Menus
- The day of the first judgment
- Far from cliches and big uncontrollable customs, Victory unveils an affordable sports custoroadster that is particularly easy to handle, especially with regard to its technical characteristics. In the end, the American seduces and sweeps away the preconceptions of the genre. Test on…
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- Contact
- In the city
- Highway
- Departmental
- Comfort
- Duo
- Brakes
- Consumption
- Conclusion
The day of the first judgment
Far from cliches and big uncontrollable customs, Victory unveils an affordable sports custoroadster that is particularly easy to handle, especially with regard to its technical characteristics. In the end, the American seduces and sweeps away the preconceptions of the genre. Test on small roads far from the rockies…
Unknown 14 years ago, the American brand has since acquired its letters of nobility with a range which has been enriched over the years of custom and touring models, in a segment then rather reserved for Harley-Davidson. If we had already seen it in Cologne, we were especially able to discover it for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in 2011 via a huge US stand. However, the brand denies being comparable to Harley with its own characteristics. While the cruiser and touring models strongly resembled this, the new 2012 Judge model does not actually have a direct comparison. Victory also positions the bike as a sporty roadster, all proportions kept on the custom segment … and more precisely custom of more than 1400 cm3. And for good reason, the Victory cube 106 cubic inch is 1731 cm3 … not really in the small yard, but rather in the big yard, if only by the weight of 300 kilos … dry! So, another big custom made only for the US and with no future in France? Far from it, the Judge is a real surprise that sweeps away the a priori…
Discovery
From afar and for neophytes, we find the guns of the big customs with a huge central V-Twin put forward (here wedged at 50 °), a very low saddle, long longitudinal exhausts as well as a fluid line. By approaching we note the position of the footrests almost vertical to the handlebars. Discerning bikers will also note the similarity in identity to the brand’s Vegas and Hammer cruisers. The Judge is distinguished by a round headlight (and no longer oblong), a straight handlebar, a notched tank, a place (rather than a real seat) passenger and a central oval, usually reserved for numbers and identities.
Up close, the rear light, almost triangular, refines the silhouette. Finally, we notice the 16-inch rims, borrowed from American muscle cars whose Judge claims a form of heritage … while remaining very reasonable on tire widths of only 130 and 140.
In the saddle
You barely need to lift your leg to sit on a very wide and welcoming saddle that culminates at just 658mm. The feet are flat, even for a 1.60m rider, despite a very wide saddle. The arms then stretch forward to grab the flat handlebars. The stand is easily raised and the machine tilts naturally into the central position. Eyes closed, we imagine having an almost light machine between the legs. We turn the key on the left side, the meter lights up with blue lighting on a white background. Within the analog counter positioned in front of the handlebars (and not on the tank), we have the right to a digital screen displaying totalizer, partial trip, clock, engine speed and gear engaged. A few indicators such as the fuel gauge complete the whole in the form of independent indicators. Everything is changed on the left stalk, instead of the traditional lighthouse call..
Contact
Crutch folded (otherwise the engine refuses to start despite the starter which engages), the enormous V-Twin snorts in a muffled noise. Having had the opportunity to also try the model equipped with a Cobra pot instead of the original, we then have the right to a real serious sound, pleasant and rewarding to the ear, without being susceptible. to wake up a whole neighborhood: an excellent compromise … which will require a small surplus during the purchase. The feet then lengthen to go to rest on the cylindrical footrests which appear far ahead, even though they are set back 121 mm compared to the Vegas model..
First, the Judge snorts slowly and naturally, without any sudden. The weight was not very sensitive when standing still, but even on the first few meters, you don’t feel it at all! Despite its kilos and its size, we are closer to the grip of a 900 cm3 than a 1731 cm3. Second … the gearbox is smooth in use, gears shifting naturally while the clutch lever is firm but easy. You need a little grip in traffic jams not to come to a standstill, but not too much.
In the city
The Judge is taken in hand very easily and quickly, including a duo! The weight of the passenger hardly feels, unlike what happens when testing with the same passenger on a mid-capacity roadster. The acceleration is quite frank, while the box is especially particularly docile, accepting to resume from 1,000 rev / min without reluctance. It is thus possible to wind up in the last and 6th gear, at 50 km / h or in 5th at 40 km / h … even if the second is more practical. In fact, the first rises pleasantly up to 50 km / h, then causes serious vibrations above 4,000 rpm, above 55 km / h, causing the second to naturally shift to 40- 50 km / h. We can then go up to more than 80 km / h without batting an eyelid and not changing gear. Rather thin, it is possible to practice the interfile without worrying about whether it passes in width. In traffic jams, the agility of the Judge will be just limited by a steering angle in the average of the customs, requiring a whole width of street to make a U-turn. On the other hand, with the feet very flat, and a center of gravity placed particularly low, the U-turns are carried out easily and without particular effort, just with the feet. Again, there is nothing to suggest that this is a 321 kilogram machine (all full facts). Impressive !
Highway
The Judge happily takes its turns and climbs very quickly above 130 km / h … speed at which without protection the catch in the wind is obvious. It would be able to take 200 km / h according to some sources … but if the chassis follows without problem with flawless rigidity, the pilot shouts thanks very quickly … very far from the philosophy of the big custoroadster, still reinforced by the indications of the meter whose large numbers stop at 120 km / h … to then refine to 200 km / h.
Departmental
On the other hand, the return to departmental area takes place naturally. Unlike many customs, the Judge has a very good ground clearance (for the category, with its 120 mm) and happily connects the turns that follow one another. Potholes, fittings, the chassis here confirms its excellent constitution by not breaking up at any time. The throttle grip then engages easily, going so far as to trigger rear sliding as long as the road is wet … the fault of a large torque available very early, and Elite II tires more typical of customs. that sport. But even then, the machine naturally straightens up to stay in the original path. You just have to avoid giving too much gas when exiting a bend on a slippery road. But as soon as the road dries up, it is with happiness that we can accelerate harder out of a bend and the bike then gets up without exaggeration while remaining on the trajectory..
The next step is on the mountain road when the pace really picks up. We find the characteristics of the custom which makes scratch on the angle, and as quickly on the right as on the left, or as late on the right as on the left … because the scratch occurs much later than on the majority of customs. The usable engine speed then extends over practically all possibilities, from 1000 to 4000 rpm … without having to go for the 5,300 rpm maximum. It may not seem like much if we look only at the numbers, but on a daily basis, the extension of the engine is extraordinary and hardly requires to change gears. One might even wonder what the 6 speeds are for with a particularly long 6th overdrive. On small assembly roads, we can practically stay permanently in 3rd or even 4th gear, so much does the engine accept to resume from 1,000 rpm and that we are then at speeds already prohibited on the motorway at 4,000 rpm.
However, here we have to distinguish between the Victory Judge ex works, and those benefiting from a modest "stage 1". As on the Harleys, a new exhaust associated with the change of the filter and a new mapping allow the engine to breathe better. If this does not change much in power and maximum speed, the torque is available sooner and the revivals more dynamic … with such a difference in approval, that it is difficult to return to the original model . In fact, according to the dealers, 80% of customers go to stage 1 … then increasing the bill by a small 1500 euros. And I must admit with great regret for the wallet that the change is justified.
In both cases, the Judge is so easy that it drives without hands in peace….
Comfort
The saddle is very wide and can accommodate a huge jig. A smaller size can even find its ideal place there, rather forward or backward. It allows you to consider long walks without hurting the rear end at all. On the other hand, the suspensions are rather rough, and the holes in the road are rather badly absorbed. The weight of the machine means that we do not have the right to the racket shots that we might experience on some sports, but the shock absorber nevertheless comes to a stop quite quickly. That said, the simple defects of the road are well erased and the Judge does not give the impression after half a day of riding to have been seated on a bag of stones, far from it..
The shape of the saddle, particularly hollow, is rather good at bringing the dripping water to the center, which will require really waterproof pants in the event of rain..
Duo
At first glance, it feels more like a jump seat, unable to accommodate a passenger. And yet, it is possible to welcome one, with rather positive first impressions, even surprised to manage to settle down. On the other hand, there is no handle to tie down, which combined with a wet saddle and a passenger in combination can practically lead to losing it as long as the start is pushed a little. The real opinion arrives at the end of the first quarter of an hour or the rear end begins to suffer. The fact remains that the self-sacrifice of the passenger during the test allowed him to take him for an hour and a half, with a single break of one minute. It is therefore possible to bring someone. But if you really want to go on the long haul, the touring range with Cross Roads, Cross Country and Vision Tour will be much more suitable..
Brakes
Neither very powerful nor violent, the 300 mm brake discs at the front and rear offer a good feeling followed by power at the height of the machine. The rear brake in particular is more than a simple retarder despite its only double pistons and really allows the machine to be seated very effectively before a turn without touching the front brake. Even in town, we find ourselves using it more than normal. However, it manages to block on a strong braking by really taking the strong lever, but even then the Judge remains in line. On a daily basis, the front and rear brakes are used quite naturally, and the rear does not lock up. The front is progressive and up to the weight of the machine. It offers safe braking, even for a beginner. This is all the more important since unlike other models of the brand, the Judge does not have ABS (not even optional).
Consumption
In "sport" use with aggressive driving, consumption can go up to 6.3 liters, but rather stabilizes around 5.5 liters … which suggests an average range of 300 km with the 17-liter tank..
Conclusion
In places of the a priori possible on the big customs, the Judge is a real discovery, friendly, welcoming, easy to learn (especially compared to the Hammer) and relatively versatile, offering more than just walks with real dynamics engine and an overall consistency that makes it pleasant on a daily basis. Far from the big, very vibrant V-Twins, purists will find it almost too clean on it, especially in its black version. On the other hand, the "Nuclear" orange and the "Sunset red" suit it particularly well. What is certain is that she is more than an alternative to Harley with a real sweet and muscular personality. At only 14,490 euros, it is even cheaper than potential competitors, without renouncing the guns, especially as, as elsewhere, the accessories are legion, both in terms of exhausts and handlebar shapes, not to mention sissybar or windscreen or customization of the central oval space under the saddle. All you have to do is get closer to one of the brand’s 22 dealerships in France to try out the small brand, but with good American taste, which is on the rise, from mid-June..
Strong points
- ease of use
- motor
Weak points
- suspensions
- duo
The technical sheet of the Victory Judge
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