History of Victory Motorcycles

     

Victory Motorcycles has put together some truly historic bikes in its short 17 year existence. When purchasing a Victory you can expect true high performance and high mileage capability. Now, don’t get us wrong,  we love our Harley Davidson’s and everything Harley has provided over the years, but it's nice to know there is another option for baggers, v-twins , touring & cruising bikes made in America.

     Parent company Polaris, created Victory with one thing in mind; to compete with Harley Davidson and make an American Bagger with a different approach than the competition. For over 70 years there had been no alternative to a true American Bagger Motorcycle until1997 when Victory 

introduced the V92C.

     Al Unser Jr. introduces the V92C for the first time at Planet Hollywood in the Mall of America. In 1998 they started production of a 92 cu in (1510 cc) making it the 2nd largest motorcycle engine produced and available at the time. It created a stir and a race to see who could produce bigger and better engines for today's bikes. All of the components for the V92C were manufactured in Minnesota and Iowa, with the exception of Italian Brembo brakes and the British-made electronic fuel injection system. Victory engines debuted with five-speed transmissions, single overhead cams, dual connecting rods, hydraulic lifters, and fuel injection. In designing the engine they made it so it can easily be tuned by the bike owner.

     Since the introduction of the V92C Victory began producing a Sport Cruiser and Touring model. They really wanted to make things different with their Freedom Engine .  It had the same dimensions as the old engine but with higher power output, and with rounded cylinders and smaller oil cooler, it was much more attractive visually.

 

     Victory ended production of the V92C in 2003; however, it's still known as the classic cruiser and a favorite  by Victory enthusiasts everywhere

    .

     The next big thing was the Vegas introduced in 2003. The Vegas was designed by Victory designer Michael Song, and offered a totally new chassis design and using the Freedom engine. The Vegas debuted with the 92 cu in (1,510 cc) engine and 5-speed transmission, but was upgraded to a 100 cu in (1,600 cc) engine and 6-speed transmission for the 2006 model year.

     Some say this is the bike that really made a name for a Victory and really started to make them a profitable and well known American Motorcycle company.

     Over the years Victory has made 15 models of bikes. They have learned to market to all motorcycle enthusiasts and bikers alike. From your basic weekend warrior to your die hard cross country rider. If one thing is for certain Victory plans to get more creative and inventive with their bikes and engines and really want to change the American Motorcycle Market. The question is what will they come up with next?

When Hogs Fly

           

When you think of a Harley, you don’t typically think of them flying through the air, at least not on purpose. But a little known fact, is that throughout the history of Harley Davidson, a few enterprising individuals have dared to take their Hog airborne. Follow LRS as we explore the history of the flying Hog.

            The world record for the longest jump on a Harley (or any motorcycle) was originally set in 1975 by Robert Knievel, AKA Evil Knievel when he jumped his bike 115 feet over 14 Greyhound buses in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Evel made 300 jumps in his career, 273 of them were successful, the rest....  Not so much!

     This record was later broken by Bubba Blackwell in Las Vegas, Nevada when he topped Evil by 1 Greyhound bus and jumped 157 feet.

            While both of these jumps were impressive, the record would again be challenged by motocross legend Seth Enslow in 2010, in Sydney, Australia. Enslow would take his Harley XR1200 to new heights and lengths, as he jumped an astonishing 183 feet to shatter the previous world record for the longest jump on a Harley Davidson.

     

   

     We’ve all heard the expression “when Pigs fly”, well these daring individuals had the courage, audacity, and perhaps a touch of insanity, turn the figure of speech into a reality and make hogs fly.

     These examples of modern day jumps are fascinating, but the the roots of flying bikes, go even deeper, dating back to as early as World War 2. During the war, soldiers often prided themselves on being able to jump their hard-tail bikes across ditches, trenches, and even fences in order to move quickly and efficiently across the battlefield.

     It seems that ever since man has been moving on two wheels, the desire to move those two wheels into the air has been a driving force for many riders. Early racing even included jumping, and has been a staple of motorcycle racing ever since. 

   

 The desire to make Hogs fly is not a new concept, and the idea continues to inspire us to new heights, as it did our riding ancestors of days gone by. Thinking of these days brings into sharp contrast the difference between a generation unafraid to take real challenges and risks, and many of our youth of today who only take risks in the online world of Call of Duty...

APACHE TEARS!

The Legend of the Apache Tears

We are all getting frustrated with the cold weather here in Reno, Nevada. So we started to look for warm places where we can stretch our legs and enjoy a refreshing ride without having to dress like Ralphy from The Christmas Story.

But we never take off without an interesting destination in mind. This one piqued our interest. Arizona, here we come!

Many years ago the Apache rode free across the valleys and mountains of southwestern United States, including what is now Arizona. The land, like the Apache, was rough but noble. Sunset mountains cut across miles of desert sands. Only the hardiest plants survived in the harsh conditions found on the faces of these towering rocky cliffs. The mountains and surrounding desert landscape kept the Apache safe from enemies far longer than other tribes who had settled in more fertile, and far more open areas. In the end, however, encroaches came searching for the precious metals contained within the mountain rock.

The Apache fought fiercely to defend their homes and families. They maintained their strong fighting spirit even though the odds were against them. Small groups of Apache warriors made life miserable for their enemies, hoping to drive the intruders away. They raided campsites, stealing horses and cattle. They ambushed supply caravans, taking food and weapons for their own use. They attacked when least expected, catching their enemies off guard. For awhile tactics of the Apache warriors worked, but the lure of gold and silver proved too strong. The men, with no regard for the Apache or his land, were determined to establish their settlements and seek their fortunes in the mountains.

Finally, a large cavalry unit was sent out to hunt down the Apache warriors. A warrior party of seventy-five Apache galloped to the top of a pink-hued mountain, chased closely behind by the cavalry. The warriors wheeled their horses around, realizing they were trapped. In front of them,
hundreds of cavalry officers circled, guns in hand. Behind them, the sheer face of the mountain plummeted hundreds of feet to the desert floor. At a signal from their leader, the officers fired. In the first round of shots, fifty Apache died. The remaining twenty five warriors were trapped and faced death at the hands of their enemies. These men knew there was no way out. Rather than be killed by the enemy, the remaining Apache warriors spun their horses around and leaped over the edge of
the mountain.

When the Apache women and children discovered their fathers, husbands, and sons dead at the bottom of the cliff, their tears fell. Each tear drop, as it hit the hard, dry earth, turned to black stone. They mourned the death of their warriors. They mourned the loss of their fighting spirit. They mourned the life they had carved in the Arizona desert. Soon the ground at the bottom of the
mountain, once bleached white from the searing sun, was blackened by Apache tears.

It is said that a person who finds one of these tears beneath Apache Leap Mountain will never need to cry again, for the Apache women cried tears for all who mourn. These beautiful translucent gemstones of obsidian are now known as Apache Tears.

How to Survive Thanksgiving with your Family

How to Survive Thanksgiving with your Family

Prepare yourself

Prepare yourself ahead of time by practicing relaxation techniques, meditating, or stocking small bottles of liquor in your socks, pockets and sleeves.

Tip: If you are seeing a therapist, now would be a good time to book an extra appointment or two.

Be Ready to Break Out in Song

It might cure everyone’s prejudices and bring harmony and unity to everyone present. Or at least it will drown out the arguing.

Plan Preemptive Strikes

Plan counterattacks for the questions that you know are coming. Maybe your mom pries into your love life, and your dad asks, “When are you going to get a real job?” Have responses pre-prepared regarding your dalliance with a cute doctor, and your nominations to receive a Nobel Peace prize.

Play Mind Games

When it is time for everyone to say what they are thankful for, have a sentimental spiel prepared about the person at the table you dislike most. It will completely throw them off guard.

Avoid Dish-Duty at All Costs

Show up to dinner wearing a bandage. Prepare a story about how you were injured, but leave it vague. Emphasize that you are not allowed to remove the bandage or get it wet.

Try Tryptophan

Avoid confrontation with your loved ones by sleeping. Initial drowsiness can be achieved by watching TV and sitting around for hours, drinking too much red wine and eating excessive amounts of tryptophan-laced turkey. This combination leads straight to a Thanksgiving-coma which leaves you blissfully bypassing all family interaction.

If all else fails - Ditch your family and join the hordes of shoppers looking for Black Friday deals, sometimes a slow and painful death from getting trampled by the crowd is better than dealing with all the family drama in the first place. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Let us know how you survive Turkey Day HERE

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse on a Motorcycle

We all know what happens in the near future…we have seen it in “I am Legend,” “World War Z,” and “The Walking Dead.” The time will come when the world as we know it will be no more, and our very species will be threatened. Zombies, vampires, worldwide epidemic, alien invasion or machines with a surreal similarity to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the future is clear: our world will be overtaken. Zombies or no, it’s just a matter of time.

1. Choose your ride

Transportation will be quintessential. Navigating head-banging traffic from the max exodus of people flocking desperately to safety. Travelling long distances efficiently, as gas becomes a highly valued commodity. Being able to squeeze through tight spaces that would be unattainable to four-wheeled counterparts. And let’s be honest, this is the zombie apocalypse. If we lose our desire to swagger over to a sweet ride, what do we have left? My vehicle of choice is a motorcycle. If you have doubts, you need to re-watch the “Terminator” series.

 Imagine the destruction that will ensue as the world learns that the end is coming. Not to mention that the undead tend to have little respect for things like road laws and buildings. Perhaps there are earthquakes, damaged water pipes, collapsing bridges or falling road signs. Suddenly you need to overcome rough terrain.  You need a bike that can hop curbs, maintain stability over debris, and not be sequestered to the road. You need a dual sport.

2. Readying the Zombie-mobile

Our modern-day vehicles will simply not suffice as we combat the walking dead. We need to be equipped a few modifications in order to prepare our dual sport for life on the run. And then of course there’s the sheer style factor that you look like you came straight out of “Water World.”

Most important: gas. Because stations will be quickly depleted, siphoning leaves you immobile and vulnerable, and it is a resource that you will need consistently. You will need an aftermarket tank to increase your range.

Dual sports typically come with tires that are designed for primarily off-road use. Since are requirements are flexible and largely unknown, a more balanced tire would be ideal. Chances are that a 50/50 of off-road to on-road capabilities would be appropriate.

Next, the ability the haul your gear. This type of bike tends to be limited in this capacity. Adding reinforcement gussets or modifying steel tube frames via welding would be a good idea, and not hard to do if you know what you are doing. Then a combination of soft, waterproof bags and lockable containers will allow you to transport your necessities. The lock is for the people who did not read this article and are desperate for your genius forethought.

Last is aftermarket protection for your bike. After surviving a zombie encounter, the last thing you will want to worry about is damage to you or your motorcycle. Hand guards will protect your critical levers as well as your hands, which you will need to defend yourself from undead cannibalistic freaks. Then crash bars for the frame and engine.

3. Weaponization

The fun part is choosing your weapon. You will definitely want a knife that can be multi-purposed to cutting wood or securing shelter. But hopefully you will not to be within close enough range of the undead to need to use it on them. Whatever your method of self-defense, you will want a holster or other means to secure it to your bike.

Long Ride Shields is currently working on an apocalypse windshield for Harley Davidson Motorcycles. In addition to the built-in laser beams and heads-up targeting system, optional features include forward-facing Claymore mines.

4. Bring only what you need to survive 

You will want to bring only the minimal essentials. Extra gear will slow you down and make you a target. Water and shelter will be the necessities.

You will either have to bring or find water. Minimum amount for survival is a gallon a day. It is unrealistic to carry more than two gallons on your zombie-mobile, so prepare yourself with materials to collect and treat water.

*Note: during a zombie apocalypse, seemingly clean water sources are commonly infested with pathogens known to cause diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, lack of brain function, creepy eyes, being covered in blood, and cannibalism.

“Shelter” includes a tent, supplies and materials to make protection from the elements, and clothing. This varies by region so you will want to carefully observe your climate and make-shifting capabilities as you consider your collection of layers. You will definitely want extra socks and undergarments. As they say in Zombieland, “always have an extra pair of underwear.” Plus, you will want good motorcycle gear, as it will also protect you on the road and from voracious zombie attacks.

There are a few additional items you will want to have. Food, for example. Technically humans can survive about a month without eating, but you will want sustenance to improve energy levels, mental capacity and your Kung Fu skills (because, let’s face it: you need all the help you can get). Protein or energy bars are ideal and seem to have no expiration date. Bring a lighter and at least one other method for starting fires. Include a basic tool kit should you need to make repairs to your bike, and you will probably want to slime-line your tires now. If not, I’ve heard zombie brain works great.

How will you survive the zombie apocalypse?

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HELP US HONOR OUR VETERANS - Post your veterans pictures!

Part of the purpose of this blog is to "Remember" - and to log the world around us as it is and to recollect how it was.

As we will be celebrating our veterans who have fallen and served before us on Veterans Day it is part of our ethos at Long Ride Shields to recollect them and memorialize them and their images so that we can continue to honor them.

Please help us honor our veterans and fallen hero's by posting your veterans image or a story to our Facebook page, or email it to us.

POST IT HERE - LRS Facebook page


Email us here: longrideshields@gmail.com



As a continued effort to honor our veterans Long Ride Shields will be throwing all of our products and the largest sale we have ever thrown, Please understand that Veterans day to us is not about making money, it is about honoring our forefathers and Hero's the best way we know how.



Thank you to all who wear the uniform or who protect us while we sleep peacefully in the night.