Motorcycles

Victory boosts 2017 lineup with high Octane

Victory boosts 2017 lineup with high Octane
The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
View 64 Images
The final styling of the Victory Octane has been heavily influenced by the Ignition and Combustion concepts
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The final styling of the Victory Octane has been heavily influenced by the Ignition and Combustion concepts
Spartan lines and dark color tones for the Victory Octane
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Spartan lines and dark color tones for the Victory Octane
A vertical stack of LEDs for the Victory Octane's tail light
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A vertical stack of LEDs for the Victory Octane's tail light
The Indian Scout roots are evident in the figure of the Victory Octane
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The Indian Scout roots are evident in the figure of the Victory Octane
The angular fuel tank adds to the aggressive nature of the Victory Octane's design
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The angular fuel tank adds to the aggressive nature of the Victory Octane's design
The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
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The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane can lean up to an angle of 32 degrees - that's one more than the Scout
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The Victory Octane can lean up to an angle of 32 degrees - that's one more than the Scout
The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways
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The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways
The bullet cowl amplifies the image of a speeding Victory Octane
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The bullet cowl amplifies the image of a speeding Victory Octane
The speedometer is part of the standard equipment of the Victory Octane, while the tachometer with adjustable shift light must be ordered extra
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The speedometer is part of the standard equipment of the Victory Octane, while the tachometer with adjustable shift light must be ordered extra
The Victory Octane is powered by a 1,179.3 cc liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin with two overhead cams and 4-valve heads, coupled with a six-speed transmission
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The Victory Octane is powered by a 1,179.3 cc liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin with two overhead cams and 4-valve heads, coupled with a six-speed transmission
The Victory Octane burns rubber in straight line as well
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The Victory Octane burns rubber in straight line as well
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in wheelie action
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The Victory Octane in wheelie action
The Octane is an affordable power cruiser with the most potent engine that Victory ever mass produced
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The Octane is an affordable power cruiser with the most potent engine that Victory ever mass produced
The angular tank of the Victory Octane holds 3.4 gallons (12.9 lt) of fuel
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The angular tank of the Victory Octane holds 3.4 gallons (12.9 lt) of fuel
Matte grey finish and blacked out metallic parts for the Victory Octane
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Matte grey finish and blacked out metallic parts for the Victory Octane
This is the standard engine cover on the right side that every Victory Octane customer will have, unless he is one of the first 100 that will get a Project 156 special cover
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This is the standard engine cover on the right side that every Victory Octane customer will have, unless he is one of the first 100 that will get a Project 156 special cover
Victory says that the Octane's engine is short-geared for fast acceleration
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Victory says that the Octane's engine is short-geared for fast acceleration
The Victory Octane features a black single seat that looks very similar to the Indian Scout's one
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The Victory Octane features a black single seat that looks very similar to the Indian Scout's one
Chrome won’t get you home, so there’s hardly any shiny stuff on Octane - says Victory's press release
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Chrome won’t get you home, so there’s hardly any shiny stuff on Octane - says Victory's press release
Opting for 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, the Victory Octane should be more stable and less prone to directional changes compared to the 16-inch Scout
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Opting for 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, the Victory Octane should be more stable and less prone to directional changes compared to the 16-inch Scout
The Victory Octane will initially be available only in this Matte Super Steel Grey color
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The Victory Octane will initially be available only in this Matte Super Steel Grey color
Victory declares the Octane as the most aggressive motorcycle it ever built
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Victory declares the Octane as the most aggressive motorcycle it ever built
Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls
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Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls
The Victory Octane in standard trim, with only the speedometer behind the front cowl
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The Victory Octane in standard trim, with only the speedometer behind the front cowl
This engine cover will be part of the first 100 Octane motorcycles that will be ordered (or pre-ordered) from Victory
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This engine cover will be part of the first 100 Octane motorcycles that will be ordered (or pre-ordered) from Victory
The final styling of the Victory Octane has been heavily influenced by the Ignition and Combustion concepts
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The final styling of the Victory Octane has been heavily influenced by the Ignition and Combustion concepts
Spartan lines and dark color tones for the Victory Octane
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Spartan lines and dark color tones for the Victory Octane
A vertical stack of LEDs for the Victory Octane's tail light
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A vertical stack of LEDs for the Victory Octane's tail light
The Indian Scout roots are evident in the figure of the Victory Octane
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The Indian Scout roots are evident in the figure of the Victory Octane
The angular fuel tank adds to the aggressive nature of the Victory Octane's design
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The angular fuel tank adds to the aggressive nature of the Victory Octane's design
The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
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The Victory Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane can lean up to an angle of 32 degrees - that's one more than the Scout
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The Victory Octane can lean up to an angle of 32 degrees - that's one more than the Scout
The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways
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The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways
The bullet cowl amplifies the image of a speeding Victory Octane
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The bullet cowl amplifies the image of a speeding Victory Octane
The speedometer is part of the standard equipment of the Victory Octane, while the tachometer with adjustable shift light must be ordered extra
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The speedometer is part of the standard equipment of the Victory Octane, while the tachometer with adjustable shift light must be ordered extra
The Victory Octane is powered by a 1,179.3 cc liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin with two overhead cams and 4-valve heads, coupled with a six-speed transmission
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The Victory Octane is powered by a 1,179.3 cc liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin with two overhead cams and 4-valve heads, coupled with a six-speed transmission
The Victory Octane burns rubber in straight line as well
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The Victory Octane burns rubber in straight line as well
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in action
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The Victory Octane in action
The Victory Octane in wheelie action
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The Victory Octane in wheelie action
The Octane is an affordable power cruiser with the most potent engine that Victory ever mass produced
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The Octane is an affordable power cruiser with the most potent engine that Victory ever mass produced
The angular tank of the Victory Octane holds 3.4 gallons (12.9 lt) of fuel
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The angular tank of the Victory Octane holds 3.4 gallons (12.9 lt) of fuel
Matte grey finish and blacked out metallic parts for the Victory Octane
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Matte grey finish and blacked out metallic parts for the Victory Octane
This is the standard engine cover on the right side that every Victory Octane customer will have, unless he is one of the first 100 that will get a Project 156 special cover
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This is the standard engine cover on the right side that every Victory Octane customer will have, unless he is one of the first 100 that will get a Project 156 special cover
Victory says that the Octane's engine is short-geared for fast acceleration
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Victory says that the Octane's engine is short-geared for fast acceleration
The Victory Octane features a black single seat that looks very similar to the Indian Scout's one
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The Victory Octane features a black single seat that looks very similar to the Indian Scout's one
Chrome won’t get you home, so there’s hardly any shiny stuff on Octane - says Victory's press release
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Chrome won’t get you home, so there’s hardly any shiny stuff on Octane - says Victory's press release
Opting for 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, the Victory Octane should be more stable and less prone to directional changes compared to the 16-inch Scout
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Opting for 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, the Victory Octane should be more stable and less prone to directional changes compared to the 16-inch Scout
The Victory Octane will initially be available only in this Matte Super Steel Grey color
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The Victory Octane will initially be available only in this Matte Super Steel Grey color
Victory declares the Octane as the most aggressive motorcycle it ever built
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Victory declares the Octane as the most aggressive motorcycle it ever built
Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls
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Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls
The Victory Octane in standard trim, with only the speedometer behind the front cowl
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The Victory Octane in standard trim, with only the speedometer behind the front cowl
This engine cover will be part of the first 100 Octane motorcycles that will be ordered (or pre-ordered) from Victory
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This engine cover will be part of the first 100 Octane motorcycles that will be ordered (or pre-ordered) from Victory
View gallery - 64 images

The path that opened when a 1,200 cc V-twin prototype racer contested the Pikes Peak hill climb last June has finally led to the long-awaited production model from Victory Motorcycles. The Octane power cruiser juggles fiery performance on one hand, with entry level friendly pricing on the other.

The press release announcing Victory's participation to the Pikes Peak event with a naked streetbike dubbed Project 156 came as a surprise to many. Those who follow Don Canet's Cycle World column or Roland Sands' Instagram account may have had a heads up on the information that Victory had developed a racer out of an Indian Scout in just four months. Investigating the sportier side of the Scout's V-twin apparently attracted plentiful publicity to Victory's plans, and also offered the opportunity to test the engine's limits in a competitive environment.

Soon after two concept models – the Ignition and the Combustion – completed the introductory trilogy.The works of Urs Erbacher and Zach Ness evidently contributed to the Octane's final shape and added another two well-known names to that of Roland Sands in the new bike's bloodline.

Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls
Every metallic component of the Victory Octane is painted black, including engine, exhausts, wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, rear shocks and even the foot controls

Sharp edges, matte grey finish, total absence of chrome and everything metallic blacked out – the Octane is designed to look menacing. It may resemble the average cruiser with a mean look, but in this case the attitude isn't just superficial.

An extra 50 cc over the standard Scout's engine comes from bigger bores, as the pistons' stroke remains exactly the same, which is exactly the opposite of the process that led to the Scout Sixty. It's 101 x 73.6 mm for the Octane, 96 x 73.6 for the Scout; both ostensibly oversquare. Working at 10.8:1 compression rate, maximum performance comes quite high in the rev range with 77 kW (103 hp) at 8,000 rpm and 73 ft-lb (99 Nm) at 6,000. That'd be a similar rev ceiling to the Scout, but with a substantial 17-hp punch and an equally important weight loss of 38 lb (17 kg), with the Octane tipping the scales at 528 lb (240 kg).

The frame also follows the hybrid logic of the Scout, with two cast aluminum parts tied together by the engine block and a double steel backbone. Although Victory does not talk about possible differences compared to the source model, we do note a slightly longer wheelbase at 62.1 in (1,578 mm) - 61.5 in / 1,562 mm for the Scout. Also the rear shocks are positioned at a steeper angle and the seat is a tad higher at 25.9 in (658 mm), while the rake remains at 29 degrees.

Suspension and brakes appear to be the very same units used on the Scout, as the Octane comes with standard ABS. The wheels are different, with a larger 18-in front (130/70) and a fatter 160/70-17 rear.

The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways
The Victory Octane while burning rubber sideways

Victory has essentially come up with a sportier alternative to the Indian Scout. It's not exactly the hair-raising naked sportbike that Project 156 hinted at, yet Victory celebrates the Octane as the most powerful production motorcycle it has ever built. According to the official release, it can cover the quarter-mile in 12 seconds and accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Despite the significant power hike though, the price objective definitely played its part in retaining a rather basic set of suspension and brakes. The Octane takes a stab at the logic behind motorcycles like the Ducati XDiavel, offered at a considerably less intimidating price that will certainly appeal to a far wider customer base.

The Octane's press release makes no specific mention of availability dates, but informs us that the US MSRP starts at $10,499, while in Europe the starting price is set at €12,950. As extra incentive, the first 100 motorcycles (including pre-orders) will be offered with a special engine right side plate commemorating the model's Project 156 roots.

The following video offers some insight into the Octane's core values.

Victory Octane - Intimidating Race-Based Performance - Victory Motorcyles

Source: Victory

View gallery - 64 images
2 comments
2 comments
gizmowiz
Now if Victory would just make an eCruiser like this. Why not Victory?
Ottoknut
I think the Octane's styling succeeds where the Scout'styling falls flat. The Octance is a very sharp and sinister looking piece, and reminds me of H-D's old XLCR Cafe' Racer. Now all Victory needs to do is to have a flatter bar and rear-set pegs as options to make it my kind of bike.