Quick spin: Victory High-Ball

The Victory High-Ball bobber ($19,995) certainly makes a styling exclamation mark – and that’s what I love about the bike. The apehangers dominate the landscape alongside the 16-inch wire-spoke wheels, and the bike is one of the better handlers in Victory’s line-up.

Are the apehangers comfortable to ride with? Or does it really not matter? Probably not, and for someone who rarely rides with them it’s a rewarding and bold – and for some sinister -- departure from the normal. They have a bit of mongrel about them too, a ray of sunshine in a sea of anodyne cruiser offerings. And the feeling of wind winding through your armpit – depending on your riding attire – isn’t something that’s a part of your normal motorcycle riding staple.

For the record – and we’re not talking bombshell stuff here -- the apehangers are perfectly fine for city slinging, and just a little bit of a chore on the open road. They are adjustable as well.

Since we last through a leg over the low-riding High-Ball, the bike has basically remained the same, which means the gutsy, eight-valve 106ci (1731cc) Freedom engine churning away inside a steel frame, a bobbed front fender, and a no-nonsense blacked-out look that only allows a few shiny bits into the equation. There’s also an analogue gauge with a digital inset (odometer, tripmeter, clock and gear position indicator), a 17-litre fuel tank, and the bike’s a single seater. The rider’s seat has nice lumbar support.

There are 300mm discs on each wheel, with four pistons at the front and two at the rear. The High-Ball does teach you how to get your braking in order, as the front isn’t the most powerful set-up while the rear is lusty and easily locks if you are not careful. No anti-lock braking here. But the High-Ball does carry its weight low, so apportioning more braking effort to the rear isn’t such a huge concern.

For the 2014 model year, the High-Ball will be available in two model configurations. Both sporting a new round headlight, the new models are available in Suede Black with bold Flame Graphics running on 16-inch" laced spoke wheels (see right) or a more traditional suede black and white paint finish fitted with a new set of 16-inch cast wheels borrowed from the Judge.

>2014 Victory motorcycle range

With the 16-inch tyres, the High-Ball swings through turns with a pleasant, neutral feel, so much so that you really want to press on a little when the situation presents itself – even if the bike’s not in its natural habitat. On big, wide curves the High-Ball will sit there all day, and it’s only on tighter and slower corners where the mass is really felt.

The suspension combines conventional 43mm forks with a single-monotube gas shock, and travel is 150mm (front) and 75mm (rear) respectively. The ride quality isn’t choppy, which is a good effort considering the suspension is nursing a fairly hefty 300kg mass. The rear suspension is the highlight, though: not too soft or hard, so it’s ideal for cruising and cornering.

Victory claims 97hp and 152Nm for the High-Ball, and I reckon these numbers are pretty close to the mark, as it’s such an enjoyable bike to be in command of. With so much torque, Victory’s spread the gear ratios far and wide, so you can hold a gear punching from one corner to another – very relaxing.

Victory offers a range custom exhaust systems to choose from (our press unit was fitted with one), including a two-into-one. That’s on top of other performance accessories, shock kits, chrome, mirrors, pull back grips, pegs, handlebars, windshields, seats, et al.

The High-Ball is a platform that’s so much different from the normal and that’s what makes it so cool. But when it all boils down, it's a question of whether you like the apehangers or not.

I know the Victory I’d be picking if I won the competition. But alas, I can’t enter...

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six speed
Final drive: Carbon fibre reinforced belt
Clutch: Wet