2015 Victory Magnum - First Ride

High rolling in Vegas.

Here’s a slogan that Victory has coined for its latest bagger, the 2015 Magnum: Envy Comes Standard. Is the new bike, which is based on the Cross Country platform, worthy of such praise?

Victory officials naturally think so. "The Magnum brings even more attitude to a bike that is already well known for that," said one company rep. "Riders have been asking for, or building, this kind of bike for several years now. The Magnum brings it all to market in a complete package ready to roll, with built-in Victory reliability, handling and warranty."

With a history of model names like Jackpot, Eight Ball and Vegas, what better location for a press reveal/ride than Sin City itself? Our hosts even staged a high-stakes poker run on several stock and accessorized Magnums. The lucky winning publication would win a fully kitted Magnum to be presented as a reader sweepstakes prize!

No such luck here. But the Magnum deals a hot hand with its 21-inch custom cast front wheel, Low-Pro saddle and slammed back-end. Revised linkage cuts rear suspension travel by an inch, while also yielding a claimed 25.7-inch seat height for easy footing at stops. Even while riding two-up, I could feel the rear suspension soak up the pavement heaves caused by heavy truck traffic in the desert. Apart from having predictable steering and good stability, the Magnum is an easy machine to be fluid on with loads of torque, smooth throttle response, slick shift action and nicely calibrated ABS.

The Magnum’s sound system features an AM/FM radio along with USB and Bluetooth connectivity with a 100-watt amplifier driving six dash-mount speakers. While it proved plenty loud at stoplights and while cruising the Las Vegas Strip, freeway speeds didn’t make for easy listening.

Slated for a September arrival, the Magnum comes in a choice of four color schemes ranging in price from $21,999 for Metasheen Black over Supersteel Gray, $22,499 for Plasma Lime and Sunset Red over Supersteel Gray and $22,999 for Ness Midnight Cherry, each with color-matched oil-cooler shroud and painted dash.

While the poker hand I was dealt left much to be desired, my gal and I both agree that the new Magnum is a pat hand. I guess you could say Victory’s future looks as bright as the Magnum’s exclusive new LED headlight.

SPECIFICATIONS
|2015 Victory Magnum
LIST PRICE|$21,999 to $22,999
ENGINE TYPE|air/cooled V-twin
DISPLACEMENT|1731cc
FUEL CAPACITY|5.8 gal.
CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT|761 lb.
SEAT HEIGHT:|25”

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Front wheel.

Headlight / front fairing.

Cockpit view.

Engine (right-side view).

Saddlebags.

Front section.

Front wheel / brakes.

Left grip.

Right grip.

Engine (left-side view).

Engine (right-side view).

Studio side view (Ness Midnight Cherry).

Studio side view (Plasma Lime).

Studio side view (Metasheen Black over Supersteel Gray).

Studio side view (Sunset Red over Supersteel Gray).

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