Scrambler Loaner, New Victory Model

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Part of the fun of riding is when the motorcycle you’re piloting gets positive feedback from other riders. I was getting ready to pull out of a side street in Thomaston this afternoon, headed to a gas station, when a couple on a heavyweight cruiser that was parked at a liquor store next door looked over. They flashed happy smiles and gestured enthusiastically at the Triumph Scrambler beneath my butt. It happened so quickly that I barely had time to acknowledge them, but it sure felt good.

Triumph’s Dave Rosen, who loaned me his Tiger Explorer back in May, emailed me last Monday offering the use of a new Scrambler for a week – provided I could pick it up at Spitzie’s Motorcycle Center in Albany. I drove up early Saturday morning and arrived at the dealership before the doors opened. Sales manager Jim Ziobrowski was surprised to see me, but, after checking my paperwork from Triumph, had the bike loaded and secured in the back of my Ranger pickup.

Since getting it home, I’ve logged more than 200 miles on the bike on all types of roadways. Sunday, it saw some dirt near Salisbury. Today, it was divided highway for a ride to New Haven. My first impressions are that the Scrambler just may be the perfect “country” bike.

Its 865cc parallel twin has ample torque, the handling is nimble, and it just seems eager to please. The upright riding position is comfortable and the high exhaust pipes are certainly attention-getting.

A full review will come soon, but I already have a feeling that it’s going to be very hard to return the bike on Saturday.

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Over the past week or so, Victory has been releasing color schemes for the 2013 models of existing bikes. Today, it unveiled a teaser video for a new model dubbed the Boardwalk that will be unveiled on July 30. The bike looks to be yet another heavy cruiser.

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