2010 Victory Cross Countr...
2010 Victory Cross Country
In the motorcycle industry, there's a temptation to follow those who have come before, but manufacturers who go their own way usually are the ones who are ultimately more successful. Victory's last attempt at a tourer, the Vision, was met with both fascination and revulsion at its forward-thinking design. Despite that, it's become the most successful Victory to date. But there's a bigger chunk of the market that wants their lines a little more familiar, and that's who these bikes are for.
The Cross Roads aims at the windshield-and-hardbags set currently populated by Harley-Davidson's Road King and Kawasaki's Nomad, while the Cross Country takes on Harley's very-popular Street Glide. Both new bikes are based on the same chassis, so the two are more like trim levels than separate platforms. They're based on Victory's CORE technology, which integrates an aluminum frame (like the Vision) with an elegantly designed intake and airbox, invisibly taking in air from between the frame and bottom of the tank.
It's funny to see them stripped, as they look pretty elemental; it's when you remove the outer shell that you see how radical a design they carry. The rear subframe is a huge cast piece, but for the strength offered, probably weighs less than equivalent steel. The chin fairing was reportedly debated extensively at Polaris, and while this piece on other bikes may be just an aerodynamic treatment, on the Cross Roads, it is a stealthy multi-purpose thing. Housing the battery and oil cooler, as well as providing support to the chassis and mounting the engine guards, the case piece is the only frame segment except the neck that you can see!
Styling-wise the bikes are a blend of Victory's swoopy design and traditional cruiser bikes, with cues taken from the custom culture. A tire-hugging front fender and slick LED turn signals and taillight are parts most customizers wouldn't toss in the dustbin. Beefy inverted forks are an unusual touch, while chrome tube protectors are a nod to the long miles these bikes will likely see.
One design note that's not obvious: the frame is almost entirely hidden on the Cross bikes. If they were traditional cruisers, you might miss it. But all the touring gear distracts the eye from that anomaly on these bikes. One design quirk that is obvious: bike theft is not a problem in Minnesota. A handlebar lock (standard in some form on all motorcycles since the 70s) is an option on the Cross models.
While Victory's marketing wonks will tell you that the Cross Roads is aimed at traditional riders, and the Cross Country is for highways and more open-minded folks, in execution these bikes are more similar than not. The Cross Country is the loaded one, with a fork-mounted fairing sporting fairly complete info displays and a radio, along with cruise control. The other big difference is the blade/wing-style engine guard. It's a unique piece that some will undoubtedly dismiss, but it does provide clean mounting points for accessories, as well as wind protection.
The Cross Roads sports a removable windshield, which shows off the forks and the cool painted and chromed headlight. Unfortunately, the windshield is not quick-release, requiring the removal of four bolts. On the other hand, the 21-gallon bags are huge! When stuffed full of gear, they're not the easiest things to get closed, but considering their size, it's not a big deal.