Victory Vision - or - Honda Goldwing?

[BF]

If you were going to buy a new road bike today, which one would you go with....and why?  (I would've included a Harley Ultra, but Harleys don't fit me...they're too small  ).  

P.S.  The Valk ain't goin' nowhere.  Just brain fartin' about a new ride that's all.  

[SANDMAN5]

If it was to be my ONLY bike, I'd probably get a Wing. I like the Rocket III, but I'm
not sure about the maintenance cost and their longevity.
If it was to be a second bike, for part-time use, I'd look at the V-Max or the V-Strom.
Nothing else really comes to mind.

[Gear Jammer]

I finally saw a couple of Visions on the road not too long ago.  Look better than the pics I'd seen.  I'd have to ride one before I could decide, but based a looks, I wouldn't rule it out.  But it is a bit Space Cadet looking IMHO

[Grumpy]

Rode a Vision a couple months ago, not too bad, but I would go with the Wing. Just don't like v Twinkies.

[sandy]

I have an '05 Wing (see the small pic of my CRF50). The Wing is a sportbike on steroids. The Vision is too top heavy and is air/oil cooled. After 2 weeks on the Wing pulling a tent trailer, I can't imagine any other bike for long distance touring.

[RP#62]

Not the Vision.    I wouldn't sleep well knowing that there's an evil clown in the garage. . . . .just staring at me.
-RP

[woefman]

Take it from me I owned Harleys , Honda, Suzuki

Rode a Victory  

Own a Wing GL1800  

When Rode the Victory I thought I was on a Riding Lawn Mower what a POS  

However I seen the insides of a Victory Motor and Trans , Cutaway View , Looks Solid.

But the Vibrations and Humming Sounds and Lack of Power Turned me off HUGE Before and after third
gear it was already humming like the exact sound of a Briggs and Stratton Engine and The humming and Vibration Sounded like an old Muray Lawn Tractor , you all heard it before where the Hood of the Tractor
is Loose and Noisy as Hell.

[Wetrudgeon]

Neither the Vision nor the Wing have visual appeal for us (we realize this is subjective and others may consider either or both beautiful).  We understand that the 106" Freedom motor is very solid and powerful, but can it surpass (or even equal) the 1.8 liter F-6?  We think not.  Of the two, the wing seems indicated.


We trudge on.

[CajunRider]

I'd go with the Wing just because of the Flat-6 engine.  Smooth is good when you're talking about long distance. 

Of course, if you're looking for power, while the wing has much of it, the Rocket III has more!!!  I understand they re-tuned the engine for the full dresser, but I think it still has more than the Wing.  I don't know how smooth that Rocket III engine is... but their 900cc tripple is as smooth as the Valk.  (That was found during my 5 hours of Thunderbird Sport ownership... but that's another story.)

As for the victory... it's a good engine... but it's not a SMOOTH Flat-6. 

[Jack]

I have a customer that has a Vision.  He admits, maybe, he should have gone with the wing.  He does say it turns a lot of heads.  I have had a hard time saying anything positive about the Vision to him based on looks.  True, I have not ridden one.

[rainman]

Here is my 2 cents worth.  Will not have the victory vision like RP#62 said don’t want a evil one eyed bozo the clown looking at me in my garage.  And has far as the gold wing just cant get enough air on it.  So at the age of 56 I think that I would buy at least one more valk or maybe 2 then that way I know they will last the rest of my life and I still say that if you want more power out of the valk then put a 1800cc under it. They say it cant be done, but I have not seen anything that cant be done. (Where there a will there a way) and I say there a way.

[Puffs Daddy]

I'd go with the Wing just because of the Flat-6 engine.  Smooth is good when you're talking about long distance. 

Of course, if you're looking for power, while the wing has much of it, the Rocket III has more!!!  I understand they re-tuned the engine for the full dresser, but I think it still has more than the Wing.  I don't know how smooth that Rocket III engine is... but their 900cc tripple is as smooth as the Valk.  (That was found during my 5 hours of Thunderbird Sport ownership... but that's another story.)

As for the victory... it's a good engine... but it's not a SMOOTH Flat-6. 

I'd agree with your conclusion. In the hands of a good rider a GW 1800 is a truly remarkable motorcycle.

On the other hand, I'd dispute your comments about the Triumphs. (And I love Triumphs.) I've put quite a few miles on the Rocket III. And apart from the religious experience of its straight line acceleration, I found I got over being impressed after a couple of hundred miles. (Had a chance to trade my Valk for one and passed.) And as much as I love the Triumph triples (having owned a T-Bird Sport for six years), they are nowhere near as smooth as my Valkyrie.

Actually, the one bike that does come close on that score is the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, a much unappreciated and very good touring bike.

As for the Vision, I applaud Victory's willingness to push the envelope on full dress cruisers. But having said that, I find the design makes me think the BMW LT is attractive in comparison. Different strokes and all that, but if it came down to a choice between a Wing and a Vision, I don't think there is really any comparison.

One oddity on the Wing, though. When they lengthened the passenger seat on the 1800, they put the rise in the seat for the rider too far forward, imo. Whenever I've ridden one, I find myself feeling cramped. Bars too far back or seat too far forward. And I'm not that "big" a guy. I suppose one gets used to it, but if I had a Wing I'd have to change the seat.

[asfltdncr]

A roadbike can mean different things to different people.
The Kawasaki Concours has had some great reviews if you like performance.
Honda is supposed to come out with a new ST-maybe next year.

[BF]

Puffs Daddy....

I know what you mean about the seat.  Before I bought my Valk, I looked at alot of Wings...and they all had the seat thing in common.  The Wing was big enough for me and liked a bunch of things about it, but the seat made me feel cramped and too far foward too.  Just wasn't comfortable.  I had a feeling of being more on top of the wing, where-as, I feel like I'm in my Valk. 

Seating height and position is one of the reasons for looking at the Vision. 

[Westernbiker]

I would go with the wing, I just can't stand the look of the Victory. I guess when ya see one for the first time ya either like it or hate it! Guess where I am at on this? LOL!

[Ken Tarver]

sorry, but the vision is close to the ugliest modern bike i've seen.

for a touring bike, go with the wing....i've had a '97 gl1500 and a '05 gl1800 and a '08 gl1800 which i still have. if you're wanting long trips, its the ONE!

also have 2 valks

Ken

[sandy]

I'd agree with your conclusion. In the hands of a good rider a GW 1800 is a truly remarkable motorcycle.

One oddity on the Wing, though. When they lengthened the passenger seat on the 1800, they put the rise in the seat for the rider too far forward, imo. Whenever I've ridden one, I find myself feeling cramped. Bars too far back or seat too far forward. And I'm not that "big" a guy. I suppose one gets used to it, but if I had a Wing I'd have to change the seat.
[/quote]
My '05 Wing had the stock seat too far back. I'm 5'10" and had to install risers on the bars. Ultimate Seats makes different seats for Wings that will fix most any position problem you have.

[Hog Killer DS0048]

Well, let me throw in my 2 cents. I think depends on what your looking for. I had a love affair for 8 1/2 years with my Valk, but with arthritis in my knees I needed something with more leg movement. I traded the Valk for a 2008 Vision Tourer last November. By far it is the most comfortable bike I have owned. Is it as smooth or as powerful as the Valk? No, but that's not what I was looking for. I rode a friends 1800 Wing and I had the same problem as on the Valk, no leg movement. Besides it felt too, I guess you could say sanitary. I've got 7200 miles on my Vision and am very happy with it. No regrets. As far as appearances goes, that varies with the individual. You'd be surprised how many people come up to me on the road and want to know all about it, and some take pictures.

[Valker]

I like the new ThunderBird also...

[BF]

hogkiller....

Can the trunk on the Victory Tourer be removed somewhat like on the Valk Interstate (then put back on for use)?

I'm know that a Wing will run 70-75 on an interstate all day long without breathing hard.  How does your Tourer run on a long interstate type trip? 

Also....what kind of mileage do you get with the Tourer?

[chief120865]

Investigate the Victory Cross Country, no trunk,  but fairing, stereo, cruise, big hard bags, classic looking

[Ken Tarver]

the lumbar portion of the stock 1800 seat can be cut back if you are on the tall side....or go aftermarket seat which many folks do anyway regardless of which bike they own. And as on the valks, most folks who own wings also put on some type of hwy pegs. There is also a rider peg lowering kit by BBP I believe which lowers and moves forward the peg 1".

which bike is anyone's personal choice....i like the wings i've had, and also very much like my valks.

Have ya'll seen the Can Am Spyder tourer model, it's a pretty sweet machine?

Ken

[Puffs Daddy]

I like the new ThunderBird also...

Same here. Best looking cruiser I've seen in a long time.

[Hog Killer DS0048]

The trunk is held on with four bolts. I can remove mine in about 30 minutes. First time 45 minutes until you see how it goes together.  I just got home last week from a miserable, rain and hail, 1800 mile trip to Colorado and the computer said I got 50.3 mpg on 91 octane.

The last day I rode from Durango CO. to Tucson with no problems. Tired, but no knee problems.