Best Year for Valkyrie

[pandora]

Have been bikeless due to a dumbass turning left in front of me and sending me to the hospital and my bike to the morgue.  I still don't have the funds available for another bike but I was wondering what the general opinion of the best model year for the Valkyrie.  I had a 97 and loved her to death.  I looked up specs but they all seem within the same range.  Any opinions?

[PAVALKER]

I'd have to say this year is the best year for the Valkyrie......  cause it's another year I will get to ride mine.


Actually I don't think there is a best, they are all the best.....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Oh Man....I can see the 97 owners jumping all over this 

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

The year you get your next lady. Really I've had a 99 tourer and now a 2000 Interstate not any difference that I can tell. They're all great.

[Tropic traveler]

Oh Man....I can see the 97 owners jumping all over this 

  Gotta say as a 3 Valk owner, well 3 in our family anyways, the 1997 is the best year!!! Certainly is the fastest.

[olddog1946]

next door is a 97 and I've got an 01,,,,,,,AND MINE IS PRETTIER, LOL

Mostly cause I wash mine once in awhile

[Jess from VA]

Find the best Valk, in model, color(s), condition, miles, accessories you can and buy it....the year is irrelevant.

[Garfield]

The 97 red and white is the best

[Chattanooga Mark]

Jess is exactly right IMHO.

All the best,

Mark

[PhredValk]

Best price, local, lowest mileage Valkyrie in the model and color scheme you like best. Mine is a 99 I/S I wasn't sure I wanted, in a color I wasn't sure about. One season and 12K miles and I wouldn't trade her for anything! Find a fat lady soonest and ride.
Fred.

[eric in md]

1997 there antiques ...    mine is a 99 shes still new

[MacDragon]

I'd say anywhere from a 97 to an 03 would be best...

[PharmBoy]

Now, who can argue with MacDragon?...JTL 

[qc-teky]

The 97 red and white is the best

Man Perry, you got that Valk looking great! Who'd you get to do the paint on your bags and fairing?
I would say we need to get out and ride, but it's going to be a little chilly this week. We do need to get out to some of the rides coming up this year. I'll try to get mine looking good enough to park beside yours.  Gimme a shout sometime.   John

[larryd]

I like most years.. I would stay away from the 96 and 04 and newer ones, especially if they are being sold on craigslist...

[JimC]

I'm with MacDragon

Jim

[Kaiser]

There was a thread on here a week or two ago about how the '97 was supposedly superior.  The original poster quoted some magazine with stats, etc.

Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read. 

My vote (of course) is the best of the best - the '01 Interstate.  In fact, Honda realized that it would never get any better, so they quit making them after '01.  They still had a ton of leftover parts, so they decided to make those "other" Valks for a few more years. 

[larryd]

I am for the 01 standard. It is called a standard because it set the standards for all others. And being fast black with lots of chrome....well that IS  the icing on the cake...It is by sheer luck and coincidence that is what I ride. Just lucky I guess. That being said.......If You can't intimidate them with intelligence, well you can always baffel them with bulls%*t. THATS MY STORY AND I AM STICKING TO IT.

[Dag]

MacDragon, I`m with you     

[Willow]

The differences between the years are mostly insignificant.  The saddle change in the later Standards and Tourers is nice, but you can fit that saddle to any year.  The clear coated rims on those later years are nice but not worth passing on a good deal on an older year.

There's always a lot of chatter about the possibility of the stock '97 having a slight horsepower advantage over the later years.  If there is a difference, and I'm one who believes there isn't, it's not enough to be worth passing on a good deal on a later year.

Pick the one you like.  Buy it and make it your own regardless of the year.  You'll be pleased.   

[Quicksilver]

The Black 2000 tourers are the best. Practice makes perfect. By then they would have worked out the bugs as well as had some feedback on the machine. The seat change is just one example. Likely there were more internal tweeks by then to improve quality of manufacture. At that stage they would have still been trying to improve the machine and the learning curve would have been flattening out. IMHO

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I've got a 97, son has a 2000. His wrist seems to be faster, not sure about the bike. I do know, his is 3 years newer.

[Marcel]

Hands Down the Black Interstate 2001 is the Blow out Best Year.

Newest Interstate you can own and is a Valkyrie to the Bone.

Fast Black is the one I own.

But then again, you can't beat a two tone.

[Psychotic Bovine]

Honda only made so many perfect Valkyries.  The rest they painted black.

Anyway, the 97's made more horsepower, according to some, but I think some of the wheel bearings are smaller or something.

I don't think there really is any "bad" year for a Valkyrie....

[Willow]

But then again, you can't beat a two tone.

Certainly not if you're riding a plain black.      

C'mon, guys, he asked what he intended to be a serious question.  Having each of us post, "This one is best because it's the one I own," isn't really very helpful.

We're not showing ourselves to be the friendly helpful group that we sometimes are for new members.

[Psychotic Bovine]

Also, the 97's seem to get worse gas mileage then the later years.  This is based on my dad's, my brother's, and my 97's versus a friend's later year one.
I really don't know... but I stand behind my statement that there are no bad valks.

[Marcel]

Pandora seems you opened a Pandora's Box of Opinions.

Get another Valk of any kind of any year and you will find we will help you in any way possible.

Try us and you will see, all the help we can be.

This is a good group that has helped me with prayer and pinion gear.

You call it and we will be behind you all the way.

From coast to coast you are our best member.

Because we love one and all.

That love the Valkyrie.

Al

[Valkahuna]

There was a thread on here a week or two ago about how the '97 was supposedly superior.  The original poster quoted some magazine with stats, etc.

Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read. 

My vote (of course) is the best of the best - the '01 Interstate.  In fact, Honda realized that it would never get any better, so they quit making them after '01.  They still had a ton of leftover parts, so they decided to make those "other" Valks for a few more years. 

+1 on the 01 and all the rest that Kaiser says.

[Six Guns]

I have a 98 Valkyrie Tourer and a 99 Valkyrie Interstate. You can't go wrong with any year Valkyrie you choose. Good luck in your decision.

[Highbinder]

I presently ride 4 Valkyries....97 standard w/trigger wheel...98 tourer.....2000 I/S that is being converted to a supervalk...and a 2001 I/S already converted to supervalk......I have found the I/S's to get the best gas mileage, always got between 38-42 mpg, after supervalking that increased to 42-45 mpg.....the 97 standard with no windsheild or bags, just stock was always the fastest, but since the mod to the 01 I/S I would give the nod to it......I was the original poster on the '97's and I never said they were superior, only different....and according to Honda they do put out alittle more horsepower and torque...does that make them faster....its like football..on any given sunday.....they are all great bikes, but if I could only keep one it would be the '01 supervalk...

[Tropic traveler]

Also, the 97's seem to get worse gas mileage then the later years.  This is based on my dad's, my brother's, and my 97's versus a friend's later year one.
I really don't know... but I stand behind my statement that there are no bad valks.

Must agree. Both the '99 and Kim's '98 get significantly better fuel mileage than my '97.
I attribute this to one of two possibilties, the better performance of the '97 using more fuel to do so OR the leaning out factor of the Cobras that are installed on both the '99 & Kim's '98 pumping up the MPG. My '97 is glasspacked, has a K&N, shimmed needles, & I/S spring equipped  . For sure the "Valkyrie flat spot" on the power curve is more pronounced on the '99 &'98. My '97 pulls noticeably harder through the mid range. On the EXACT same rides with the EXACT same miles showing on the odo, my '97 will take 1/2 to 3/4 gallon more of gas to fill nearly every time. 30-32 MPG is the norm even before the mods I made. 35-38 MPG for the '98 & '99 is normal.
Do I love them all?? YESSSSS!!! I'll be buried with my '97!!

[~ Timbrwolf]

. . ...01 Valkyrie Interstates are the best. ....Black only though. ...they HAVE to be black...


. ....Yeah....01...Black....Valkyrie Interstates. ....



. . ....they,re the best..


...ask anyone who has one.. .

[custom1]

. . ...01 Valkyrie Interstates are the best. ....Black only though. ...they HAVE to be black...


. ....Yeah....01...Black....Valkyrie Interstates. ....



. . ....they,re the best..


...ask anyone who has one.. .

Ummm. I would have to agree.

I think this is turning into a black 01 I/S thread. 

[godfire]

Where are all the Blue and Ivory bikes?

[bigdog99]

i can say this much, i have a black 99 and truly feel it is the best
for me.
i can honestly say also, i have druled over some 2 tones, sorry smokinjoe.
i even went in and looked at a new HD ultra classic, but had to look at the bike sevewral times to realize i have the best bird in my hand. the only thing that makes me shutter is the fact that some day she may ask to lie down and die, or i so freekin feeble that i have to put on a trike kit. but i do know that nothing will ever take her place ever.!
 

[highcountry]

Pick the year that has the color that you like the most, and then, it is the best year.

[GreenLantern57]

97,nuff said

[NiteRiderF6]

The correct answer to this question is "Any" Valkyrie will do you a good job.....

[X Ring]

Honda only made so many perfect Valkyries.  The rest they painted black.

Anyway, the 97's made more horsepower, according to some, but I think some of the wheel bearings are smaller or something.

I don't think there really is any "bad" year for a Valkyrie....

The 97s had smaller 6004 front wheel bearings while the 98s and later have 6204 bearings in the front wheels.  That being said there is no greater incidence of the 97s having more front wheel bearing failures than the following years.  I personally believe Honda switched to the 6204 as a cost saving measure.  The stock left rear wheel bearing is the 6204 and Honda could get a better price on bearings by using more of them.

I've got two Valks.  A Red and White 97 Tourer and a Blue and Silver 2K Interstate.  While the 97 has more power, the Interstate gets better mileage.  They each have their own charms especially considering the Tourer is soloed and I use the Interstate for 2 up rides.

Marty

[Dag]

Etter å ha lest gjennom alle innslagene kan vi konkludere med at alle Valkyrier er beste valg. Alle Valkyrie eiere har valgt beste modell og fargekombinasjon.

Beste valg er en Honda Valkyrie F6C produsert mellom 1997 og 2003

In US language:
After reading all the contributions, we can conclude that all Valkyries is the best choice. All Valkyrie owners have chosen the best model and color combination.

Best choice is a Honda Valkyrie F6C produced between 1997 and 2003