The Remarkable History of Victory

Victory was a remarkable motorcycle brand that managed to make a good name in the American cruiser market and proved itself as one of the toughest competitors of Harley Davidson. Harley Davidson was always at its boom, particularly when it came to the American cruiser and touring motorcycle market. No other American motorcycle brand has garnered even half of the success that Harley Davidson has achieved so far. To make room in the American cruiser market, top Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, including Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki launched more reliable and inexpensive cruisers. Despite having top-quality features, aesthetics, and performance, the Japanese cruisers were not able to beat Harley Davidson.

The competition started within America when Victory was launched in 1997 in Spirit Lake, Iowa, U.S. by Polaris Inc. After Harley Davidson if there was any other company that could meet the demand of the flourishing American cruiser market in the 1990s, it was Polaris Inc. Being one of the largest American automobile manufacturers in the world, it specialized in producing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, watercraft, three-wheeled vehicles, and electric vehicles. Polaris Inc. was several times bigger than the Harley Davidson in the 1990s and after several years of research and development in motorcycle manufacturing, the company decided to launch Victory motorcycles. Victory motorcycles followed the same trends as Harley Davidson to attract U.S. riders. Victory motorcycles were largely inspired by Harley motorbikes with powerful V-Twin engines.

The history of Victory dates back to 1997 when the first Victory motorcycle, the Victory V92C, was introduced by a famous car racer, Al Unser Jr. at the Plant Hollywood, Mall of America. This motorcycle was powered by a large 1,510 cc V-Twin engine, the second-largest displacement engine at that time. The 1,510 cc V-Twin engine was capable of a horsepower of 55 hp and could attain a top speed of around 120 mph. The Victory V92C started a competition among motorcycle manufacturers to produce large-displacement engines. It was an authentic cruiser, designed for comfortable rides. The Victory V92C was inspired by the traditional American V-Twin engine-powered motorcycles. This motorcycle had a slightly raked-out front end, a large chopped-out front and rear fender, separate comfortable rider and passenger seats, and a chrome round headlamp, giving it a vintage look.

After being displayed in 1997, the production of the Victory V92C started in 1998 to be launched as the 1999 model. Most of the motorcycle’s parts were manufactured at the local manufacturing facility in Iowa and Minnesota. The Victory V92C also featured an electronic fuel-injection system by a British company and Brembo brakes from Italy. Another prominent feature of this motorcycle was its capability to be modified. The V-Twin engine was easily tunable to boost its power output and torque. The Victory V92C was initially manufactured with a five-speed transmission, which was later upgraded to a six-speed transmission. Like most Victory motorcycles, the Victory V92C was short-lived and was discontinued in 2003.

The Victory V92SC (Sport Cruiser) was introduced in 2000 with slightly different styling elements than the Victory V92C for sporty performance. This motorcycle came with a single-piece saddle for two-up riding, sports bike-profile wheels and tires, refined suspensions, and a two-into-one exhaust system, resulting in an increase in horsepower by 10 hp. Despite being a decently powerful motorcycle, the Victory V92SC Sport Cruiser did not perform well in the market and was discontinued in 2001.

After successful testing, Victory manufactured a new engine, called the “Freedom Engine” to power its motorcycles in 2002. It had the same size and layout as the engine installed in the Victory V92C but was capable of delivering better power output. The Freedom Engine received a smaller oil-coolant unit and round-shaped engine cylinders.

The Victory V92TC (Touring Cruiser) was introduced in 2002 with almost similar features and design as the Victory V92C, except for the inclusion of touring-oriented parts and capabilities. This motorcycle came with stock hard saddlebags, a more comfortable seat with adequate lower-back support for the rider, and an extended swing arm. The seat height was slightly higher than the previous models and the ergonomics was more comfortable for a relaxed touring experience. The initially produced Victory V92TC was powered by a 1,503 cc V-Twin engine and later after the introduction of Freedom Engine, this motorcycle received an upgraded 1,600 cc more powerful engine. It also received upgraded suspensions and rubber-mounted handlebars to reduce vibrations.

The Victory V92TCD (Touring Cruiser Deluxe) was a premium touring bike with more touring-oriented features, including a tall windshield, crash bar, floorboards, backrest for passenger, luggage rack, and hard saddlebags. The Deluxe version was a classic touring bike designed for long-distance motorcycle tours.

Victory introduced another model, the Victory Vegas in 2003. This motorcycle was a step forward in modern motorcycles thanks to its stylish cruiser design. The Victory Vegas had a slim and sleek bodywork with a chrome finish. The front end was raked out, ensuring an extended wheelbase. The Victory Vegas was ideal for taller riders thanks to its roomy legroom and comfortable rider triangle. The pulled-back handlebars allowed riders to sit comfortably in an upright position.

The Victory Vegas was designed by Michael Song, a designer at the Victory Company. The chassis was completely redesigned as used in the previous Victory models. The initial Victory Vegas models were powered by a 1,510 cc V-Twin engine with a five-speed gearbox that was later upgraded to a 1,600 cc V-Twin engine and six-speed gearbox in 2006. The 2006 model was called the Victory Vegas Low due to its low seat height of 25 inches.

In 2004, Victory introduced a new cruiser, the Victory Kingpin, with several new features. The 2006 Victory Kingpin model received a 1,600 cc V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 85 hp and a torque of 144 Nm. Despite the old-school look, the Victory Kingpin came with low-mounted pulled-back handlebars for a comfortable arm position, floorboards for riders to comfortably place their feet during the ride, and rubber-mounted handlebars to reduce vibrations. The chrome finish and extended front and rear fenders ensured the 1950s look.

The Victory Kingpin Deluxe was the touring version with several useful attachments for a comfortable riding experience on long-distance rides. It came with stock touring parts, including a windshield, passenger backrest, saddlebags, and passenger floorboards.

Introduced in 2005, the Victory Vegas 8-Ball was the blacked-out version, featuring a sophisticated powder-coated matte black finish. This motorcycle also came with a 1,510 cc engine, which was later upgraded to a 1,600 cc V-Twin Freedom engine capable of a horsepower of 94 hp and a torque of 144 Nm in 2006.

The Victory Vegas Jackpot debuted in 2006, intending to take over the custom cruiser market. At that time, a custom motorcycle was extremely expensive to afford. Therefore, Victory had a plan to target this market by introducing a custom-style cruiser with a custom paint job and styling at an affordable price.

The 2010 Victory Vegas received an upgraded 1,740 cc V-Twin engine capable of producing a horsepower of 97 hp and a torque of 153 Nm.

Introduced in 2007 after the discontinuation of the Victory V92TC Touring Cruiser, the Victory Kingpin Tour was a slightly modified version of the Kingpin Deluxe. Apart from all the touring parts, it was also fitted with a motorcycle trunk bag for improved storage capacity.

Introduced in 2007, the Victory Vision Street was a bagger-style touring bike with several modern electronics and features. It was aimed to target the sports-touring market and to compete with the Honda Gold Wing and other high-end baggers. The Victory Vision Street had a streamlined bodywork with an exposed engine, hard saddlebags, rider floorboards, and wide front fairing with an integrated windscreen. It was an extremely comfortable sports-touring bike with wide pulled-back handlebars, ensuring a laid-back riding posture. The forward-mounted rider floorboards also provided spacious legroom for taller riders.

Another touring variant was introduced along with the Victory Vision Street, called the Victory Vision Tour. It had an additional hard trunk with an integrated sofa-like passenger seat for a comfortable two-up touring experience.

Like the Victory Vegas 8-Ball, the 2008 Victory Kingpin 8-Ball model was a blacked-out version of the Kingpin. It was based on the Victory Kingpin, powered by the same 1,600 cc V-Twin engine capable of producing a horsepower of 85 hp and a torque of 144 Nm.

The Victory Hammer was an aggressive-style muscle cruiser introduced in 2008. Unlike traditional American cruisers, it was a uniquely designed stylish cruiser with a modern look. The most prominent feature of the Victory Hammer was its fat rear tire that imparted a customized cruiser look. This motorcycle also received dual front disc brakes, inverted front forks, a solo rider seat, a tail cowl, and a nacelle-out headlamp. The Victory Hammer replaced the Victory V92C.

The 2012 Victory Hammer featured a 1,740 cc V-Twin engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 97 hp and a torque of 153 Nm. The Victor Hammer was capable of a better linear performance but the motorcycle’s leaning capability and low-speed cornering were compromised due to its fat rear tire.

The Victory Hammer S was a sportier variant of the Hammer with several new features, including a glossy blacked-out finish, Brembo brake calipers, and Performance Machine Gatlin wheels.

Victory launched another 8-Ball model in 2010, using the Victory Hammer as the base model. Like all 8-Ball variants, the Victory Hammer 8-Ball also received a matte black finish. It was a low-cost Hammer model due to being fitted with only a single-disc front brake. The Victory Hammer 8-Ball had low ground clearance due to lowered front and rear suspensions, ensuring a low seat height of 25.75 inches. To make this motorcycle ideal for shorter riders, the foot controls were positioned back to ensure adequate legroom.

Victory released the 8-Ball version of the Victory Vision in 2010 with several blacked-out parts. The engine was also upgraded to a 1,740 cc V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 97 hp and a torque of 153 Nm.

In 2010, Victory introduced another bagger-style touring bike inspired by Harley Davidson motorcycles, the Victory Cross Country. This motorcycle had a standard handlebar-mounted wide fairing with an integrated windshield, hard saddlebags, rider floorboards, and a step-up seat for two-up riding, making it ideal for cruising and long-distance riding. The Victory Cross Country was powered by the 1,740 Freedom Engine capable of delivering a horsepower of 92 hp and a torque of 148 Nm. The standard sound system, cruise control feature, good-quality suspensions with 4.7 inches of wheel travel, and 21 gal of standard storage space made it one of the most desired baggers of its time.

The Victory Cross Roads was launched in 2010 with almost similar styling, chassis, and bodywork. However, the wide handlebar-mounted front fairing was replaced with a classic nacelle chrome headlamp, a large windshield for wind protection, and a crash bar. The Victory Cross Road was also powered by the 1,740 cc V-Twin Freedom engine capable of a horsepower of 92 hp and a torque of 148 Nm.

In 2011, Polaris Inc. purchased a failing American motorcycle brand, Indian Motorcycles with the aim to revive it. Indian Motorcycles was the oldest American motorcycle brand and had a rich history of producing successful motorcycles over time. The company had also survived the World Wars while making huge contributions to the war efforts of the U.S. Army.

While purchasing Indian Motorcycles, Polaris was planning to continue the legacy and “Indian” brand name. Although the decision to acquire Indian Motorcycles turned out to be beneficial in the long run, it escalated a conflict and strong competition within the company as Victory Motorcycles was also doing good sales in the American cruiser and bagger market.

2012 was the best year for Victory Motorcycles as the company sold more than 10,000-15,000 motorcycles in a year as revealed by Steven D. Menneto, the company’s vice president. Despite being the best sales figures by Victory in a year, it was not close to what Harley Davidson achieved in terms of sales. In 2012, Harley sold more than 2,50,000 units. Harley’s best year was 2006 when the company made record sales of more than 3,50,000 units.

Victory introduced another dark model with matte black paint and a red pinstriping finish. This motorcycle came with the iconic blacked-out Victory headlamp, full-coverage fenders, bagger-style stock saddlebags, and ape hanger handlebars for unmatched cruising performance. The extra cushioned step-up seat was ideal for comfortable two-up riding while providing a little lumbar support to the rider. The Victory Hard Ball was powered by the 1,731 cc V-Twin engine for an all-round cruising and touring performance. ABS was standard on this motorcycle, along with the dual 300 mm front discs and a 300 mm single rear disc to improve its stopping power.

In 2012, Victory introduced another aesthetically appealing and unique cruiser with a dull black and white paint job and matte black finish, the Victory High Ball. This motorcycle received tall ape hanger handlebars to ensure a high arm position and upright back position for a comfortable cruising experience. To ensure a modern classic look, the Victory High Ball was fitted with wide whitewall tires wrapped around wire-spoked wheels. The 1,740 cc V-Twin engine could produce a horsepower of 97 hp and a torque of 153.21 Nm. A low height of 25 inches made the Victory High Ball ideal for taller and average-sized riders.

To make a mark in the American V-Twin cruiser market, Victory introduced another cruiser, the Victory Boardwalk, based on the previous Victory models with slight changes in the bodywork in 2013. It also received the 1,731 cc air-cooled, V-Twin engine with four valves per cylinder. The Victory Boardwalk received full-coverage front and rear fenders and extra padded rider and passenger seats for a comfortable riding experience. It ensured a laid-back cruising experience with an upright back position and adequate legroom thanks to the forward-mounted foot controls and low-mounted pulled-back handlebars. To improve the classic stance, the Victory Boardwalk was also fitted with whitewall tires.

After manufacturing several good-quality baggers and touring bikes, Victory decided to work on its cruiser lineup. In 2013, the company launched the Victory Judge, a stylish cruiser with several sporty elements, including mid-mounted foot controls, and less swept-back handlebars for a slightly aggressive riding style. This motorcycle had a simple style with no heavyweight parts as the brand shifted all its focus to improve the bike’s cruising performance. The chiseled fuel tank, small round headlamp, bobber-style front fender, black matte finish, and wide tires wrapped around stylish five-spoke wheels ensured a modern custom cruiser look. Despite its lightweight design, the Victory Judge received a 1,740 cc V-Twin Freedom engine capable of a horsepower of 81 hp and a torque of 150 Nm.

In 2014, Victory introduced a new bagger, the Victory Magnum. The designers used the Victory Cross Country as the base model and made a few modifications, including a 21-inch front wheel, a better sound system, a custom paint job with metal flakes, and a low seat height. The stereo system was an upgraded 200-watt six speakers to ensure a fun riding experience on long-distance rides. The Victory Magnum was powered by the 1,731 cc air-cooled, V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 88 hp and a torque of 143.7 Nm. This motorcycle was slightly difficult to turn corners at slow speeds due to being heavy. However, after attaining a good speed, the rider could easily handle this motorbike and turn corners confidently.

The Victory Gunner was introduced in 2014 as a bobber-style cruiser. This motorcycle had several similar styling elements as found on the previous Victory models, including the bobber-style front fender, chopped rear fender, solo rider seat, separate dual exhaust pipes, matte black finish, and small round headlamp. The Victory Gunner’s 1,731 cc V-Twin engine could produce a horsepower of 81 hp and a torque of 130 Nm.

An extensive research study was conducted in 2015 by the consumer reports which revealed that Victory was the most reliable American motorcycle brand with a low failure rate of 17%. Victory Motorcycles secured the 5th position on the list of the most reliable motorcycle brands in the world while the top four positions were secured by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, including Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki. Harley Davidson stood at the 6th spot with a failure rate of 26%.

In the same study, Victory topped the list by scoring 80% when it came to customer satisfaction, which proved that Victory motorcycles were not only meant to perform but to last longer without breaking down.

In 2015, Victory released the Project 156 Peaks Pike motorcycle with the first liquid-cooled engine ever installed on a Victory motorcycle. The 156 in the name came from the number of turns and corners on the Peaks Pike route. The Victory Peaks Pike was based on the Indian Scout, with a compact design, shorter wheelbase, new engine heads, Ohlins suspension, carbon fiber parts, and Brembo brakes. To make room for throttle bodies and airbox for improved air intake on top of the engine, the fuel tank was fitted at the belly. This motorbike was designed by the famous American high-end motorcycle builder and racer, Roland Sands.

The Victory Project 156 Peaks Pike was aimed to race at the Peaks Pike course in record time. The specially designed engine for the Victory Project 156 was designed to ensure versatile performance. The power output, speed, acceleration, handling, and cornering were required to be top-notch to complete the challenging race course. The Peaks Pike course is around 12.42 miles long and ascends to 14,110 feet. The Victory Project 156 was termed as the performance cruiser. It was a prototype motorcycle handbuilt by Roland Sands’ team. However, the engine was later used in the Victory Octane. The engine featured titanium exhaust and intake valves, and two 67 mm intake throttle bodies to ensure maximum speed, horsepower, and torque.

On June 28, 2015, Don Canet, who was riding the Victory Project 156 Peaks Pike, was racing this motorcycle to the finish line. However, Canet was not able to finish the race as the motorcycle stopped running due to a vapor lock fuel issue and did not start again. Despite such an ending, Roland Sands’ Project 156 Peaks Pike earned Victory a lot of attention and respect from the motorcycling community. Victory was a comparatively newer motorcycle brand and attempting the Peaks Pike race was a great deal.

Victory has long been working on the electric motorcycle project and in 2015, it successfully launched its first road-legal electric motorcycle, the Victory Empulse TT. It was a naked bike-style roadster with sportier ergonomics. The Victory Empulse TT was claimed to do 140 miles on a single charge. This motorcycle could attain a top speed of 108 mph thanks to the AC electric motor. The Victory Empulse TT could be charged from 0 to 100% in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Despite the sports styling, this motorcycle showed a versatile performance on both race tracks and city roads. The Victory Empulse TT received power from a lithium-ion battery installed in it. It was not the fastest electric motorcycle but when it came to agility, smoothness, and cornering, this motorcycle was fun to ride. The Victory Empulse TT’s most unusual feature was the Brammo‘s chain drive and six-speed transmission that kept the rider engaged during the ride.

Introduced in 2017, the last Victory model before Polaris wound up the operation, the Victory Octane was one of the most stylish American cruisers. It had sporty ergonomics and offered an aggressive riding style thanks to its low-mounted less pulled-back handlebars. Despite the sportier stance, it was still quite comfortable and the rider was able to maintain an upright position. The foot controls were forward-mounted, ensuring adequate legroom for taller riders to comfortably ride this motorcycle. The Victory Octane had a compact design and a matte black finish. The solo rider seat, small nose fairing, separate dual exhaust pipes, and stylish 10-spoke wheels provided this motorcycle with a modern cruiser look.

The Victory Octane was powered by a 1,179 cc liquid-cooled, V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 104 hp and a torque of 107 Nm. It was clear with the advent of the Victory Octane that the company was all set to bring innovation in the design and engineering of its motorcycles. The sportier stance of the Victory Octane was directed to target the young riders.

Being owned by the same parent company, Polaris Inc., the Victory Octane shared a close resemblance with the Indian Scout. Almost 35% of its parts were taken from the Indian Scout. Despite being produced in the last year of the company, more than 4,000 units were produced. The Victory Octane was also easily customizable and became a popular model among custom builders.

Soon after the introduction of Victory Octane in 2017, Polaris Inc. announced the closing down of Victory Motorcycles while continuing Indian Motorcycles as its only motorcycle brand. It was shocking news for several motorcycle enthusiasts and fans of the Victory Motorcycles. However, there were several indications that Polaris would take the decision eventually. Though Polaris never disclosed the sales figures for Victory motorcycles, it did indicate that the company was not profitable in three of its last five years.

Despite securing 5th place on the list of the most reliable motorcycle brands and the highest owner satisfaction score in the world, Victory failed to impress American riders. According to Polaris Inc., poor sales became the reason why the company had to shut down Victory’s operations. The company announced that the OEM spare parts for Victory motorcycles will be available for the next 10 years.

Several contributing factors caused one of the greatest American motorcycle brands to fail. These include:

Despite the huge popularity and demand of cruisers powered by large-displacement engines in the 1990s, the sales and purchasing power of American riders decreased in the 2000s when the country suffered from the subprime mortgage crisis that started in 2007. The high-powered cruisers became luxury vehicles as they became more expensive.

The American cruiser market was subjected to old riders who did not want to switch to a new brand. Meanwhile, young riders were not impressed by the traditional looks and old technology used in the cruisers. The motorcycle world was transforming in the 2010s when more futuristically-designed motorcycles with innovative features and high-end technology were brought to production lines.

Another major reason why Victory Motorcycles failed to ensure good sales was that the company did not have a rich history of more than 100 years like Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles. Indian Motorcycles was revived and preferred over Victory Motorcycles because the former company had the advantage of a rich history and the Indian badge on its motorcycles’ gas tanks.

The Victory motorcycles may not be the most technologically advanced and innovative two-wheelers, but the unique styling, fit, finish, and ride quality of these bikes were unmatchable. Victory motorcycles were carefully engineered with the focus to ensure high-quality performance, comfortable riding experience, and durability. Shortly after Victory Motorcycles was shut down in 2017, Polaris started working on new technology and introduced several innovative features in Indian Motorcycles to attract more riders. However, Indian Motorcycles are still not as good as Victory Motorcycles when it comes to reliability score and customer satisfaction.

If you are looking for good-quality saddlebags to improve the storage capacity of your Victory motorcycle, visit Viking Bags’ online store and select the motorcycle you own. Viking Bags has specially designed saddlebags for all Victory models, including Octane, Judge, Vegas, Hammer, Gunner, High Ball, Kingpin, etc. Apart from the luggage options, you can also find specialized aftermarket parts, including fairings, crash bars, sissy bars, backrests, and handlebars to transform your motorcycle into a better touring bike.