Turn-in is nimble because you have the leverage in those wide bars to flick the bike over quickly to its optimum lean angle. Despite the big 21-inch tyre, it is surprisingly nimble. It touches down quicker on the right because of the double exhausts on that side. Of course, the clearance was an issue, so you have to arc the corners a little wider and plan a bit more carefully. Some of the roads we rode were tight and winding, some with massive bumps and potholes. Honda Reveals the NT1100: A Smaller African Twin for the Masses My backside got a bit sore, but my arms didn’t tire and I felt fresh and still excited every time we stopped. Yet I never felt like I couldn’t make the distance to fill-up time. Fuel range is about 240km before the fuel light comes on leaving you with about 3 litres and 75km to empty. I rolled out of the city for an overnight ride with some mates through northern NSW wondering how I could manage to last two days on a bike like this with no room for luggage, an improbable skinny 21-inch front tyre, a low seat, minimal clearance and a windsock riding position. Other than that, there is nothing between you and the view.
The controls are traditional and basic, but with a switch on the back of the left handlebar to toggle between odo, trip and a digital rev counter on the small LCD screen on the single-pod chromed speedo. You can get an optional second seat, but in Queensland the single seat means cheaper registration. I’m 187cm tall, so shorter people or those with more natural padding might find it more comfortable. A bit more padding or a bit less at the back so I could slide further back might be better. After a few hours, though, my bony butt started to feel a bit sore. Yet it’s a comfortable riding position with the controls not too far forward, the bars close enough for a relaxed elbow bend and a well-contoured dish-shaped saddle. The riding position is a bit of a windsock and anything over 110km/h requires a firm grip of those wide bars. This engine pumps out a lot of hot air, but on this naked bike I couldn’t feel any of the heat. At higher revs, it still feels like it is pulling strongly and doesn’t get rough, raucous or vibey. It will pull from just below 2000 revs and will happily cruise in sixth at 100km/h on the highway at 2300rpm and accelerate smartly for overtaking without requiring a lower cog. But around town you can swiftly flick through to fourth and trawl around on the lusty midrange torque. The cable clutch is a shortcut that keeps costs down and feels a bit stiff, so riding is traffic can be a bit of a chore. It has plenty of torque, doesn’t vibrate too much, has low mechanical noise and is perfectly matched to the six-speed transmission. The Vegas 8-Ball is powered by the same flexible and refined 106 Freedom air/oil-cooled V-twin as the rest of the Victory fleet. You could say it’s a Softy for not much more than a Sporty price tag. What’s best is you get to ride away on the Vegas 8-Ball for just $19,995. After all, who could resist those turbo-fan mag wheels, swooping fuel tank, custom saddle, wide, wide beach bars and Batman-cowl headlight? It comes in any colour want so long as it’s gloss black. It has a flexible engine, well-matched and smooth transmission, adequate brakes, good grip, a nice ride and it turns heads everywhere it goes. In fact, this bike just gave me two of the best days of riding I’ve had in a while on some of the bumpiest and twistiest tar northern NSW countryside can throw at you. To quote Albert Einstein: “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The Victory Vegas 8-Ball is not a superbike, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Of course it’s not going to set the fastest lap timer at Laguna Seca. Here is a cruiser that looks like a work of art that should be hanging in an art gallery somewhere not out cruising country back roads. Instead, I should just throw them the keys to a Victory Vegas 8-Ball. I get tired of defending cruisers from critics who’ve never ridden one or don’t know how.
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