Comments on: Victory Unveils Judge Muscle Bike (now with video) (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Mitch

Mitch — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:48:58 +0000

Good looking bike Victory. You are listening to your customer base and responding to them better than most manufacturers. I know a couple of guys who own Vic’s and they have nothing but praise for them and for your dealers who from all reports really back the bikes.

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By: Bo knows

Bo knows — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:37:01 +0000

1983 called…they want their tires back! Seriously?!? 16 inch bias plies and 85 bhp on a modern sport cruiser? The hp would have been par in the Road Warrior/VTX fight, but that was 10 years ago and those bikes are gone. The M109 is stronger and the Ducati is both stronger and better handling. Not a bad looking bike, but like most Vic’s, a pretender…

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By: Bo knows

Bo knows — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:29:45 +0000

Ugliest pipes in cruiserdom sit on a Yamaha Raider, mostly because they tried to “out-Victory” Victory and nail that last branch on the ugly tree…jmho…

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By: Bo knows

Bo knows — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:24:51 +0000

Thinking the same thing except they screwed up the rim sizes…this would probably be a decent bike…in 2002…

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By: inthemountains

inthemountains — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:02:47 +0000

Well, I agree with you in general as well!

Personally, I want to see Victory succeed in every way possible. An American company needs our support and if they make a bike that sells, good on them! Victory is still a relatively young bike maker and they seem to listen to the people. I know someone who has one and this company backs up their bikes with stellar support. Excellent reliability from all I’ve seen and heard too.

I too like the Honda NT700V. I’m approaching 60 now and truthfully, enjoy a comfortable ride that still makes things fun without going from zero-125 in 10 seconds flat. Been there, done that.

As for the whole “pretenders” thing, I think this is a moot point. Buyers know what they want and aren’t fooled. They do their research (hopefully) and ask around. Usually they have an idea of what they want for a bike.

As a guy who rode Maico’s and began on a Honda Motosport 100, I’ve seen such wonderful progress with regards to suspension, brakes, etc;. I see 18 yo’s going out and buying ZX-14′s and they are a menace on the road not because they have a fast bike but because they don’t know how to ride it.

A bit OT here but, younger riders and even older ones sometimes forget how much fun it is to slow down a bit and let the noises and scenery go buy. IMO, the roads on most of the US are simply not safe enough for 2 wheeled rockets to blitz around on too. Where I live, there are potholes, sandy shoulders and wildlife at night yet, I see tragic accident after tragic accident each year unfold on the roads around here. Cruisers are aplenty here but, really, the bumpy roads leave you barely able to walk when you get off from a ride. Bikes like the NT700V and V-Strom, Kawasaki KLR 650 along with BMW’s and Triumphs that are “quasi dual purpose adventure bikes” are practical choices. Myself? I absolutely drool over the KTM 990 Adventure bikes.

So where am I going with this espresso-fueled reply? I forgot! But, really, I know a guy who is 75 and he loves his little Suzuki scooter and who am I to mock him? He’s out there and he’s in the wind! Good for him. I must admit, after seeing a Piaggio “3 wheeler” scooter last summer, I’d love one. To me there are no wannabe bikes. No “pretenders”. I look past that and think “it’s all good”. I know this isn’t popular to suggest but, I am a bit concerned that we have 200 HP bikes out there now. There are some that can handle these bikes and ride responsibly with them. No doubt. However, it’s the stupid riders who hop on one and think they are The Doctor on the roads I drive.

Still, I say cheer on Victory. Maybe this bike isn’t your cup of tea but, Victory certainly seems to be trying to have a bike for everyone and that’s a good thing. I would personally love to see them make a “Sportster-like” bike. That would be killer.

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By: Jeremy in TX

Jeremy in TX — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:38:16 +0000

Yawn.

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By: Fred M.

Fred M. — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:50:14 +0000

If you don’t need more stopping power than you get from a single disc, it’s foolish to increase the unsprung mass by adding a second caliper, bracket, and disc. Excess unsprung mass has a horrible effect on handling. If this really was a “muscle cruiser” like a V-Max or V-Rod, it would have dual discs up front. But, it’s not. Estimates put in around 85hp at the rear wheel. This is a “muscle bike” in the same sense that a mobility scooter is for people with an “active lifestyle.”

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By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:37:37 +0000

Victory made a Yamaha Warrior. When my Warrior wears out I will consider one.

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By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:34:46 +0000

Victory made a Yamaha Warrior. When my Warrior wears out, I will consider one.

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By: Fred M.

Fred M. — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:32:47 +0000

In generally, I’m on your side. Seriously, I am. I made people seething mad by defending the Honda NT700V instead of jumping on the haters’ bandwagon. But it is what it is: A reliable, well-made, commuting and one-up sport touring bike.

But I hate pretenders. If Victory wants to make a slightly sportier cruiser, good on them. But don’t tell me that the resultant 85hp, 700lb. thing is a “muscle bike.” Don’t put ape-hangers on a GSX-R1000 and try to pass it off as a cruiser. Don’t put semi-knobby tires on a Road King and tell everyone it’s an adventure touring bike.

If the bike is your company’s sportiest cruiser yet, how about calling it “our sportiest cruiser yet” instead of naming it after a famous muscle car, the Pontiac GTO Judge, and and advertising it as “American muscle!”? Why set it up to be compared with bikes like the Ducati Diavel, the V-Max, or the Harley V-Rod on the basis of “muscle”?

Maybe Victory is used to the style-is-everything cruiser market, but terms like “muscle bike” have meanings outside of that realm. A muscle bike is not just a styling exercise.

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