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5K views 48 replies 11 participants last post by  BP6666VR 
#1 ·
Hi, my name is Kevin and I am new to this forum.

I am an avid motorcyclist with 45 years of experience. I am about to take delivery of a new 2016 Victory Gunner. This will be my 14th motorcycle.

Looking forward to it!
 
#5 · (Edited)
My Harley FXD was 10 years old, and I was ready for a change. I walked into the Harley dealership and... nothing jumped out at me. You're right, they all just looked the same. Nothing interested me.

Told the salesman I was looking at a Victory also. He looked at me like I was a dimwitted child, and proceeded to tell me how "I would no longer be part of the Harley group"... Say what???

I kind of lost it... I said, "I've been riding for 45 years, I've owned and/or ridden almost every type of motorcycle there is, and you're gonna lecture me on Harley culture??"

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my Super Glide very much, but to me, it was just another motorcycle. Time to move on.
 
#6 ·
If you are like me, you are going to enjoy the exclusivetivity of being the only Victory rider in many venues.
 
#7 ·
Yes, I plan to! I love the detailing on the Gunner, especially the scalloping on the sides of the tank, and the shapes of the side covers.

I'm 58 years old, and I don't know how many motorcycles I've got left... and I didn't want to do the same old, same old, again.
 
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#8 ·
You have a lot more years ahead of you kid. That is, if you avoid doing stupid.
 
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#9 ·
The "Harley Group" has a stranglehold on many people. It's what they bank on. Hey, if folks like HD, that's perfectly fine. Heck, I like 'em for what they are. I only have an issue when people lie to themselves about /why/ they like 'em.
 
#12 ·
Welcome!!! I spent many years in the sport bike world, and I thought it was going to be a long time before I switched over to a cruiser, mostly because I wasn't drawn to the Harley world, and for that reason I figured when that day came to make the switch it was going to be some custom chopper. A buddy of mine had a Hammer 8 Ball, and it looked awesome and sounded great. When I watched him beat a Yamaha R1 to 80 mph I thought "Man that thing has some torque. But how does it handle?" He told me to take if for a spin and afterwards I had to have one. So I sold my sportbike, went out and found me a nice Vegas 8 Ball and I love it! Now I'm thinking about getting a XC or a Magnum as well so my wife can enjoy some long trips with me. She can't handle the Vegas for more than a couple of hours as a passenger. I just need to make some room in the garage for 2 motorcycles.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I was 38 years old when I sold my GSXR1100. That was 20 years ago... Discovered cruising, and never looked back. I've had four more bikes since then. The Gunner will be bike number 14 in 45 years.

I'm 58 now, and just as excited to get a new bike as I ever was.
 
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#17 ·
Thought so....they sound tough, one of the guys that ride with us out of Brisbane has them on a Highball.
I notice your forks have been lifted through the triple clamps to lower the front or make it steer quicker....just an observation.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Yeah, the turn-in is more abrupt. I like that. I got used to it real quick, although the first time, it felt like I was falling off a cliff... It does have a little less ground clearance. I've only got 51 miles on it, and I've already scraped the peg feelers on both sides...

As for the pipes, yeah, I had a Bassani Road Rage on the H-D that I traded for this Gunner. Real happy with them. I love the pops and crackles on the overrun... I'm an old man, and I still never get tired of it. (although I'll probably get ear plugs for road trips)
 
#24 ·
New Member (Victory Gunner & KTM RC8R rider)

Hello everyone,

I am a new Victory rider (2016 Victory Gunner) from Sydney. I've been riding motorcycles for just over two years now, starting on a 2014 KTM Duke 390 in early 2015, and then moving to a 2011 KTM RC8R in July 2016. I wouldn't give the RC8R up for anything, but three months ago I bought a new 2016 Victory Gunner as a second bike, for more relaxed rides. Since then, I have been trying to get it closer and closer to a sportsbike in handling and performance.:) This forum has been very helpful in my modification decisions, so I thought I would join and share my own experiences as well.

So far, I have made the following changes, starting with the suspension, as the ground clearance was the most disappointing characteristic of the showroom bike:

1. New springs and valves (Racetech) on the forks, chosen and installed by local suspension specialists (does mostly sports and trail bike work), Shock Treatment, to suit my weight;
2. Custom-ordered Matris shock, with 20mm extra travel, which can be adjusted back down by 20mm, and is also adjustable for preload and rebound (through Shock Treatment, to suit my weight and preferences);
3. Freedom Performance Exhaust (Sharp Curve Radius)
4. Lloydz adjustable timing wheel
5. Lloydz Torque Tubes
6. Lloydz drop-in cams
7. Lloydz 1/4 throttle ring
8. Power Commander V, custom-mapped by Doin' Bikes, with a separate map for each cylinder
9. Reduced pullback handlbars (drag bars) from a 2013 Victory Judge, shortened by 1" on each side (a bit more clearance for lane-filtering)
10. Avon Cobra tyres (130/90 16 front and 140/90 16 rear, as per OEM Dunlop sizes)
11. Some cosmetic touches (Arlen Ness Victory Grips, engine covers, smoked indicator lenses, black powdercoating over chrome headlight ring, blacked out speedo)

The mods have transformed the bike into something a lot more exciting than the stock bike and I am absolutely in love with it. Unfortunately, the modifications bug is still there, so I have a few more goodies on the way, including 160/80 16 Avon rear tyre (increases width by 2cm, but also heigh by 11mm), Speed Merchant footpegs from Conquest Customs (for more ground clearance), custom-shortened OEM levers from Conquest Customs, a custom seat (to be made locally), and a few more cosmetic bits. I am also currently deciding which brand to choose for an LED headlight unit, and also considering an underdrive pulley (made by Conquest Customs, but sold in black by Witchdoctors). I will try and share some pics in future, as well as dyno figures (from a much more conservative dyno than the ones I see producing figures with similar mods from the US, but which is helpful for before and after comparisons).

If I was in the US, I'd probably just put my bike in the incredible hands of Scott, at Conquest Customs.:) One problem here with his rear fenders though is that we have to have the license plate placed behind the rear wheel, which would not only require fabricating a special bracket coming to the back of the wheel from the axle (something like the Ducati Diavel variety), but would also ruin the overall awesome aesthetics of Scott's rear end treatment.

Cheers
 
#25 ·
Hello everyone,

I am a new Victory rider (2016 Victory Gunner) from Sydney. I've been riding motorcycles for just over two years now, starting on a 2014 KTM Duke 390 in early 2015, and then moving to a 2011 KTM RC8R in July 2016.
Hi!

Funny coincidence, I ride KTM too. Started with Duke 390, then jumped to 690; two moths ago went for Gunner, for "more relaxed rides":grin (Still keeping the two Oranges, though)
I am sure Kevin will be interrested to see the 160 on your rear, too. I am thinking what to do to the huge rear fender as well. Don't like to get rid of it, as I like the style of the rear light. Will finish with some crop and lowering as much as possible I think.Not sure yet how, but I have plenty of time to think... And plenty of inspiration throughout the forum:)

Y'shall start the new tread in the newmembers section. You will receive plenty of warm welcomes from "old" Vic riders, and after a couple of replies you will be allowed to post the attachments.

Cannot wait to see the pictures. Must be really awesome ride, your Gunner! Enjoy!
 
#26 ·
Thank you, Vivi. I will post some pics as soon as I figure out how.:) At the moment, I am having enough troubles figuring out how to delete or edit posts. I have a feeling I posted my introduction in the wrong thread.:)

Lowering the rear fender as it is originally attached to the frame, without losing ground clearance and possibly having the underside of the tail light scraping the tyre would be a challenge and inevitably a compromise. For me, the bike was too low stock. I was scraping at slow corners and roundabouts while riding well within our speed limits on suburban streets. Scott has a Gunner with a chopped original rear fender, sitting closer over the wheel, on the Conquest Customs website, if you haven't seen it already, but that also has larger rims than stock.
 
#28 ·
Thanks. I know fender goes with the rear frame, or whatever it's called in english (we call it support frame, subframe, or so)... And I do know I will approach it with the grinder one day...:devil, otherwise I cannot bring it close to the tyre without lowering the bike (which I do not like)
And I also know the main problem will be the housing of the rear light inside (but I do like to leave it where it is). I'd love to have bobbed rear fender with no popping tail light, as that is ruining the idea of the bobber IMHO;) Moreover, (as if it was not enough yet!), I cannot move the light/plate to the swingarm, for legal reason (same as you mentioned....) No easy task. But... the more difficult the task, the more fun and satisfaction if you finally came over. I go right now to see the one on CC, thanks for the info, appreciated!
 
#30 ·
Wow! You guys are a picky bunch!

All I did was add the tachometer, Bassani pipe, extended the footpegs for my long-ass legs, and I'm happy as hell with this thing...

:grin

My wife always says, it doesn't take much... :wink

..
 
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#34 ·
A new look for the ol' Gunner.

Arlen Ness Wide Glide quarterfairing, Memphis Shades clamps, plus some cutting and painting.
 

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#36 · (Edited)
OKAY Kevin mate that looks tough as nails!....we call that a Stone fairing here as all the Kawasaki Z900's in the Aussie movie STONE had them.

https://youtu.be/Oyj7YeXHhcA

I had one on a Kawasaki Z650 copy in electric blue.
Also known as bikini fairing, probably a lot cheaper generic on ebay than paying for Arlen Ness name..

They not only look good but direct airflow up over your helmet at higher speeds, while Im not into huge batwing type fairings I could certainly live with something like that on my Vegas.
Only snag being the shape of my headlight, and the fact I have the superior lighting of the CR's VICTORY HID system,
from memory the fairings fix around the headlight??... it was a long long time ago...lots of braincells ago
Would appreciate pix and info on how you mounted it.
I really like it, adds a whole new dimension to your Gunner, and I think @Cali Phil got similar
 
#35 ·
Wow, changes the whole personality of that bike.
 
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#37 · (Edited)
I'll have to take some close-ups of the clamps when I get home from work tonight. There's not much to show - I bought some plain old metal mending plates from the hardware store. They didn't need to be very long, I just drilled the holes in the fairing as close as I could get to the clamps.

What really helped was the Gunner's triple tree is very wide - almost as wide as the fairing itself - so the mending plates didn't have to reach very far. The fairing mounting is very stable; there's almost no vibration at any speed. (which is more than I can say for the Ness fairing I had on my H-D Super Glide - it quivered like crazy)

The hole for the headlight had to be enlarged to 7" diameter. I tried to do it myself, and I almost ruined the fairing. Ended up taking it to a plastic fabricator in town, who cut a perfect hole. When I took it to him it looked like a bunch of rats had chewed on it... I've cut a lot of plastic parts before, but a round hole totally flummoxed me...

I did have to cut off the bottom rear corners of the fairing to clear the lower triple clamp. That was no problem.

As for the paint, I took it to my regular body shop. These guys are good - they do all the paint work for the Bentley dealer in town. He came out and placed this device on my tank which read the paint color combination, and digitally separated out the colors... A hour later he had mixed the paint and test-sprayed a sample. Matched almost perfectly. Amazing!

Basically, here's all the stuff I bought:

Arlen Ness Fairing

https://www.denniskirk.com/memphis-shades/adjustable-fork-clamps-mem9955.p231677.prd/231677.sku

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-1-2-in-x-3-in-Metal-Mending-Plate/3478207

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VVIL6FI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And that's about it. I had to cut and re-drill the mending plates a little bit, but no big deal.

Here's the matched paint from Harb's garage:

The red circle in the bottom pic shows where I had to cut off the "ears" to clear the lower clamp.
 

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#41 ·
Yes, it's for a 5 or 5-1/2 inch headlight, I'm not sure.

I just couldn't find anything else I liked, so I figured I'd just have to alter it.

That bike looks really nice, by the way! Do you still have it?
 
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