Going Flat Out for Victory
13/11/2008
Article from MCN, September 10th 2008, by Angus Farquhar
After months of daydreaming and doodling, my plans to modify the Victory Vegas 8-Ball are finally starting to take shape. I rode it around for a while in standard trim, but after a couple of big trips and a long haul up to the Isle of Harris in the Hebrides, I kitted it out with a big touring screen, panniers and a comfy pillion seat. Because it turned the 8- Ball into a really good touring bike – doing 600 miles in a day proved just how comfy it is – the off-theshelf additions are still attached, but it’s not what I want.
Several variations of what I could do went through my head over the last couple of months with a high-bar bobber being the favourite at one point, but the fact that the 8-Ball handles so well kept me thinking about a different route. It was a picture, right, in Victory Rider magazine that finally sealed the design and now the work has actually started.
US parts firm MBW Motorcycle Products (www.mbwmotorcycle.com) built a Bonneville Salt Flats speed trial bike based on the Vegas and it looks so good it was the only way I could go. A trip to renowned custom bike maker Hawg Haven ( w w w. H a w g h a v e n . C o . U k 01603-412222) confirmed that it wouldn’t be that difficult and the Norwich company would be happy to fit the work into its busy schedule.
After a couple of hours discussing what was needed with shop owner John Quantrel the conclusion was Hawg Haven could replicate the Bonneville Victory look without any permanent alterations to the bike. This was is an important factor for me partly because it’s a Victory UK press bike and needs to be restored to standard on its return, but also because I wanted to prove that you don’t have to cut anything to change radically how a bike looks. And if I ever get round to doing a 3000 mile tour of the continent it would be quite nice to put the touring kit back on without hassle.
Ideas of how we could make it all come together flowed thick and fast. The rearset pegs posed the biggest problem and would have to be custom-made one-offs using the existing pillion peg hangers. These will be replaced with a billet extension to the hanger that will push the pegs out wider and allow the controls for the gear shift and rear brake to be attached without fouling on the Stage 1 pipe I’ve already fitted.
Once we’ve cleared the exhaust the right-hand side is pretty straight forward and should re-use the standard master cylinder.
The left side is more involved, requiring re-routing the linkage for the gear shift. Because the actual shifter is set back under the gearbox cover, the linkage will have to form two parts with one bar running under the engine to a rear frame mount then changing direction with another bar up to the lever. Sounds complicated, but it should work. Now the only thing left to settle is a paint scheme.