Would you believe that nice, civilized people from Minnesota would ever produce a thinly veiled, mischief-happy, two-wheeled hooligan motorcycle that looks like it was designed with a meat cleaver? You better believe it, because the howling mass of dark matter that's growing ever larger in your rearview mirror is none other than the 2017 Octane, Victory's all-new musclebike. OK, I'll wipe that stupid grin off my face now... Nah, I just can't. I've been waiting for a hippy killer like this one for too long. A quick look at the low-slung, tight-lined 2017 Octane reveals a motorcycle that first and foremost is built to thrill. You can't miss that brand-new 60-degree engine, a high-revving four-valve 1200cc liquid-cooled V-twin that—unlike most cruisers—was designed to sing its tune past the 8000 rpm mark. Victory announces that the Octane can deliver an authoritative 104 horsepower and is geared short for quick acceleration. They say the Octane can sprint down the quarter-mile in 12 seconds and hit the 0-60 mph in under four seconds. We're deep into sportbike territory here, and that's certainly more ponies than any production Victory motorcycle has ever spat out. Heck, I feel like we're already on a first name basis with this bike, so let's drop the formalities. Octane’s solid-mounted powertrain is a stressed member that connects cast-aluminum front and rear frame sections with twin tubular-steel backbones for added reinforcement. A fast and nimble motorcycle like Octane must have a stiff chassis to transfer power squarely to the pavement and to let the steering and suspension do their work with maximum efficiency. To that effect, Octane also uses a conventional 41mm telescopic fork equipped with dual-rate springs up front, while the back gets a pair of preload-adjustable shocks, also with dual-rate springs. The stiff, cast aluminum 10-spoke wheels have oversized brake rotors with stainless-steel lines. They're here to help you adjust your entry speed a you dive into a mean corner, taking advantage of Octane's 32-degree lean angle capabilities. Styling wise, Octane is all about choppy, sharp lines, creases and spines; a sort of metal origami, as it were. The bullet cowl is standard equipment and screams to oncoming traffic that Octane is here to kick ass. There’s hardly any chrome on Octane. Instead, most of the chassis, running gear and powertrain are blacked-out to match the Matte Super Steel Gray bodywork. Even the tank badge has been cast in gray instead of the traditional Victory red to create a modern, monochrome look. Victory says that 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. Starting at a reasonnable $10,499, Octane is a motorcycle we will be sure to keep our eyes on for 2017 model year. Whatever demographic this bike is fixin' to attract, il looks like it was built for the 19 year-old in me. Count me in for a spirited test ride! |
