High Points
* Light Steering
* Powerful Motor
* Good Wind Protection
Low Points
* Small Gas Tank
* Cramped Seat
* So-So Fuel Consumption
First Changes
* Bigger Tank
* Aftermarket Seat
2007 Victory Kingpin TourRetail Price:
$17,999($18,249, California)Standard Colors:
Silver, Black, Gray/White And White/Blue
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine Type: Air/Oil-Cooled, 50-Degree V-TwinDisplacement: 100 Cu. In. (1634cc) Bore X Stroke: 101 X 102mmValve Arrangement: Sohc, 4 Valves Per CylinderCarburetion: Electronic Fuel Injection, 44mm Throttle BodiesCompression: 9.8:1Lubrication: Wet Sump, 5 Qts.Minimum Fuel Grade: 91 OctaneTransmission: Wet, Multiplate Clutch, 6 SpeedsFinal Drive: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Belt
Chassis
Seat Height: 26.5 In.Wheelbase: 65.6 in.Overall length: 99.1 in.Wet weight: 762 lbs.GVWR: 1210 lbs.Front wheel/tire: Cast, 18 x 3 in; 130 70-18 Dunlop Elite IIRear wheel/tire: Cast, 18 x 5 in. cast; 180 55-B 18 Dunlop D417Front brake: 300mm floating rotor, 4-piston caliperRear brake: 300mm floating rotor, 2-piston caliperFront suspension: 43mm inverted telescopic fork tubes, 5.1-in. travelRear suspension: Single damper, adjustable for preload, 3.9-in travelRake/trail: 32.8 degrees, 5.44 in.Fuel capacity: 4.5 gal.Handlebar width: 34 in.
Electrical & Instrumentation
Battery: 12 volts/18 amp hoursLighting: 7 in. headlight; dual LED taillightInstruments: Speedometer, LCD odometer, tripmeter, warning lights for high beam, turn signals, neutral, oil pressure, temperature and check engine
Performance
Horsepower (claimed peak): 80 bhpTorque (claimed peak): 100 lb./ft.Fuel mileage: 33.6-41.4 mpg, 37.5-mpg. Avg.Average Range: 168.7 mi.Quarter-mile acceleration:13.04 sec @ 97.70 mph60-80mph acceleration: 7.36 sec.
Double Vision- First Look!
Victory's All-New Bike Is A Glance At The FutureLet's not beat around the bush-Victory is on a roll. Unit sales for the New American Motorcycle Company were up a whopping 43 percent in 2005, and it expects to see about a 30 percent boost over that in 2006, its eighth model year. It's even getting high marks from owners and dealers. We figure the company can be forgiven if it wants to take this year off and simply refine existing product. But instead of lying low, Victory has chosen to flesh out the concept sketches it teased us with last summer and uncork a new model for next year. The new luxury-touring bike for 2008 is a bombshell that breaks the mold wide open.
The forthcoming stunner, dubbed the Vision, will actually be available this fall in two versions: the Vision Street and the Vision Tour. The bikes have quickly grown from concept to inevitability due to market conditions, say the Victory brass. "The luxury-touring category is a huge area of opportunity for Victory," opined Mark Blackwell, vice president of Motorcycles and International Operations. Back in July of 2006, Blackwell had also mentioned that the luxo-touring market is the fastest-growing cruiser segment, representing the largest niche in terms of dollars spent. What's more, the competition is relatively scarce.
The company gave us an up-close preview of the bikes last month, but it was otherwise pretty close-mouthed about the details, instead choosing to release preliminary specs only. Still, insiders acknowledged that the models we saw were "about 95 percent complete"-and there would be a V-twin engine in the center of it all, naturally, and a "full range of modern technology and touring amenities."
Victory has run plenty of numbers on this market segment and is positioning the Visions carefully. For the occasional distance rider who values a custom vibe and tours mostly solo, there's the Vision Street, a hardbagger in the street rod vein. For the more frequent traveler who's looking for style, comfort and all the touring bells and whistles, there's the Vision Tour, a full-boat luxury liner with more than 25 gallons of storage space, including a slick, integrated topcase with a passenger backrest. Add forward-placed floorboards, an integrated flying-wing fairing with optional, electrically adjustable windshield and a low, fully padded seat on both, and you begin to see the picture. The clean dashboard designs of both bikes feature what Victory calls "intuitive controls," too-a selection of fingertip switches and LED indicators combined with analog fuel, speedo tach gauges that offer function without clutter.
The Visions will also include adjustable rear suspension and fully integrated, premium audio/visual capability (GPS, MP3 and the like).
Down below, things are a bit more pedestrian, with an air/oil-cooled Victory Freedom V-Twin engine on full display (displacement wasn't revealed, but we suspect it'll get a slight bump from the firm's current 1634cc base engine), along with fuel injection, a six-speed overdrive tranny and the now-ubiquitous belt drive. Wheelbase was said to be 65.7 inches, and fuel capacity was pegged at six gallons. Both Visions roll on 18-inch front radials and 16-inch rear hoops, and feature large, integrated rearview mirrors and a full array of lighting. Other than that, Victory told us to hang tight-more information will come by midyear.
If the rest of the company's lineup strikes a balance between modern and retro, we think the Vision bikes will knock your socks off.
Visually, they're a slam dunk-no other machines nothing look even remotely like the avant-garde, futuristic designs, which we predict will be a love it-/hate-it proposition for most folks the first time they see a Vision. We also have a feeling this bike will redefine the luxury-touring bike genre-or at least create its own niche within.
Either way, we can't wait to take a spin on the Visions, so look for a ride impression from us this fall.-A.C.
Preliminary Vision Specs
Engine Type: Air/Oil-Cooled Freedom V-Twin
Displacement:
Bore X Stroke: Tba
Compression Ration: Tba
Carburetion:
Closed Loop Efi
Transmission:
6-Speed OverdriveFinal Drive: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Belt
Rake/Trail: 29 Degrees/5.4 In.
Front Tire: 130/70-18 Radial
Rear Tire: 180/60-16 Radial
Wheelbase: 65.7 Inches
Overall Length:
104.9 In. (Tour)
103.5 In. (Street)
Front Brakes:
2 300mm Discs, 3 Pistons Per Caliper
Rear Brakes:
Single 300mm DiscFuel Capacity: 6 Gal.
Storage Volume:
6750 Cu. In. (Tour ); 3379 Cu. In. (Street)
Seat Height: 26.5 In.
Colors: Black, Gray, Cherry