ANNOUNCEMENT

This Blog and the Victory Website has been moved to:

www.TheVOG.net

Check it out!

2008 Victory Vision
After a six year absence, I returned to the world of motorcycling with the newest in state of the art touring bikes

For many years, I loved motorcycling. I've owned more than a dozen bikes ranging from small and large scooters to sport bikes, street cruisers and highway two-wheeled Winnebago's. The bikes were a combination of models from Honda, Yamaha and Harley-Davidson.

In the past, I used motorcycling as a getaway from my hectic business traveling. Since I had little if any free time in those days, a nice two hour ride was a great way to unwind after returning from a long business trip.

While I did much of my riding on the back roads and highways of Tennessee and surrounding states, I moved to South Florida in the late 1990s. The riding in this area is different from the Tennessee experience. In South Florida, everything is flat and the drivers are nuts. I sold my last two bikes when I moved from Miami Beach to Boca Raton as I didn't like what I saw in the way people drove their cars in this area. Let's face it, Boca is a retirement haven and what I noticed was the driving skills were indicative of the average demographic age of the area.

I recently moved 35 miles North of Boca to the Palm Beach area and after living here a few months I realized that drivers are, for the most part, much more civilized. I missed riding and wanted to get back into the activity.

In January 2007 (still living in Boca), I was watching CNBC when they covered the unveiling of the Victory Vision at the New York Motorcycle Show. I immediately was drawn to it's design, styling and creature comforts, but had never ridden a Victory bike. I've read and heard good things about this New American Motorcycle Company, but had zero first hand experience with its products.

When I saw the unveiling, I then read numerous reports online. It was definitely a Love-It or Hate-It initial impression. I happened to be one that was attracted to the Vision's futuristic styling. I called the local dealer the same day as the unveiling and asked to be kept informed when this bike would be showing up at his dealership.

However, understanding product cycles, I didn't want to be the first on my block with this bike as I preferred to have some of the initial bugs identified and corrected before considering a  purchase.

After the initial product demand pipeline was filled and bikes started becoming readily available, I contacted the dealer to setup a test drive. Today's economic conditions that were triggered by the sub-prime mortgage market, has spread to all luxury goods...even motorcycles. In these economic times, high-end products, even desirable motorcycles are not flying off the showroom floors. It's a tough market to introduce any new product...especially one that will set you back nearly $25K.

The dealer experience was nothing short of extraordinary. They didn't try to sell me "image" as I experienced over the years from Harley dealers, they were bike-guys that let the Vision sell itself. At no time during the purchase process did I feel pressured.

Allow me to state that it's no secret that I'm technically oriented and love well designed electronic creature comforts. After a nice talk with the dealer, he openly admitted that I was not his typical customer as I'm well versed in current electronic offerings and while he didn't know the answers to all my questions, he would get them for me. Instead of giving me inaccurate information about the electronic features and functions, we arrived at an agreement that we would work together to fully understand the integration of numerous features that were unique to this bike and not offered on existing Victory models.

It was nice to have this type of experience and the assurance that if something is not working correctly, he would take the time to get it right. I also let him know that I was far from a mechanic and a lot of the associated jargon was foreign to me. Basically, I don't service my bikes, I depend on the dealer to keep it in a safe, strong operating condition. It was a pleasure of a purchase...the best I've ever experienced. No hard sell, no tricks.

We agreed on the terms and conditions of the purchase and a delivery date. I wanted the bike delivered as the dealership was nearly an hour away from my home. I wanted to get used to the bike on my familiar turf and in my neighborhood prior to taking it on various streets and highways. It would take about a week to get the final accessories I requested delivered and installed. When the delivery date approached, I received a call from the dealer telling me that a couple of items would arrive a week later than originally thought. We agreed these items would be installed at the first service interval. A later call let me know that when he was prepping it for delivery, he noticed a small bubbling on a body part. He wanted to replace it prior to delivery. This was a good thing...having a dealer that truly inspected the bike for any defects prior to delivery. This was a service I had never experienced with any previous bike purchase. This is the type of thing that breeds brand and dealer loyalty.

When the bike was delivered to my home, it was nice having an uninterrupted walk-through in my driveway. There was no paging or other distractions. He went stem-to-stern on the walk through and took the time to answer every question. Yes, when you get a new bike the first thing you want to do is to take it for a ride. Instead, he took the time to make sure I fully understood the operation of various functions and delivered excellent information.

The following is my accounting on getting back into riding after a short absence with a bike that is truly different than anything I've ever ridden.

While this site is not setup to be a message board, if you have any questions or input, feel free to drop an email by clicking the Contact link at the top of this page.

February 14, 2008
Day 1

My Midnight Cherry Vision was delivered this afternoon. While I had taken a short test drive prior to purchasing, it takes putting more miles on it to get comfortable on any bike.

First, I'm very pleased with my purchase. My dealer, Victory of South Florida was a pleasure to deal with. This is my 12th bike over 20 years and I've owned multiple bikes from Honda, Yamaha and Harley.

Also, I haven't ridden in six years, so I'm operating the bike with a bit of caution.

The dealer experience was wonderful and I highly recommend them. It was far from the Harley experience where I've always felt at a disadvantage during the purchase procedure and the follow up service.

He didn't try to sell me the "American Heritage" crap, or overload me with junk I just don't need at this time. He just touted a superior motorcycle from a company that strives to constantly improve its offerings. .

Allow me to state, I'm far from a mechanic and do not plan on doing any of my own service. So having a good relationship with the dealer is important to me. On the other hand, I'm a tech-guy (my profession) and he did not hesitate to let me know that we would learn how to outfit the bike to my specifications together. If it's not right, no problem, he'll follow up to make sure all the gadgets work properly.

Basically, I added everything except the CB/Intercom system. All other technology items are on this bike. I didn't opt for the standard Victory GPS as has already been discontinued by Garmin. Instead, I purchased from Amazon the Garmin 2820 as it includes the current maps and adds other features such as Bluetooth and XM. While I installed the Victory XM package, I wanted to use the XM Traffic and Weather features on the GPS. The dealer installed it and it fits perfectly. I also opted for the iPod connector and am using a 2nd Generation Nano.

It works perfectly and as promised. (It sounds much better than the radio).

While I purchased the Tour Premium, I will not be using the trunk on a regular basis. I've ordered the trunk wall mount and will attach it when needed. The dealer was upfront and honest when he told me that it might take a week or two to obtain the cover under the trunk. So, I'm riding it with the trunk until the part comes in. My hope was to get some initial seat time without the trunk. But that's life and the dealer has been honest and upfront with me. I must say, that when I stopped for dinner, having the trunk was a great convenience as there are no helmet locks on the ViVi.

My first experience was backing it out of my driveway which is level, but has a swell where it meets the street. I'm not a tall driver (5'6") and gaining the proper traction backing up over the swell took some practice. I'm sure I'll become more comfortable with this maneuver with more experience.

I spent the first hour riding at reasonable speeds in my neighborhood.

I am more concerned becoming comfortable riding at slow speeds and mastering tight, slow turns and U-Turns. I learned not to fight the bike as it is very intuitive at low speeds. A slight lean and a head movement into the turn makes the bike much more nimble than the 800+ lb. weight you lead you to believe. It's difficult to trust any bike of this size, but after day 1, I feel slow speed maneuvers will soon become second nature.

Next I did some street riding and was very pleased with the performance and handling. Anyone who says this bike is underpowered is crazy. While I'm keeping the RPMs low during the break-in period, I always felt there was plenty of off the line power and no limit to the roll-on.

I then gave it a ride on the 70mph Florida Turnpike. The acceleration is smooth and delivers a great roll on power band. It was my first time experiencing the 6th gear and while it maintained a low RPM, it still delivered a good sound from the Level 1 (with Gunner tips) exhaust.

The GPS worked well...but right now I'm not focusing on the technology while riding as I want to focus on the bike and riding responsibly.

(The dealer also mentioned to focus on the bike initially, not the toys...great advice). I did try the cruise control and it operated like a champ without taking my eyes off the road.

At 70MPH, it was much more stable than my old Harley Road King...and this is with the trunk mounted...I'm wondering how the highway handling will change when the trunk is removed. Buffeting is basically non existent. However, when compared to the Goldwing, while the Vision delivers a great ride, it's a completely different experience from the Goldwing. The GW felt more stable at high speeds. But, GWs are a bear in stop and go traffic. The Vision handled stop and go very, very well and I always felt a good balance. (I love the low seat height!).

While I've only had a few hours of seat time on this bike, this is an initial review. My feeling is that this bike is a cross between a Goldwing and a Harley Glide...with the best aspects of both. It's much more nimble than the Glide, but not as smooth at highway speeds as a Goldwing. But, let's face it, the Wing is a fairly boring ride. The Vision is not! I'm not disappointed as this blend was the type of bike/ride I was seeking and so far, I'm happy with my purchase.

I'm taking the refresher rider course next week and am looking forward to remembering many of the riding habits I've forgotten due to my five year absence.
 

February 15, 2008
DAY 2

It took three calls to get the XM Radio activated. Call 1 was an automated system...no luck. Call 2 was to a live person...no luck.

Call 3 got the radio activated.

I'm feeling much more comfortable with the bike today. I just took a 50 mile ride through town, along the ocean and on the Florida Turnpike. It's near 80 degrees today and the only time I felt any heat was when I was going stop light to stop light...at a stop. The heat was near my calves and wasn't bad, just a bit noticeable. When underway, just by sliding the feet outwards a couple of inches along the floorboards resolved the heat issue. Compared to my old Harleys, the heat generated on the Vision is minimal. Also, due to the seat being behind the engine, not on top of the rear cylinder as in most Harleys, the seat didn't get warm. Allow me to note, the floorboards are great! I had the shifter and the brake lever placed in the rear (close) position and it fits me well. I hope the critics notice that these floorboards are standard equipment, not a Parts and Labor overcharge you'll find at that other American motorcycle dealer.

While yesterday, I was a bit uncomfortable on the highway at 70+ MPH, today it felt much better and there was zero fatigue. Chalk that up to first day jitters. The trunk is still intact and it will be a week or so until the plate arrives so that I can remove the trunk. I'm very curious as to how differently it will handle with the trunk removed.

However, when stopping at a Starbucks, it was nice to simply be able to place the helmet in the trunk.

Another interesting observation was that when riding over the grates on the top of draw-bridges, the bike remained stable. On my old Goldwing and Harleys, I would always have the feeling of "skating"

This did not happen with the Vision.

The automatic volume control worked well. It would get louder based on your speed and vice-versa. The XM satellite sounded great...well, as good as the speakers. But let's be real. It's a motorcycle sound system, not a Lexus.

So far my only complaint is that someone should have designed a "quick release" bracket for the GPS. It's a pain to take off an on. When parked, I simply place the snap-on cover over the display. If anyone knows of a quick release bracket, please click the Contact button on the top of this page and I'll share the information.

So, on Day 2, I'm becoming more comfortable with my purchase.

February 16, 2008
DAY 3

Played golf this morning and just took a short 30 mile highway ride.

I'm now finding myself sitting a bit further back in the seat. This is very helpful in slow turns. I guess this means I'm starting to trust the bike more. It truly handles better than any other large bike I've ever owned. I'm impressed with the natural characteristics of this bike.

I filled the gas tank for the first time and took the advice of blog posters and filled slowly and when it appeared full I slightly moved the bike side to side and continued to add more gas. I had about 65 miles to go to empty and it took 4.387 gallons. After the fill-up, the fuel gauge showed slightly more than 3/4 full on the stand and full when upright. I noticed it took about a minute for the digital display to recalculate the miles per empty reading. I'm getting 42 MPG average. I'm doing my best to keep it under 3,000 RPM during the break-in period and am riding an equal mix of street/highway riding.

The only problem I'm having is with my Scala Rider Q2 headset when paired to the Garmin 4820 GPS and a Samsung Blackjack phone. Simply stated, the GPS volume is too low when routed through the Bluetooth headset. And, I'm getting intermittent beeping in my ear. I'll be on the phone with Scala on Monday. Worse case scenario, I'll un-pair the headset from the GPS and just pair it to the phone. I haven't tried the phone while riding yet, but am sure the sound quality won't be that great.

I'm still riding with the trunk and the handling is great for a bike this size. I'm anxious to try it out without the trunk to see how it improves. I will admit I like having the storage space for the helmet when stopped.

When I arrived home, I stopped in the driveway to play with the Bluetooth settings with the motor running. I noticed that after a couple of minutes the heat rising from the side of the engine. This was not noticeable when riding...only when stopped for a few minutes with the engine running. Unlike my old Harleys, the seat did not absorb the heat from the engine. No complaints.
 

February 17, 2008
Day 4 - Morning

I visited a V-Twin forum last night and it was interesting to read what the Harley-Owners are saying about the Vision. I posted my initial experiences and the following is a question I received (posted verbatim) and the response I delivered:

V-TWIN RIDER QUESTION: It sounds like you are real happy with the bike, I remember going from a Low Rider to a Road king being vertically challenged that backing up was scary 8 years later it's no big deal. I am curious as to the feel of the bike, every honda I ever road felt very sterile-no real feed back from the clutch or throttle, not that it didn't respond but my harleys felt more mechanical? Is the victory neutral in its feel or do you feel like you are riding a machine. Not sure if thats a clear cut question but if you road a RK then a GW you know what I mean.

MY RESPONSE: Yes, I'm happy with the Vision. It was a major, somewhat difficult decision to go with a yet unproven bike. It was a gamble and while I'm happy after a few days, I think I'll stay happy over the long run.

I've owned three Harleys: Heritage Softail Special (I forgot the year, but it was the cream/silver model) and Sportster (good on street, poor on highway) and a Road King (pretty good bike). The Road King was a late 1990's model and was purchased new. It was the first HD RK with fuel injection. I remember the dealer had a difficult time and getting it to deliver the "potato" sound and they were using my bike and my wallet to try to figure out how to get a good sound out of a Fuel Injected model. I liked the ride of the RK and in many ways the Vision is similar. The Vision feels and is much larger than the RK on the road and is easier to handle at slow speeds. The center of gravity is completely different.

Not to trash the RK, but one issue I had with it was the chrome. I had a combination of stock and aftermarket chrome products. When I moved the bike to my South Florida Beach Home, I started having chrome pitting problems. I was traveling (for business) at that time and although the bike was garage kept, it was an open-air garage and part of a high rise building. I would keep it covered when I was out of town. It was not directly exposed to the elements, but if you've ever lived on or near a Florida beach, you'll understand the air is humid and salty. After a short ten days, the pitting would reappear. The part that confused my dealer that only the Genuine Harley Parts would pit, not the aftermarket chrome parts. This dealer, Petersons, was much better than my previous (I won't slam them) dealership. They would pick up the bike, polish the pits out and return the bike. After a few rounds of this, I finally asked they sell it for me. It had few miles and they treated me fairly. Now, back to the Vision...

This bike is far from sterile. The way it looks and the way it rides are totally different. At first glance, it's futuristic love-it-or-hate-it design gave you the impression that it would deliver a Goldwing type of ride...until you sat on it and pressed the start button. Like a Harley, it delivers an exciting, exploding sound.

Burping the throttle is similar to a Harley with good pipes...definitely not boring. Definitely a major league V-Twin. (I have the Level 1 exhaust with the Tail Gunner tips). The 106CI, 1,700+CC Engine is definitely in the major leagues and is more akin to an Arlen Ness modified Harley. Remember, other than the Level 1 exhaust and new tips, this was a "stock" bike. I was impressed that I didn't have to spend thousands extra to get this experience.

The throttle is very Harley-like, but without unneeded vibration. It's not sterile like a Honda. The roll on is amazing. I am not experiencing numb-thumbs. Yes, I can feel the engine through the grips, but only the good part of the feel...not the shaky part.

The hydraulic clutch is smooth, but engages late in the lever release.

The feel of it was similar to the Road King that had the accessory (I forgot the name of it) that makes the clutch easier to pull. Although it engages later in the release, it is easy to control.

Shifting is easy. It's a toe-only shifter (although toe/heel shifters are available. The interesting part about the shifter and floor brake is that they are adjustable to three positions: front/center/rear.

Being a shorter rider, 5'6" I wisely had it set to the rear position as when I test drove the demo model, I found myself reaching a bit to reach the brake lever. This was a nice feature to include and confirmed that this is a true riders bike that can fit a variety of body types.

Finding Neutral has been easy. Not Honda easy, but much easier than any Harley I've owned or ridden. Shifting is a positive-click experience and has a bit of that good Harley thunk. Allow me to add that not only is there a neutral light, there is a large LCD that displays the current gear...although there is about a one-second lag.

Don't laugh, this a welcomed feature as when I was on the highway, I didn't realize I was in 5th gear until I saw the display...I thought I was in the 6th (overdrive) gear.

Per your question: "I am curious as to the feel of the bike, every honda I ever road felt very sterile-no real feed back from the clutch or throttle, not that it didn't respond but my harleys felt more mechanical? Is the victory neutral in its feel or do you feel like you are riding a machine. Not sure if thats a clear cut question but if you road a RK then a GW you know what I mean."

Yes, I fully understand the question and had the same concern prior to test riding. The Vision delivers an American V-Twin Power Machine Feel...definitely not Honda-mechanical. The Arlen Ness influence is apparent. It's far from a sterile Honda feel. The best way I can describe the riding experience is getting you to imagine a bike that handles easier than a Road King around town and more stable than a Glide on the highway. It is not a wimp...it's a heavy bike. This 850lb behemoth (with trunk) drops 250 lbs as soon as you reach 5 mph. But feels solid on a 70mph highway cruise. Great sound with a very solid American feel. At all speeds, there is a lower level of negative vibrations...the type that causes driving fatigue. The electrically adjustable fairing windshield slides up and down to accommodate wind in the face or full protection. The vibration does not translate to the windshield or mirrors...the mirror vision remains stable at all speeds. The mirrors are oversized and provides a wide view. (Some of the press reviewers complained they could see their hands in the mirror. Duh! I guess they didn't take a moment to adjust them properly!)

Another noteworthy factor is the stock seat. It is absolutely the most comfortable stock bike seat I've ever experienced. Not too soft, not too hard. The incorporated driver "butt rest" is wonderful. As mentioned, I'm started to settle into the seat and the further back I sit in it, the better the low speed handling. This was a good experience for me.

Allow me to add that I am in no way affiliated with Victory or in any way to the motorcycle industry. I retired at a young age and was a professional product reviewer for most of my life who provided non-biased evaluations of consumer electronic products. The information I have posted about the Vision is strictly personal opinion, but comes from someone who has owned at least a dozen various motorcycles over a period of nearly 20 years.

I'm not saying that the Vision is perfect, but from my experience, this is the best first generation motorcycle product I've ever seen.

It seems that this bike was not rushed out the door and Victory suffered a few delays that were beneficial to the early adopters. This is a good thing and I just wish more companies would realize that first impressions are lasting impressions.

END OF RESPONSE

DAY 4 - Afternoon

The weather was iffy this morning, but the clouds passed Northern Palm
Beach County around 11am and the radar showed clear skies to the
South. So, I did a highway ride today. I went to the folks' around 40
miles South of me for an all Turnpike ride. The speed limit is 70mph
and traffic is light on Sundays...so it was a great day for a ride. On
a side note, there's nothing like telling your Senior Citizen
Folks...Hey, I got a new bike! Of course, they're not thrilled but are
used to me having bikes most of my adult life. (I was raised in a
household where motorcycles were not allowed...not even open for
discussion. Being in my early 50's now with 20+ years riding
experience, with a multi-year sabbatical from riding, I realize it was
probably a good thing to wait to enter the world of bikes until I was
a bit older. As adults, we know we're not bulletproof and typically
don't attempt crazy maneuvers and don't mind wearing the proper
protective gear). The only scary part of today's ride was when I was
in the folk's neighborhood. It's loaded with Senior Citizens (G-d
bless them all) who don't look when they back out of a parking space
nor pay too much attention while driving. I had to keep a wide buffer
on all sides to stay away from those errant drivers. (There's
something about those Long Island snowbirds when they come to
Florida...they are lousy drivers...Yankee Go Home! No offense meant).

Not much new to add today other than the Vision is a dream on the
highway. Hey, it's first and foremost a touring bike and things such
as changing lanes at 70mph is effortless as is the winding
entrance/exit ramps at reasonable speeds...much less effort than my
old Harley Road King or Goldwing.

I'm starting to become more accustomed to the mirrors and just have to
move my head slightly to see directly behind the bike. Seeing the left
or right sides is easy. I'm truly impressed with the lack of vibration
in the mirror and the lack of distortion.

The windshield is showing a bit of distortion at the top flair. I'm
short, so when it's all the way up, it's okay. When I have it lower,
the top and flair get in my sight field. So, if anyone from Victory is
reading this thread, please consider a higher quality windshield that
can be used as a replacement for the electric shield.

In terms of fatigue, it was a relatively short ride. Upon my return,
when I saw my exit sign after 40 miles, I could have easily gone
another 100 without a second thought. Considering that I stopped
around every 100 miles on my Goldwing to take a stretch, this is a
good thing.

I'm still having issues with the GPS voice commands coming through my
Bluetooth helmet as the volume level is too low and I haven't had any
luck with adjustments. I'll be on the phone with tech support on
Monday morning.

In terms of riding philosophy, I have three mantras:

1) I ride in a "bubble" and attempt to stay aware of everything in a
360-degree radius. If I find myself in someone's blind spot, I either
accelerate around the vehicle or slow down to place myself in the
driver's vision area. I keep a good buffer distance from the car in
front of me and if there's a tailgater, I reposition my bike to get
out of harm's way.

2) When the day comes when I'm not a bit nervous when I first swing my
leg over the bike, I won't ride. I refuse to be cocky or overconfident
when I ride.

3) I ride within my potential...not my bike's potential. This keeps me
aware, cautious and (hopefully) safe whenever I ride.

February 18, 2008
Day 5

Today, another good day. A cool front and rain is expected to move
through the area tonight so today I did two short trips totaling
around 50 miles. I'm now up to around 270 miles on the Vision.

While I have some work going on around the house, I was stuck here
until 1pm. I took my Turnpike route up a couple of exits and returned.
It was more windy than usual on the highway and I'm still impressed
with the bike's stability. Even with the trunk still mounted, it
handled well at 70mph in the wind. While I'm sure the trunk catches
some side wind, I'm now wondering if its additional 50+ lbs. of trunk weight
increases the stability at highway speeds. It's another week or so
until the bike goes in for the initial service and that's when I'll
have the trunk removed.

I met with "Cindy The Closet Girl" today to design the cabinetry that will convert my former golf cart garage into the Vision's home. I'll be adding the trunk mount to the wall so it will stay scratch-free when not in use. Cindy has a good eye for design and decided it would be better to have it mounted just a few feet off the floor. I'll post photos when the job is completed.

During the purchase procedure, I made an arrangement with the dealer to pickup and deliver the bike for the initial service. Like others, I'm waiting for the plate to cover the opening when the trunk is removed. Since he'll give me a demo on how to remove the trunk on its return, having the dealer pickup and deliver the bike was the most logical solution. After all, how else would I get the trunk home after removal? Okay, I could do it myself, but I wanted a demo. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! The alternative was getting a chase car to the dealership then having someone drive me to pick it back up. Since the dealership is around a 45 minute drive, I'm glad he'll be taking it back and forth.

For the afternoon ride, I started North on the turnpike around 4:45pm. The Vision's temperature readout displayed 87 degrees. In reality, it was closer to 82 degrees. The discrepancy is most likely attributed to the heat absorbed by the pavement. After a mile I noticed the Southbound lane was backed up. When I exited, since I was in unfamiliar territory, I pulled over and set the GPS for home, passed the Turnpike and listened (eyes on the road) as it guided me to I-95 South.

Typically I avoid I-95 as it's known for road raged and crazy drivers.
But today, it flowed smoothly. When I merged on my exit it was a bit
stop and go and I could feel a bit of engine heat. Simply stated, this
bike does not like standing still. It's a different type of heat than I
experienced on Harleys as it dissipates towards the lower
calves/ankles. My experience with three Harley-Davidsons was that the
heat would rise and make the seat uncomfortable. Hey, the heat has to
go somewhere and I'm glad it's not towards the seat/crotch area!

Not being a "gear-head," the V-Twin engine is oil-cooled. Compared to a
Goldwing, the Vision feels to be running a bit warmer, but not too
uncomfortable. I guess I'll find out just how hot it will get when I get stuck in a traffic jam. I'm wondering if a water-cooled (radiator) Vision will be a future model.

After two days of riding, I posted my wish list of future options on www.vision-riders.com an Vision enthusiast website. Here' they are in no particular order:

1) Reverse Gear (Okay, I'm a vertically challenged rider!)

2) Quick Release Mount for the GPS

3) Easier (tool-less) Release System for the Trunk

4) More Color Options (I'm sure this is coming)

5) Push Button Air Shock Control (no external pump required)

6) More Adjustment Options for the Windshield (need it to go another
inch or two lower)

7) Adjustable Handlebars

8) Side Bags deep enough to hold a helmet

9) Better Stereo Speakers

10) Better FM Antenna (stronger signal strength)

11) Air Vents built into the fairing (like the GW)

Evidently I'm not alone in wanting more features for this bike. Here's
what others added to my post on the blog:

12. The windshield top edge could be without the flair. I am not sure
if this bit of engineering for airflow is more important than the
disruption of my vision at the edge.

13) Chrome the clutch and front brake fluid reservoirs on the premium models.

14) Turn signal and brakes operating the red lights on the tour pack.

15) Side reflectors should be lit. Hey the badges lite up, why not the
side reflectors?

16) Premium model should come with power outlet, instead of as an accessory.

Then others chimed-in:

Agree that trunk lights should function for brake and turn.

Agree speakers are weak............I should get my new ones next week.

Agree FM signal is weaker than it should be............I now use mostly XM.

Agree clutch and front brake fluid reservoirs should be chrome. While
they are at it maybe they could chrome the forks too! Ha, Ha

Would like the rear tip over parts to be chrome like the front. When I
add the chrome side covers, grille, access panel, rear valence, and
inner fairing pcs. they will stick out like a sore thumb. Since they
are bolted to the swing arm the will be costly to change or modify.

Would like to see chrome handles on the bags. Who at victory has the
fetish with silver anyway? My wife's bike is a black and bronze
Kingpin that came with a silver swing arm, pulley, and controls. Why
didn't they paint it black? God it was ugly! Had to buy chrome to make
it look right.

Would like to see a better mount for the GPS. For a $1000 it should be
able to be left on the bike without fear of it being stolen. The
current one is held in place by a thin metal clip held down by a small
screw. I think a 10 year old could pull it out of the bracket if he
wanted to.

In addition to the suggestions already made, I would like to see the
Vision incorporate a shaft drive and single-sided swing arm like the
BMW system that Honda incorporated into the GL1800. I know it's
heavier and robs a little rear-wheel power, but the ease of servicing
the rear tire more than makes up for it. I would also like to see the
trunk running lights activated as brake lights and turn signals. A
luxury touring bike like the Vision should also have a center stand:
perhaps a system similar to the one on the Kawasaki Voyager XII. Those
reguire very little effort to deploy and can easily lift a fully
loaded touring bike with relative ease.

In addition to all of the previous suggestions
1. Better rear view mirror positioning, I'd rather see what is behind
and on the side of me instead of my hands on the handle grips.
2. For the Tour a break light built into the trunk or an option that
fits between the trunk and optional luggage rack would be acceptable.
3. Heel Toe shifter.
4. Additional power outlets that are more accessible.
5. Seat Heating controls in the console instead of behind and under
the passenger seat.
6. As for the possibility of a shaft drive, that is a great low
maintenance feature but I think it would interfere with rear bag size
and space. More side bag storage capacity would be nice.
7. A powered center stand like on the BMW LT.

Then, I added another idea to the thread:

A Keyless Ignition

Just about every new car has this feature, why not have it on the Vision?

And others added suggestions:

- Lighted control buttons.

- 2 auxiliary radio inputs (e.g. iPOD and portable XM radio)

- Higher output stereo amplifier.

- Relocated heated grip controls and driving light controls closer to
driver instead of hidden behind the GPS.

- Place the driver's heated seat controls up front next to heated grip controls.

- Better use of existing saddlebags (larger storage, less wasted hinge
space - as mentioned, helmet size would be great).

- Move the rear tip over protection further back to prevent feet getting caught.

- HID High/Low beams in addition to HID driving lights.

- Turn signals in mirrors.

- Better mirrors (behind and blind spot).

- Others already listed above.

...and more

A Stock, wired at the factory, intercom system is a must on the tour.
CB could be an accessory. It is pure bull I would have to pay labor hours to have it installed, and still not have peace of mind the job
was done at factory standards.

A lower first & second gear. This is the first bike I have ridden that
needs shifted into 1st when making a 90º turn. When my RPMs drop below 2,800, I don't feel the power, and I don't trust the 2nd gear 10-15
MPH turn in.

...and more

Checking rear tire pressure (and adding air) is a pain. I'd like a
tire pressure readout for both tires as part of the digital menu and a
90 degree bend on the rear valve stem to make access a lot easier.
The Dunlop Elite 3's are really sensitive to tire pressure and even a
2-3 lb drop is noticeable in the handling.

...and more

The most advanced bike on the road should have a rider to passenger
intercom as a standard feature. Period. Having the option to include a
bike-to-bike is also a must, but could be an add-on. However, to limit
this to CB only and then ONLY on the tour model is ridiculous. I
should be able to chose between CB, FRS, GMRS, and/or whatever
Chatterbox uses. And in this day and age, the most technologically
advanced bike on the market should offer a true wireless setup for
bike-to-bike comm. I shouldn't have to wire my head to a motorcycle or
hang a big bosx from my helmet to talk to the folks I'm riding with.

I guess I'm not the only one who wants Victory to make another version
of the Vision. Making it a Winnebago on Wheels! Not a Goldwing, but a
V-Twin version that will deliver the modern styling of the Vision
combined the the technology of the Goldwing.

After riding for just five days and just starting to understand the
characteristics of this bike, I can only say that Harley-Davidson
better go back to the drawing room and that while retro styling is
good, the future of two-wheelers will come from thinking outside the
box.

Oops, there was one other suggestion posted on the blog and I have to say this one is my favorite:

If I could change anything. I would relocate the whole bike along with rider to a warmer location.

Sorry about the nasty winter folks, but I'm in Sunny Florida.

Golf and Biking...Life is Good!

February 19, 2008
Day 6

For once, the local weather forecasters almost got it right. They predicted a large cool front with periodic rain. It's 1pm, cloudy, 67 degrees and not a drop of rain in my area. I had a golf game planned today and we cancelled it due to the weather forecast. If I had it all to do over again, I'd become a meteorologist. It seems like little if any accuracy is required for this job. They are now saying that it's going to be partly sunny in the afternoon. Hmm, I'll wait and see.

I called Cardo Systems today to address the issue of a random beeping sound coming through the Bluetooth headset. My original game plan was to pair the headset and my phone through the Garmin GPS. As stated earlier, the Garmin reps were not of much assistance.

I purchased the Bluetooth headset and an Arai helmet online from www.helmetshop.com. They performed the installation and even charged it up for me so I could use it immediately. It arrived in record time. What I liked best about this company is that the salesperson was very knowledgeable and after learning "how" I would use it, highly recommended the Q2. This product has only been available for a few weeks and he stated he as used it and felt it was the best on the market.

Once the pairing was successful, it did not operate well and the volume level was so low in the helmet, I couldn't hear anything. So, I unpaired the devices and simply paired my Samsung Blackjack phone directly to the Cardo's Scala Rider Q2. Yesterday, I had a friend give me a test call and it the quality exceeded my expectations. The best part was that it was a true hands free experience. To answer an incoming call, simply start talking. It was really that simple. However, there was one issue I was not comfortable with.

While riding, there would be an annoying intermittent beep. The beeps might be ten seconds apart or five minutes apart. There was no pattern. I called Cardo's tech support today and they answered quickly. I explained my setup and they stated it could be the wind triggering the voice activated headset.

I noticed that on the microphone there was a small yellow marking. I asked the tech support representative which direction that was to face. He said "towards the mouth." It wasn't it was faced outwards. He said to twist the flexible extension to the proper position. He thought this might be the problem as the wind would trick the microphone to attempt to activate the voice activated intercom/voice dialing feature. I don't have the second headset (yet) that is necessary for usage a wireless Bluetooth intercom. Also, my phone does not have voice dialing.

Hopefully this afternoon the clouds will move out and I can give it a try to see if the incorrect microphone position was causing the beeping. The tech rep was great, if it didn't fix it, he'd replace it. You can't ask for anything more than this.

February 19, 2008
Day 6 - Part II

Three Words For Today

Weather Forecasters Suck

Today was supposed to be cloudy and rainy. It was a bit overcast this
morning...just enough to make you not want to ride due to the threat of thunderstorms. By 1pm I was seeing blue skies and at 2pm I rolled out the Vision to ride in the most gorgeous conditions known to mankind.

The 5pm weatherman is on the air now touting what a gorgeous day is was today. This was the same idiot that just yesterday was telling us how this front was going to be bringing with it some potentially dangerous storms. I think I'm going to market a weather dartboard...it will probably be more accurate than the local forecasters. I'm a lousy dart player...but probably better at darts than these guys are at forecasting weather. Don't get me started on how they miscalculated Hurricane Wilma. Doppler-Schmoppler!

The temperature was 72 degrees with little if any humidity. It was
absolutely perfect riding weather. I took a different route today and
as luck would have it, there were detours. I say luck as I'm
relatively new to Northern Palm Beach County and I don't know the back
roads well. I was told by a friend last night about alternative,
non-highway routes to get to Jupiter, Florida with my plan to combine
some street and highway driving.

My trips to nowhere start with finding a Starbucks that's at least 15
miles away from my home...making for a short but comfortable 30 mile trip. While I didn't know the exact street address of that specific Starbucks, I
knew which roads would get me to the vicinity and I was told they
consisted of numerous curves (difficult to find in South Florida) and
some traffic circles. However, there's an art festival going on that closed
the route I was planning on taking. When I noticed the detours taking
me off my planned route, I pulled over and fired up the GPS. I tried
looking for the desired Starbucks using the P.O.I. (Points Of Interest) search and while it turned up numerous locations, the one I had picked wasn't
found. It was locating Starbucks stores South of me...not North. I
guess I'll have to take the advice I've given others with new
electronic products: R.T.F.M. READ THE FREAKING MANUAL.

The good news is that I knew the street name where it was
located. Even better, I knew the name of a really cute Barista Babe
that works there. But knowing her name wouldn't assist me in finding
the store. My standard joke with friends is that my sense of direction is so
poor that I need a GPS to find a Starbucks! (We all know there's a
Starbucks on most street corners). So, I inputted the name of the
street and the city on the GPS and VOILE, I was back in gear headed in the
correct direction. With my lousy sense of direction, having a GPS on a
bike is a necessity. Even better, having the Garmin Street Pilot 2820 wired
directly into the Vision's speaker system makes it where I rarely, if
ever, have to take my eyes off the road. (Thank you Victory for making the Vision GPS friendly!). When I got to the detour sign, the Garmin was a champ and recalculated my route to get me to the correct street. It was a good ride that was made better by not having to think about directions.

Yes, my favorite Barista Babe was working today and I had my Decaf
Java Chip Frappuccino while sitting in outside the store and staring
at my Vision parked in the lot. Life is good!

I'm starting to get more comfortable backing up my bike. While this maneuver made me a bit nervous the first couple of days, it's now a no brainer...as long as I don't park on a down slope. I've come to realize that what sets this bike apart from the Goldwing and Harleys I've owned is that this bike is well balanced. If you've ridden other large bikes, you will definitely notice the superior balancing characteristics of the Vision. It's especially noticable when stopping, starting and during low speed maneuvering. I've noticed that I don't do that slight left lean when starting from a stop. This is truly a well engineered and balanced bike. I will bet that there's a few Visions currently being dissected in Japan and Milwaukee.

For the ride back, I took the Turnpike. It was only a seven mile
jaunt, but when I got to my exit, I continued Southbound a couple of
more exits. I was cruising at 70mph listening to the Schnitt Show on
XM. If you haven't listened to his show he's on XM 152 from 3pm to
6pm. Definitely my favorite talk show host. So, I listened to music on
the way up and Schnitt on the way back. Today's show was focused on
Castro's resignation and he gave his theory that he hasn't been in
control for quite some time. (I love conspiracy theorist radio!). Then
he mocked Michael Moore's health care movie saying that Moore stated
that even Cuba's health care system is better than the care found in U.S. hospitals. Schnitt then pointed out that when Castro had his surgery it was
botched by the local doctors and they had to fly in a surgeon from
Spain. But, I digress...

I guess the moral to this story is that I've never been on a bike with sound system that is so clear that I can listen to talk radio while driving at 70mph. This is quite a feat Victory. While other riders have posted concerns about the built-in speakers, I can only guess they have never had a bike with a built-in stereo system before and expect it to be a car-like experience. I can tell you first hand that the built-in speaker system is more than sufficient for a bike. It sounds great with the iPod and with XM Satellite Radio. I've read posts about other riders spending some big bucks replacing the Vision's speakers with those from J and M and have reported little if any difference. I guess this backs up my theory that the built-in speakers are more than sufficient for a motorcycle. 

My only complaint on the audio side is that the FM antenna could be a bit more powerful, but it is sufficient. With XM though, I really haven't used the FM Band. Next, I'll have to read up on the built-in Weather Band. I'm sure it's more accurate that those TV weather-personalities. (Yes, today is the Official Pick On Your Local Meteorologist Day!). If you're living in the frozen tundra...blame your weather person!

So, I passed a few exits then turned around and headed back home. I
noticed I had around 90 miles to empty and stopped by the gas station
for my second fill up. This time the tank accepted 4.399 gallons and
left me with 252 miles to empty. My gas usage is now at an average of
41.2 mpg per the Vision's computer. I can only estimate I'm logging around 60% highway miles and 40% around town...maybe a bit more on the highway. The fuel seemed to seep into the second tank a bit faster than the first fill up. I did my routine of filling near the top, slightly moving the bike side to side, then continuing the refill.

When I started the bike to leave the gas station a guy walked up to me to check out the bike. Although I had read numerous accounts of onlookers and
question-askers, this is the first time this has happened to me. Nice
guy, around my age wearing a Mirasol golf cap. He was familiar with
Victory, but not the Vision and was blown away. I asked if he was a
rider and he said he hadn't ridden in many years. I told him that I
had taken six years off from riding and this bike is what motivated me
to get back into the game. I could tell he was pondering the thought. I'm wondering if he'll be on his best behavior with his wife tonight so that he can go bike shopping. Maybe he'll have to buy her a new car so that he can get himself a Vision.

I said goodbye and saw him in the rear view mirrors standing at the
same place I left him...staring at the bike as I left the gas station.

It was almost sad to drive into my garage as I had a fun ride today. I
can only hope that I wake up tomorrow to another beautiful South
Florida Winter Day in the 70s. Unlike today, I won't pay much
attention to what the weather forecasters say on the 11pm news about
tomorrow's weather.

I now have 315 miles on the Vision and called the dealership to setup
my 500 mile service for next week. When I did, lovely Alexis told me
that my trunk plate is in a the trunk's wall mount is on the truck and they'll deliver both to me next week when they return the bike from the 500 mile service. Alexis added that it should be a next day turn-around for the oil change. I'm truly not used to this type of service for a bike.

Alexis also took a look at this blog and was kind enough to point out a few typos. So, we can all thank her for making me look better. Thanks Alexis.

You can visit her at Victory of South Florida...see the banner near the top of this page.

February 20, 2008
Day 7

I tried the advice of the tech rep from Cardo to get rid of that annoying beeping sound I was hearing in my headset. Evidently all that was needed was a slight adjustment of the microphone. As I mentioned, I ordered the Arai helmet with the Cardo Scala Rider Q2 installed by The Helmet Shop and somehow in the box, or by my error, the microphone was facing outward as opposed to towards my mouth. This was allowing the wind and/or ambient noise to trigger the voice activated intercom that "beeps" to signal you're communicating with another helmet. Understanding that I have not yet paired this device with another for intercom usage and it's only paired to my phone, the intermittent beeping was annoying. By simply twisting the microphone 180 degrees, I all but eliminated the beeps. Instead of hearing them regularly, I now only hear them occasionally. When I do, I simply reposition the
microphone. It was good to find a simple solution to this issue.

Here's the strange part: When I received my "test call" the previous day, the caller told me she could hear me perfectly. I could hear her loud and clear as well and that was at highway speed. After I adjusted the microphone to the proper position and received a second test call, she said she could still hear me perfectly. This is strange as the first call had the microphone placed away from me and the second, towards me. Go figure? Nonetheless, I can now receive calls while driving and not hear that beeping when the phone is not in use, which is most of the time. As I stated previously, I'm not a fan of talking
on the phone while riding, but it's comforting to know that I can be reached in case of emergency while on a ride or trip.

Speaking of cell phones, being on a bike after a multi-year absence (and with the proliferation of cell phones) has allowed me to notice something different about the driving habits of others. Simply stated, when I see a driver talking on a cell phone, I attempt to steer clear as they will not be as focused on driving when talking while driving. I don't know what has happened with legislation regarding cell phone use in cars in Florida, but I for one, will be supporting banning non-headphone cell phone use while driving. Let's face it, we can't completely stop drivers from driving while talking, but we can force
them to use either a wired or wireless headset that will at least make have both hands free. So, if you live in Florida, drop an email to your favorite Government Official to let them know your feelings on this subject. Maybe they can take a break from investigating steroid use of million-dollar sports figures and focus on making the roads safer for all drivers. This should be the law not only for the State of Florida, but for the entire country. Hey, this is my blog and I'm entitled to an opinion. Our tax dollars at work! Possibly when all
this political campaigning is over, maybe lawmakers will go back to work.

Also, late yesterday, I traded emails with Alexis and Walt from Victory of South Florida about my upcoming 500 mile service and the removal of the trunk. As stated earlier, the plate is in and the trunk wall mount is on the way. We agreed that the bike would be picked up on Tuesday and back to me on Wednesday. They would pickup and return the bike to me. However, in a later email Alexis asked my indulgence that it might take an extra day as Walt would be able to pick it up on Tuesday, but due to his schedule not be able to have the service commence until Wednesday and the bike would be returned on Thursday. Since I live nearly an hour from the dealership and that upon the return extra time would be granted to give me a hands-on demo of
what's entailed in the removal of the trunk and the installation of rear panel, it would take around three hours of his time with the round trip and the installation lesson. Hmm, two days without my Vision? Here's the email thread between me and Alexis:

ME: Wow, two days without my Vision? Do you have a 12-step program for
the withdrawal?

ALEXIS: Well I wish we did. You can come and stay with it and all of
the other Visions while the work is being done. Or I can send you a
care package with all of the brochures and pictures. (But I'm sure you have all of that already). Better yet I will take pictures of your bike and send them
to you throughout the day!

She's funny!

Since they have been so great to deal with, I proposed another option. I'll drive the bike to the dealership and have my housekeeper follow me to drive me back home on Tuesday morning. They can perform the service on Tuesday and Walt will return it on Wednesday.

I had also asked about obtaining a Vision poster to place in the garage near the bike. She said she had a few and they were not for sale...only for Vision customers. I mentioned to her that since they are not for sale, they could soon become a collectors item available to owners only. In my feeble mind, this means the poster cost around $25K! If anyone wants to buy mine, I might consider selling it for a mere $10K. Of course, the bike is not included with the purchase of the poster. Maybe we can get into a bidding war. Did I hear $12K? $15K? First come, first served!

Things have changed during my absence of being a bike owner. Just a mere five years ago a typical bike shop owner most likely could not use a computer. Today, they have websites and are using email to communicate with its customers. To me, email communications are in many cases better than phone conversations as it provides documentation as well as allowing you to send notes during non-business hours. Yes, you can use voice mail for this, but I choose to go the email route instead.

Little did I know when I took delivery of this bike just a few days ago, that I would miss it so much. But, this is prime biking weather season in South Florida and I didn't want to miss a day. In the words of Joni Mitchell her song Big Yellow Taxi, "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone..."

I have an appointment today with my decorator, Patricia. I recently moved into a new home and she's helping me with the stuff that I'm just not good at, such as picking paint colors and wall treatments. I had a tough enough time deciding which of the three colors of the Vision to select. Imagine trying to through the thousands of colors available from Benjamin Moore! I'll let Patricia deal with that. I'll be taking two bids on the painting, one of which is from Al the Painter. Al is a Harley guy I met when he painted my old house. We
became friends and he had his Harley up for sale as he wasn't doing much riding these days as he didn't have any riding buddies. When I told him I was purchasing the Vision, he took his bike off the market. I let him know that I wanted to wait until after I took the refresher riding class before riding alongside of him (staggered of course). The course is scheduled for Friday. Golf on Saturday, maybe Sunday, we'll take a ride. We'll probably plan a trip to the Keys in the near future.

February 20, 2008
Day 7 - Part II

I keep learning new things about this bike. Today I learned three new characteristics/features:

1) At highway cruising speeds, when the windshield is up, the bike's instant MPG display indicates between 39 and 43 mpg. When it is in the lowest position, the display indicates between 41 and 47 mpg. This unscientific test was performed on a flat stretch of highway (hey, I'm in South Florida) with the windshield raised and lowered for about 30 seconds at a time and glancing at the instant MPG display.

2) Today was the first time I used the turn signal lane changing feature. To use, simply slide the turn signal right or left and hold for a minimum of two clicks. The turn signal will then immediately stop when it's released. I read about this feature, but today was the first time I used it. Previously I would just slide the directional arrow and press it when the lane change was completed. I like the lane changing feature as it will keep me from accidently keeping signals on until they self cancel.

3) I found something that Victory missed...

Yes, believe it or not Victory forgot something that is so blatant and obvious, yet so obscure that other riders probably haven't noticed that it was missing. Here goes:

On the left hand grip, there is a small button that is designed to be pressed the the index finger. It is placed so well that it is one of the few buttons that can be pressed without the hand leaving the grip (I have small hands). A press of this button scrolls through various information features on the display such as trip computer, miles until empty, instant MPG, odometer, etc.

What they missed is there is an equal space on the right grip that is unused. I would have loved it if they would have used this empty space for the volume control or for changing the audio inputs. Yes, these features are located below the left grip, but having a rocker-type switch on the right index finger
would mean that you don't have to change hand positions to access. Yes, this is picky and after seven days of riding the Vision, I have been spoiled and continue to have great expectations of this bike.

Today's ride was 90% Turnpike. I rode from Palm Beach Gardens to Port St. Lucie. The weather was similar to yesterday (gorgeous) with the temperatures hovering in the mid to upper 70s. The total round trip ride was just under 80 miles. I made a point of checking the engine heat while cruising and I didn't notice an ounce of engine heat dissipating anywhere. As I've already stated, my old Harley's would develop a warm, uncomfortable seat even after short rides. There was not an ounce of heat on the seat or any discomfort whatsoever on my legs.

I also noticed the 6th gear power band is more than ample for passing trucks and effortlessly jumping from 70 MPH to 85 MPH (or higher). I've read some enthusiast blogs reports of having to down shift when riding around 70 MPH in order to achieve a passing speed. I don't know why someone would have to do this as just rolling-on the throttle generates more than sufficient on demand power. Granted, I weigh in around 145...maybe if I had an extra 100 lbs. down shifting into 5th gear might be necessary. However, I'm still riding with the trunk so I guess that would place me around 200 lbs. of weight over the street model.

After seven days of riding I can honestly state that the Vision is not a speed bike, it's a cruiser. But, there's more than ample power at any speed to get you where you want to go, when you want to go. It's not going to beat a crotch rocket off the line or at the high end, but this bike is much more comfortable and practical. I know I've said is before: For a V-Twin, the ride is more refined and nimble than the Harley's I've owned or ridden. It's much more fun to ride than a Goldwing.  I now have 391 miles on the odometer.

More tomorrow.

February 21, 2008
Day 8

And on the 8th day...the Vision rested in the garage. No riding today.

I've learned not to even check the weather the night before as they are always wrong! Today it's very overcast with isolated showers and some "predicted" thunderstorms. While I'm sure one day I'll try out the Vision in the rain, it won't be because I want to. So instead of riding today, I de-bugged the windshield, spoke to the dealer about next week's service, checked the message boards and I learned something new today about the Vision that I didn't know before.

Yes, I realized that Victory offers three windshield sizes for the Vision. But for some odd reason I assumed (yes, I know what "assume" means) that they were for the fixed, not the electric fairings. I was wrong. I also learned that the Vision includes the medium sized screen as the standard size. Since I'm shorter than the average rider I might opt for the small model that shaves two inches off the top. Walt (the Victory dealer) said he had one in stock and would hold it for me until I come in for service next week. He advised that to check the height while riding to see if at the lower position the top of the windshield was in my line of sight. If so, then the smaller model could be ideal. I'm wondering how the small windshield will affect the protection of a
passenger when it's in the tall position. When I figure this out, I'll pass it on. After further research I learned that when the trunk is removed and the small windshield is in the low position, it makes the bike appear sleeker. Is this possible?

Also, I'll snap a shot of the medium windshield at the low position and if I get the new small replacement, I'll take photos so you can see the difference.

When checking the message boards, one reader pointed out that I have not addressed the issues regarding the hard-drive iPods. Here's a portion of his post:

"Victory discovered (learned this in the Victory Tech class sponsored by Victory) that the harmonics from the motor can cause hard drive failure."

There is no reason for me to doubt this logic as it could explain the problems some users are having with the hard-drive iPods.

I have two iPods (got rid of my iPhone) and both are hard drive models. After reading the posts about potential problems with these units as well as some issues with the current (3rd generation) flash-based iPod Nanos, I opted for the older 2nd generation Nano. the problem was they've been discontinued by Apple. So, I checked Apple's refurbished inventory (that's a hit and miss proposition) and found none were available. I then went to Amazon and found a used 2nd gen Nano for $90. It was the ugliest color - lime green - but I bought it anyway as it will be hidden in the glove compartment and probably will never been seen by others. It works great and I love being able to directly access play lists on the console. If I'm smart, I'll try to find another closeout model to have as a backup.

I also want to address the Tip Over Protection feature of the Vision. So instead of trying this myself and snapping a photo or lifting someone's image online, if anyone has a photo of the Vision in the tipped position, please email it to me at andy@pargh.com and I'll post it along with an explanation in an upcoming post.

I'm also considering taking a ride up to Daytona for a day at Bike Week. I've never been and am not one who enjoys huge crowds, but if I can find a hotel, I might drive up there. Next week. I'm going to take a quick trip to Orlando to meet a cousin who is visiting from the West Coast. If I can find good accommodations, I'll consider taking a cruise over to Daytona. Any recommendations on nice hotels in the Bike Week vicinity are welcomed

(PAUSE)

I just checked the Apple website and they have refurbished 2nd generation 4GB iPod Nanos for $99. The drawback, is that the only color available is pink. So, I might end up with one each of the two ugliest colors: Lime Green
and Pink. Thank you Victory for allowing me to hide these ugly suckers
in the glove compartment! (Apple hide's the refurbished products on it's website. To find them, go to apple.com, then iPod and type "refurbished" in the search bar).

If you've read my blog about my experience with the iPhone, you'll realize it's painful for me to purchase anything from Apple. I'll just enjoy the music and the ride, but try not to think about where the music is coming from. Hey, there's always XM!

February 21, 2008
Day 8 - Part II

Yes, today was a total washout...no riding. I did reload the iPod Nano with some new music. I really like the Playlist function on the Vision. When you're in the iPod mode, simply press one of the numbered rocker buttons on the Vision's console to jump directly to a playlist. I created a new playlist called Bike Songs...the type of music I want to hear when I'm cruising. The Doobie Brothers, The Rolling Stones and a lot of Rock and Roll!

Also today, Alexis from Victory of South Florida emailed some grammatical errors for me to correct on this blog. I think I missed a few, so if I did, be kind as I type faster than I think. Don't blame her, blame me.

In a million years I would have never imagined having a biker babe who works in a motorcycle shop edit a blog that was written by a former syndicated columnist. Talk about a full service dealership...

Thanks Alexis...see you Tuesday!

February 22, 2008
Day 9

I've mentioned on this page that I've received great information about the Vision from numerous blogs. Allow me to give them the proper credit (and a thank-you shout-out) and to take a moment to state the pros and cons (my opinions) of the two blogs I've found the most useful.

The first site I stumbled upon was www.vision-riders.com. This is a well designed and easy to navigate site. The pages move from page to page fairly quickly, but not as fast as I've found in other non-motorcycle related blogs. The community is rather small, but growing...as is the Vision. The riders/posters are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and provide timely responses. They welcome new posters in a friendly fashion.

This blog is setup in chronological fashion where the first post remains at the top and additional posts are added below. This is a my favorite format for this type of blog as it is user-friendly for the"newbies" who, like me, just found the blog and can access various topics and easily scroll through the replies in an orderly fashion. It's important to point out that this blog is focused on the Vision and while other topics are addressed and welcomed, it is first and foremost a Vision blog. This is a free site and, as with any blog of this nature, it relies on advertising to keep it going. If you like this site (as I do), click the links and support the advertisers to insure its future.

The other site I've been using is www.thevmc.com. This site, The Victory Motorcycle Club is dedicated to all things Victory. It is a much more mature site - meaning it sports a larger, more in-depth database. It also features a clean design and navigates fairly well. However, maybe due to a poor hosting server service, it can be frustratingly slow navigating page-to-page...even with a fast Internet connection. But again, it's loaded with data and useful information and is a welcomed entity for any Victory owner.

The blog posts are in reverse-chronological order, meaning that in a long multi-page post, the first entry is on the last page and the most recent post appears at the top of the first page. While this is the standard operating procedure for most blogs, it has both pros and cons for use on specific subject blogs. The pro is simple: If you're following an ongoing topic, the most recent responses are at the top. The con is the same, but in reverse...If you're reading a topic for the first time or searching for information on a specific topic, you need to start at the last page and scroll upwards to view the thread as it was posted. Then, when at the top of the page you have to navigate to the previous page to read the posts in order. Again, this is a standard operating procedure for most blogs that deliver news and information as it doesn't require the user to have to go to the bottom to see the most recent posts. My personal opinion as a new Vision owner who is seeking information is that this format can be a bit frustrating. On the other hand, if you've been following an ongoing thread this format can be considered a bit easier to use. So, this is strictly personal preference. 

While I don't have access to the numbers, The Victory Motorcycle Club appears to be the most visited Victory site on the Internet and the responses are quick and clear. The forums are free but there is a step-up membership with various levels and allows you to enter its Members Only area. In a sign of support, I signed up for a Sponsor Level, not because I'm a sponsor or advertiser, but because I want to show that I support the efforts of the site as I realize they can be expensive to maintain. They can also be cash cows. Like Vision-Riders.com, TheVMC.com is filled with great people who all share the love of motorcycling.

The bottom line: I feel that Vision-Riders is easier to navigate and read, but it's still a relatively small, albeit a very friendly community. It focuses strictly on Vision-related topics. The Vision Motorcycle Club blog has much more data and features, appears to have a larger community and focuses on all things Victory. My personal opinion is that TheVMC.com could be a bit faster and the threads should be placed in a different order. Both sites are excellent resources for those considering a purchase of a Vision or Victory product or who already own Victory products.

To place things in the proper perspective, I'm thrilled to have these two sites available at the tips of my fingers. They both are excellent places to exchange thoughts and ideas and become more knowledgeable about your bike. Both are very friendly and welcome new owners or tire kickers. Just remember, before these types of blogs surfaced, there was basically no place to go for timely information...so please support them to insure their futures and that we can continue to have sites to go to with questions and receive honest answers and opinions.

February 22, 2008
Day 9 - Part II

Today I used the Vision to run some errands. Yes, there is a benefit to having the trunk mounted. Since there are no helmet locks, the trunk is the only place to secure it. One of my stops was at the bookstore to pick up a few of bike magazines to read some of the reviews that are not available online.

Allow me to state that I'm not one to trust some of the bike magazines...especially the ones that seem to gush over just about every bike they review. The basic business model of a magazine is that income is generated two ways: Magazine Sales (subscription and at retail) and Advertising. The advertising sales figures topple the income generated by subscriptions. It's a vicious cycle as the magazine publishers need circulation (sales) to command higher prices from the advertisers. In the motorcycle industry, there is no shortage of publications, but there are a limited supply of advertisers. In many cases, the purchase price of the magazine does not even cover production costs. Advertising is necessary to keep magazines afloat.

Over the years I attended more trade shows and manufacturer press events than I care to remember. I remember one press trip with a Japanese bike
manufacturer that made me question this specific magazine's credibility. Because I was with the Today Show (NBC News), we did not accept free travel or accommodations and paid our own way. This is not the norm for these trips and they were many times a wine and shrimp-fest. I remember one Editor from a magazine that was kissing-up to the manufacturer. It was a bit over the top for me as when I would attend a product launch, in my mind it was the manufacturer's job to knock my socks off with its new offerings, not
my job to gush at whatever they threw at me as more times than not, the offerings were fairly crappy.

Whether it was a bike or an electronic or housewares product, my job was simple...find the best of the best and put it on the air and in print. Since I had a big audience on TV an in print (USA Today), the manufactures had their PR people constantly soliciting me for for space and/or time. At this press event, the bike magazine Editor in question was way over the top at trying to kiss-up in order to get them to continue their advertising. He was going out of his way to say how much he loved their bikes. Since then, I've been wary about reviews in advertising supported mediums. Now that I have nearly 500 miles on my Vision, it's now time to read the magazine reviews to see which ones I agree with, which I don't and hopefully learn something about the Vision I didn't know previously.

This afternoon, I had scheduled a private advanced safety lesson for the Vision. I had booked this lesson before I accepted delivery of the bike. I had only taken a short test drive prior to purchase and knew this was a big bike. Since I hadn't ridden in five years, I thought this was a good plan. Riding safely is a good thing!

For the record, I recommend that even seasoned riders take the one day refresher class every few years. Not only is it a great way to hone your skills, it's a pleasant way to meet others who share your passion. While I'll go through the details of today's class in a later post, I was able to pick up some good habits that I had forgotten.

On the 35 mile highway cruise home, while adjusting the height of the electric windshield, it appeared to come down a bit crooked, but seated in position properly. When I stopped for gas I checked the windshield and noticed that one of the bolts that connect the windshield to the motorized mechanism
had fallen off. Hmm, this was strange. When I arrived home, instead of trying to find a replacement bolt, I inserted a sturdy pull tie and cinched it closed as I didn't want to strain the other bolt or did I want it to fly away. While this is only a short term fix, I'll have it properly repaired when it's in the shop next week.

Has anyone else has this issue?

Now, back to safety, while I'll go into what I learned at the class today, a post surfaced on one of the blogs that is nothing short of noteworthy. I asked the poster if it was okay to place it here. He said that he was not sure where it came from originally, but gave me his approval...Here's a shout-out to thank FishWitch!

10 Ways to Save Your Ride

The following is a list of very good ideas you should remember every
time you get on a motorcycle.

1. Lane Check
While riding it can be easy to become complacent. Besides just checking your mirrors, do a full head turn, left and right, before changing lanes. How many times have you checked your mirrors only to find someone in that blind spot once you started to switch lanes?

2. Riding the Line
A fluid, efficient turn begins with taking the proper line. The proper line is the quickest, easiest and safest way to negotiate a turn. Approach turns wide, meaning you start a right turn from the left part of your lane, or a left turn from the right part. This gives you the best view of a blind turn and requires the least amount of braking and lean. Use your whole lane as needed, but be very sure to not cross the center line!

3. Braking
During a hard brake, momentum makes the bike want to continue forward. This puts weight on the fork and compresses it as the rear lightens and rises, making the rear brake easier to lock. That is why the front brake is designed to handle 75 to 80 percent of the braking load. Practice hard stops on a quiet but well maintained road using mostly your bike's front brakes. If you tend to lock the rear during hard brakes, try leaving the clutch lever out and the bike in gear when braking, and pull the clutch in just before coming to a complete
stop.

4. Cornering
We love to ride our cruisers and dressers, but they come with a downside. Being low it is easy to drag the pegs, floorboard or pipes on the driving surface during a turn, and even lever the weight off the tires and cause a slide. A solution is to set up the suspension with the maximum amount of spring preload on your shock absorbers. Some riders even install longer shocks and fork springs.

5. Passengers
Two people on one bike make for potential problems. Avoid surprises by giving passengers some basic guidelines: 1) Do not mount or dismount the bike until instructed to do so; 2) Do not suddenly talk into my ear unless first squeezing my arm; 3) When approaching turns, stay neutral except to look over the driver's shoulder in the direction of the turn (right turn, right shoulder, etc). (I'm adding that I tell passenger to "be part of the bike.).

6. Unstable Surfaces
Have you ever see riders navigating a gravel parking lot or rough terrain by dropping their feet and awkwardly walking their bikes? Ride with your feet up as your bike's low center of gravity and low torque pull you through. You may feel more comfortable executing a U-turn with your feet down, but once you have the bike pointed in the right direction, get your feet up and look like you know what you are doing. A little practice helps a lot.

7. Obstacle Fixation
Have you ever rounded a corner, seen a pot hole or stone you could have easily avoided and run right over it? That is obstacle fixation. You tend to steer your bike where you look. Focus on a pot hole or tone, and that is where your tires will go. Try looking where you want to go versus at the obstacle. Do not look at the pot hole, look at the path around the pot hole.

8. Equipment
Equipment is worn by everyone exposed to potentially hazardous activities. Athletes wear shoulder pads and a helmet if they play football, construction workers wear hard hats and steel toed boots, and firemen wear helmets, breathing apparatus, and fire/water resistant gear...and nobody dares call these guys wimps! So what is stopping you? We are firm believers in letting the individual decide, but things like boots, gloves, lon