Hi Gang....first post here.

[Fatherof2]

Hello All,

Brand new to the forum and new Valkyrie owner as well.

I have a 2017 Triumph Trophy which I enjoy. However, it has way too much wind protection for the warm days. Anything above 75 degrees is too warm for me as I like to wear all the gear all the time. That said, I started to look for an additional bike that I could ride when its hot out. I have always loved the Valkyrie. As luck would have it, I found a 2001 with 32K on the clock about 30 minutes down the street. The PO was moving to Florida and could not take it with him. He had not been riding it much and it needed servicing. He took it to the shop and had the carbs rebuilt and a new battery installed along with a few other things. The bill was 1700. I have the receipt. I paid 2500 for the bike. It runs great! However, the front brakes are shot, and the tires need replacing.

All that said, here are my questions.

1. I really like the bike! Much more than I expected! I figure that I will spend another grand getting it the way I want it. There is another Valkyrie for sale near me with 6K on the clock and it is in showroom condition. Original owner with some nice upgrades. (Seat, LED's etc.) Is it worth it to sell mine and go buy the mint one? Should I save the 1500 bucks and just keep mine?

2. If I keep mine, can you folks recommend some brake pads? Should I install braded brake lines? (The front brakes will slow the bike a bit, but wont stop it. Back is much better.)

3. What do most of you run for tires? Any suggestions on the best place to buy them?

Thanks for any input guys!

Here she is:

[Chrisj CMA]

Can’t tell you to sell or not, but if your front brakes are weaker than your rear brake there is something seriously wrong with the front brakes

[..]

https://www.jkozloski.com/generic_parts.htm

These can be a bit buzzy at times

https://www.sixity.com/

[Jess from VA]

Hey Father, welcome.  

That does not look like an OE color two-tone?  I like it.

Add your city-state to your avatar so we know where you are.  

1. Your call.  Can you get your money back out of the one you have, to get the other?  Do you like the other one that much better?  You got a decent deal on the first one and can have it up to snuff without too much more.  You might do a little quick homework to decide what you will spend to make this one yours, vrs. what the other one already has that you don't have to spend for.  Makes the decision more informed.  

2.  You want the honda pads for honda rotors.  They are overpriced but work well, and last.  Order two sets so you are prepared (if you will keep it).  Look at (feel) those front rotors for edge cupping; we all have it, but sometimes it can be pretty severe.

3.  Right now any tires for motorcycles are hard to find.  Even harder for the Valkyrie sizes.  You may have to settle for what you can find vrs. what you want.  I like Metzlers.

[old2soon]

     As a start and some Light reading persue the 1500 Tech Board. Tires Are a matter of PURE preference. Lotsa us here D/S dark side-car tire converted to M/C use. How much for the pristine Valkyrie?? Oh and Welcome to our sandbox. Might consider puttin yer town and state in your avatar. Inzane 21 our annual rally Will Be in Billings Mt. this year. Fastest week you Will Ever be part of. You'd be surprised how much help shows up fer Good BBQ icy cold adult beverages fer the wrench party!  RIDE SAFE.

[Willow]

It is an OEM Standard paint job with bags added and painted to sort of match.

Front brakes likely need the calipers cleaned.

Keep the one you have.  6K is too few miles.  Sitting too much causes issues.  You already have one that sat a lot.  You don't need one that sat more.

[Jess from VA]

For caliper cleaning, short of rebuild and flush fluid, get some mildly corrosive mag wheel cleaner or S100 and spray them down and go at them hard with stiff bristle brushes, then hot soapy water, then the leaf blower.   

[idaida98]

You beat me to this bike so I say sell it to me and buy the other one.

[Rams]

It is an OEM Standard paint job with bags added and painted to sort of match.

Front brakes likely need the calipers cleaned.

Keep the one you have.  6K is too few miles.  Sitting too much causes issues.  You already have one that sat a lot.  You don't need one that sat more.

What he said.   Nice bike, keep it and ride it like you stole it.   The more you ride it, the more you'll love it.   Oh yeah, welcome, you'll like it here to.   Some good folks in this group.  
Hopefully, we'll see you and that Valkyrie next June in Billings, MT.   

Rams

[Fatherof2]

Thanks for all the great info guys!

The other bike is 5500. The more I think about it, the more I think I will keep this one.

My front rotor definitely has grooves. I will check for cupping. Thanks Jess!

I am located in Massachusetts.

ida....are you in Mass?

Thanks again!

[Jess from VA]

Grooves are from metal on metal. 

The cupping I'm talking about is after enough sets of pads to hit 100K, the outer edge of the rotor is still OE thickness, but the part of the rotor the pads work on is thinned out.  My rotors are all smooth, but they aren't as thick as they used to be where the pads work.

[old2soon]

      145000 plus miles and my front rotors were toasted! But daprez had a Good Used set for me and they are Already installed. Have to rebuild my front calipers Again. I absofrikkinlutely LOVE ridin fast BUT I also LOVE good Safe Stops when stopping be needed!  And Yup i are floggin the proverbial dead equine But the 1500 Tech Section IS Loaded with a Lot of fine information as a lot of us have Aready-been there done that got the T-shirt!  But Asking questions Do gitcha lotsa replies and info!  RIDE SAFE.

[idaida98]

I'm in the little state of RI. Where and what model is it?

[crow]

Go with new stainless steel pistons

[Farside]

  Welcome to the Valkyrie World. Good looking bike you picked up. You'll get the info your looking for and then some. Good luck and enjoy your new ride! 

[da prez]

Suggest a complete brake job be done with no short cuts. Valks will stop , but they also run very fast.

            da prez

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

If that's the one that was on FB Marketplace, I was watching it too. I hemmed and hawed, and then it was gone. The price was right, in my opinion. Good luck with getting it right. It will serve you well once it's been properly serviced.


*EDIT*  Oh, and for $2500, ya done stole it.  Well done.

[sandy]

You asked about tires. Avon Chromes are the best handling but almost all MC tires are back ordered. Order now and wait. Rebuild the calipers and bleed with DOT4.

[Rams]

Welcome to the Valkyrie World. Good looking bike you picked up. You'll get the info your looking for and then some. Good luck and enjoy your new ride! 

Oh, I don't know, it might be junk.

You should probably sell it to me.....

Rams 

[cookiedough]

for 2500 and just needing brakes and tires is a keeper if runs well otherwise.  Not many out there under 3K even with higher mileage to be had.

you never said the price of the mint one with 6K miles is all?  If 6K price or higher still not worth that much IMO unless a mint condition lower mileage Valk Interstate. 

If you have the financial means, get both.  That is what I did paying 8K for my black lower 18K miles interstate about 10 years ago which at that time was reasonable but only 3K few years ago for my 98 tourer with around 75K miles on it.    As I was talking to the guy on the 3K price Valk,  he had NO JOKE 5 cell phone calls from others asking about it so he begged me to buy it for he was getting sick of answering his phone about his Valk for sale.  I have no doubt if I did not say YES at the time was local deal 30 miles away,  he would have easily sold it within 1 week to someone else.  Would make my wife happy if NOT bought it though since 5 cycles/scooters in my 2 car garage now and she wants ONE GONE NOW (or more like 1-2 years ago).  finding space all on one side of 2 car garage before winter rearranging them mere inches away so wife can get her SUV in the garage in the winter is an all day affair, plus organizing all the stuff tossed about in garage during summer months.

I like and prefer just as well as my former Avon Cobra's lasting just as long is Shinko SE890 Journey rear tire and Shinko 230 tourmaster front tire.    For 100 bucks or so each (give or take) is up to 2x's cheaper than say a Metzeler or new Avon design which are better but not 2x's price better. 

[Hook#3287]

She's beautiful, always liked that color combo

Welcome from western/central Mass and congratulations on your new girlfriend 

Rotors are probably fine, rebuild the calipers.  Look for pitting on cylinders and replace if needed.

Hardest part is getting the old cylinders out, but if you're replacing them, pliers will work.

I like partzilla.com, but there other online choices for parts.

I like OEM brake pads, Honda did em right.

Nice bike.

[Ramie]

Looks like you have a lot of sound advice so I'll just say Welcome.