K11 Owners Group

Klinker · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject: Test ridin'

I had a free afternoon last week, so went for a ride that went by a BMW dealer I had never visited - Bak's BMW/Victory in Sioux City, Iowa. Not a fancy place by any means, but a couple steps up from Judson Cycle in Lake Crystal.

I quickly perused the showroom inventory and was promptly greeted by the owner, Dave Bak. He had a couple '07 K1200GT's, I asked if the one parked outside was used. "That's my demo bike" he replied. My eyebrows raise...

The ride was all I imagined it would be. Awesome power, no annoying vibes at any rpm, and... A SIXTH GEAR! And I love that front suspension. The digital display between the gauges was hard to read in almost any lighting conditions, however.

I returned from a run through some twisty roads with a blatant grin and some mild sorrow at the thought of getting back on my own aging mount. Then, while recapping my impressions with Dave, I gaze over the Victory Vision Street prominently parked in front of the sales desk. "That's a demo bike too." Hmmm...

What a kick. Plowing eight hundred pounds of American wet dream through Iowan side roads with the stereo blasting... I could almost bring myself to ponder the prospect... almost. It really felt weird to reach for that shift about two feet forward of where I'm used to it while my feet were resting on mile-long floor boards. The exhaust note rocked. It also had a six-speed, but I was a little concerned when I grabbed a fist-full in top gear at around 70 mph and I saw the tach spin past where it should relative to the speedo - sure looked and sounded like clutch slippage to me. I mentioned it to Dave, he said he would check it out.

The Vision has, no doubt, a controversial design. I must say that, while it's not my cup of tea, it is sorta' growing on me and I have plenty of respect for Victory for launching it. With the market dominated by lots of wanna-be's, it's encouraging to see a sort-of fresh idea, at least one that's not pretending to be something it's not.

And then, after a romp on that lead sled, I was quite happy to return to my fourteen-year-old K11RS.

Other views on the Victory Vision?
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tlp
1994 K1100RS

Only the Reasonists. They believe in an evidence-based world, something called Rationalism. But it's a tiny group, not so influential.
- Page Griffin

rydor · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject:

I think it looks like a martian took a dump on a Harley.

1950 Bobber · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

"I think it looks like a martian took a dump on a Harley."

Now THAT sounds like a pre-emptive strike to War of the Worlds!!! Wink

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Be ashamed to die before you've won some victory for mankind!

will3hawks · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:34 pm Post subject: Victory Vision

Looks cool and seems a much more functional design than the Boat Anchor Electraglide. If I had the cubic dollars for multiple motorcycles, I would at least try one. My suspicion is that it would smoke an Electraglide in an on-the-road tour test.
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The truth is 100 miles east of Memphis
BMWMOA# 70125
94 K 1100RS (Speedwagon)
"Even if I should die on the road, this would be the will of heaven"
Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694

kltk1 · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:59 am Post subject:

I rode a Vision for the first time last week myself. I wasn't crazy about it when it came out, just didn't seem to be me and I never gave it another thought. Then I rode it. What a great bike! I haven't stopped thinking about it since and find myself trying to justify one. I highly recommend a test ride to anyone that can get one. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Thomas Adamo