When Germany’s first Victory outfit was shown at the “Custombike” exhibition at Bad Salzuflen last December, it wasn’t road legal at all. Meanwhile everything is accomplished and ready for the road. Yes, of course we snapped up this opportunity to take it out onto the back lanes of Bavaria soon after Christmas for a picture session.

First impression was those Victory engines are an equal match to the Milwaukee V-Twins, but who had expected otherwise? After all the Japanese manufacturers demonstrated that their V-Twins with big pots are up to what is so called power cruising. Even the Ape-Hanger handlebars did not affect the steering with its original geometry as had been feared. Nevertheless it did not appeal to my personal driving style. Aware of it, Berhard Peitner is able to offer this combo with a range of different handlebars. And more important, the Vegas High Ball with its spoke wheels and wide 16” front tyre is highly suitable for economic conversion. More pictures can be found soon at Motorrad-News and Motorrad Gespanne magazines.

Despite the facts production of the Hot-Rod sidecar is still a far away proposition. The current chair had been manufactured by “Schöne Linie”. Sadly owner Jürgen Mayerle said farewell to making glas-fibre bodies and returned the moulds to the Belgium designer. If Peintner can’t get a decent price for bodies from that source, he probably does his own. Knowing him he does not even abstain from making steel bodies. Most important to him are looks and fitting in his style.

North America is full of Victory outfits and Trikes. Leading edge creations do come from conversion trike manufacturer Lehman. It may be worthwhile to check search engines, sadly only very few find their way across the Atlantic. Perhaps Lehman importers Germany at Griesheim should give the idea a go for its Harley counterpart TriGlide (also made by Lehman) already has found its way to German shores.