Victory Motorcycles

About Victory

Victory Motorcycles is an American motorcycle manufacturer based in Spirit Lake, Iowa. It began production of its vehicles in 1998.

Its parent company, Polaris Industries, created the firm following the modern success of Harley-Davidson. Victory's motorcycles are designed to compete directly with Harley-Davidson and similar American-style motorcycle brands, with V-twin engines and touring, sport-touring, and cruiser configurations. The first Victory, the V92C, was announced in 1997 and began selling in 1998. In 2011 Polaris bought the Indian motorcycle brand.

The first model, the V92C, was debuted at Planet Hollywood in the Mall of America by Al Unser in 1997. Production began in late 1998, and the first official model year was 1999. At 92 cu in (1,510 cc), the V92C was the largest production engine available at the time. All components for the V92C were manufactured in Minnesota and Iowa, except the Italian Brembo brakes and the British-made electronic fuel injection system. Victory engines debuted with five-speed transmissions (later six), single overhead cams, dual connecting rods, hydraulic lifters, and fuel injection; most fuel-injection components are standard GM parts. The V92C engine was designed to be easily tuned by the owner.

The 92 cubic inch Victory engine carries 6 US qt (5,700 ml) of oil in the sump, about the same as most automobiles. This is intended to minimize risk of low-oil damage, but also makes it dimensionally larger than other motorcycle engines, such as Harley-Davidson, which carry oil in tanks. The sheer volume of oil can also impede engine performance in a racing environment. Top speed is about 120 mph (190 km/h) at 5,500 rpm; the ECM contains a rev limiter which can be overridden by reprogramming the EPROM. The Victory engine is air-cooled, and also circulates crankcase oil through a cooler mounted between the front frame downtubes. A section of the rear swingarm can be removed to change the drive belt or the rear wheel.

The motorcycle's designers had approached several European manufacturers, particularly Cosworth, about designing and producing the engine, but ultimately decided to design and build it in Osceola, Wisconsin. Several variations on engine-frame geometry were tried until the best configuration was found, with the crankshaft geometrically aligned with the axles, a concept developed by Vincent Racing in the late 1950s.

The V92C weighed about the same as a Harley, approximately 650 lb (290 kg). The original V92C engine produced about 55 hp (41 kW) at the wheel; with high-performance cams and pistons, this could be boosted to 83 hp (62 kW) and torque of 86 lb·ft (117 N·m).

In 2002 company introduced its Freedom 92/5 V-Twin, a 92 cubic inch engine mated to a five speed transmission. The new Freedom Engine had rounded cylinders and a smaller oil cooler and provided greater power output than the previous mill.

Victory continued to expand its model lineup in 2005 with the introduction of its Hammer, a muscular power cruiser with a 250mm rear tire and the Freedom 100/6 engine. It also began offering its cruiser motorcycles with the blacked-out treatment, using the styling scheme on its Vegas 8-Ball.

In 2006, both Arlen and his son Cory Ness selected the Vegas Jackpot to customize for the Ness Signature Series. The custom-inspired motorcycle was equipped with the same Freedom V-Twin powerplant and gearbox as the Hammer.

Victory would again demonstrate its forward-thinking in 2008 with the release of its radically-styled, luxury touring motorcycle, the 2008 Victory Vision. With a chassis composed of three big castings and an integrated 11-liter airbox incorporated into its design, it also featured the company’s proprietary Air Victory Brakes. Designed by Lead Industrial Designer, Michael Song, the aerodynamic, futuristic-looking luxo-tourer created plenty of ripples when it hit the market.

For 2009, Victory offered a 10th Anniversary Victory Vision. With an Antares Red and Black paint scheme that pays tribute to its first motorcycle, the V92C, the limited edition Vision includes a reverse gear and tons of luxury touring amenities like heated grips and seats. Only 100 were made.

Victory has also made a point of offering various models in Low versions, with seat heights and controls better suited to smaller riders.

Moto blog

Recall for Victory Kingpin, Jackpot Accessory Seats

Polaris is issuing a recall for certain 2004-2011 Victory Kingpin and 2006-2011 Victory Jackpot motorcycles equipped with accessory touring seats. According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,the backrest supports on some accessory seats may separate from the motorcycle, potentially putting a passenger at risk of falling off. The recall campaign affects the Victory Kingpin Touring, Double Backrest seat (part number 2876641-01) and Victory Jackpot Touring with backrest seat (part number 2875961-01).

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Victory!

We missed it yesterday, but July 4, 2011, represented Victory Motorcycles’ 13th birthday! Founded on July 4, 1998, the Polaris Industries-owned Victory Motorcycles has carved out its niche in the American motorcycle market with its line of cruisers and touring bikes. To celebrate its birthday, Victory released a video (look for it after the jump) featuring a test of its anti-lock brake system on a variety of surfaces.

2011 Isle of Man TT Recap

The Isle of Man TT usually provides a lot of drama, and this year’s event was no different. John McGuinness, second on the all-time TT wins list, added two more wins to his resume to win the Joey Dunlop Trophy while MotoCzysz once again fell just short of taking the bounty for being the first electric motorcycle team to record a 100 mph lap on the Mountain Course. The 2011 Isle of Man TT also had its share of tragedy with three racing fatalities.

Recall for 2011 Victory Cross Country

Polaris Industries has initiated a recall campaign for the 2011 Victory Cross Country due to a defect in the handlebar riser and clamp assembly. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some handlebar clamps and risers may have been machined to deep by the part supplier. As a result, the handlebars may slip within the clamps, potentially causing a rider to lose control.

Surely more wins are on the cards for Seeley and the 2011 Gixer?

The amazing Alex Lowes is deservedly grabbing all the attention in the BSB paddock at the moment, but I believe last year’s top Superbike rookie, Alistair Seeley is doing an equally impressive job in the Supersport class. Although he looks ten years younger, thirty one year old Seeley  is riding one of only two 2011 600 GSXRs (fellow countryman Marty Nutt is on the other) in the class. Alistair has finished on the podium four times including a race win at the opening Brand Hatch round and currently lies second in the championship.  He also took victory on the Gixer in the only race run at the North West 200 last month and was looking like the runaway winner last Sunday at Thruxton until electrical gremlins struck after opening up a seven second lead.

Stats ahead of Estoril MotoGP round

The MotoGP circus moves into it's tenth appearance at the Estoril circuit, with the Portugease circuit playing host to a Grand Prix event in each of the previous nine years since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP formula at in 2002. Below is a reminder of the highlights of the previous nine MotoGP races held at Estoril: 2002 – Having won the last 500cc GP race at Estoril in 2001, Valentino Rossi (Honda) won the first of the MotoGP races held at the circuit. This was a race that was run in very wet conditions and Sete Gibernau had led for most of the race only to crash out with four laps to go.

Officers Go Off-Road at Victory Police Motorcycles Demo

Get the Flash Player to see this player. You don’t often associate Victory Motorcycles with off-road riding. That didn’t stop these police officers from taking their bikes off the pavement at a recent demo event for police models based on Victory’s Kingpin and Cross-Country models.

Old boys up front and where are the new 600 Gixers?

As I’ve been gagging for the new race season to kick off so it was almost a pleasure getting up at stupid 0 clock to watch the World Superbike Championship  opener at Phillip Island last weekend. I have to say Messrs Burnicle and Whitham were on form although I was disappointed there were none of the usual verbal attacks on each other that always add to the entertainment.    I’m sure they will put things right soon but the world superbike regulars must have been disheartened that Moto GP veterans nailed five of the six available rostrum slots.

Haslam's first WSB win immortalised in paint

Titled 'Winning Start' this limited edition print illustrates Leon Haslam taking his first ever WSB win. Phillip Island, 2010 will forever be marked as an important race for Haslam, in his first race with Alstare Suzuki the Briton converted a career-first WSB pole position in to his first ever World championship race victory. Only 250 of the prints by Isle of Man artist Alan Perkin are available.

Xmas gift for Haslam fans

A LIMITED-EDITION Leon Haslam print has gone on sale and captures the moment the Alstare Suzuki rider took his first World Superbike Championship race victory – at Phillip Island, Australia on February 28 this year. Winning Start has been painted by Isle of Man artist Alan Perkin and the limited edition run of 250 prints are already selling on the online store of Leon Haslam’s website; www.leonhaslam.com. All of the prints are signed by Haslam and Perkin and are priced at £39.95. “Alan Perkin has produced a really nice painting and we wanted to get something out there in advance of Christmas and at an affordable price,” said Haslam. He continued: “The print has pride of place in my house, Phillip Island was my first pole position, my debut on the Alstare Suzuki and my first race win – a memorable start to a great year.” The print measures 630mm x 490mm and is available from the Leon Haslam website or by calling 01332 882584.