Tfrank59
Member
Posts: 1364
'98 Tourer
Western Washington
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« on: October 18, 2020, 09:47:58 AM » |
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Most are in there twenties, pushing or over 100k miles, so I'm wondering what I'll be riding in a few years. Maybe another Valk, maybe a big Yamahog, maybe a Kawi, pretty sure not a HD, cuz I ain't got much to spend. Some of you will reply that your Valk will go forever--more power to ya--but I can see mine's feeling like a senior citizen and one day will say "I'm ready to retire" (meaning, some large component will need replaced/repaired) hopefully that won't be for a few years...then again don't know if my health and life situation will permit much more of what I've done the past several decades!
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-Tom
Keep the rubber side down. USMC '78-'84
'98 Valkyrie, ‘02 VTX 1800, '96 Royal Star, '06 Drifter, '09 Bonneville, '10 KTM 530, '04 XR 650, '76 Bultaco, '81 CR 450, '78 GS 750...
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AwesomeDad
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« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2020, 11:46:22 AM » |
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Most are in there twenties, pushing or over 100k miles, so I'm wondering what I'll be riding in a few years. Maybe another Valk, maybe a big Yamahog, maybe a Kawi, pretty sure not a HD, cuz I ain't got much to spend. Some of you will reply that your Valk will go forever--more power to ya--but I can see mine's feeling like a senior citizen and one day will say "I'm ready to retire" (meaning, some large component will need replaced/repaired) hopefully that won't be for a few years...then again don't know if my health and life situation will permit much more of what I've done the past several decades!
With mine I’m more concerned about the availability of parts becoming an issue before mileage/retirement. But it’s not my only bike and I plan for my children to enjoy some miles on her as well... JJ |
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Tfrank59
Member
Posts: 1364
'98 Tourer
Western Washington
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« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2020, 12:00:56 PM » |
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Well you are an awesome dad! My son would probably like my bike when I’m done with it but he’s more into sport bike so I’m afraid ha ha, at least this point in his life
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-Tom
Keep the rubber side down. USMC '78-'84
'98 Valkyrie, ‘02 VTX 1800, '96 Royal Star, '06 Drifter, '09 Bonneville, '10 KTM 530, '04 XR 650, '76 Bultaco, '81 CR 450, '78 GS 750...
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16772
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2020, 12:49:54 PM » |
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I overheard some folks who've ridden DDT's 650,000K
bike talking about how much it felt nice and ran good,
just like any good Valkyrie... there's probably a lot of
life left in any of our Valkyries.
-Mike
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Bagger John - #3785
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« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2020, 06:34:54 AM » |
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I've been squirreling away parts for both of mine. Would like to find another 2003 Standard and build it up similar to the one I used to have. Hopefully I'll get another 20+ years from them.
Not sold on the new 'Wings at all; the ride-by-wire system still needs refinement. If I have to buy new it'll be a 1290 Super Adventure. Used...I'm looking for an '07 Road Glide and an '07 Road King.
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F6Dave
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« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2020, 06:50:35 AM » |
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If I were looking for a Valk replacement today I'd have to consider the latest Rocket 3. IMO it's more similar to the Valk than anything else sold today. Triumph's lack of reliability would be a concern however. After my 2 Valks topped a quarter million combined miles I started having concerns about their age. That's why I bought the F6B. It feels a lot like my '98 Tourer with similar power and comfort. But it has better handling, a nice audio system, cruise control, a single sided swingarm for easy tire changes, and fuel injection to eliminate any worry about hydrolock. I have no regrets. However, the Valkyries sound FAR better. Later F6Bs have an exhause note that can be irritating at times.  |
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Tfrank59
Member
Posts: 1364
'98 Tourer
Western Washington
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« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2020, 08:20:00 AM » |
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I saw a Rocket III at the gas pumps and chatted with the guy--he loves it and says he rides it long distance all the time. I had a bonnie and it leaked a little oil, this was a '09 mind you, and it was made in Thailand, which I wasn't thrilled to learn. I'm leaning towards a used wing, maybe an '07, as I see lots of them for sale in the $6k range, which is about my top price these days. I still have a royal star 1300 with just over 30k on it as a back up bike.
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-Tom
Keep the rubber side down. USMC '78-'84
'98 Valkyrie, ‘02 VTX 1800, '96 Royal Star, '06 Drifter, '09 Bonneville, '10 KTM 530, '04 XR 650, '76 Bultaco, '81 CR 450, '78 GS 750...
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F6Dave
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« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2020, 08:24:14 AM » |
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I saw a Rocket III at the gas pumps and chatted with the guy--he loves it and says he rides it long distance all the time. I had a bonnie and it leaked a little oil, this was a '09 mind you, and it was made in Thailand, which I wasn't thrilled to learn. I'm leaning towards a used wing, maybe an '07, as I see lots of them for sale in the $6k range, which is about my top price these days. I still have a royal star 1300 with just over 30k on it as a back up bike.
The Royal Star was a great looking bike and the build quality appeared to be excellent. I wish they would have tuned the engine more like the V-Max. |
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Bagger John - #3785
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« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2020, 06:44:06 AM » |
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Next motorcycle? Consider a bike with a frame mounted fairing instead of a fork-handlebar windshield. The fixed fairing should offer better protection and handling.
I have a couple of each. Preference is that the headlights go where I aim the steering. A K1600 and its contemporaries are offering fixed-fairing front ends with lighting that electronically follows bar position. I'd consider one of those but not any other implementation save the Road Glide. My Interstates and Memphis Batwing-equipped Tourers have been ridden in some pretty significant crosswinds over the years. The one event that readily comes to mind was early May 2001 when me and a former VRCCer went to Country Choppers Appreciation Days then to Marblehead via the Sandusky Bay Bridge. The wind was so strong that 10+ ft seas were ongoing in the bay and the bike was heeled over at a pretty serious angle the entire way across the bridge. The steering remained fairly neutral, or I was strong/experienced enough to deal with the crosswind. Who knows...but the I/S didn't falter. |
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Tfrank59
Member
Posts: 1364
'98 Tourer
Western Washington
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« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2020, 08:55:21 AM » |
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Next motorcycle? Consider a bike with a frame mounted fairing instead of a fork-handlebar windshield. The fixed fairing should offer better protection and handling.
I always thought it was peculiar, and not preferable, that the headlight (much less the windshield) doesn’t turn with the front wheel. |
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-Tom
Keep the rubber side down. USMC '78-'84
'98 Valkyrie, ‘02 VTX 1800, '96 Royal Star, '06 Drifter, '09 Bonneville, '10 KTM 530, '04 XR 650, '76 Bultaco, '81 CR 450, '78 GS 750...
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F6Dave
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« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2020, 09:53:35 AM » |
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Hey guys. Frame mounted fairing? Maybe I'm used to it. I still have my CB900C with a Vetter Windjammer. The headlight is by Bosch and has a pattern that has worked for almost 40 years. Turning? Seems OK. Well.. I have not been driving a straight line around the planet for all these years.
The new bikes I like are Indian Challenger and the Base Goldwing. Both have a frame-mounted fairing and have received good reviews. On a recent ride I met the fella who is the Indian dealer in Raleigh. He invited me to stop by and try any one of them. If I ride one, I will report back on it.
I loved the old Windjammers! I had 3 bikes with them. The storage space was incredible. I carried my rain gear, spare tire tubes, and an air compressor in the fairing. One time I emptied it out and got a 12 pack (unpacked) in there! As for the lighting, I'm not sure it would make much difference since your handlebars hardly move above parking lot speeds. And due to countersteering, the fixed headlight might be preferable to one that moves. My Valkyrie Tourer was my first bike with a windshield instead of a fixed fairing. I thought it might be a problem in crosswinds but thankfully I hardly notice the difference. The massive size of these bikes probably helps. |
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« Last Edit: October 20, 2020, 09:55:18 AM by F6Dave »
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Pluggy
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« Reply #12 on: October 20, 2020, 11:08:34 AM » |
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[/quote]
The storage space was incredible.
[/quote]
Cigarettes were much cheaper in Virginia. Stick a couple of cartons in the Windjammer and cruise on home. I don't do that anymore.
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F6Dave
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« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2020, 11:40:40 AM » |
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The storage space was incredible. Cigarettes were much cheaper in Virginia. Stick a couple of cartons in the Windjammer and cruise on home. I don't do that anymore.
You got out of the cigarette bootlegging business? |
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« Last Edit: October 20, 2020, 11:42:48 AM by F6Dave »
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rocketray
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« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2020, 06:10:08 PM » |
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the VTX1300R is proclaimed by some to be the best bike Honda ever made.. water cooled..drill the pipes and it has a nice throaty roar--smooth as glass at 100 mph all day long...probably $3,500 for a beauty
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98valk
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« Reply #15 on: November 16, 2020, 05:49:16 AM » |
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I've been squirreling away parts for both of mine. Would like to find another 2003 Standard and build it up similar to the one I used to have. Hopefully I'll get another 20+ years from them.
Not sold on the new 'Wings at all; the ride-by-wire system still needs refinement. If I have to buy new it'll be a 1290 Super Adventure. Used...I'm looking for an '07 Road Glide and an '07 Road King.
yep parts that are specific to the Valkyrie and the GL1500 engine I have been getting spares. the one larger cooling pipe O-ring only used for the GL1500 engine. the other smaller O-rings are used on many Hondas. the fork shields are discontinued. the drive shaft is Valkyrie only. there should be a sticky post with a list of such parts. |
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
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Bagger John - #3785
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« Reply #16 on: November 16, 2020, 06:41:07 AM » |
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yep parts that are specific to the Valkyrie and the GL1500 engine I have been getting spares.
(snip)
there should be a sticky post with a list of such parts.
Definitely agree, along with the "Generic Spares" page. |
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