In 2011, Polaris purchased the Indian Motorcycle marque and revived it for the 21st century. This investment was a momentous event for the American motorcycle industry, but it would have a knock-on effect that would hail the end of Victory in the years that followed. This led to Polaris making an incredible investment. The success of Victory increased Polaris’s interest in the motorcycle market. This enthusiasm helped keep sales up despite the global economic hardships. Proof that there was more to the marque than edgy Harley copies. Still, it proved that Victory was a brand that could innovate. Its arrival was ill-timed, with the 2008 economic crisis just around the corner. It was a 21st-century touring machine built on the legacy of traditional American tourers, but with a futuristic edge. The Victory Vision first appeared in 2008. One of the most unusual and exciting Victory motorcycles to roll into production was the Victory Vision. This allowed the brand to expand, tempting Polaris to develop new models and broaden the product range. Like many fledgling brands, Victory took a few years to establish itself in the market. Victory Motorcycles had arrived, launching a new era for the American motorcycle industry. Everything was American aside from the Brembo brakes and British-made fuel-injection system. What’s more, the entire motorcycle was almost 100% American-made in Minnesota and Iowa. Taking inspiration from the automobiles of the 1930s, the new Victory has curves in all the right places. Retro design themes swept across the V92C from tank to tail. If that wasn’t enough, the new Victory V92C boasted a unique, head-turning appearance. It featured modern engineering that resulted in a smooth, fast, and reliable power that outclassed everything Harley-Davidson had on offer. But there was more to this exciting new model than size. The new kid on the block featured a 1,507cc V-twin engine, making it the largest displacement cruiser on the market at the time. In the same year, Polaris pulled the covers off of a new American cruiser: the V92C. Polaris decided to capitalize on that demand by offering a more affordable, yet still American made, product. Big American cruisers were (and always will be) popular, but consumers were looking for another manufacturer to buy from, rather than buying into the Harley-Davidson dream.ĭuring the mid-90s, motorcycle sales were soaring, and the likes of Harley-Davidson were experiencing an unprecedented sales boom. Polaris learned that there was room in the market for something to rival Harley-Davidson. To do that, the company embarked on a market research exercise that produced interesting results. Polaris Industries, a company renowned for building power sports products such as jet skis, ATVs, and snowmobiles, announced plans to enter the motorcycle arena. The concept behind Victory first emerged in 1994. This is the short history of the greatest American brand that could’ve been. And just when things were starting to get really exciting for the brand, Polaris went and pulled the plug. It breathed a breath of fresh air into a stagnant market right when it needed it most. While many riders may state that the market is already saturated with American-style cruisers, Victory offered something different. Or rather, the departure of Victory left a hole in the market that still hasn’t been filled. When the Victory story came to an end in 2017, the brand left behind a legacy.
0 kommentar(er)
