Gear Jacket: Power-Trip,...
Gear Jacket: Power-Trip, Gloves: Icon, Helmet: Fulmer
JackpotIn 1998, Victory Motorcycles launched its first motorcycle, the V92C. Since that iconic launch, the company that bills itself as "The New American Motorcycle Company," has proven that it's here to stay; for the long haul. After receiving much acclaim for the V92C's design, Victory released several models over the years to its lineup and has established quite a presence in the industry today. After celebrating its 10-year anniversary as a viable entity in the V-Twin marketplace (what does 10 equate to in business years?) the American manufacturer of power cruiser's like the Vegas Jackpot, keep consumers coming back for more. From the sleek lines of the bike flowing from the front wheel to the rear 250mm tire the Jackpot's curves don't quit, especially when adorned with the flashy chrome frontend that comes standard.
The most impressive aspect of the Jackpot is its drivetrain package, which features a 106ci motor and six-speed trans with overdrive. The Jackpot was one of the three cruiser models treated to the 106/6 powertrain for 2009 (also found on Hammer and Hammer S models). This motor represents power, a certain machismo, masculinity and strength. It features a single overhead camshaft design with four valves per cylinder and a 45mm throttle body, giving this 106 a 9.4:1 compression ratio. The 50-degree twin claims to produce a whopping 113 lb-ft of torque and 93 hp, according to Victory. You can definitely feel the torque when launching from the line. You feel as if you could almost pull a trailer behind the bike and not the other way around. And when the engine's fumes are expelled out of this new 2-into-1 exhaust system (does not come standard), those numbers could go even higher. The low rumble of the new exhaust's vibrato roared as I made my way down the street.
Upon encountering some rough patches of highway, the Jackpot's front suspension, a 43mm telescopic fork that features 5.1 inches of travel, worked well with the single, mono-tube preload adjustable shock in the rear. The combination of the two took to most of the bumps smoothly, but I thought it was pretty rough in some spots. The suspension took hard shots pretty well, but there was a lot of vibration in some of the short, choppy sections of the freeway. When turning, the Jackpot maintained its path, but a little elbow grease was required to muscle the Lime green cruiser to the finish because of the wide rear tire and the 95.9-inch overall length of the bike. However, when stopped, my feet planted on the asphalt on both sides, I didn't feel as if I had to reach toward the ground with just the tips of my toes. The bike was low enough for my 30-inch inseam to rest comfortably.
There are plenty of new features on the 2009 Jackpot. The headlamp and LED taillamp are 2X brighter than previous models and its run/brake light illuminate the night's sky, making others more aware to when you're near. The Jackpot is available in Boardwalk Blue, Solid Sunset Red, Orange Crush with extreme graphics, and Lucky Lime with extreme graphics (shown). If you're looking to get noticed, the green scheme of things will get the job done. But, if you're after a subtler look, a solid black model is also available. The swingarm and frame are also powdercoated to match the color of your choosing. The new one-piece seat fits a passenger comfortably. I asked my wife to participate-she's a trooper-and she obliged. The half-day trek on the Jackpot was well received by my better half. It was evident when she said her favorite part of touring the scenic countryside was the actual ride. When we arrived to our destination, she was ready to get back on the bike. So was I. HB