Octane from Victory

Victory raised quite a few eyebrows last year when it appeared at the annual Pike’s Peak Hill Climb with an all-new 1179cc, 60-degree V-twin code named Project 156 – a reference to the number of turns leading to the 4,300 metre summit. Although the actual “race to the clouds” ended prematurely when rider Don Canet dropped the model, he had earlier qualified fastest in his class. As a direct result of that effort, Victory have just announced the road going production version, the Octane, claimed to be “the most aggressive Victory ever built.” 103 horsepower and 103 Nm of torque comes out of the liquid cooled 8-valve twin – enough to send it down the quarter mile in under 12 seconds. A six speed gearbox is used, with belt final drive. The chassis features cast aluminium front and rear sections, with twin tubular steel backbones, with 298 disc brakes at both ends and 17-inch wheels. Dry weight is 242.2kg and seat height 65.7cm. The new Octane will be available in Australia from June with a RRP of $18,995 ride away.