Tour Gazing
With two hours of urban grind behind us, it's time to pull over for java at a gas station-cum-coffee shop in Ventura. It also gives us the chance to ogle the Kingpin Tour in a less-harried setting.
Victory has been getting high points for its bikes' styling, and it's easy to see why. The beautifully angular custom headlight, first making its appearance on the Jackpot and now found across most of the line in 2007, is just one example of how the Kingpin Tour manages to combine retro style with modern details to great effect.
The curved, six-spoke, cast aluminum wheels and flared fenders add to the Tour's eye-catching flourish. That outrageous bodywork cloaks the 99-inch-long bike, and the 180mm rear tire matches the oversize proportions-we like the fact that the Kingpin Tour has escaped the meaty-rear-tire syndrome seen on many Victory models. This bike also kicks in a reasonably wide 130mm front tire for a welcome balance.
Fit and finish is first-rate, with a slew of small touches like the split-back tank and a flush-mounted taillight that matches the curve of the massive rear fender, which also gets chrome trim. Another top-shelf touch is the deep, metal-flake paint-on our bike, a gorgeous combination of metallic blue and creamy contrasting stripes.
Opening the trunk to retrieve some Corn Nuts (we could've brought a carton-the box holds a full-face helmet with room to spare), we're disappointed to find the walls feel thin and flimsy, especially for a bike of this build quality. The trunk mounts on a rack that offers front-to-back adjustment so that the integrated passenger backrest can be tailored to fit the passenger. Though not especially roomy, the bags can be easily opened with push-button latches, while the trunk has a twist-type latch. (Both the windshield and bags can be detached with the included hex key.) The bags' appearance and mounting bracketry, however, look like obvious add-ons, and are not smoothly integrated with the rest of the bike.
A Handful?
After our caffeine fix, we head into the hills. Deep into the rolling turns, the Kingpin Tour responds well to even subtle inputs. Most of the twisty bits are taken with just one gear, with plenty of torque and engine braking on tap to accelerate and slow between the curves. Victory motorcycles with the bigger 250mm rear tires resist turning into corners, but the Tour steers more surely and with less muscle, thanks to its conventional tire sizes.
The additional weight of the luggage had just a minor effect on handling. Though the front wheel can feel like it's flopping in heavily, it's just a matter of adapting to it. The long wheelbase provides a stable, well-planted feel, and easy sweepers are a joy. When the road gets really twisty, you may need to back off the throttle to adjust for the Kingpin Tour's extra weight, but the bike generally enjoys the same neutral handling characteristics as the standard Kingpin.