| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
They've dropped hints for a few months now. It's a street bike "inspired" by the Project 156 Pike's Peak Hillclimb bike, and apparently will share parts (some, most?) with the Indian Scout that was released last year. Article and teaser videos here: http://www.cyclenews.com/2016/02/article/victorys- octane-gets-set-to-bring-it/ I'd be interested in a street tracker, but I have a feeling it's just going to be another forward footpegs/ultra-low seat "muscle" cruiser. | ||
| Henshao |
We can always hope, Hugh. | ||
| Sifo |
It's a street bike "inspired" by the Project 156 Pike's Peak Hillclimb bike I have a feeling it's just going to be another forward footpegs/ultra-low seat "muscle" cruiser. I don't know what the new Victory will be, but in my mind, those two statements simply don't go together. It may come out that way, but if it's got forward controls, it wasn't inspired by a race bike. I don't even have issues with forward controls, but just understand what you have and don't have. Not criticizing what Hugh wrote BTW, I think we are more or less on the same page on this. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
I don't know how much money went into development, testing and certifying(EPA) and the total cost of the endeavor but maybe they should have considered buying all of EBR, get Erik's ingenuity & creativeness if they "really" wanted a street fighter and as an added point have bikes ready to roll. Just a thought I was pondering. Bob | ||
| Hughlysses |
My guess is this bike was far along in development before EBR came on the market, which is why Polaris seemed to have no interest in EBR. | ||
| Zhen13 |
Don't know about the Octane, but the 156 pikes peak bike reminds me of a new v max or a v rod. Really don't see much ingenuity here. The V Octane. Just my 2 cents. | ||
| Teeps |
But Roland Sands had hands on it; therefore it must be good! If it's over 500lbs ready to ride with a full tank... pass. I already have one of those. | ||
| Hughlysses |
~1 hour until the reveal at 8 AM CST. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Here it is:  Forward controls, single front disk, conventional forks, 104 HP. Meh... MSRP is $10,499, which is pretty good. The bike still has possibilities. Ride report at Cycle World: http://www.cycleworld.com/2016/02/19/2016-victory- octane-exclusive-first-ride-cruiser-motorcycle-rev iew-pricing-specifications/ | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Forward controls. WTF? Vrod would be good it mid controls. Scout would be good with mid controls. This would be good with mid controls. What is the fascination with forward controls? | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Damned if I know. There was at least a V-Rod version with mid-controls, but it didn't stick around long. They've engineered this platform (Scout/Octane) where it's not easy to install mid-mounts or rear sets, but it's already been done. This is a custom Scout from a recent competition that Indian sponsored: | ||
| Sifo |
What is the fascination with forward controls? As I said before, inspired by a race bike and forward controls simply don't go together in my book. Forward controls to have some advantages though. They give a comfortable position for long rides, especially for those that may have some knee issues. Some people also like not having the pegs "in the way" when they have their feet on the ground. Oh, and don't forget, it just looks cool.  (Yes, it's subjective.) I know there are those who would rather take a bullet than have forward controls. I'm glad there are plenty of options without forward controls. Those bikes also have their advantages, as I'm sure you are aware. I will say that my Wide Glide was a very comfortable bike when I had it. Forward controls weren't really a limiting factor in it's handling either. Lack of clearance was a far bigger issue. | ||
| Macbuell |
All that hype for that? Disappointing to say the least. | ||
| Rick_a |
Looks like the only thing they've dropped is the ball. Very few cool, radical concepts have a production bike anything like the one that is the supposed inspiration. | ||
| Teeps |
Has belt final drive going for it... However with liquid cooling it would spank a Buell XB on a long straight highway run on a hot day. | ||
| Daddio |
There were 2 concept bikes built from pre-production parts, this one, the "Ignition" obviously "inspired by" the PPHC race bike: http://gearmoose.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/vi ctory-ignition-concept-motorcycle.jpg and this one, from the Ness family, the "Combustion," which is more like the "Octane," except without EPA exhaust: https://cdn.rideapart.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/ 01/combustion.jpg | ||
| Sifo |
It's got a race inspired "538 pounds in “shipping weight,” with little fuel in the tank". Sounds kind of porky to me. It's probably a decent bike in it's class. I just don't get the race bike inspired BS. | ||
| Brentx1 |
Looks like every other cruiser. I agree, nothing special. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Tom- Regarding the "inspired by" line, I chuckle every time I hear that in a movie tag line, as in "inspired by true events". That's a hell of a lot different than "based on a true story". I was checking one of the Victory forums for opinions on the Octane. Somebody was lamenting the small power increase over the Indian Scout. Somebody actually responded that he was sure 104 HP in a bike "that light" would be plenty fast.  I guess his head would explode at the thought of 185 HP in a ~410 lb bike. | ||
| 86129squids |
 | ||
| Sifo |
I guess it can be race inspired the same way that Harley is performance orientated. When was the last time HD put out a bike that could run against other competitors?  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Forward controls let the seat sit "in" the bike instead of on it, for a lower slung "cruiser" look without having your kneecaps shoved up your nose because the mid controls would be too close to the low seat. And they're just cool. Ask anyone. Didn't you know?? The VRSCR with mid controls was significantly taller than the VRSCA/B because of the mid controls. And better. It also had USD forks and a great seating position, and a real fuel tank under that taller seat. But since it had mids....it just wasn't cool enough. | ||
| Bigblock |
A vrod clone just a bit late... | ||
| Midknyte |
Curious how this reworked Scout is being badged under the Victory brand | ||
| Josequinones |
Because the Scout is a re-badged Victory. This bike has been in the works for a long time, it was going to come out as a Victory but then Polaris bought Indian and decided to release this bike as an Indian Scout first. Like the Scout, this offers VROD levels of performance for the price of a Sportster. See the old sketches here: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/news/exclusive-w ater-cooled-victory-coming-soon?image=2 | ||
| Josequinones |
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/first-2017-look- victory-octane-v-twin-cruiser#page-7 | ||
| Henshao |
Awwww...look at its wittle forks.... | ||
| Rick_a |
As the advertised (B)HP is often at the crank, expect a scorching 90rwhp.
...Aaand nobody buys XB's for making long highway blasts...and if they did it's probably not the best application for it...and that's still probably unlikely. Reminds me of a kid who thought his Night Train with an exhaust and mapping was going to blow my S1 away. What a joke. | ||
| Midknyte |
>This bike has been in the works for a long time, it was going to come out as a Victory but then Polaris bought Indian and decided to release this bike as an Indian Scout first. It looks better under Indian as the Scout and out of place now as a Victory... But it's an interesting bit of remarketing. I wonder how many casual followers of either brand will be ignorant of the other. (Message edited by midknyte on February 19, 2016) | ||
| Jaimec |
I should've known better. I was all excited about a "Victory Sport Bike." I should've KNOWN all we were going to get was a mildly-restyled and rebadged Indian Scout after all the hype... C'mon EBR!!! |
