Motorcycle Review: 2008 Victory Vision Tour and Victory Vision Street

Motorcycle Review: 2008 Victory Vision Tour and Victory Vision Street (Cont'd)

Victory has done a solid job of endowing their Vision with a strong powerplant, a smooth ride, and competent handling... but what about the brakes? The 3-piston, dual 300mm floating calipers up front and the 2-piston 300mm at the rear are linked when the foot pedal is operated, but maximum stopping distances are achieved when the rider also applies the front brake lever, as well. Pedal effort is a bit high (presumably in order to prevent accidental lock-ups), but the most striking thing about these brakes is what they're missing: an anti-lock system. Though the Vision's brakes work effectively, providing strong stops with decent feel, for a touring motorcycle in the premium market they really ought to offer ABS, at least as an option. Harley-Davidson, which has made an art out of milking nostalgia and traditionalist design, now offers the option of ABS on all of their 2008 Street Rod and Touring models. They've even gone so far to make ABS standard on three Screamin' Eagle models, a testimony to their belief in the system. While performance enthusiasts decry ABS's ability to enable threshold braking at the limit, there are obvious benefits to ABS on touring bikes.

So, while Victory leads the way with avant-garde styling, they have unfortunately chosen to play it safe in the braking department.

Braking deficiencies aside, the Vision is well equipped for the long haul. The relatively narrow seat is cupped at the rear for support, and boasts 4" of padding-- a feature I appreciated during the 450 miles I logged throughout Minnesota and Iowa. Wind protection from the windshield is good, but don't expect to be encompassed in a cone of complete silence; there's still some buffeting and noise at highway speeds. All models feature adjustable windscreens, though the optional power adjustable screen is eminently more convenient than the manual one (which involves removing a panel on the fairing in order to lift or lower screen.)

Small Lexan winglets can be folded open for knee protection from the wind, but they're distant enough to tempt the rider into extending his or her legs to flip them while the bike is in motion... definitely don't try this on the highway! Of course, if you were to hypothetically attempt such acrobatic feats on the open road, you'll probably want to engage the cruise control, which works like a charm. Heated grips and seats (including the passenger backrest) will offer some respite from cold weather, though these features were difficult to gauge during our ride, which involved temperatures in the 80-90 degree range, even during a brief rainfall.

Optional iPod connectivity enables song title information to be displayed on the tank-mounted two-line LCD display, and handgrip and tank-mounted controls take some getting used to, but can-- after some practice-- be operated without becoming too distracted from the road.

The Vision is by no means perfect; it's not the end all touring bike, nor is it intended to be. Rather, it's a unique take on a genre typified by BMW's K 1200 LT, Harley's Ultra Glide, and Honda's Gold Wing-- all very capable tourers with their own individual personalities. But the impressive thing about the Vision is that it fills a niche that none of its competitors do: it offers comfortable, long-range riding with its own twist of charisma and charm. Its styling-- whether you love it or can't stand the sight of it-- is successful on its own terms. Touches such as real aluminum trim and flush surfaces with interior hinges reflect an impressive attention to detail. And though it lacks some of the electronic bells and whistles of its competitors, the simple formula of a thumping V-Twin, good road manners, and up to 29.2 gallons of storage make for a very endearing travel companion.

If you want high-tech precision, go for BMW or Honda. If you hunger for the archetypal American touring bike, there may be no substitute for a Harley. But if you're not afraid to stand out in the crowd and march to the tune of your own drummer, the Victory Vision is a perfectly logical choice.

For a photo gallery of the Street and Tour versions of the Vision, click here

The Victory Vision Street starts at $18,999, and the Tour model starts at $19,999.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation, flight, and meals for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.