0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Most of the reviews posted here are from owners who just bought their Kingpins so of course they think the bike is the greatest thing since sliced bread and they highly recommend them. I’ve had my KP for a year now and have logged 5,000 mile on her and let me tell you…… she is the greatest thing since sliced bread and I highly recommend the KP!I had two bikes before the KP over 12 years but went 15 years bikeless after the twins arrived. Momma said it was too risky but she didn’t have a problem with me fighting in martial arts tournaments for 9 years, go figure. Anyway I spent a year looking at bikes so the KP purchase was well thought-out. The styling, power, reliability and the fact that the Victory dealer really wanted to sell me a bike won me over. If you don’t understand the last part, go to an H-D dealership and you will.Some may not like the fenders but they make the KP. They were styled by Ness; the rest of the bike was done in house by Victory.The KP is also easy to work on. My bike was stripped when I got it and I have done a lot of modding to it. One year and 5000 miles and I love it more now.Issues? Some. The rear Brimbo pads ware too fast. The stock factory seat (the optional touring seat is good) was one of the first things to go and the primary is louder than most bikes. Those faults are easily forgotten when you roll on the throttle or when you’re stopped by admirers asking about the bike. No one in Milwaukee is laughing at Victory now. -- JohnnyD
I've had my Kingpin for about 2 months or 500 miles. It has been a terrific motorcycle to this point. No mechanical problems at all.The first and only major service interval is due at the first 500 miles. This involves draining out the break-in oil and replacing the oil filter. Once this is completed, it is repeated at 2500 mile intervals.The motorcycle is manufactured by Polaris. They are assembled right here in my home state of Iowa. The company dates back to 1954. The Victory motorcycle line was introduced in 1998.I had considered the purchase of an H-D. In the end it was the serious amount of money the Victory saved me -- in the neighborhood of about $5000. In addition I wanted something a little different. Once again the bike has been fantastic.The only complaints, which are only cosmetic, are the lack of a factory tachometer and a genuine fuel gauge. The Kingpin comes with a fuel light that comes on when low. I would have much preferred a conventional "gas gauge." Victory offers the tachometer as an accessory.The only other recommendation that I would make is to have the dealer install the Stage I exhaust kit. I ran the original exhaust for the first 300 miles then opted for the exhaust upgrade. The reason for this was not so much from a performance standpoint, but from a safety issue. The Stage I exhaust is louder, although not overly so. I feel more comfortable knowing that automobile drivers can hear me better, especially those with cell phones glued to their ears.If Victory can continue to produce a solid reliable product at a good price, as they have done thus far, they have the potential to kick some serious H-D butt. -- Steelmuscle
Just traded my 2000 V92C for an '04 leftover Kingpin. I wanted the dark purple and it's not offered in the '05. I really didn't mind my noisy transmission, exhaust backfiring, battery tending 2000 but after I rode the KP it definitely was a step in the right direction! I wasn't even looking to trade but what a difference.I considered the H-D Deuce but why join the pack when you can lead! -- Jay
Got my Kingpin just before Thanksgiving and have a little over 1000 miles on it. Love it. Looks cool, rides great, hauls butt.I've been kind of surprised about how many people comment on how much they like the looks of it (Bronze Metallic/Pearl White with touring package). Before I bought, I was confused by what people said I ought to buy so I just rode everything. I reserved a Road King a few weeks in advance and when I went to pick it up they told me it was "busted." They gave me a Lowrider that was fun to ride, but not real comfortable and not that quick. I like the Roadstar looks but it rides kind of upright and not as peppy as the KP. The VTX 1800 was obviously quicker than the Kingpin and you could tell by how smooth the tranny was that it was a Honda, but not that sexy.The Kingpin got me on the handling, cosmetics and reliability. So far, I'm lovin' it. -- JD
The Kingpin is my second Victory. I just traded in my 2000 Sport Cruiser for it.The Kingpin is exactly the bike I was looking for and wish they had made this model four years ago. All of the problems and idiosyncrasies with the earlier models have been addressed. The engine and tranny are smoother and more responsive. The annoying "clunk" in the shifter is gone and the suspension and balance is nearly perfect.I got mine with the Stage I kit pre-installed and don't know why they would sell the bike any other way.I couldn't be happier with the bike. I abandoned H-D when I bought my first Victory and have no regrets whatsoever. My dealer has been great. I got a bunch of add-ons (windshield, bags, backrest, etc.) far below MSRP.I only hope Polaris/Victory does not fall into the H-D trap and get too full of themselves.For now, Victory is my American Motorcycle of choice. -- Fish
I now have 1600 miles on a new 2004 Victory Kingpin I bought in August. I am very happy with it.I have been riding the same '79 Lowrider for 23 years and over 80,000 miles but for me I wanted to move on to something more reliable with less maintenance. The Kingpin sits taller which takes some getting used to, but has won me over with everything else.I bought it with the stage 1 kit installed and love the power and sound. Yes it's loud but not as loud as the Harley's straight pipes. I have had no trouble with flooding or low end performance. The oil change/adjustments at 500 miles was over $100 but it keeps it in waranty so I let the dealer do it.In power, handling, and comfort it puts my Harley to shame. My two complaints are it came with the lace spoke rims instead of stock cast rims and the slop in the transmission.The spoke rims have the usual problem of a high speed wobble at that kicks in at about 105 mph. Nothing to be done about it but buy the very expensive cast wheels. The transmission shifts great but the all-gear drive creates a cumulative slack you really feel riding in slow trafic. Going back and forth from accelerating to slowing, you can feel the transmission take up the slack each time you change. It is annoying but I will put up with it if it has the expected reliability.One piece of advice: If you buy one, get the custom grips. They look and feel much better than the stock ones. -- Rob
The Kingpin has terrific looks and runs great so long as you're nailing it. But low speed cruising is terrible. Stage 1 kit was installed when new and it has flooded ever since. Two dealers have remapped the computer trying to fix it but no luck yet. Oh and get this. They want to charge you for this unless they did it last, even though these kits are sold straight out of their catalogue. They are not covered by their warranty.Gear driven primary is very noisy, sounds like a foreign bike engine. I have 780 miles on it so maybe it will quiet down with time.A $185 oil change at the dealer was a little rough also. Of course they claim they serviced a lot of stuff that the "other dealer" was supposed to have done when I bought the bike new. I quess 17K just doesn't buy what it used to. -- Glory
Two weeks... 750 miles... Four Stars. I have been very satisfied with my 2004 Kingpin. Having ridden for 30 years and never having a cruiser bike, I spent much time riding my friends' Harleys. Bottom line, nice bike, cult status, one on every corner. Wanted an American bike, but just didn't want the Harley.The new KP is simply beautiful. I got the tour pak and can hang in the saddle all day. Couldn't say that about the Hog.People are always interested in the bike and most seem to come to ask about the "other American bike."The tranny (primary gear) does whine a bit, but coming from a history of inline-4s, the sound is not obtrusive. At idle, the bike sounds like it has a supercharger on it. If you don't like the sound, hit the loud button. With the Stage 1 kit, it comes on strong. -- Tom
I am very disappointed in this bike.Good power but very noisy engine. The transmission is the worst. Sloppy like an old car with a bad universal joint. Jerky at low speeds unless revving the engine or slipping the clutch. Good at speeds above 40 MPH up to 65 MPH. At 50 to 60 MPH there is an irritating engine whine. After 65, it picks up more and more engine vibration. Below 40, bike is not smooth at low speeds and unable to cruise comfortably at 15 to 30 MPH in residential areas or slow scenic routes.Dealers just want to sell a bike and are not interested in meeting your needs. Victory factory will just blow you off and tell you it's up to the dealer to satisfy the problems.Don't put on the Vance and Hines pipes and upgrade kit unless you really like a LOUD bike. Much louder than the Harley. I tried it per Victory's dealer recommendation to help solve the low speed power problem but it just made matters worse. Huge mistake. I have put my bike up for sale on consignment. I hope to recoup most of my money. (If you want a bike with this modification,
Just picked up my KP on Saturday - WOW. I moved up from a Yammie 650 V Star Classic. Excellent bike to start with, but miles away from comparison against the Kingpin. The KP is noticeably heavier during slow maneuvers, but it is still user friendly due to its low center of gravity.I narrowed my choices down to Indian, Harley, BMW and Victory. Beemers ride exceptionally well, but lacked the familiar rumble of a V Twin that I was after. Indian was more of a dream choice given the price tag on the Chief, plus, with their decision to close down operations, I was kinda concerned about parts, maintenance, repairs, etc. Harley - at least four dealerships and no one even breathed in my direction. I really like the Road King and the Electra Glide Standard, but customer service is a huge deal for me and my experience was negative. Demo'd the KP and had an excellent experience at the dealer - zero sales pressure. Went to another dealer on a whim where a buddy recently bought a V Star 1100. They gave me a deal I just could not refuse.The Ride? A dream. I'm 5'-9", 200 lbs. I only have about 64 miles on her, but she handles like a dream come true. Easily accelerates with just a slight roll on the throttle - silky smooth. Handling is great; can't wait until the new tires break in so I can really leeeean into the twisties. VERY comfortable. It almost feels like I'm in my favorite chair at home. The floorboards and bars are positioned in ideal positions. As of right now I don't think I need highway pegs.Great ride overall, super happy with my choice. Some specs: Pearl White & Bronze Mist color scheme, chrome laced wheels (I wanted stock cast wheels, but these will do), touring package (windshield, bags, and sissy bar). Some coming attractions: Kuryakyn ISO Grips + Throttle Boss, Engine Guard, ISO Wing Pegs (maybe), Stage I Kit.Someone else had written one should be ready to buy this bike when it is demo'd - I couldn't agree more. Within the first 500 feet I knew. I lied to myself for a month, but deep down, I knew. Hope this helps. -- Fred
What a bike this one is. Just got a Kingpin April 5 and I can't be happier. I almost settled on a Fat Boy, which is certainly a looker, but had taken another look at the Victories before deciding. I had seen the Kingpin commercial many times and thought it was one good looking machine. After test driving it, my mind was made up.The sticker price wasn't much different from the bare bones Fat Boy but when considering that the one I got came with a windshield, saddlebags, passenger sissy bar/backrest, stage one kit and a $400 leather coat, I felt I got a good deal. The best part is they were very willing to deal on top of that with no hassles.The bike rides great and I rode up to a HOG rally at the local H-D shop this past weekend and got rave reviews from quite a few folks.Kind of surprised there aren't some other Kingpin reviews here. Good riding -- Doug
Got my Victory Kingpin April 29th. It's everything I wanted in a bike. Great acceleration and braking, good cornering, and looks galore. At 300 miles the pipes are starting to mellow out and will get even better with time( I'm told). The dealer has done everything possible to make this a great experience for me. Add in the price and a few goodies thrown in and my buddies with their HDs are looking twice. -- BreakerBob
Awesome bike, styling, power (she's a runner). Of course I'm talking about the Victory Kingpin. This bike is perfect in every way, fit and finish, styling, power, available accessories, value and dealer network. Anyone looking to buy an American made cruiser NEEDS TO TEST RIDE one of these gems. One ride and it's over. You'll be hooked. 100 years, and now the countdown begins. Watch out HD. -- Steveo
