First Impression: 2011 Victory Cross Roads

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

As promised by Jim Tabor, Willows Motorsports in Cheshire has loaned RIDE-CT.com a 2011 Victory Cross Roads to beat on, er, ride carefully five days. It’s a factory demo with a couple-hundred miles on it. Rode it home late yesterday afternoon under threatening, weepy skies and put it in the garage. Didn’t even have a chance to grab a picture; hence the handout photo from Victory.

So far, the Cross Roads has made a good impression. Nice even power, easy to maneuver at speed, gorgeous fit and finish. Having felt cramped on some Harley-Davidsons in the past, I felt almost like I have too much room on the Cross Roads. My 30-inch inseam had me extending my legs on the floorboards a tad to reach the shifter and brake levers. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just something I had to pay attention to, especially when coming to a stop.

Taking the direct route home – I-84 and Route 8 – meant that most of the ride was on a super highway. The Cross Roads was incredibly comfortable, although the world got jiggly from air coming over the windscreen if I went much above the 65 mpg posted speed limit. Hey, sometimes you have to keep up with the flow of traffic, right?

Especially pleasing were the mirrors, which provide a wide view of what’s behind you from either side.

The Cross Roads is powered by a 106-cubic-inch (1731cc) V-twin motor, has a six-speed overdrive transmission and weighs 745 pounds dry. MSRP on the 2011 is $14,999 in black and $15,499 in crimson. The loaner is crimson with a sissy bar and windshield added.

I’ve got the Cross Roads until Thursday. More impressions to come…