I was thinking about getting a new bike a while back, and I spent a lot of time checking out different models. Eventually, I narrowed it down to two: the Victory Gunner and the Harley Fat Bob. They were both pretty close in price, so that wasn’t a huge factor in my decision.
I visited a few dealerships to take a closer look at both bikes. The dealers were cool about letting me take them for test rides. Even though the rides were short, they were super helpful. Just feeling how each bike handled on the road made a big difference.
- The Gunner felt really solid. It’s got that Freedom 106 V-twin engine, which is a beast. The spec sheet says it puts out 110 lb-ft of torque, and you can feel it. From a dead stop, it just pulls.
- The Fat Bob was nice, too, but the Gunner’s engine just felt more powerful to me. It’s a tough choice because they are very close. I only can choose one.
- One thing I noticed about the Gunner is that it doesn’t come with a back seat. Not a dealbreaker for me, but something to keep in mind if you ride with a passenger a lot.
I also noticed that the Gunner hasn’t changed much between 2015 and 2017. It seems like Victory found a good formula and stuck with it.
Some people I talked to thought the Gunner’s design was a bit too angular. They preferred the softer lines of other cruisers. But for me, I liked the Gunner’s look. It felt more unique, more my style.
The Vegas also caught my eye, but the skinny front tire made the handling feel a little light when I was leaning into turns, that’s not very good for a new rider like me. It also seemed to wander a bit when I hit grooves in the road. Didn’t love that.
After all that testing and comparing, I finally made my choice. I went with the Victory Gunner. That powerful engine and the overall feel of the bike just won me over. It’s been a blast to ride, and I’m really happy with my decision.
In the end I bought a new Victory Gunner, it is really cool! I am very happy with my decision.
