A broom stick with a motor--lots of bottom end power--will run 83 mph in second--stops running about 130 mph--almost 4,000 miles on my Octane--not really a starter bike--fun in the hills and hollers--still like my 04 Vic!!!
I actually like how quite the bike is with that look. Makes you look more like a grown man and makes the bike a sleeper in a way. I love this bike and really hope to own one before they skyrocket in price.
I love the Scout but as per my test ride video of the Octane, I actually think it's a better bike to ride. The only problem, at least in the UK, was the marketing. It was hyped up as a Project 156 derived monster bike and many people were a bit underwhelmed by the bike in the metal, resulting in cancelled orders. However, in context of being cheaper than the Scout I think it's a brilliant bike.
To date still the best review I've seen for the Victory Octane...Love your Videos! I am looking at purchasing the Indian Scout Bobber, but my first love was the Octane. How are you liking it and would you recommend it still?
hi night cruiser I was looking at the victory gunner but whilst at my local shop,in Edinburgh,i sat on the octane and have been really loving the looks of it,my issue is will I be able to cruise as well as go have some fun pointed more toward cruising which would be better the octane or the gunner
People seem to be impressed with this platform. Ride one you'll own one, I guess. If they can develop the cult following that HD did with the Sportster, look out. Nothing seems more unlikely, when you look at it, but Victory did just exactly that with the Vision. The people that own them swear that you can not purchase a better touring bike. Good review.
It's odd when you think about it. The Sportster is small and light, but doesn't have the speed of the Octane. If performance matters, people will buy the Octane. If brand matters, people will likely still feel peer pressure to go HD. I agree with you on the Vision. I've not ridden one but everyone I know that has one loves it, and when they tire of the one they have after 100,000 miles, they get another Vision.
Victory did succeed in building a cult following around the discontinued Touring Cruiser & Deluxe (esp 03-06). Several VMC members have two and even three bikes so that they will never run out of parts to keep their beloved TC's o the road. There are even a few who sold their bikes, purchased new Cross Country Tours, only to buy back their original TC's. That is devotion.
I turned mine into a touring-ish bike for about $1k. Added the following:Air Hawk R seat padSpeed Demon windscreenSwitchblade foot pegssaddle bagsextended handlebars2 gas bottles for long trips.
Good video, I took a demo ride, after have been riding a few years. Fun, fun bike...terrible starter bike. Poor throttle control is going to = crash. Pretty sure 100+ hp is not going to help on a wet road either. Ergos and comfort were pretty darn good. Suspension? front was great, back felt rigid. Handling was very light and precise.
I agree that this is not a good starter bike and you do have to be really careful then riding on wet road. Hitting the throttle will easily make the back tire fishtail. happened a few times to me in 4th gear. doing about 55mph
I'm curious what you might think about the Kawasaki Vulcan S as a cruiser for beginners after watching this. It is certainly less powerful, but also lighter (400 lbs wet).
I had an ER6-n which is same engine and ive riden the octane. EIther bike is fine for someone with self control, if you doubt yourself get the vulcan. The octane throttle is extremely addictive.
Hey stix... here I am five months later.. lol, my apologies. You've probably decided on one or the other, or neither, by now. I would have said, had I answered in a timely manner, that it would depend on what's important to you... they're very different bikes as far as weight, handling and overall feel.
Thank you, another very entertaining video. If it was ever available at your dealership, (maybe a trade in) i'd love to see you test drive a Harley Freewheeler. Keep up the great wirk.
It's funny you say that. I was helping park bikes in the warehouse at MOM's one day and drove a Freewheeler in. Never been so scared in my life. The darn thing didn't LEAN... lol.. I kept thinking "this is thing is going over.. I KNOW it is!" What a weird feeling!
I think it completely depends on what you liked about the Judge. If you thought the Judge was a small, quick, nimble bike, and bought it because of that, then you'll like the Octane, because it's about twice as fast, twice as small and quite a bit lighter. If you liked the Judge because of looks or exhaust note, though, you may not find the Octane up your alley. All you can do it ride it and find out how you feel. :)
Victory designed maybe the best engineered bikes quality machines designed to really last just watch the Victoty vs Harley videos. I would like one but have a couple of Yamahas which are quality built also!
I would look forward to doing that. Some of the my choices are limited by the short inseam of my legs.. lol. But I feel comfortable on anything I can get my toes down on these days.
I've been looking for a cruiser and this one so far is one I really like. Haven't ridden it yet, only sat on it but I'm very interested. What do you think it would be like coming from a 600 super sport to this?
Well, to be honest, I'm not experienced with many sport bikes yet and wouldn't want to give you bad information. Looking at the 0-60 times of, say, the YZF-R6 and this, they're comparable. 3.7 seconds for the R6 to 4 seconds for the Octane. Overall, though, for longer trips, I would think you would be much more comfortable on the Octane. To me it's the perfect blend of sportbike and cruiser.
Well your intro said Victory would benefit from taking Indian by Polaris...WOW...missed the mark there LOL..sorry but not sure your review would have been biased if you'd known what was ahead? But there nice bikes...and since Victory was around for a few years then parts should be available...for atleast 5 years....then...like the old S&S Indians, Henderson X, Excelsior etc....they will become garage art...few to be seen on city streets..SAD really....But good review for the time non the less...just couldn't help commenting on the intro about how it will strengthen the Victory brand...I saw it at the time of the DEATH of...but certainly not just after this Octane was introduced...made not sense to me? I almost bought one..when the announcement came...but still might pick one up when the owners realize no one is beating down there door to buy one...prices still a bit high (or owners are) for there place in the marketplace as a non current brand with less support each year!!!
I believe you said this is the fastest cruiser you've rode. Maybe you're a better rider now than when you rode the Raider, because I believe the Raider will out run the Octane in the qtr...11.2 vs 12.0.
Definitely a better rider now than when I rode the Rider. I had a few months of experience with the Raider. I love the Raider, though, but I think the Octane handles better (steeper rake, normal rear tire width, etc..)
