First Ride and Review of the Victory Judge

/ rabidhedgehog
The Peeps:
Law Tigers
Local OKC Number: 405-500-1397 National 1-800-LAWTIGERS (1-800-863-7216)
www.lawtigers....
For insurance needs in Oklahoma State contact:
Enloe and Associates Insurance, LLC
www.enloeinsura...
405-261-1010
For oils and lubricants contact Doug Crawford at USA Synthetics
usasynthetics.com/
405-388-6170
Want to see the bikes?
Indian motorcycles of Oklahoma City
7 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405-606-3615
www.indianmoto...
Rabid Hedgehog is not a paid endorser of the brand or the dealership
Specs for the 2013 Victory Judge
Battery 12 volts / 18 amp hours
Bore 101 mm
Stroke 108 mm
Charging System 38 amps max output
Clutch Wet, multi-plate
Compression Ratio 9.4:1
Cooling System Air / oil
Displacement 106 ci / 1731 cc
Engine Type 4-stroke 50° V-Twin
Exhaust Staggered slash-cut dual exhaust with crossover
Final Drive Carbon Fiber Reinforced BeltFuel Capacity 4.7 gal / 17.8 ltrs
Fuel System Electronic Fuel Injection with dual 45mm throttle body
Oil capacity 5.0 qts / 4.73 ltr
Primary Drive Gear drive with torque compensator
Transmission 6-speed overdrive constant mesh
Valve train Single overhead camshafts with 4 valves per cylinder, self-adjusting cam chains, hydraulic lifters
Dry Weight 660 lbs / 300 kg
Ground Clearance 4.7 in / 120 mm
GVWR 1151 lbs / 522 kg
Length 92.0 in / 2337 mm
Rake/trail 31.7o / 6.7 in / 170 mm
Seat Height 25.9 in / 658 mm
Wheelbase 64.8 in / 1647 mm
Suspension
Front Suspension Conventional telescopic fork, 43 mm diameter, 5.1 in / 130 mm travel
Rear Suspension Single, mono-tube gas, cast aluminum with rising rate linkage, 3.0 in / 75 mm travel, preload adjustable spring
Brake System Type Conventional
Front braking system 300mm floating rotor with 4-piston caliper
Rear braking system 300mm floating rotor with 2-piston caliper
Wheels & Tires
Front Tire 130/90 B16 67H
Dunlop 491 Elite II
Front Wheel 16 x 3.5 in
Rear Tire 140/90 B16 77H
Dunlop 491 Elite II
Rear Wheel 16 x 3.5 in

[@dmedina6835]

I bought this bike shortly after this review and took the floor boards off and tuned her- she's awesome ty

[@RabidHedgehog]

You got this from Indian of OKC!? Sweet!

[@dmedina6835]

@@RabidHedgehog yea its my third bike next to my road king and Suzuki bking and hopefuly an Indian challenger in two years lol

[@servicarrider]

Many Vic's had double disc Brembo's with braided stainless lines. Your on a poorly mapped bike. Victory bikes were always powerful. They were known for it. Harley couldn't touch them. A set of Lloyds cams and a few bolt on's and they were monsters. Much like a great big overgrown Honda Cub. Best technology of the day, gas-n-go, absolutely bulletproof, problem free. Victory didn't even build spare engines. No need.

[@RabidHedgehog]

I am seeing that the quest to find an all stock machine shall continue.

[@jonathan91595]

@@RabidHedgehog I have an all stock judge 2014 with 4300 miles

[@saliston]

I have a 15 Victory Gunner. She's an incredible bike. Everytime I get on her I start smiling. Mine is pure stock and ate a 107Harley for lunch a few weeks ago. The guy pulled up next to me at a light. He was all cocky. He was about three car lengths behind me when we let up. He was shocked.

[@RabidHedgehog]

It would help if a Harley tried to sneak up on me.

[@ChaohsiangChen]

I wish polaris some how revive the Gunner with ABS and dual front disk.

[@RabidHedgehog]

I wish they would bring back the Victory line in some ways.

[@sam.abadyah]

@@ChaohsiangChenwould be SO amazing

[@williamrose2506]

I have a '13 Judge and have learned that the stock pipes cause a lot of vibration. You failed to mention that the engine is hard-mounted, so you get a lot of engine feel, and the length of the stock pipes amplifies engine pulses. Switched to Bassani, 2:1 and most vibes are gone.

[@threehemis5566]

I have a Victory Hammer that has a 2-1 Bassani exhaust, intake and tuned with a maximus and it's amazing how that machine opened up from stock it's a beast. Stage 1 factory I did first and it was a noticeable improvement but the torque tube intake and tune and omg it actually feels like 25 hp more than stock. I looked at a stage 1 bike and a twist of throttle was disappointing just feels restricted in comparison, same with new HD bikes I rode.

[@sludge3587]

The swept pipes are the victory stage 1 crossbow pipes. They make decent low end power but rob a lot of power on the top end. I put an rpw2-1 pipe on my judge and now she screams on the top end.

[@RabidHedgehog]

Hmm. Need experiments.

[@profencegrandrapids2684]

I have a victory jackpot, cross country, and a magnum. I’ve rode harleys, hondas, yammies, and guzzis. Not one of them compared to the performance of any of my vics. If that bike felt doggy something was wrong. (I rarely shift before 4500 and can stretch to 6500 rpms when i running hard)

[@RabidHedgehog]

This bike was needing a tune to match the opened up exhaust. This has since been corrected as the new owner has commented to me about it.

[@bikerbeliever8169]

Well is a good looking machine and sounds good chugging along. Actually like the angles on the tank.

[@RabidHedgehog]

I do not know why I never got into it. I would say if this one was a bit more rounded out with the white letters on the tires it would have looked sick because of that slammed stance.

[@bikerbeliever8169]

@@RabidHedgehog agreed on the white letters on the tires give it more muscular look.

[@jroberthadden]

Keeping it in 6th gear at fifty and expecting it to pull is not how the bike was designed. I have a King Pin and the only time I use overdrive 6th is when I'm running over 70. As a matter of fact, on two lane highways out here with a 65 mph speed limit, I always keep it in 5th .(unless I know there are no cops around) If I snick her up into the overdrive 6th, pretty soon I'm running 75+ just because that's where the power band takes you in that gear. It really settles in nicely at 80 in 6th. Mine will touch 115 when asked... Maybe the bike you rode is different, but my 100 ci King Pin easily out runs stock 103 Twin Cams. As a matter of fact my riding buddy owns a Boardwalk with the 106 and he cannot pull away from me at on ramps when we peg them. (and he's thirty pounds lighter than me) As far as the brakes are concerned, I have no qualms about them whatsoever. They are MUCH better than the brakes on my Road King, even after I replaced pads, rear rotor, and flushed the brake lines on the H-D. As I continue to listen to your comments, it's hard for me to believe that you're on a bike so dissimilar to mine. Granted, mine has been treated with the "stage one" tune, but I can tell just by watching you ride this that mine runs much stronger. It was never intended to be a bike to, as you say, pull your arms out of their sockets. If someone led you to believe that was what this bike was, then they misinformed you. My VMAX and my VROD are closer to those kinds of power cruisers. I have ridden several other Victory bikes, including a couple of Judges and a Hammer S and, since I usually can relate to your videos, I really think you must have gotten a dud to demo.

[@spacecoastz4026]

I have a 2016 Hammer S (but its the same engine)...and I almost never use 6th gear...unless I'm doing 80 mph. Also, not only is 6th gear an overdrive, but even 5th gear is an overdrive. Fourth gear is a one to one ratio.

[@jayleav]

Now go find a Kingpin and ride it. Find one that’s not an 8 ball, or low. The regular KP has an inch longer rear shock and inverted front end. Lots of ground clearance too. And yes they run better with more RPMs so don’t upshift as often.

[@RabidHedgehog]

If one shall come into a place on trade it shall be ridden!

[@npzninja]

"...it does get a LOT MORE character vibration going through it...." would you say that's a bad thing? I'm looking to buy one, idk why, as I am well aware the company went under, i think the price point on this particular bike has my attention (even if it only lasted three seasons, for 4 grand who cares. get the feel of a big strong bike with very little loss should something go wrong.)

[@mloxton1970]

Great review, warts and all. Really informative, thank you.

[@toradog5719]

the vibes are coming from the pipes. Long pipes vibrate. I had them on my Vegas and replaced them with a Bassani 2:1 and the vibes are gone.

[@dmedina6835]

Added screen baffles which made it quiet quicker and fwd controls

[@RabidHedgehog]

Nice I am glad you made her your own. It needed a new home.

[@ezcompane]

What gloves are you wearing? They look pretty rad.

[@millinutz]

Victorys have vanished from the streets over here in Switzerland... can you you still buy them in US?

[@RabidHedgehog]

Sort of. They're all used with some limited new models still running around. But they are no longer made so supplies are shrinking.

[@Arienne]

The company that markets under victory got a great deal on the Indian motorcycle trademark so they rebranded under Indian. same company

[@seanpenny4580]

weird. all the vic I've had have walked all over my friend's Harleys. Stage 2 100cu in Vic engine on my 08 Jackpot slaughters my friends 14 vrod . stage 2 106 of mine kills all my friends 114 harley stage 2s. maybe that specific bike needs a service

[@ChaohsiangChen]

How does it compare to a dyna or a chief?

[@RabidHedgehog]

So for riding aspect it aligns with the older Fat Bob of the Dyna series in seating, but it rides much smoother than the Dyna chassis. The Chiefs are far more plush than this bike as this does have a smidge of tight suspension.

[@nathanyoung3410]

I don't know what is up with that judge.....but mine screams.

[@jameshaydon2362]

Too heavy not enough ground clearance by the look of it and those sticking out foot boards are awful. I'm sure a lot of riders will love it but it's not for me I'm afraid. I'm from England by the way and our roads rarely go in straight lines so this type of bike is not so popular here.

[@RabidHedgehog]

That is one thing about the US is we like our big heavy machines. Personally I like my light on their feet motorcycles like my CB1100EX.

[@hermannpreiss4391]

James Haydon Shortsighted comment. Have you rode one? Look at the Harleys they sell in the UK that have LESS ground clearance and worse handling. Because it's not for you doesn`t mean its not for bikers. You don't speak for the whole country.

[@RabidHedgehog]

Do you have a Harley by chance?

[@hermannpreiss4391]

@@RabidHedgehog Victory Judge And I live in Scotland. Sure, I scrape and scuff. I've tore both hero pins off the foot pegs and scuffed my new exhaust but I love the bike. If I wanted a great handling bike I would have bought one but the Vic ticks my boxes.