2008 H-D Ultra Classic vs. Victory Vision

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2008 H-D Ultra Classic vs. Victory Vision

It's a luxury-touring heavyweight fight, Harley-Davidson vs Victory...

Bryan Harley | http://www.motorcycle-usa.com | Posted January 13, 2008 Milwaukee, WI

Could this be the changing of the guard? While the Ultra Classic stood alone as the only American V-Twin luxury-touring bike for the longest time, its title has been in jeopardy since Victory released its Vision Tour model last June.

The top of the luxury-touring segment has been ruled by an unlikely trinity comprised of Bavarian, Japanese and American manufacturers. While the Gold Wing , with its horizontally-opposed six, has long been the standard, BMW's sharp K1200LT, with its Inline Four, has also developed a devout following, especially in the European market. For the longest time this left one marque with the distinction of being the only American V-Twin alternative. Harley-Davidson long stood unopposed in the V-Twin luxo-touring niche with its Ultra Classic models. Then Victory shook things up last June with the release of its Vision Tour, also powered by a big bore American-made V-Twin. And so the competition for bagger buyers with the biggest bucks is now even more cutthroat.

But does Harley-Davidson really have anything to worry about? Though it's powered by a V-Twin, aesthetically the Ultra Classic Electra Glide and the Vision Tour will never be mistaken for twins. The Ultra Classic has earned its moniker by being just that - the epitome of classic-styling. It's like mama's cooking, warm and familiar and always the same. Harley buyers want their Bat-Wing fairing out front, they want that familiar shake at idle of the Twin Cam 96, and pay generously to hear the patented palpitations from dual crossover pipes. And there's the intangible allure of 'Harley Heritage' that goes along with ownership, a fierce loyalty that runs deep, a fan base that likes the security of sameness.

Don't think though that classic styling means antiquated engineering. On the contrary, the 2008 Ultra Classic has more technological goodies than any of its forebears. This includes Electronic Throttle Control, an Isolated Drive System, new Brembo brakes , ABS and sophisticated ESPFI. These aren't your carb-fed chuggers of old. With the 1584cc Twin Cam 96 providing its pulse, the '08 Ultra Classic is the best of both worlds, old school charm sprinkled with a generous portion of 21st Century technology. But it has lost its birthright as the only American V-Twin luxury-touring bike.

Victory Vision now owns a claim to that distinction as well. Victory entered the fray in 2008 with its 1731cc Freedom 106/6 V-Twin. Externally, the Vision shares more traits with its Japanese and European counterparts, with full-body sculpted fairing, less chrome and lots of buttons to push. Beneath the fairing, the Vision Tour is much different than the Ultra as well, with its engine serving as a stressed member of the frame, a frame that forgoes the typical cruiser arrangement for three large castings. It's got a long list of tech goodies aimed at the iPod generation - options like XM satellite, Victory Tourtech GPS, a 10-disc CD changer, and standard fare like communication systems and a plug-and-play port for the aforementioned Apple device. The gang from Minnesota strayed from any 'classic' conventions with its Vision, and has put all of its marbles in the modern-styled American V-Twin luxury-touring bag.

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