Victory Motorcycle Forum banner

Octane Reveal 2-19-2016

30K views 199 replies 46 participants last post by  Jagular 
#1 ·
Looks like we are finally going to see the final product called the Octane. The first water cooled Victory and almost certainly not the last.

Should be interesting at the very least especially after seeing what 35 different dealers did with the Scout. Lots-O-Potential.
 
#116 ·
I posted elsewhere that IMHO, the entire Victory Marketing team should be fired first thing on Monday morning. They so over promised and so under delivered on everything related to this "new" Victory. If the "design team" spent over a day on the Octane, they should all be fired first thing on Monday as well.

+46cc and +4hp, giving the Scout the Goth look (black and gray), and changing a few design cues does NOT make a "new" motorcycle, it does not define American Muscle nor refine/define any motorcycle category. What a complete waste of time it's been waiting for this "new" Victory.

The Octane is like GMC hyping a new truck only to release a rebadged Chevy.

If those claiming the Octane is targeted at the H-D V-Rod is true, then the entire Marketing and Design teams should be fired today, no sense waiting till Monday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PaiN and Krisd
#121 ·
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2016/02/victory-unveils-104-horsepower-1179-cc-octane/#comments


The comments on the Cyril Huze site aren't much better. I still think people need to wait and see this bike in person then ride it. The power is a starting point. With a few performance parts this bike will really fly and it's quick now.

http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2016/02/19...-power-tu-burn-built-to-thrill-looks-to-kill/
 
#124 ·
There has been a lot of criticism about the "muscle" and "performance" of the Octane. That's not performance? From a previous ride report posted, Cycle World maybe, it accelerates to 100 pretty quick. I have only owned my Victory since December, so I guess that is why the, sometimes vicious, criticism is confusing me. The Octane maintains the Victory look, which is what I was expecting. Maybe others were expecting something that did not look anything like a Victory? Is it close to a Scout in appearance, maybe so. But quite a few of Victory's cruisers are very similar in appearance to each other. I like it, but that's just me, and I am obviously in the minority.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBob
#130 ·
I like it. At least it's not ugly like that Ducati junk. Good gawd, those DIavel bikes are fugly!

If I were in the market for a around-the-town cruiser like that, I may look at that and the Scout (which I like a little better). Then again, I like standards too, like a CB1100.
 
#131 ·
Debating in my head wether or not to attend the Brisbane 'unveiling' on Thursday night.....
Like it'll be a bit of an anti-climax I'm thinking...... Chung Chung Chung
Hear me thinking?
I may get to touch it or even sit on it...maybe
Sat in the first Scout and it felt like a 70s dirtbike in size.
Though coming from someone who 2 days ago bought a Honda C90 stepthru scooter, well sorta blows my credibility hey.
Looking at the rear fender it needs a pillion seat, not the Honda C90 its got one.
Thats 90cc by the way not 90 cubes
 
#132 ·
C'mon, there's a HUGE difference between the Scout and the Octane. Did you notice the Octane has different mirrors? :grin
 
#136 ·
So I went to the launch in Sydney last night and I have to say firstly, thank you Victory, because at least Australia is not waiting for this new model like we often have to wait when a new model anything is launched - often Australians have to wait up to a year to get stuff past Europe / US launch dates! We are only getting a pretty small number of bikes - 50 apparently - but least we are getting part of the initial production run.

Now whether to buy it? That is another matter.

Some of the criticism here I do find a bit amusing as no-one has ridden it yet - how can you tell what the bike is really like? The Victory staff here in Australia have not even been allowed to ride it yet!

Some of the criticisms here also seems misplaced. We have a smaller, water cooled motor (note it has a larger displacement than the Scout) but with more horsepower, than the air cooled Victory models. Also 240 kg in weight vs 300 kg for my 2013 Judge. So, more powerful, weighs a LOT less - what is not to like in that equation?? Plus the thing looks good. OK beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as we all know, but still objectively it is a sharp looking machine IMO.

I sat on it and first ergonomic impressions, it is low, and a very similar riding position to the Scout but bars are a little higher. Felt like sitting on a Hammer but with a smaller tank.

Some pictures below. The showroom lights make it look a bit purple but it is definitely grey - Gunner grey only it would seem. I want a test ride for sure!

Land vehicle Vehicle Motorcycle Automotive tire Tire
Land vehicle Motorcycle Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive tire
Vehicle Wheelie Stunt Display device Motorcycle
 
#138 · (Edited)
I saw one in Phoenix tonight at the international motorcycle show.
Nice bike but wouldn't work for me because of the riding position.
If it fit you it would probably be a great bike. Can't have enough hp on a street bike. Just never happens.
Met one of the engineers there that worked on it. Seemed like a really sharp guy, rightfully proud of his work.

Anyone in Phoenix right now that has any questions about the 106 motors there are a couple of Victory factory people at the show that are very helpful. One was on the design team another is a factory troubleshooter.
The factory troubleshooter spent quite a while with me and the engineer spent even longer. Both of them trying to figure out what has been causing the stalling we have experienced.
My wife and I were both really impressed with both of them.

Victory has quite a presence there this time. If your in the area and thinking of buying the Octane you can also see it and talk with one of the guys who designed it. The 256 was there, a Lloydz supercharged bike and several other custom Victories were there. There is also a discount for disabled vets with ID, Active duty and some others. There is a booth outside the ticket office at the stadium. Bike parking is free.
 
#158 ·
I read this and decided to head to the show....I've been itching to see the race bike and seeing the new Octane would've been cool. I should've saved my money.

Don't know what Phoenix show you went to but there was NO Octane, nor the 156 Pikes Peak bike.

There were the two concept bikes, Ignition and Combustion and the usual array of Cross bikes but little else.

On the whole a rather disappointing event.
 
#143 ·
Oh well, as we all know, no one can make all people happy all the time.

Some people have commented that it's just a Scout clone. I think it has many similarities but just going by the style of the bike, the tank, wheels, fenders, side covers, cafe windscreen, steel metalic paint, etc.; it's a modern fast style bike with Victory's now trademark angular style. If you changed all these things on your bike; I'm sure you would think of it as an entirely different bike.

The Scout is far more nostalgic looking right down to the shock making that traditional rigid triangle frame look with smoother lines designed to be set up with a standard windshield and saddlebags.

If looked at in these two different lights I think most people would agree they are very different bikes for different types of people. YMMV. FWIW. JMHO.

Now whether someone thinks it's a good bike or one that's really lacking is another subject altogether. There's no telling what Victory will come out with in the future. I think this indicates their commitment to being the performance brand they claim to be.
 
#146 ·
you should read all the facebook haters. 90% of them haven't read anything about the bike there just going by photo. Octane doesn't have the power to fit in a bagger all it can do is take away from the steel frame bike sales. One guy wanted to know what mpg were. He didn't think that this is a 2017 model and no one has even ridden one.


BRAKES for those that don't know. I said I don't like bikes with single disc.

BRAKES
REAR BRAKES SINGLE-PISTON
FRONT BRAKES DUAL PISTON CALIPER, 298MM DISC
BRAKE SYSTEM TYPE CONVENTIONAL
 
#147 ·
People tend to knock a new model bike from the company that made their present bike because then they would have to admit after bragging about how their present bike is the best thing since shaving cream was put in cans...Now they would have to get the new one... And worst yet imagine if the bike was from a different company:wink
 
#149 · (Edited)
I've really enjoyed all the comments about Victories new bike that's out. Some positive most negative some in the middle.

Today I was cleaning about 800 miles of bugs off from the last couple weekends and when I was finished I do like I always do is step back and admire the work I just did. Looking at my 2015 Cross Country I bought in July and has 12,401 miles on it with a nick here and a ding there that's no longer new but it's a motorcycle that does everything I ever needed a motorcycle to do and can't see myself not having it anytime in the future. This bike came after riding street bikes 30+ years and having the money to buy it.

Today there's a kid scraping his money together for a down payment on the newest Victory model that's targeted for him and his meager income and I bet the day will come when he steps back and admires the cleaning he just did on it and thinks the exact same thing I thought today with the exact same pride I felt today. I'm glad Victory has designed and will produce a bike for that person.
 
#150 ·
OMG! sometimes I just hate when someone brings logic and wisdom into a good argument....it just ruins everything :(
 
#151 ·
I hate when people bitch about the absence of another brake on the front. Take your right hand and squeeze the brake lever as hard as you can on a single disc bike and watch what happens. I bet I slows you down pretty quick. It might even lock the front wheel up.
 
#156 ·
It's a get back investment decision. It simply can't be more expensive than Polaris's star brand, Indian. So it's a little bit cheaper and I bet people say.. "Jesus they are just the same I may as well go for the cheapie".

Unless they are an Indian tragic. In which case they have no idea of linear ownership and manufacturing heritage.
 
#155 ·
It's probably a great engine. Or at least and engine with potential but for my mind in a completely **** chassis.

I'll say it for the 100th time. Take a Ducati monster type trellis frame and put the Victory V-twin in it. Best of breed everything else, just like Ducati does and sell the thing!

THAT is the look you're after Polaris!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top