Sold my '98 Tourer this past Saturday.

[John Schmidt]

Went to a young man and his wife from the Marengo, IL area. Valks aren't bringing the money they did in the past, no matter the bike's history, condition, extras, etc., my bike was no different. He made an offer and I accpted, having had it advertised locally and on Facebook nationally. Since I now have the trike and hardly ever rode the 2-wheeler, it had to go. The gentleman and his wife arrived about 10:00am yesterday, looked over the bike and approved the overall appearance. I was ok with starting it while still on the trailer where I left it after the blown sale deal Easter weekend. Started right up, said he liked the sound, the exhaust showed its colors at first from being on the side stand for an extended period as these motors tend to do, but it slowly disappeared. After unloading from the trailer, he took it for a short ride and apparently liked it cuz when he returned he asked his wife for the bank envelope...was full of hundred dollar bills. We did the paperwork while Nancy chatted with his wife. I had put a number of items in an old storage tub, items for a 2-wheeler I could no longer use, told him to take it with him so he tossed in his car. He then put on some warm riding gear, temps were cool, and rode away with his wife in tow.

About 4 hours later I received a text saying he had arrived home safe and sound, the bike road great and he experienced no problems. I told him the approx. 180 miles home was a heck of a test ride, I wasn't surprised when he said "no problem." It's a bittersweet thing to watch something being driven away that you've had a rather personal relationship with for well over 20 yrs. and numerous multi-thousand mile trips...and never a mechanical issue. I feel it has gone to a good home, and as a good friend told me...I kept a lot of stuff from it that would fit on the trike, so that special bike is still rolling on the trike.

In its heyday, Novenber, 2021 calendar.

[Oss]

you done right and good John

Like the Vikings would say  "burn the boats"  you have to succeed

[old2soon]

     Watching my 99 I/S leave on Ross's trailer was very Hard to do!  Quite a few Long trips on Phatt Ghurl and made a LOT of memories!  Made a LOT of Friends here due to the Valkyrie!  Yes John I've felt that same pain!  RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

When I get the trike back on the road and in the fall of the year I'd like to try and catch the leaves in the same color at the same spot as the picture of the '98 Tourer. Maybe frame them side by side so I can have something to look back on when "that day" comes...hopefully a few years from now. 

[cookiedough]

congrats on sale I guess but as u said, is hard to let go after owning for well over a decade or more.
Yah,  most valks are in that 3-6K range with 6K pushing it.  I have seen much newer say 2007 goldwings with 30-40K miles going in that 6-7K range as well which I think is dirt cheap as well.

then I see on facebook marketplace a bunch of old school yamaha 200cc fat tire on/off road cycles going for an insane 3-5K range, just crazy.   Even used on/off road 400-1000cc cycles are priced higher than our valks are, just crazy. 

[TJ]

   

[f6john]

A whole new generation are learning what we knew all along, Valkyries are great bikes!

[98valk]

Congrats John.  God Bless you, your family and the trike!!!

[Thunderbolt]

John I sold the 99 Interstate to a guy from Dallas Tx.  He left here about noon one day and said that he had planned on spending the night in LA. or somewhere along the way but that it was running so good he just stopped for gas and kept on through the night all the way home.   

[John Schmidt]

John I sold the 99 Interstate to a guy from Dallas Tx.  He left here about noon one day and said that he had planned on spending the night in LA. or somewhere along the way but that it was running so good he just stopped for gas and kept on through the night all the way home.   

Yes, that would be a long haul. I recall making the run in one day from my daughter's place NW of New Orleans to our place in Winter Park, 800 miles. On the '98 back in its heyday, great ride with a comfy seat. Stops for lunch and gas, temps in the 70's and no weather so an easy run.

I bought that bike at the Gainesville Honda dealer in March, I believe 2003 if memory serves. Traded my Candy Red '92 Wing for it, headed south on I-75 with a big grin...couldn't believe the response when I went to pass a semi. About 125 miles later I still had the big grin as I pulled in the driveway. It never went away for the following 22+ years. I remember meeting you and Iris in Alachua at a group ride to eat, was it Conestogas where we used to all go? Some great memories for all of us. If we get back to Fla. next winter, Nancy and I will contact you folks and stop to see you.

[John Schmidt]

Congrats John.  God Bless you, your family and the trike!!!

Thanks. We were going to haul it down to my son in law in Louisiana but this guy in Illinois made a cash offer, albeit lower than I had hoped. We sat down and figured a conservative cost for us to make the round trip and by the time that was considered after my SIL gave me the higer amount, it all evened out. So I took the lower cash offer & didn't have to make a trip.

[Jess from VA]

Congrats on the sale John.

No sense letting it sit.

I was going thru my pictures the other day looking at my old '86 FXRD Harley and the rides I took on it with the wife up San Juacinto and San Gorgonio mountains in Southern California.  Good times.  But it ended up sitting (outside, here in VA), and it got sold and shipped back to CA.  I bought it slightly used at a Harley dealer in SoCA, and they took my Honda CB750 (with Vetter fairing and hardbags) in trade (reluctantly).  

Come on guys, it's a very nice bike, you need to put it out in your showroom.  

[John Schmidt]

Yes, the '98 had to go, I feel it went to a good home.

Re. the engine swap I'm involved with on the trike, there's a change of plans on the method used. If you recall, I wanted to try and r&r the engines without pulling the tank and airbox. It was going great, I learned a lot regarding the procedure needed, but finally ran into a roadblock. It happens to be the hard plastic baffle behind the fan and the rubber shield across the bottom of it. In order to address the blockage it presents, it will take a fair amount of time and in tight places with limited access. So, I've decided to go ahead and pull the tank and airbox to allow access to the problem area. Once the engine is out, I'll have easy access to that area and will modify/trim it for ease of reinstalling the Wing motor. I felt it was worth a try...taking the motor out without pulling the tank & airbox. Had it not been for that one issue, I would have been successful. You don't learn anything without trying...I learned!

For those interested, there were other issues that came up. One was the wire loom from the impulse generators under the front chrome cover. Try to find and feed it back down from up top near the steering neck was a frustrating exercise so I simply removed the generators from the front of the motor. That left the area free to move the motor out. There are a number of wires to remove, removing the center cover is necessary...just a lot of little things involved, regardless of whether with the tank/airbox are removed or not. In the end, it's been a learning exercise for sure, different than removing an engine without the tank, etc., being in the way. So to all observers...stay tuned. 

[Jersey mike]

A new owner and new adventures.

Saying fare thee well old friend is never easy, just hope they’re all safe in their traveling and the new adventures to come.

Your trusty steed will provide them excellent service and not ask much in return.

[Pluggy]

John, I admire your attention to detail.  That engine task requires perfection.  If a part gets damaged in the process, a replacement may no longer be available.  I suppose neurosurgery is similar.

[John Schmidt]

John, I admire your attention to detail.  That engine task requires perfection.  If a part gets damaged in the process, a replacement may no longer be available.  I suppose neurosurgery is similar.

Stu, the highlighted section brought up a thought...anyone at my age that tries an "engine-ectomy" should probably have their head examined. Crawling around for a couple days at the beginning of this effort took a toll, to call myself stiff and sore would be an understatement. Being thin-skinned from taking aspirin every other day has left my arms looking like I was in a bar fight.

PS: my exam is scheduled for mid-May.

[flsix]

John it sounds like it went to a good home. Hope he stays in touch and maybe even bring it by someday.

[da prez]

  He is not to far from me. 
  John , did you introduce (funny I should ask) him (them) to the VRCC.

                                          da prez

[John Schmidt]

  He is not to far from me. 
  John , did you introduce (funny I should ask) him (them) to the VRCC.

                                          da prez

Yep...sure did. I told him of the club and actually showed him the website and how it's laid out. Then suggested he pay particular attention to the Tech board and the wealth of information it contained. He did seem interested. I also spoke about the annual rally plus other rides set up in various areas by individuals. I didn't say anything about our "hard nosed" administrators.