Enter celebrated custom bike builder Arlen Ness and his creative son, Corey, both partially responsible for the alluring styling of the Vegas, a bike that is putting Victory on the map. Now with the visual appeal Victory has always needed, we wondered if the Vegas can go toe-to-toe with the benchmark in the custom cruiser segment, H-D's FXSTD Softail Deuce.

One look at the Deuce and you can see why it's a modern-day icon. Its lines are pure and harmonious, giving a countenance that just looks correct. And the attention to detail furbished on the Deuce can make one think it's worth the lofty $17,000 price tag; perhaps even higher, depending on the greed of your local Motor Company dealer.

In the other corner, the Vegas counters with a fresh design with artful touches throughout, such as the scalloped fuel tank, flush-mounted LED taillight and polished triple clamps. Perhaps more significant, the Vegas undercuts the $16,795 base price of the Deuce by nearly $2000.

So, finally, we get to the question: Is the Vegas a better cruiser than the Harley?

First off, you should know that high style has its price; if you're too young to remember getting your wide-leg pants caught in the chain of your bicycle, then at least you should be able to remember your dad's mullet. The style of this chopper-esque duo, though far more fashionable than any mullet, also has its cost. Tall 21-inch front wheels with skinny-ass tires raked out like a wheelbarrow make parking lot maneuvers simply awkward. Without the assistance of gyroscopic motion, he stretched-out front ends have a strong tendency to flop inward at low speeds. It's noticeable on the Vegas, pronounced on the Deuce. A rider gets acclimated to the handling quirk, but neither will ever be Shriner material.

A floppy front end doesn't always work so well with the ladies (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), but anyone in the market for this type of bike will be thrilled how both make them look glamorous and provocative. Riding by a mirrored office building aboard either and you'll feel an irresistible urge to check yourself out in the reflections.

Our Vegas test bike was pimped out with a few options to make it even more attractive with varying results. Some really dig the optional and way-flashy Performance Machine billet aluminum blade-design wheels, while some prefer the classic look of laced wheels, $1000 and $350 extra over the stock cast wheels, respectively. Base price for the Vegas is $14,999, the same as last year. Add in another $1500 for the Tribal Flame paint job on our test bike, and its MSRP surpasses that of the base Harley.