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By Michael Dapper
VRA Page Webmaster
We’re looking for advice from you Iron Butt veterans. If you have earned Iron Butt honors, DROP US A LINE with your tips on how newbies can best achieve the feat with the greatest pleasure and least discomfort.
• How do you schedule it?
• What should you look for in a route?
• How early do you start planning ahead?
• What are the fine points of the Iron Butt Assn. (IBA) requirements to pay attention to?
• How & what do you pack?
• How do you dress?
• What should you eat and drink (and not eat and drink)?
• What should you look for in your riding partners?
• How should you prep your bike?
Any advice – any do’s and don’ts – are welcome. So send your tips to the Victory Mailbag about what made your Iron Butt rides good or bad. We’re going to share this advice in an article in an upcoming issue of Victory Rider magazine, and here on the Victory website.
New Bikes at Biketoberfest
Don’t forget, the new Victory touring bikes – the Victory Cross Country and Victory Cross Roads – will be on display at Biketoberfest this Thursday through Sunday.
The bikes will be displayed in the vendor area along U.S. 1, across the road from the Iron Horse Saloon in Ormond Beach.
To check the location and find directions for yourself, use this address in your GPS or a map program such as Google Maps or Mapquest: 1069 N. US 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
These bikes are awesome, so take a look, throw a leg over one and see if it’s your next Victory.
Lobsterfest Countdown & Mileage Masters!
We’re starting to hyperventilate with excitement about the approach of the Lobsterfest party on Saturday, October, 17, in Palm Bay, Florida.
If you think riding from Atlanta to Lobsterfest is going to win you some kind of long-distance award, think again, Bulldog Booster.
Check out THIS THREAD on the VMC website posted by TigerLily. She and her man Burl are riding their Victorys from Northern California to Florida for the bash! They left home around the first of October, and we are extremely jealous of the riding and adventures they’re enjoying.
Keep enjoying the ride, guys, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms at the party.
Have fun, all you HAVCFers!
The official Lobsterfest countdown clock is ticking away on the HAVCF home page.
Riding Impressions
Invited motorcycle media members are riding the new Victory Cross Country and Victory Cross Roads starting today at a Victory-hosted press event. Check out some magazine blogs and Twitter accounts to see what the editors’ early impressions are of these sweet new bikes.
If the reviews are anything but raves, we’ll be surprised – mightily.
Victory marketing honchos have been super-protective of the bikes until the press got on them. The only people who have ridden them to date have been Victory engineers, select people in Victory and Polaris management and very few others. The marketing folks didn’t want anyone writing about how the bikes ride until the motorcycle press got their shot at them.
Well, they’re ridden them (or are doing so and Tweeting about it as you read this), so we can give you a quick riding impression. After stealing a key, we got to ride a Victory Cross Country on the Victory demo route at Sturgis in August. That’s about 13 miles, but a nice mix of up-tempo back road and highway running on I-90.
The bike was fantastic. It’s similar to a Victory Vision, yet distinctly different. The Cross Country (and Cross Roads, since they have a common chassis) seating position is fantastic. It’s similar to that of a Victory Vision but with a firmer seat, so you stay up on top of things. You have much less structure in front of you, so you have a great view of what’s out in front.
The handlebars (which are adjustable) put the controls within easy reach, and the leverage of the bars is natural and intuitive. Steering is light and easy.
You’re familiar with the power because the drivetrain is identical to that of the Victory Vision. Considering this bike is lighter than a Victory Vision, you enjoy some great acceleration and power. The transmission was absolutely perfect; the smoothest, most precise we’ve ever felt.
Riding a Cross Country makes you aware of the incredible protection provided by the Victory Vision fairing and front body work. Riding a Cross Country, you feel wind on your legs as you would on, say, a Kingpin. This makes you recall that nearly all of that wind was blocked when you rode a Victory Vision, a tribute to how the Victory Vision keeps you protected and fresh for long, long days on the road.
The Cross Country’s fairing and windshield blocked all the wind up top, so we weren’t getting buffeted. Plus, you can add accessory lower deflectors to increase the lower protection
We had been accustomed to riding a Victory Vision, so at first while riding the Cross Country, that wind on our legs made us think the bike must be shaking and getting blown around on the road. But we checked the mirrors and the view was crystal clear and vibration-free. So all we were feeling was wind on our legs the way you do on a cruiser.
It was a too-short but great ride. Comfortable, great performance, smooth and easy handling, good protection up front, massive saddlebags and long floorboards ala the Victory Vision. Quite a bike.
Victory should be receiving some excellent press after today’s editors’ ride.
Red River Showdown? Nah, it’s the Demo Tour
Everybody is abuzz in Texas this week. Is it because of Saturday’s big game between Texas and Oklahoma? No, it’s because the Victory 18-wheelers are in Texas and Mizzou this week on the Victory Challenge Demo Tour. Here are the tour stops for the week ahead:
• October 16-17, Friday and Saturday
Family Powersports McKinney
311 W. University
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972-562-2077
• October 16-17, Friday-Saturday
Renegade Motorcycles
2618 I-20 W.
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
Phone: 469-348-2222
Toll-free Phone: 877-976-BIKE
• October 17, Saturday
Austin Trailer and Motorsports
13810 E. US Hwy. 40
Independence, MO 64055
Phone: 913-721-5313
You’ll find the complete Victory Challenge Demo Tour schedule HERE, and you’ll find tour stops and more Victory-related events on the Events Page.
New tour dates are being added frequently, so check back regularly to see where the Victory 18-wheelers will be stopping next.
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