A good and accurate review. I love my High Ball and I come from a sports bike background. I have not had the same vibration problems you had on this bike. Mine is rock solid on the freeway. If anyone thinks they want one and is considering it...do it. You will love it as much as I do.
iv had my highball for 3 years now. its a 2015. no vibrations at all....smooth and comfortable all the way. yes at high speed you start to act like a kite. but that's because your full frontal to the wind..fantastic bike :)
I like the idea that they started putting 4 way flashers on bikes. The best grips I have found for vibration are Kuryakyn ISO Grips. I have a set on my 1100 Yamaha, and you don't feel any vibrations from the handlebars. They are expensive, but I really like them.
I Bought my 2012 Highball in December 2014, from a Harris County(Houston) constable bike cop, who had it sitting in his garage for almost 2 years (I got a new bike fully depreciated, but still new). Being a bike cop and on two wheels all day he got home and didn't feel like riding, and, on the weekends, he had his kids, so not much riding then either. I got the bike with only 300 (yes, 300) miles on it, like it had really just rode off the showroom floor! The bike came with the stage 1 kit, and the Victory xBow pipes. Needless to say I love my HighBall. A couple of mods I did, was one, swap out the factory seat for the Mustang seat. A world of difference! The Victory factory solo seat will kill your tailbone after about < hour's ride, however, the Mustang seat only added possibly another 1 3/4 of padding and nice thick leather, didn't really raise much from the seat height, and the leather seat is just awesome, you can ride for hours, and never feel the wear and tear on your tailbone like the Victory factory solo. Second mod I did was get the Victory Hammer Fly Screen(smoke) which rides just above the headlight and angles back covering the speedo assembly, and gives the front of the HighBall a street bike sort of look, and knocks off a ton of wind from your chest. The fork clamps that came with the fly screen fits the larger Hammer, but not the HighBall's Forks, for that I went to the National Cycle fly screen company and they had a clamp kit that work perfectly.
Actually, Mustang uses vinyl for their seat covers. I've been buying them for nearly 12 years. Not to say one couldn't be recovered in leather but they come with vinyl. It actually states this on their website.
You are correct about the vinyl, but it is also a fact that the foam and construction of the Mustang seat is far superior to the factory solo seat installed by Victory.: The Most Comfortable Motorcycle Seats On The Market - Made in the U.S.A.Spend some time riding on that crappy stock seat however, and you might wish that the OEM had spent the time and money to equip your motorcycle with a better seat. This is where Mustang Seats comes in. Mustang is famous for making the most comfortable seats on the market. BaseplatesThey start by spending a huge chunk of time designing the seat base. The seat base sets the tone for how comfortable a seat will be and Mustang sculpts their seat bases with the goal of repositioning the rider to eliminate pressure on the tailbone and lower back. During this painstaking process, they also focus on shoulder, arm and hand position to eliminate pressure and position the rider in the most natural riding position possible. Once the Mustang Seat engineers are satisfied with their seat base design, they manufacture the seat bases using marine grade fiberglass. Most aftermarket and OE seat manufactures make their seat bases out of molded plastic or sheet metal but Mustang does not cut corners anywhere during the production of their seats.The marine grade fiberglass base will last the lifetime of your motorcycle and will not scratch your frame or components under the seat because Mustang uses a material that looks much like indoor-outdoor carpet on the seat base where it will make contact with your motorcycle, to ensure that your paint is protected. This is something you will never find with a stock seat and rarely find on any other aftermarket seat. They also strategically rivet Polyurethane rubber bumpers to the baseplate to further protect the paint and minimize vibration. The polyurethane rubber bumpers that Mustang uses are ozone protected and will not crack with age.Foam After creating the baseplate, an experienced seat designer will hand-sculpt the initial shape of the foam to carefully contour the shape to support your body and align your spine at the best angle possible to relieve back stress. For a motorcycle seat to be comfortable, the foam compound must be carefully formulated to be soft enough for comfort but resilient enough to stand up to those "thousand-mile" days. The best aftermarket manufacturers use their own formula of controlled-density, polyurethane foam and Mustang has spent years developing a proprietary foam compound that is gentle yet firm and that will not breakdown over time. A soft seat is not always a comfortable seat and firm seat is not always an uncomfortable seat. Mustang has found the perfect balance of firmness and cushion that will keep you riding longer in greater comfort. First-rate foam usually feels firmer than stock but it shouldn’t feel hard; it should offer “gentle” support. A good test is to stand next to your seat and press down on the foam. It should depress by about a third of the original height.Other manufactures may use gel or other comfy sounding gimmicks to sell their seats. Gel displaces rather than compresses like foam. If you push down firmly on gel, it doesn’t compress. It just changes its shape like a tube of toothpaste. This doesn’t do anything to improve your comfort. Foam compresses to supports your weight evenly over as large an area as possible. Gel does not. Mustang does not rely on gel and instead has taken the time to develop truly comfortable and long lasting foam that is exclusive to their seats. Your 100th ride on a Mustang seat will be as comfortable as your first and the foam will retain its shape and support for years without breaking down. CoverMost stock seats are mass produced and covered with low grade molded vinyl which is waterproof but does not conform to the shape of the foam very well and tends to bulge and wrinkle. Mustang seat covers are meticulously pieced together and individually hand sewn using only top quality expanded vinyl. Unlike the molded vinyl covers on stock seats, the process of hand stitching the covers on Mustang seats creates tiny holes. However on a Mustang seat water will not deteriorate the foam like it will on a stock seat. With a Mustang seat the water will just drip out through a hole in the baseplate that is designed for this specific purpose without affecting the foam or cover.Mustang uses only the highest-quality expanded vinyl that has the appearance of leather but has the durability and resistance to the elements that far exceed original equipment standards for motorcycle seats. All seams are double stitched and maintenance will never be an issue with your Mustang seat. No fading, no treating or oiling. Just wipe it clean when you wash your bike. Unlike leather, top-grade vinyl will not dry out and crack, and there is no need to worry about it getting wet. It won’t fade and it requires no maintenance.There are a lot of elements that go into building a top quality motorcycle seat. The materials used for the seat base, foam, cover and mounting hardware are all as crucial as the seat shape, design and quality of workmanship. A Mustang seat incorporates all of these elements to provide you with a seat that will improve riding comfort as well as improving the look of your bike. Riding should be an enjoyable experience and you should arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, not beat up and tired. A Mustang seat will put the fun back in your ride and is one of the best investments that you can make in your motorcycle and in your riding enjoyment. Please give our motorcycle seat experts a call to explore the seating options that Mustang has to offer for your Harley Davidson or metric motorcycle.
+archinuk417 Ape hangers are frequently are referred as being cosmetic. And most of the time they are. However they were designed with a practical purpose if measured correctly. The objective is to put them at your chest level. This aligns the blood flow with your heart and prevents fatigue in your hands for long trips
My Highball is a beast. Pulls like a sports tractor. I am going to try slightly lower handlebars because of the “sail” effect at high speed. That is only complaint. Otherwise a freaking blast to ride. Great handling for a cruiser. Ride safe.
They are both great bikes and it would be very hard to decide between them. I like the styling of the Victory High-Ball but the Dyna Street Bob is a little smoother and feels better in my opinion.
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I can't make up my mind. The Victory is cheaper, and I get 1k off for being a veteran. That's a big difference. The power feel the same?
The power is very close. On paper, the Victorys have a bit more torque but both of them have plenty. I guess it would come down to how the bike looks and what prices you can work with. Also, you should think about the cost of maintenance down the road. Harley is known for expensive parts and service... One thing about the Dyna Street Bob that I didn't like was the position of the airbox. It blocks your knee from gripping the bike. The Victory doesn't have that clumsy airbox. Just a minor detail though.
+archinuk417 Ok one last question. Are the bars higher on the Highball or Streetbob? I haven't sat on a Highball yet, but I have sat in a Streetbob. it seemed comfortable to me. Thanks!
You can do whatever I want but I'm glad I listened when someone told me this: get something for around $1500 bucks beat the shit out of it make our mistakes on that then get the bike you love. It will be far more rewarding and you won't have to go through the the tragedy of fucking it up.
I had a Vulcan 750 for a couple years and it was an excellent bike. Unfortunately someone forgot the red octagon means stop and I ended up broadsiding them and totalling the bike. Now I'm faaaaar more cautious. Getting a Highball in two weeks. Dream bike.
No, I wouldn't call this a beginner bike. It's a good ride but it's a large bike. I'm my world a beginner bike is 500 or under. It's been a while since I started but getting used to riding (and dropping a bike) is usually easier with a smaller bike. IMO.
A good and accurate review. I love my High Ball and I come from a sports bike background. I have not had the same vibration problems you had on this bike. Mine is rock solid on the freeway. If anyone thinks they want one and is considering it...do it. You will love it as much as I do.
Looking at one now love the look. I am about 6'2" is there enough leg room?
I have a 2013 Highball and was wondering if it was a problem. I know mine doesn't vibrate, but thought maybe I just got lucky. lol
I have a 2012 highball and I love it went from a cbr1000rr to my highball and I'm not disappointed
I've always wanted to try a Victory,
Nice Ride !!!
;)
Dude, You're killing it with the reviews! thanks a lot and keep them coming!
Thanks a lot!
+archinuk417 hey are you on the red mountain 202 in the video
***** Yes
iv had my highball for 3 years now. its a 2015. no vibrations at all....smooth and comfortable all the way. yes at high speed you start to act like a kite. but that's because your full frontal to the wind..fantastic bike :)
I have a 2012... Zero vibration
Say bro I was wondering if this would be good for a a rider my height??? I'm 6'2
I like the idea that they started putting 4 way flashers on bikes. The best grips I have found for vibration are Kuryakyn ISO Grips. I have a set on my 1100 Yamaha, and you don't feel any vibrations from the handlebars. They are expensive, but I really like them.
Great review! Your arms don't look too relax though, wrists are way too high. Are the levers setup too far round at stock?
I Bought my 2012 Highball in December 2014, from a Harris County(Houston) constable bike cop, who had it sitting in his garage for almost 2 years (I got a new bike fully depreciated, but still new). Being a bike cop and on two wheels all day he got home and didn't feel like riding, and, on the weekends, he had his kids, so not much riding then either. I got the bike with only 300 (yes, 300) miles on it, like it had really just rode off the showroom floor! The bike came with the stage 1 kit, and the Victory xBow pipes. Needless to say I love my HighBall. A couple of mods I did, was one, swap out the factory seat for the Mustang seat. A world of difference! The Victory factory solo seat will kill your tailbone after about < hour's ride, however, the Mustang seat only added possibly another 1 3/4 of padding and nice thick leather, didn't really raise much from the seat height, and the leather seat is just awesome, you can ride for hours, and never feel the wear and tear on your tailbone like the Victory factory solo. Second mod I did was get the Victory Hammer Fly Screen(smoke) which rides just above the headlight and angles back covering the speedo assembly, and gives the front of the HighBall a street bike sort of look, and knocks off a ton of wind from your chest. The fork clamps that came with the fly screen fits the larger Hammer, but not the HighBall's Forks, for that I went to the National Cycle fly screen company and they had a clamp kit that work perfectly.
Actually, Mustang uses vinyl for their seat covers. I've been buying them for nearly 12 years. Not to say one couldn't be recovered in leather but they come with vinyl. It actually states this on their website.
You are correct about the vinyl, but it is also a fact that the foam and construction of the Mustang seat is far superior to the factory solo seat installed by Victory.:
The Most Comfortable Motorcycle Seats On The Market - Made in the U.S.A.Spend some time riding on that crappy stock seat however, and you might wish that the OEM had spent the time and money to equip your motorcycle with a better seat. This is where Mustang Seats comes in. Mustang is famous for making the most comfortable seats on the market. BaseplatesThey start by spending a huge chunk of time designing the seat base. The seat base sets the tone for how comfortable a seat will be and Mustang sculpts their seat bases with the goal of repositioning the rider to eliminate pressure on the tailbone and lower back. During this painstaking process, they also focus on shoulder, arm and hand position to eliminate pressure and position the rider in the most natural riding position possible. Once the Mustang Seat engineers are satisfied with their seat base design, they manufacture the seat bases using marine grade fiberglass. Most aftermarket and OE seat manufactures make their seat bases out of molded plastic or sheet metal but Mustang does not cut corners anywhere during the production of their seats.The marine grade fiberglass base will last the lifetime of your motorcycle and will not scratch your frame or components under the seat because Mustang uses a material that looks much like indoor-outdoor carpet on the seat base where it will make contact with your motorcycle, to ensure that your paint is protected. This is something you will never find with a stock seat and rarely find on any other aftermarket seat. They also strategically rivet Polyurethane rubber bumpers to the baseplate to further protect the paint and minimize vibration. The polyurethane rubber bumpers that Mustang uses are ozone protected and will not crack with age.Foam After creating the baseplate, an experienced seat designer will hand-sculpt the initial shape of the foam to carefully contour the shape to support your body and align your spine at the best angle possible to relieve back stress. For a motorcycle seat to be comfortable, the foam compound must be carefully formulated to be soft enough for comfort but resilient enough to stand up to those "thousand-mile" days. The best aftermarket manufacturers use their own formula of controlled-density, polyurethane foam and Mustang has spent years developing a proprietary foam compound that is gentle yet firm and that will not breakdown over time. A soft seat is not always a comfortable seat and firm seat is not always an uncomfortable seat. Mustang has found the perfect balance of firmness and cushion that will keep you riding longer in greater comfort. First-rate foam usually feels firmer than stock but it shouldn’t feel hard; it should offer “gentle” support. A good test is to stand next to your seat and press down on the foam. It should depress by about a third of the original height.Other manufactures may use gel or other comfy sounding gimmicks to sell their seats. Gel displaces rather than compresses like foam. If you push down firmly on gel, it doesn’t compress. It just changes its shape like a tube of toothpaste. This doesn’t do anything to improve your comfort. Foam compresses to supports your weight evenly over as large an area as possible. Gel does not. Mustang does not rely on gel and instead has taken the time to develop truly comfortable and long lasting foam that is exclusive to their seats. Your 100th ride on a Mustang seat will be as comfortable as your first and the foam will retain its shape and support for years without breaking down. CoverMost stock seats are mass produced and covered with low grade molded vinyl which is waterproof but does not conform to the shape of the foam very well and tends to bulge and wrinkle. Mustang seat covers are meticulously pieced together and individually hand sewn using only top quality expanded vinyl. Unlike the molded vinyl covers on stock seats, the process of hand stitching the covers on Mustang seats creates tiny holes. However on a Mustang seat water will not deteriorate the foam like it will on a stock seat. With a Mustang seat the water will just drip out through a hole in the baseplate that is designed for this specific purpose without affecting the foam or cover.Mustang uses only the highest-quality expanded vinyl that has the appearance of leather but has the durability and resistance to the elements that far exceed original equipment standards for motorcycle seats. All seams are double stitched and maintenance will never be an issue with your Mustang seat. No fading, no treating or oiling. Just wipe it clean when you wash your bike. Unlike leather, top-grade vinyl will not dry out and crack, and there is no need to worry about it getting wet. It won’t fade and it requires no maintenance.There are a lot of elements that go into building a top quality motorcycle seat. The materials used for the seat base, foam, cover and mounting hardware are all as crucial as the seat shape, design and quality of workmanship. A Mustang seat incorporates all of these elements to provide you with a seat that will improve riding comfort as well as improving the look of your bike. Riding should be an enjoyable experience and you should arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, not beat up and tired. A Mustang seat will put the fun back in your ride and is one of the best investments that you can make in your motorcycle and in your riding enjoyment. Please give our motorcycle seat experts a call to explore the seating options that Mustang has to offer for your Harley Davidson or metric motorcycle.
+archinuk417 Ape hangers are frequently are referred as being cosmetic. And most of the time they are. However they were designed with a practical purpose if measured correctly. The objective is to put them at your chest level. This aligns the blood flow with your heart and prevents fatigue in your hands for long trips
Good to know. Thanks for the info!
archinuk417 Anytime man, stay safe and ride on.
Gumurak calling BS
Victory Mesa! I just bought my 2015 highball from them, what a small world
How tall are you? Thanks for the vid.
My Highball is a beast. Pulls like a sports tractor. I am going to try slightly lower handlebars because of the “sail” effect at high speed. That is only complaint. Otherwise a freaking blast to ride. Great handling for a cruiser. Ride safe.
Hey where do u go for the test rides...i seen videos of u in group rides...where can I find things like that
nice review im looking into this bike just curious how tall are you
5 foot 11 inches
I’m on a Honda shadow 750 right now. I really want the highball though. Maybe I’ll get it before it’s too late.
I have a 2012 victory vegas 106, and at high rpm the vibes are over the top.. even hurts after letting her rip a bunch!
interested in buying a 2016 highball. my buddy just got a 2016 street bob. my question is which is faster and by how much
you seem like you really like the Highball in this video. would you say this is your favorite Victory you rode? If not what one is?
Victory Octane lol
I have a 2014 Highball and I don't feel the vibration that much. I always thought it had less vibration then the Street Bob.
Thanks for doing the review.
Do you prefer the Highball or the Streetbob? Thanks for the great reviews!
They are both great bikes and it would be very hard to decide between them. I like the styling of the Victory High-Ball but the Dyna Street Bob is a little smoother and feels better in my opinion.
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I can't make up my mind. The Victory is cheaper, and I get 1k off for being a veteran. That's a big difference. The power feel the same?
The power is very close. On paper, the Victorys have a bit more torque but both of them have plenty. I guess it would come down to how the bike looks and what prices you can work with. Also, you should think about the cost of maintenance down the road. Harley is known for expensive parts and service...
One thing about the Dyna Street Bob that I didn't like was the position of the airbox. It blocks your knee from gripping the bike. The Victory doesn't have that clumsy airbox. Just a minor detail though.
+archinuk417 Ok one last question. Are the bars higher on the Highball or Streetbob? I haven't sat on a Highball yet, but I have sat in a Streetbob. it seemed comfortable to me.
Thanks!
Jla11hfta I think the bars feel a bit higher on the Victory. It could be the seat height though...
Yea I gotta shift to 6th gear around 60-65mph on my 2014 Highball
I'm trying to decide on the Victory hard ball or the Indian dark horse. Thanks for making videos on both!
Highball is a great bike. I've had a couple different bikes and this one never fails to impress me
Nice review, thanks!
cant choose between the highball or the octane for my first bike which would you recomend
Jayson Mcdonald pretty big motor very torquey would suck to drop it too maybe start with a shadow 750 Vulcan 900 depending on how big you are
Kind of a lot of bike for a first bike tbh
You can do whatever I want but I'm glad I listened when someone told me this: get something for around $1500 bucks beat the shit out of it make our mistakes on that then get the bike you love. It will be far more rewarding and you won't have to go through the the tragedy of fucking it up.
I had a Vulcan 750 for a couple years and it was an excellent bike. Unfortunately someone forgot the red octagon means stop and I ended up broadsiding them and totalling the bike. Now I'm faaaaar more cautious. Getting a Highball in two weeks. Dream bike.
Looking get either this or the street bob. Anybody with experience on them have any advice? It'll be my first MC.
Napoleon Dynamite?
but how does it do in the twisty bits?
I didn't go on any twisties with this but it turned very easily for a larger cruiser.
goshhh, you sound like Napolean Dynamite ....Sweeeeet.
Haha sweeeeet
It's it a Beginner bike??
No, I wouldn't call this a beginner bike. It's a good ride but it's a large bike. I'm my world a beginner bike is 500 or under. It's been a while since I started but getting used to riding (and dropping a bike) is usually easier with a smaller bike. IMO.
Any bike is beginner bike. It depends on how you try to ride it. Rider controls the bike, not vice versa.
is it a hard tail?
No it isn't a hard tail.
That's the street Bob's competition please that things a piece of shit and it sounds like crap.