I just bought a 2012 Ness Vision. The one I wanted and searched long and hard for.
A little back ground. I have had 3 Wings in the past ('82, '94, and an '03). Ended up selling the last one within a year of getting it (late '93) due to expecting our 1st and only child. I loved the Wings and never expected to get another bike as I don't enjoy riding much on my own. If my wife can't enjoy it with me I tend not to do it.
Last year I began considering a bike for my 43 mile one way commute to work. Entirely highway and living in Colorado riding can be most of the year.
I knew for that another wing was over kill so I dropped the idea to my retired father who had a '03 VTX 1800c. He too was always a Wing rider so when he said he liked it more than his Wings, it got me curious.
More looking and searching was proving interesting. To make a long story short, I bought the X off him for a very fair price. Like new, with a few mods, and less than 9k miles on the 8 year old ride.
Since I have had it about a year now, and really love the bike, my wife started showing interest in learning to ride herself. Another long story short, she now rides herself on her own '12 Shadow Spirit 750. Her bike is Orange like my X. I set up my X for towing a matching Bushtec. My daughter rides with me, and my wife rides her own. The bikes have become our family togetherness avenue.
This summer was filed with about 6k miles of traveling as a family on the bikes. I put more miles on the X in less than a year than my dad did with it for 8 years.
The X is more than capable riding two up and hauling the trailer filled to capacity. Quite well actually. I fell in love with the big twin. The power, the sound etc. The only gripe I could find is that for an adult on the back, it's less than comfy for them like it is for me on the front.
My 62 year old Mom enjoying a family trip with my family.
I test drove a new wing and found I was more comfy on the X and nothing beats the 1800 giddy-up and go. That Wing ship has sailed.
I miss the creature comforts of the Wing though. Yes, we have intercoms and all that's available using Sena's BlueTooth headsets. BUT, my X at 75 is cranking out 3500 rpm's and get a little over 30 MPG with a 3 gal tank when traveling loaded. Having to fill it every day I ride it to work gets old (~90 miles round trip).
I like to ride in cooler weather too. 40 degrees is not out of my comfort zone. The X does a pretty good job protecting me but I believe it can be much better.
Somehow I came across a Victory while reading on my favorite VTX sites. It got my attention. Never noticed them.
So over the last couple of weeks I have been looking, reading, researching and asking about the Victorys. The XC was my first burst of my energy. It was like my VTX but with bags and with the electronics I missed. I was smitten.
Then I saw a Vision. "Interesting" I told myself. Like the Wing but in the big twin category I'm in love with now.
After adding up all my desired features and stuff, I realized that I quickly got out of my financial comfort zone. If I was going to spend close to 30k on a bike, I should see what else is out there.
No matter what I looked at, I kept comparing it to the VTX and the VV.
I don't want to get rid of the VTX. They aren't made any more, are rare, and just about bullet proof if maintained. But I still miss my creature comforts. Hmmmmm
Once I decided to narrow down my search, I focused on the Ness VV. I likes the uniqueness of the bike that's for sure and it came with most of the things I would have added to the non Ness VV.
Crap, the 2013 is RED. I don't want RED. My trailer is orange, my wife's bike is orange, I LIKE ORANGE BIKES! Shoot me.
Wait, the '12 Ness VV is orange. I wonder if I can find one. Yea right. Hearing that nice incentives were out there before to encourage their sales for the '13's meant not a chance. I was right.
I called many states asking. Nope. None around. A web search brought me to a dealership in the UK! Yes, the UK. Web was wrong. Nothing available.
Then I thought about Canada. They are sold there. Maybe I'll get lucky considering their season is short. I called BC...nothing in the entire providence. Then I called AB. Nothing in that providence either.
Let's face it, they are all gone! Just about when I was going to hang up the phone with the AB guy, he said, "wait, my system shows there's one in OHIO!". I said a few bad words then called the dealership he pointed me too.
He said, "yep, looking right at it". Holy crap batman!!
The one and only thing that concerned and still concerns me a bit is the fact it's a demo. I've seen how vehicles are demo'd. Gentle doesn't belong in describing how bikes are demo's.
It was a very fair price. Incentives were also available to include the military credit. I couldn't get passed the demo thing though.
Voicing this concern he said it wasn't that kind of demo. They don't demo the Ness's like I was thinking. How in the world can a 2012 have 5900 miles being a demo. He explained that he wasn't sure but he knew of Dyno miles by the company (for various reasons) or even Execs using it. He assured me it's as good as new. No marks, scratches, ware, etc.
Will see next week when I pick it up and ride it home for the 1300 mile trip (2 days).
In addition to the bike as it comes, I talked them into adding the following:
- Reverse Kit
- Driver Backrest
- Saddlebag liners and bags
- Trunk liner and bag
- Street Trunk Kit
- XM Radio
- iPod connect kit
- Bluetooth Dongle setup
- Passenger backrest setep (when trunk is off)
- HID
- Stage 1 setup but with D&D pipes
- and finally a Shoei Neotec helmet
I know some are gonna wonder price.....OK, I'll tell. $26k out the door.
I'm heading there shortly to pick it up. Then I have 1400 miles to ride it home over a little over 2 days. Should prove to be fun trip. Hoping for good weather as the forecast shows mid 50's - 60's along the route with little chance of precip.
I have a Dongle setup question that I'm looking for actual experience with. Since I have so far to ride in a short time, I won't have much extra time to fiddle and experiement so I'll be looking for facts. A quick setup then go type of thing.
I'll post that question HERE.
I know it's not a new thing to you but here are a few pics of it as it sits right now (before upgrades and addons)
I'm new to this forum but not to forums in general. Once I get involved I really get involved. These forums are absolutely the best source for just about anything topic specific.
I really hope the orange matches the trailer. I had the bushtec paint matched at build time. We shall see.
Cheers!
A little back ground. I have had 3 Wings in the past ('82, '94, and an '03). Ended up selling the last one within a year of getting it (late '93) due to expecting our 1st and only child. I loved the Wings and never expected to get another bike as I don't enjoy riding much on my own. If my wife can't enjoy it with me I tend not to do it.
Last year I began considering a bike for my 43 mile one way commute to work. Entirely highway and living in Colorado riding can be most of the year.
I knew for that another wing was over kill so I dropped the idea to my retired father who had a '03 VTX 1800c. He too was always a Wing rider so when he said he liked it more than his Wings, it got me curious.
More looking and searching was proving interesting. To make a long story short, I bought the X off him for a very fair price. Like new, with a few mods, and less than 9k miles on the 8 year old ride.
Since I have had it about a year now, and really love the bike, my wife started showing interest in learning to ride herself. Another long story short, she now rides herself on her own '12 Shadow Spirit 750. Her bike is Orange like my X. I set up my X for towing a matching Bushtec. My daughter rides with me, and my wife rides her own. The bikes have become our family togetherness avenue.
This summer was filed with about 6k miles of traveling as a family on the bikes. I put more miles on the X in less than a year than my dad did with it for 8 years.
The X is more than capable riding two up and hauling the trailer filled to capacity. Quite well actually. I fell in love with the big twin. The power, the sound etc. The only gripe I could find is that for an adult on the back, it's less than comfy for them like it is for me on the front.
My 62 year old Mom enjoying a family trip with my family.
I test drove a new wing and found I was more comfy on the X and nothing beats the 1800 giddy-up and go. That Wing ship has sailed.
I miss the creature comforts of the Wing though. Yes, we have intercoms and all that's available using Sena's BlueTooth headsets. BUT, my X at 75 is cranking out 3500 rpm's and get a little over 30 MPG with a 3 gal tank when traveling loaded. Having to fill it every day I ride it to work gets old (~90 miles round trip).
I like to ride in cooler weather too. 40 degrees is not out of my comfort zone. The X does a pretty good job protecting me but I believe it can be much better.
Somehow I came across a Victory while reading on my favorite VTX sites. It got my attention. Never noticed them.
So over the last couple of weeks I have been looking, reading, researching and asking about the Victorys. The XC was my first burst of my energy. It was like my VTX but with bags and with the electronics I missed. I was smitten.
Then I saw a Vision. "Interesting" I told myself. Like the Wing but in the big twin category I'm in love with now.
After adding up all my desired features and stuff, I realized that I quickly got out of my financial comfort zone. If I was going to spend close to 30k on a bike, I should see what else is out there.
No matter what I looked at, I kept comparing it to the VTX and the VV.
I don't want to get rid of the VTX. They aren't made any more, are rare, and just about bullet proof if maintained. But I still miss my creature comforts. Hmmmmm
Once I decided to narrow down my search, I focused on the Ness VV. I likes the uniqueness of the bike that's for sure and it came with most of the things I would have added to the non Ness VV.
Crap, the 2013 is RED. I don't want RED. My trailer is orange, my wife's bike is orange, I LIKE ORANGE BIKES! Shoot me.
Wait, the '12 Ness VV is orange. I wonder if I can find one. Yea right. Hearing that nice incentives were out there before to encourage their sales for the '13's meant not a chance. I was right.
I called many states asking. Nope. None around. A web search brought me to a dealership in the UK! Yes, the UK. Web was wrong. Nothing available.
Then I thought about Canada. They are sold there. Maybe I'll get lucky considering their season is short. I called BC...nothing in the entire providence. Then I called AB. Nothing in that providence either.
Let's face it, they are all gone! Just about when I was going to hang up the phone with the AB guy, he said, "wait, my system shows there's one in OHIO!". I said a few bad words then called the dealership he pointed me too.
He said, "yep, looking right at it". Holy crap batman!!
The one and only thing that concerned and still concerns me a bit is the fact it's a demo. I've seen how vehicles are demo'd. Gentle doesn't belong in describing how bikes are demo's.
It was a very fair price. Incentives were also available to include the military credit. I couldn't get passed the demo thing though.
Voicing this concern he said it wasn't that kind of demo. They don't demo the Ness's like I was thinking. How in the world can a 2012 have 5900 miles being a demo. He explained that he wasn't sure but he knew of Dyno miles by the company (for various reasons) or even Execs using it. He assured me it's as good as new. No marks, scratches, ware, etc.
Will see next week when I pick it up and ride it home for the 1300 mile trip (2 days).
In addition to the bike as it comes, I talked them into adding the following:
- Reverse Kit
- Driver Backrest
- Saddlebag liners and bags
- Trunk liner and bag
- Street Trunk Kit
- XM Radio
- iPod connect kit
- Bluetooth Dongle setup
- Passenger backrest setep (when trunk is off)
- HID
- Stage 1 setup but with D&D pipes
- and finally a Shoei Neotec helmet
I know some are gonna wonder price.....OK, I'll tell. $26k out the door.
I'm heading there shortly to pick it up. Then I have 1400 miles to ride it home over a little over 2 days. Should prove to be fun trip. Hoping for good weather as the forecast shows mid 50's - 60's along the route with little chance of precip.
I have a Dongle setup question that I'm looking for actual experience with. Since I have so far to ride in a short time, I won't have much extra time to fiddle and experiement so I'll be looking for facts. A quick setup then go type of thing.
I'll post that question HERE.
I know it's not a new thing to you but here are a few pics of it as it sits right now (before upgrades and addons)
I'm new to this forum but not to forums in general. Once I get involved I really get involved. These forums are absolutely the best source for just about anything topic specific.
I really hope the orange matches the trailer. I had the bushtec paint matched at build time. We shall see.
Cheers!