Brembo brakes, long front (130mm) and rear (120) suspension travel, and adjustable preload at the rear contribute to the stability and comfort of the machine.

A cockpit remisniscent of a 747, dominated by the nice round analog disp^lsys, and with 20-odd switches to manage the various radio, sound system, iPod interface and all the other normal functions. And it only takes a few hours to master it all. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

An 11-litre airbox sits where the fuel tank usually goes, and the space underneath the low saddle is occupied by the rear shock absorber and suspension links. This left designers with no option but to mount two half tanks level with the steering stem, high and forward of more usual spots, and far from the centre of gravity of the bike. This goes against mass centralization, to the point that fuller tanks mean slower handling in corners and greater difficulty in moving the bike around at very low speeds.

Roomy and comfortable
The Victory Vision offers a surprising amount of room on a spacious saddle, with in-your-face instrumentation that includes a pair of analog dials (speed and RPM) plus a smaller display for vehicle diagnostics and trip info (time, distance, speed, fuel level and range, air temperature and audio controls).

The seemingly cavernous side bags turn out to be rather small and hard to load/unload due to their tight opening. The lack of a top case also limits cargo capacity and will probably force serious travelers to use a trailer, or turn to the Vision Tour, which does come with a roomy and stylish Top Case.

The bike’s curb weight of 387 kilos (395 with ABS) won’t exactly instill confidence in smaller riders, especially during ultra-low-speed maneuvers. Victory designers thought about that and hid side bracing under the fairing to limit potential falls to a 45-degree angle rather than have the machine completely drop to the ground. This also makes it easier to get the bike back upright!

A two-wheel limo
The 2010 Arlen Ness Victory Vision becomes much easier to handle once you take off, thanks to a low seat height (673mm) and center of gravity, even more so when the fuel tanks aren’t full. The comfortable, almost chair-like riding position keeps your back upright with your hands falling naturally on the large handlebar, and your feet at ease on the elongated floorboards. Are you ready to crisscross the land?

The teardrop shape rear end looks sleek and aerodynamic, but it does unfortunately narrow down the rears bags to a less than adequate volume. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)