Victory test ride

[plumber63]

Coldwater Powersports Had a Victory demo day yesterday. I went and rode a XCT and a Vision. There are a lot of nice features on both bikes and a few issues like any bike. Me being 6'4" and a 36" inseam ( add another 1-2") for boots makes it hard to find something stock that fits well. Here are my options of both.

The XCT is very short in the leg area, any more than 32" inseam and I would think it would be a issue. It even had forward pegs and still not good. The steering was quite different from the nomad, not bad just awkward to me. The stock seat was really comfy the dash and controls set up nice and easy to navigate. They look really nice. The heel/toe shifter awkward. transmission very loud/clunky shifting thru gear( all of the victory seem that way in the group ride you could hear them in front and behind you). The radio sound was the most disappointing part of the bike my cheap shark system sounds better. I thought maybe need adjusted, asked and they said that was about as good as it got. Overall a nice bike but not for someone of my height.

The vision fit me much better seat even more comfy. Same tranny noise and no heel shifter. radio just as bad. The handling was a lot better, a lot like my nomad the way I have it set up, very smooth and nimble at low and high speed and thru the twisty. The power windshield was nice. cruise control cool. Controls and dash set up nice also. I think I could ride this all day. Passenger area on this one was the Issue, My Wife is only 5'3" and 125lbs, with me sitting so far back she could barely get here heel on the floor board and the back rest pushed her arms out.

One other thing I notice was the heat coming off the engines. It was only @75 degrees out and it was almost unbearable. Even my wife complained about it, and shes cold blooded.

Over all nice bikes but The 1600 Nomad still better fit for me. I did set on a new 1700 and it was worse than the XCT. The only other bike that they had that seen to fit both of us was a 2009 Yamaha Royal Star Venture ( the added bonus of a cassette play was a plus). Wife really like the tour pak on this one, so now i'm looking for one for the nomad.
So looks Like the Nomad is staying for a while and will get a few more up grades to get it better for longer trips.

[dank]

I believe that is the first time I have ever seen the words "nomad" and "nimble" in same sentence!

[Old Bear]

I'm just in shock that the Victory kool-aid failed so miserably!

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Old Bear

I'm just in shock that the Victory kool-aid failed so miserably!

Where are the Victory twins to defend their pride and joy?

[fammdw]

Originally Posted by plumber63

Coldwater Powersports Had a Victory demo day yesterday. I went and rode a CCT and a Vision. There are a lot of nice features on both bikes and a few issues like any bike. Me being 6'4" and a 36" inseam ( add another 1-2") for boots makes it hard to find something stock that fits well. Here are my options of both.

The CCT is very short in the leg area, any more than 32" inseam and I would think it would be a issue. It even had forward pegs and still not good. The steering was quite different from the nomad, not bad just awkward to me. The stock seat was really comfy the dash and controls set up nice and easy to navigate. They look really nice. The heel/toe shifter awkward. transmission very loud/clunky shifting thru gear( all of the victory seem that way in the group ride you could hear them in front and behind you). The radio sound was the most disappointing part of the bike my cheap shark system sounds better. I thought maybe need adjusted, asked and they said that was about as good as it got. Overall a nice bike but not for someone of my height.

The vision fit me much better seat even more comfy. Same tranny noise and no heel shifter. radio just as bad. The handling was a lot better, a lot like my nomad the way I have it set up, very smooth and nimble at low and high speed and thru the twisty. The power windshield was nice. cruise control cool. Controls and dash set up nice also. I think I could ride this all day. Passenger area on this one was the Issue, My Wife is only 5'3" and 125lbs, with me sitting so far back she could barely get here heel on the floor board and the back rest pushed her arms out.

One other thing I notice was the heat coming off the engines. It was only @75 degrees out and it was almost unbearable. Even my wife complained about it, and shes cold blooded.

Over all nice bikes but The 1600 Nomad still better fit for me. I did set on a new 1700 and it was worse than the CCT. The only other bike that they had that seen to fit both of us was a 2009 Yamaha Royal Star Venture ( the added bonus of a cassette play was a plus). Wife really like the tour pak on this one, so now i'm looking for one for the nomad.
So looks Like the Nomad is staying for a while and will get a few more up grades to get it better for longer trips.

I kind of got some of the same impressions you had, but I drove a XC, not a XCT. The XC had the worst wind management of any bike I have ever been on. The road debris that came up under the fairing peppered me like a shotgun blast at highway speeds.

The radio was awful. At first I attributed it to the wind noise, but even sitting still it sounded pretty bad. I did not attempt to adjust any settings on the radio, so maybe a little toying around with it would help the sound quality.

The transmission was a bit clunky, but I think I would get used to that. One thing I would have to do on that bike is change the rear brake pedal and add a heel shifter. The first couple of times I tried to brake using the rear brake pedal, I couldn't find it. It's just a little gear shifter style rod and it's really close to the engine housing.

I didn't ride the XCT, but I want to at some point. I'm sure at least some of my issues would be addressed on the touring bike. As for the Vision, I have absolutely no interest in it. I don't care for the looks.

It's possible that the XCT could be my next bike. Right now, if I were going to make a change from the Voyager it would come down to a XCT, Electra Glide or a Goldwing.

[landman]

Originally Posted by dank

I believe that is the first time I have ever seen the words "nomad" and "nimble" in same sentence!

me too !!!

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by landman

me too !!!

It is funny. When I owned my Nomad I rode my brother's Honda VTX 1800 and thought the Nomad was a much more "nimble" and comfortable bike.

I guess it depends what you compare it against. Next to a Sport Tourer or Crotch Rocket, it may not seem nimble but it is probably better handling than many baggers out there.

I think the Nomad is a good all around value, especially the 1500/1600. I have not ridden a 1700 (but sat on one long enough that I knew it did not fit me well).

[dshelly]

I'm sure the Victory boys on here will chime in soon.

[plumber63]

Originally Posted by dank

I believe that is the first time I have ever seen the words "nomad" and "nimble" in same sentence!

It maybe the way I have it set up. I have phattII risers and the bars rolled back and down. Along with my body and arm length I get more leverage to turn and lean it, like a longer handle torque wrench you can get more precise on the amount of force you put on something.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by schoeney

I guess it depends what you compare it against. Next to a Sport Tourer or Crotch Rocket, it may not seem nimble but it is probably better handling than many baggers out there.

Put a Nomad out there against a crotch rocket in a 40 mph cross wind and see what preforms better.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by waterman

Put a Nomad out there against a crotch rocket in a 40 mph cross wind and see what preforms better.

Good point.

[dank]

Originally Posted by waterman

Put a Nomad out there against a crotch rocket in a 40 mph cross wind and see what preforms better.

Put it out there against a ST 1300 and the ST will eat it alive in corners and straights, as well as tank range and comfort.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by dshelly

I'm sure the Victory boys on here will chime in soon.

LOL....okay....I'll bite.....but not like you think. I can only really speak to the XCT as that is what I know. As for what Mike said about the XC...I have to agree....lame wind management if any. Those issues are addressed in the touring model for sure. I rode both bikes back to back during my test rides and there is a huge difference in the bikes wind management. The XC has none and the XCT has lots.

For anyone as tall as plumber63....it would be hard to find something that fits. On the XCT....the hard lowers would seem be a problem for a guy with that long of an inseam, so his concerns there are valid. I too did not like the toe only shifter....so I added the heel shifter so it is like my Nomad was. The Vic heel shifter is not like the one I got from Kewlmetal, which is more like what we're used to.

As for the stereo....it is stock, no better or worse than other stock radios. The only difference I can tell between the one on my XCT and the one on my Voyager is that the XCT comes with four speakers (two in the trunk) and automatically reduces the volume when you slow down. The Voyager had only two speakers and no auto adust. As for sound quality, I couldn't tell a difference. Anyone who is that serious about their radio would probably add amps and better speakers and whatever other audio magic they needed to get their groove on. That's a whole 'nother thread. On a long trip to Idaho recently....even with my earplugs in at 70mph....I could hear my XM radio well enough to keep my head bobbing all the way across the state....

The steering is definitely different because the steering head is much farther forward on the Vic and the turning action is different. The best way I can describe it is to think of the action of a rocking chair vs a glider turned on their sides, the Nomad being the rocking chair with a single pivot point. The XCT is like the glider and requires you move both hands left to right or right to left in order to turn that bad boy in a close space. There is not much difference at speed...just slow speed maneuvers, but you get used to it quick.

Plumber...were you able to get them out on the highway and stretch the legs on the two bikes? If so....how did the power difference strike you between the Vision, XCT and Nomad? I am still amazed at the passing power of the stock Vics as most of the extra cheese is in the top end of those bikes. As for ergos, I need the cargo space of the XCT, so the Vision was not an option, but those who ride them seem to love them. I will always have a soft spot though for my 1600 Nomad...it was an all around great bike for a great value that gave me many miles of smiles throughout 12 western States and two Canadian Provinces. BTW...convert that to east coast terms and it would be equivalent to about 32 States.....

Anyways, I've come to really appreciate the different needs that everyone has for their bikes and there are many, value, reliability, comfort, power, lifestyle, ergos, bells & whistles,.....whatever it is....we all gotta ride what we gotta ride for whatever reason it is we gotta ride it...and amen to that....

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

The Voyager had only two speakers and no auto adust.

Seriously? I thought they did have automatic volume control?

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by dank

Put it out there against a ST 1300 and the ST will eat it alive in corners and straights, as well as tank range and comfort.

Hey this is the Nomad praising and Victory bashing thread.....don't change the subject smart guy