If the stock 100/6 motor isn't mean enough for your bad ass, any Victory can be accessorized with optional ($800) drag pipes (by Cobra) that will scare your neighbors, as seen on this Competition Yellow Jackpot. Victory also sells a Stage 1 performance package that nets a nearly 10% increase in hp and torque. The kit utilizes a K&N air filter, a vented airbox cover and hogged out slip-ons that outwardly look identical to the stock pipes; prices range from $450 to $550.
The new Jackpot (shown here with optional billet wheels) is a sexy and stylish new offering, and one that will continue to build on Victory's emerging power in the cruiser marketplace.
Then it became time to straddle the Jackpot. Compared to the Hammer, its greater rake and taller handlebar distinguish its chopper-style intentions, as does that narrow 21-inch hoop up front. I was a bit surprised the extra rake in the Jackpot didn't make it steer slower, but the combination of the skinny front tire and a bit less trail help retain its relative quickness. If the standard Jackpot doesn't steer much heavier than the Hammer, then the Corey Ness signature series with its lighter billet wheels make it an entirely moot point.
Still, that slender front tire has its limitations. It simply doesn't have as large a contact patch, resulting in less available traction. This was evident when testing the Jackpot's front brake, a single-disc system that has more than enough clamping force to induce wheel lock-up. The 300mm rotor and Brembo 4-piston caliper actually provide nice feedback through its braided steel lines, so it's easy to keep the tire howling rather than skidding. In an emergency situation, a Jackpot rider would be wise to keep a toe on the rear brake pedal so that fat meat out back can help get 'er slowed down in a hurry.
There, now that we've satisfied the safety-conscious among you, I'll add this: That little tire up front also makes smoky burnouts more challenging, as traction from the rear tire easily overwhelms the front tire, and the hooligan rider is soon skating along with the front wheel locked. (We do the testing so you don't have to!)
As you might expect, the Jackpot's shortened rear suspension travel exacts a cost in ride quality. With 0.9-inch less travel to work with, Victory had to fit a stiffer rear spring that results in hasher suspension compliance than the Hammer, Kingpin and Vegas. Throw in some curves and the odd steering characteristics and reduced ground clearance might make you wish you were on any other Victory.
However, when you're motoring down the road, cruising more or less in a straight line, the Jackpot is one cool ride. Minor road imperfections don't bother the Jack, and its powerful but docile motor plays a sweet, rumbling soundtrack to the experience. Positive engagement from its short-throw tranny does nothing to distract from the riding experience.
There is, of course, a price to pay for this coolness. The Jackpot lists for $17,499 and is therefore Victory's most expensive bike in the lineup. With the Vegas listing at $15,799, the Jackpot's steamroller rear end comes at a $1700 premium - some will think it's worth it, others not.
But let's say the price tag doesn't intimidate you, and you might even think it's a bit of a bargain compared with some boutique chopper brands. If so, the blinged-out Ness Signature Edition Jackpots might fit the bill. In addition to custom paint and signed sidecovers, both the Arlen and Corey Ness versions also come with killah billet wheels, a custom-stitched seat from Danny Gray, billet mirrors, and a slathering of chrome for the swingarm, fork, engine covers and foot controls. Yours for just $21,999.
The seat on the Corey Ness Jackpot I rode is deeper-dished with a more forward-placed pocket than the standard version, and its bars seem a little closer to rider, which didn't please tall guys like Thunder Press's Terry Roarda who I rode with. It fit my puny body fine. However, I wasn't too keen on the cool-looking chrome handgrips that I judged too slippery for practical use. The chrome grips on the Arlen Ness Jackpot at least have circumferential rubber rings for a more secure handhold.
Ten years ago, the idea of a radical fat-tired monster such as the Ness-orized Vegas Jackpot being offered by a large-scale manufacturer must've seemed remote at best. But with the industry as a whole looking to tap into the latest niche's of the marketplace, the idea of a bike like the Jackpot is not crackpot.
Sure, at $22K, the Ness Jackpots are very pricey. But packed full of cool cruiser bling pieces and with the backing of a serious and stable company like Polaris, a case can easily be made for the relative bargain status of their car-like price tags.
Hitting an even broader target, the Vegas and Kingpin models are now even more desirable after the addition of the sweet 100/6 motor for '06, and their prices continue to be lower than comparable offerings from Harley-Davidson.
The future is looking bright for Victory. Currently, motorcycles account for only 4% of Polaris sales, far behind ATV production that pulls in 66% of consumer dollars. But Victory has seen a massive 29% increase in sales from 2003 to 2004, and its year-to-date retail sales are up 50% over 2004.
"I've never seen customer satisfaction levels like I've seen from Victory," says Mark Blackwell, the company's general manager and a longtime figure in the powersports industry. He confidently anticipates Victory's share of Polaris sales to leap up to more than 25% in the next several years.
Considering how far Victory has come since its debut in 1998, who are we to doubt him?
Leave a comment