OK Guys....Here is my short list

[ponch]

This covers some of the models you are considering:

[Netnorske]

I wonder if the fact shoeney voted in his own poll for an FJR should be our first clue...?

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I wonder if the fact shoeney voted in his own poll for an FJR should be our first clue...?

Read his cons. I would think they are a deal killer.

[dale55]

I know alot of folks on this forum really like and even own victory cross roads but I have to say they are the most polarizing looking bikes ever. You either like the style or you dont! I personally dont.

[canuckrider]

Originally Posted by dale55

I know alot of folks on this forum really like and even own victory cross roads but I have to say they are the most polarizing looking bikes ever. You either like the style or you dont! I personally dont.

"Polarizing looking" bikes. What would you expect from Polaris!

Actually, I wouldn't say that the look of the Cross Roads is that radical. The Vision, Yes. But it's a beautiful bike to ride.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by dale55

I know alot of folks on this forum really like and even own victory cross roads but I have to say they are the most polarizing looking bikes ever. You either like the style or you dont! I personally dont.

I don't think any member here owns a Vic Crossroads. We have a few members who own the Cross Country.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I don't think any member here owns a Vic Crossroads. We have a few members who own the Cross Country.

I am pretty sure you already know that the Cross Roads and Cross Country are the same format through 2012. 2013 CR(Classic) is only available with soft bags, and has dropped off of my "radar" for that reason. I prefer a windshield over a faring, so when I upgrade from my '06 Nomad (soon I hope) I'll be shopping used 2010-2012's with hard bags and windshield.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by schoeney

2010 Victory Cross Country (not the Tour to keep it in budget)
Weight: 761
HP: 116
Torque: 86
Grin Factor: 9
Looks: 9
Comfort as tested: 8


Pros:

• Are these made in Texas? Every thing is so big. Huge bags, big floorboards. It is almost as if the people these are designed for are trying to compensate for some inadequacies in other areas.
• Felt similar to the Stratoliner but looks a lot better
• Looks!

Cons:
• I would be like Kris and Brad
• Hard to find slightly used ones. Although there is a black one in Denver right now for $11,000
• I am not sure of the reliability and cost of maintenance but I suspect they are better than the BMW but just below the Jap bikes.

Maintenance doesn't cost any more than any other bike and reliability is probably better than anything else out there right now including the GW.

One of the nice things about the XC is that you can add some of the Tour goodies as you go. The parts aren't necessarily cheap but once you buy a trunk, you can install it in about 5 minutes. I think the forged crash bars look uber sweet and there are a couple vendors who make "lowers" (sort of) for them to keep the cold/rain off your legs/feet. Both the fairing and fork wind deflectors are cheap and easy to install. There are a ton of vendors (including Cee Bailey and 7Jurock) who make various size windscreens with and without the center vent and with and without a flip.

The big ass 'boards are a God send if you have a bad knee (better on the Vision but you don't like that style). I've had problems with my left knee for 30 years (including a surgery). I rode almost 400 miles today and when my knee started bothering me, I just stretched it out. When I was tired of that position, I moved my foot to a different position. (On the Vision, you can stretch your feet all the way out as there's no crash bar in the way.) I think the Vic 'boards are the largest OEM floorboards of any bike. I also think the Vic bags are the largest, too.

Don't forget to include GIBBY in your list of people you'd be like.

I'm not sure where you're getting your hp/torque number from but hp is a little less and tq is a little more. You can put $1500 (including labor) in the bike and get an honest 125/125 out of it (filter, cams, fuel processor).

Don't get in a rush to buy anything. Deals are out there on just about anything provided you have a bit of patience.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by markclark57

I am pretty sure you already know that the Cross Roads and Cross Country are the same format through 2012. 2013 CR(Classic) is only available with soft bags, and has dropped off of my "radar" for that reason. I prefer a windshield over a faring, so when I upgrade from my '06 Nomad (soon I hope) I'll be shopping used 2010-2012's with hard bags and windshield.

To expand a bit on this, the XR/XC/XCT/Vision all share the same frame/powertrain. The rest of the Vic lineup has a traditional frame. All '13s (CORE frame and steel frame) have the same powertrain now. It's a 106 cu in/6 speed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012-...item2c6e61a6ce

That's a sweet bike (and a good price) if you're into no fairing/stereo.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

To expand a bit on this, the XR/XC/XCT/Vision all share the same frame/powertrain. The rest of the Vic lineup has a traditional frame. All '13s (CORE frame and steel frame) have the same powertrain now. It's a 106 cu in/6 speed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012-...item2c6e61a6ce

That's a sweet bike (and a good price) if you're into no fairing/stereo.

Thanks Chris............that is a sweet looking bike and my favorite color......red.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Bdog

Greg..I'm in the hunt for another bike myself and was checking out a couple on your list yesterday. The fj13 only comes in one colour, yellowish bronze for 18k but was marked down to 16k. It is a nice sport tourer bike seemed to me to be outdated. The concours 14 has way more going for it in advanced tech and comes in gray or black. It goes for 20k. The rumour is the 2014 c-14 will be bumped up from 1352cc to 1451cc next yr.. I decided to get the 14/14 for a xmas present to myself. Oh yeah..these colours and prices are in Canada, so the price will be cheaper and the colours may be different in the states.

Man stuff is expensive up there! Good luck in your hunt. Feel free to contact me if my hunt info can help you in any way.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I wonder if the fact shoeney voted in his own poll for an FJR should be our first clue...?

Ponch is correct.No joke. I have eliminated the FJR from my list.

Wish I had a bike this weekend Kris. I probably could have met you for a ride somewhere. Hope you rode.

Why don't you have Tricia give us a review of the XCT from a passenger perspective? She now has the Nomad and Voyager experience to compare from. Might be interesting for those of us that are hoping our SO's ride more.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

Maintenance doesn't cost any more than any other bike and reliability is probably better than anything else out there right now including the GW.

One of the nice things about the XC is that you can add some of the Tour goodies as you go. The parts aren't necessarily cheap but once you buy a trunk, you can install it in about 5 minutes. I think the forged crash bars look uber sweet and there are a couple vendors who make "lowers" (sort of) for them to keep the cold/rain off your legs/feet. Both the fairing and fork wind deflectors are cheap and easy to install. There are a ton of vendors (including Cee Bailey and 7Jurock) who make various size windscreens with and without the center vent and with and without a flip.

The big ass 'boards are a God send if you have a bad knee (better on the Vision but you don't like that style). I've had problems with my left knee for 30 years (including a surgery). I rode almost 400 miles today and when my knee started bothering me, I just stretched it out. When I was tired of that position, I moved my foot to a different position. (On the Vision, you can stretch your feet all the way out as there's no crash bar in the way.) I think the Vic 'boards are the largest OEM floorboards of any bike. I also think the Vic bags are the largest, too.

Don't forget to include GIBBY in your list of people you'd be like.

I'm not sure where you're getting your hp/torque number from but hp is a little less and tq is a little more. You can put $1500 (including labor) in the bike and get an honest 125/125 out of it (filter, cams, fuel processor).

Don't get in a rush to buy anything. Deals are out there on just about anything provided you have a bit of patience.

Yeah. I knew whatever numbers I wrote would be scrutinized. At least I was close!

You could be right on about the reliability....is there like a Consumer Report somewhere that gives that kind of info on Victorys? Might just be my lack of history with Victory reliability. I do know GW used to be stellar but not as good in recent years. Maybe that is why they pulled production from the US and moved it back to Japan?

All of the bikes on my list have plenty of power. I don't see myself needing to add any more.

Yes those boards are smoking hot. I can see them giving my knee plenty of relief.

Thanks for the input!

[Monkeyman]

I got my reliability info from reading the Vic boards. Other than little things, there are very few who have any real issues with the Victorys. I questioned that before I bought mine. I've put almost 4k miles on my '12 Vision and other than a broken trunk lid cable and a broken switch blank (just a blank...not an actual switch), I haven't had any mechanical issues. There are a few Vic owners who have close to (or above) 150k miles on thier CORE bikes and haven't had to do anything other than normal stuff. There's even a guy (from MN) who not only rode to Key West, FL (without issue) but then traveled to Prudoe Bay, Alaska...in 10 days (yes, he's crazy). There's a thread on advriders about his trip (his handle is Rollin). The XC (Cross Country) reliability is the same as the Vision as they're both basically the same bike with different tupperware.

As I've said before, even if you can't get around the looks of the Vision, I'd ride one just for the hell of it. You might be impressed enough to buy one. There are some great deals on used Visions like this one > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2011-...item232a3f818b <. 2011 was probably the best year for the Vision. If this had been for sale when I was looking last year, I probably would have looked hard at it.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

To expand a bit on this, the XR/XC/XCT/Vision all share the same frame/powertrain. The rest of the Vic lineup has a traditional frame. All '13s (CORE frame and steel frame) have the same powertrain now. It's a 106 cu in/6 speed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2012-...item2c6e61a6ce

That's a sweet bike (and a good price) if you're into no fairing/stereo.

It's not in the same class as the other bikes. It's just a bigger, faster, better handling Nomad 1600. Not a bad thing, but still has some limitations in terms of features and amenities.