Victory High Ball: Specs, Features, Background, Performance, & More

Established in 1998 by Polaris Inc, the motorcycle company Victory produced superb cruisers until it was shut down in 2017. All Victory bikes featured a powerful and efficient V-twin engine which was their most prominent feature.

One of Victory’s best creations is its High Ball cruiser that boasts an aggressive bobber style. The bike gets its retro feel from the 16-spoked wheels while a slight modern style is reflected by its black round headlight and short front fender.

With the wide apehanger  handlebars, the stylish emblem painted on the tank, whitewall tires, and 1731 cc displacement engine, this bike is a muscular beauty.

The bikes were introduced at a competitive price to appeal to a target audience looking to buy motorcycles not manufactured by Harley Davidson.

And though it’s been four years since the manufacturing plant was closed by Polaris Inc, the bikes are still available in good condition on the second-hand market at even cheaper rates.

If you are looking for an exciting all-American  cruiser, then the Victory High Ball is a worthwhile option. Read on to find out Victory High Ball specs and see whether this  motorcycle suits your needs.

Victory launched its High Ball cruiser lineup in 2012. The bike was well-received by customers due to its high-performance, modern technology, and timeless cruiser design.

With the High Ball, Victory brought back the 1950s era which was known for its classy bobber-style motorcycles. Though the High Ball was not as lightweight as a bobber should be, it resembled a bobber due to its stripped-off appearance. Only the most essential instruments were added to the bike. The High Ball had a simple black paint scheme with muted graphics and a painted Victory logo. You won’t find heavy chromed covers, studs, and similar parts fitted onto this bike. The fenders are cut-short and the low seat with a passenger cowling helps hide the pillion and maintain a minimalist look.

Between the years 2012 and 2013, the High Ball had wire wheels and a suede black and white paint scheme. This changed after the launch of the Victory Judge motorcycle in 2013. In 2014, the High Ball models was given two new paint job schemes.

1. Black & White
2. Black & Red

The new black and red bikes had the same wire wheels. But for the black and white bikes, the Victory design team replaced the traditional wire wheels with the Judge’s all-new cast alloy wheels.

In 2014, the original High Ball’s headlight was replaced with the Judge’s headlight. According to the Victory design team, this change was well-received by customers who felt that the new headlight complemented the style better.

After a five-year-long production run, Victory discontinued the production of the High Ball in 2017.

The High Ball is a muscular cruiser with wide black handlebars, less chrome shine, matte paint schemes, and cut-out fenders.
Almost all of the motorcycle parts feature a highly finished blacked-out treatment, including handles, mirrors, and headlight.

The painted Victory emblem is eye-catching and makes the tall, elongated fuel tank with red or white graphics even more profound.

True to its minimalistic approach for this bike, the Victory design team only equipped this bike with an indispensable speedometer. The gauge is bar-mounted and may lack aesthetic appeal for some riders, but it serves its purpose well. You don’t have to take your eyes off the road just to check speed.

• Headlight

The 2012 and 2013 models had a diamond-shaped headlight and small round amber turn signals. While the 2014 onward bikes had a round-shaped headlight more suited to the retro feel of the bike. Whichever model you choose you will get adequate visibility at night.

• Tail Light

The LED tail light and rear indicators didn’t see any changes over the years. They ensure a strong road presence for a safe ride.

The High Ball engine is a four-stroke air-cooled V twin motor known for its large 1731 cc displacement. The engine is equipped with an advanced fuel injection system and uses single overhead cams. Both features allow greater engine outputs such as a peak horsepower of 96 hp and a massive 144 Nm torque. The engine generates low-end to mid-range torque for uninterrupted gentle cruising perfect for urban rides and even for highways.

• High Ball Engine Cooling Fins 

For heat dissipation, the engine is mostly air-cooled, but its cooling system also features oil cooling. The bike also has cooling fins for efficient heat transfer, another feature that ensures higher engine performance and increased engine life.

• High Ball Exhaust

The engine exhaust has two pipes to increase the outflow of emission gasses, and it has an awesome rhythmic rumble.

• High Ball Drive Train

The drive train of the High Ball is as efficient as the engine. The high amounts of power reach the pavement in a smooth manner thanks to the multi-plate clutch, six-speed transmission, and a reinforced carbon belt.

• High Ball Chassis

The High Ball is great for straight-line cruising thanks to its lightweight steel body and 32 degrees rake, but it is not as nimble on the corners. Due to this spec, it is claimed that beginners should avoid this motorcycle till they get better at handling motorcycles. Another problem is that at slow speeds, it takes a lot of effort to steer this bike. Aggressive riding actions are certainly discouraged for this bike.

• High Ball Suspension

The front suspension of High Ball is a telescopic fork that offers 5.1 inches of wheel travel and the rear suspension is a mono-shock that offers 3 inches of wheel travel. The suspensions of Victory High Ball are adequate for smooth roads. But things start to go downhill as you hit a sharp bump or rough patch. Riders often complain that the rear suspension is too soft and doesn’t offer enough weight support.

The High Ball features stylish 16-spoke cast alloy wheels. If you choose the black and white paint scheme then your bike will have wire wheels. The 130 mm front and 140 mm rear tires of the High Ball are tubeless, puncture-resistant, and durable. The wheels not only provide ample traction but also add to the bobber charm.

For forward and rear brakes, engineers have installed single discs with small floating rotors on High Ball. The front brake has four-piston calipers while the rear brake features two-piston calipers. According to most Victory High Ball test rides, the front brakes are strong, but the rear brakes leave much to be desired. They are anything but confidence-inspiring and create a need for an anti-lock braking system.

As far as ergonomic configuration is concerned, this High Ball is best suited for tall riders. Whether this was deliberate or accidental design spec is unknown.

• High Ball Seat 

The scoop-style saddle of High Ball is soft, low-slung, and quite comfortable. The seat keeps the center of gravity low. Some riders complain that the seat is too low and feel they are almost touching the ground while riding. But this feeling varies from rider to rider as other test riders are quite happy with the seating position.

• High Ball Footpegs

The foot-pegs are positioned a bit too forward and short riders have to outstretch to reach them. But for 6 feet + riders, they allow a relaxed foot positioning.

• High Ball Handlebars

The handlebars are wide and positioned at a comfortable distance from the seat. Though this bike is designed to provide superior ergonomics and absolute riding comfort, it seems that High Ball only caters to the comfort needs of tall riders.

The Victory High Ball has a powerful engine, an efficient exhaust, and a six-speed transmission system that allows it to achieve a top speed of 120 mph on highways. Unfortunately, the no. of vibrations increases at this speed so most riders are unable to maintain this speed.

The Victory motorcycles are beautiful and a joy to ride. For most riders, the High Ball all is by far the best Victory motorcycle. It has comfort, appealing looks, and a powerful high torquey engine perfect for hour-long cruising.

But Victory is not an ideal motorcycle for short riders and beginners. So if you lack the inches, we recommend you don’t buy this motorcycle immediately and consider renting it first.

As far as beginners are concerned, make no mistake. The Victory High Ball is heavy and has hard steering. It is a bit challenging to handle it at slow speeds and corners. So better not buy it as your first bike.

The 1731 cc motor of the High Ball cruiser generates peak torque of 144 Nm and 96 hp of horsepower

The Victory High Ball cruisers are fuel-efficient and have an estimated mileage range of 36 to 40 mpg.

The High Ball is one of the finest American-made middleweight cruisers and has a dry weight of 676 lbs. To make this bike light and easy to handle, the designers have kept the styling accessories and instruments to a minimum.

The Victory High Ball is a perfect blend of classic looks and modern cruiser technology. This iconic bike has an understated styling that is not exciting for many riders. But it can be customized to suit one's taste.

The bike has a large 4.5-gallon fuel tank for long uninterrupted rides. You can taste the true meaning of freedom anytime you want. If you find this bike comfortable, then taking it for long hauls on highways shouldn’t be a problem.

At a glance, the bike lacks a pillion. If you want to take a passenger with you on your adventurous rides, remove the cowling, and there you have it: a comfortable passenger seat.

To make this bike more suited for long motorcycle trips and to enhance riding comfort add essential Victory aftermarket parts such as rider and passenger backrest, sissy bars, fairing, saddlebags, luggage racks, and crash bars. Adding sissy bars will augment the look of the bike and increase passenger comfort.

It is highly recommended that you choose lightweight luggage for your Victory High Ball motorcycle. The accessories will increase the weight of the bike. This can put extra stress on the engine and slow your bike down. Determine the purpose first and then shop for aftermarket parts.