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