Observations from Jap Cruiser to Victory Vegas 8 Ball

[Dangsta]

So I've had my 8 ball for just over a week now. My last ride was a very respectable Suzuki S83 but I've now gone for the full-on American, mean as, fully blacked out, long, low and loud....you get the idea. Really enjoyed my last bike but wanted to experience what the whole american thing was all about (without any bandana's, chaps or tassles etc).

So...enough background. In the week I've had my new ride I've been stopped in the supermarket by a guy wanting to know about it...I've had a group of Harley riders give me the thumbs up as they rode along (previously been completely ingnored by most Harley owners), I've left a shop to find a group of riders from the pub next door waiting for me to come out so they could say how cool my bike was...one salesman from Mitre 10 came out with me after I'd bought something 'cos he wanted to hear me start it up and I had a note stuck on the bike from a parking warden saying that they thought my bike was "beautiful". What's even better is that I haven't had to worry about guys from the Triumph owners group trying to spit on my bike (which I was told they did whenever they see a Jappa).

I'm generally a little on the shy side so don't tend to enjoy being the centre of attention but this is f#ckin brilliant! I'm experiencing a whole new element of owning a cruiser and I have to say...owning this particular cruiser is totally different to anything I've ever experienced.
D

[tri boy]

So, what about the bike.
Better to live with than the Suzuki etc?

[Dangsta]

So, what about the bike.
Better to live with than the Suzuki etc?

Oh yeah...sorry bout that. Yep, very happy with the bike. I know people don't rate the S83 for handling but I had no concerns there and thought it handled quite well. It was also completely bulletproof mechanically and had a enough power (for a cruiser) to do everything I wanted. The stock seat on the S83 was hideous though so not brilliant for long trips. This was my benchmark.

My first impression of the 8 Ball was that compared to the S83 it was very..very long and the skinny front wheel made it difficult to handle at town speeds. Its also got a fuck-load of power so if I give it too much beans from a standstill, I can feel it wanting to wheelie. Basically, it was definitely harder to ride initially. Now I've gone through the break in period I'm much more used to it. I'm finding myself muscling round tight corners with no problems. The power is still slightly tricky between first and second on roundabouts but all up, no big deal. I'm 6"1 and 100kg's and this bike is a dream on longer trips. Really comfy stock seat and ergonomically awesome. Its got 9000k's on the clock so I guess the test will be when I've got 20+k's. So far so good.
D

[AllanB]

Nice ride. Those Triumph riders need a conrod shoved up their arses if they are spitting on anyone's ride. Fuckwits deserve a group of Jap bike riders to stop and have a good long crap over their Triumphs. I'll ride with anyone on any brand of bike, but NOT with arseholes like that.

[gammaguy]

Just remind them their Triumphs are probably built in Thailand

[skippa1]

Oh yeah...sorry bout that. Yep, very happy with the bike. I know people don't rate the S83 for handling but I had no concerns there and thought it handled quite well. It was also completely bulletproof mechanically and had a enough power (for a cruiser) to do everything I wanted. The stock seat on the S83 was hideous though so not brilliant for long trips. This was my benchmark.

My first impression of the 8 Ball was that compared to the S83 it was very..very long and the skinny front wheel made it difficult to handle at town speeds. Its also got a fuck-load of power so if I give it too much beans from a standstill, I can feel it wanting to wheelie. Basically, it was definitely harder to ride initially. Now I've gone through the break in period I'm much more used to it. I'm finding myself muscling round tight corners with no problems. The power is still slightly tricky between first and second on roundabouts but all up, no big deal. I'm 6"1 and 100kg's and this bike is a dream on longer trips. Really comfy stock seat and ergonomically awesome. Its got 9000k's on the clock so I guess the test will be when I've got 20+k's. So far so good.
D

I wouldn't be too concerned with it "trying to wheelie" my old one took a heap of effort to get the front wheel off the ground. More likely to break traction at the rear end...

[Big Dave]

Nice ride. Those Triumph riders need a conrod shoved up their arses if they are spitting on anyone's ride. Fuckwits deserve a group of Jap bike riders to stop and have a good long crap over their Triumphs. I'll ride with anyone on any brand of bike, but NOT with arseholes like that.

Do you believe everything you read on the internet?

[Big Dave]

What's even better is that I haven't had to worry about guys from the Triumph owners group trying to spit on my bike (which I was told they did whenever they see a Jappa).

Somebody has been pulling your leg. The last TOMCC ride I went on - I took a Harley Trike and there was some ribbing and a welcome.

[Dangsta]

Somebody has been pulling your leg. The last TOMCC ride I went on - I took a Harley Trike and there was some ribbing and a welcome.

Mate..no-ones pulling my leg, I've experienced it first hand. Also, I think your "ribbing and welcome" would have been a bit different if you'd have turned up on a Kawasaki. Just sayin

[Dangsta]

I wouldn't be too concerned with it "trying to wheelie" my old one took a heap of effort to get the front wheel off the ground. More likely to break traction at the rear end...

Thanks man. Compared to the S83 it felt like it wanted to wheelie but I'm kind of getting the hang of it now. I've definitely felt that "skipping" at the back as the traction goes so I know what you're saying. To be honest....it was more of a light kind of feeling at the front as I took off with too much ooomph. It felt like the front of the bike was less planted and it wouldn't take much to get the wheel up but that was mostly due to me riding it like my old bike. I'm really getting a feel for it now and it won't take long before I get all Zen and start riding like I'm part of the bike rather than the dude on top of it trying to hang on.

[Big Dave]

>>(which I was told they did)<<

Uh huh. It was the same welcome as the guy on the Firestorm and the Wing.



This was a fund raiser.

Club runs are Triumph only - but even so, I've observed several of their events - as a club they are good bastards. Just ordinary enthusiasts. Quite similar to the Victory owners group in fact - but with dirtier fingernails.

There are individual knob jockeys on all brands. But gobbing on bikes isn't club policy.

FWIW I really like the 8 Ball.

[Dangsta]

>>(which I was told they did)<<

Uh huh. It was the same welcome as the guy on the Firestorm and the Wing.



This was a fund raiser.

Club runs are Triumph only - but even so, I've observed several of their events - as a club they are good bastards. Just ordinary enthusiasts. Quite similar to the Victory owners group in fact - but with dirtier fingernails.

There are individual knob jockeys on all brands. But gobbing on bikes isn't club policy.

FWIW I really like the 8 Ball.

Sorry mate...the guy I was with saw my post and let me know he was only joking about the spitting thing. Looks like I'm a bit on the gullible side. My apologies. D

[Smifffy]

Sorry mate...the guy I was with saw my post and let me know he was only joking about the spitting thing. Looks like I'm a bit on the gullible side. My apologies. D

That's ok, as long as you've been spitting on trumpies in the meantime.

[98tls]

Post up some pics of said 8 Ball eh..

[scumdog]

It will get even more beterrer once ya get some tassles, bandana and chaps chap!