[awmp]

I have had 3 road kings in the past and loved them and now in the market for another and then I read an article on the Victory Cross Roads bike.
My closet Victory dealer is over an hour away, so a trip is planned in a few weeks to visit.
Any comparisons ?
Anyone have a cross roads? How do you like it?

 

[twsdtcain]

Im new to Victory and have had my Cross Roads for almost a month now. I love the bike, but never owning a Road King I couldn’t compare the two.
I can tell you why I decided on the Cross Roads instead of the Road King though. My reasons listed by priority:
1) I wanted something that wasn’t a Harley. Nothing against Harley, but I wanted something that wasn’t like every other bike on the road.
2) Aesthetics. I love the look of the Bike and unlike several foreign companies; Victory did not attempt to rip off designs from Harley. Victory has its own style.
3) The price. I walked out the door for about $18,000 with my Cross Roads. The local Harley dealer couldn’t get the price under $20k for the ’09 Road King.
4) Long mechanical life of the engine and tranny per several people Ive spoken to and read about. Hope its true……
5) Bigger Engine 106ci vs the 96ci in the Road King.
6) Suspension and handling. My Cross Roads has way better lean angles then my friends ’09 Road King. On tight mountain roads, he has problems keeping up with me.
7) Comfortable.
8) Bigger hard bags.
9) Not as heavy as the Road King.

While Im sure this list will grow as time goes on, here are my cons of the Bike:
1) Not many dealers in the area. I have to travel about 40 miles to the closest dealer and the second closest is about 90 miles away.
2) There are a few parts on the bike made of plastic where Harley does an excellent job of steering away from plastics.
3) The air filter is under the friggin gas tank! Yep, have to remove the gas tank to get to the air filter. Brilliant!
4) The engine has a typical Victory gear-driven type whine to it. Need a louder exhaust to drown out the whine.
5) The tank is a bit smaller then the RK.


Other then a few stupid gripes, I love the bike.
Hope this helps.

 

[Sundog]

I've had my Cross Roads for just over 2 weeks and have over 1100 km's on her. I have never owned a Road King but did the same comparison as yourself before I pulled the trigger on my Cross Roads. For all the same reasons as twsdtcain I choose the Victory. Plus, it's very well reviewed; I recall one article where they did a head to head comparison between the two and choose the Victory. I seem to remember them saying the Road King seemed brutish compared to the Cross. I'd have to concede that Harley beats it in the sound department, but that's about it. While experiences with dealerships can vary, mine has been positive so far with the local Victory guys, but I hear that's not the case with folks accessing the local Harley dealership.
Good luck.

 

[awmp]

Finally rode the cross roads, wow. I spent the day before riding road kinds and today riding the cross roads. Not even close to comparison.
I have owned four other Harleys(two road kings) and I have to say the Victory has my attention and maybe my pocket book soon.

Was easier and more comfortable to ride, super in the corners and turns, great power and shifted smoothly.

 

[kevinx]

I am real curious as to where a RK has less plastic then a XR. Both use plastic for the side covers, and bags, but the rest is all pretty much metal on either.

 

[twsdtcain]

Well, the biggest thing that bothers me is the cheese wedges are plastic. Then there is the plastic used on the gaurd for the oil cooler, the chromed plastic on the turn signals, the chromed plastic fork gaurds, the plastic dip stick, the chromed plastic bar end caps. There might be more, but this is just off the top of my head.

 

[awmp]

Only draw back I can find with the cross roads is the buffeting I was getting when I got above 50 mph, I thought my head was going to rip off.
Talked to others and they mention I can but a taller wind shield, but I hate to buy a new bike and then have to buy a new wind shield.

 

[kevinx]

Well, the biggest thing that bothers me is the cheese wedges are plastic. Then there is the plastic used on the gaurd for the oil cooler, the chromed plastic on the turn signals, the chromed plastic fork gaurds, the plastic dip stick, the chromed plastic bar end caps. There might be more, but this is just off the top of my head.

Lets see here.
Plastic facia on oil cooler....HD has no oil cooler.

Plastic gaurds for the forks.....HD does not have inverted forks on the RK...So no gaurds.

Both have crappy pot metal turn sigs....Not plastic.

Both have the same crappy grips from the factory. Rubber, and plastic.

Dipstick...Lets see...Metal transfers heat, and that means when you check the oil with a metal dipstick....you burn your hands

Now lets compare some realistic things.
RK has a non balanced rubber mounted non structural motor in an chassis that is better then before; it is still best described as flexible vs a counterbalanced, structural member mounted into a rigid cast box frame

RK has old school telescopic forks with much higher unsprung mass vs inverted cartridge

RK has 2 exterior mounted shocks vs a centraly located cantileaver shock

 

[twsdtcain]

I have no disagreement with you on the strength's of the bike. That's why i bought one. Because Harley doesnt have inverted forks or an oil cooler is not a good reason for Victory to use plastic. The "ham cans" on the RK are metal, the Freedom engine is sporting chromed plastic cheese wedges. You asked what plastics were on the bike and I pointed em out.

Victory wants to compete with HD and other Bike companies, maybe throw out a few of the cheap plastics that tend to turn people off.

 

[kevinx]

I have no disagreement with you on the strength's of the bike. That's why i bought one. Because Harley doesnt have inverted forks or an oil cooler is not a good reason for Victory to use plastic. The "ham cans" on the RK are metal, the Freedom engine is sporting chromed plastic cheese wedges. You asked what plastics were on the bike and I pointed em out.

Victory wants to compete with HD and other Bike companies, maybe throw out a few of the cheap plastics that tend to turn people off.

Agreed with the cheese wedges, but what else are you gonna use for the cooler facia??

 

[RKJoe]

A touch of clarification

Im new to Victory and have had my Cross Roads for almost a month now. I love the bike, but never owning a Road King I couldn’t compare the two.
I can tell you why I decided on the Cross Roads instead of the Road King though. My reasons listed by priority:
1) I wanted something that wasn’t a Harley. Nothing against Harley, but I wanted something that wasn’t like every other bike on the road.
2) Aesthetics. I love the look of the Bike and unlike several foreign companies; Victory did not attempt to rip off designs from Harley. Victory has its own style.
3) The price. I walked out the door for about $18,000 with my Cross Roads. The local Harley dealer couldn’t get the price under $20k for the ’09 Road King.
4) Long mechanical life of the engine and tranny per several people Ive spoken to and read about. Hope its true……
5) Bigger Engine 106ci vs the 96ci in the Road King.
6) Suspension and handling. My Cross Roads has way better lean angles then my friends ’09 Road King. On tight mountain roads, he has problems keeping up with me.
7) Comfortable.
8) Bigger hard bags.
9) Not as heavy as the Road King.

I really have to jump in here. I just paid 17K out the door(TTL, everything) for a 2010 FLHP. Here's a brief run down of the bike that came in with 10mi on the odometer:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Agey5pSzB5OCdFRGYlpsakNoVnFKemhzX0N6WlBPN0E&hl=en

All I did to get this deal was walk in the door and, stand by the FLHP I wanted, and tell them I wanted it for 17K out the door. The sales rep talked with the manager, then we sat down and I filled out the paperwork for purchase. Had I purchased all of the accessories that came for free on the bike, I would have paid an additional $4400
above and beyond the stock FLHR price of $16990, not including TTL, fees, etc. Mind you, mine is 103ci with an oil cooler and a ton of chrome. The stock is 96ci and just the smattering of chrome the MoCo puts on there for accent purposes.

For full details, take a look at my spreadsheet at that Google docs link.

Are HD's overpriced? No doubt on it. You'll never hear me argue any differently about that. However, it IS possible to get a good deal from the MoCo if you're willing to stand firm and buy something right off the floor.

Most of your other points (styling, weight, bag size, engine size) are right on the money, too. However, having ridden more bikes than I can count, the RK is at the top of my list for a comfy distance-riding bike. If I were to stick around in-town or short jaunts, The Heritage Softail or a Deuce would be my way to go.

Don't take me for some kind of HD-only guy. Victory's are a blast, and I recently sold a Honda VTX that was faster and more nimble than any HD big twin I have ever ridden. The wife didn't like the ride, so I got her a smaller Honda. till she gets more comfy on two wheels.

Keep the shiny side up!

 

[Kingpin]

I just skimmer through everything, but I didnt see another important thing Vics have over Harley. While having a bigger motor, they have better MPG also.

 

[awmp]

Well I went with the Road King. I test drove the victory again before I made my final call. The victory had extreme buffeting, drove me crazy. Love the ride and the nice bags. I talked to the dealer and he offered to change the windshield out for a taller one and it was only going to cost me an additional $600.00. I had a trade in and he offered to give me an additional $100.00 on the trade to help out with the windshield.
I found a 2009 with 3k miles on it at a Harley dealer. They have me 2k more for my trade then Victory and came down on the Road King. I told them this is what I will pay and I will pay today, they said done deal. This is my third Road King. The longer wheel base, wider back tire, cruise and six gears are all a plus. Both bikes have pros and cons and I'm not a dead set Harley guy, my problem is I like them all. But I made the right purchase for me. Take care

 

[twsdtcain]

awmp,
Very nice bike! Glad you got something nailed down.

RKJoe,
Looks like you got a great deal!! My local dealers wanted 20k for there '09's. Made looking at Victory very easy to do.

I very much like the Roadking, just wasnt my bike...