About Victory
Victory Motorcycles is an American motorcycle manufacturer based in Spirit Lake, Iowa. It began production of its vehicles in 1998.
Its parent company, Polaris Industries, created the firm following the modern success of Harley-Davidson. Victory's motorcycles are designed to compete directly with Harley-Davidson and similar American-style motorcycle brands, with V-twin engines and touring, sport-touring, and cruiser configurations. The first Victory, the V92C, was announced in 1997 and began selling in 1998. In 2011 Polaris bought the Indian motorcycle brand.
The first model, the V92C, was debuted at Planet Hollywood in the Mall of America by Al Unser in 1997. Production began in late 1998, and the first official model year was 1999. At 92 cu in (1,510 cc), the V92C was the largest production engine available at the time. All components for the V92C were manufactured in Minnesota and Iowa, except the Italian Brembo brakes and the British-made electronic fuel injection system. Victory engines debuted with five-speed transmissions (later six), single overhead cams, dual connecting rods, hydraulic lifters, and fuel injection; most fuel-injection components are standard GM parts. The V92C engine was designed to be easily tuned by the owner.
The 92 cubic inch Victory engine carries 6 US qt (5,700 ml) of oil in the sump, about the same as most automobiles. This is intended to minimize risk of low-oil damage, but also makes it dimensionally larger than other motorcycle engines, such as Harley-Davidson, which carry oil in tanks. The sheer volume of oil can also impede engine performance in a racing environment. Top speed is about 120 mph (190 km/h) at 5,500 rpm; the ECM contains a rev limiter which can be overridden by reprogramming the EPROM. The Victory engine is air-cooled, and also circulates crankcase oil through a cooler mounted between the front frame downtubes. A section of the rear swingarm can be removed to change the drive belt or the rear wheel.
The motorcycle's designers had approached several European manufacturers, particularly Cosworth, about designing and producing the engine, but ultimately decided to design and build it in Osceola, Wisconsin. Several variations on engine-frame geometry were tried until the best configuration was found, with the crankshaft geometrically aligned with the axles, a concept developed by Vincent Racing in the late 1950s.
The V92C weighed about the same as a Harley, approximately 650 lb (290 kg). The original V92C engine produced about 55 hp (41 kW) at the wheel; with high-performance cams and pistons, this could be boosted to 83 hp (62 kW) and torque of 86 lb·ft (117 N·m).
In 2002 company introduced its Freedom 92/5 V-Twin, a 92 cubic inch engine mated to a five speed transmission. The new Freedom Engine had rounded cylinders and a smaller oil cooler and provided greater power output than the previous mill.
Victory continued to expand its model lineup in 2005 with the introduction of its Hammer, a muscular power cruiser with a 250mm rear tire and the Freedom 100/6 engine. It also began offering its cruiser motorcycles with the blacked-out treatment, using the styling scheme on its Vegas 8-Ball.
In 2006, both Arlen and his son Cory Ness selected the Vegas Jackpot to customize for the Ness Signature Series. The custom-inspired motorcycle was equipped with the same Freedom V-Twin powerplant and gearbox as the Hammer.
Victory would again demonstrate its forward-thinking in 2008 with the release of its radically-styled, luxury touring motorcycle, the 2008 Victory Vision. With a chassis composed of three big castings and an integrated 11-liter airbox incorporated into its design, it also featured the company’s proprietary Air Victory Brakes. Designed by Lead Industrial Designer, Michael Song, the aerodynamic, futuristic-looking luxo-tourer created plenty of ripples when it hit the market.
For 2009, Victory offered a 10th Anniversary Victory Vision. With an Antares Red and Black paint scheme that pays tribute to its first motorcycle, the V92C, the limited edition Vision includes a reverse gear and tons of luxury touring amenities like heated grips and seats. Only 100 were made.
Victory has also made a point of offering various models in Low versions, with seat heights and controls better suited to smaller riders.
Moto blog
Mon, 19 Mar 2012
Elena Myers made history once again, winning the second of two AMA Supersport races at Daytona International Speedway. The win was Myers’ second professional AMA victory and gives her the distinction of being the first female racer to ever win a professional motorsports race at the famed Daytona circuit. The SuzukiScoopFans M4 Suzuki rider became the first woman to win an AMA race, taking an AMA Supersport race at Infineon Raceway in 2010.
Fri, 16 Mar 2012
Kyle Wyman, number 33, took the win by a slim margin in the season-opening round of the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series in Daytona. Wyman also won the 2011 opening round of the series held at Daytona. Kyle Wyman, 22, of Macedon, N.Y., took the win in the March 16 opening round of the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 race series held at Daytona, effectively repeating his victory in 2011 during the inaugural round of the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series also held at Daytona.
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Mega stars of the custom chopper world Arlen Ness, Dave Perewitz and Rick Fairless have each built a one-off custom motorcycle for Allstate Insurance Co. Each bike embodies themes representing Allstate’s involvement in the motorcycle community, like the company’s motorcycle awareness program called Once is Never Enough (ONE), which Fairless incorporated into his design. A fourth motorcycle, a Victory Cross Country customized by Ness, is the grand prize in Allstate’s national sweepstakes (www.allstate.com/motosweepstakes).
Tue, 06 Mar 2012
The American Motorcyclist Association is heralding a win for motorcyclists with the announcement that the state of Virginia has enacted a new law prohibiting law enforcement agencies from setting up vehicle checkpoints specifically targeting motorcycles. The bill, H.B. 187, was signed into law on Feb.
Tue, 06 Mar 2012
Ryan Villopoto returned to the top of the podium and extended his lead in the 2012 AMA Supercross Championship to 13 points with a victory at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider had his win streak snapped at three after losing to Red Bull KTM‘s Ryan Dungey last week in Atlanta, Ga., but Villopoto returned to form in St.
Tue, 21 Feb 2012
When John Reynolds was pushing me hard in the late nineties for BSB titles he was always polite and would happily stop to chew the fat and talk about the weather. But that was the limit of our friendship as he never wanted to like rivals too much, just in case it affected his competitive edge. These days, he has no great desire to barge me off the track at Redgate or Cascades so when our paths cross we happily spend time sorting out the problems of the world.
Tue, 21 Feb 2012
Defending champion Ryan Villopoto won his third consecutive AMA Supercross race in Arlington, Texas, but the victory was overshadowed by a season-ending injury suffered by one of his main challengers Chad Reed. TwoTwo Motorsport Honda‘s Reed trailed Villopoto in second place for the first six laps at Cowboys Stadium. Disaster struck on Lap 7 however as Reed crashed hard in the whoops.
Mon, 13 Feb 2012
Ryan Villopoto captured his second straight victory, winning the San Diego round of the 2012 AMA Supercross championship. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider now has three wins on the season, two more than anyone else, but his hold on the championship points lead has only increased to six points. Villopoto took the lead on the second lap of the main event after overtaking Brett Metcalfe of Yoshimura Suzuki who took the holeshot, with Villopoto‘s teammate Jake Weimer also in the lead group.
Wed, 01 Feb 2012
Victory Motorcycles is showcasing a collection of Polaris-designed prototypes and custom models in its display at the Minneapolis stop of the IMS tour, Feb. 3-5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The collection will feature concept models and prototypes from over the years by the Polaris Industrial Design studio.
Mon, 30 Jan 2012
The 2012 AMA Supercross Championship race is getting tighter with a fourth race winner in as many rounds following James Stewart‘s victory in Oakland, Calif. The JGRMX Yamaha racer captured his first win of the 2012 season at Oakland’s O.co Coliseum. Stewart out-dueled longtime rival Chad Reed of TwoTwo Motorsports Honda for the win.