Page 3 - Andy's Vision Experience

February 24, 2008
Day 11

I stopped by a Harley dealership today to look at some gear and while there, I sat on a few bikes (they have a lot of inventory and sales are slow). I sat on a Road King and an Ultra and the first thing I noticed is how close the driver is to the windshield. After riding the Vision for 11 days, I've gotten spoiled and felt cramped on the H-D...and I'm not a big guy.

Strange, huh?

While at the dealership I spoke with an apparel sales-girl and when I asked about business, she told me that they were down around 30% (I was surprised she was so forthcoming with that information). I had the impression she was not talking about just motor clothes, but bikes as well. The showroom was packed with new bikes. When I say packed, I mean packed side by side so close it was difficult to sit on them as you had to wedge yourself between bikes. I guess it's not a good time to buy H-D stock.

My local Victory dealer is quite the opposite. A low overhead location and just a few bikes that show a representation of the line were on floor. As a business model in this economic environment, I would rather have fewer bikes in inventory today than too many.

Considering this is the peak of bike season in South Florida, this might not be a good thing and is reflective of the overall economy. I'm wondering how this economy is affecting the Victory dealers and if Polaris will be assisting the dealers so they don't close down on us.

On the other hand, in South Florida there is a waiting list for Bentley's. I can only hope that enough high-end recreational bikers see the Vision and that just the looks will attract them. I can tell you that on my ride to Boca late yesterday, instead of the usual pick-up truck and Corvette drivers giving me the "thumbs-up" I had a Range Rover and a Porsche Turbo Carerra pull up to me to check out the bike. The passenger of the Porsche was a lady in her 40s and she mouthed through the window: Beautiful Bike and gave a thumbs-up. The Porsche kept speeding up and slowing down to see the bike from all angles. This alone is a good enough reason to take that silver Victory logo off the rear of the trunk and replace it with a brightly illuminated Victory brake light. With all the R & D that went into this bike, I think this is one place where the Victory designers dropped the ball. An illuminated LED Victory logo/brake light could be considered not just a safety feature but also a rolling advertisement for the Vision as wll. Remember when Honda used to print the word HONDA on the back of every seat? It was an ad.

In the mid-1990s, when H-D was in the "boom" cycle (pun intended), the showrooms were sparse and usually were filled with used (not new) bikes. Some dealers would place a bike that had been ordered and pre-sold on the showroom for a week or so before giving it to the recipient. I remember the feeling of being held hostage by the dealership as I wanted to ride the bike, but instead had to wait an additional week to pick it up. Back then, the wait for a new Harley was around three to five months and if you pissed off the dealer, you might never see your bike. I'm sure all dealers weren't this way, but this was my personal experience.

It's amazing, after riding the Vision, just sitting on an H-D seemed like  an antiquated experience. I'm wondering if the nostalgia factor of bikes is fading and the technology phase is now starting. I also sat on a V-Rod and it's a small bike that's designed for tall people. It's a strange riding position. Cute bike, but not for me.

Times have changed.

February 25, 2008
Day 12

As you know by now, I've gained much insight into my new bike by visiting numerous motorcycle forums and blogs. Today I noticed a thread a website about what Victory should do next to promote the new Vision. Evidently Victory has begun running a few TV ads on cable networks such a Speed. This made me think about the difficulties any manufacturer faces in marketing a new product. Yes, selling a motorcycle is no different than selling a car, a flat screen TV or other consumer product. The manufacturer needs to create a demand that will bring potential customers into its dealerships. Yes, in my mind, the Vision is revolutionary product, but once the initial demand is met and the pipeline is filled, what's the next step?

Marketing is about "branding,." Branding is a marketing concept that makes the name of the manufacturer immediately recognizable in a positive light. Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Nike, Sony even Apple are brands. Just the mention of the name gives you a mental image of the product and a positive, desirable future experience.

Think about other brands and the image they bring to mind:

Winnebago, although a medium size company has a name that immediately brings to mind leisure travel.

Rolex, high end watches.

Harley-Davidson is immediately recognizable as a maker of motorcycles and a carefree, leisure lifestyle.

Victory, as of yet is unrecognized to the masses and is not yet a "brand." Yes, we know who Victory is, but do others?

Just being a member of this board, we know that Victory is a manufacturer of quality motorcycles, but do others? No. How many times have you told people about your Victory Vision and had to say the name Polaris to receive an affirmative response? In colder weather climates the name Polaris is recognizable as a snowmobile manufacturer. In warmer climates people may or may not have heard of Polaris.

I would have to think that part of the motivation of creating the Vision was to bring the name Victory to the forefront of the motorcycle industry in the eyes of the consumer and make the Vision is rolling billboard for Victory that says one word: Innovation. I'm sure that's why the illuminated Victory logo was placed on the sides of the Vision. Why the rear of the bike does not show an illuminated Victory logo (as a brake or running light) was, in my mind, a huge oversight. I'll bet that future models will add some sort of visual recognition to the rear of the Vision. Remember, when people ask you, "What's that thing," that only proves that Victory has yet to spread its message to the masses.

In many case studies it can take a single, innovative product or promotion to bring positive attention to a other products in an established company. A rising tide raises all ships. Think about how the iPod changed the path and future of Apple and as iPod sales rose so did the sales of the full Apple line. The iPod spawned iTunes and created yet another brand and with it a new stream of income. With it, brought the introduction of the Apple stores that were designed to be minimalist in nature, but provided existing and future customers a positive, exciting experience. Prior to the iPod, Apple was sinking. Now look at it. One product, if marketed and promoted properly, can make all the difference.

Let's face it, businesses are all about generating profitable income. However, you need to spend money to make money.

It will take more than people drooling over the looks of the Vision to make Victory a highly visible brand. It will require a full-blown advertising, marketing and public relations program that shows the Vision and other Victory models in a positive, desirable light to make this happen. Marketing programs such as this are not cheap and will require a major financial commitment from the manufacturer. Winning customers over one at a time is a good concept, but is a slow process. It will also require a stronger dealer network for sales and service. These dealers need to be upgraded to the standard that has been set by H-D. This is not an inexpensive overnight task.

To make my point, you may remember, it took only one successful marketing campaign to make the name Honda a household word. In 1962 Honda was selling 40,000 bikes in America. The goal was increased five-fold to 200,000 bikes the following year. It didn't happen until 1964 when Honda took a completely different approach at promoting motorcycles with an advertising/marketing campaign, that by today's standards would be considered "out of the box" forward thinking. The campaign was centered around print and TV ads themed: "You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda." Remember that one? Depending on your age, I'll bet you do.

Honda's goal was to raise the image of those who rode and purchased motorcycles from that of Hell's Angels to average Americans. The advertising Agency, Grey Advertising, used the new Honda 50 for this campaign. At that point, the Honda 50 was innovative and unique in its style as it presented an opposite image of Hell's Angels and delivered a feeling of white-collar friendliness. Honda's big marketing push placed this ad during the Academy Awards and immediately captured the hearts of millions. It was one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history. At that time the Academy Awards attracted around 70% of American TV viewers and this 90 second ad ran twice during the show at a cost of $300,000. To place that price in perspective, it was the equivalent of the profits derived from the sale of 1,200 Honda 50s and was a huge gamble. No guts, no glory. Also remember that during the 1960s, Japanese products were considered nothing short of "junk." Remember the phrase "cheap Japanese junk?" This ad was also the first non-American company to advertise on the Academy Awards. This in itself was a bold step. This single marketing/advertising campaign changed Honda's image and won over the hearts and wallets of Americans and launched Honda into a mainstream product and was the first step in creating a recognizable brand name.

Needless to say, this campaign not only brought people into Honda dealerships, they brought in a new breed of investor that clamored to open a new Honda dealership. These dealerships were different than the existing Harley, Triumph and Indian dealerships as they were clean, inviting and innovative and provided a friendly place for the new breed of motorcycle buyer. The sales people were well trained and dressed appropriately.

So, is the Vision Apple's iPod? Will advertising on small (relatively low viewership) cable networks such as The Speed or outdoor-related channels accomplish this task? Probably not...but it's a start. Will getting the Vision on the cover of every bike magazine with positive reviews make it a success? Maybe, but the enthusiasts publications appeal to an audience who is already into motorcycles and the various offerings. So, what will it take?

Don't laugh, the answer is fairly simple. Victory will have to "think out of the box" and appeal to those who may have been into biking in the past and have abandoned it for one reason or another, but who still have the feeling of freedom riding in their blood. Yes, the existing pipeline can be filled with current bike owners, but what happens when that market is tapped? Think publications such as AARP where an active senior lifestyle is promoted and income for recreational items is not a question. How about the Robb Report, where the readers are those where money is no object? How about CNBC where the demographic of the viewer is upscale in terms of available funds for leisure items and motorcycle ads are not currently appearing. In marketing, you don't want to be lost in the crowd. Rule #1 in Marketing 101 is Separating Yourself From The Market.

Preaching to the choir in terms of marketing may not cut it in this economic environment. Appealing to new customers who may be thinking of getting back into biking but are not currently considering a Vision will be the key to make the Vision a desirable purchase will most likely be the first step into making Victory a recognizable brand.

I'm looking forward to the responses to this thread...whether positive or negative. I have thick skin and can take the criticism. But remember, I spent my life in the product marketing industry and realize the difficulties Victory is facing at this point. They are nearing the point of being a full-line motorcycle company and the Vision is now its flagship. I think it will also require adding bikes on the entry level to make it a true, full-line motorcycle company. Not everyone can afford a $25K bike and less expensive and innovative models will be required. Victory is off to a good start and is making strong progress for only having ten years in the motorcycle industry. The JD Powers numbers are a great start. Word of mouth is good. Now Victory has to figure out how to spread the word of its products to the masses.

Feel free to add your comments on this subject.

The photos of the Honda ads were found online. If anyone from Honda objects to them being here, let me know and I'll remove them. 

February 28, 2008
Day 13

Cousin Billy called saying he'll be in Orlando next week and wants to get together.

Although we're "cousins," Billy and I never met until around 20 years ago. Our Father's were cousins and inseparable best friends as children growing up in Oklahoma. During the Great Depression, our families became geographically separated. Billy's family moved to Texas and my family settled in Tennessee. Although our Father's spoke, due to distance they lost contact over the years.

When I accepted a job at Uniden in the 1980s, I moved to Dallas. It was then I got to know and became close with Billy and his family and we've remained in contact ever since.

While Billy and I have family ties, we also have a lot in common. First and foremost is our love for technology. While I spent my career on the product side of technology, Billy is better versed on the guts of products. I can operate products and he can build them. When we first met, it was an immediate family bond and friendship generated as we shared much in common. He has spent his career working behind the scenes of a Fortune 500 tech company and is well respected by his peers and management.  He is very good at what he does.

We looked at our calendars and picked a day to have lunch in Orlando. While I've yet to take my first true road trip on my Vision, I found this the perfect opportunity for my first long ride. Google Maps displayed that my route would be 160 miles...with all but a just a few miles on Florida's Turnpike. Google Maps estimated the non-stop travel time at 2 hours and 30 minutes. From my experience riding other tour bikes, I knew that all were not created equally. While this would be an easy, same-day round trip on a Honda Goldwing, it could be a bit of a challenge being comfortable on a longer ride on a Harley Road King. I've owned both of the aforementioned bikes and while I knew the Vision shared some attributes with both, I was unsure how I would feel attempting to do the round trip in one day. My plan was to pack an overnight bag and if all was okay on the ride up, I would come back the same day.  If not, I wouldn�t take the risk and simply spend the night in Orlando.

Let's face it, every motorcycle is different and delivers unique attributes. I knew the Vision was comfortable going 80 miles at a sitting, but how would it be going 320 miles in a day? On Friday I would find out.

The previous Tuesday, Walt from Victory of South Florida picked up the bike for its first service. A cold front would be moving in on Tuesday afternoon and drop temperatures to less desirable riding conditions for a few days. While at my house, we discussed some things on my Vision "wish list" including additional rear lighting. I pointed to the silver Victory chrome panel on the rear of the trunk and mentioned that I thought Victory dropped the ball as this was sterile and non-functional and a perfect location to place a highly visible brake/running light that could also act as a moving billboard for the Victory brand. He agreed that at some point there will probably be a replacement part for this panel. After all, Victory did a good job in the illuminated side Victory logo, but for whatever reason neglected a badge on the rear of the bike.

Meanwhile we walked around the bike to see potential lighting upgrades for the Vision. Allow me to state, the Vision is lit up much better than most bikes and is already visible during night riding. My feeling has always been that I can control what's in front of me, but can't control what's behind me. In this day and age of cell phone-talking drivers, I want to make sure I was very visible from the rear.

We discussed placing two LED strips above and below the license plate that would act as running and brake lights. LEDs are great options in this day and age as they draw very little power while providing a bright light source. He could add the proper harness that would allow them to strobe when the brake was depressed. The way I was to understand this was that when the brake was pressed, the LEDs would strobe for three seconds, go steady for three seconds and continue this loop. I liked this idea and gave him the go-ahead for this option. We also looked at the non-illuminated side reflectors and decided that would also be a good place for LED lighting and have them as both running lights and turn signals. This would make the turn signals visible to the side as well as the rear.

Thursday, he returned the bike along with the fender panel (that replaces the trunk) and gave me a hands-on demonstration on removing the trunk. It's a multi-step process that takes around 15 minutes.  It's one those things that require time as you don't want to scratch the ABS plastic panels. It's also one of those things that will require practice and the more times you do it, the easier it will become. While I had 500+ miles seat time with the trunk, I thought it would be a good test to ride the bike to Orlando without the trunk to compare the differences.

The new lights were not installed during this service and he told me he was still working on the proper harness for the LEDs and it was a bit more challenging than he originally thought, but it would be accomplished in the near future. By the time the bike reached 3,000 miles and was ready for the next service, he would have the new lighting ready to install.

Upon its return, I took the bike around town to run a few errands. It would be the first time I would be riding a Vision without the trunk as even Walt's demo model I test drove had the trunk installed. (A note to Victory dealers: For test drives, have models available with and without the trunk as they provide different riding characteristics and could appeal to a larger audience of potential purchasers). Later I mentioned to Walt (via an email to Alexis) that it might be a good idea to have his demo bike prepped without the trunk as some riders that are moving from cruisers to tourers might find it a bit less intimidating at parking lot speeds. 

Riding without the trunk for the first time, I immediately felt a difference as it was easier to mount (not that it was difficult with the trunk) and felt even more nimble and maneuverable at slow speeds - quite a feat for a bike of this size. Allow me to add, that I noticed that when mounting/dismounting with the trunk, my right heel would occasionally rub the right saddlebag and form a small, albeit removable rubber mark. Walt showed me a trick that you probably already know...lower the left passenger floorboard step on it with the left foot and step over the bike in the same fashion as mounting a horse. My first thought was you really have to trust the side stand and be on a stable surface to do this maneuver. After a couple of times with this method, I became trusting of this maneuver. However, without the trunk, it wasn't necessary.

In my personal riding experience with the Vision, there is one big difference of not having the available trunk space...there was no place to secure my helmet when parked. This is the first bike I've owned that did not have some sort of helmet lock. I don't remember if the helmet lock was standard on my Harleys or if it was a dealer installed accessory. The Goldwing has factory installed dual helmet locks on the rear of the bike. Every other bike I've owned has a simple helmet lock typically located on the left side of the bike. No such feature exists on the Vision. After checking the bike, I'm not finding a convenient location to install a lock and am now seeking ideas. If you have one, click the contact link at the top of the page and drop me an email. In the meantime, I've ordered a combination cable lock to secure the helmet when parked so I don't have to carry it inside a restaurant or a restroom. You have to admit, it's a bit awkward holding a helmet while using a urinal...and I don't know about you, but I really don't want to set my helmet on a restroom floor or wet counter. Yuck!

Walt had mentioned that on his ride to my house it was fairly windy and that the bike handled well at highway speeds with the trunk. I had noticed the same characteristic when I rode in somewhat windy conditions. When passing a truck, I was always prepared to break what I call the "parachute" winds you experience when passing by the front fender. I wondered how the Vision would handle this situation without the trunk.

Allow me to add an observation to many bikers who add saddlebags or to manufacturers who offers side bags as an option. At highway speeds aerodynamics are an important factor that is often overlooked by style and function. When bags protrude from the side they can catch air that can dramatically alter handling characteristics of any bike.

Although there has been notable criticism of the interior compartment size of the Vision's side bags, I found them ample. Also due to the incorporated curved design, I did not feel any wind resistance at highway speeds. In terms of trade-offs, to me this was a fair one.  There has been much conversation, and some criticism on the blogs and in magazine reviews about the Vision's side bags appearing larger on the outside than the inside. (I was disappointed that the enthusiast magazines did not properly address the aerodynamic aspect when criticizing the bag's interior space. This criticism also goes to Victory for not stressing the point of limited wind resistance at highway speeds).

After owning other highway bikes, I have to agree with others in this assessment. However, like my old Goldwing, Victory offers as an accessory a set of nylon bags that are custom fit to insert in the side bags and the trunk that utilizes the "bulge" in the side bags to maximize storage space. I purchased this luggage set and while they fit as promised and deliver additional space, I have a bit of input for Victory. First, the material feels a bit cheap for an accessory for a bike in this price range. It has the ballistic nylon look, but compared side-by-side to Tumi luggage, they give me the impression that they are of a cheaper quality material and will not hold up in the long run. Of course, the tag inside states "Made in China." This statement speaks volumes. Also, although they provide ample space, there should be a secondary zippered compartment on the outside of the bag. This would be an ideal space to store some small items that need to be accessed quickly and easily.

Scott, Walt's chief mechanic, rode the bike to my house after the service and Walt followed in his car. I have always felt it's a good idea to allow the mechanic to ride my bike as he has trained "ear" and can feel if it's running properly and provide necessary adjustments. Scott has proven to me that he knows Victory bikes inside and out and while the Vision is a new bike, it appears he has received the proper factory training as I've had no mechanical issues and he provides excellent plain English explanations- a skill not often practiced by "wrenches." But Scott's is not your typical "Wrench" and I could see him owning a dealership one day.

Not knowing if I would feel comfortable taking the round trip in a single day, I packed an overnight bag in case I felt the need to spend the night in Orlando. I've taken long day trips before and understand that it's not a good idea to ride while fatigued. While I knew my comfort level on the Vision on relatively short trips of 80 - 100 miles, I did not know how I would hold up on a 350 mile day. After all, I'm no spring chicken.

I'm also not known to be a true "iron butt" rider. The longest trip I've made to date was in May of 1995. I had setup a live segment on motorcycles for NBC's Today Show and instead of just showing what's new on the Plaza in front of the Today Show studios in Rockefeller Center like I've done in previous segments, I decided to shake things up and do something different and do the segment from the Honda test facility in Marysville, Ohio. Of course, the Honda PR people jumped at this opportunity for free publicity and to further implant in our minds that the Goldwing was made in the USA. However, allow me to state that the Honda folks did not have the history of being the easiest to deal with. In fact they were almost as difficult to work with as the H-D PR people. I'm not trashing either one of these companies, but of all the motorcycle companies, H-D Press Relations was a nightmare to deal with. Even attempting to get the H-D PR rep on the phone could be a multi-week experience. Honda was a bit better, but that's not saying much. The easiest to deal with were Suzuki and Yamaha. To deal with Honda and H-D I had to have an intermediary intervene as I simply did not have the time to deal with them. When putting together live TV segments, there was much necessary coordination and little margin for error. After all, this was live TV and producing this type of segment is best compared to coordinating a three ring circus. Getting the products at the proper location was one thing, but combine that task with crew coordination , satellite trucks, travel and other details, having good factory reps was a necessity for me.

Over my nearly ten year tenure at NBC News, my annual motorcycle segments became an event for the motorcycle industry as it was one of the few places where motorcycles were displayed from an enthusiasts' perspective in the mass media. If you think about it, the bike magazines appeal to those who are already interested in bikes. There were few places in the mainstream media where a roundup of what's new in the world of motorcycles was presented to a mass audience. Every bike manufacturer clamored to make sure its bikes had a presence on these segments. However, the folks at Harley-Davidson wanted to micromanage my segments and attempted to dictate which of its models would be featured and tried to place the words of its message in my mouth. Since H-D was the hot line at that point in time, working with them was a necessary evil and they knew that a roundup segment would not be complete without them. After a few years of doing these annual bike segments, I had grown tired of dealing with the demands of H-D PR and finally told them that I would do a specific segment without them. They thought I was bluffing, but I wasn't as other bike manufacturers were finally starting to deliver some bikes that could be considered viable alternatives to H-D. Well, maybe they delivered bikes that shared similar cosmetics of H-D, the Japanese bikes did not deliver the ride and sound associated with "Hogs" at that time

Simply stated, as a good reporter, I needed at least one Harley in my roundup, but over the years I grew weary of dealing with them. I discussed this with my Producers and they agreed that it was my segment and to do it the way I see fit. So I bluffed and told the H-D PR representative to forget it and I would do the story without them. They knew I was bluffing but like a good poker player I did not show my hand. As the cards would play out, at the 11th hour (typically late at night just prior to the morning segment) I would receive a call stating they wanted to participate. From that point forward, H-D became a bit easier to deal with, but still was not as easy to work with as other manufacturers.

For the 1995 segment in Ohio, I put together a group of friends to ride as a group from Nashville to Marysville who would also assist me in demoing the bikes for the story. While a few riders were friends and experienced riders from Nashville, I had others join me for the trip. One was Jim, an old riding buddy from Houston who flew in and would ride my H-D Heritage Softail Special as well as two other Houston buddies who rode their Goldwings to Nashville and would take the trip with us. Ty, the Suzuki PR rep flew in from the West Coast and had a Suzuki cruiser awaiting him in Nashville to take the ride with us.

Ty was one of those PR guys who made my life easier. Suzuki was a tough sell in the PR world at that time as their cruisers were lackluster at best and considered a "value" bike. He had an easier time placing his high-speed sport bikes in the media than his cruisers. To make his point that Suzuki was serious about the cruiser market, Ty rode a Suzuki on our trip. When placed side-by-side to the Harley and Goldwing, the Suzuki was dwarfed. But Ty was a trooper and rode with the pack and at every stop never showed the first sign of fatigue. He also was one of the most responsible bike PR guys as he adorned full protective gear. He was and still is one of the best PR guys I've ever dealt with. H-D PR could learn from his skills in dealing with the media. Meeting up with us in Ohio was Fred Rau of Motorcycle Consumer News, http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/. Fred is a unique guy who is continually bucking the system. His publication derives its income solely from subscription and had zero advertising. His bike reviews were honest, fair and opinionated from a prospective from an expert in his field. MC News is best compared to the Consumer Reports of the motorcycle industry. To this day, I respect his work and have just renewed my subscription.

Fred rode a custom Goldwing that I called the Kitchen Sink. It had every option and after market accessory known to man. He built this bike as a project for this publication and it was a hit with his readers. He rode it from the West Coast to Ohio and towed a trailer. When producing these types of segments I would always save something special and noteworthy for the final item. This is what we in the industry called "The Payoff." Don't get this term confused with Payola, as the concept of Payoff was to leave behind a lingering message that would be "water cooler" and would be best remembered by the viewers.

Fred's modified Goldwing was really cool and deserved the attention I had planned. But the world of "live TV" is a strange animal as sometimes the best laid plans leave you in a "punt" situation. This is because as that point in time, NBC's Today Show was first and foremost a news broadcast (not the same show it is today) and my Gadget Guru segments were considered a "feature." In the TV industry, news trumps features. While I worked both the Weekday and Weekend editions of Today, my Saturday segments were strategically placed 47 minutes into the first hour and would provide the transition from the top news stories and interviews of the day to the second hour where cooking segments and light stories were placed. As the morning played out there were some breaking news issues that would take away a minute or so from my planned motorcycle feature segment, moving my allocated time from 4:30 to around three minutes of air time. I typically would not know of how much time I would have for a particular segment until just moments prior to going "live." I could not run long or I would be cutoff as after my segments the show would transfer to the local affiliates for a few minutes of local news and advertising. There was no margin for error. I learned in the TV industry, you can't mess with advertising as they paid the bills. While I never received any pressure by the show management to feature advertisers, commercial breaks were a fact of life. So by the time I got to Fred's bike, I only had a few seconds and could not properly deliver the message I had planned. Fred was trooper and understood and was gracious for having even the short time to show off his creation and the mention of his publication.

I would ride my Goldwing on this trip. This was one of my personal bikes and not a loaner. I was looking forward to riding this bike on a trip that would allow me to evaluate and enjoy it in the environment in which it was created...long highway trips. Up to this point, although I had taken short highway jaunts and knew it was a dream at these speeds, I had never taken it on such a long ride and wondered how I would feel after completing this journey. To make a long story short, it didn't disappoint. While the Goldwing was not great at slow speed maneuvering, especially for shorter riders, it was a champ on the highway. Sterile, but comfortable, competent and allow me to restate, comfortable. The reverse gear was a great feature for parking and originally I had questioned Victory about not including this feature on its new flagship bike.

I had the fully loaded Goldwing as did my friends Duane and Stevie who rode their bikes from Houston to Nashville to accompany us to Ohio. Duane and Stevie are brothers who had much more touring experience that I had. They had ridden their Goldwings across the country and it wasn't foreign to them to log 600, 700 or 800 miles in a day. To me, 200 miles was a long trip and this 400 mile one-way trip would be my longest to date. Also joining us were two Nashville Buddies, Jim and Slick. Jim would be riding a large BMW and if memory serves me correctly, Slick was riding a larger Honda. Both were extremely experienced riders although Jim would like to ride a bit faster than I would prefer. Jim was built short and stout and even on the tall BMW, he was one of the best riders I've every followed.

Since we were riding in a group, prior to starting we had a meeting and made the decisions about cruising speed and to ride in a staggered formation. The three Goldwings had CB communication and would be placed at the front, middle and end of the group so that we could communicate upcoming conditions and to make sure we were notified if and problems occurred. There was one situation where one rider veered a bit off the road onto a grassy patch, but quickly recovered. This was communicated between the Wing riders and hand signals were provided to the others in the formation.

The reason I digressed from my Vision experiences is simple: This trip would be the basis for comparison to the Vision for a highway journey. Riding a highway tour bike on a short trip versus taking it on a long voyage is best compared to writing a newspaper column to writing on a blog. In a newspaper column, you have limited space to deliver a message. On a blog such as this page, I can ramble on for as long as needed and take the time to explain any detail I desire. Get the picture?

As I've stated previously, the best way I can explain the characteristics I've experienced to date with the Vision, is by calling it a cross between a Goldwing and one of the larger Harley models. This drive to Orlando would speak volumes to me and would dictate my future trip plans with this bike.

To me, the Florida Turnpike is the perfect setting for such an experience as approximately every 45 miles there are rest stops. Not your typical rest stops that can many times be unsafe as they are un-monitored and have large blind spots due to truck parking, the Turnpike features rest stops that include a gas station as well a type of mini-mall/food court setting where you can grab a Starbucks, Burger King, Popeye's Fried Chicken, Cinnabon or other fast food delights as well as having clean restrooms. Of course, there were kiosks outside of each one that would sell fresh Florida citrus products. There is typically a State Trooper presence at each rest stop that made you feel safe leaving your bike in the parking lot. Of all the criticism I have for Florida politics, the Florida Turnpike is one area of State Government where I have no complaints, except when improvements call for construction delays. But I guess I'm glad that our highways are constantly maintained as no biker wants to find debris or potholes in the path.

My plan was to see if I felt the need to stop every 45 miles or was comfortable going 90 miles or more before stopping. Although retired from the industry, I'm still a tried and true product tester at heart. This ride would act as my test of the highway capabilities of the Vision and not be performed on a road that is hand-picked by manufacturers for motorcycle press rides. While this was a pleasure trip and I did not have a definitive time frame, I told Billy that I would give him a call when I approached Orlando. He's a great guy and had a flexible schedule that day. He also knew that I had a Bluetooth helmet and could check my progress along the way.

I left the house at 8:30am on Friday morning. We had a cool front that passed through late Tuesday and the temps went from being unseasonably warm to cool to perfect riding weather in just a few days. When I left, the temperatures were in the low 60s with a predicted high in the low 70s. I chose to wear the Bohn protective undergarment for the lowers, covered by Levis. For upper protection I wore a Mototogo mesh jacket that incorporates protection pads in crucial areas. It also had a zip-out waterproof interior that also added to warmth. I've found this jacket to be a good choice for warm weather riding without the lining as it breathes well while providing ample protection. In the left saddlebag I inserted the Vision bag with a change of clothes and in the right had a padded leather jacket (in case it was cooler than expected) along with some riding accessories. The trunk remained in the garage.

I programmed the Garmin 2820 for my trip and backed out of the driveway. I was wearing a new pair of Harley Recharge boots I had purchased a few days earlier and had been wearing them for break-in prior to the trip. Say what you will about Harley, they do have the widest selection of riding accessories on the planet. When I stopped by the local H-D dealership the previous week in search of new boots, I met Sonya who was very knowledgeable in this product category. The boots I had come in to check out, the Presidential seemed to fit my needs when reading about them online. They were over the ankle, had a side zipper for easy insertion and removal and a high sole that would allow me to be fully flat footed on the Vision. They also featured a mesh insert in the side that made them somewhat breathable for warm/hot weather driving. Also, since the Vision can generate heat in stop and go traffic, they provided the protection I was seeking. In speaking with Sonya and telling her what I was looking for in a riding boot and the importance of a good sole that would provide strong traction when backing the bike, she steered me away from the Presidential and to the Recharge as the Presidential was more of a fashion boot than a riding boot and did not have the "sticky sole" capabilities of the Recharge. She did not have my size in inventory, so I ordered them online when I arrived home.

On Thursday when my bike was returned from service, after we removed the trunk, I had a few stops to make and took the Vision. By the time I reached the end of the block, I realized there was a problem with the boots when used with Vision. The Recharge boots are true biker boots and have a steel toe. This toe was about a 1/4 inch too tall to slide under the shifter and the rear brake lever. My first stop was about five miles from home and found myself having to slide my boots sideways under the levers. This was an awkward maneuver and something I didn't want to have to think about. My first thoughts were to call Walt to see if I could adjust the levers a bit higher or, to go back to my old boots, but when I stopped, I simply used the heel of one boot to step on the toe of the other to mash them down a bit. There was enough interior height of the toe box to do this without sacrificing comfort or safety. On the next leg of my errands, this slight modification made them fit perfectly with the Vision.

When I returned home, I prepped the bike for my morning trip to Orlando. I had an early dinner with a friend and got a good night's sleep. At 8:30am on Friday I embarked on my first road trip on the Vision. I was thinking, "One way or round trip? How far would I comfortably ride today?" I'd make this decision after lunch with Billy. My first choice was to come home the same day as I wanted to play golf on Saturday morning, but would not do so if there was even the hint of fatigue.

 I'm now heading towards the Turnpike entrance with the Sunpass affixed to the windshield. Understanding this was Friday and Orlando is a major weekend tourist destination as well as Bike Week was starting in Daytona, I didn't want to get stuck at the toll booths and the Sunpass lanes typically moved briskly...even during peak times. Also, I've always found it awkward paying the tolls when on a bike. You have to stop and reach in your pocket for change (with gloves on). This has always been awkward at best and one of the many reasons I highly recommend a Sunpass not just for bikes, but for cars as well.

So, how was the trip? How did the Vision ride at highway speeds at extended times? How was the riding position comfort? How about fatigue? And, how was the performance, 6th gear roll-on for passing speeds?

I'll get to that in the next installment as it's a beautiful Florida Sunday and I want to get some riding in today. So, more later...

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