I think the octane is going to be a winner. Not sure, but can you buy a 1200 sportster for the price of the octane? To me, victory is heading in the right direction with it being water cooled. I rode Harleys for a lot of years, and owned a lot of them. When the vrod came out, I was under the impression from Harley, that the motor was the motor of the future. I owned 3 vrod`s, and that motor was very impressive, but the Harley cult would not except it. I hope victory will continue with the water cooled trend, and come in with a water cooled touring bike with larger cc`s and hp.
Here's the thing this bike isn't really aimed at anybody already on this forum. If you're here odds are you were out looking for a V-twin cruiser or bagger to have a combination of comfort and power with reliability.
This bike is going after the younger generation (at at my whopping 29 years I'm saying younger than myself). They are looking at the 20-25 year olds who want a first bike but don't want a crotch rocket yet still want something "sporty" it's the ones who want styling and fun but don't care for the heritage or price tag that comes with a Harley or Indian. The ones who think air cooled is out dated.
The styling, the price tag, the marketing all add up to being aimed at an intro market.
And yes it may steal some buyers from the steel frames but it could also be what gets the buyers into the door to look at them. If this works it's going to do for Victory what Harley has been trying to do for years and that's get the younger buyers and build brand loyalty. If memory serves Victory already has a younger demo than Harley and the Harley execs are worried because the brand loyalty they have had for years with fathers and sons is eroding and the generations that have been blindly loyal are getting up their in age. If Victory can make this a reliable but fun to ride bike they could be setting themselves up well for the future.
Here's the thing this bike isn't really aimed at anybody already on this forum. If you're here odds are you were out looking for a V-twin cruiser or bagger to have a combination of comfort and power with reliability.
This bike is going after the younger generation (at at my whopping 29 years I'm saying younger than myself). They are looking at the 20-25 year olds who want a first bike but don't want a crotch rocket yet still want something "sporty" it's the ones who want styling and fun but don't care for the heritage or price tag that comes with a Harley or Indian. The ones who think air cooled is out dated.
Agreed. I was at my dealer today, Crockett Powersports, talking about the Octane. He said target customer is the younger sport bike rider also. Someone who wants to, or is thinking about, moving to a cruiser, yet wants handling closer to his sport bike. They can ride a cruiser, but can also ride a wheelie when the mood strikes. That's who it is designed for. All vehicles, two or four-wheeled, have a target demographic.
Crockett was supposed to have two of them before the 19th, but are still waiting for them. He told me that the 156 was simply a working platform for the engine and that Victory had said that the Octane would not resemble it. Victory's fault seems to have been in communication to its existing riders, not in the design of the bike.
Kingsrule5, I think you hit a bullseye with that one. Young'uns aren't buying cars and bikes at the rate they used to. Hell, they aren't even getting drivers licenses and we can blame that squarely on the smart phone. We oldsters couldn't wait to get our licenses and a car so we can connect with our friends. Today, most everyone thinks they are "connected" already via their phone. There's also an agenda to discourage cars and ride bicycles and/or use public transit--that's being promoted here in Portland's schools. The result is one is shamed into following public policy fewer young people buy bikes and cars. So now its incumbent upon the mfrs to make cars and bikes appealing to the entry segments. I wish them luck--Toyota tried that and failed with the Scion lineup. I saw more middle-agers in XBs than pizza faced youngsters.
Where I'm concerned, I hope I'm around to see bagger versions utilizing that engine. There are advantages to liquid cooling: quieter, more powerful, and more longevity, to name a few. Combine that with Victory's thorough engineering and reputation for dependability and that's a formula that will have me coming back for more.
Ric; I guess you have some idea how long people have saying the very same thing about the V-Rod and putting that engine with some different tuning and maybe a longer stroke into a touring Harley chassis. Yep. Ever since they first came out people have been asking for that and yet; nothing.
The only thing I can think of is their bean counters and polling people have not shown that to be a good return on the investment... yet.
In Vic's favor, it has a demo that is not oriented toward tradition, so engines like the Octane has will be more welcome. H-D faithful and even dealers look upon the V-Rod as an ugly stepchild as they don't fit the 1948 mold.
Glad to read Crockett Powersports has two Octane's on the way with an anticipated delivery date. Victory's problem isn't the Octane. Victory's problem, IMHO, is that they so over promised with all the American Muscle, class leading, 156 performance stuff and delivered what is essentially a de-chromed Scout with 46 more cc's (+2mm bore), and a claimed bump of 4hp and 4 ft.lbs of torque. No one has ever claimed the Scout was 4hp or 4ft.lbs of torque away from any class leading performance category.
My issue isn't the Octane, I'll bet it's a fun bike to ride and own. I truly hope Crockett and Victory sell more than they anticipate. I'll whole heartedly welcome and congratulate any Octane owner I ever meet.
My issue is the complete incompetence of the Victory Motorcycle's Marketing and Senior Management teams. These charlatans are simply not to be taken seriously again.
Just a thought...but don't you agree that Vic would have made more money and sold more bikes, if instead of the Octane they designed a really good power windshield for the Cross Country? :nerd
90% them are negative. I frequent this site a lot and it is a great barometer for thoughts, although US centric (i.e. more cruiser orientated, but still lots of sport bike enthusiasts too).
so will the Octane smoke a stock Vic's like the hammer vegas highball and gunner. Will this make steel frame bikes worthless
no place it says is the aluminum frame sold or tube
we all buy what we like + or can afford, the octane is a good bike for the price with shortcomings!!! some riders myself included like the simplicity of air-oil cooled engines over water cooled ones. IMO all the other Vics are superior bikes made for different purposes, models with inverted forks are a step up as well, i love my Hammer for its looks, handling + more go than i will ever use. i thought about trading my 2012 bonnie on a scout but was disappointed, octane is prolly a little better + for me it looks better. until a lighter bike with forward controls is built that suits me better than the bonnie it stays. i could see easily spending 4G after purchase to get the Octane i would want. i will wait until vic or maybe Triumph's new speedmaster if they redo it makes a better ride its no sale!!!!
so I went for a look and I don't mind the bike.and I guess we all got caught up in the media hype ,about possible hp..
but if we think of it as a blank canvas and mod it to suit our selves 4-5 k later it would be a ripper..anyway lets hope victory keeps going forward
All the reading about this bike gets a bit boring BUT just want to say ...
104 HP that us NOT a powerbike or sports cruiser or comparison to other 160 HP bikes .... Its just a 1200cc water-cooled V-twin .... Looks cool but not that powerful compared to other bikes.
104 HP that us NOT a powerbike or sports cruiser or comparison to other 160 HP bikes .... Its just a 1200cc water-cooled V-twin .... Looks cool but not that powerful compared to other bikes.
Not to mention Octane is over 530lbs wet.....which means its power to weight ratio is very underwhelming to boot.
With all the hype I hoped Octane would be a Roadster type machine in the class with the likes of the BMW R1200R which btw weights in at 500lbs wet 125hp / 98tq.
I've ridden one of these bikes and it GOES! as well as handles and being damn comfortable for a small(er) bike.
I dislike everything that is German but i ridden the GS 1200 and it rides real nice ... Only thing is if you "blib" then the bike is shaking from left to right due to the cylinders ...
Diavel is terrible in slow corners, and it felt like my old GSX 1100 was faster ... But maybe that's just my memory ha ha
Diavel is a boring looking and boring to ride bike ... Cant understand the hype around that bike
Rather have the German bike ... Or the Octane ....
EDIT
10,500 $ is a good price right ??
Did you ever run to a diavel and start her up in a jiffy ??? I don't think that is possible with all that electronic stuff, so she wouldn't do good as a getaway bike .... Ha ha
I get the feeling that VICTORY was/is implementing this in there adds and sales articles ..... Now the readers know it is just a really cool V-twin from Victory ... And the articles can stop comparison to 160 hp bikes
.......
I think the octane is cool looking bike for a good price .... Something for owners to build on .... Make it fast and modify ...
From Lloydz Facebook page today, right on schedule....
.....
We're pretty pleased with the output of the new Victory Octane, laying down a sweet 92 hp in stock form - and, a more impressive 108 hp with a LLOYDZ tuned exhaust and intake. We’ve gained +16 hp and +15 Ft lbs of tq at the rear wheel while playing with this 'lil beast! Exhaust sound on this bike is absolutely incredible, and the new name for our pipe is the "LLOYDZ RLB" pipe which stands for 'RASPY 'LIL *****'.
While nearing the completion of our intake, we saw the release from another company,offering a similar design to what we had going on. This made me think “Sum *****! I’m NOT going to release another cookie cutter airbox for this bike!" SO... I’m stepping it up, and were gonna blow some more minds with a killer intake that is not some generic clamp on.
Well I attended the unveiling of the Octane in Brisbane tonight and it was a great affair.
A couple of mates also made the trip up to our capital city to check out what all the fuss is about, (one rides a 750 Honda Shadow the other a new BMW, I think its a 600 or 650 single sorta adventure bike )
Anyway after battling huge traffic jams and thanks to me for fitting an air horn as it saved me again from a blind lane changer!
We parked our bikes and my mates started checking out all the rest of the Vics and Indians in the lot, after all my Vics the only one theyve seen before.
There was a fair crowd gathered inside and we headed in, there was an American Hot Dog stand giveing away hot dogs and I managed to devour 3 New York Spicy hotdogs the last with extra mustard and tomato sauce over extra jalapeno chillis and as the dog was actually very hot I made a fair ol mess on the floor with bits dropping!
Copious supplies of beer and wine were on offer too though as I dont indulge anymore I had one of the staff make me a coffee with the top shelf coffee machine that resides at the showroom, then I got stuck into the bottled water.
Anyway a fella from Vic in Melbourne was up front giving us the speil and quite impressive he was with videos on the big screen and then the moment the black sheet came off and we were invited to touch and even sit on the Octane (I was second to sit on it and got my pic taken)...it felt a bit small but not as small as a Scout, certainly looked the part the finish on it excellent, couple of comments on the seat hardness and the ventilation slot for cooling the 'wedding tackle' on long rides.
I specifically scrutinised the handlebar mounts to see if my Burleigh Bars would bolt on, but the risers are part of the top triple clamp so bars like my current ones wouldnt work but I reckon some mini apes could be the go.
Paint looked fuzzy but felt smooth...interesting.
I had a good chat with the new bossman up there and discovered hes a big fan of Hondas and he was genuinely interested in my latest aquisition my C90...he fessed up to owning a Honda Nifty 50 himself as well as some other Honda collectibles.
My mates left before me as I wanted to hang around right to the end to catch up with a few of the staff to discuss my bike and a few issues Im having, then I had a good run home down the freeway with minimal traffic.
Bottom line?...yeah Ill be taking a ride as soon as the demos arrive, but it'll have to be good to get me off my Vegas.
really...ok Ill test your theory when my bikes in the shop next Thursday for em to have a look at my downchanging problem.
I'll hit em up for a testride on a Scout, no Octanes available to ride till late April early May though they tell me.
So have you ridden an Octane then BBob?
No. Only the riders magazines have had the chance so far.
What I have seen though on the V.O.G. forum is an overlay picture. They are 95% the same with different looks. It's safe to say they ride very much alike. I'd post them here but they have a copywrite watermark so it wouldn't be right for me to do that.
Well, I've been wrong about the Octane data I've shared so far, so take it with a grain of salt, but I've heard that the Octane shares only 35% with the Scout (not sure I believe it either) and that it is a taller bike.
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