The 2005 Victory Hammer received honorable mention from Cycle World magazine (July 2005 issue) as the editors announced their annual list of Ten Best Bikes.

The Cycle World Ten Best Bikes awards cover all segments of motorcycling, including superbikes, enduros, motocrossers and various classes of streetbikes.

In paying tribute to the Hammer, the editors wrote:

“Six speeds, 100 cubes and the fattest rear meat you can get on a production bike, period. That’s Victory’s new Hammer, which also happens to be based on the former Ten Best-winning Vegas, making this one fine-riding factory custom. That it also cuts a mean figure on the road and even with that 250mm-wide tire actually manages to behave like a motorcycle are just bonuses. Think of it as a Vegas that rules the Strip.”

As mentioned, the Victory Vegas was named Best Cruiser by Cycle World in 2003, and the original Victory, the 1998 V92C, also won Best Cruiser honors from the magazine.