First Ride: Victory Jackpot review
The Jackpot is Victory's latest gambit - a bold move into premium custom territory. So is it likely to fold, or will it be straight flush with success?
Click to read: Victory Jackpot owners reviews, Victory Jackpot specs and to see the Victory Jackpot image gallery.
THE JACKPOT IS an important bike for Victory. In the US, the extreme or 'premium custom' market represents 30,000 sales per year. The Jackpot is aimed at taking sales away from competitors such as Big Dog, most of whose rides will set you back in the region of $30,000. Victory hopes that the more competitively priced Jackpot will grab a portion of that market.
Push any motorcyclist hard enough and what really counts is bragging power: looking cool. Premium customs target this section of the market, providing bar-hops for the egotistical two-wheeled gentry. Handling and power-to-weight ratios are irrelevant. Making heads turn as you blip the throttle and the slash-cuts echo down the street is what really counts. Power is also a major plus. As with the sportsbike fraternity, bigger is definitely better. Victory took this notion on board and mounted a stonking 100 cubic inch, 1634cc lump in the heart of the Jackpot, making a claimed 84bhp and 103lb.ft instantly available with
a flick of the wrist.
The Jackpot's lines flow like those of a voluptuous woman. From the scalloped tank, it narrows and disappears into the waist of the plush two-part stepped seat before fanning out to the curvaceous J-Lo booty at the rear. The front is laced with deep, mirrored chrome, from the angular headlight to the headstock and beefy forks.
Ergonomics play an important role in the design of any motorcycle. First impressions as I slid my skinny butt into the Jackpot's saddle were encouraging. Its bars spread nicely and allow a relaxed riding stance with plenty of leverage to muscle the Jackpot through tighter corners. The pegs are far enough away from the rider that anyone under six feet will be able to have their legs almost straight.
Our ride from Victory's R&D centre through Washington County and back promised magnificent scenery, good twisties and a series of fast sweepers as we cruised the banks of the St. Croix River. It was ideal for testing the Jackpot's cruising abilities and to see how its odd tyre combo would cope with some pace.
