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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, long pants and a protective jacket are pretty much the basics. The helmet may be the most controversial, but it makes sense for many riders and may be required by law.

9. Practice
Practice maneuvers in a quiet parking lot or the like. Practice hard braking from 30 miles an hour. Practice very tight turns with your feet up. Try pulling in the clutch and lock the rear wheel so you can see how you and your bike react. Run over a 2 x 4. There are many different road situations you can recreate in a parking lot. It is better to encounter areas you need to work on in a parking lot than a busy city street!

10. Drinking
You know this already. It is not a good idea to drink and ride. (it's a REALLY BAD idea). DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

Allow me to also thank all those who emailed the photos of the Vision in the tipped position. I'll get them up here in a few days. Hey, it's the weekend...Golf and Cruising. Life doesn't get any better than this!

February 23, 2008
Day 10

As you know by now, I took a vacation from motorcycles as I lived in an area that was not bike-friendly.

During my absence from the sport there has been a breakthrough on one area of the world of motorcycling that I have not yet mentioned: Safety Gear.

It used to be that wearing a pair of jeans, a leather jacket, gloves, boots and of course, a good helmet were considered ample safety attire. Today though, new research has proven that jeans and a leather jacket don't provide the level of protection we once thought. Also, the majority of motorcycle-related injuries happen below the waist. After learning of these new facts, I went on the Internet and started doing some of my own research. I was amazed on how much new attire is available and how technology has trickled-down to the world of biking.

It came as news to me that the leader in motorcycle safety is Europe and they have a fairly stringent standard for motorcycle body protection. From some of the information I gathered (and have not yet confirmed) there is no testing or performance standard in the USA for motorcycle clothing. This struck me as strange, but not so much when you consider how the Consumer Product Safety Commission is so overworked they cannot keep lead based paint toys out of the hands and mouths of American children. I'll be checking with the Motorcycle Industry Council to confirm this information and publish my findings onto this page.

I found something online that I've read about, but never tried: The Bohn Bodyguard System. (Remember this is an advertising-free website and no consideration was given to me by Bohn for this review. They won't even know I purchased and reviewed their products until they find this site). I ordered a set of uppers and lowers and decided to give them a try. This is beyond a doubt the strangest gear I've ever worn as it is designed to be worn under your clothes. Yes, motorcycle underwear! Since I live in a hot weather climate, having protective clothing that breathes and is comfortable is an important factor to me. Although the Bohn website stated this is a breathable fabric, I'm a skeptic and was hoping I just didn't burn my cash on pair of padded long underwear. Also, since I ordered them online, I did not see them until they arrived.

The best way to describe the Bohn System is to imagine wearing a pair of heavy-duty pantyhose. Yes, pantyhose. Mantyhose? Okay, before you laugh, let me go on record by stating that I've never worn pantyhose before, so this was a new experience. 'Nuff said? Let's get serious now...this is about safety and a subject most bikers don't want to talk about: Loss of life and limb.

Inside this mesh underwear are strategically placed pockets that allow for the insertion of a series of absorbent rubber foam cushions that promise shock absorbing capabilities in critical areas of the body. Located inside the lowers are pads for both hips, full knee guards and a rear pad to protect the "upper butt/lower back" area. There is also some thigh armor that is included, but considered optional. The best part of this product is that it easily fits underneath a pair of standard jeans.

The upper portion is a long sleeve mesh undershirt with a zippered front that features a back plate, shoulder and elbow protection. Like the pants, the upper portion is designed to breath and be worn under standard clothing.

Tonight, I had an early dinner date in Boca Raton which is a 35 mile one-way trip. I left the house around 6pm...just a half an hour before sundown. It was still hot and humid outside with temperatures in the mid 80s. (It's unseasonably warm right now...sorry about that to the cold weather climate readers!). It took just a minute or two to put on the Bohn protective underwear. It is a mesh fabric and needs to be placed-on carefully. Since I would be wearing a protective jacket with internal "armor," I didn't feel the need to ride with the uppers. However, if I was taking a long trip, I wouldn't think twice about wearing both the upper undergarment along with a protective jacket. This way, if it does get too hot, I wouldn't feel guilty about removing the jacket.I did try it on and I have to say that I could pass for Arnold Schwarzenegger (during his lean years) while wearing this under my shirt.

The mobility of the lowers I chose to wear was good, if not very good. You knew you were wearing them, but they did not inhibit any movement. Unlike protective lower gear that is worn outside the pants, they were not bulky...quite the opposite as they fit skin tight...like I would imagine pantyhose would feel. I liked the fact they were concealed and could be worn under standard jeans or khakis or for that fact, dress slacks. But would they pass the heat test? The answer is both yes and no. Yes they breathed and were fairly comfortable in the high temps. However, beneath the locations where the foam inserts rested, I felt like I was perspiring a bit. Not uncomfortably so, but I noticed a bit of warmth. However, the trade off was in the favor of the Bohn product as I felt good knowing I had a fairly high level of protection and did not look like a geek or a snowmobiler on two wheels.

Looking like a geek? Maybe I'm speaking too soon. When I arrived at the restaurant and met my friend, I had her feel my knee under the table...really. She laughed when she felt the padding. However, when I took a restroombreak and walked away from the table, she evidently was staring at my rear...no jokes please! Upon my return she commented that from the rear view it looks like I'm wearing a diaper...and I was wearing jeans over the Bohn system. What she was seeing was a the outline of the lower back/upper butt protective pad. That didn't do much for my ego...but safety isn't about ego, it's about riding smart and preparing for a hopefully never to happen accident. Let's face it, accidents do happen. The proper protection can determine the outcome of the accident. A cut or a bruise is one thing, but being rushed to the hospital is another. These are the types of things that riders do not want to talk about, but they need to be addressed.

When I see these kids on crotch rockets flying by me at 100+mph wearing shorts, a tee shirt and no helmet, I wonder when, not if, they will learn a fatal lesson. Maybe I'm getting older and more conservative, but this is a serious topic.

On the ride home, it was around 10pm and the temps had cooled. It was still a bit humid for this time of the year and the undergarment protection felt fine. I must add that when I got home and put the bike away, it felt good to remove them. Not to sound strange, they were a bit tight in the crotch area and required a level of personal "adjustment." Once that was accomplished, it was riding as usual.

The moral to today's story is that Safety is Good and that technology has made it easier than ever to wear protective gear. There is no longer an excuse not to wear the proper gear.

The prices on the Bohn system was not cheap as it cost me around $300 for both the uppers and lowers. I consider this purchase one of those items I buy and hope I never have to test. The foam pads are removable and the mesh garment is machine washable. If I do have a situation where I do use them, I'm sure I'll feel that the expense was minuscule compared to what was at stake.

I'll be wearing them on my trip to Orlando this week. My plan is that when I arrive to meet my cousin for lunch, that I can go to the restroom, remove them and then put them back on for the ride home. Allow me to add that you need to plan an extra minute or so for a restroom break as there is no opening for...well, you know what I'm talking about. They don't have to be removed, but some juggling might be in order.

Allow me to note that in the photos above, that is not me, I "borrowed" the photos from the Bohn website: http://bohnarmor.com . If anyone from Bohn feels I have violated a copyright, email me (use the contact link at the top of this page) and I'll promptly remove the images. I respect the copyright and intellectual property laws.

February 24, 2008
Day 11

I stopped by a Harley dealership today to look at some gear and while there, I sat on a few bikes (they have a lot of inventory and sales are slow). I sat on a Road King and an Ultra and the first thing I noticed is how close the driver is to the windshield. After riding the Vision for 11 days, I've gotten spoiled and felt cramped on the H-D...and I'm not a big guy.

Strange, huh?

While at the dealership I spoke with an apparel sales-girl and when I asked about business, she told me that they were down around 30% (I was surprised she was so forthcoming with that information). I had the impression she was not talking about just motor clothes, but bikes as well. The showroom was packed with new bikes. When I say packed, I mean packed side by side so close it was difficult to sit on them as you had to wedge yourself between bikes. I guess it's not a good time to buy H-D stock.

My local Victory dealer is quite the opposite. A low overhead location and just a few bikes that show a representation of the line were on floor. As a business model in this economic environment, I would rather have fewer bikes in inventory today than too many.

Considering this is the peak of bike season in South Florida, this might not be a good thing and is reflective of the overall economy. I'm wondering how this economy is affecting the Victory dealers and if Polaris will be assisting the dealers so they don't close down on us.

On the other hand, in South Florida there is a waiting list for Bentley's. I can only hope that enough high-end recreational bikers see the Vision and that just the looks will attract them. I can tell you that on my ride to Boca late yesterday, instead of the usual pick-up truck and Corvette drivers giving me the "thumbs-up" I had a Range Rover and a Porsche Turbo Carerra pull up to me to check out the bike. The passenger of the Porsche was a lady in her 40s and she mouthed through the window: Beautiful Bike and gave a thumbs-up. The Porsche kept speeding up and slowing down to see the bike from all angles. This alone is a good enough reason to take that silver Victory logo off the rear of the trunk and replace it with a brightly illuminated Victory brake light. With all the R & D that went into this bike, I think this is one place where the Victory designers dropped the ball. An illuminated LED Victory logo/brake light could be considered not just a safety feature but also a rolling advertisement for the Vision as wll. Remember when Honda used to print the word HONDA on the back of every seat? It was an ad.

In the mid-1990s, when H-D was in the "boom" cycle (pun intended), the showrooms were sparse and usually were filled with used (not new) bikes. Some dealers would place a bike that had been ordered and pre-sold on the showroom for a week or so before giving it to the recipient. I remember the feeling of being held hostage by the dealership as I wanted to ride the bike, but instead had to wait an additional week to pick it up. Back then, the wait for a new Harley was around three to five months and if you pissed off the dealer, you might never see your bike. I'm sure all dealers weren't this way, but this was my personal experience.

It's amazing, after riding the Vision, just sitting on an H-D seemed like  an antiquated experience. I'm wondering if the nostalgia factor of bikes is fading and the technology phase is now starting. I also sat on a V-Rod and it's a small bike that's designed for tall people. It's a strange riding position. Cute bike, but not for me.

Times have changed.

February 25, 2008
Day 12

As you know by now, I've gained much insight into my new bike by visiting numerous motorcycle forums and blogs. Today I noticed a thread on www.vision-riders.com about what Victory should do next to promote the new Vision. Evidently Victory has begun running a few TV ads on cable networks such a Speed. This made me think about the difficulties any manufacturer faces in marketing a new product. Yes, selling a motorcycle is no different than selling a car, a flat screen TV or other consumer product. The manufacturer needs to create a demand that will bring potential customers into its dealerships. Yes, in my mind, the Vision is revolutionary product, but once the initial demand is met and the pipeline is filled, what's the next step?

Marketing is about "branding,." Branding is a marketing concept that makes the name of the manufacturer immediately recognizable in a positive light. Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Nike, Sony even Apple are brands. Just the mention of the name gives you a mental image of the product and a positive, desirable future experience.

Think about other brands and the image they bring to mind:

Winnebago, although a medium size company has a name that immediately brings to mind leisure travel.

Rolex, high end watches.

Harley-Davidson is immediately recognizable as a maker of motorcycles and a carefree, leisure lifestyle.

Victory, as of yet is unrecognized to the masses and is not yet a "brand." Yes, we know who Victory is, but do others?

Just being a member of this board, we know that Victory is a manufacturer of quality motorcycles, but do others? No. How many times have you told people about your Victory Vision and had to say the name Polaris to receive an affirmative response? In colder weather climates the name Polaris is recognizable as a snowmobile manufacturer. In warmer climates people may or may not have heard of Polaris.

I would have to think that part of the motivation of creating the Vision was to bring the name Victory to the forefront of the motorcycle industry in the eyes of the consumer and make the Vision is rolling billboard for Victory that says one word: Innovation. I'm sure that's why the illuminated Victory logo was placed on the sides of the Vision. Why the rear of the bike does not show an illuminated Victory logo (as a brake or running light) was, in my mind, a huge oversight. I'll bet that future models will add some sort of visual recognition to the rear of the Vision. Remember, when people ask you, "What's that thing," that only proves that Victory has yet to spread its message to the masses.

In many case studies it can take a single, innovative product or promotion to bring positive attention to a other products in an established company. A rising tide raises all ships. Think about how the iPod changed the path and future of Apple and as iPod sales rose so did the sales of the full Apple line. The iPod spawned iTunes and created yet another brand and with it a new stream of income. With it, brought the introduction of the Apple stores that were designed to be minimalist in nature, but provided existing and future customers a positive, exciting experience. Prior to the iPod, Apple was sinking. Now look at it. One product, if marketed and promoted properly, can make all the difference.

Let's face it, businesses are all about generating profitable income. However, you need to spend money to make money.

It will take more than people drooling over the looks of the Vision to make Victory a highly visible brand. It will require a full-blown advertising, marketing and public relations program that shows the Vision and other Victory models in a positive, desirable light to make this happen. Marketing programs such as this are not cheap and will require a major financial commitment from the manufacturer. Winning customers over one at a time is a good concept, but is a slow process. It will also require a stronger dealer network for sales and service. These dealers need to be upgraded to the standard that has been set by H-D. This is not an inexpensive overnight task.

To make my point, you may remember, it took only one successful marketing campaign to make the name Honda a household word. In 1962 Honda was selling 40,000 bikes in America. The goal was increased five-fold to 200,000 bikes the following year. It didn't happen until 1964 when Honda took a completely different approach at promoting motorcycles with an advertising/marketing campaign, that by today's standards would be considered "out of the box" forward thinking. The campaign was centered around print and TV ads themed: "You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda." Remember that one? Depending on your age, I'll bet you do.

Honda's goal was to raise the image of those who rode and purchased motorcycles from that of Hell's Angels to average Americans. The advertising Agency, Grey Advertising, used the new Honda 50 for this campaign. At that point, the Honda 50 was innovative and unique in its style as it presented an opposite image of Hell's Angels and delivered a feeling of white-collar friendliness. Honda's big marketing push placed this ad during the Academy Awards and immediately captured the hearts of millions. It was one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history. At that time the Academy Awards attracted around 70% of American TV viewers and this 90 second ad ran twice during the show at a cost of $300,000. To place that price in perspective, it was the equivalent of the profits derived from the sale of 1,200 Honda 50s and was a huge gamble. No guts, no glory. Also remember that during the 1960s, Japanese products were considered nothing short of "junk." Remember the phrase "cheap Japanese junk?" This ad was also the first non-American company to advertise on the Academy Awards. This in itself was a bold step. This single marketing/advertising campaign changed Honda's image and won over the hearts and wallets of Americans and launched Honda into a mainstream product and was the first step in creating a recognizable brand name.

Needless to say, this campaign not only brought people into Honda dealerships, they brought in a new breed of investor that clamored to open a new Honda dealership. These dealerships were different than the existing Harley, Triumph and Indian dealerships as they were clean, inviting and innovative and provided a friendly place for the new breed of motorcycle buyer. The sales people were well trained and dressed appropriately.

So, is the Vision Apple's iPod? Will advertising on small (relatively low viewership) cable networks such as The Speed or outdoor-related channels accomplish this task? Probably not...but it's a start. Will getting the Vision on the cover of every bike magazine with positive reviews make it a success? Maybe, but the enthusiasts publications appeal to an audience who is already into motorcycles and the various offerings. So, what will it take?

Don't laugh, the answer is fairly simple. Victory will have to "think out of the box" and appeal to those who may have been into biking in the past and have abandoned it for one reason or another, but who still have the feeling of freedom riding in their blood. Yes, the existing pipeline can be filled with current bike owners, but what happens when that market is tapped? Think publications such as AARP where an active senior lifestyle is promoted and income for recreational items is not a question. How about the Robb Report, where the readers are those where money is no object? How about CNBC where the demographic of the viewer is upscale in terms of available funds for leisure items and motorcycle ads are not currently appearing. In marketing, you don't want to be lost in the crowd. Rule #1 in Marketing 101 is Separating Yourself From The Market.

Preaching to the choir in terms of marketing may not cut it in this economic environment. Appealing to new customers who may be thinking of getting back into biking but are not currently considering a Vision will be the key to make the Vision a desirable purchase will most likely be the first step into making Victory a recognizable brand.

I'm looking forward to the responses to this thread...whether positive or negative. I have thick skin and can take the criticism. But remember, I spent my life in the product marketing industry and realize the difficulties Victory is facing at this point. They are nearing the point of being a full-line motorcycle company and the Vision is now its flagship. I think it will also require adding bikes on the entry level to make it a true, full-line motorcycle company. Not everyone can afford a $25K bike and less expensive and innovative models will be required. Victory is off to a good start and is making strong progress for only having ten years in the motorcycle industry. The JD Powers numbers are a great start. Word of mouth is good. Now Victory has to figure out how to spread the word of its products to the masses.

Since this page is not a message board, if you would like to comment on this post about motorcycle marketing, click here to go to the thread on Vision-Riders. (I am not affiliated with Vision-Riders.com, but support their efforts.).

The photos of the Honda ads were found online. If anyone from Honda objects to them being here, let me know and I'll remove them). 

February 28, 2008
Day 13

Cousin Billy called saying he'll be in Orlando next week and wants to get together.

Although we're "cousins," Billy and I never met until around 20 years ago. Our Father's were cousins and inseparable best friends as children growing up in Oklahoma. During the Great Depression, our families became geographically separated. Billy's family moved to Texas and my family settled in Tennessee. Although our Father's spoke, due to distance they lost contact over the years.

When I accepted a job at Uniden in the 1980s, I moved to Dallas. It was then I got to know and became close with Billy and his family and we've remained in contact ever since.

While Billy and I have family ties, we also have a lot in common. First and foremost is our love for technology. While I spent my career on the product side of technology, Billy is better versed on the guts of products. I can operate products and he can build them. When we first met, it was an immediate family bond and friendship generated as we shared much in common. He has spent his career working behind the scenes of a Fortune 500 tech company and is well respected by his peers and management.  He is very good at what he does.

We looked at our calendars and picked a day to have lunch in Orlando. While I've yet to take my first true road trip on my Vision, I found this the perfect opportunity for my first long ride. Google Maps displayed that my route would be 160 miles...with all but a just a few miles on Florida's Turnpike. Google Maps estimated the non-stop travel time at 2 hours and 30 minutes. From my experience riding other tour bikes, I knew that all were not created equally. While this would be an easy, same-day round trip on a Honda Goldwing, it could be a bit of a challenge being comfortable on a longer ride on a Harley Road King. I've owned both of the aforementioned bikes and while I knew the Vision shared some attributes with both, I was unsure how I would feel attempting to do the round trip in one day. My plan was to pack an overnight bag and if all was okay on the ride up, I would come back the same day.  If not, I wouldn’t take the risk and simply spend the night in Orlando.

Let's face it, every motorcycle is different and delivers unique attributes. I knew the Vision was comfortable going 80 miles at a sitting, but how would it be going 320 miles in a day? On Friday I would find out.

The previous Tuesday, Walt from Victory of South Florida picked up the bike for its first service. A cold front would be moving in on Tuesday afternoon and drop temperatures to less desirable riding conditions for a few days. While at my house, we discussed some things on my Vision "wish list" including additional rear lighting. I pointed to the silver Victory chrome panel on the rear of the trunk and mentioned that I thought Victory dropped the ball as this was sterile and non-functional and a perfect location to place a highly visible brake/running light that could also act as a moving billboard for the Victory brand. He agreed that at some point there will probably be a replacement part for this panel. After all, Victory did a good job in the illuminated side Victory logo, but for whatever reason neglected a badge on the rear of the bike.

Meanwhile we walked around the bike to see potential lighting upgrades for the Vision. Allow me to state, the Vision is lit up much better than most bikes and is already visible during night riding. My feeling has always been that I can control what's in front of me, but can't control what's behind me. In this day and age of cell phone-talking drivers, I want to make sure I was very visible from the rear.

We discussed placing two LED strips above and below the license plate that would act as running and brake lights. LEDs are great options in this day and age as they draw very little power while providing a bright light source. He could add the proper harness that would allow them to strobe when the brake was depressed. The way I was to understand this was that when the brake was pressed, the LEDs would strobe for three seconds, go steady for three seconds and continue this loop. I liked this idea and gave him the go-ahead for this option. We also looked at the non-illuminated side reflectors and decided that would also be a good place for LED lighting and have them as both running lights and turn signals. This would make the turn signals visible to the side as well as the rear.

Thursday, he returned the bike along with the fender panel (that replaces the trunk) and gave me a hands-on demonstration on removing the trunk. It's a multi-step process that takes around 15 minutes.  It’s one those things that require time as you don’t want to scratch the ABS plastic panels. It’s also one of those things that will require practice and the more times you do it, the easier it will become. While I had 500+ miles seat time with the trunk, I thought it would be a good test to ride the bike to Orlando without the trunk to compare the differences.

The new lights were not installed during this service and he told me he was still working on the proper harness for the LEDs and it was a bit more challenging than he originally thought, but it would be accomplished in the near future. By the time the bike reached 3,000 miles and was ready for the next service, he would have the new lighting ready to install.

Upon its return, I took the bike around town to run a few errands. It would be the first time I would be riding a Vision without the trunk as even Walt's demo model I test drove had the trunk installed. (A note to Victory dealers: For test drives, have models available with and without the trunk as they provide different riding characteristics and could appeal to a larger audience of potential purchasers). Later I mentioned to Walt (via an email to Alexis) that it might be a good idea to have his demo bike prepped without the trunk as some riders that are moving from cruisers to tourers might find it a bit less intimidating at parking lot speeds. 

Riding without the trunk for the first time, I immediately felt a difference as it was easier to mount (not that it was difficult with the trunk) and felt even more nimble and maneuverable at slow speeds…quite a feat for a bike of this size. Allow me to add, that I noticed that when mounting/dismounting with the trunk, my right heel would occasionally rub the right saddlebag and form a small, albeit removable rubber mark. Walt showed me a trick that you probably already know...lower the left passenger floorboard step on it with the left foot and step over the bike in the same fashion as mounting a horse. My first thought was you really have to trust the side stand and be on a stable surface to do this maneuver. After a couple of times with this method, I became trusting of this maneuver. However, without the trunk, it wasn’t necessary.

In my personal riding experience with the Vision, there is one big difference of not having the available trunk space...there was no place to secure my helmet when parked. This is the first bike I've owned that did not have some sort of helmet lock. I don't remember if the helmet lock was standard on my Harleys or if it was a dealer installed accessory. The Goldwing has factory installed dual helmet locks on the rear of the bike. Every other bike I've owned has a simple helmet lock typically located on the left side of the bike. No such feature exists on the Vision. After checking the bike, I'm not finding a convenient location to install a lock and am now seeking ideas. If you have one, click the contact link at the top of the page and drop me an email. In the meantime, I've ordered a combination cable lock to secure the helmet when parked so I don't have to carry it inside a restaurant or a restroom. You have to admit, it's a bit awkward holding a helmet while using a urinal...and I don't know about you, but I really don't want to set my helmet on a restroom floor or wet counter. Yuck!

Walt had mentioned that on his ride to my house it was fairly windy and that the bike handled well at highway speeds with the trunk. I had noticed the same characteristic when I rode in somewhat windy conditions. When passing a truck, I was always prepared to break what I call the "parachute" winds you experience when passing by the front fender. I wondered how the Vision would handle this situation without the trunk.

Allow me to add an observation to many bikers who add saddlebags or to manufacturers who offers side bags as an option. At highway speeds aerodynamics are an important factor that is often overlooked by style and function. When bags protrude from the side they can catch air that can dramatically alter handling characteristics of any bike.

Although there has been notable criticism of the interior compartment size of the Vision’s side bags, I found them ample. Also due to the incorporated curved design, I did not feel any wind resistance at highway speeds. In terms of trade-offs, to me this was a fair one.  There has been much conversation, and some criticism on the blogs and in magazine reviews about the Vision's side bags appearing larger on the outside than the inside. (I was disappointed that the enthusiast magazines did not properly address the aerodynamic aspect when criticizing the bag’s interior space. This criticism also goes to Victory for not stressing the point of limited wind resistance at highway speeds).

After owning other highway bikes, I have to agree with others in this assessment. However, like my old Goldwing, Victory offers as an accessory a set of nylon bags that are custom fit to insert in the side bags and the trunk that utilizes the "bulge" in the side bags to maximize storage space. I purchased this luggage set and while they fit as promised and deliver additional space, I have a bit of input for Victory. First, the material feels a bit cheap for an accessory for a bike in this price range. It has the ballistic nylon look, but compared side-by-side to Tumi luggage, they give me the impression that they are of a cheaper quality material and will not hold up in the long run. Of course, the tag inside states "Made in China." This statement speaks volumes. Also, although they provide ample space, there should be a secondary zippered compartment on the outside of the bag. This would be an ideal space to store some small items that need to be accessed quickly and easily.

Scott, Walt's chief mechanic, rode the bike to my house after the service and Walt followed in his car. I have always felt it's a good idea to allow the mechanic to ride my bike as he has trained "ear" and can feel if it's running properly and provide necessary adjustments. Scott has proven to me that he knows Victory bikes inside and out and while the Vision is a new bike, it appears he has received the proper factory training as I've had no mechanical issues and he provides good “plain English” explanations…a skill not often practiced by “wrenches.”

Not knowing if I would feel comfortable taking the round trip in a single day, I packed an overnight bag in case I felt the need to spend the night in Orlando. I've taken long day trips before and understand that it's not a good idea to ride while fatigued. While I knew my comfort level on the Vision on relatively short trips of 80 - 100 miles, I did not know how I would hold up on a 350 mile day. After all, I'm no spring chicken.

I'm also not known to be a true "iron butt" rider. The longest trip I've made to date was in May of 1995. I had setup a live segment on motorcycles for NBC's Today Show and instead of just showing what's new on the Plaza in front of the Today Show studios in Rockefeller Center like I've done in previous segments, I decided to shake things up and do something different and do the segment from the Honda test facility in Marysville, Ohio. Of course, the Honda PR people jumped at this opportunity for free publicity and to further implant in our minds that the Goldwing was made in the USA. However, allow me to state that the Honda folks did not have the history of being the easiest to deal with. In fact they were almost as difficult to work with as the H-D PR people. I'm not trashing either one of these companies, but of all the motorcycle companies, H-D Press Relations was a nightmare to deal with. Even attempting to get the H-D PR rep on the phone could be a multi-week experience. Honda was a bit better, but that's not saying much. The easiest to deal with were Suzuki and Yamaha. To deal with Honda and H-D I had to have an intermediary intervene as I simply did not have the time to deal with them. When putting together live TV segments, there was much necessary coordination and little margin for error. After all, this was live TV and producing this type of segment is best compared to coordinating a three ring circus. Getting the products at the proper location was one thing, but combine that task with crew coordination , satellite trucks, travel and other details, having good factory reps was a necessity for me.

Over my nearly ten year tenure at NBC News, my annual motorcycle segments became an event for the motorcycle industry as it was one of the few places where motorcycles were displayed from an enthusiasts' perspective in the mass media. If you think about it, the bike magazines appeal to those who are already interested in bikes. There were few places in the mainstream media where a roundup of what’s new in the world of motorcycles was presented to a mass audience. Every bike manufacturer clamored to make sure its bikes had a presence on these segments. However, the folks at Harley-Davidson wanted to micromanage my segments and attempted to dictate which of its models would be featured and tried to place the words of its message in my mouth. Since H-D was the hot line at that point in time, working with them was a necessary evil and they knew that a roundup segment would not be complete without them. After a few years of doing these annual bike segments, I had grown tired of dealing with the demands of H-D PR and finally told them that I would do a specific segment without them. They thought I was bluffing, but I wasn't as other bike manufacturers were finally starting to deliver some bikes that could be considered viable alternatives to H-D. Well, maybe they delivered bikes that shared similar cosmetics of H-D, the Japanese bikes did not deliver the ride and sound associated with "Hogs" at that time

Simply stated, as a good reporter, I needed at least one Harley in my roundup, but over the years I grew weary of dealing with them. I discussed this with my Producers and they agreed that it was my segment and to do it the way I see fit. So I bluffed and told the H-D PR representative to forget it and I would do the story without them. They knew I was bluffing but like a good poker player I did not show my hand. As the cards would play out, at the 11th hour (typically late at night just prior to the morning segment) I would receive a call stating they wanted to participate. From that point forward, H-D became a bit easier to deal with, but still was not as easy to work with as other manufacturers.

For the 1995 segment in Ohio, I put together a group of friends to ride as a group from Nashville to Marysville who would also assist me in demoing the bikes for the story. While a few riders were friends and experienced riders from Nashville, I had others join me for the trip. One was Jim, an old riding buddy from Houston who flew in and would ride my H-D Heritage Softail Special as well as two other Houston buddies who rode their Goldwings to Nashville and would take the trip with us. Ty, the Suzuki PR rep flew in from the West Coast and had a Suzuki cruiser awaiting him in Nashville to take the ride with us.

Ty was one of those PR guys who made my life easier. Suzuki was a tough sell in the PR world at that time as their cruisers were lackluster at best and considered a “value” bike. He had an easier time placing his high-speed sport bikes in the media than his cruisers. To make his point that Suzuki was serious about the cruiser market, Ty rode a Suzuki on our trip. When placed side-by-side to the Harley and Goldwing, the Suzuki was dwarfed. But Ty was a trooper and rode with the pack and at every stop never showed the first sign of fatigue. He also was one of the most responsible bike PR guys as he adorned full protective gear. He was and still is one of the best PR guys I've ever dealt with. H-D PR could learn from his skills in dealing with the media. Meeting up with us in Ohio was Fred Rau of Motorcycle Consumer News, http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/. Fred is a unique guy who is continually bucking the system. His publication derives its income solely from subscription and had zero advertising. His bike reviews were honest, fair and opinionated from a prospective from an expert in his field. MC News is best compared to the Consumer Reports of the motorcycle industry. To this day, I respect his work and have just renewed my subscription.

Fred rode a custom Goldwing that I called the Kitchen Sink. It had every option and after market accessory known to man. He built this bike as a project for this publication and it was a hit with his readers. He rode it from the West Coast to Ohio and towed a trailer. When producing these types of segments I would always save something special and noteworthy for the final item. This is what we in the industry called "The Payoff." Don't get this term confused with Payola, as the concept of Payoff was to leave behind a lingering message that would be "water cooler" and would be best remembered by the viewers.

Fred's modified Goldwing was really cool and deserved the attention I had planned. But the world of "live TV" is a strange animal as sometimes the best laid plans leave you in a "punt" situation. This is because as that point in time, NBC's Today Show was first and foremost a news broadcast (not the same show it is today) and my Gadget Guru segments were considered a "feature." In the TV industry, news trumps features. While I worked both the Weekday and Weekend editions of Today, my Saturday segments were strategically placed 47 minutes into the first hour and would provide the transition from the top news stories and interviews of the day to the second hour where cooking segments and light stories were placed. As the morning played out there were some breaking news issues that would take away a minute or so from my planned motorcycle feature segment, moving my allocated time from 4:30 to around three minutes of air time. I typically would not know of how much time I would have for a particular segment until just moments prior to going "live." I could not run long or I would be cutoff as after my segments the show would transfer to the local affiliates for a few minutes of local news and advertising. There was no margin for error. I learned in the TV industry, you can't mess with advertising as they paid the bills. While I never received any pressure by the show management to feature advertisers, commercial breaks were a fact of life. So by the time I got to Fred's bike, I only had a few seconds and could not properly deliver the message I had planned. Fred was trooper and understood and was gracious for having even the short time to show off his creation and the mention of his publication.

I would ride my Goldwing on this trip. This was one of my personal bikes and not a loaner. I was looking forward to riding this bike on a trip that would allow me to evaluate and enjoy it in the environment in which it was created...long highway trips. Up to this point, although I had taken short highway jaunts and knew it was a dream at these speeds, I had never taken it on such a long ride and wondered how I would feel after completing this journey. To make a long story short, it didn't disappoint. While the Goldwing was not great at slow speed maneuvering, especially for shorter riders, it was a champ on the highway. Sterile, but comfortable, competent and allow me to restate, comfortable. The reverse gear was a great feature for parking and originally I had questioned Victory about not including this feature on its new flagship bike.

I had the fully loaded Goldwing as did my friends Duane and Stevie who rode their bikes from Houston to Nashville to accompany us to Ohio. Duane and Stevie are brothers who had much more touring experience that I had. They had ridden their Goldwings across the country and it wasn't foreign to them to log 600, 700 or 800 miles in a day. To me, 200 miles was a long trip and this 400 mile one-way trip would be my longest to date. Also joining us were two Nashville Buddies, Jim and Slick. Jim would be riding a large BMW and if memory serves me correctly, Slick was riding a larger Honda. Both were extremely experienced riders although Jim would like to ride a bit faster than I would prefer. Jim was built short and stout and even on the tall BMW, he was one of the best riders I’ve every followed.

Since we were riding in a group, prior to starting we had a meeting and made the decisions about cruising speed and to ride in a staggered formation. The three Goldwings had CB communication and would be placed at the front, middle and end of the group so that we could communicate upcoming conditions and to make sure we were notified if and problems occurred. There was one situation where one rider veered a bit off the road onto a grassy patch, but quickly recovered. This was communicated between the Wing riders and hand signals were provided to the others in the formation.

The reason I digressed from my Vision experiences is simple: This trip would be the basis for comparison to the Vision for a highway journey. Riding a highway tour bike on a short trip versus taking it on a long voyage is best compared to writing a newspaper column to writing on a blog. In a newspaper column, you have limited space to deliver a message. On a blog such as this page, I can ramble on for as long as needed and take the time to explain any detail I desire. Get the picture?

As I've stated previously, the best way I can explain the characteristics I've experienced to date with the Vision, is by calling it a cross between a Goldwing and one of the larger Harley models. This drive to Orlando would speak volumes to me and would dictate my future trip plans with this bike.

To me, the Florida Turnpike is the perfect setting for such an experience as approximately every 45 miles there are rest stops. Not your typical rest stops that can many times be unsafe as they are un-monitored and have large blind spots due to truck parking, the Turnpike features rest stops that include a gas station as well a type of mini-mall/food court setting where you can grab a Starbucks, Burger King, Popeye's Fried Chicken, Cinnabon or other fast food delights as well as having clean restrooms. Of course, there were kiosks outside of each one that would sell fresh Florida citrus products. There is typically a State Trooper presence at each rest stop that made you feel safe leaving your bike in the parking lot. Of all the criticism I have for Florida politics, the Florida Turnpike is one area of State Government where I have no complaints…except when improvements call for construction delays. But I guess I’m glad that our highways are constantly maintained as no biker wants to find debris or potholes in the path.

My plan was to see if I felt the need to stop every 45 miles or was comfortable going 90 miles or more before stopping. Although retired from the industry, I'm still a tried and true product tester at heart. This ride would act as my test of the highway capabilities of the Vision and not be performed on a road that is hand-picked by manufacturers for motorcycle press rides. While this was a pleasure trip and I did not have a definitive time frame, I told Billy that I would give him a call when I approached Orlando. He's a great guy and had a flexible schedule that day. He also knew that I had a Bluetooth helmet and could check my progress along the way.

I left the house at 8:30am on Friday morning. We had a cool front that passed through late Tuesday and the temps went from being unseasonably warm to cool to perfect riding weather in just a few days. When I left, the temperatures were in the low 60s with a predicted high in the low 70s. I chose to wear the Bohn protective undergarment for the lowers, covered by Levis. For upper protection I wore a Mototogo mesh jacket that incorporates protection pads in crucial areas. It also had a zip-out waterproof interior that also added to warmth. I've found this jacket to be a good choice for warm weather riding without the lining as it breathes well while providing ample protection. In the left saddlebag I inserted the Vision bag with a change of clothes and in the right had a padded leather jacket (in case it was cooler than expected) along with some riding accessories. The trunk remained in the garage.

I programmed the Garmin 2820 for my trip and backed out of the driveway. I was wearing a new pair of Harley Recharge boots I had purchased a few days earlier and had been wearing them for break-in prior to the trip. Say what you will about Harley, they do have the widest selection of riding accessories on the planet. When I stopped by the local H-D dealership the previous week in search of new boots, I met Sonya who was very knowledgeable in this product category. The boots I had come in to check out, the Presidential seemed to fit my needs when reading about them online. They were over the ankle, had a side zipper for easy insertion and removal and a high sole that would allow me to be fully flat footed on the Vision. They also featured a mesh insert in the side that made them somewhat breathable for warm/hot weather driving. Also, since the Vision can generate heat in stop and go traffic, they provided the protection I was seeking. In speaking with Sonya and telling her what I was looking for in a riding boot and the importance of a good sole that would provide strong traction when backing the bike, she steered me away from the Presidential and to the Recharge as the Presidential was more of a fashion boot than a riding boot and did not have the "sticky sole" capabilities of the Recharge. She did not have my size in inventory, so I ordered them online when I arrived home.

On Thursday when my bike was returned from service, after we removed the trunk, I had a few stops to make and took the Vision. By the time I reached the end of the block, I realized there was a problem with the boots when used with Vision. The Recharge boots are true biker boots and have a steel toe. This toe was about a 1/4 inch too tall to slide under the shifter and the rear brake lever. My first stop was about five miles from home and found myself having to slide my boots sideways under the levers. This was an awkward maneuver and something I didn’t want to have to think about. My first thoughts were to call Walt to see if I could adjust the levers a bit higher or, to go back to my old boots, but when I stopped, I simply used the heel of one boot to step on the toe of the other to mash them down a bit. There was enough interior height of the toe box to do this without sacrificing comfort or safety. On the next leg of my errands, this slight modification made them fit perfectly with the Vision.

When I returned home, I prepped the bike for my morning trip to Orlando. I had an early dinner with a friend and got a good night's sleep. At 8:30am on Friday I embarked on my first road trip on the Vision. I was thinking, "One way or round trip? How far would I comfortably ride today?" I'd make this decision after lunch with Billy. My first choice was to come home the same day as I wanted to play golf on Saturday morning, but would not do so if there was even the hint of fatigue.

 I'm now heading towards the Turnpike entrance with the Sunpass affixed to the windshield. Understanding this was Friday and Orlando is a major weekend tourist destination as well as Bike Week was starting in Daytona, I didn't want to get stuck at the toll booths and the Sunpass lanes typically moved briskly...even during peak times. Also, I've always found it awkward paying the tolls when on a bike. You have to stop and reach in your pocket for change (with gloves on). This has always been awkward at best and one of the many reasons I highly recommend a Sunpass not just for bikes, but for cars as well.

So, how was the trip? How did the Vision ride at highway speeds at extended times? How was the riding position comfort? How about fatigue? And, how was the performance, 6th gear roll-on for passing speeds?

I'll get to that in the next installment as it's a beautiful Florida Sunday and I want to get some riding in today. So, more later...

February 29, 2008
Day 14

After two days of cooler weather, the forecast for Friday looked good for riding. As you already know, I don't trust the weather forecasters as they have a difficult time predicting the weather 12 hours in advance in this part of the country. If the forecasts were as loaded with facts as the commercials promoting them are with hype, weather forecasts would be accurate. Doppler-this, Doppler-that. Friggen’ Doppler. Instead, they show pictures of cute babies and the forecasters are more personality than meteorologist. So, when I checked the forecast at 6:00am and it showed clear skies, the temperature in the low 60s and rising to the low 70s by afternoon. I thought the powers-that-be are with me, or are they? I was about to find out.

With the trunk removed, I used the Vision's custom luggage to pack overnight gear in the left saddlebag and in the right a few necessities such as a heavier jacket, the shock pump, LED flashlight with a bright strobe feature and, of course, some other gadgets. I reformatted and reloaded the iPod to make it a bit more Vision-friendly. After riding the bike for a few weeks and started to understand the logic of the electronics, I put together a few new playlists. First and foremost I made a "Bike Music" playlist that included an eclectic mix of various songs that fit with riding. Not a Celine Dion track in the bunch. Then, I assembled ten other playlists and assorted them either by Artist or by Genre. This way, if I was in the mood for the Doobie Brothers, just press #7. If I want Jazz, #9. This made it more convenient to have the music I wanted on-demand at the press of a button.

I'm still not sure if I like the location of some of the buttons. The rubber buttons under each grip are a bit small and at night, only the cruise control button is illuminated. I think this could have been designed with a bit more thought. The console buttons near the fairing is a bit of a reach for someone of my size. The numbered toggle buttons are a bit better located. The heated seat controls take some getting used to as well. I'm one of those riders who really doesn't like taking my hands too far away from the grips or my eyes off the road...especially at 70+ mph.

Since today was a bit cooler than normal, it was no issue wearing the protective gear. I'm getting used to the Bohn "mantyhose," although I still feel strange wearing them under my jeans. But it's nice knowing they are there and hope I never have to put them to the test. I have a Motogp mesh jacket with a removable waterproof inner liner and numerous protective pads that has been great for this weather. It breathes and is comfortable for Florida riding. I picked up a new pair of Victory perforated leather gloves with the gel padding in the palm. Of course, I had my helmet and the Bluetooth was activated so that if necessary, I could receive incoming phone calls. Allow me to be clear about this, I’m not one for talking on a cell phone, especially while riding. But in the case of emergency, it’s nice to know that I can be reached if necessary.

I warmed up the bike in the driveway and programmed the GPS. The more I use the GPS the more I like it. I get lost finding Starbucks and this is the first bike I've owned with a navigation system and it's one feature I don't think I would want to live without. The majority of today’s ride will be on Florida’s Turnpike – a great touring bike road that’s kept in good conditon and the GPS will come in handy when I reach the Orlando area as the map showed about a dozen quick turns off the exit. The iPod function was selected and off I went.

I'm only a couple of blocks from the Florida Turnpike and I have my removable Sunpass on the lower part of the windshield. If you're adding one of these, make sure you affix it when the electric windshield is in its lowest position. This way, it won't dislodge or stress the windshield mechanism when lowering it from the tall position. I left the house at 8:30am and there was little traffic on the road. Step 1 was accomplished – avoid the morning rush hour. The weather was bit brisk for Florida, but for riding it was  perfect. When I entered the highway, by pure coincidence, I hear the Doobies' "Rockin' Down the Highway" playing through the speakers. Kismet.

I've found that for highway driving, with the iPod’s volume set on full and the Automatic Volume Control (AVC) set on Medium, that I keep the music level between 10 and 14. Honesty, 13 seems to be the perfect setting, but maybe I'm superstitious and avoid that number. Hey, most hotels and office buildings don't have a 13th floor so evidently I'm not alone in this superstition.

The next song that popped up on shuffle-mode was Sting's "Brand New Day." Brand new day, brand new bike. Kismet again. Okay, the bike had it’s first service, so it’s not officially brand new, but the oil is new and the Vision is new. I’m stretching here. This was to be my first road trip on the Vision. For me, it truly is a Brand New Day.

I got up to speed and set the cruise control at 72mph – per the GPS. The speedometer on the other hand indicated I was cruising a bit faster than 75mph. This is a standard variance for most motorcycles that I once heard had to do with the manufacturer’s liability insurance. I don’t know if that explanation is fact or fiction.  I have to admit that I was a bit antsy about this trip as other than some 70 – 80 mile Vision rides, this would be a test of me and the bike and the result of this test would most likely determine what I’ll be doing during the hot summer months.

Although I’ve not committed to a tour yet, I’m giving strong consideration to having the bike shipped to a Western or a Northern destination and joining up with a seven, ten or 14 day guided bike tour. I’d love to ride the Rockies or the National Parks…basically anywhere that’s away from the Florida Summer heat and humidity. One reason I’m considering a guided tour is that it’s fairly headache-free. They take care of all the arrangements, book the hotels and restaurants and have a chase car for luggage a mechanic for repairs and typically a medic for emergencies along with a satellite phone for emergency access in remote areas. When I was working, I attended a Kawasaki product introduction trip from South Beach to the Keys and it was great and hassle-free. Like most of these trips, although the route is planned to be press-friendly, most of the guys usually break away and ride in smaller groups based on ability. Because Kawasaki was showcasing a number of new bikes, they had planned stop areas every hour or so and we were supposed to swap bikes with other reporters. Some of the bikes they were showing were the smaller ones and since I’ve done this before, a buddy of mine, Jim (last name withheld) and I decided to pick two of the larger bikes and when it became swap time, to swap with each other.  That sure beat getting stuck with a 500cc bike.  Sorry Kawasaki, I surrender.

Jim started off on a Vulcan and I had a Cobra customized Vulcan – a really cool bike that if the badges weren’t in place, I would have never thought it was a customized Kawasaki. Jim and I were old friends and were able to pull off the switch virtually unnoticed at each stop. This is probably the understatement of the year: Jim had an interesting  and envious job. He worked for Playboy Magazine most of his life and for nearly 20 years wrote the famed column: The Playboy Advisor. Boy, did he have some stories. I’d share some of the stories here, but this is on the open web and I prefer to keep this site family friendly.

While riding the Turnpike, my first decision would be whether or not to stop at every rest station as I didn’t want to ride fatigued and even a five minute stop can do wonders for the body. The first station was 40 miles from my entrance and there would be a rest stop every 45 miles or so. When I started seeing the signs for the first upcoming rest area, the decision was made, I kept going. I’d only been riding a half an hour and was feeling great. With each passing mile I was settling in a bit more towards the rear of the seat and after I found a good position I started adjusting my feet.

I know I made some rookie comments on the message boards about being able to stand to reposition myself while riding at highway speeds and was roasted for them. But hey, the Vision is laid out different from any other bike I’ve ever ridden and I was unfamiliar with its forgiving and flexible ergonomics. What truly amazed me was that this was the first cruiser I’ve owned where there is absolutely no need to install highway pegs. Because I’m not a tall guy, I would usually have to have them custom made. Today though, I just stretched my legs and placed my heels on the front of boards. This was so cool…no need for highway pegs and still having my feet close enough to the controls if needed. I’m still amazed that the floorboards allow for such versatility in placing your feet back or towards the front or directly below.  While most cruisers have a designated riding position, the Vision is nothing short of versatile in this area.

About the time I’m amazing myself with the floorboards, along comes two Harleys in my rearview mirror. I’m guessing they were headed towards Daytona and would take the Turnpike North to I-4 then head East to Daytona. I really don’t get this. Yes, I’ve owned three Harleys and all of them had a windshield. I’ve ridden bikes without a windshield on the highway and it’s a real pain as you feel like a parachute in the wind. If you’re not wearing a full face helmet, you’re eating bugs. While okay during street rides, it’s ridiculous at highway speeds as it’s a recipe for fatigue and fatigue can be dangerous on two wheels. But I guess some people rather look cool than ride comfortably. I opt for the latter.

Well, not only did these guys ride bikes without windshields they were not wearing helmets. One of the bikes had ape-hangers and it appeared he was barely hanging on. The other bike had low bars and he was leaned over the front of the bike. When they passed me, they didn’t even look to my side. I guess they couldn’t move or they might lose control of their bikes. Looking at them, I wondered if they have a good chiropractor as they are surely getting beaten up. Maybe they were planning on hitting a massage parlor in Daytona to sooth their aches and pains. I wonder if they knew most massage parlors don’t offer massages. Yes, their bikes were well customized, painted and chromed, but I’ll be those bikes spent more time backed up in front of a bar than they did touring the highways. For the most part, show bikes are pretty to look at but ride and handle poorly. It was then I decided that I won’t opt to head to Daytona after Orlando as I really didn’t fit in with these guys.

I saw the sign for the next rest area and considering I’ve ridden about 100 miles I decided to pull-in. I felt great, no fatigue, no cramping, but it was time to visit Mother Nature. I guess that’s one feature Victory forgot to include on the Vision…and I’m glad they did!  

I used this stop to top off the tank…not that it needed it, but what the heck, I’m already at a gas station, so I pumped the petrol into the tank. I had read a few threads about the difficulty in filling the Vision’s tank. I never had any issues with this. I simply placed the bike on the stand, opened the fuel door, removed the cap and placed it in the holder.

At a gas stop a few days earlier another biker walked over to check out the Vision. The one positive comment he made was about the gas cap and that I didn’t have to place it on the gas pump. You can guess what he was riding.

Nonetheless, I simply start filling and when it gets to the top, I stop, give the bike a small shake and then continue filling slowly. When it nears the top again, I give it a few seconds to flow to the lower tank and continue. No biggie. However, I realized something I hadn’t noticed before. On my other bikes it was common practice to grab a windshield cloth and wipe the gas drippings off the tank. I haven’t had to do this on the Vision.

At the next pump was a guy with a Suzuki Cruiser. I’m guessing it was about three years old. We talked for a few minutes and I asked how he liked riding without a windshield and he easily acknowledged that he wished he had one as he was stopping at every rest stop just to take a break. He had about another 100 miles to go to his destination. We rode off together and he tailed me most of the way, but at some point he slowed a bit as I’m sure it was more work for him than it was for me to cruise at the speed limit.

I was in the right-hand lane and saw a pickup truck approaching fairly quickly in the left mirror. Yes, with this bike you can actually see things in the mirror as there is no vibration. As it got closer it slowed a bit it then moved up to my side. The passenger nodded with approval and then sped up and kept going. In the bed of the pickup was a H-D mid-level cruiser. I guess he was headed to Daytona as well. I wondered why the bike was in the truck and not on the road. I’ll never know the answer to that one. I guess it’s nice having a bike that likes to be ridden.

I skipped the next rest stop and was feeling great. The sixth gear had the engine around 2,300rpm in 6^th gear and the Level 1, Stage 1 pipes were humming in a mellow tone. They stayed mellow until I had the opportunity to pass and roll on the throttle which made the exhaust come alive. The instant MPG indicator had me hovering around 40mpg and that’s a good thing with gas prices at $3.65 per gallon on the turnpike.

Around a year ago, I read a series of stories in the local paper about a Florida rookie politician trying to make a name for himself by removing the Citgo gas stations from the Florida Turnpike due to negative comments made by Hugo Chavez towards the USA and our President. A year later, all of the rest areas on the turnpike still have Citgo stations, so I guess he failed as they are still there. Our tax dollars at work! I guess I’m glad that he didn’t try to do something important such as reduce violence as with his track record I’d be afraid of the outcome.  Maybe Hillary could fix this..NOT!

At this point I can’t believe how strong I’m feeling on this bike. When I had the Road King I would have started feeling a bit fatigued at this point. No fatigue and having fun. It was then I started thinking it was a reality of making the round trip the same day. Before I had left I had made arrangements to have my dogs taken care of in case I didn’t return the same day. Evidently those plans were unnecessary as there’s nothing at this point that makes me think I can’t successfully and comfortably make the round trip in a single day. I was approaching another rest area and since it’s been around 90 miles since the last stop, I pulled in.

100 miles was my typical stopping on my Goldwing. If memory serves me correctly, I remember looking forward to that 100 mile mark to take a few minutes to get off the bike and stretch a bit. I never dreamed that the Vision would allow me to ride so comfortably for so long. Okay, I’m starting to sound like a commercial…but I’m being honest here.

When I pulled over, I walked inside to grab a Starbucks and the line was too long, so I hit the facilities and went back to the bike to top off the tank. The line at Starbucks reminded me of one of those Yogi Berra sayings, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.”

 I was carrying my helmet as I had no place to put it. This is one of the few features I with Victory would have added to the Vision…a Helmet Lock. I’ve never had another bike without this feature. Sure, when the trunk is in place, I can simply place the helmet in the trunk. But without it, I’m stuck carrying it. Yes, I could simply place it on the seat or on the right handlebar, but I’m not that trusting and wanted my helmet for the rest of the trip. I looked at the bike to try to figure out where would be the logical place to install a helmet lock without causing any damage to the bike when the helmet would surely bang against it. D’oh, Victory…this is one of the few things you screwed up on this bike.

The only place I found where it would work was if it was installed on the right tip protector. If it was on the bottom, it would be concealed but more difficult to use. I could put it on the top and it would be a bit unsightly, but it would be functional. I’ve always believed in the mantra, Form Follows Function, so unless I get a better suggestion, I’ll soon be placing a helmet lock on top of the tip protector.

Fast Forward: When I got home, I went online to check out some helmet locks and found one that attaches to the tip of the right grip. It had a mention that it would only work with a specific type of grip and the way it was explained was like Greek to me as I didn’t know what it meant. So, I guess I’ll pose this question to Walt.

I noticed I only had around 50 miles to Cousin Billy’s Hotel so I took a moment to give him a call. I was a bit ahead of schedule and told him the time estimate displayed on the GPS. About 30 minutes later, the phone tone sounded in my helmet which signaled an incoming phone call. Believe it or not, the phone tone is “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee. And I didn’t see in the manual where it can be changed. I’m using the Cardo Systems Q2 Bluetooth unit and all I have to do is to start talking to answer the call.

Although I covered the tech industry for most of my life, I’ve never big a big fan of cell phones. I think they are intrusive and many people become fairly obnoxious with them. I’ve been on dates before where she will get a phone call during dinner from a girlfriend and chat away. Rude! And she later complained to a mutual friend that I never called her for another date.  Hello?

Speaking of cell phone usage, when I moved into my neighborhood and went to the office they told me they only had two rules for the clubhouse and golf course: No denim and no ringing cell phones. I don’t know if I agree with the no denim rule, but I applauded their no ringing cell phone statement. Now, if we could only figure out a way to get phones out of the hands of drivers…even if it’s just teenage drivers, I’d be thrilled. Maybe I should send a note to that politician who wasted our money trying to break a Citgo state contract. On the other hand, maybe I should try to find an honest politician. What am I saying? Am I losing my mind? They are probably going to waste another 15 years and billions of dollars to figure out our health care system is not as bad as Michael Moore says it is.

Billy had called as I had told him I had a Bluetooth helmet and being the tech guy he is, although he said he was checking my progress, I knew he wanted to hear how it sounded at highway speeds. He’s seen more technology than I have and that’s making a bold statement and he doesn’t impress easily. He was impressed.

When I approached the exit, I knew I had a number of quick turns. The Garmin GPS did not let me down and it gave the directions clearly through the Vision’s sound system. My only complaint is that before each turn announcement, there is a attention tone that sounds. When the radio is turned up, it sounds like it could explode the speakers. I tried adjusting the Garmin’s volume, but it’s a trade off. If I want to clearly hear the directions, I’m stuck with the loud tone. Maybe I’ll try simply turning off the alert tone. The good news is that the Garmin was programmed very well and the Navteq maps are great. Not only could it find newer roads (such as my street), when there were two quick turns, it would announce both of them. This way, when turning I would know whether to go towards the right or left lane after the initial turn. I love well though out technology.

As I pulled into the hotel, Billy was standing outside. It was great to see him. I went upstairs to remove the mantyhose as they can be a bit awkward when off the bike. We then headed off for some Mexican food and some catching up. We always have great conversations about family and technology. Since he lives on the other side of the country, I’m glad I took the time to ride up there to see him.

We spent a few hours together and around 2pm I decided I better head out now or I’m spending the night in Orlando. So, I pressed the link to my home address on the GPS and said goodbye to Billy.

Just like when I exited, there were a number of quick, tricky turns to navigate to get back to the Turnpike entrance. When I got to the final turn and was entering the Turnpike, a car was blocking me and instead of stopping in the middle of the entrance ramp, I opted to enter the North bound lane as opposed to my desired South bound heading. So, no big deal, I’ll let the GPS get me back on track. The next exit would be seven miles. So I followed it and then noticed that the exit was taking me East on I-4. Maybe I was destined to head to Daytona after all. As I merged onto the Interstate, I noticed a big traffic backup. Since I was taking the next exit to get turned around, I could stay in the right lane which was unobstructed. I saw a few bikers in the traffic and can only assume they were headed to Daytona. I guess the duffle bags tied to the sissy bars were a giveaway. As I made the exit and was stopped at a light a car came up to my right and rolled down his window. He said, “I saw that bike on TV last night and it’s better looking than it is on the commercial!” I thanked him and my media background forced me to  ask which station he saw the commercial and he answered A&E.  This was strange as a friend called the night before and she told me she saw the ad on the National Geographic Channel.  This is nuts. I know a bit about marketing to specific demographics and I was wondering what was going on in the minds of Victory’s advertising agency. I had worked with a major ad agency a while back when my USA Today column was sponsored by Mercury. Their concept was that those interested in technology don’t consider Mercury’s as a purchase. Well, duh! Mercury’s didn’t have the product line or the features that would appeal to my tech-hungry audience so why would my readers consider a Mercury in the first place?  I attended a few advertising meetings and what struck me as strange was that the average age of employees working for Young and Rubicam (Mercury’s Ad Agency) was in the late 20s. Before the meeting they were all joking about last night’s South Park episode and what Kenny was up to. These were the same people spending megabucks on advertising buys for a car line that (at that time) appealed to the 60+ crowd. I should know as I was paid much more than I thought I was worth by them for a multi-year contract. So I’m wondering why Victory is advertising on National Geographic and A&E? Is this the audience that would consider a Vision?

In this economic environment, when marketing a product in the price range of the Victory, it seems wise to advertise to an audience who won’t rely on financing to purchase a Vision. They need to appeal to an audience who will pay cash for a product that could be construed as the ultimate in remedies for s mid-life crisis. Yes, the Vision is a great bike, but for them to sell well, they need to go where the money is today. When the market stabilizes, that’s a different story. If I was making the decisions, I would be advertising to the Wall Street crowd and place my ad dollars on stations such as CNBC. $25K is a lot of money for a motorcycle and in this economy where things are tight for most folks and financing is tough to get for many of us who pay our bills on time, why not go where the money is? Go figure?

I re-entered I-4 and while the West bound lane was empty, I waved to the bikers stuck in traffic heading the other way. I saw at least a dozen of them frozen steady and only two of them waved back. Maybe the glare of Vision’s engine temporarily blinded them.

I’m now back on my route and have realized that wrong turn cost me around 15 miles. They were fun miles and I was in no rush so no biggie. While riding back as the clock struck 3:00pm, I switched to XM 152 to listen to Schnitt. He’s great and started off the show as he often does in a rant. Maybe I identify with him, but I definitely like what he has to say. He’s opinionated and so am I. I’d be a hypocrite if I stated anything otherwise.  

As I’m driving back, I’m reminiscing that ride to Ohio with my buddies. One of riders was Slick Lawson.  I don’t’ think that Slick was his real name, but all the years I knew him he was always called Slick.

Slick was nuts…in a good way. He looked like Santa Claus, only thinner. His red nose came from many late nights in bars. He was a funny, story-story telling kind of guy and people loved his stories. At the peak of his career he was a nationally recognized photographer whose images appeared in magazines worldwide. I remember when times got tough for him and he had been passed up along the way by younger, more energetic photographers, I had a book coming out and the publisher was planning the book cover. She asked if I wanted to have it photographed in New York or Nashville. I was told they had a list of approved photographers in most cities. She checked and Slick’s name was on the list. It was nice doing this for a friend.

Slick was also an avid biker. There were few things he loved more than his bikes. Slick died a couple of years back of liver failure and for some reason I felt he was riding along with me that day. When I passed as semi I could almost hear him say, “Get On That Throttle, Boy” in his southern drawl.  I listened and got around that truck without feeling the wind it was blocking when I cleared the front end.

I’ve read some blog posts about people naming their bike. I’ve never named one before and if I had I would never name it after a guy.  However, this is different and maybe Slick would be an appropriate name for my Vision. Slick Vision. Thanks Slick, we miss you.

On this journey, thinking of Slick made me think of another old friend, Paul. Paul was married to my cousin Susan and was a Doctor, a good Doctor with a strong practice. He was an avid runner, a health nut and a great father and husband. He was also a fun guy who could light up a room and make everyone smile.

When I purchased my first Harley, I kept my Honda Shadow. Paul used to sneak out of the office and come over and ride. He had a bike in college, but after he got married and started having kids, no more bikes were in his future. He wanted to borrow the Harley for afternoon rides and I counter offered with the Shadow. He complained but got his skills back on the Shadow. After a while I would allow him to borrow the Harley and take it for after work summer rides though the back roads of Tennessee. I’m guessing his wife thought he was on a long run or something as she would have freaked-out if she had known he was riding a motorcycle.

One day, we rode over to the Harley shop where I introduced him to the owner. This was during the time period where a potential customer had to kiss-up to the owner just to have the pleasure of writing a deposit check and waiting up to six months for a bike. There were even people paying top dollar for used bikes and standing in line for the privilege.  The owner cut him a break and told him to come back next week to see a Dyna Wide Glide that was coming in on trade. Paul was thrilled…then I asked him if he was going to tell Susan.

Paul’s plan had been to keep it at my house and not tell the family. I had to tell him that I can’t do that as when they find out they’ll blame it on me. G-d forbid he got into a minor accident, it would be my fault. So he told his wife and after the shock wore off, she gave her seal of approval and after a while, even rode along with him on occasion. Susan’s mother, on the other hand, didn’t speak to me for nearly a year.

Around that time, Paul learned he had inoperable cancer and he only had a few months left. The last time I saw him, he was taking what would be his final ride. His Father-in-Law is my Godfather and was very close with Paul. After Paul passed he told me that he was glad that Paul had the opportunity to ride as he loved it. He was a great Father, Husband, Son and Doctor and he loved his Harley.

I mention this because when I walked into the Victory dealer to test ride the Vision, I had no intention of buying. I wanted to see it in person to check it out. I truly wanted not to like it. I have to admit that on the test, the Vision made me nervous…until I reached 10mph. I wasn’t afraid of riding the bike, but initially I didn’t feel comfortable with it in the parking lot. I was expecting it to handle like my Goldwing or Road King. Little did I know then not to fight it at low speeds - that it’s intuitive and is designed to be easy to maneuver. Once I got it up to speed, it felt good. It fit. I wanted one. I told Walt I’d think about it and get back to him. I’m sure he’s heard this before.

I first called Walt when I saw the bike showcased on CNBC from the NY Motorcycle Show in January 2007 to say I had some interest. He told me I would be number four on the list that he had existing customers that would come first. This spoke very highly of how Walt treats his customers.  I asked if he was taking deposits and he said not at that time. WHAT? A bike dealer who turns down money? This was a foreign concept to me.

It seems that Victory did not give many details about the bike to dealers other than it’s coming. I remember asking Walt if the main difference between the street and tour was the trunk and he gave me an honest, “I don’t know…but when I find out, you’ll know.” That was refreshing and a response I hadn’t heard from bike dealers before. Many months later when the waiting list started, Walt called with the details, but I had lost my interest and decided I’d wait to read the initial reviews and let Victory get the initial bugs out before buying.  It’s always a gamble being an early adopter.

Fourteen months later, I called Walt to setup an appointment. After checking out the Vision, I decided to take a test ride. John at Walt’s dealership gave me a route and said that if I wanted, take it a second time. After the parking lot jitters and I was rolling with my feet on the floorboards, I slowly started getting the feel if this machine. This was different than any other bike I’ve ridden or owned. I’ve had 11 bikes at this point and felt I knew a bit about them. The styling of the Vision caught my interest. Riding it captured my attention. I took John up on his offer and continued the route for a second time. I was hooked, but I didn’t want to be.

Since I owned my last bike, I had taken up golf. Could I play golf and ride? I was trying to justify not buying this bike. But I knew this would be a futile exercise and the memory of Paul came to mind. Life is too short, enjoy it while you can. I called Walt and basically told him to “wrap it up.” We did the majority of the deal over the phone and he delivered the Vision to my house a week later.

All of these thoughts were going through my head on the drive home from Orlando. The next thing I hear was the GPS announcing my upcoming exit. It was a bit after 6pm and Schnitt was signing off for the weekend. A press of my thumb changed me back to the iPod. I wasn’t thrilled with the song selection and skipped to the next track in the shuffle and ironically, Don Henley’s “Taking You Home” appropriately came through the speakers.

I can’t believe it, I just rode the Vision, or shall I call it “Slick” 350 miles and I feel pretty good.

As I pulled into the driveway, there was a feeling of accomplishment…I was all smiles…no bugs in these teeth! I remember asking myself, where’s the next destination? The Keys? Daytona to see my old friend Huey? St. Augustine? I’ll figure that one out very soon. Possibly, weather permitting, next week.   

This was a good day. It was a great day. And for once, the weather forecasters got it right.

I'll be taking a break for a few days, but I'll be back.
 

March 5, 2008
|An Attempt To Describe The Impossible:
Describing The Feeling Of Riding

The Vision had a bath today.

I didn't say I gave it a bath, but it was detailed stem to stern.

I'm one of those riders who refuse to be a slave to my bike and to polish it every time I return from a ride. Don't laugh, I know guys who do this. I’m sure you do as well.

One of my old riding buddies had a customized street Harley that was lowered, featured a new deep-maroon paint job with personalized detailing, polished mesh cables and enough chrome to blind someone if they were standing at an angle from the sun. It was gorgeous. Even the camel-colored seat was moisturized after every ride to keep it like new and to prevent future cracking. His bike was always immaculate. Not just regular clean, but anal-retentive clean. He also used to freak out when riding behind others through the back roads of Tennessee and always followed at a longer than normal distance. If a bike would propel a pebble his way, he would take evasive maneuvers. I can only imagine him shouting, “INCOMING” and he bobbed and weaved out of the path of a potential scratch on his bike’s fender.

After every ride, he used to put on cloth gloves, remove any hint of grime and then, wait for it...take a Q-Tip and clean between every crevice. The wheel spokes alone had to take him at least an hour. This was not a once in a while thing, it was an after every ride regiment. I remember calling him for rides and getting that “I need to clean the bike today” answer. He was the type of guy who, when not riding, wore starched shirts, creased pants and a perfectly knotted tie. Biking was his getaway from his business and, I want to tread carefully here...his home life. His gated community did not allow motorcycles and he kept it in an air-conditioned storage facility when not in use. Yes, it always looked great, but that's not my style. I enjoy riding, not cleaning.  Yes, I always keep my bikes in strong working order, but to me, this was a bit over the edge.

I'm divorced and don't use my bike as an escape as I have a pretty good life as it is. I wish I could explain why I enjoy riding. Even with all my long-winding commentaries, it's something that I haven't attempted to put into words. 

Maybe I'm a control freak and it's the feeling of being at the helm and the captain of the ship at all times. But I don't consider myself a control freak so maybe that's not the answer. But there's something that only riders will appreciate about taking the bike out for a ride. Whether it's a local jaunt, a weekend cruise or a cross-country ride, there's something unexplainable about riding motorcycles. Yes, I know it can be dangerous as my loved ones have constantly reminded me. That's a topic that most riders don't even want to talk about. We know we're mortal and there are some crazy drivers out there. We know that if we do something stupid, we could pay the ultimate price. Personally, I try to ride in a "bubble' and accelerate or decelerate to keep myself out of blind spots. I can only hope that tactic is as good as it sounds.

There is no comparison to pressing the gas pedal on a car and rolling-on the throttle of a well engineered, big bike.  It doesn’t matter if you're driving a sterile Mercury Marquis or a firm-suspension Ferrari Testarossa, they simply don't compare to riding a heavyweight, sturdy, well engineered, high-horse-powered bike. Leaning into a turn and knowing that inertia and centrifugal force are keeping the rider and the bike propelled forward and upright is a feeling that's incorporated into the soul. We are a part of the bike united as one single body of force. We’re not rocket scientists, but we know the basics of movement and balance. It's more than the wind in your face or being exposed to the elements, it's a feeling of...well, control. We slow before curves, start our lean and accelerate at the apex of the turn. When you're driving a car, you steer and press a pedal. Although we are riders, we are truly driving and controlling the bike with not only our hands and feet, but with our bodies as well. When we see the curve meld into a straight line we roll-on the throttle, straighten up and enjoy the feeling of catapulting through space into another dimension. All this is performed without thought or contemplation. It just happens. It's natural.

On the highway, it's another story. We enter the ramp and start looking for an opening in the traffic. Riders are more aware of their surroundings than most drivers for one simple reason: We have to be. There’s no competition between a bike and a car as in a confrontation, we will always lose. We know the facts and the risks and stay focused and use our throttle to place us in an exact spot. It's art in motion. Because we can get to speed faster than most cars, we are in control of pinpointing our bike in the desired location at the correct speed. There I go again, I said the Control word.

When behind a truck on a breezy day, we know that there might be an air pocket or two that can buffet and shift our bike beyond our will. But we’re prepared so we don’t just stay behind, we rocket forward. There's something about down-shifting and opening it up to quickly and efficiently relocate that monster-sized Peterbilt from our front, to our side to our rear view mirrors. Then, when at a comfortable distance we allow our bike to return to a normal speed as we shift into overdrive and hear the pipes sing its baritone mode.

We have to be much more aware of our surroundings than drivers of automobiles and we know that one false move and we are in compensation mode with our minds operating at warp speed to calculate our options. There is no margin for error. We have to think one step ahead and know that the moment we start to tire, it's time to take a break. We keep an eye out for erratic drivers and are prepared to make the proper maneuvers to keep ourselves out of harm’s way.  We see drivers with a cell phone in one hand and the other on the steering wheel. They are focused on talking, we are focused on keeping them out of our path and maneuver to stay out of their blind spots as there are no second chances and we know that. We know we have to keep a strong eye on any variation of unaware drivers as they are most likely focused on something other than driving.

This, to non-bikers is what I call exhilarating.

Maybe that was the adjective I was looking for: Exhilarating. Riding a bike is exhilarating. Whew, that felt good even typing the word. So, if I had to describe why I ride, it's exhilarating. But it's so much more than that. It's also camaraderie among other bikers. While owners of some bike brands think they are above it all, they really aren't. We are members of the same fraternity and in a way, are a brotherhood. A family...a group of people who know there's something out there and we're living it each day we press the handlebar mounted starter, pull out of the garage and head out for a journey. Whether we're heading towards a specific destination or just riding for pleasure or freedom, we are taking life to a new level.

So maybe someday, I'll try to describe why I like to ride motorcycles. I’ll see if I can find the proper words.

One of the features I appreciated when I first saw the Vision was instead of metal everywhere, the body features ABS Plastic that seems to be much easier to keep clean and doesn't show water spots. If spots do form, it appears they simply wipe away and don't require a Q-Tip. My Goldwing was that way and it was simple to keep clean. I was never a slave to my bike nor did I ever take it personally that it wasn't immaculate every time I took it out. If someone said, “you missed a spot,” I would laugh it off. Yes, bikes are feats of engineering and designed to be great to look at, but first and foremost, they are built to perform, ride  and deliver a lifestyle that is simply unexplainable. The best view is not from the side while parked on its kickstand, it's when under movement and looking straight ahead towards the place you want to go.

Bikes should be about fun, not work. That's why I'm saying I refuse to be a slave to my bike. Yes, I like it clean, but for whatever reason the Midnight Cherry finish is good at not showing road grime...even after a long highway adventure. The aluminum insert on the front of the fairing does catch some bugs, but that’s just shows it is doing its job. The bugs that form on the fairing are our combat scars that are soothed with a smile by that nurse in the form fitting uniform. But in my experience with the Vision, all it requires is a moist cloth to wipe it clean. Imagine that, having a bike that can be effectively cleaned with Windex! Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?

So I didn't bathe my bike today. Someone did it for me. I'm fortunate that I live in an area where a guy stops by each week to earn his living washing cars. I'm happy to support his entrepreneurship. Today when he appeared at the door with his fully-equipped mobile car wash station, I asked if he washed bikes. He grinned and said, "Let's take a look."

And boy, does it look great now.

If the clouds weren’t rolling in, I’d be riding it right now.  But, my riding time is cutting into my golf time. Riding or Golf…that is becoming my question of the day.

Life is good.

As a note of appreciation, allow me to jump off topic for a moment and add a thank you to a true bike enthusiast:

My friend Ty emailed me a few days ago after reading the blog and pointed out that I occasionally used the term "driving" when addressing motorcycling. He kindly informed me that bikers are "riders" not "drivers." Thanks Ty. Instead of going back to correct the record, I'll keep my mistakes for all to see. After all I'm only human.

March 8, 2008
Cooler Weather, GPS and Politics - Strange Bedfellows

The weather here has been strange lately. Some rain, some wind and a temperature range that fluctuates between the 50s and the 80s. But after seeing the massive snowfalls across the country today and cars sliding out of control across ice covered roadways, I'm not complaining. I'll save my weather bantering for a few months when the Florida humidity kicks in.

This afternoon the temperatures hovered in the mid-60s and the skies were clear, so off I went for a ride.

I found a route I like that's a 65 mile round trip using all back roads. Because it was windy with some large gusts, I thought that would be the wise decision. When I moved 30 miles North from my old neighborhood, I didn't realize at the time how close I'd be to some great back road riding. I had some things to do today and as I was getting ready to head out around 1pm, I received a call from the decorator that she wanted to deliver two carpets. By the time she left it was around 4pm and the temperature was beginning to fall.

While I was waiting for the rug delivery I did some surfing around various bike sites and stumbled upon a thread about Harley's new Cross Bones. In the thread, people were drooling, but I have to say that two words came to mind when I first saw the photos: FUGLY and Uncomfortable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To give proper credit, the photos came from motorcycle.com. I'm glad I wasn't the lucky guy selected to cover this unveiling. Am I alone, or is this one FUGLY bike? What was Harley-Davidson thinking?

Like the Vision, I guess it's a love it or hate it style. But let's get real, after seeing the Vision's massive console, how could anyone go back and ride this thing?I guess I can understand the adversarial comments I hear about the Vision from folks that love this bike. To me, I think I won't waste any more words attempting to describe my feelings on this bike as you already know my thoughts. I'm writing this post just before dinner time and I think I’m losing my appetite just thinking of it. The phrase “Coyote Ugly” comes to mind. Could you imagine riding this bike at highway speeds? The Human Parachute! 'Nuff said?

Okay, maybe I have one more comment left. Let's compare the view from the saddle just one time. You be the judge...

Uma?	Oprah!

Now I can say, 'Nuff Said?

Today, I was heading to a Starbucks in Jupiter...not the planet, the city. Yes, the Vision looks like a spaceship to some, but it really doesn't fly...at least not yet. Maybe the 2025 version will have a retractable wing that will lift us off the ground and let us zoom over traffic. Maybe not. 

While waiting for the delivery, I removed the Garmin 2820 GPS from the bike and brought it inside to program a few new routes into memory. Tomorrow, I'll be taking my first group ride with a local Victory group. They are starting around 50 miles south of me and I'll be joining them at a designated meeting point at 10:30am. I hope everyone remembers to leap their clocks forward or I'll be hanging around for an hour.

Tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be clear, but unseasonably cool with the temps hovering in the low to mid 50s when I take off at 9am and it might make it to 70 in the afternoon. So, it will be a bit crisp in the morning and perfect in the afternoon. I'm giving myself some extra time as I'm traveling to an uncharted area for me and don't want to keep the others waiting. I'm really looking forward to meeting some other Victory folks and talking it up during the lunch stop. While I don't know the exact route, I'm to understand we'll be circling Lake Okeechobee. For those of you not familiar with Florida, that's that large blue dot on the map in the South Central area of the state. If my calculations are correct, it should be around a 200 mile ride day...or around 5 gallons of fuel. I'll bet there are some SUV owners who would like to make that claim.

I programmed the route to the meeting point and then took a few minutes to set some way points so that I could keep track of the progress during the ride. I also programmed today's Starbuck's route as again, I was taking some new back roads. The programming process on the Garmin is relatively easy...if the final destination is in its memory. The location for tomorrow's ride meeting point, for whatever reason, was not available in the 2820, so knowing the cross streets, I went into "map mode" and selected the meet up point. To be safe, I found a Chevron station near the point that was in memory and placed that in the favorites folder. As I've stated previously, I have a lousy sense of direction and a GPS is a necessity to me. Back in my old days of riding, it wasn’t strange for me to pull over and check the map to make sure I was headed in the correct direction. Okay, I have a lousy sense of direction, but I can write. I guess I can’t have it all.

However, when I finally took off and headed towards the far away Starbucks, it seems I might have made an error in programming the way points as it was trying to take me on a slightly different route than what I had selected. I'm hoping this was "user error" and will work on that later. Maybe it's time to read the instruction book.

I remember reading a message board thread about someone stating on a Wish List that the Garmin had a battery so that he could remove it from the Vision and take it to a hotel (while traveling) and program the next day's route. Hmm, this is strange as my unit included an AC adapter and all I had to do was remove the GPS from the bike, take the GPS inside and simply plug it in. It’s a relatively small AC adapter and would be simple to pack away in a crevice. It’s small enough that I’ll probably lose it in the near future and will be searching Garmin’s website to find a replacement and paying a premium for the privilege. Maybe that rider didn't know there's an AC adapter included in the box as that would have solved his dilemma.

While I was programming the GPS, I had MSNBC on the TV and was listening to the commentaries in the background. I must be a glutton for punishment as I've grown weary of all the political banter. Get this election over with already! I'm waiting to hear the total amount spent by all the candidates and will bet it reaches a billion dollars. This is very sad to me. I’m wondering what the candidate’s constituents are thinking, knowing that their elected representatives are not spending any time taking care of the business they were elected to perform. One day, maybe someone will create a law that states that if someone wants to run for a higher office, they have to vacate their existing position so that the people are not left without proper representation. That will never happen as that means the losers will be unemployed. I guess the politicians take care of themselves before others.

Even sadder is the state of the elections in Florida. You know, Florida...the state better known for Hanging Chads than it is for great weather, tourism, citrus and fresh seafood. The new election controversy in Florida has to do with the Democratic Primary and how that Florida lost all its delegates as state Democrats broke the DNC rules and moved its primary to be earlier in the process. I am to understand the reason they did this is that they thought that the election would be decided before Floridians had the chance to vote in the primary. Since the Democrats broke the DNC's rules and moved the elections, they lost the right to have delegates. What? Really? Yes! Truth is stranger than fiction in Florida. Now you know where Carl Hiason gets his research for his Florida-based novels…the newspaper.

The bottom line is the Democratic candidates did not waste time campaigning to get voters in my state.  You might think this is a good thing, but these primaries and the general election generate income for every state in the form of advertising, entertainment and other related items. Did you read that story that showed Hillary spending a million dollars on pizza the previous month? Nah, there’s no waste in government.

Now, since it's a neck and neck political race, the politicians are talking about having a second primary election. What? And of course, the Democrats say they'll pick up the tab for this expense. Right! I’ll hold my breath on that one as I watch my property taxes rise…again. Our tax dollars at work. But, I digress...

While returning from Starbucks, the sun was starting to set and the temperature was dropping. Okay Northerners, I must have thin blood as it was a bit cool for me at 50 degrees. But, being the Gadget Guru, this was my first opportunity to test the seat and grip heaters and I jumped at the opportunity. I set the grip and the seat heat on low and within minutes the seat was at the perfect temperature, but the grips were just slightly warm through my lightweight, padded leather gloves. I pressed the toggle to high and within a few minutes I came to appreciate the heat dissipating through the grips…it was really nice and reminded me on stories I had done on snowmobiles in my TV past. I had the windshield fully raised and I have to admit, it was quite comfortable. I experienced some gusts of wind along the route and am still very impressed with the Vision's handling characteristics.

When I was at Starbucks, I was disappointed that my favorite Barista Babe was not in attendance. This was my second trip where I did not get to make small talk with her. On my last trip, one of the guys working there has a sport bike parked in front and spotted my Vision when I pulled in. Since the Babe was not there, we struck up a conversation that was centered around the fact that he had heard a lot about the Vision, but this was the first one he's seen up close and in person. He really liked it and wanted to know all the details. Today, we were talking about the weather and he commented that it was very windy when he rode to work a few hours earlier. I asked how his sleek sport bike handled in the wind and he waved his hand in a gesture that mimicked moving side to side.

Imagine that, the Vision handles better than a sport bike in windy conditions. Will wonders ever cease?

March 9, 2008
Car Dealerships vs. Bike Dealerships

I gave Alexis some grief yesterday and I think it was a wakeup call...either for her or for me.

The problem was simply a communication error in the method that information is disseminated via the dealer's website. But, who am I to tell a dealer how to run his (or her) business? After all, I'm just a customer.

Would I go into a car dealership and offer ideas on how they could sell more cars? Probably not. So why am I taking it personally when I see mistakes that a specific Victory dealers is making?

I think the simple answer is: Selling Bikes and Cars are different experiences. Buying a car is...well, buying a car. The entire process is about the dealer trying to separate you from your money. An educated consumer in this market is a car salesman's worst nightmare as with a few clicks of the mouse and navigating to the right website, we can see how much they paid for a specific vehicle as well as what's a fair price to pay. Car salespeople despise educated consumers and view us "time wasters." We waste their time as we know the exact vehicle we want BEFORE we step into the dealership. We waste their time as we don't need to negotiate as we already know how much we are willing to pay. When they ask the age old question, "What's it going to take for you to purchase this vehicle today?" we already know the answer. We know that dealer and advertising fees are highway robbery and as refuse to pay them we watch the salesperson trot back and forth pretending to plead your case to that invisible manager. The only thing we might ask is to take a mere 15 minutes of their precious time is to take test drive to see if the car is as good as the ads says it is. And during that ride, we have to turn up the radio fairly loud to drown out the persistent sales pitch about the tires, seats and of course, the radio, which is keeping the bantering to a minimum while we're checking out the ride. And, when we hear a squeak or spot a flaw, we listen while they change the subject.

Probably, the only time we will return to the dealership after a purchase is for service and many times our cars will come out with a new problem that didn't exist when it entered.

Yes, we love to hate car dealers. This is not the case with the type of relationship we desire to have with a motorcycle dealership as we will most likely go back numerous times after the purchase to shoot the breeze, check out what's new and most likely happily drop a few bucks for some gear or accessories. We'll shoot the bull talking about bikes and experiences and we'll make new friends while we're there. These new friends will become riding buddies and at some point we'll break bread and share more stories.

I've learned many more life lessons from my riding buddies than I've learned from various golf pairings. The main thing I've learned is that it doesn't matter what you do for a living, how much money you make, the size of your house or the price of your car. We don't hear complaints about work, idle gossip, what problems the kids have gotten into or how the spouse is making them crazy, as when we ride, those things are temporarily forgotten. What we have in common is a love and freedom of the open road and that alone can fill up months of conversations. Each ride brings new stories and the circle continues.

When was the last time you told a car salesman about a Saturday drive you had through the curved roads? How about the exhilaration you felt when driving their vehicle? Most likely, never. If you do have a conversation with a car salesperson after the sale it's most likely about a falsehood that was told during the sales pitch. That's another thing that I've never understood about car salespeople: Why is it that we can become informed buyers by simply taking an hour on the Internet, reading about a car, check some reviews and end up knowing more about the features, options and functions than the person trying to get a hold on our credit report to learn if we are even qualified to purchase its vehicles? Poor management I guess.

On the other hand, we enjoy our relationships with our bike dealers and in most cases, they return the favor by setting up rides, events and and in some cases, meetings and social gatherings. Our relationship with a specific dealer leads to a feeling of "community." We can talk about things with the folks at the dealership that our friends and co-workers will never understand. It's a brotherhood (with a few sisters), a friendship, a fraternity and a community.

This is why I had to give Alexis some grief today.

During my first visit to my dealer as well as other phone conversations and email exchanges, I asked about group rides and was told that not only were there rides, they held chapter meetings in the store. I liked that concept as my friends these days don't ride, they play golf. I was getting back into riding after an absence and reminisced about all those great rides I used to attend with my old Nashville buddies. To me it was a selling point having a dealership that provided this type of activity and was thrilled they would send out emails notifying me of upcoming events. After all, they inundated me with emails prior to purchase, why would I doubt they would not notify me of upcoming rides and events so that I could become part of the local riding community? Maybe I'm the bad neighbor, Nah, can't be that. Maybe I insulted them...I really don't think so as all our conversations have been pleasant and productive. Maybe I treated them like a car salesperson and beat them up too much on the price. I know for a fact that wasn't the case as when I made the decision to purchase I specifically told the Owner that I followed the economy and I knew this was a tough time to be selling high-end bikes and I made a deal.

My deal was I'd wouldn't attempt to negotiate price with him, but I expected to be treated fairly when it came time to add some accessories or perform service my new pride and joy. The dealer has so far lived up to his end of the deal, so, that couldn't be the issue.

Let's face it, other than in a few locations, most Victory dealers have facilities that pale in comparison to most Harley-Davidson stores. Victory is still a new franchise and hopefully as the dealers become more successful, nicer surroundings will be constructed. But that didn't matter to me as after a single test drive of the Vision and seeing the quality of other Victory models on the showroom floor, and comparing this line of bikes in my mind to my past bikes, I knew that Victory was manufacturing superior products. How did I know this? Because they had to. They couldn't just throw out any bike and slap a Victory badge on it and expect it to sell. They were competing with an 800 pound Gorilla who that had a worldwide following. Most people have not yet even heard of Victory, but based on the bike's I've seen, this will soon change. Many of the Victory dealerships are operating on a shoestring budget and the most of the staffers are doing double or triple duty as that's the norm when you're dealing with a smaller company that is still relatively new to the market. It would be bad business to spend your money on things that are considered overhead before the profits start to roll in.

This is the case with Alexis as she wears many hats.

Don't get me wrong, she has been fantastic to deal with and her follow-up has been second to none. The important part of her job, making sure the bikes are properly registered and licensed, is so smooth you don't even realize it was accomplished. There's only one bone I had to pick with her and it was that I wasn't being notified of rides or meetings.

Before I get to the rest of that story, it's time for me to go a bit off topic. A few years back, when I lived in the South Beach area, I had two bikes: A Harley Road King and a Yamaha Scooter. I was traveling so much that during many months, I might spend just a few days in this, my vacation home. One afternoon, when arriving back from a long trip, I decided to head out on the scooter to grab a late lunch on the beach. When I got to the garage, I see my Road King, but my Yamaha was suspiciously absent. It was strange as both bikes were chained together and secured to a concrete support beam. The chain was a commercial weight model and was promised to be nearly impossible to cut. The lock was one similar you'd find to secure the back of a FedEx truck. I thought they would be safe. Both bikes were cloaked in protective covers to further deter theft or vandalism.

The strange part was, while the chains security had been breached, the thieves only took the Yamaha Scooter, not the Harley Road King. Go figure? The H-D was worth much more than the scooter and would surely bring a larger price on the stolen goods market. Of course a Police report was filed and I was told the probable reason they took the scooter and not the Harley was that the scooter was easier to fence. So I contacted the insurance company and a few weeks later I received the check to purchase a new scooter. I opted to purchase the exact same model and the color as the one that was stolen.

Now, let's fast forward a few months and I had moved a bit north on Miami Beach. I had sold my Harley back to the dealer as the chrome was pitting and no matter what they did, it continued to deteriorate in the salty ocean air. Instead of getting another Harley, I opted to purchase a Honda Helix. For the type of riding I was doing during that part of my life, a scooter made more sense. The Helix was a great scooter and I enjoyed riding it around and slipping it into the tightest of parking spaces. The trunk was ample for my beach gear and it was a pleasure to ride.

My friend, I'll call Mr.D was visiting from Colorado and we took the scooters to ride around, enjoy the weather and grab some grub. While riding around, I saw those dreaded blue lights in my mirrors and we both immediately pulled over. Neither Mr. D or I are what you would call intimidating guys and we fully cooperated with the officer. He had pulled us over as, unknown to me, the Yamaha's tag had expired by a month or so.. Hmm, I usually am really good about these types of things, but didn't remember getting the renewal letter in the mail. I was living in a high-rise at the time and the mail worker many times mixed up the mail. At that time, I was living in Nashville and South Florida was my getaway home. So okay, I screwed up by not renewing the tag and was about to accept the ticket. Duane is an Attorney and he was ribbing me about this.

Then, all of a sudden after communicating on his radio, the officer pulled-out his weapon and started shouting out the types of instructions you see on the TV show "Cops." Step away from the vehicle...place your hands behind your head...lace your fingers...get on your knees.

WHAT? Mr. D and I looked at each other and while we obeyed the officer, we had no idea of what was happening. After all, the Officer had a gun and we were just two guys out looking for a fun place for lunch. The officer asked if we knew why we were being arrested. We told him we had no idea. He informed us that the Yamaha is a stolen vehicle and we are being arrested on this charge. I tried to explain the scooter was not stolen and I had all the paperwork...it was in the storage compartment under the seat. He didn't care as the computer said it was stolen, therefore it was. The discussion was futile and Mr. D advised not to rock the boat. The scooter was paid for and it was mine. It was purchased from a local Honda/Yamaha dealership and I wrote the check from the insurance proceeds from the stolen scooter. The check had properly cleared the bank.

Other officers arrived on the scene and we tried to explain the situation. They didn't care. I can't say I blamed them, but still, we were innocent. Meanwhile, enough police cars showed up on the scene to make any passerby think we were major league bad guys.

After we were placed in the back seat of the patrol car, a female officer was in the front seat. Calmly, I told her I had a scooter that was stolen, but this was the replacement. I had given the same info to the other Officers, but it fell on deaf ears. She didn't believe me as well until I asked a simple question: Can you call in on your radio and ask WHO made the stolen vehicle report? She complied and quickly learned it was me. She then realized that a mistake was made as the person who files the complaint is not typically the one in possession of stolen property. Things then got a bit more relaxed as they let us out of the car and allowed me to open the seat compartment and showed them the registration. We were then released. The Officers even followed us home to make sure we weren't pulled over again for the same situation.

Evidently the person at the dealership who was responsible for registering the title on the replacement scooter, screwed up and placed the VIN of the old scooter on the new bike's paperwork. This explained why I had not received the tag renewal in the mail as in the State's mind, the bike was stolen and didn't exist.

This is why I appreciate the "small" things that Alexis does behind the scenes of the dealership. Alexis, I trust you did this correctly as I really don't want to go through this ordeal again! Now back to the Alexis-grief story:

I had learned through a message board there was a group of Victory owners that typically rode every Sunday. This was ideal for me as Saturday is for golf and Sunday is a perfect riding day for me. Yesterday, I received an email from a local group who I had registered with when I made my Vision purchase and asked to be notified of upcoming rides. The email started with a rundown of the meeting held at the dealership just three days ago.

What? I missed my first chapter meeting? Wasn't the dealership supposed to notify me of this? Shouldn't it have been posted on the dealer's website calendar? Yes, it should have, but it wasn't.

The simple answer is: Yes.

When I emailed Alexis about this oversight and my disappointment, I wasn't expecting an immediate response. It's human nature to respond quickly when the answer is positive. However, many people feel uncomfortable addressing a less than positive situation. This is not what happened with Alexis. She responded immediately and apologized. She did not blame anyone other than herself and stated that old Steve Martin phrase, "I forgot."

Hey, an honest person. Alexis, I screw up too and I know it takes a big person to acknowledge a mistake. You have restored my faith in humanity and I'm now a bigger fan today than I was yesterday. She also said she had fallen behind on updating the online calendar of events and before I could even address that issue she told me that has now been corrected.

So thanks Alexis. You're still the best in my book!

In that email from the local Victory group, I learned of a great ride for tomorrow. I hope to take some photos of the folks and with their permission, I'll show you their mugs and their bikes in a future post.

March 10, 2008
A Group Ride Around The Lake

I learned a new term last week and today I got to see what happens when you take it literally.

I received an email from the Victory of South Florida Riders that had the details for a Sunday ride around Lake Okeechobee. In the email, it had the term 9:30am KSU.

KSU? Kentucky State University? Kent State University? Was this written from someone from Kentucky or Ohio? Well, the idiot I am, I replied to the email and asked, "What's KSU?" I'm sure they were laughing when they read my question but promptly and politely responded it was an acronym for Kick Stands Up. Okay, I get it. I often use the phrase Wheels Up when making plans with my non-riding friends, but I see how that term might not mix with the Rubber Side Down, Shiny Side Up crowd. I'm surprised that after all the group rides I've experienced, I never heard this term. Maybe I did but just forgot. Stupid me.

The plan was to meet and depart from the Ft. Lauderdale area at 9:30am, but since I'm around 50 miles North of the starting point, they emailed with a gas stop location where I could join the group. For me, it was a 9:00am KSU from my house and a 10:30am KSU at the meeting point. (I figure that if I use this term enough, it will serve as the proper punishment for my ignorance of this common bike term. It's kind of like having the teacher tell the misbehaving student to write "I will stay quiet in the classroom" 500 times).

The weather forecasters had been rambling on and on about how cold it was going to be. The low temps would dip into the 40s! The way they made it sound, I felt like I needed to search for a snow shovel in my South Florida garage.

By the time 9:00am rolled around (really 8:00am as it was the start of Daylight Savings Time), the temperature was in the low 50s...not too bad, a little wind and clear skies. I dressed appropriately and stashed my mesh protective jacket in the right bag and pulled out the heavier, insulated leather Superbowl jacket. Yes, an official Superbowl jacket from the 1994 match-up from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. While I had traveled to three Superbowls during my tenure with NBC, I never went to the big game itself. Yes, tickets were offered, but since I was working and getting up at 3:00am during my travels, I would typically get there a few days in advance, put together my Today Show segments, go to a few of the parties, do my broadcasts and then head straight to the airport so that I could watch the game from the comfort of my own home.

I remember one year, when I was headed out of Phoenix just a day before the Superbowl in Tempe, the airport was packed. But, the travelers were going the opposite direction than I was and I got to enjoy a near empty flight on the way home. I also picked up a jacket there, but later gave it away. I really like the Atlanta Jacket as it's great for cooler weather riding. But these days, I'm appreciating the newer body-armor style of bike wear. Since the jacket did not have the built in protection panels, I wore, over my shirt the Bohn "Mantyhose"...mesh shirt with the foam inserts. Since the weather would be warming to 70 by the afternoon, I could change jackets and be comfortable all day.

The previous day, I had tried the seat heat and grip warmers for a short period. Now, I'd really be able to check them out. I set the seat heat to the low setting and the grips to high and off I went.

I had an hour drive down the back roads to the meeting point which was in the town of South Bay...a small city that was at the Southern tip (Duh) of Lake O. If it wasn't for the GPS, with my sense of direction, I would have never found it.

I arrived about 15 minutes early, fueled-up and pulled my Vision out of the way. A few minutes later, here comes a dozen bikes. Was this the group I was meeting? I had never ridden or met them before so I had just assumed that since all the incoming bikes were Harleys, this was not the group I was waiting for.

As they scrambled for positions at the gas pumps, I heard a Thud and the sound of an engine revving out of control. I looked up an one of the Softails was laying on its side with the rider on the ground. Holy Crap...is he okay? A bunch of his buddies immediately ran over to assist and other than a bit embarrassed, he was okay. His bike though, suffered a few scratches and the mirror looked cockeyed. They helped him and the bike up and that's when I realized he forgot to put the KSD - KICK STAND DOWN before dismounting the bike. So you see, I'm not the only crazy one out there! If I would have had my camera in hand, I would have taken a few photos. But, it was in the bag. I did however, grab some shots after the commotion.

Then, another group of six or so bikes pulled in...still no Victorys. At 10:30am on the dot, here comes another group led by one of the most gorgeous bikes I have ever seen. It was a white 2007 Vegas Jackpot and if I wasn't a fan of this bike before, I am now. The bike belonged to Patty the Treasurer of the group. Her husband Lou followed in a customized 2002 Mean Streak Custom Kawasaki Vulcan that could have been a cousin to Patty's Victory. In 1998 at the Kawasaki press event I wrote about earlier in the blog, I mentioned riding a Cobra customized Vulcan. It was a one of a kind machine built for show. Lou's bike looked almost identical in the setup. It's a cool bike.

Along with them were Steve and Aimee on a 2007 Kawasaki Nomad, Liz and Rich on a 2002 Victory Kingpin and Al on a 2003 Black Goldwing loaded with extras.

They pulled-in to the gas station, some refueled and the others came over to introduce themselves. I was impressed as none of them were the stereotypical biker. They were nice, polite and friendly. They rode civilized and loved to ride. So ride we did.

Patty was the navigator and took the lead position. I was keeping up the rear. The route she had mapped would take us in a 130 mile circle around the lake, making for a 200+ mile day. We decided to stop about halfway and grab some lunch. All the years I lived in Boca Raton without owning a bike never allowed me to see how many great back road routes we have in such a close proximity. Before I sold my last two bikes when I moved from Miami Beach to Boca, I was typically riding around the beach areas and occasionally down to Coconut Grove. Had I realized how many great back roads were within an hour (or so) ride, I might not have sold them so quickly.

We made one stop before arriving at the restaurant as one of the riders needed some fuel. When they realized I had GPS and had preprogrammed the route, I was given the lead. Some of the roads were smooth and even had a few twisties. There was one ten mile stretch which had uneven pavement and jostled a rider or two. I had the cruise control set at a couple of miles per hour above the speed limit and noticed when the road got a bit rough, some distance separated me from the others. So I would occasionally tap the brake to turn off the cruise control and slow a bit. I don't want to sound like I'm boasting, but although the roads got a bit rough the Vision handled them well...very well. When I had my Harleys, I remember having to slow down when on not so perfect roads or when crossing railroad tracks. These days, I don't feel the need as the bike handles those situations so well.

When we stopped for lunch, I asked if anyone thought it was bit rough and Liz commented that the first bump caught her by surprise as she wasn't holding on. I'm glad to report that nobody got bumped off their bikes!

Although the parking lot was empty, the restaurant was packed. It was a seafood restaurant and we had gotten there around 1pm. We contemplated going a few more miles as the GPS said there were a few fast food places within five miles, but decided to stay. This was my first time getting to talk to the group and I have to say, I couldn't have asked for nicer folks to spend a Sunday with. Patty and Lou owned a Diner in Lighthouse point. Check it out at www.redfoxdiner.com . I had asked her if it was named after the comedian, and she rolled her eyes as evidently I'm not the first to ask this question. Redd had two D's, the diner only has one. Nonetheless, we support our own, so stop by one day and leave a big tip! Tell them Andy sent you.

Steve and Aimee are in the office products business and love riding and fishing. They often travel to North Carolina and have the best of both worlds. Check out their business at www.statbusiness.com. I didn't ask him what "stat" meant in his web address, but am assuming it's relating to the medial term for FAST. (I learned that from years of watching M.A.S.H. - I liked the TV show better than the movie).

Liz is a teacher and a reading specialist and Rich is in the landscaping business. His web address is: www.4ever-greenlawncare.com. If you live in the area and need some quality lawn work done, give him a call. Al has an interesting job as well. He is the curator of a classic car museum and takes care of 55 cars. You think changing oil every 2,500 miles on a Vision is tough work, imagine what he has to go through keeping this collection in mint, cherry condition. The lunch was okay and the company was better. The restaurant was located at the northern point of the ride and as we were getting ready to pull out, I said my goodbyes as I would be pulling away from the group on the East side of the lake to head home. So, I took the lead and we had a great ride to the point where the hands went in the air and I peeled off to my exit.

I heard from Patty via email when she returned that all arrived safely at their respective destinations. Six bikes, eight riders and a great time. As I said before, there's something about folks when they're riding and stopping for a break. We don't care about who does what for a living, only that we all have one thing in common: A love for great bikes and good roads.

I'm looking forward to riding with them again in the very near future and when I receive the email, I'll know what KSU means. I hope to remember what KSD means too, so I won't have to test the Vision's Tip Over Protection.

March 13, 2008
Board Flame Wars

I enjoy reading and responding to various online rider-oriented message boards. While I need to give a shout-out to the friends I've made at www.vision-riders.com and www.thevmc.com, I occasionally visit other boards to learn the current "buzz."

There's one forum, whose name I won't mention, that while they state they are all about American-made V-Twin bikes, are really just about Harley-Davidsons. That's fine with me, but since they have a Victory forum, I've been visiting it to try to pick up a tip or two. However, it seems that the Victory forum on that site is somewhat bombarded by H-D loyalists who will contest any positive comment anyone makes about a Victory with the simple statement, "But, it's not a Harley."

Here's a transcript from a recent discussion. Although the names have been changed, I did not correct or change any grammar or spelling errors. This should give you the proper amount of "flavor." The thread became long, so I'll join it in progress and you can see there's a user  who is using the forum to comment about opinions I've published on this site. That's fine with me as everyone is entitled to an opinion. However this user must have bone to pick with me as he seems to negatively address any opinion I post...even my non-motorcycle post about my comments and predictions on BluRay. Now, you're up to speed, here goes:

HD-1: ust curious as to what high tech features exclusive to the Vision that attracted you?

The only one I noticed that I liked that is not available on a Harley was the electric windshield.

Conversely an 08 Ultra has a more high tech audio system with it's integrated CB and 4 speakers, Electronic Throttle Control, Isolated Drive System (Cush Drive), Brembo brakes, and available second gen. ABS.

Both have available GPS, Communications, MP3, Satellite Radio, cruise control, etc.. Both have closed loop fuel injected large V-Twins (96 and 106) and 6 speed trannys. Both have available Heated Grips and seat, while the Ultra has many available seat options including a factory air bladder with electric compressor seat (not to mention the 100s of after market available seats).

So I don't see why, as you put it, a "Tech Guy" would be drawn to the Vision over the Ultra, especially since I consider my self and many others on this forum "Tech Guys" as well. It's fine that you like the Vision, but your statement suggests that the Vision is for some reason more High Tech than the Ultra and that dog just don't hunt.

Independent Rider: Maybe he meant "Tech Guy" as in geek?

To each his own, Be happy if you like what you ride.

ME: Motorcycle Consumer News, the Consumer Reports equivalent for motorcycles, just released its review of the Vision. It's copyrighted information and out of respect, will not copy and paste the information in this forum (maybe others will, but not me).

The reason I've always respected their opinions is that they have a trained staff who know more about bikes than most publications (my opinion) and deliver a fully detailed review that's backed up with tried and true test methods that leave little margin for error. And, they accept no advertising whatsoever. Its income, like C.R. is derived from subscriptions. If you've never ridden one, you might find it an interesting and eye-opening read and they go through the most thorough review on the Vision I've ever read.

I've always been a bit weary of advertising-supported magazine reviews. If you think about it, there are more bike mags out there than there are advertisers. They walk a fine line in reviewing specific bikes as they want to inform the reader while not upsetting the advertiser. After all, when was the last time you read a negative review of a specific bike? Maybe a magazine will touch on some features that could have been done better, but rarely if ever dissuade a potential buyer from buying a specific bike.

From the beginning, they state the Vision was built from the ground up using new manufacturing techniques and new, state of the art materials. The bottom line of the review is the rider experience. Comfort and handling are addressed in the story. While I like H-Ds and have owned three of them, if you think about it, other than the V-Rod, when was the last time they updated the basic frame of a bike? I can only predict that H-D will be stepping up to the plate and will soon introduce some new innovations...not just a feature or two, but true innovations.

The Vision, as stated in this review, is a different bike from other available models and delivers a new feel to the rider. They describe it as being a full touring cruiser with the agility of a sport tourer. It's not an H-D...it's different.

HD-1: It amazes me how you never address the questions or criticisms directly, you always deflect by trying to bring up an different point.

To be honest I have trouble with your reviews in general, if you were a regular guy I would consider it your opinion and that you are entitled to it. However, you identify yourself as a former professional paid for your reviews, you use that information in an attempt to convince your audience that you are qualified. I find your reviews misleading and harmful to the consumer regardless whether your reviewing Bikes or Blu Ray.

IMO your reviews are not non-bios reviews of the facts, they are loaded with passive aggressive opinion spattered with suggestive statements rather than substantive fact. As shown in this example... "I'm a tech guy I was drawn to the Vision". With that seemingly innocuous statement you attempt to qualify the Vision as something it is not. For a truer review the writer would have used non insinuating verbiage such as "I was drawn to the Vision at first glance". Including the I'm a tech guy is nothing more than innuendo. If you were to ask me, after reading a couple of your reviews I tend to dispute that you are a Tech Guy. %potstir@

Please keep this in mind... I really do like the Vision, I have no ax to grind with the Vision. I find it to be a viable option as a Touring bike. It's the unsubstantiated innuendo being flung by a proclaimed professional reviewer that bunches up my skivvies.

ME: You truly confuse me. If you want to debate my opionion of BluRay, go ahead. Wait a few years and see if my predictions become true. I understand emerging technologies and see the handwriting on the wall. I had the guts to post an opinion and if you have an opinion of BluRay, I'm happy to read it.

Since you're stirring the pot on my background, I have to ask: What is your issue with my background as a journalist? Yes, I was paid to provide reviews...paid by the newspapers and television stations/networks. Is there something wrong with this?

Over the years, I was respected for having a trained eye for quality as well as deficiencies in new products.

Now, it's your turn. What criticism am I failing to address? Please be specific. I don't check this forum often, but I will respond to an intelligent question.

HD-1: Dude... read my posts, you questions are all answered in my posts. I'm not going to repost my criticisms, my problem with you as a reviewer, my questions, and my opinion on Blu Ray when I have already posted all this information.

Know I know why you don't answer or address my questions and criticisms directly... you don't bother to read them.

ME: I've addressed your issues. If you have any others, feel free to post them and I will do my best to answer them. But, you need to stop talking in circles as you are making us dizzy and wasting valuable time that could be spent riding...or writing. Good luck to you and I hope you're feeling better.

Independent Rider-2: Can't we all just get along?

ME: Here's a link for you. I guess when the CEO of Disney (ABC) says that the computer is replacing the TV as the primary source of entertainment, he doesn't know what he's talking about either. Boy, at least I'm in good company with my editorials. But if you don't believe us, go get a BluRay and prove us wrong.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/...ment_79710.asp

HD-2: I have a 2005 Ultra and a VROD, but for you die hard H-D guys to knock what this man has to say(which by the way is his opinion) is sophmoric. Get your narrow heads out of your A** and just take it or leave it. I love my two bikes but, there are air heads out there that dislike my VROD because it is water cooled! God forbid. I love my Harleys and they are both different.

Independent Rider-3: From and engineering aspect the Vision is quite advanced. Lots of great innovations.

I saw one going up Yarnell Hill here in AZ over the weekend with out the trunk. Looks much better from the rear, not a cockroachish. But when I passed it, the front view is just so large. It looks dis-proportionate.

As with anyone, I purchase and ride what I like and what fits in my budget.

I beileve that the biggest issue with Victory is the dealer network. There are so few dealers that you have to travel to get service or repair work done. Not to mention the initial purchase.

Victory does not list it's engine torque specs. Nor does anyone really have any answers as to stock HP.

They do have a 4 valve per head design which is good, but the fuel mileage, (based on people I ride with) is not that good. Most of the models have smaller fuel tanks then the competition.

I will not bash anothers prefrence. I think Victory makes a nice bike. Just non appeal enough to me to purchase one.

ME: I agree with the lack of conveniently located Victory dealerships. But when you realize the Victory line is only ten years old, if the lineup continues to do well and develops a following, its a safe bet that more dealers will appear in the future. For the most part, the design of the existing dealerships are bland when compared to an average H-D dealer, but maybe when the economy stabilizes and bike sales come out of their slump, profits will appear and maybe then enhancements will occur. Also, you're correct about so few dealerships in its network. This is always a concern for touring riders as if there's a problem, you'll need a dealership within a reasonable distance. Again, H-D has a huge head start in this area. If a Vision owner purchased the Garmin GPS from the dealership, it was pre-loaded with all the dealership locations. This file is also compatible with the upgraded Garmin GPS that is replacing the older unit.

In terms of torque specs, I'm not the right person to address this issue, but the new issue of Motorcycle Consumer News has a full review of the Vision and they put it through a full test and was impressed with the performance and the ride. They described it as a cross between a tourer and a sport tourer due to its handling characteristics and had numerous bikes as a comparison benchmark. A H-D model was noticeably absent in the comparison. I'm not sure if the other bike manufacturers provided bikes for this comparison review or if the bikes were personally owned. However I can state (from personal experience) that the H-D PR team can be difficult in providing bikes for testing or media purposes and in the past, want to know exactly how it will be used, compared and attempt to control the flow of information. Hey, that's their job and I will not criticize them for their methods as they have spent many years and big bucks making the H-D brand a worldwide icon. I can understand why they would attempt to control this information. But it's difficult for them to have any level of control in a non-advertising supported publication. In an advertising-supported magazine, believe it or not, the ad sales department can have influence over the editorial department. I do have first hand knowledge and experience in this matter. So if you choose to flame me for this comment, please do so based on first-hand experience, not hearsay.

I can state from my personal experience, that the ride at highway speed is a cross between a Goldwing and a Harley Tour model with some of the agility characteristics of a sports tourer. The seating position is different from any other bike I've ridden (and that too is noted in the MCN review) and because of the floorboard design, there are numerous feet positions available without the need to add accessories or highway pegs/boards. It was nice to see a bike that needed little if any modifications out of the box. The only two upgrades I made was the addition of the optional (but pre-wired) GPS, the Level 1/Stage 1 exhaust and some new tail gunner tips. That's it. The only other mods I'm considering is the addition of some LED lighting...but the bike already has strong lighting both front and rear, but I like to know I'm can be seen from the rear.

You're correct about the huge fairing. But it's very aerodynamic and it's size cuts through the wind without any ill side effects. The larger size also provides some great dash features without any buttons being cluttered.

I took the trunk off my bike and it handles a bit more nimble. But, it handled well with the trunk. In either configuration there is little if any buffeting at highway speeds. That was impressive for the type of ride I was seeking. I'm not a kid anymore and I like the comfort and the sound delivered from the Vision. The Goldwing was too sterile for me and bumbled in low speed maneuvers. The Vision was a good choice for my type of riding.

No matter which bike we choose to own and ride, with the current economic conditions, we can only hope that the dealerships saved for this "rainy day" as big bikes aren't flying off the showroom floors today. Yes, many H-D dealers had a great run of selling bikes for many years, but now, the inventories are backed-up with few new buyers entering the showrooms. If they didn't save for this soft market, we could see some dealers (all brands) closing its doors.

Independent Rider-4: I'm sure your Vision is a great bike. There are MANY awesome touring & sport touring bikes on the market. I'm equally certain that the ride and handling characteristics of some competing bikes are measurably better than a Harley.

But.. not a one of them are a Harley-Davidson.

I might add --

You only go around once. In my lifetime, I ride a Harley.

Not that any of us really care what someone else thinks, but, what will they say of you? He rode a... "motorcycle" (I would guess). Maybe they would say, "fancy motorcycle".


Independent Rider-1:
Quoted from a previous post:

But.. not a one of them are a Harley-Davidson.

I am glad that was pointed out. I think I would of missed that!


Not that any of us really care what someone else thinks, but, what will they say of you? He rode a... "motorcycle" (I would guess). Maybe they would say, "fancy motorcycle".

Does anyone else find this statement ironic?

To each his own, Be happy if you like what you ride.

ME: Okay, I guess it's my turn to stir the pot a bit. After all, isn't this the VICTORY forum?

When shopping for groceries, electronics, office supplies, clothing or any consumer product, I'm wondering if you purchase only the name brands. When you see something that could possibly be a better item for your needs, do you skip over it to buy the name brand product instead? Does it ever cross your mind to maybe try it once to see if it could possibly be better than the brand you're currently using? How about laundry detergent? Are you stuck buying Tide all your life or will you ever try another brand that could possibly have tiny scrubbing bubbles that clean your clothes even better than the tiny granules found in a box of Tide? I guess you'll never know unless you try the other brand to see if it works for your needs. But if anyone walks into your laundry room, you can take great pride that they will see a box of Tide on the shelf!

Another good example of name brand products is Sony. Remember when just the name Sony meant quality? You paid a higher price but were assured of getting what you paid for. Remember the Trinitron? It was a great TV set in its day and we paid a premium to have one in our living rooms. Who would have ever guessed that down the road companies such as Panasonic, Pioneer and Samsung would come along and make a product that is as good for a fair price? Not Sony! Sony used to own the market for high-end TVs, but they got behind in innovations and while they still make a good product, they have lost a tremendous amount of market share. That's what happens when you take your eyes off the prize and live on reputation alone.

Sony has fallen behind in many product categories they used to "own." It was just a few years ago that Sony literally owned the portable audio market (Walkman) and they became a bit cocky about it. They were so obstinate that they figured its brand was so powerful they could slap a Sony label on anything and it would sell...many times at a higher price than another product that may be considered "better."

When the consumer started embracing digital music players, Sony Electronics, due to their ties to its sister company, Sony Music, ignored the digital music revolution and continued manufacturing portable cassette and CD players. To paraphrase a statement spoken to me by a music executive just a few years ago, "We're not in the business of selling songs, we sell albums. We will not get into that business." Well, I guess he was wrong as selling songs is what the consumer wanted and they got it.

Little did the great minds at Sony know that the struggling Apple Computer company would swoop down upon them, right in front of their eyes and introduce a new product, the iPod as a model for the portable music player of the future. Sony didn't flinch and shrugged it off. To make the iPod even more user friendly, they also introduced iTunes and gave users (initially only Mac users) a method of legally downloading music to transfer to their iPods. (As you may be aware, I'm not a huge fan of Apple's customer service these days and am only using them as an example and I'm not a hypocrite).

Sony fought the digital revolution and continued to attempt to market its old-school portable players.

As Paul Harvey would say, "I think you know the rest of the story."

So, while you prefer the Name Brand product, I opted to purchase one that is new from the ground up. Not improved, but brand spanking new. Not evolutionary, but revolutionary. Unlike you, I've owned multiple brands of motorcycles and know what I like and how I like to ride.

Personally, I don't give too much thought about what other people think of my bike as I'm the one sitting in the seat and I know, name brands aside, quality and innovation when I see it.

End of thread as of 3/13/08, 6:15pm.

I'm wondering how the H-D loyalists will respond to this one! Feel free to post your comments on www.vision-riders.com or www.thevmc.com.

March 16, 2008
Big Bikes, Small World

You know you've had a great day of riding when you see the sign for your exit and you're a bit sad that such a nice day is coming to an end.

In a nutshell, that was my day today.

Through this blog, I've had the opportunity to communicate with numerous riders from around the country. I've even had the chance to ride with a few of my new friends. A few weeks ago, I received an email from Scott from the famed www.conquestcustoms.com website. Scott introduced himself and told me he lived about 30 miles South of me and had a nice bunch of guys he rides with on a regular basis.

I considered this invitation quite an honor as Scott has the reputation of taking stock bikes and converting them into works of art. Not just a cosmetic re-do, but a complete stem-to-stern bike performance makeover. Needless to say, Scott knows his bikes. I was looking forward to meeting him and his riding buddies and seeing some of Scott's masterpieces first hand. When Scott first contacted me, it was just before Daytona and he informed me it would be a few weeks until the group rides again.

I received his email that they will be meeting on Sunday at the Starbucks on Glades and the Turnpike on Sunday morning. Since I was located a half hour away, weather permitting, I'd be there. I asked Scott what type of riding they do, as different groups ride differently. I wanted to make sure I wasn't getting with a crotch-rocket group that would be bobbing and weaving through traffic. He told me they are street riders and usually put together different routes that end up at a one of the best biker beach bar/restaurants I've ever seen.

Other than a few short jaunts, I didn't have much time to ride this week as I had two projects to complete: Tax Preparation and some final meetings with the Decorator Babe before she heads out on a three week international adventure. Needless to say, I was looking forward to a fun ride and I was not disappointed.

The South Florida area is an interesting location for a variety of riding. Okay, there's no mountain passages, but there are some good low traffic routes that provide the definition of scenic. We met up at Starbucks at 10:00am and headed out around 10:30am for a relaxing ride up 441 North to Okeechobee that's near the northern portion of the county. We then headed East to the beach.

Ritzy is an understatement of the Palm Beach area. Not only is there the famed Worth Avenue shopping district that's loaded with stores with names I couldn't attempt to pronounce and prices of merchandise that will make even the strong strike a fear of panic, there are beach front mansions so large and gorgeous it would make Mrs. Drysdale (the wife of Jed Clampetts banker in the Beverly Hillbillies) a little jealous. Ocean drive is a 30mph road and as its name states, it's directly adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike many ritzy areas, it's very bike friendly...as long as you keep your speed in check.
 
Although the temperatures were heading towards the upper 80s and it was a bit more humid than the calendar would suggest, we kept moving and the balmy beach breezes kept us comfortable. The scenic drive South on Palm Beach County's Ocean Drive (no to be confused with Miami Beach's trendy Ocean Drive) was nothing short of breathtaking. The endless Atlantic Ocean was on the left and the mansions on the right had back yards on the intercostal waterway. Crossing over towards the beach, we had to stop while some yachts passed under the drawbridges. It was during that unplanned break when I asked the guys how their bikes handled over the grated tops of the bridges. The answers were not what I had expected.

The riders on the Conquest Victory bikes stated it was not an issue as the oversized (huge) rear tires tracked well over this type of surface. But the solo Harley rider (I'm not trying to slam H-D as I've mentioned, I've owned three of them and enjoyed them at the time) stated that his bike was a bit "squirrelly" on the grates. This was the same feeling I experienced on many of my previous bikes...Goldwing included.

Most riders know what I mean with the term "squirrelly" as that's when the tires seem to slip a bit sideways on unstable surfaces. In the past, my gut reaction to counteract this feeling was to place more weight on my foot pegs.

They were not surprised when I told them the Vision handled in a stable manner on those surfaces. When the drawbridge lowered to a close and the backed-up traffic started to move, we mounted our bikes and headed towards our destination of the Old Key Lime House in Lantana, Florida.

This place is a must-see stop for any riders heading this way as it's an open air bar/restaurant that is directly on the Atlantic Ocean. It has both multiple indoor areas that is geared for upscale bikers and numerous outdoor seating areas that place you on various pylon-supported piers directly on the ocean. Scenic is not an accurate description, Breathtaking would be a more appropriate term.

Other than the initial introductions and at the single gas stop, this would be the first time we'd have an opportunity to sit down and talk. At that gas stop, the Vision only required a top-off and I had the time to meet one of the "older" guys Eddie, (not that much older than myself) and we started a conversation. I was admiring his Conquest Custom Victory Hammer and then, I asked his last name. When he told he his last name my antenna went up as his name was a unique one. We talked some more and I asked him if he was in the clothing business. He seemed surprised that I pulled this question out of thin air and delivered an affirmative answer. I then asked if his son was Joey and he about fell over. The good news was that he wasn't sitting on the bike as that type of "fall over" is not a good thing.

About 20 years ago, I took a week's vacation at the Club Med in Copper Mountain, Colorado for some skiing. Club Meds are typically bargain getaways and were all inclusive. Since I was younger and didn't have much disposable income, I had to plan my vacations carefully. Since most Club Meds are budget-priced, singles party vacations, I was assigned a roommate. My roommate was a guy around 8 or ten years younger as was a great roommate (for a guy) and we had a blast hitting on all the single girls. I have to admit, he was much better at it than I was!.

As luck would have it, Joey is Eddie's Son. Small world! Eddie and I immediately bonded and I feel we'll be riding buddies for many years to come. I have to admit, although he's a bit older than myself and hasn't ridden for as long as the rest of us, he rides a very hot customized Victor and he handles it like he's been riding all his life. I was impressed with his skills.

At the Old Key Lime House, Eddie could only stay for a short bit as he had plans for the afternoon. We said our "so-longs", but I'll knew we'll soon ride again.

While it's easy to find groups to ride in around my neck of the woods, it's difficult to find riders who are at the same skill level as yourself that you feel comfortable with. I'm truly lucky to have already found two groups that I already feel comfortable riding with and am looking forward to future adventures to share with.

Although these guys do take some trips to the Florida keys and other fun locations, they aren't riding tour bikes and usually put in around 80 miles per leg. That's fine with me as when you have good company, riding anywhere (except stop and go traffic) is a pleasure. I also need to point out that the Vision had no problem keeping up with these guys' bikes as they even commented about how they saw me handling this behemoth around sharp turns and winding roads. Yes, I still haven't found a riding situation where the Vision has not performed very well...but don't ask me to do some dirt riding with it as the Vision is a lot of things, an off road dirt bike, it's not.

Here are the bikes and riders in today's group:

Eddie with his 2005 Victory Hammer

 

Todd (Scott's Brother) on his 2005 Victory 8 Ball
 

Donny on his 1996 H-D Heritage Softail

Scott from Conquest Customs with his American
Muscle Series Hammer...this one is is a 2006 and
is called the "Cobra"

Scott's Cobra: Check out the tire and the side exhaust system.

After lunch, we headed our separate ways. From the restaurant, I was not near the Turnpike (my preferred route), I took I-95 North back to Okeechobee and cut West to pick up the Turnpike. As stated earlier in this blog, there's something about drivers on I-95 that I just don't like. But once I entered the Turnpike and accelerated to the 70mph speed limit, I felt like I was back in my turf.

It seemed like a blink of an eye, but when I way my exit was approaching it was around 3pm. Considering I was KSU at 9:15am the time had flown by. When I saw the sign designating just two miles to the exit, I thought of continuing. But it was a great day already. Nice guys, great route, super bikes...I didn't want it to end. But as all good things must come to an end, so did this ride. So I leaned through the nearly 360-degree off ramp and as I pulled into the garage, I was ear to ear with a satisfying smile of a Sunday that will be long remembered.

After a great ride, most bikers are relaxed and low key when sitting down to break bread. This was s group I had never met and there's something about the camaraderie achieved while biking where we became immediate friends.

(c) 2008 Andy Pargh, The Gadget Guru.
All content on this page and on this website is original and may not be repurposed without the expressed written consent of Andy Pargh.