First came the Country, and now the Roads, a Victory touring bike with saddlebags and a whole lot of flair. The American manufacturer knows about technology and bold styling, but also respects the standards of the genre, as demonstrated by the oh-so-smooth retro lines of the Cross Roads.

How can you not fall in love with its sublime looks? (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

Playing the part
The 106/6 engine common to most of the Victory range is a model of efficiency. Torque and power are in abundance, thanks namely to the excellent electronic injection and ignition systems. The 97 ponies deployed at 4,950 rpm and up to 113 lb-ft of torque punched out at as early as 3,000 rpm allow the beefy, 338-kg bike to turn out a more than satisfying performance, one that’s very nearly exciting when riding solo. The balancing shafts and well-adapted engine mapping smoothly deliver torque from 2,000 rpm, so that every ride is a gratifying one, even at very low rpm.

The air- and oil-cooled twin-cylinder features single overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and a chain drive. The 6-speed transmission holds its own with clean, precise shifting that’s now free from the annoying driveline lash thanks to the improvements made for 2011, while the hydraulic clutch still requires more-than-average attention.

The slick engine responds without too much fuss from 1,000 onwards and is at its best between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. In a nutshell, it’s perfectly suited to its calling.

Heavy on the brakes
Usually, heavy bikes with long wheelbases like the Cross Roads require quite a bit of skill to keep the front end from slipping when braking hard. Not so here. The braking system is powerful and easy to modulate, and the big rear disc, which does 70% of the work, allows you to go easier on the front brakes while benefiting from a reassuring and easily controlled stopping distance.

The riding position is great too, with your feet placed forward but not too much and an excellent seat. The suspension is just stiff enough to avoid bottoming out. This is one comfortable bike that will have you looking for excuses to prolong the ride. What’s more, the ground clearance is higher than anything else in the class, the tires aren’t too wide and the fork angle isn’t very pronounced. This translates into healthy, even fun cornering behaviour on winding roads, considering the nature of the machine. The same higher ground clearance also allows you to brake harder and later when entering corners, which makes not only for good times, but safe times as well for a big cruiser without ABS.

Two good-sized saddlebags and one well-shaped passenger seat encourage two-up touring. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)