Our fearless leaders, Tom Hicks and Rob Chufo attended the 2011 Polaris dealer meeting in Nashville, Tennessee last week. During their visit, they got a chance to ride the new 2012 Victory Cross Roads Classic LE. Since Tom has been in the motorcycle industry since the early 1980's, he has had the opportunity to ride almost everything out there, and this Victory has him talking! Tom exclaimed, "Among the various bikes I've ridden such as Honda Goldwings and BMW LT's, this Cross Roads is the best touring bike ever, with almost five inches of rear suspension travel, it was like riding on a couch!" With such great reviews, this bike is something to keep your eye on! Tom also wanted to let all of the hard core Victory owner/riders out there that although Polaris has bought Indian Motorcycles, "you won't have to worry about becoming Indian owners... it's going to be kept a separate brand."
New for 2012: Victory Cross Roads Classic LE and Cross Country Tour
2012 Victory Cross Country Tour
Cross Country Tour
It’s new-bike season already, and Victory is joining the fray with two subtle revisions of its already very good touring models. The Cross Country is now supplemented with the Cross Country Tour and the Cross Roads gets a limited edition version, the Cross Roads Classic LE.
The Cross Country Tour is a loaded dresser with some improvements that should make the Victory traveling experience even better. The sound-system equipped, fork-mounted fairing gets a new venting system with adjustable louvers to control airflow directed at the rider’s body and legs. There are also new fairing lowers that provide more wind protection, a taller windscreen, and big locking storage compartments complete with a 12v power outlet for your portable electronics and other items. The Lock n’ Ride trunk (which is color-matched and mounts easily and quickly without tools) introduced last year is also standard. Heated grips and seats, adjustable passenger floorboards and HID lighting are some of the luxury features that the Tour offers over the standard Cross Country. MSRP is $21,999 for black, $500 more for red or pearl—a $3,000 premium over the standard ride.
Cross Country Tour Fairing Storage
The Cross Roads Classic LE gets numerous cosmetic touches. It gets special paint and graphics, custom-stitched seat and saddlebags and wire wheels. It also sports a light bar, saddlebag rails and fender bumpers for some extra chrome touches. Each one will be numbered for that extra bit of exclusivity, but the basic setup is the same as we’ve reported before—106 cubic-inch six-speed motor, sand-cast aluminum chassis and great handling. MSRP is $17,999.
Cross Roads Classic LE
These changes should add up to an even better tourer, and address some of the nits we picked when we tested the Cross Country against the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. How much better? We’ll find out next week when we go to Utah to ride the 2012 Victory lineup.
Southern California Victory News:
We are starting our next custom Victory Jackpot. It's going to be WW2/P-51 Mustang theme with lot's of trick stuff, so stay tuned!