Launch: 2007 Victory Kingpin & Kingpin Tour-Classy American tourer that handles!
Victory launched the Kingpin in 2004 with USD fork, outrageous retro mudguards and a big 92 cubic Inch V-twin engine. Since then the Kingpin have been recognised as Victory’s most versatile motorcycle and it is only natural that it now becomes available as a full-on touring model with the latest 100 Cubic Inch engine.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Kevin Wing
My first encounter with the Kingpin model was in 2004-Prior to that I had only ever ridden the Vegas model which is much more specialised. I was really surprised of how well it handled and how much fun it was to ride even on the twisty roads in the English country side.
At the 2007 model launch in California I got to ride the Kingpin again and it still handles better than any other Victory (and not a few Harley’s) included the Hammer S. The chassis have been good for years so it is mainly the choice of more conventional tyre-sizes that contributes positively in the handling department. The tyres are hidden behind giant fenders that look gorgeous in the blue/white colour combination. I might be stating the obvious here, but the standard Kingpin handles better than the Kingpin Tour due to less weight at the back. The Tour’s new luggage now includes a big leather-like finished top box in addition to the panniers. There’s room for two helmets (one full and one half faced) in there and the pillion gets a nice backrest at the same time.
We are heading into the Santa Rosa Mountains and the decent handling shows through straight away. I rode the standard 2007 Kingpin between the first and second stop we did and it felt great in the left-right combinations compared to the Hammer S (it’s just down to the big rear Hammer tyre really). The Kingpin is only limited by the ground clearance, but I still felt it was good enough for the riding style I adapted (and clearance is the same as on the Hammer models). New on the 2007 Kingpin is the custom headlight and since 2004 it has received the 1634cc Freedom V-twin engine as well.
After the second stop I grabbed the keys for the Kingpin Tour. It features the luggage as mentioned, but also a big windscreen. The windscreen became a valuable asset that hot day in the desert to keep the dust out of my face and avoid my nose from functioning as a Ram-air transmitter of hot and dry air. In more humid European conditions the windscreen would provide good protection from wind and rain. The Tour gets footboards both for the rider and the pillion (standard Kingpin only footboards for the rider).
The Tour cruises effortlessly up the mountain sides and there is not much vibration from the fuel injected 1634cc 50 degree V-twin. I also rode the Tour with the Victory stage 1 kit and it makes a big difference. There is so much character and creamy V-twin sound and push hidden in a modern exhaust system. To emphasise the tuning potential of these big air-cooled engines Victory allowed us to sample an 8-ball model fitted with a 106 c.i S&S kit too-More about that mind blowing experience at the end of this article. There is plenty of oomph in the standard engine too and enough for touring duties with or without heavy luggage. Some mechanical noise can be heard from the engine/transmission on the standard bike though. Kingpin Tour features a six-speed gear box with overdrive. On the motorway this is both comfortable and economical. I felt that the Kingpin needed more revs in sixth to overtake comfortably from speeds around 60-65mph.
The black 8-ball (middle) is Victory’s entry level model. The standard version still features the 1634cc Freedom V-twin and chassis just like the other Victory models. We were told that the 8-ball is the tuners favourite as the package is standard and easy to customise. In 2007 the 8-ball is the only Victory model to feature the round headlight rather than the custom headlight. Victory brought the S&S kitted 8-ball as a treat and what a treat. The kit brings displacement up from 1634cc to 1737cc of pure V-twin power. On my test ride the acceleration was monumental and it keeps accelerating past 120mph as if nothing had happened. The 8-ball with the S&S kit is a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. It was so fun that the next guy on the bike had to use a wrench to release my hands from the handlebars. I had to remind myself that I was really here to ride the 2007 Hammer S and Kingpin Tour and not to play with toys such as the S&S kitted 8-ball. Pure fun and probably madness.
