast that they have a rare collectible). A series of formidable new Boulevard models and competitors' reactions to them could make the cruiser market more exciting than ever.-Art Friedman