Victory patents new liquid-cooled cruiser

Is this Victory's new performance cruiser?

EUROPEAN design patents have been registered for what looks like a new liquid-cooled Victory motorcycle.

The design sketches, filed by Victory owner Polaris Industries, show a single-seat cruiser featuring a DOHC V-twin engine with a radiator clearly visible at the front.

Victory is thought to have its sights set on the performance end of the cruiser market, competing with the likes of Ducati’s Diavel.

Indian Motorcycles, also owned by Polaris, last year introduced a new range of traditional American cruisers to compete with Harley-Davidson, so a move into higher performance territory by Victory could make sense for both marques.

Two weeks ago drawings emerged of four potential new liquid-cooled Victory models, each from a different designer at Polaris. Three appeared to feature the same new liquid-cooled engine, with a belt-drive on the right-hand side, along with a dual seat.

The new sketches most closely resemble the fourth machine, by Polaris design chief Greg Brew, with belt-drive on the left-hand design and a single seat.

However, the design registered with the EU’s Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market does not exactly resemble any of those seen before.

The rear shocks are positioned at a steeper angle, the radiator looks larger and the tank, clocks and mudguards are new.