2004 H-D Deuce vs Victory Vegas Photo Gallery

Photos of the 2004 H-D Deuce vs Victory Vegas. 2004 H-D Deuce vs. Victory Vegas.

Vegas vs. Deuce - Wallpaper

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.

Indeed, Harley’s sequential port fuel injection, a $600 option over the base carbureted model, is flawless.

In a roll-on comparison, the Deuce hangs neck-and-neck with the Vegas at first, then gets dusted once the more powerful Victory motor stretches its legs. Both engines are counterbalanced, giving a nice rumpity cadence without intrusive vibration.

Riding by a mirrored office building aboard either and you’ll feel an irresistible urge to check yourself out in the reflections.

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

Tall 21-inch front wheels with skinny-ass tires raked out like a wheelbarrow make parking lot maneuvers simply awkward.

The view to the Vegas' gauges is super clean. Warning lights are neatly set in to the polished triple clamp and handlebar mounts are hidden.

Not that the 92-cubic-inch Vegas really needs more power, because its engine output easily exceeds that of the Deuce’s Twin Cam 88B motor.

While the Deuce is unable to come out ahead in value or performance, it does provide the authentic Harley-Davidson experience that has such gravity for those who want to join the club.

Good and bad: Elegant turn signals are almost invisible to the rider, but plastic switchgear feels cheap.

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.

There’s something special about the finely honed appeal of the Harley, and it’s amazing how the H-D bar-and-shield crest immediately earns respect from bystanders/onlookers.

Custom bike builder Arlen Ness and his creative son, Corey, both partially responsible for the alluring styling of the Vegas.

One look at the Deuce and you can see why it’s a modern-day icon.

Boasting a peak of 67.4 horsepower at 4700 rpm from its 1507cc, 50-degree V-Twin, the Vegas outmuscles the air-cooled, pushrod 45-degree Twin in the Deuce from the midrange on up.