Thoughts on one week's ownership

[Knapdog]

Firstly I have to say how delighted I am with my purchase. '98 Tourer with 13,000 miles. I go into the garage and I keep looking at it from all angles  
Described as "Immaculate" it's not far off though bikes would need to be stored in a barrel of grease for twenty three years for it to be pristine.
There is the odd faint scuff mark and the "chrome" is peeling a bit at the bottom of one of the fake chrome covers just above the footpeg on the left hand side. Can't see much else. Presumably they don't salt the roads in Georgia and it wasn't taken out in the rain.
I've managed to get the rear pannier guard rails, used, from UK ebay and they're like new, though they did cost me £350, which is a small price to pay should I have landed on the panniers without them.
The seller also has a stainless steel centre stand for the same price but it seems an awful lot to pay. I'll probably invest in a good hydraulic lift instead.
I have had to completely rethink how I ride on this lady due to its size and I reckon I'm going to need around 500 miles or more before I'm really confident on it.
I took it to a nearby empty car park this morning to practise U-turns but ended up doing long bends. If I'm setting off to turn anywhere I'm running a bit wide due to lacking in confidence leaning the bike at lower speeds so I'll need plenty of friction zone manoeuvres under my belt. I have to be doubly sure of the road ahead when stopping, for potholes etc and I get both feet down sharpish.
The ride is like a magic carpet. My shocks are on Number 2 with 40psi in the tyres. I might even drop the tyres down a tad to see the difference.
By making a couple of small brackets I've managed to tilt the screen down 2" so the edge is no longer in my eye line. Makes no difference to any wind buffeting.
I've had to top up the oil by 500ml as I reckon the dealer checked the dipstick with it screwed in when the service was done.
I have the side stand leaning on a wedge in the garage leaving the bike standing more upright and I'm getting into the habit of turning the petcock off. I have no idea how far I'd get if I set off with it still OFF! Can anyone described what happens when you have to turn to "Reserve"? Presumably the bike starts stuttering.
I have put E5 Super unleaded petrol in and filled up today. I had done 107 miles and filled up with 11.93 litres (2.62 imperial gallons) which equates to 40.8 mpg. I have also put Techron fuel System Cleaner in to give it a bit of a clean through.
That's all for now...

Monty and the fat lass. From one extreme to the other...

[..]

The bike will sputter and give you warning to turn the petcock to on or if needed, reserve.

Sim have had the frame bend due to using a center stand.

Reducing tire psi can lead to cupping.

A US gallon is 8/10ths of your gallon.

[Knapdog]

The bike will sputter and give you warning to turn the petcock to on or if needed, reserve.

Sim have had the frame bend due to using a center stand.

Reducing tire psi can lead to cupping.

A US gallon is 8/10ths of your gallon.

Interesting that a centre stand could cause problems due to the bike's weight. I shouldn't think that the stainless steel centre stand I mentioned would be as strong as mild steel either.
I get the impression that members, generally, have their tyres pumped higher than the recommended 33psi.
Converted to US gallons, my fuel consumption was 33.9mpg. In British gallons 40mpg would be considered really good for a 6 cylinder bike. My C90 next to the fat lady does 136mpg! Lol.

[Knapdog]

stay with and only use regular 87 octane per the manual

We can't get 87 octane in the UK but did some googling and found US octanes are different.  I learn a new thing every day.
 Super unleaded in the UK tends to be around 97 Ron. Esso Super Unleaded though displayed as E5 contains little or no Ethanol, but that's another story.

[Tazman11]

Interesting that a centre stand could cause problems due to the bike's weight. I shouldn't think that the stainless steel centre stand I mentioned would be as strong as mild steel either.
I get the impression that members, generally, have their tyres pumped higher than the recommended 33psi.
Converted to US gallons, my fuel consumption was 33.9mpg. In British gallons 40mpg would be considered really good for a 6 cylinder bike. My C90 next to the fat lady does 136mpg! Lol.


Try getting Laid on the C90. Valkyrie will make it easier.

[CoreyP]

Took me a little bit to get use to the size of my Valkyrie. It just took me a little while of practice which I haven't gone to a parking lot to practice anything for decades. Real reason I did that was I didn't want to be that guy who can't do a U turn on a narrow street. It just looks bad. I can't remember now but I think I got a U turn down to 16 feet.  Just remember look where you want to go, give it a little back brake while riding the clutch.  The bike is long but it will turn pretty tight for you.

As far as riding on the street a Valkyrie is a nimble bike for it's size. Of course if you have bad tires your experience will be different. My bike came with bad tires but I wanted to ride the bike. Glad I did because when I put the new tires on I was like "These tires are great". LOL. 

[Bagger John - #3785]

Try getting Laid on the C90. Valkyrie will make it easier.

Not to derail this thread, but any time I'm on a V Twin and something chokes off the air cleaner because a pretty lady is paying proper attention to me, I have ZERO problems there. 

YMMV, of course.

[Knapdog]

Some great replies there folks and I shall try to take them all on board.
Well I managed two, wide U-turns today leaving me particularly chuffed ( I trust this word does not have a different meaning across the pond!).
150 makes under my belt and the bike is feeling a tad smaller and lighter.
The gearbox is a bit clunky but exactly the same on a 1200RT I had so they must be typical of "boxer" engines.
Dropping down to first you need that double push with your foot to know you're in.
Presumably the engine aircraft whine between 45mph and 55mph is meant to be there.

[Earl43P]

"I have no idea how far I'd get if I set off with it still OFF! "

I used to gas up at a certain station and forget to turn the fuel back on.
It was about 1/4 mile back to the hi-way on-ramp, through one light and at low speeds.
I'd then accelerate down the on-ramp and at about 1.6 miles on the newly reset odometer, it would begin to sputter at 70 mph. So the bowls hold enough to get you ~1.6 miles.

I've had the same issue occur at lower speeds occasionally resulting in a stall (typically sitting at a light). In those cases, I've found that opening the Enrichment to Full makes it restart reliably and recover quicker than without enrichment. You'll be cranking the starter a LONGER time and maybe several times if you try to restart without using the enrichment after selecting Fuel On or Reserve.

[Knapdog]

"I have no idea how far I'd get if I set off with it still OFF! "

I used to gas up at a certain station and forget to turn the fuel back on.
It was about 1/4 mile back to the hi-way on-ramp, through one light and at low speeds.
I'd then accelerate down the on-ramp and at about 1.6 miles on the newly reset odometer, it would begin to sputter at 70 mph. So the bowls hold enough to get you ~1.6 miles.

I've had the same issue occur at lower speeds occasionally resulting in a stall (typically sitting at a light). In those cases, I've found that opening the Enrichment to Full makes it restart reliably and recover quicker than without enrichment. You'll be cranking the starter a LONGER time and maybe several times if you try to restart without using the enrichment after selecting Fuel On or Reserve.

OK.
As I turn the petcock off at the end of the day, what would be the procedure the next morning?
Should I be blipping the throttle before starting to get the juices flowing?

[Knapdog]

Some great replies there folks and I shall try to take them all on board.
Well I managed two, wide U-turns today leaving me particularly chuffed ( I trust this word does not have a different meaning across the pond!).
150 makes under my belt and the bike is feeling a tad smaller and lighter.
The gearbox is a bit clunky but exactly the same on a 1200RT I had so they must be typical of "boxer" engines.
Dropping down to first you need that double push with your foot to know you're in.
Presumably the engine aircraft whine between 45mph and 55mph is meant to be there.

I don’t know if the whine was meant to be there. But it is common with every Valkyrie I’ve been on. Chuffed ? 

Chuffed would mean particularly pleased with oneself.

[Tazman11]

"I have no idea how far I'd get if I set off with it still OFF! "

I used to gas up at a certain station and forget to turn the fuel back on.
It was about 1/4 mile back to the hi-way on-ramp, through one light and at low speeds.
I'd then accelerate down the on-ramp and at about 1.6 miles on the newly reset odometer, it would begin to sputter at 70 mph. So the bowls hold enough to get you ~1.6 miles.

I've had the same issue occur at lower speeds occasionally resulting in a stall (typically sitting at a light). In those cases, I've found that opening the Enrichment to Full makes it restart reliably and recover quicker than without enrichment. You'll be cranking the starter a LONGER time and maybe several times if you try to restart without using the enrichment after selecting Fuel On or Reserve.

OK.
As I turn the petcock off at the end of the day, what would be the procedure the next morning?
Should I be blipping the throttle before starting to get the juices flowing?

No need. There is plenty of fuel in the carbs. Juices will flow.

[Jess from VA]

With the gravity and vacuum feed (and no fuel pump) fuel system, blipping the throttle pre-start doesn't do anything.

I need the choke to start, and if I blip it right away too, it stalls. 

[CoreyP]

Unless it's real cold I don't even need to use the choke. The bowls should be full when you turn the fuel back on. If they aren't you have some sort of problem.

[MarkT]

Unless it's real cold I don't even need to use the choke. The bowls should be full when you turn the fuel back on. If they aren't you have some sort of problem.

Needing choke varies with different bikes or their tune.  My 97 Tour likes a choke whenever the engine isn't warm.  Deerslayer (98 std) never needed choke unless it was quite cold out.  But that changed over time so I suspect the tune affected it.  Things like valve tightness, carb sync, perhaps wear.  My blown bobber always likes it richer if engine not warm.  That one has a single carb with accelerator pump.  Choke not as effective.  Always starts with several squirts by throttle twists.  And have to keep squirting for a cpl minutes.  Of course it's nothing like stock except the long block.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Knapdog - you can twist the throttle before starting if you like but it won't do anything. The Valks' Keihins don't have accelerator pumps, so no petrol squirt (It will just open and shut the butterflys, nothing else). SteveB