These are two similar takes on the ‘bagger’ – cool customs with hard panniers or ‘bags’. Although similar-looking and painted in an almost identical shade of metallic red, there are plenty of differences. The Victory is physically bigger, so much so, it actually makes the Harley look dainty by comparison – which is some trick. The Cross Roads Tour’s magnificent, swooping rear end and faired-in panniers give a huge road presence looking like a cross between a ’70s Cadillac and a fairground ride. In fact its back-end is so big it makes even the largest of derrieres look small sitting on it, so the Victory is a bike to make you look thin.
What do you get for your buck?
Both have big, air-cooled, fuel-injected, 1700cc, V-twin engines, comfy seats, tall screens, good-sized panniers, footboards, fuss-free belt drive and ABS. The Victory goes one-step further by giving you cruise control as standard.
But the Harley has a party trick: Its screen is fitted with a quick-release system, so with the panniers removed too, you can turn your Switchback from long-distance tourer to sleek, less clumsy, low-speed cruiser in less than a minute.
Hard to handle?
At low speed, yes. These are big beasts. Harley claims a wet, ready-to-ride weight of 330kg for the Switchback, but the Victory is heavier still, weighing 338kg dry – or around the same as TWO Suzuki GSX-R600s.
As a result, they’re not easy to paddle around at walking pace, especially backwards, but the lighter Harley is marginally easier.
As you reach normal road speeds the Harley and Victory are far easier to handle. The Harley’s new cartridge-style forks and twin rear shocks give the Switchback decent poise in the corners, far better than Harleys of old. Remove the Harley’s screen and it feels even sportier and more nimble.
The Victory is similarly capable on normal roads. It’s a little more agile, sporty and the brakes are a fraction better, too, but it has to bow down to the Harley on A and B roads as it’s bigger and heavier. On the motorways it’s a different story…
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