Honda Valkyrie upgrade project plan

[Kaahn]

Hello all! I'm starting the upgrades on the stock standard Valk I purchased. After talking to Daryl from Xf6, I decided to buy the rake kit to have them install now while the fork was coming off anyway. Here's the general plan I have so far....

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions are appreciated.

Also looking for a valkyrie mechanic in California so I don't have to pay the Honda dealership $100/hr for labor  :'(

Any advice for cheaper parts for any of what's mentioned would also be helpful. I purchased my progressive suspension from Amazon.. I'm hoping it will fit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AWMD9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1







Phase one:

Fork rebuilt (Bushings, seals, ect)
Progressive Spring upgrade
Xf6's 6 degree rake kit

Progressive Suspension 430 11.5" rear shock upgrade
(Progressive Suspension 430-4202B Black Anodized Finish 11.5")

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phase two:
Forward controls (Floorboards?)
Powder coat/ replace as much chrome with BLACK 
Small custom mini fairing?
Exhaust (Mark T)
Signals/lights upgrade

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Phase three:
SUPERCHARGERRRRRRRRR

[sandy]

Be aware that your suspension changes will hurt handling in the twisties. Raking the front and lowering the rear hurt the bikes ability to dive into a corner.

[hubcapsc]

You didn't mention why you chose these options, they may be an upgrade
for your use case, I don't know... but in general I'd never think about
getting short shocks and a rake kit...

-Mike

[Kaahn]

Well I wanted a rake kit because of the look, I asked a few people and the guy in charge at XF6, they said a rake will actually IMPROVE the handling, especially at low speeds?


Daryl told me a 8 degree kit will hurt the handling, but a 6 degree with lower rear suspension will improve handling

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well I wanted a rake kit because of the look, I asked a few people and the guy in charge at XF6, they said a rake will actually IMPROVE the handling, especially at low speeds?


Daryl told me a 8 degree kit will hurt the handling, but a 6 degree with lower rear suspension will improve handling

 

Maybe the handling out on the Interstate at 90 mph. But I can’t imagine it will help when you want to carve up some mountain roads.

[Chrisj CMA]

Be aware that your suspension changes will hurt handling in the twisties. Raking the front and lowering the rear hurt the bikes ability to dive into a corner.

Not diving into too many corners with forward controls and boards on a lowered bike.  Sounds like a bar hopper in the making, not that there is anything wrong with that.

[hubcapsc]

Daryl told me a 8 degree kit will hurt the handling, but a 6 degree with lower rear suspension will improve handling

The XF6 place is knowledgeable and has quality merchandise as far as I know...

But short shocks are going to make you drag hard parts in the corners sooner than otherwise.

-Mike

[9Ball]

Personally I’d go through the mechanicals first, then start your changes.  Good to have a solid baseline first.

The Progressive suspension is a good start.

[Leathel]

raking it will not make it unrideable, It will be different and not the same on tight twisty mountain roads but it will look good,  and still ride OK, stability at times will be better

My last bike had more rake from factory than the Valkyrie and for a while I had shorter shocks on the rear, it still rode OK, If I hadn't riden it with std shocks I would have thought it was normal

I only had the shorter shocks on the old bike after one shock failed, while I waited for replacements.... it did reduce the ground clearance and scraped on corners more, and it had more clearance than the Valk std so was ok.

[Bagger John - #3785]

If you want to make the bike handle better at low speeds, one of the old Two Brothers Racing triple-tree kits is the way to do it.

Adding rake and lengthening the wheelbase is NOT the way to go, unless you're triking the setup.

[dago mooserider]

I love the looks of the 11.5 shocks and I bet with the front raked it will look even better- low and long. But like others have said, you will drag parts really really easy. I pulled the 11.5's off after the very first ride, when I drug my mark T exhaust all the way through a corner. It totally changed how I had to ride.

[Chrisj CMA]

I love the look of 11.5 shocks too.  And if that's the only change it has no negative effect.  I have a set of Progressive 412 HD if anyone is interested.  I'd still be running them if I didn't have a set of OEM IS ones in stock.

[Avanti]

If you want to make the bike handle better at low speeds, one of the old Two Brothers Racing triple-tree kits is the way to do it.

Adding rake and lengthening the wheelbase is NOT the way to go, unless you're triking the setup.

What change does the Two Bothers triple tree kit make and how does it make that change?

[Kaahn]

Hello all,


Update: Phase one is complete. Honda charged me a LOT of money to redo my fork with progressive springs, install 11.5 430's on the back, and install the 6 degree rake kit

LOVE it so far, definitely less clearance on the turns but I can live with it.

Here's what is next on my list... in the planned order of installation:

Forward controls (Bought from a user on here, who said it had 2 bent pieces, so I'm taking it to a motorcycle fab shop along with printed instructions from some posts MarkT made about his altercations he made to make them work, I really hope it works out!!

MarkT Exhaust Do I send mine for credit? Or just buy it straight out  , what's the difference between a  4" and 5" stacks other than the size? Was going to go for Viking Exhaust, but after reading MANY older posts, I think I'll go with Mark's, seems better suited to my needs

Custom-made, polished 21" front wheel Anyone have experience putting a larger diameter front tire? What should I expect price-wise and what problems will I run into? I plan on getting a custom fender as well.

[Andy Cote]

Sounds like you're having fun making this bike yours.

If you're dragging parts now, the 5" stacks may not be a good idea. 

Have you talked to Mark about hiring him to improve the forward controls?  Maybe a package deal with the pipes and a F2F visit for install.

Here's a story of a F6B with a big wheel:  http://wingworldmag.com/wing_featured/from-ordinary-to-extraordinary/

Oh yeah.  This post needs pics!!

[Bagger John - #3785]

If you want to make the bike handle better at low speeds, one of the old Two Brothers Racing triple-tree kits is the way to do it.

Adding rake and lengthening the wheelbase is NOT the way to go, unless you're triking the setup.

What change does the Two Bothers triple tree kit make and how does it make that change?

Here's Chet's (Rattlebars) writeup from back in the day:

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/valkyrie.html#TREE

[MarkT]

MarkT Exhaust Do I send mine for credit? Or just buy it straight out  , what's the difference between a  4" and 5" stacks other than the size? Was going to go for Viking Exhaust, but after reading MANY older posts, I think I'll go with Mark's, seems better suited to my needs

I can provide cores in several levels of newness.  If your cores are in very good condition meaning unmodified (cut piggies is OK) and the headers very nice and undamaged, (see exhaust page for description http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Valk_Products/M2W_Exhaust__System/m2w_exhaust__system.html#orderingDetails )
I can buy them if you send them in using the packaging I sent your finished exhaust in.  If you send in your pipes instead of using my cores I'll try to turn them around quickly to minimize down time and you won't have a core charge.  Actual shop time (once I can go hands on) is about a week, sometimes 2. The Q can effect that - best to get on the Q than hold onto your pipes until the time I indicate so your pipes aren't sitting here while I'm working on another build.  4 vs 5 inch stacks - 5 costs more, weighs a bit more, while they don't get very hot with a big air space inside between the outer surface and hot parts inside - you won't be melting shoes on them; you can actually use them as hand warmers if it got cold & you forgot your gloves - say at a traffic light.  They make a big custom chrome statement, have a bit more volume. They are about 1/2" lower (1" if you put them on an Interstate) and 1" wider for leaning clearance.  Not an issue unless you are aggressive like Smokin Joe. Quite a few riders had my 5" pipes at Inzane Roanoke - and also a number of Organ Pipes.

BTW we have gone to Dynaflex stacks - the best there is in terms of top quality - and didn't bump the price, just pay for the higher cost out of the margin.  I'm still weighing if that's the best thing for the business.

[Kaahn]

Just ordered my MarkT Exhaust

Big fat 5" organ pipes, super stoked!


once they are installed, Pictures will be uploaded 

[mello dude]

Well I wanted a rake kit because of the look, I asked a few people and the guy in charge at XF6, they said a rake will actually IMPROVE the handling, especially at low speeds?


Daryl told me a 8 degree kit will hurt the handling, but a 6 degree with lower rear suspension will improve handling

 

In general lowering the rear will make a bike turn slower, and and opposite  of course  raising the rear will quicken the steering.  Then also a steeper rake will make a bike turn slower, but add some stability. Just basic chassis dynamics...

Whatever you're after, keep in mind..

[mello dude]

Hello all,


Update: Phase one is complete. Honda charged me a LOT of money to redo my fork with progressive springs, install 11.5 430's on the back, and install the 6 degree rake kit

LOVE it so far, definitely less clearance on the turns but I can live with it.

Here's what is next on my list... in the planned order of installation:

Forward controls (Bought from a user on here, who said it had 2 bent pieces, so I'm taking it to a motorcycle fab shop along with printed instructions from some posts MarkT made about his altercations he made to make them work, I really hope it works out!!

MarkT Exhaust Do I send mine for credit? Or just buy it straight out  , what's the difference between a  4" and 5" stacks other than the size? Was going to go for Viking Exhaust, but after reading MANY older posts, I think I'll go with Mark's, seems better suited to my needs

Custom-made, polished 21" front wheel Anyone have experience putting a larger diameter front tire? What should I expect price-wise and what problems will I run into? I plan on getting a custom fender as well.

How bout some photos?????   The line on other MC forums  I'm on is... photos or it didn't happen...

[Kaahn]

Ahhh she doesn't look like anything special yet, but when I'm home from school I will take some pictures to track the progress 

Sad my bike will be out of commission for 2 weeks during the Exhaust/forward controls upgrade, so I plan on riding as much as I can tonight and tomorrow

[mello dude]

Ahhh she doesn't look like anything special yet, but when I'm home from school I will take some pictures to track the progress 

Sad my bike will be out of commission for 2 weeks during the Exhaust/forward controls upgrade, so I plan on riding as much as I can tonight and tomorrow

Well... I give you below.... pictures tell the story... 
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,102725.0.html

[Kaahn]

lol I forgot to take pics before dropping  the bike off at  the shop, SORRY MELLO!



I got distracted... found a bird in trouble on the side of the road, couldn't stand by!


https://imgur.com/a/dNRPFn3





Poor guy was thirsty, was so thankful he decided not to rip my face off  





On topic though, it seems like custom rims ARE available via Biker's Image. I got in contact with the owner and he said his website is down, should be up in a few days.