ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Very good question. :bowdown:Body panels--way different. The Victory looks more like a "space ship" compared to the Indian. Mechanical and engine? That would be the place I would be looking.
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victory motorcycle going out of business
- Thread starter cuznjohn
- Start date
Very good question. :bowdown:Body panels--way different. The Victory looks more like a "space ship" compared to the Indian. Mechanical and engine? That would be the place I would be looking.
pegasus1300
Well-known member
Just from a visual inspection I would say not very much commonality. They seem to be totally separate.
Deanna777
Well-known member
the link worked for me. Deanna
Bob Denman
New member
:agree: Other than nuts, bolts, and some other assorted types of fasteners: they are completely separate bikes...
...But they DO compete for the same marketplace; albeit in completely different ways.
The Indian is about as traditional as Mom's apple pie...
The Victory is more of a modern power-cruiser
spacetiger
New member
Good decision going forward. It will help grow the Indian brand offerings as HD has upped their game a bit with the new BT engine and other desirable upgrades (audio, suspension, etc).
Competition has a way to bring out the best and we the riders gain from this. Now, we need some additional Spyder competition! Leaning technology may open new possibilities for the 3 wheel crowd.
Competition has a way to bring out the best and we the riders gain from this. Now, we need some additional Spyder competition! Leaning technology may open new possibilities for the 3 wheel crowd.
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spacetiger
New member
I wouldn't say it competed against other HD offerings as much as it didn't quite generate the sales numbers. The costs to develop new Buell models left them in a situation where the "squeeze wasn't worth the juice". In this sense, I could see a similar situation with Indian bikes selling better than the Victory bikes. So where best to invest your future development $'s... behind the Indian marque.
I am looking to get a Buell. I have a Sporty now and I can tell you the Buell is more developed than any other HD bike in terms of a true riders bike.
Jerry
Safety Man Tom
New member
IMHO Polaris is making a huge mistake! The Indian is certainly attractive and will have a customer base. But, that base will not absorb all the Victory lovers. The Slingshot is a novelty and in my view will never be that popular.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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subdude17349
New member
Okay, some thoughts from someone who's been on Victorys since 2000 (2nd year production bike.) I still ride my 08 Vision, and also had a 07 Jackpot as a second (toy) bike. The Jackpot was sold to buy the Spyder because the wife felt more comfy on 3 wheels. If I'm riding solo, I'm on the vision. 2 up, it's the Spyder.
Polaris has just stabbed an awful lot of people in the back, and it's primarily the guys like me who have been supporting them and preaching the faith for a long time. I don't have any desire to go back to HD, but prefer American built machines. Yes, we've seen it coming, but it still sucks. As soon as Polaris bought the Indian name, they stopped all improvements on the Victory line. All the interest, support, and cash went into Indian.
The Indian is a pricey, "me too" version of a HD. I've ridden them, they're nice bikes. But my Vision is more comfortable, especially for a big guy like me. And frankly, I wouldn't buy one now because I see that as soon as profits drop, they'll be history too, just like their watercraft line. Polaris has lost me as a customer for life with this move.
Someone asked "who keeps their bikes 10 years?" Well, among others, I do. Maybe longer. The only reason I traded the 2000 V92C for the 08 Vision was that the wife was much happier on the back of the Vision. The Vision is now 8, been cross country multiple times, and I have absolutely no interest in trading it for anything else. It's too comfortable to do that.
Commonality of parts between Victory and Indian? None. Maybe a few nuts and bolts.
As for supporting the bikes for 10 years, I call BS on that one right here. Victory parts have historically been hard to get anyway. They'll stock what they estimate the demand will be for certain parts, and when they're gone, they're gone. I don't believe for a second that 8 years from now I'll be able to buy parts for my bike except generic stuff. The good news is that every Victory I've owned hasn't needed anything but gas, oil, tires and brakes. Solid machines. And, I ride a whole lot.
Summation: I feel like I've been abandoned by someone I've devoted 17 years of my riding life to. I just hope and pray that BRP doesn't pull the same crap and abandon us if sales and profits drop.
Polaris has just stabbed an awful lot of people in the back, and it's primarily the guys like me who have been supporting them and preaching the faith for a long time. I don't have any desire to go back to HD, but prefer American built machines. Yes, we've seen it coming, but it still sucks. As soon as Polaris bought the Indian name, they stopped all improvements on the Victory line. All the interest, support, and cash went into Indian.
The Indian is a pricey, "me too" version of a HD. I've ridden them, they're nice bikes. But my Vision is more comfortable, especially for a big guy like me. And frankly, I wouldn't buy one now because I see that as soon as profits drop, they'll be history too, just like their watercraft line. Polaris has lost me as a customer for life with this move.
Someone asked "who keeps their bikes 10 years?" Well, among others, I do. Maybe longer. The only reason I traded the 2000 V92C for the 08 Vision was that the wife was much happier on the back of the Vision. The Vision is now 8, been cross country multiple times, and I have absolutely no interest in trading it for anything else. It's too comfortable to do that.
Commonality of parts between Victory and Indian? None. Maybe a few nuts and bolts.
As for supporting the bikes for 10 years, I call BS on that one right here. Victory parts have historically been hard to get anyway. They'll stock what they estimate the demand will be for certain parts, and when they're gone, they're gone. I don't believe for a second that 8 years from now I'll be able to buy parts for my bike except generic stuff. The good news is that every Victory I've owned hasn't needed anything but gas, oil, tires and brakes. Solid machines. And, I ride a whole lot.
Summation: I feel like I've been abandoned by someone I've devoted 17 years of my riding life to. I just hope and pray that BRP doesn't pull the same crap and abandon us if sales and profits drop.
acpd22
New member
Farewell
I thought some of the Victory bikes were pretty sharp, but as for the Indians, didn't care for them in the old days and don't care for them now. I guess you have to have a bit of nostalgia at heart to appreciate them. Not my cup of tea. I seriously considered a Vision before I bought my Spyder, guess I made the right choice.
I thought some of the Victory bikes were pretty sharp, but as for the Indians, didn't care for them in the old days and don't care for them now. I guess you have to have a bit of nostalgia at heart to appreciate them. Not my cup of tea. I seriously considered a Vision before I bought my Spyder, guess I made the right choice.
I own a 2012 Ness Vision. The wife rides the 2009 GS. I knew when they bought Indian they were paying no attention to Victory but didn't imagine they would kill it off. I agree with some of what has been said. I don't believe for a minute there will be "support for 10 years" because parts are already hard to come by. And what incentive will there be for dealers to continue to service the Vics? I can do my own service and have torn my Vision down and reassembled it for many things "I wanted to do" not that "I needed to do." I will be keeping my Vision and riding the wheels off of it. Part of the "Indian" appeal is the old school look/name/feel - I don't think we'll see much of the Vic line in the Indians. And they came out with a new engine for the Indians so I doubt we'll see the Freedom 106 carry on at all. Sad times for sure.
Spyder_Cowgirl
GOS member (Girls On Spyders)
Simlarities Between Victory and Indian
SOME, and I mean a LIMITED SOME, of the electronics are similar. For example, in order to "wire in" a Garmin GPS unit on the Indian, you need the Victory version of the harness as it is plug compatible with both radios. Alternately, you can buy a standard Garmin GPS harness and an "adapter" from Dave-T-Pilot that provides the plug compatible connector to the radio.
We did the latter on my husband's Indian Roadmaster .....Ann
SOME, and I mean a LIMITED SOME, of the electronics are similar. For example, in order to "wire in" a Garmin GPS unit on the Indian, you need the Victory version of the harness as it is plug compatible with both radios. Alternately, you can buy a standard Garmin GPS harness and an "adapter" from Dave-T-Pilot that provides the plug compatible connector to the radio.
We did the latter on my husband's Indian Roadmaster .....Ann
M
MelloYelloSpyder
Guest
Nice looking Vic you have. I had a 2010 Hammer 8Ball at one time. Parts were hard to get back then if something went wrong. I was seriously looking at a Boulevard as a second bike to tool around on when riding solo and keeping the Spyder as a two up for the wife. Looks like I am going to pass on the Vic now and look elsewhere. Found a nice Triumph Thunderbird two tone ABS near me for a great price. Maybe I will go look at that.
Peteoz
Well-known member
From a slightly different perspective, subdude......I don't know about the US, but it's a statute out here that a manufacturer provides stock and service for a minimum of 10 years after ceasing production, and I'd be very surprised if the US wasn't the same. I would assume that's where that figure has come from. You should also believe for more than a second that 8 years from now you will still be able to buy parts for your bike. People will step up and produce parts for older, popular machines, as they always have. There are a heck of a lot of machines from 70+ years ago still running around.
Yes, you've been "abandoned", but if a company's sales and profit drop, they go bust and are unable to produce any more product. It is not a case of them simply pulling "the same crap". Victory sales were never strong to begin with, and Polaris did not capture anywhere near the percentage of Harley's market that they needed long term. That's why they went with Indian. Victory sales halved out here last year, making the brand unprofitable. Indian sales on the other hand, increased (albeit by 5 units
).A company simply can not afford to carry an unprofitable line until the losses force the entire company to close, putting a serious number of people out of work. They have to cut their loses and look at alternatives, as Polaris have done here.
It's regrettable, and I am very disappointed as a 10 year Victory owner, but understandable. Unfortunately, that's business.
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
No such law here that I know of, but since they sell internationally they're going to be bound by other country laws. In that case they may as well support the US customers for the same time period. Makes keeping stock on hand more economical.
Sccar
Member
subdude17349
New member
Pete,
Hello in Oz from the USofA!
Thanks for the input. I'm not saying I don't understand the need to cut losses on an unprofitable line. My point was that as soon as Polaris bought the Indian name they threw in the towel on Victory. Sure, they paid lip service to it, but it was quite easy to see that Victory had become the red headed stepchild. Marketing and product development was done, the handwriting was on the wall.
As to the 10 years parts / service deal, I know that there are many aftermarket folks making stuff that won't go away. My concerns are the difficult to produce stuff, such as drive belts. No one is going to knock them out in their garage machine shop. If I understand the laws correctly, the manufacturer is obligated to have at the time of pulling the plug an amount of parts that they ESTIMATE will be required for the 10 year requirement. So, let's say the drive belts sell out in 7 years. Do you really believe that Polaris is going to call up the belt company and tell them to tool up to produce a couple dozen belts? I don't. I think when they sell out, they're done. Yes, I can probably find one on the open market, but it may take both an excessive amount of both time and money.
And I too plan to ride it until the wheels fall off ;-)
All the best!
Hello in Oz from the USofA!
Thanks for the input. I'm not saying I don't understand the need to cut losses on an unprofitable line. My point was that as soon as Polaris bought the Indian name they threw in the towel on Victory. Sure, they paid lip service to it, but it was quite easy to see that Victory had become the red headed stepchild. Marketing and product development was done, the handwriting was on the wall.
As to the 10 years parts / service deal, I know that there are many aftermarket folks making stuff that won't go away. My concerns are the difficult to produce stuff, such as drive belts. No one is going to knock them out in their garage machine shop. If I understand the laws correctly, the manufacturer is obligated to have at the time of pulling the plug an amount of parts that they ESTIMATE will be required for the 10 year requirement. So, let's say the drive belts sell out in 7 years. Do you really believe that Polaris is going to call up the belt company and tell them to tool up to produce a couple dozen belts? I don't. I think when they sell out, they're done. Yes, I can probably find one on the open market, but it may take both an excessive amount of both time and money.
And I too plan to ride it until the wheels fall off ;-)
All the best!
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Peteoz
Well-known member
Yeah, subdude. Sorry, I wasn't meaning to lecture you if I gave you that impression
. I agree completely that it was pretty obvious that Polaris lost interest in Victory when they bought Indian. I just think there will be someone come along who will keep supplies of Victory belts etc. It may only be a single source, and they may be more expensive, but at least they will give you the option of keeping the Vision etc on the road.I must admit that I have been thinking about replacing my recently traded Vision with a 2016 Victory Magnum for shorter trips now that I have the F3-L for the longer trips where my knees won't hack it ! Soooooo much legroom and beautifully engineered....I searched for 40 years to find the Vision and it was perfect. If I hadn't found the F3, I'd still have it. I am so disappointed for current Victory owners.
Pete
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