Blurring The Lines | Victory 2012 Hard-Ball

Pushing design limits to the edge seems to be Victory Motorcycles’ forte. After releasing the polarizing Vision in 2008, the company cemented itself as an innovator in the modern-era motorcycling world. There’s definitely something to appreciate about an ideology that continually defies the status quo. A wise man once said that no one bike is perfect for everyone. Biases aside, the 2012 Victory Hard-Ball could be the first to break that mold because it marries rugged traditionalism via a hot-rod cruiser aesthetic built around a well-functioning touring platform for riding…and riding hard.

Victory’s marketed the Hard-Ball as a motorcycle that’s both cruiser and bagger, which in all actuality is a scaled-down version of the Cross Roads/Cross Country with the same chassis, but definitely scaled up from the High-Ball—the Hard-Ball’s little brother—in terms of creature comforts (hard saddlebags, cruise control, ABS). Line the two-up side by side: same ape hanger handlebar, similar paint schemes, wire wheels, pinstripes, and plenty of hot-rod heritage, you’ll notice the indistinguishable DNA coursing through their veins. Offered in flat black with red pinstripes only, more paint options would be nice to see, especially a Hard-Ball adorned in High-Ball colors.

The same big power found in all of Victory’s touring models is stuffed in between the Hard-Ball’s tightly encapsulating frame: the tried-and-true 106ci Victory Freedom V-twin and six-speed with Overdrive and Neutral Selection assist. The single-overhead camshaft design with four valves per cylinder has proven to be an extremely reliable engine. Overall, the Victory powertrain features everything a bagger owner craves: enough power to pass pesky big rigs on two-laners even when maxed out with cargo and passenger.

As for the trans, its helical-cut, constant-mesh gearbox engages/disengages pretty smoothly overall. The only issue is downshifting into First when coming to a stop. It sometimes requires a few taps on the shifter lever, which used to be the issue with finding Neutral on a Victory, but in 2011 the company released the Neutral Assist feature in its transmissions. Hopefully the issue with First will be addressed at some point. The overdrive in this trans is really smooth though; high-speed cruising in the lower rpm range is ideal for fuel economy, and acceleration can still be had without downshifting into Fifth. The carbon-reinforced final drive is no slouch either, but if logging substantial miles, a belt adjustment is a good idea upon arriving at home.

Piloting the almost-800-pound machine isn’t at all cumbersome—tight U-turns aren’t an issue as one might expect. Just the right amount of nimbleness best describes the feel of the bike, even with its 8-foot-7-inch overall length. The wheelbase however measures 65.7 inches and at that length the18x3.5-inch front and 16x5-inch rear spoke wheels work in perfect harmony for maneuverability. Ground clearance on the Victory Cross and Hard-Ball models is a definite perk. At 5.8 inches it really takes a serious pursuit to get any part of the motorcycle to touch down. As far as suspension preload, it can be fine-tuned to rider preference because of the rear air-adjustable gas monoshock design. Suspension travel in the rear is listed at 4.7 inches, with 5.1 inches in the front inverted cartridge telescopic front fork. Victory is at the top of the food chain in the suspension department. Far beating Harley-Davidson’s touring line. The Victory touring bikes come with Schrader valve for fine-tuning based on cargo/rider/passenger weight for more/less aggressive riding. But the best part is that it’s actually noticeable when adjustments are made.

The Hard-Ball’s hard, lockable saddlebags are what storage capacity is all about: large enough to store a ton of gear, but shaped to flow with the lines of the motorcycle. With 21 gallons storage capacity the bags allow plenty of room for rider and passenger for the weekend, maybe more depending on vacationing style. If it’s more room you’re looking for, being that the Hard-Ball’s architecture is the same as the Cross models, a Cross trunk will pop right on to extend your weekend trip to a week—or even two-week—trip.

The black-on-black-on-black aesthetic with subtle hints of red striping throughout should definitely appeal to the less-is-more, hot-rod motorcycle enthusiasts. From tip to tail, top to bottom (gas tank, bags, frontend, fenders are all black), the Hard-Ball bagger is proof that this bike is for enthusiasts of all ages. Plus, it certainly garnered plenty of attention at the 2012 Laughlin River Run and during gas stops to and from the rally. “Is that one of those new Victorys?” or “Wow, that thing is pretty darn cool…what is it?” were some of the recurring questions asked when approached. We didn’t really hear too many negative responses, but then again, not many really possess the cojones to talk shit to a complete stranger’s face.

Flying down the road on an ABS-equipped motorcycle boosts confidence. The Hard-Ball comes standard with ABS along with dual 300mm floating rotors and four-piston calipers up front, and a 300mm two-piston caliper in the rear. Halting the bike wasn’t an issue…at all. After a couple hundred miles the ride can get a little tiresome due to the tall handlebar; however, it is adjustable and can be laid down like it’s positioned on the Cross Roads. Or simply plopping your chest against the tank, gripping the bottom base of the bar with the Cruise Control kicked on can definitely give your arms and back a break. Ditching the stock riser clamps wouldn’t be a bad idea. They adorn every single bike in Victory’s bagger and cruiser lineup and are tad cheesy looking and dated. Changing those, along with incorporating a new headlamp bucket, switch housings, and grips would be warmly welcomed and let riders know that all the details of the motorcycles are being addressed. The passenger pegs are positioned nicely for a passenger, but also work great for solo riders looking to switch up their footing after the monotony of riding in the same position for hours on end, although the humungous floorboards allow riders many options, too.

Overall, the Hard-Ball is a great value for the motorcycle you get, which blends multiple characteristics within its architecture. It packs the creature comforts touring motorcyclists are after: 21 gallons of cargo space, a powerful and reliable powertrain, and its all-black, hot-rod aesthetic with subtle hints of red pinstriping is visually pleasing. •