Whoa There
Slowing down an 800 lb motorcycle is no easy feat for any brake package, but in this instance the Harley's 300mm disc- and-Brembo caliper combo was the clear winner, easing the old girl down cleanly and progressively, without drama. Initial bite was good and feel was much less wooden than on the Victory's similarly-sized units. Of course, our test bike had the ABS option (which Victory doesn't offer), but luckily we didn't have to resort to it too often. Still, its binders do reel in the Cross Country when you really put your hand to it and rear brake action is plenty powerful.
In the End
You could argue this comparison is apples to oranges, because the Glide has a frame-mounted fairing to the Country's fork-mounted unit but when it comes down to it they're very similar bikes designed for similar purposes. (Victory even singled out Harley's Glides as its intended target)
In fact, as our inner-city riding adventures progressed, one overarching theme became clear: they really aren't just touring bikes, but heavyweight cruisers with luggage; as adept at tooling around town running errands as tearing up the highway.
Whichever bike you choose probably won't have to do with which one you think offers more bang for the buck, as it's a pretty close call between the two. Harley at least offers ABS as an option ($845),but cruise control is an option too ($295), while the Victory throws that in as a standard feature.
It comes down to cooler character of the Harley versus the better handling, more powerful Cross Country. I know which one i'm choosing.