After the release of the High-Ball cruiser, the folks at Victory Motorcycles have been pretty busy following that up via a slew of stripped-down motorcycles like the recent Judge and all-new hot-rod bagger, the Hard-Ball. The new touring bike features a bare-bones visual appeal with most of the creature comforts of the Cross touring bikes: large saddlebags, a powerful engine, and well-performing suspension, but with more of an edge thanks to ape-hanger handlebars, an all-black aesthetic with red pinstripes throughout, and pinstriped wire wheels.

Knowing that it has to push the limits of creativity to stay fresh and up-to-date with current market trends, Victory has labeled the Hard-Ball a cross-breed of cruiser and touring motorcycle. And rightly so since it features many characteristics found on both styles. The Hard-Ball is a good sign of things to come from Victory.

Proven Reliability
Victory’s 106/6 engine and transmission package has proven to be a top-notch powertrain in the V-twin industry. The four-stroke, 50-degree twin features single overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, self-adjusting cam chains, and hydraulic lifters with a 9.4:1 compression ratio. The Freedom V-Twin boasts a torque output of 109 lb-ft. The six-speed transmission features Neutral Selection Assist and helical-cut gears to shift like a warm knife through butter. Overall, the Victory powertrain features everything a bagger owner craves.

Hot Rod
The black-on-black-on-black aesthetic with subtle hints of red striping throughout should definitely appeal to the less-is-more, hot-rod motorcycle enthusiasts. From tip to tail, top to bottom (gas tank, bags, frontend, fenders, are all black), the Hard-Ball bagger is proof that this bike isn’t for the faint of heart.

Take a Brake
Flying down the road on an ABS-equipped motorcycle boosts confidence. The Hard-Ball comes standard with ABS along with dual 300mm floating rotors and four-piston calipers up front, and a 300mm two-piston caliper in the rear. Halting the almost 800-pound bagger won’t be an issue.

Storage
The Hard-Ball saddlebags are what saddlebags should be: large enough to store gear, but shaped properly to flow with the lines of the motorcycle. With 21 gallons capacity, there’s plenty of room in each bag for you and your passenger’s gear for the weekend. If it’s more room you’re looking for, being that the Hard-Ball’s architecture is the same as the Cross models, a Cross trunk will pop right on to extend your weekend trip to a week—or even two-week—trip.

Victory Motorcycles
Contact your local dealer
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