The lumpier cams of the Stage 2 Freedom 106/6 used in the Hammer 8-Ball adds credibility to the bike’s billing as a muscle cruiser. With just a little rev you’re treated to a strong hit off idle with first gear jettisoning you to a tad under 50. The next two aren’t quite as broad but power distribution is even. Most highway miles on the tight stretches we are riding are spent in fifth gear running from 55 to 85 and the roll-on power of the gear is frequently utilized. Kicking into overdrive sixth, the bike lopes along at a comfortable 2,250 rpm at 65 mph.
The rumbling note coming out of the Swept pipes is befitting of the blacked-out V-Twin’s dark disposition. It’s got a strong pulse and bark that borders the line of compliancy. Maybe it’s the way the pipes echo off the natural acoustics of the vertical walls in the canyon we’re riding. These pipes aren’t standard fare, though, but are one of three new
We carved the canyons of Colorado's high plains desert on the 2011 Victory Hammer 8-Ball as well as other Victory cruiser and touring motorcycles.
factory aftermarket pipes offered this year. The shorty wind deflector on the model we’re riding isn’t stock either, but it does give just enough of a buffer to tuck into. It also has clamps to latch the removable passenger cowl onto if you decide to roll two-up.
The new stock dual pipes are staggered with a slash cut. Equipped with the black ceramic-coated exhaust shields and mufflers, the Hammer 8-Ball is pretty much void of chrome except for the small round housing of the speedo. From the tip of the “Bullet” headlight to the tail of the chopped rear fender, it’s a wave of ebony. Frame, fenders, tank, engine, handlebars, wheels, belt guards – did we leave anything out? We shot video of the Black Stingray Wheels in motion and they spin to a point where they look like they’re standing still.
