New for 2007 are a new Top Box, capable of carrying up to 20 pounds of gear (twin locking saddlebags handle overflow); a new custom-inspired headlight; a cast rather than forged swingarm that is both stronger and lighter (an optional chrome unit is forged); repositioned emissions decal (now on the battery box, cleaning up the swingarm look); and a new inventory of Pure Victory accessories for dress-up and customization. An accessory lock kit is available with three locks that operate with a single key for the top box and both saddlebags.
My Victory Kingpin Tour loaner was finished in a two-tone Pearl White metallic and Boardwalk Blue metallic finish with fading charcoal accent tribal graphics striped in black. The base price was set at $17,999, but one can figure adding a couple of hundred dollars more for prep and handling, tax and license, which brings the final tally to approximately $18,249.
Inverted cartridge telescopic 43mm tube forks with 5.1 inches of travel enhance the ride quality up front, as do the single forged and cast aluminum mono-tube gas shocks, with rising rate linkage swingarm and preload adjustable spring, which provide 3.9 inches of travel. The damping compliance was comfortable even with two-up, - each weighing in the neighborhood of 220-plus pounds.
Bringing the Kingpin Tour to a halt is no problem - forward is a 300mm floating rotor with 4-piston caliper, and aft, a 300mm floating rotor with 2-piston caliper does the job. Meeting the pavement are Dunlop tires - 130/70-18 front and 180 55/B18 rear mounted on seven-swirl-spoke, polished alloy wheels.
SUMMARY: The Victory Kingpin Tour offers a pleasing look and ride quality. It handled well with excellent stability whether riding solo or two-up, though I preferred solo since the passenger portion of the kicked-up seat was on the short side, with the unadjustable passenger backrest and top-mount trunk forcing the passenger into me, necessitating my moving too far forward for my taste and comfort. My passenger felt that the boards were mounted too high for maximum comfort. On the subject of riding comfort, the Kingpin Tour comes with a windshield and lower wind deflectors to minimize buffeting at freeway speeds. Accommodating rider and passenger, the two leather-covered saddlebags and top-mount trunk provide lots of road trip storage.
A cold idle lever on the left control pod smoothes out the idle when warming up the big Freedom 100/6 V-Twin. Once warmed up, the 1634 cc motor gives off a satisfying throaty rumble, albeit somewhat quieter than a Harley. Also on the left pod is a single switch for directional (both directions) with push-to-cancel when the self-cancel feature fails.
The six-speed overdrive gearbox gets the job done, though I occasionally found neutral while downshifting, when I didn't want it. The key must remain in the ignition unlike many other cruisers, and securing the bike when parked requires lining up bracket holes on both the frame and tree to allow using a lock, as there's no integrated fork lock.
OK, enough nit picking. The Kingpin Tour, which is essentially a bagger version of the base Kingpin, is a really pleasurable bike to hit the road on. Optional highway bars and driving or passing lamps contribute to a more traditional flavor.
Bottom line, the bike's balance is ideal, and it serves as a top-notch Victory cruiser, which could possibly be overshadowed when the Victory Vision and Vision Tour future luxury cruisers roll onto the showroom floor of dealerships.
Copyright, Motor Matters 2007
