Victory Motorcycle Parts & Accessories

In the 1990s the Harley-Davidson Motor Company was on a roll. After narrowly avoiding bankruptcy less than two decades before, the company had significantly improved the quality of their motorcycles and completely revitalized the brand. Along with the traditional Harley loyalists, they were attracting large numbers of riders who had always wanted a “Hog”, but had been put off by the oil leaks and poor reliability that were all too common on earlier bikes. Harley-Davidson could not build motorcycles fast enough to meet demand, and buyers who wanted a new Harley ended up on waiting lists that stretched months and even years. However, Harley’s inability to supply the demand for its motorcycles became an opportunity for Polaris Industries, Inc., the Minnesota based maker of snowmobiles and ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles). Polaris astutely judged that there were potential customers who wanted a big American-made V-twin cruiser but didn’t want to wait in line for one – or pay thousands of dollars over MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) for bikes that were in short supply. So, Polaris launched Victory Motorcycles in 1997. Polaris had decades of experience building recreational vehicles, and manufacturing motorcycles would allow the company to diversify and at the same time complement its powersports product line.

Victory wanted to appeal to Harley riders but not just offer them an imitation. While Harley-Davidson had improved the dependability of their machines, some riders were dissatisfied with their performance. Victory’s goal was to engineer power and performance back into an American V-twin motorcycle. And while Harley-Davidson continued to mine nostalgia, with styling straight from the 1940s and 50s, Victory’s cruisers would have a more modern, progressive appearance. The prototype Victory V92C made a splashy debut in June 1997 when Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. rode it into the Planet Hollywood in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The first production Victory, a 1999 V92C, rolled off the assembly line at the Spirit Lake, Iowa manufacturing plant on July 4th, 1998. It featured an air-cooled 92 cubic inch (1510cc) fuel injected SOHC (Single Over Head Cam) 50-degree V-twin engine, 5-speed transmission, belt drive, monoshock rear suspension, and Brembo brakes. The fuel tank had a capacity of 5 gallons and the entire machine weighed about 650 lbs. Victory’s first effort was well-received by the motorcycle press, and the V92C was named Cruiser of the Year by Cycle World magazine, one of the leading enthusiast publications.

The first variant of the V92C was unveiled at Sturgis in 1999, the V92SC Sport Cruiser, which featured adjustable ground clearance. The V92TC Touring Cruiser was introduced in 2002, with a redesigned seat, longer swing arm, hard saddlebags, and the new Freedom V-twin engine. Although it was the same displacement as the original V-twin, the new engine was more powerful and the cylinders had a rounded appearance. The Vegas, which debuted in 2003, was an all-new design that came about with significant input from custom bike builder Arlen Ness. This collaboration was expanded the following year with the production of the Arlen Ness Signature Series Vegas. Victory also began a first-of-its-kind Custom Order Program (COP), where for a limited time period at the beginning of model year production, customers could go on-line and choose custom features to create a personalized, one-of-a-kind, Victory motorcycle that the factory would then build to order. Options exclusive to the COP program included special paint colors, designs and effects, and custom wheels.

In 2004 two new motorcycles were created using the chassis and drivetrain of the Vegas, the Kingpin and Kingpin Deluxe, which were also the result of the company’s partnership with Arlen Ness. The Kingpin had a sculpted appearance with fully skirted fenders, and featured larger 18-inch wheels, inverted cartridge front forks, and floorboards. The touring oriented Deluxe added a windshield, hard leather-covered saddlebags, and a passenger backrest. The Victory lineup continued to expand in 2005 with the introduction of the Victory Hammer. With its enlarged 100 cubic inch (1600cc) Freedom engine, 6-speed transmission and fat 250mm rear tire, the Hammer was Victory’s “power cruiser” and was named Cruiser of the Year by Motorcycle Cruiser magazine. The Vegas 8-Ball was also introduced that year, decked out in powder coated black instead of the standard Vegas’ chrome. 8-Ball versions of other Victorys would follow, with similar paint and trim, and fewer add-ons for a lower price. A further evolution of the Vegas debuted in 2006, the Vegas Jackpot, which featured extensive custom styling and paint schemes, as well as the big 250mm rear tire. That year all Victory motorcycles were upgraded to the 100 cubic inch engine and 6-speed gearbox.

In 2007 the Kingpin Tour, which was basically a Kingpin Deluxe with an integrated tour pack, was added to the line to replace the discontinued V92TC Touring Cruiser. The following year, 2008, Victory put the touring bike world on notice with the aerodynamically styled Victory Vision. The Vision was like nothing ever seen before, with locking side cases that were seamlessly integrated into the flowing, futuristic bodywork. Along with the large fairing and comfortable seat, it featured an electrically height adjustable windshield, heated grips, cruise control, and linked front and rear disc brakes. The Vision was offered in two versions, Street and Tour, with the latter adding a tail trunk with padded passenger backrest that was also incorporated into the styling theme. Powered by a new 106 cubic inch (1740cc) version of the Freedom V-twin engine, which sent its 88 horsepower to the rear wheels through a 6-speed transmission, the Vision delivered brisk acceleration and, despite its large size and 66-in. wheelbase, surprisingly light and agile handling. Motorcycle Cruiser magazine named the Vision 2008 Motorcycle of the Year. In 2009 Victory built a limited production run of 100 10th anniversary Visions, all of which sold out in 7 minutes. These bikes were finished in the same color scheme as the first Victory off the assembly line in 1998, Antares Red and Black, and featured a reverse gear and other amenities.

A race-prepped Victory Kingpin was used to set a world land speed record of 165.863 mph in 2009 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The next year Victory introduced 3 new motorcycles, the High-Ball, Cross Country, and Cross Roads. All 3 were powered by the 106 cubic inch Freedom V-twin engine mated to a 6-speed transmission. The High-Ball was Victory’s first real “throwback” machine – with bobber styling, apehanger handlebars, cut back front fender, wire wheels with whitewall tires, and matte finish paint and blackout trim. The other two bikes were touring cruisers. The Cross Country featured touring necessities like large capacity side cases and touring trunk, cruise control and heated grips, with a fork-mounted fairing/windshield and lowers. The Cross Roads was a more minimalist tourer with side cases and a removable windshield.

Victory continued to churn out new models to appeal to the tastes and desires of different riders, using different trim and running gear while using the same basic drivetrain. The next new model was the 2012 Judge, a fat-tired, blacked-out cruiser with a more upright, standard bike-type riding position. This was followed in 2013 by the Boardwalk, with wide-whitewall shod wire wheels, full coverage fenders, a mixture of chrome and black finish, and wide “beach” handlebars. The Victory Gunner, introduced in 2014, was the next parts bin creation. It was very similar to the Judge, but with its cut back fenders, solo seat, and other unique styling features Victory dubbed it a “bobber”. That same year a race-prepped Victory Hammer went 173.321 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a world land speed record.

Victory went NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Pro Stock Motorcycle Racing with a factory team in 2015. But the big Victory news in 2015 was the introduction of the Magnum. The Magnum was essentially a factory customized Cross Country, with Victory performing many of the mods riders had been doing themselves or wanted to do, like a 21-in. front wheel, low seat, lowered rear end, and custom tri-tone paint. An X-1 version of the Magnum featured a 200-watt stereo system and 10 speakers. In 2016 Victory released a Magnum X-1 Stealth Edition that featured a monochrome gray paint scheme. 2016 also marked the company’s foray into the electric vehicle market with the Empulse TT. Described by Victory as a “street legal electric race motorcycle”, the Empulse TT was equipped with a 10,400 watt-hour battery that could be fully charged in just 3.9 hours, and a liquid-cooled AC electric motor with regenerative braking that enabled the bike to accelerate to over 100 mph. The Empulse TT also featured adjustable suspension, lightweight cast aluminum wheels, and Brembo brakes.

On January 9, 2017 Polaris Industries announced that they were going to begin winding down production of Victory Motorcycles. Polaris had acquired Indian Motorcycles in 2011, and sales of that venerable brand had grown every year. At the same time Victory sales had declined. There was an effort to distinguish the brands, making Indian a line of heritage cruisers, while Victory would be the performance brand, building power cruisers, but this was unsuccessful. Polaris will focus its resources on the more established Indian brand name, which it estimates has more potential for growth. In addition to the Empulse TT, Vegas & Vegas 8-Ball, High-Ball, Gunner, Hammer S, Vision, Cross Country & Cross Country Tour, Magnum & Magnum X-1, the all new Octane rounds out the 2017 and final Victory lineup. The aggressively styled Octane features a lightweight aluminum frame, with power provided by a 104 horsepower liquid-cooled 1200cc DOHC (Double Over Head Cam) V-twin engine with 4-valves per cylinder, which propels the bike to 12 second quarter mile times and 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.

Owning a car gives you comfort, owning a motorcycle gives you freedom. Your bike is your therapy, your passion, and your access to off-the-beaten-path places. In our selection of motorcycle accessories and parts, we have everything you need to keep your Victory running, show some love to your prized possession, and hit the road or trail with confidence. We take the hassle out of your motorcycle maintenance, repair, and tune-up experience.