| This is not an article written by a wannabe | | | | dream. Not as good as my sport bike but very |
| motorcyclist article writer that is under direction from | | | | impressive. |
| the magazine owners on what to write and say | | | | I initially was afraid to work on the bike since it was |
| based on which motorcycle company is paying the | | | | so expensive and foreign to me. But that winter I |
| most in advertising dollars at the moment. This article | | | | started doing some modifications on the bike. The |
| keeps it real. | | | | modifications started small with simple bolt on add on |
| As I mentioned, I purchased my Victory Kingpin in | | | | like the highway bars, chrome goodies and mirrors. |
| February of 2004 -- A very good year. After looking | | | | The following year I got even more serious and |
| at Harley Davidson and seeing how Harley has | | | | started wiring in brake light and headlight safety |
| become a mass production company of cookie | | | | modulators. Then I started swapping out stock parts |
| cutter, oil-leaking machines, I decided to look | | | | like the ugly stock turn signals and replacing them |
| elsewhere. If a Harley is you bag, then that is all | | | | with custom LED lighting products from the boys at |
| good. For me, I do not understand the appeal. Next I | | | | MBW Motorcycles. Now the bike was started to look |
| looked at the Honda VTX 1800 -- Very nice bike. | | | | custom and I was learning my way around. |
| Best performance and all around cruiser for the | | | | The latest modifications I have done include more |
| money. I wanted this bike. | | | | wiring in of the PIAA driving lights, adding a custom |
| At the last minute I catch glimpse of a Victory | | | | after market drive sprocket overdrive pulley. The |
| Vegas advertisement. I decide I need to know more. | | | | latter modification involved removing the fuel tank, |
| I find that the 2004 Victory motorcycles are being | | | | exhaust, rear wheel, belt drive, right foot controls. |
| sold by mostly Indian dealerships. Why? Well this is | | | | This was a serious modification and I had to make |
| about the time that Indian corporation has decided to | | | | sure I put her back together correctly. I strongly |
| go out of business. So the nervous Indian dealerships | | | | suggest you buy the Service manual for your |
| are quickly signing on with Polaris to sell the Victory | | | | motorcycle. You need to know the torque |
| motorcycle lines. Was this fate or what? The Victory | | | | specifications and which bolts need Loctite. I did |
| dealers are enjoying record sales now and selling | | | | succeed in getting the Kingpin back together and |
| high-quality American motorcycles. I go to my local | | | | running. I took some time in practicing how to align |
| Indian dealership, check out the Vegas, then in the | | | | the rear wheel with the belt drive. I did this a few |
| back of the small showroom I see Victory Kingpins | | | | times and bought a Motion Pro belt tension gauge to |
| sitting there calling to me. One was the Black/Bronze | | | | make sure I was a close to accurate I could be. With |
| 2004 two-tone color. I wanted this motorcycle. The | | | | all of these modifications, my confidence in working |
| look of the bike, the test ride. | | | | on the Kingpin has gone from zero to what can I try |
| Yes, I said test ride. And the professionalism of the | | | | next. It is Zen like to work on motorcycles and to |
| Victory dealer made me sign for the bike that day. | | | | ride them. |
| Sure I was nervous buying an unknown and | | | | Now we are in spring of 2006. The Victory Kingpin is |
| unproven American (86% American that is) | | | | two year old. With all of my modifications and 10,000 |
| motorcycle. I knew the inherent problems with buying | | | | miles I have not had one single mechanical problem |
| a Harley and I did not want to go there or be labeled | | | | with this motorcycle. Yes I am shocked. Especially |
| a Harley rider. Not for me. Common sense told me I | | | | since this was the first year for this motorcycle. |
| should have gone with the Honda VTX 1800. But the | | | | There were bound to be some problems. The |
| Victory had styling, had performance, and had | | | | answer is simply no. This motorcycle is a gem. I can |
| comfort and handling that I wanted. It cost eight | | | | count on this bike on long trips. Feel comfortable |
| thousand more than a Honda, but who cares when it | | | | riding the bike, and feel confident that I can keep her |
| comes to the bike you want. | | | | running for years to come. |
| The Kingpin was a joy to ride from day one. I | | | | I have my Kingpin completely customized to my |
| upgraded to the Stage I performance kit, which | | | | style. With one or two performance modifications in |
| included new slip-on exhaust, a new K&N air | | | | place, I find the need to give the Victory Freedom |
| filter and a remapping of the Victory Electronic | | | | 92 cubic inch engine more power. The method to |
| Control Unit (ECU). The new slip-ons gave the bike a | | | | which I will use to satisfy this need is to install an |
| deeper throatier sound. Not the metal clanky sound | | | | Eaglecat custom Victory air box and a Lloydz Victory |
| you hear with Harleys. After doing the recommended | | | | Fuel Control module. Bit the items combined will give |
| engine brake in, I started to get comfortable with | | | | your Kingpin an additional 11 horsepower. Yes I said |
| the new machine and explore its handling capabilities. | | | | eleven horsepower. I have the dyno sheets to prove |
| With its low-center of gravity, this bike handled like a | | | | this. |