Blindside News from the Northwest

[petenomad]

Congrats Kris. I remember you had exhaust, PC and (attempted) big air kit before you even brought the Voyager home. Will this one be coming home stock?

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by petenomad

Congrats Kris. I remember you had exhaust, PC and (attempted) big air kit before you even brought the Voyager home. Will this one be coming home stock?

He bought a box of Crayons so he could add pin stripping!

[elvis]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Boardwalk Blue is a color, The Boardwalk is a model that replaced the Kingpin.

I reread Kris's epic announcement, I shouldn't have missed it that he certainly was buying a XCT.

However when he said he can now put both feet flat on the ground, I thought he was getting the Boardwalk because the Boardwalk targets the same potential riders as H-D Softail Deluxe and the Deluxe has about 25" seat height.

What a name for a colour, eh? The colour itself is quite nice though.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Kris, I wish I could say I am surprised, but I'm not. I could tell from your past posts that the Voyager wasn't the right bike for you. I hope the new Victory is everything you want in a bike and then some. Good luck with the new ride, buddy.

Now for the gratuitous Harley disciple parting shot: It may not be a Harley, but it's a step in the right direction!

Oh, one more thing...welcome to the ever growing "red headed stepchild" group here.

The Harleys are just as bad or worse than the Voyager for rider/passenger room. I love the look and sound of the Ultra's, but that was a deal-killer for me. As for being red-headed step children, we better keep this quiet. If Obama learns some of us can afford more expensive bikes, he's gonna insist we let all these other knuckleheads ride'em for free.....

Originally Posted by blowndodge

do tell???

Really Brad.....anyone with an IQ larger than your inseam could probably have figured it out...but thanks indeed for all of your input. It only confirmed my suspicions.....that I would soon be banished to the "red-headed step children" of the VBA.....

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by petenomad

Congrats Kris. I remember you had exhaust, PC and (attempted) big air kit before you even brought the Voyager home. Will this one be coming home stock?

Bring it home stock? That would be like getting a date with a supermodel and bringing her home early...... On the recommendation of my saleman who just bought a set for his own bike, I am adding a set of Witchdoctor's exhaust w/chrome tips. He says they sound awesome, do not require a re-mapping and they have had very little trouble with backfiring. I also added a high-flow air filter, 2" pullback handlebars, an XM radio kit, shorter windscreen and will add some aftermaket things like a Utopia backrest, heel shifter from Kewlmetal, HD luggage Rack and get this...a set of Voyager top saddlebag rails! I pulled one off of my bike and tested the look and fit on the XCT...BINGO! It looked and fit great, with three of the four mounting points sitting flush and the rear inside one about 1/4" off the deck. A few good rubber washers can take that up. Even my saleman was wowed. Being tubular, they will match the HD trunk rack perfectly!

BD probably rolled his off the showroom floor stock and it will probably still be that way in Estes, because the new bike purchase notwithstanding....he is still a CHEAP BASTARD.....

[Loafer]

Some have said this was not a surprise, I was surprised, maybe I didn't read all of your posts.
I truly hope you are happy and get many months of great rides, before the next best thing. Seriously, ride happy and safe.

[usranger74]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

It is truly sad to see you leave the Kawasaki family. I hope that you, like Scott, and a few others, continue to stick around and participate on the forum and at the rallies.

+1 - Hope to c u in Logan, UT!!!

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Loafer

Some have said this was not a surprise, I was surprised, maybe I didn't read all of your posts.
I truly hope you are happy and get many months of great rides, before the next best thing. Seriously, ride happy and safe.

Gerry,
I think through my posts, it was obvious to some anyways the struggles I was having getting the Voyager to better fit me. In the end, it was just too much to overcome. The real deal-killer though was simply that I could not utilize a backrest and still have enough room for the wife to be comfortable. The rest I had made great strides in mitigating with minor mods or simply could have lived with, but the lack of space was not fixable or tolerable.

I really wish Kawi would have just revamped the 1600 platform with a 1700+cc motor, a six speed trans, the shaft drive and those same cool saddlebags with a trunk option. The generous rider/passenger space on that bike was a huge selling point. I fear that Kawasaki is going to lose marketshare to other brands if they don't somehow address that issue.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by usranger74

+1 - Hope to c u in Logan, UT!!!

Are you going to Estes Park, Bill? The national rally is a year before Logan.

[Monkeyman]

Congrats, Kris. Couldn't get around the looks of the Vision, eh? As powerful as the CORE bikes are (Vision, XC/XCT, XR), about $1500 worth of cams, fuel processor, etc and you'll be able to blow the doors off of pretty much anything except for a crotch rocket or a few sport tourers (you'll probably never beat Ponch) and you'll do it while getting good gas mileage.

The 3 biggest/best Victory forums are: www.thevog.net, www.thevmc.com and www.cross-riders.com.

As totally awesome as the Victorys are, don't think you'll get much out of Victory corporate.

While you're planning for meets and rallies, don't forget AVR (American Victory Rally) in Spirit Lake, IA every August.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

The real deal-killer though was simply that I could not utilize a backrest and still have enough room for the wife to be comfortable.

Ummm, Kris, if you remember back a few weeks, I believe I told you how to overcome that backrest problem

[caribou]

I agree with the passenger space issue. I put a rider backrest on during the off season and had my wife get on. Don't know if it's going to work. May try to move the trunk back an inch or two.

[fammdw]

Congrats Kris! I hope you like your new bike. If the Victory dealership in Wichita wasn't functioning through insanity, I would most likely be riding a Cross Country right now. They wanted me to either trade my Nomad in for $5000 and buy their XC for full retail or keep the Nomad and they would discount the XC to what the current online sale price was at the time.

Probably for the best though as I would have ultimately wished I would have went with the Cross Country Tour like you're buying. I figure I'll ride my Voyager for another three years or so and probably end up on a Victory XCT before it's all said and done.

After buying my Voyager, I stopped by a dealership in Topeka that sells Victory and Kawasaki. The owner there impressed me when we spoke so if I make a change, that dealership will be my first stop. He has encouraged me to come by when they have their next big "test drive" event, but I'm afraid to. It was obvious when I test drove the XC that it was going to need some aftermarket help with wind management. I'm afraid if I ride the XCT, I'll find it perfect and do something foolish!

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

. . .
I really wish Kawi would have just revamped the 1600 platform with a 1700+cc motor, a six speed trans, the shaft drive and those same cool saddlebags with a trunk option. The generous rider/passenger space on that bike was a huge selling point. I fear that Kawasaki is going to lose marketshare to other brands if they don't somehow address that issue.

+1 I was a little surprised that you purchased so soon after the VV. Not at all surprised at your choice of a XCT. I still don't have an income in Phoenix (yet). Otherwise I would be on a 2012 Cross Roads set up similar to your XCT. The 2012 XR is the last year that has all the stuff I want (Gloss Black, Hard Bags, Windshield, Quick release Trunk option). If I bought "lightly used" it would only cost me $3-4K out of pocket after selling the Nomad.

Another thing I think you will be pleased with on your new Victory is the fuel mileage. Easy 200 + miles on one tank.

[Bdog]

Kris...although we've never met yet..its been an honour knowing you. Thank you for all your efforts you've particapated in VBA. I'm really happy for you that you have a ride that works for you. I too am looking for a new ride next yr. and my sights are on the Conours-14, I would have had it this season but I'm purchasing another house right now, so it has to wait a year. Kris ...we need pics..take care bro..Bdog