| Well, it has seemed like years since Victory | | | | could sit on the Victory Vision Cruiser and Street |
| announced their newest motorcycle, the Victory | | | | models. Buts in seats if you will. This is what sells |
| Vision. The marketing plan behind the new Vision | | | | bikes. Stay away from any dealership that does not |
| started with artist concepts up to the unveiling of | | | | let you sit on a motorcycle and take a demo for a |
| both the Tourer and Street Vision models at the | | | | test ride. After all, you do not marry your wife |
| Polaris stockholder's meeting held early this year. The | | | | without taking her for a test ride, if you know what |
| marketing is working, slowly wetting the consumer's | | | | I mean. |
| appetite over a year's period of time. This gets the | | | | I was fortunate to catch the Victory truck with the |
| consumers interested in the Harley Davidson and | | | | Victory Vision models at my local Victory dealership. I |
| Honda Tourer's holding off purchasing to see what | | | | took lots of photos, sat on the bike and took it for a |
| the Victory Vision experience will be like. | | | | demo ride. My first impression was, Wow! The |
| Consumers were constantly guessing and discussing | | | | photos online and in the magazines do not do this |
| what the Victory Vision would be like. The Kingpin | | | | Victory Vision justice. Sure styling is subjective, but |
| Cruisers (KingpinCruisers.net) -- the number one | | | | the bike looks unique and very stylish. The Vision has |
| Victory motorcycle enthusiasts site, held polls on | | | | alot of plastic fairings. My one concern was the |
| which artist rendition would be closest to the final | | | | amount of damage that would be caused if the bike |
| product. Once the various motorcycle magazines | | | | fell over. Well, this concern was put to rest when I |
| received their stock Victory Vision photos from | | | | saw how the Victory engineers designed into the |
| Victory, the articles and discussions increased. It | | | | body work, body/fairing protectors which were part |
| quickly became apparent that you either loved the | | | | of the passenger foot rests. This single point kept |
| new Vision concept or hated right from the initial | | | | the rest of the motorcycle from touching the ground. |
| photos. People that initially criticize the Victory Vision | | | | It also allowed you enough leverage to straighten the |
| do not see the entire picture. They should applaud | | | | heavy bike back to vertical. Very cool. |
| the Victory Vision for being a new innovative design | | | | When I sat on the Victory Vision Tourer model, I |
| which incorporates the latest technology. How many | | | | was impressed by the low and very comfortable |
| other manufacturers are releasing new models? for | | | | seat height. You are part of this bike when you sit |
| this fact alone, the Victory Vision is a winner. | | | | and ride it. Unlike Harley Davidson's where I feel like I |
| With the year dragging on and the new Victory | | | | am sitting up on top of the motorcycle and not really |
| Vision models making rare appearances at the various | | | | feeling like I am part of the bike. Harley feel like |
| motorcycle shows, the consumers were demanding | | | | scooters to me compared to the Victory |
| more. The local Victory dealerships heard these | | | | motorcycles. The comfortable integrated seat on the |
| requests as well. What happened next was that | | | | Victory Vision also means you have a lower center |
| Victory allowed their authorized dealers to hire the | | | | of gravity. They bike felt very manageable and very |
| Victory truck to ship the two Victory Vision models | | | | well balanced. Very comfortable riding position and |
| to their store for the weekend to demo to their | | | | handlebar location. |
| customers. The independent Victory dealers had to | | | | My press pass allowed me a privileged demo ride. |
| shell out some big money to get the opportunity to | | | | The first few minutes on the bike, I was nervous |
| have the Vision show up at their shop. But this ended | | | | due to the size and all of the fairings. After about ten |
| up being a huge win for both the consumer and | | | | minutes I began to settle in and get comfortable with |
| dealerships. Lots of traffic and possible new leads on | | | | the bike. At 20 minutes I forgot I was on a huge full |
| existing Victory motorcycles in the shop as well as | | | | bagger tourer. The adjustable windscreen and |
| taking pre orders on the new Victory Vision. | | | | gadgets kept my attention so I needed to force |
| The biggest win came in the fact that consumers | | | | myself to focus on the road and not these gadgets. |