How buying a 01 Shadow Spirit 1100 switched to a 01 Valkyrie....Long.

[klb]

Just a story of how I came to own a Valkyrie. In 2001 a friend bought
a Victory 1500. At the time I was riding a 93 XR650L on the street
and a 97 Xr600R in the woods. So figured it was time for a cruiser.
Went to J.E. Honda in Hickory and looked at the 1100 Shadows.
The salesman Big John came up and started telling me about them.
I asked to test ride a Maroon Shadow Spirit and he informed me that
the owner didn't allow test rides. So haven ridden a V65 1100 Magna
I asked him if the Shadow had as much power as the 1100 Magna.
He answered yes. I sat on it and it was comfortable so if the power
was as he said it would be good. Paid $7695.00 maroon helmet included.
They took it to the shop gassed it up and brought it to the front lot.
I took off and instantly knew it wasn't as powerful as the Magna 1100.
My Xr650L had more take off. I called him later that day and told him
that this thing won't hardly pull me. He said ride it a few weeks and
it would break in and be a lot better. Nope. Not having the internet
then I just had to take his word about the Horsepower. I had a friend
find out that it had about 50 H.P. I called him and told him that and he
said wow I didn't know that. So I asked him what could we do to swap
to something else..What I had no clue. I rode to the Dealer and went
upstairs to his office. We talked for a bit about sport bikes which wasn't
a option for me. Then he said hey we have two Valkyrie's. I said what.
Valkyrie sort of hot rod Goldwing. How had I not seen them in the
showroom and never seen one advertised is a mystery to me. We
went downstairs and there sat 2 Standards buried in the middle of the
showroom floor one was black other was blue with the white stripe.
At first I didn't like the looks of them. Also thought it would ride like a
dump truck. I asked the price and he said $13,600. Damn...........
So whet the heck He gave me the full purchase price on the Shadow
so I bought the Valk. Looked sharp leaving out with a black standard
with a maroon helmet. I was bummed out until I hit the main road
hit 2nd gear and barely twisted the throttle and the initials for what
came out of my mouth out load was S.O.B. this thing is fast. So my
frown turned into a smile. It didn't take long for the look to grow on
me. I think it is the best looking bike I've ever seen. It got hit from
behind parked in 06 so I fixed it and sold it. After 2 months riding a
VTX1800 I was sick wanting another Valk. Sold the VTX quick and
found a 99 standard with Valkyrie leather bags and a Honda windshield
in Kingsport Tn like new with 12700 miles on it. I'm hooked and will
never part with it. My son will inherit it when I am gone.
Best looking and best riding street bike I have ever ridden.
Joe Boyd was a genius. I guess they stopped making them because
of sluggish sales. Old saying you can't judge a book by it's cover might
be the case. Because after riding one I was thoroughly hooked and
still am. Like so many on here say everywhere I stop people come
over and look at and ask a lot of questions about it. One of the most
asked questions besides about the motor is what year is it. When Told
it is a 1999 most can't believe it. With the 99 I bought a black full faced
helmet to match. Too hot so bought a silver one and it is much cooler.
I doubt there will ever be another bike with as much style ever produced.
Not much on the look of newer bikes these days. Just my opinion.

[Pappy!]

I am with you on the looks of the newer bikes. I like retro.
Most of the newer ones just don't have "soul" anymore.

[..]

 

[old2soon]

                My first ex F I L-R I P Alec-said of the cars in the 70s applies I M H O to the "m/cs" available today withe Very FEW exceptions-looks like the box the Italian running shoes came in.  Can't pin the Exact date but the first Valkyrie i threw a leg over was my Brothers. And my Very first thought wuz-cursed thing is as big as a long hood Peterbilt. Got out of the neighborhood and onto the highway and twisted the loud grip and she LAUNCHED. 1st 2nd 3d 4th and i HAD to roll off as i was Fast approaching the azz end of a pickup. After uncaging my eyeballs i found a place to do a 180 and git back to my Brothers casa. He noticed my grin as I rolled up in his drive way.  9 years ago I found my 99 Valkyrie Interstate in green and silver and I have NEVER REGRETTED the purchase. I STILL git "That Feeling" when I snick her into gear and ease the clutch out. By the time I reach the 4 lane from my casa she's warmed up enough to go on ahead and let her Scream and Roar fer a bit and Maybe Just Maybe go V-twinky huntin!  Course in my territory V-twinky huntin ain't That difficult!  And i absofrikkinlutely LOVE the looks on folks faces when I splain she's over 20 years of age and has over a 100 G on her clock.    Soon's it cools off and i git the bead leak on the front tire taken care of it are time to RIDE!  RIDE SAFE.

[Challenger]

Pretty much the same scenario here, Was looking at an 02 Shadow Sabre 1100. It was sitting next to an 02 Valkyrie. My wife thought it was too big for her to handle, so we came home with the Sabre. Wasn't long before I realized what a mistake I made. I jetted the carbs and changed exhaust, but it just didn't have the grin factor I was looking for. Sold the Sabre and found a 2000 Val Std with 900 miles on her. It's still in my garage and most likely will never be sold. Every time I fire her up for a ride, I get the same grin I got back in 03. 

[scooperhsd]

I think the only time I haven't gotten home from a ride with a big grin was the afternoon when I left work and it was THUNDERSTORMING RAINING HARD !!!

[klb]

                My first ex F I L-R I P Alec-said of the cars in the 70s applies I M H O to the "m/cs" available today withe Very FEW exceptions-looks like the box the Italian running shoes came in.  Can't pin the Exact date but the first Valkyrie i threw a leg over was my Brothers. And my Very first thought wuz-cursed thing is as big as a long hood Peterbilt. Got out of the neighborhood and onto the highway and twisted the loud grip and she LAUNCHED. 1st 2nd 3d 4th and i HAD to roll off as i was Fast approaching the azz end of a pickup. After uncaging my eyeballs i found a place to do a 180 and git back to my Brothers casa. He noticed my grin as I rolled up in his drive way.  9 years ago I found my 99 Valkyrie Interstate in green and silver and I have NEVER REGRETTED the purchase. I STILL git "That Feeling" when I snick her into gear and ease the clutch out. By the time I reach the 4 lane from my casa she's warmed up enough to go on ahead and let her Scream and Roar fer a bit and Maybe Just Maybe go V-twinky huntin!  Course in my territory V-twinky huntin ain't That difficult!  And i absofrikkinlutely LOVE the looks on folks faces when I splain she's over 20 years of age and has over a 100 G on her clock.    Soon's it cools off and i git the bead leak on the front tire taken care of it are time to RIDE!  RIDE SAFE.

   I'm addicted to these bikes. If it's raining I will sit
in my chair in the shop and just look at it. Then shine on it
then look some more. It does need to cool off. We rode to a
place called Freebornes in Laurel Springs nc this past weekend
and it was hot even in the hills.

[klb]

Pretty much the same scenario here, Was looking at an 02 Shadow Sabre 1100. It was sitting next to an 02 Valkyrie. My wife thought it was too big for her to handle, so we came home with the Sabre. Wasn't long before I realized what a mistake I made. I jetted the carbs and changed exhaust, but it just didn't have the grin factor I was looking for. Sold the Sabre and found a 2000 Val Std with 900 miles on her. It's still in my garage and most likely will never be sold. Every time I fire her up for a ride, I get the same grin I got back in 03. 

  Valkyrie's do cause the grins for sure. I can't believe I
didn't notice them when I bought my Shadow.

[klb]

I think the only time I haven't gotten home from a ride with a big grin was the afternoon when I left work and it was THUNDERSTORMING RAINING HARD !!!

Yes sir Thunderstorms are no fun. Soaked and a dirty bike. Once home
and cleaned up though my grin returns. I have found when I try to
outmaneuver a storm is when I get caught up in it. A lot of times if I
ride towards the darkest skies I miss them....Go figure.

[cookiedough]

that salesman was an idiot just wanting  a sale, thinking a 1100 shadow vtwin has same power as a 1100 magna.   NOT even close.  That 4 cylinder v65 magna,  especially year 1983,  was a SUPER FAST bike back in the 80s and is still darn near in the top 20 fastest cycles of all time yet today under 11 second 1/4 mile.  I can attest having one that is too scary fast if wanting it to be with 4th thru 6th gear really never needed. 

a honda 1100 shadow as you said having say 55-60 hp is NO more hp than my suzuki burgman 638cc scooter at 600lbs having around 55 hp.  Pretty darn quick scoot as well raced off the line a Porsche and BMW convertible and smoked them both up to near 60 mph before backing off in a 35 mph speed zone. Porsche wanted to get in front of me knew it was coming so pushed the POWER button which revs the rpms up and works well up to say 55 mph pretty zippy off the line.  I saw a youtube video with that burgman 650 in 1/4 mile and although not super fast,  16 seconds and tad bit over 80 mph is not too bad and would be much better if only 1/8 mile track since takeoff is pretty darn good.

[klb]

that salesman was an idiot just wanting  a sale, thinking a 1100 shadow vtwin has same power as a 1100 magna.   NOT even close.  That 4 cylinder v65 magna,  especially year 1983,  was a SUPER FAST bike back in the 80s and is still darn near in the top 20 fastest cycles of all time yet today under 11 second 1/4 mile.  I can attest having one that is too scary fast if wanting it to be with 4th thru 6th gear really never needed. 

a honda 1100 shadow as you said having say 55-60 hp is NO more hp than my suzuki burgman 638cc scooter at 600lbs having around 55 hp.  Pretty darn quick scoot as well raced off the line a Porsche and BMW convertible and smoked them both up to near 60 mph before backing off in a 35 mph speed zone. Porsche wanted to get in front of me knew it was coming so pushed the POWER button which revs the rpms up and works well up to say 55 mph pretty zippy off the line.  I saw a youtube video with that burgman 650 in 1/4 mile and although not super fast,  16 seconds and tad bit over 80 mph is not too bad and would be much better if only 1/8 mile track since takeoff is pretty darn good.


His knowledge of the bikes he was selling was not good for sure.
A few years before I bought the Shadow my neighbor had a
83 V65. And after riding it once it had my attention. Thats
why I asked Mr. salesman if they were close to the same.
It was mighty nice of him to give me the full purchase price
of it on the trade for the Valk. And at 13,600 they still came out
smelling like a rose. A coworker after finding out I had traded the
Shadow off went to the dealer and paid the same thing I did for it.
A friend I ride with regularly has a Honda 600 Silverwing. He
doesn't get on it very often but the one time he did I was impressed.
It is faster than I thought it would be.

[cookiedough]

yah,  was going to buy a honda 600 silverwing but found this suzuki burgman 650 great priced just a tad bit bigger/bulkier than the silverwing and probably just a tad bit faster being around 50cc's more.  I have only had it near 3 months now and have put on 2700 miles on it already more so than riding my Valkyrie this year..       The wifey still prefers the rear seat of the Valk I/S though since not super comfy for longer than 20 miles for her but handles 2-up just fine.  I however do not mind the drivers seat has better wind/body protection even than my I/S and rails the corners like a crotch rocket - NO joke, feels like 350lbs. vs. 600lbs. in the twisties.  Love pushing that POWER button REVS rpms up another 1000 at stop lights and smoking the majority of cars on the road up to say 60 mph at least....  Only thing I do not do as my Valk I/S does much easier is pass slower cars in front going uphill say 60 mph.  It can do it, but not nearly as quickly/safely as our Valks can. 

One thing the Valk does MUCH MUCH better is handle rougher road conditions it floats along absorbing the crappy roads vs. the scooter front suspension is lacking jarring up thru the handlebars much more so since only 15 inch front tire on scoot and very wide 14 inch rear tire.    One would think with not as tall of tires one would bottom out in the twisties and so far have not and have leaned the scoot over much further than my Valk I/S of which I scrapped pegs with wife on back this past weekend on Valk scaring the crap outta me have not done that in awhile.