Rate this valkyrie: 1998 Tourer

[Savago]

Gentlefolks

I'm working to fix my I/S@1999, but started looking for a new for me valkyrie, as my plan is to fix the I/S and sell it.

This weekend I'm planning to check a tourer in my neck of the woods.

The specs: 1998 tourer, 43K miles, asking a little over $3,000 for the bike.

The owner seems like a pretty fine gentleman and after a long career as a rider is getting ready to retire from motorcycles.

In the ad, it is described as having a 'new starter clutch, starter relay' and 'rebuilt carburators'. I wonder if that is a possible red flag (i.e. hydro-lock)?

I would prefer it in yellow/cream, but I think that this color is pretty cool since it seems the same as the bike in the cover of the Clymer manual.
 

I would like to ask if anyone notice any possible red flags on it? Anything in particular that I should check in the bike?

[Jess from VA]

How it rides and runs is important.

Regarding the 'new starter clutch, starter relay' and 'rebuilt carburetors', ask him if he hydrolocked, ask him where he got it fixed, ask him if he has the repair bills and paperwork (and if so, maybe contact that outfit and ask them about it).  Ask if he kept a file of all repair bills, parts receipts, yada (and a manual), and ask to look at it (and to have it if your buy it).

Look under the engine guards for evidence of drops and slides.  Pull the dip and look at oil quality/color, ask about last rear end service.  Did he chop on the exhaust, or is it stock?  Are those bag lid covers pure decoration or are they covering lid damage?  How do the tires look and how old are they?

Is the tank shimmed up for those velocity stacks (or is that only for Interstate tanks)?

It looks pretty nice to me.

If your wife likes to ride behind, you're probably going to want a luggage rack with sissy for her.

[Rams]

This weekend I'm planning to check a tourer in my neck of the woods.

The specs: 1998 tourer, 43K miles, asking a little over $3,000 for the bike.

How it rides and runs is important.

Regarding the 'new starter clutch, starter relay' and 'rebuilt carburetors', ask him if he hydrolocked, ask him where he got it fixed, ask him if he has the repair bills and paperwork (and if so, maybe contact that outfit and ask them about it).  Ask if he kept a file of all repair bills, parts receipts, yada (and a manual), and ask to look at it (and to have it if your buy it).

Look under the engine guards for evidence of drops and slides.  Pull the dip and look at oil quality/color, ask about last rear end service.  Did he chop on the exhaust, or is it stock?  Are those bag lid covers pure decoration or are they covering lid damage?  How do the tires look and how old are they?

Is the tank shimmed up for those velocity stacks (or is that only for Interstate tanks)?

It looks pretty nice to me.

If your wife likes to ride behind, you're probably going to want a luggage rack with sissy for her.

What Jess said.

Personally, I think that's one heck of a good price for that bike.   If I was looking for another Valkyrie, I'd be headed that way.   Ask those questions, look for evidence of it being laid down, ride it and if it feels right, buy it.   If you don't buy it, let me know.  It's not my colors but, I can live with that. 

Rams

[hubcapsc]

Are the tins all good? It has a good seat already. $3,000
for a nice low mileage Tourer seems plenty good to me.

My 97, which I like a lot and have had for 15 years, was
pretty tired looking compared to that one when I got it.

-Mike

[Serk]

For $3000, if it's rideable and runs decently, I'd buy it.

If you find anything negative, there's some pieces of unobtanium I see on there you could take off, make at least 1/3 of your money back, and still have a perfectly serviceable Valkyrie....

[Jack B]

Does the chrome have water spots or is it pitted?

[Rams]

Does the chrome have water spots or is it pitted?

Jack,
Would I be out of line by suggesting that only a Chromaholic would be concerned about water spots? 

Just pull'n yer chain Jack.   

Rams 

[f6gal]

Buy it!

[Valkorado]

Looks nice!   

[Savago]

Thanks all for the good advice.

I'm all set to check the bike this coming Saturday, wish me luck!
 

[Savago]

An update: I rented a uhaul pickup truck plus a motorcycle trailer (with wheel chock and low ramp) and drove for near 4h30m from my neck of the woods to SoCal.

I could have used my Subaru Outback (it is rated to tow 3500lbs which would be enough for a valkyrie + trailer) but I couldn't get any shop to have the trailer hitch installed in time. Maybe next time?

I always forget how big California is and how varied are its micro climates (i.e. I left the SF Bay Area around 9AM at 59F and when I finally arrived in Bakersfield around 1:30PM, it was around 82F).

[Rams]

Here I thought I was gonna be forced to fly out there and ride it back to Mississippi.   
I'm sure you'll love riding it as would all of us.   Now, get that reservation for InZane sent in and show her off in Roanoke. 

Rams 

[Savago]

Once in Bakersfield, I met with the owner at a RV trailer park and storage. Let's call him 'John' to respect his privacy.

He stored the tourer there together with his 90's Goldwing. Basically John would use the Goldwing for long trips and the valkyrie for riding only in California.

Air force veteran of Vietnam, retired pilot, he seemed like a really nice guy. Motorcycle rider since the 60's, only had Hondas his entire life.

Upon discussing the details of the bike, I confirmed that it indeed hydro-locked.

He had it fixed together with the carburators rebuilt in a Honda shop and showed the receipts of the work (paid a small fortune for it).

He had the bike for the last 15 years, bought it from another guy from San Diego.

I inspected the oil was clean, the coolant was new, the crash bars clean (i.e. no signs of being dropped). Also had a new battery, the owner's manual and the original Honda toolkit.

John explained to me he never used the toolkit since he got way better tools in his shop.

He also said the bike has always being garaged its whole life.

The bike had originally those cobra exhausts, but John didn't like them (i.e. ' _ They were way too loud!') and replaced them for an original new Honda exhaust years ago.

John was originally asking $3500 for the bike, but we sealed the deal for $3100.

Call me crazy for buying a once hydrolocked motorcycle, but let's just hope that the Honda shop mechanics managed to fix it properly.
 

[Savago]

Here you can see us after loading the bike in the trailer.

I've used 6 straps rated at 1000lbs each, 2 in the forks, 2 in the center of the frame (I removed the side panels) and 2 in the back tied to the sissy bar.

[Rams]

Call me crazy for buying a once hydrolocked motorcycle, but let's just hope that the Honda shop mechanics managed to fix ir properly.
 

If you're crazy, you're in with a lot of good company.   There's only two things that would have kept me from bringing her home, a lack of money and she's not my colors but, I could have easily overlooked the colors issue. 

Rams

[Savago]

I left Bakersfield around 3:45PM and started heading home.

The Interstate 5 is boring, but it is basically a straight line with decent pavement in most of the way.

I decided to never go past 65 miles per hour (many segments I was doing 60 to 62 miles per hour), as anyone here knows, towing a motorcycle trailer can be nerve wrecking.

I didn't have lunch (my last meal was at 7:40AM before I left home to go to uhaul to get the truck) but decided to not stop because I wanted to be back home before it got dark.

Finally arrived at home around 8:15PM, just before sunset.

[Savago]

My wife helped in the horrible (at least for me) task of removing the straps from the bike in the trailer.

Basically I'm always afraid of doing everything right and in the last moment, drop the bike inside of the trailer while removing the last strap.

So I asked my old lady (my wife) to seat on the new lady (ok, that sounds weird...) and keep it level while I untied the straps.

Finally, after all this long report, the Tourer is at my garage keeping company to my broken I/S:

[Savago]

By the way, it has some weird shocks with some lines connected to them and some kind of valve under the seat, anyone familiar with this shocks?

My guess is that maybe I can add compressed air to it? Dunno.

[Rams]

By the way, it has some weird shocks with some lines connected to them and a some kind of valve under the seat, anyone familiar with this shocks?

My guess is that maybe I can add compressed air to it? Dunno.

I don't know the brand name but, I do know air shocks when I see them.   There's either a Schrader Valve somewhere near or, there's an on board compressor.

Rams

[Savago]

So job completed? Not yet. I had to return the truck plus trailer to uhaul to avoid paying a rental for 2 days.

The shop closes at 6PM but it is possible to use the UHaul mobile app to do your 'self checkout'.

It consists in taking photos of the truck + trailer and answering questions (i.e. did you wreck the truck?).

It was a new experience since I never done that before, but that saved me from having to pay for another day of rental.

Got back home and finally had my first real meal of the whole day at 11:20PM.

It took from the 8AM to 11PM (15 hours straight) from the moment I left home to the moment I finally could call the job done, but I hope it is going to be worthwhile.
 

[Savago]

What happens next?

Once I finish the work on my I/S, I'm planning to remove the Tourer rear wheel to inspect its final drive.

I'm really praying it is not toast (anyone got a spare final drive + flange if I need one?), because then I would end up with 2 broken valkyries collecting dust in my garage.

Is it a keeper? I don't know yet.

I'm unsure if this bike is a sad puppy looking for a new home or if it is a lame horse that will have be put down after wounding its leg (i.e. hydrolock).

As I make new discoveries, I will post updates.
 

[Savago]

If you're crazy, you're in with a lot of good company.   There's only two things that would have kept me from bringing her home, a lack of money and she's not my colors but, I could have easily overlooked the colors issue.  

Rams, it is reassuring to know that I'm not the only one crazy about valkyries.

I really hope I can make it work, being in a 'valk-less' state is depressing given my I/S is broken.

[Serk]

Just curious, is the Tourer rideable in its' current state? Does it start?

Sorry if that was mentioned and I glossed over it....

I greatly prefer riding a new bike home if at all possible...

Nice find regardless for that price!

[Savago]

Just curious, is the Tourer rideable in its' current state? Does it start?

Sorry if that was mentioned and I glossed over it....

I greatly prefer riding a new bike home if at all possible...

Nice find regardless for that price!

The bike starts and idles nicely. I let it idle for near 20 minutes in the RV storage while me and John were talking about motorcycles and riding.

I rode it briefly around the RV park but can't really comment on its performance at least for now. Didn't notice any odd noises, but I think the clutch lever feels different from my I/S.

I wonder if the 'length of pull' in the clutch lever can be adjusted?

The bike is registered as non-op (PNO - Planned Nonoperation) with Cali DMV, so it I got to get a new registration and add it to my motorcycle insurance before I can properly ride it.

I also prefer to ride motorcycles back home, but I'm afraid this time it wasn't a real option.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Just curious, is the Tourer rideable in its' current state? Does it start?

Sorry if that was mentioned and I glossed over it....

I greatly prefer riding a new bike home if at all possible...

Nice find regardless for that price!

The bike starts and idles nicely. I let it idle for near 20 minutes in the RV storage while me and John were talking about motorcycles and riding.

I rode it briefly around the RV park but can't really comment on its performance at least for now. Didn't notice any odd noises, but I think the clutch lever feels different from my I/S.

I wonder if the 'length of pull' in the clutch lever can be adjusted?

The bike is registered as non-op (PNO - Planned Nonoperation) with Cali DMV, so it I got to get a new registration and add it to my motorcycle insurance before I can properly ride it.

I also prefer to ride motorcycles back home, but I'm afraid this time it wasn't a real option.

Check the little brass barrel in the clutch levers. They can get wore out easily. Some guys do switch to adjustable levers.

(It’s a nice looking bike) 

[Jess from VA]

You don't need adjustable levers, just get the Kuryakyn wide chrome levers for Honda.  They are easy to mount, far more ergonomic (and comfortable on the hands) than stock, and as short a throw (pull) as you need.

I broke 2 adjustable levers by just hitting them smartly, they are fragile, and you don't want them set to the shortest throw either.    

https://www.ridersdiscount.com/kuryakyn-widestyle-levers-chrome-for-honda-shadow-valkyrie-24073

[Savago]

I don't know the brand name but, I do know air shocks when I see them.   There's either a Schrader Valve somewhere near or, there's an on board compressor.

I washed/dried/waxed the bike today and got to spend some quality time with it.

The valve is located under the seat, I put 25 PSI on it to begin with.

I was able to identify that the shocks got a sticker, they seem to be Progressive Shocks, I'm just unsure which specific model yet.

[Farside]

  It sounds like a great find. It looks like it could almost be a Renegade twin. Yes, I love the Sedona Red/Cream combo

[Savago]

model 416 are progressive air shocks
https://www.progressivesuspension.com/product/1411/416-series-shocks

I think you got it right, they look identical to the ones in the bike.
 

[Savago]

Now, I went about cleaning the poor girl: I've washed the bike with Meguiar's car wash shampoo (https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/meguiarsr-gold-classtm-car-wash-shampoo-conditioner-g7164-64-oz-liquid).

Dried with a microfiber towel and proceeded with waxing with Honda wax spray (https://www.amazon.com/HONDA-08732-SCP00-Spray-Cleaner-Polish/dp/B004FSEJZA).

For the leather parts, I've used Pig Spit and it was able to restore the color while leaving a satin finish without being slippery (https://www.amazon.com/Pig-Spit-PSO-Black-Original/dp/B000VJR3GO/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3MZ8SNI10NDOC).

I've ordered some Meguiar leather cleaner/conditioning spray and should receive it in a couple days.




The result of Pig spit is pretty impressive!

[Savago]

I don't know about you guys, but I doubt people would say this is a quarter century old motorcycle!

[Savago]

Anyone could confirm if these are the problematic valve stems that Honda used on older bikes?

[Serk]

I don't know about you guys, but I doubt people would say this is a quarter century old motorcycle!

...or a $3100 one at that!

[Serk]

Anyone could confirm if these are the problematic valve stems that Honda used on older bikes?

99% positive that's a bad one. You wanna see a nut against the rim, not rubber...

[Willow]

Anyone could confirm if these are the problematic valve stems that Honda used on older bikes?

99% positive that's a bad one. You wanna see a nut against the rim, not rubber...  

Not necessarily on the nut.  I use the ones that have two nuts on the inside.

I believe Serk is correct in that that looks like OEM.

To confirm, with or without the support piece try to wiggle the end of the stem.  If there is any movement at all it's the one with rubber at the interface (OEM).

Those should be replaced.  If you come to InZane we'll have a couple for you.  Otherwise, I order them from Patchboy for about $2 each plus shipping.

Disregard what 98Valk said.  They ARE a problem.  Honda recommends that you replace them at alternating tire changes for $11 each.  Full metal stems last for your lifetime.

[Serk]

And while we're on valve stems, these cost more than $2, but if you plan on adding a TPMS these are GREAT for that application:

https://wingstuff.com/products/37222-t-valve-optional-accessory-for-fobo-2-tpms

[flsix]

Good looking bike for a great price. 
I hope you get to enjoy it on the road soon.

[Jess from VA]

Now that everyone is adding their two cents, I like the tank bag (I have one and use it all the time for things I don't like in my pockets).

Clearly the seats, tank bag, sissy pad, and bag guard bibs are all studded to match.

I am not a fan of the bag guard bibs.  Tank and bag covers end up getting crud under them and scratching the paint over time (without periodic removal, wash and wax).  Now if your wife will ride in back often, those guards will protect the lid paint from her shoe/boot scuffs.  But if she won't ride at all or often, I prefer nice paint to vinyl bibs on the bags (and you have very nice paint). 

But if you like the look, by all means keep them. 

[Rams]

Now that everyone is adding their two cents, I like the tank bag (I have one and use it all the time for things I don't like in my pockets).

Clearly the seats, tank bag, sissy pad, and bag guard bibs are all studded to match.

I am not a fan of the bag guard bibs.  Tank and bag covers end up getting crud under them and scratching the paint over time (without periodic removal, wash and wax).  Now if your wife will ride in back often, those guards will protect the lid paint from her shoe/boot scuffs.  But if she won't ride at all or often, I prefer nice paint to vinyl bibs on the bags (and you have very nice paint).  

But if you like the look, by all means keep them.  

Jess,
Your opinion is worth about as much as mine is.  (You know what they say about opinions.)   But, thought I'd let you know that I happen to agree.  

But, the fact is, it isn't dressed for us.   

Rams

[Savago]

Ok, just got the bike registered in my name and added to my insurance.

Given the unknowns (i.e. will the valve stem explode? will the bike catch fire and give me a flaming death? will its final drive crap out and leave me stranded?), I 'm taking the bike for a slow ride around the neighborhood.

Today's top speed will be 30 mph or less.
 

Worst case scenario, I should still be able to walk back home if the bike suffers a stroke and decides to die.

Wish me luck!