2013 Victory Hardball ~ dedasdesignsection101

2013 Victory Hardball

Victory Motorcycles did jet some cool bikes and the Highball is definitely one of them. Belonging to Polaris, Victory was Polaris' take on the modern and best Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and most of the '90s were spent on researching motorcycles. The Victory marque finally came to fruition in 1998 and much like the HDs, these came with V-twin engines, and in touring and cruiser formats.

The very first Victory Motorcycle on the scene was the V92C that was announced in 1997 was made available in 1998. By 2002, Victory was churning out a profit and seemed to be a great alternative for everyone who wanted something that was not a Harley. The Victory, so to speak, was short-lived, and once Polaris also acquired Indian Motorcycles (in 2011), the end seemed nigh.

By 2017, Victory Motorcycle shut shop, and Polaris has since hedged all its bets on the Indian Motorcycles brand. But Victory did give us some gems, like the HighBall, and it was an all-and-out cruiser, which some owners claimed was made for maximum thrills. Is it the perfect bike for the gearhead? Well, it's a choice.

Here are all the reasons to buy a Victory HighBall, and why you should hold on to it as well…

The Very Handsome Looks Of The HighBall

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When it comes to looks, the HighBall was the odd one out, because, unlike other OTT-styled Victory motorcycles, this one looked retro, with a mildly modern twist. Whitewall tires with laced rims harked back to the mid-20th century motorcycles, and the abrupt fender and blacked-out headlight gave it that modern feel as well.

The seating told everyone that this was a cruiser, period. A deep-scoop seat, ape hangers, and a triangular position when it came to the controls made it a thrumming cruiser, ideal for gentle-speed rides than balling down the highway. But go any slower, and the top-heavy motorcycle could take an inexperienced rider unaware because it was an elephant to steer. All this also meant that shorter riders better avoid the HighBall, as the name suggests.

To maintain the looks of the bike, the cooling went the air- and oil-way, instead of the better liquid-cooled one as well.

The Chassis & Riding Comfort

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For a motorcycle, this aesthetically appealing, most women would eschew it because this is not the motorcycle for anyone who does not fall in the tall category. The seat height is at 25-inches, something most Softail frames use and manages to make the frame look rigid despite the obvious lack of a triangular swingarm. The steering head is at 32-degrees for a raked look, and the motorcycle is stable on straight roads, and just a tad dicey on corners, especially for someone not very used to motorcycles.

The whitewall Dunlop D421 tires with chromed rims are very old-school mafioso, and add superb looks, especially when you see the motorcycle in motion, and honestly, it's just poetry. To add to the retro look, there are the shortened fender and blacked-out fork sliders. For comfort, there is an adjustable mono-shock hidden underneath the seat.

There is no ABS in the front, but the rear has it, and the aesthetics continue for it with the 64.8-inch wheelbase and the 93.4-inch length makes it a mid-sized bike with plenty of road presence. The only downside is the ape hangers which many find an impediment to corner properly but then again, style is the substance for some.

The Power, And The Price

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The Victory HighBall, just like most Victory motorcycles came with a big V-twin, and that trademark thumping beat. The engine is blacked out but the polished cooling fins add to the entire V-look of the motorcycle. The four-stroke 50-degree V-twin came bearing 1731 cc engine displacement, enough for 96 horsepower and 106 ft-lb torque. For a cruiser, this kind of thumping power was more than enough. Even so, if you did the "Harley Tax" Stage One modification, as in change the exhaust, air cleaner, and the fuel delivery, extra power is a breeze.

For $13,499, with delivery charges extra, the Victory HighBall was a lot of bike at the price. For 2016, the motorcycle was only offered in a Suede Black with white graphics on the tank, but for 2017, they added another orange color for choice.

While Victory itself shut shop in 2017, the HighBall has managed to hold on to its prices rather well, and if you want one today, you can have a used Highball for under $10,000, but still in the high ranges.

This is the perfect foil for HD's Dyna Bob and the striking looks of this motorcycle will make sure to turn you some heads… Make sure you test ride one to see if it's comfortable enough for you because there is a motorcycle out there for every rider. If you are lucky enough, the HighBall could be your lucky thing, but if not, there are plenty of more motorcycles out there, many from Victory as well.

Overall, it's a good motorcycle and a great option for anyone looking for a cruiser that's American but not a Harley-Davidson.

Sources: MotorcycleSpecs, CycleTrader

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