Lehman’s Victory Kingpin-based Pitboss doesn’t mess around. It is a well-muscled, sleek machine that can attract riders in and out of the traditional trike domain. Finding that irregular market target has been Victory’s forte for the last few years.

The proof is in the pudding and Polaris doesn’t skimp on the chocolate. From tip to tail, each model group received improvements this coming year in the form of lighter wheels, more power, brighter lights - heads to tails - and better styling. Some models got the works, while others got just a taste of all the ’09 improvements.

Harley-Davidson recently announced some rather deflating but realistic news about its plan to reduce shipments in the third quarter of this year, due in part to cooling consumer enthusiasm. While attending the 2008 Victory model press ride, Motorcycle.com asked Mark Blackwell, Vice President of Victory Motorcycles and International Operations, Polaris Industries, if Victory has as a response similar to Harley's toward a slowing motorcycle industry: "We have a goal of 10-15% retail growth next year," Blackwell stated. Those figures seem in line with Victory's 13% increase in sales in 2006, which, coincidentally, was also the motorcycle maker's first year of profitability since launching in 1998.

After giving us a little time to get over the shock of the Vision's unveiling now comes details about the rest of its 2008 line.

After a few years of sputtering and a less-than-aggressive design and development approach, the division revamped and rededicated resources. Seemingly overnight, Victory went from an underachieving company mired in abject blandness to one of the most forward thinking motorcycle makers on the market.

"We road tripped it outta LA for a couple of days, covering every type of road in and around Southern California. Along the way we gained a newfound respect for these 'touring cruisers' and a new understanding for the type of person who chooses to enjoy life at a relaxed pace."