After much hype and anticipation and a long marketing campaign for an all-new sports slanted middleweight cruiser from Victory, the Octane was revealed overnight.
We are heading the Victory Motorcycles Sydney tonight to check it out in the flesh but for now here is the press release and tech info.
Many Victory fans did expect more of an all-new platform and fire breathing V-Rod competitor but the Octane seems to be heavily based on the Indian Scout platform, with a larger bore, six-speed gearbox, slightly altered engine cosmetics and a mix of original and re-hashed chassis and bodywork.
The plus side of that is the price is sub $20k so this bike should be popular, however, it will be interesting to see if there is more performance to come from Victory, particularly after the related Projects 156, Ignition and Combustion.
One thing is a definite – the Octane is highly suited to customisation and would be a top bike for budding project builders…
THE MODERN AMERICAN MUSCLE BIKE
Every high-octane horsepower enthusiast is familiar with the muscle car formula: take a big
motor, insert it into a lightweight chassis, then delete any creature comforts or other
unnecessary accessories. What’s left is just what you need to go very fast, and nothing else.
The all-new Victory Octane is the two-wheeled expression of that concept, with a modern
twist. This is raw adrenaline that rules the streets. A 1200cc, liquid-cooled V-twin-Victory’s
first-ever liquid-cooled engine-utilizes dual overhead cams and four-valve heads to rev
beyond 8,000 rpm and put down an authoritative 103 horsepower.
That’s more horsepower than any Victory motorcycle ever built. And weighing just 242kg, it’s the lightest Victory motorcycle ever built, too. No surprise, then, that Octane is also the quickest Victory down the quarter-mile, and the fastest from 0-60 mph, too.
A stiff and light cast-aluminium frame transmits every last one of those horsepower directly to
the pavement. Sharp steering geometry, a tight, 1577mm wheelbase and 32-degrees of
available lean angle deliver agility previously unknown to American V-twin motorcycles.
Muscular styling cuts an undeniably modern profile and a sportbike-inspired bullet cowl
improves airflow over the rider at the triple-digit speeds Octane is built to achieve.
A RACE-BRED POWERTRAIN
Developed from the Project 156 prototype that was tested at the most demanding racing event
in the world-the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb(tm)-the 60-degree V-twin features shortstroke
engine geometry just like the Project 156 racer to allow higher engine rpm and more
horsepower, and a quick-revving engine response more like a sportbike than any traditional
American V-Twin.
An electronically metered 60mm throttle body feeds high-flow, 4-valve heads
operated by dual overhead cams, and liquid cooling quenches the heat that is the by-product
of generating 103 horsepower and 103Nm of tyre-shredding torque.
Geared short for quicker acceleration, Octane can sprint down the quarter-mile in 12 seconds and rush from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. With the heart of a racer, Octane has power to burn.
A STIFF AND SOLID CHASSIS
Raw power is only half the muscle bike equation. You also need a solid chassis that can
transmit all that power to the pavement and also hold a tight line when bent into a corner.
Octane’s solid-mounted powertrain is a stressed member that connects cast-aluminium front
and rear frame sections, with twin tubular-steel backbones for added reinforcement.
This rigid assembly is suspended up front by a 41mm fork equipped with dual-rate springs for solid front end feedback over any type of pavement, and out back with stylish laydown shocks mounted
53 degrees off-horizontal, also equipped with preload-adjustable dual-rate springs.
Oversized, 298mm disc brakes with stainless-steel lines and ABS at both ends wait at-the-ready for those rare occasions when you want to shed speed, instead.
Cast aluminium, 10-spoke wheels are sized and shod for sure-footed handling. The 18-inch front wheel wears 130/70-18 rubber, while the 17-inch rear wheel is wrapped with a 160/70-17 tyre. A low-slung solo saddle that rides just 658 mms above the pavement, an equally low pullback handlebar and semi-forwardset foot controls create a riding position that looks properly badass but still provides adequate support when the rider grabs a big handful of throttle and the bike wants to rocket off the line.
SHARP-EDGED STYLING
There are no smooth, flowing lines here. Octane is the most aggressive Victory motorcycle ever
built, and the styling has been revised to suit with harder lines, sharper creases, a morepronounced
centre spine and other details that make Octane look leaner and meaner than any
American motorcycle ever before.
The bullet cowl is standard equipment and screams to oncoming traffic that this bike is built for speed-the only thing other riders are going to see is the LED taillight disappearing into the distance. Chrome won’t get you home, so there’s hardly any shiny stuff on Octane.
The bulk of the chassis, running gear and powertrain are blackedout, and Matte Super Steel Grey bodywork looks all business. Even the tank badge has been cast in grey instead of the traditional Victory red to create a modern, monochrome look.
THE MODERN AMERICAN MUSCLEBIKE
Based off a proven Polaris(r) platform, Octane uses a significant number of unique parts
specifically designed and engineered to deliver the high-performance, raw-adrenaline riding
experience Victory riders demand.
With a high-revving engine character and surprising high rpm power hit, it behaves more like a sportbike than any American V-twin that has come before.
With unexpectedly low weight and lots of available lean angle, a well-ridden Octane will embarrass many replica-racers down a twisty stretch of pavement. And with pricing starting at just $18,995 ride away, the Victory Octane is the formula for the Modern American Muscle bike.
The all-new Victory Octane will be available on Australian shores from mid-year.
VICTORY OCTANE SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE TYPE: Liquid-cooled 60° V-twin
VALVE TRAIN: DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
DISPLACEMENT: 1,179cc
BORE X STROKE: 101.0 x 73.6mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.8:1
HORSEPOWER: 103 HP/77 KW @ 8000 RPM
TORQUE: 76 FT-LBS/103 NM @ 6000 RPM
FUEL SYSTEM: EFI with single 60mm throttle body
EXHAUST: Dual slash-cut mufflers with common volume
CLUTCH: Wet, multi-plate
TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE: 6-speed/belt
FRAME: Cast-aluminium semi-double-cradle with tubular-steel backbones
FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm damper-tube forks with dual-rate springs; 4.7-in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION: Twin shocks with dual-rate springs, adjustable for preload; 3.0-in. travel
LEAN ANGLE (SOFT): 32 degrees
FRONT BRAKE: Two-piston calliper, 298mm disc, with ABS
REAR BRAKE: One-piston calliper, 298mm disc, with ABS
FRONT TYRE: 130/70-18 63H
REAR TYRE: 160/70-17 76H
FRONT WHEEL: 18 X 3.5-in. cast, 10-spoke
REAR WHEEL: 17 X 4.5-in. cast, 10-spoke
RAKE/TRAIL: 29.0°/129mm.
WHEELBASE: 1,577mm
SEAT HEIGHT (LADEN): 658mm.
FUEL CAPACITY: 12.8 ltrs.
OIL CAPACITY: 4.2 ltrs.
DRY WEIGHT: 242kg.
WARRANTY 2 year, unlimited Km
PRICE: $18,995 Ride Away
Visit www.victorymotorcycles.com.au.
