Two independent Victory Motorcycles stores in Australia are among 26 entrants in a global Victory Octane bike build-off competition.
It follows a similar global competition for sister company Indian Motorcycle in which no Aussie stores were involved.
The competition will be decided by online votes with two North American dealer winners and two international dealer winners.
The Australian stores will be competing against 14 competitors from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Taiwan, France, Japan and the UK.
Canberra Motorcycle Centre has entered a “High-Octane” custom. It features ape-hanger bars, wild heat-wrapped upswept two-into-two pipes, front fender moved to the bobbed rear, old-school taillight and white-walled tyres.
Brisan Motorcycles in Newcastle calls their custom the lean and mean “Grifter”. It comes with a high-set scrambler-esque Arrow single pipe, light brown grips, stunning 18-inch seven-spoke Machine wheels and solo drag seat.
Obviously the company-owned Victory and Indian stores in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and now Perth (the world’s biggest Victory dealership) are not competing. Otherwise, it would be seen that they had an unfair advantage.
Global entrants
Like the Indian Scout competition, the global bike build-off shows the extent of personalisation the Octane can achieve.
Some represent quite a wild departure from the muscle cruiser stance of the production bike. Take for example the Desert Racer from Germany, the #76 scrambler from Quebec or the Lightning drag racer from Portugal.
Although the two bikes look similar, the Victory Octane only has 30% of components borrowed from the Indian Scout. It also has better suspension and more power from the engine which has been bored out bored out 2mm to 1179cc from 1133cc.
Victory Motorcycle dealers around the world had three months to create their custom entrant.
Customers now have until November 22, 2016, to vote for their favourite.
Dealer entrants stand to win cash prizes for first ($5000) and second ($3000) for the international entrants and North American dealers who also receive a magazine shoot.
North American customer entrants can also go in the draw to win an Octane. The grand prize includes riding gear, bike accessories and a trip for two to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet master bike builder Bryan Fuller in his workshop.