It’s become standard operating procedure to debut a one-off custom alongside any new production cruiser, to buildbuzz and inspire would-be customizers to choose that model as their next blank canvas. To jumpstart the launch of its new Judge, a power cruiser aimed at younger riders, Victory let young Bay-area builder Zach Ness work over a pre-production example.
This isn’t your average chopper. Inspired by the Judge’s musclecar motif, Ness cribbed cues from the red-hot café-racer movement to give his “Ness Café” an aggressive attitude. First he lopped off the distinctive boat-tail fender and side numberplates, replacing these with a tubular subframe and tidy solo seat. Clip-on handlebars and rearset footpegs re-orient the riding position sportward, while an Öhlins TTX shock raises the rear 3.5 inches for a racier stance.
A load of Ness-brand billet-aluminum parts, including wheels, grips and controls, lend a high-tech look that dazzles against the deep candy-red paint by Ogawa Designs. Lastly, Victory specialists Lloydz Motorworkz gave the motor an overhaul, porting the heads, lightening the crank and raising the compression to 10:1. S&S racing cams lurk inside and Lloydz’ own Torque Tube intake juts out from beneath the tank, making “power cruiser” more than just an idle claim.
