New East Tx Valk Owner

[tonybluegoat]

Just saying Howdy.

I live in Palestine in East Tx. Just picked up a 2000 standard from around Houston last week.  It had been sitting for a few years.  I've put about 400 miles on her so far. Noticed a fork seal leak yesterday after going about 100 miles. I'll fix it after the rain comes.  Want to get one more ride in today if I can.

They just had the brakes done before they sold it - supposedly. And it supposedly got serviced. Then when I went to get it inspected I noticed it hadn't been registered for 3 years.... I'm not that observant. I had 4 options to buy in my price range.  I let my wife pick the one she would most like to sit on the back of, and I bought that one. I figure it's easier to fix the bike than change the wife's mind.

 33k miles. So we shall see what needs to be done.

70-75 mph most of the time, I'm getting less than 30 mpg. Not that it matters, but I thought I'd mention it. I know they are rated for higher, but that's 55 mph on a flat track with no windshield, new out of the factory.  I'm mostly from the "don't fix it if it ain't broken" side of the world. When I do maintenance I tend to lose screws and strip nuts.

Here's a link to a picture. https://tonybluegoat.blogspot.com/2019/11/2000-honda-valkyrie-journal.html

[Oss]

I am sure you will fit right in with our Texas brothers and sisters just fine

Welcome again

Oss

[RainMaker]

Did you see the service records or receipts for all the work they were supposed to have done?    If it sat for 3 years, then the carbs are probably gummed up to an extent, which would mess up your mileage.  Also, how old are the tires?  6 years is the limit on age, imho.   Run some Seafoam through the tank to clean up the carbs.

[tonybluegoat]

Did you see the service records or receipts for all the work they were supposed to have done?    If it sat for 3 years, then the carbs are probably gummed up to an extent, which would mess up your mileage.  Also, how old are the tires?  6 years is the limit on age, imho.   Run some Seafoam through the tank to clean up the carbs.

No. I will run some seafoam through it. The tires are still serviceable for another couple thousand miles.  I'll replace them before I start riding it long distance.  So far I just go 100-200 miles per trip. They will be replaced by Summer.

I saw a post on the Valkarie Facebook Tech page that asked how long before people switch to reserve (on a standard tank) The answers were 110-140 miles mostly.  I get 110 if I don't take extra time to do that last minute of slow filling and letting it go down... 125 if I do. But I'll do the seafoam for sure.

I used to live in Arlington (for 20 years).  How do I get a cool tracking map.  So far it would only have 2 states colored, but now I have a comfortable bike.

Thanks.

[RainMaker]

Did you see the service records or receipts for all the work they were supposed to have done?    If it sat for 3 years, then the carbs are probably gummed up to an extent, which would mess up your mileage.  Also, how old are the tires?  6 years is the limit on age, imho.   Run some Seafoam through the tank to clean up the carbs.

No. I will run some seafoam through it. The tires are still serviceable for another couple thousand miles.  I'll replace them before I start riding it long distance.  So far I just go 100-200 miles per trip. They will be replaced by Summer.

I saw a post on the Valkarie Facebook Tech page that asked how long before people switch to reserve (on a standard tank) The answers were 110-140 miles mostly.  I get 110 if I don't take extra time to do that last minute of slow filling and letting it go down... 125 if I do. But I'll do the seafoam for sure.

I used to live in Arlington (for 20 years).  How do I get a cool tracking map.  So far it would only have 2 states colored, but now I have a comfortable bike.

Thanks.

http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/

You make them from this website. Save it to your desktop and upload it to a photo sharing site (like Shutterfly).  Then copy the url of the picture to your signature line.

Tires that look like they have a few thousand left on them wear out surprisingly fast.   And if they are old, it's dangerous to squeese out the last bit of toothpaste when it comes to tires.

110 sounds OK for going to reserve but 130 is what my tourer typically gets.  The interstate goes to 170-180.

RainMaker

[tonybluegoat]

Did you see the service records or receipts for all the work they were supposed to have done?    If it sat for 3 years, then the carbs are probably gummed up to an extent, which would mess up your mileage.  Also, how old are the tires?  6 years is the limit on age, imho.   Run some Seafoam through the tank to clean up the carbs.

No. I will run some seafoam through it. The tires are still serviceable for another couple thousand miles.  I'll replace them before I start riding it long distance.  So far I just go 100-200 miles per trip. They will be replaced by Summer.

I saw a post on the Valkarie Facebook Tech page that asked how long before people switch to reserve (on a standard tank) The answers were 110-140 miles mostly.  I get 110 if I don't take extra time to do that last minute of slow filling and letting it go down... 125 if I do. But I'll do the seafoam for sure.

I used to live in Arlington (for 20 years).  How do I get a cool tracking map.  So far it would only have 2 states colored, but now I have a comfortable bike.

Thanks.

http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/

You make them from this website. Save it to your desktop and upload it to a photo sharing site (like Shutterfly).  Then copy the url of the picture to your signature line.

Tires that look like they have a few thousand left on them wear out surprisingly fast.   And if they are old, it's dangerous to squeese out the last bit of toothpaste when it comes to tires.

110 sounds OK for going to reserve but 130 is what my tourer typically gets.  The interstate goes to 170-180.

RainMaker

Did it. Thanks.  Only Two... I think I'll hop on the bike and ride to Louisiana... Then I can have 3. 

bye!

[f-Stop]

Howdy Tony, from the Central Texas Hill Country!

There's no doubt that your carbs need a little TLC, but 30-ish MPG is not a bad number if you're counting.

There's a wealth of maintenance information on the tech pages and some amazing tech knowledge from the VRCC members here on this site, so don't be shy about askin'!

By the way, good lookin' bike...congratulations!   

Here's to plenty of miles and smiles!