Harley VS Victory Reliability – Which Motorcycle Is Better?

As you may know, we are fond of motorcycles. Some bikes that we have owned and ridden include extremely rare and expensive models. But today we want to speak about two of the most popular companies among real bikers who love that roaring sound of the motorcycle engine. These are Harley Davidson and Victory Motorcycles.

So, Harley and Victory are two companies that are known for making wonderful bikes. Their motorcycles are pretty much alike in terms of design and they are not at all bad. But we want to find out which bikes are the best. Unfortunately, if you want a new bike, you should only go for Harleys because Victory seized production in 2017 and hasn't yet announced their comeback to the market.

Here's what we are going to tell you about:

1. Harley and Victory - main features and business niches.
2. Longevity of Harley and Victory motorcycle engines.
3. Comparison of technologies - the leader is not obvious.
4. Customer reviews about Harleys and Victories.
5. Pros and cons of both motorcycle brands.

Let's get started!

What do we know about Harley Davidson and Victory Motorcycles?

Harley Davidson is one of the most popular companies that has been producing motorbikes since 1903. This is the most well-known motorcycle manufacturing company in the world with rich history, wonderful technologies, and individual design of each model. They don't produce crotch rockets, they just make touring motorbikes and Sportsters for pure fans of Harley Davidson philosophy.

Victory Motorcycles is the company that was created in 1997 to compete directly with HD and other brands that produced American-style bikes. But in 2017 the company seized production due to problems with financing from Polaris Inc, the main contributor. Victory motorcycles tried hard to provide the best technologies for their potential buyers.

Now you know a little about the companies, and here we may start discussing their differences. Here are some important things you should know:

• Harley Davidson has more motorcycle models to offer than Victory;
• also, Harley has much more experience in producing motorcycles;
• HD company has a clear philosophy and they have supported it for over a century;
• Harley technologies may seem older and more conventional, but they aren't bad at all;
• in terms of design, both companies offered great models, it's hard to say who wins.

As you see, Harley Davidson motorcycles may seem better in terms of stability. They have been manufactured for over 100 years and they use technologies that can't be used in other bikes. And at this point, you could just think that HD bikes are better than Victory and close this page. But don't hurry up to make a final decision. Victory Motorcycles company has something to offer. Just pay attention to details.

Why a Victory bike may be better than a Harley Davidson?

Now, we'll be talking about used bikes because you aren't likely to find a new Victory motorcycle. You will still be able to find a 5-year-old bike that has low mileage and a fair price. So, we'll only discuss used options.

Victory Motorcycles knew from the very beginning of their operation in the US that Harley Davidson will be the first competitor for them. So they tried hard and made everything they could to make better bikes at lower prices. And this can be a very important advantage of buying a Victory bike.

Here are some reasons why you may want to do it:

• Victory bikes are really cool in terms of design, even if you love HD design, you will still like nearly all Victory models;
• the technologies are sometimes even better and more advanced than in Harleys, at least, some specialists say so;
• the bikes are quite long-lasting and reliable, you will find a lot of perks in them after buying;
• these motorcycles are cheaper than Harleys, they aren't as wanted on the market of used motorcycles;
• a lot of bikes are in good condition because very often people bought them as starter bikes for entering some clubs.

It's hard to explain the reasons for this, but Victory motorcycles usually have lower mileage on the clock than the same-age Harleys. Probably, Harley Davidson motorcycles were bought by people who know what they want. And these people have squeezed every drop of life from their bikes before selling them. While Victory bikes were bought by people who just love biking and maybe ride their motorcycles 1000 miles a year or even less.

As you see, when it comes to buying a used motorcycle, it's not that obvious what kind of motorcycle you should choose.

What are the initial perks of Harley Davidson motorcycles?

Well, this section may be very long. We don't say that HD bikes are obviously better than their competitors, but we just know much more facts about Harleys. Thousands of HD bikes are now on the road. So we know everything about their longevity, problems, and also good sides. And if you want us to tell you about the advantages of these bikes, we can speak for ages.

But let's try to do it quickly so that you wouldn't need to read this article till tomorrow evening. Here are some obvious advantages of Harley Davidson motorcycles:

• well-tested technologies that are both reliable and durable - you will ride these motorbikes for dozens of years;
• a lot of parts - you can find both used and new parts depending on the budget;
• great rust protection - Harleys are known for wonderful rustproof materials that help you ride the bikes longer;
• wonderful engine sound - we don't know any other bikes that would sound as cool as Harleys;
• incomparable ride quality - every little thing, every detail is well thought-out and mirrors the high quality of the bike;
• wonderful engines - these engines are legendary, they are the best motorcycle units in the world, according to many experts.

You shouldn't think that the Harleys are the best motorcycles in the world because they don't make all kinds of bikes. But if we compare their models with Victory, the choice may seem obvious. But there is one important thing - the price.

How much are Harleys and Victory motorcycles?

Unfortunately, we can't compare the prices of new bikes because Victory doesn't make them anymore. But in 2017 both Harley and Victory were selling at approximately the same price. Well, Victory started at $13,000 while you could buy a Harley at less than $10,000. But the classes of these bikes were extremely different.

So, we presume that a Harley was about $1000-$2000 more expensive than a Victory motorcycle of the same type. But Victory bikes have been losing their value faster. So today, the price difference will be more significant. Also, the Victory bikes may come in better condition, but it's an individual factor and you have to check it before buying.

The price of maintenance and service should be higher for Victory because getting OEM parts is not that easy. The manufacturer seized production and nearly stopped producing parts for older bikes. So it's another factor why you shouldn't choose Victory bikes.

Reliability and mileage comparison

According to bikers' reports, Victory motorcycles seem to be even a little more reliable than Harley Davidson bikes. It's an arguable point, though. Both brands offered wonderful bikes with great longevity. You will ride your bike for at least 70 000 to 100 000 miles with no major problems.

Given an average bike, the owner rides about 4000 miles a year, this will be enough for 25 years. But some factors should be considered:

1. Harley engines aren't as reliable as Victory ones. But both bikes have great engines, anyway.
2. Harleys are better protected from rust. Their frames will live longer.
3. Good maintenance is possible with Harleys, but Victory bikes are hard to maintain well because parts become a problem.
4. New Harley bikes are pretty reliable and have a warranty while there are no new Victory bikes which is a shame.

So, in terms of reliability, it's hard to find a proper leader between these two companies. But we still believe that Harley is a more rational choice if you are OK with paying a little more money.

If the price is important for you, we don't see anything bad in buying a Victory motorcycle. Please test drive the bike you are going to purchase. All Harley and Victory bikes are special and they are obviously not for everyone.

Final words

Now you know everything you need to know about Victory and Harley motorcycles. It's not obvious which one you should choose. We know for sure that Victory is a decent choice but still, Harley motorcycles are very good and they form severe competition. Harley is the history of American-style motorbikes, so we would still prefer them if the price difference wasn't too big.

But of course, it all depends on what you can find for sale. If you find a Victory motorcycle in wonderful condition and with minimal mileage on the clock, you should just buy it. This bike is going to present joyful moments to you for years ahead.