Hard to find?

[BIG--T]

I have read post saying they were having trouble finding U joints. I was just wondering what other parts are hard to come by, that way I can buy some spares.

Thanks

[Willow]

XGuy, you're going to worry yourself to death with this bike.  My best advice to you, and I say this with kindness, is to sell the Valkyrie and replace it with something that will cause you less mental anguish.    

To answer your question, the U-joints are not "hard to find".  Honda lost their manufacturer of the Valkyrie (and some Gold Wing) U-joints and took much longer than they should have to find and engage a replacement manufacturer.  They are in production now and in a short time will be readily available.

During the backorder period there were hundreds of us sitting on spare U-joints.  There's no reason any VRCC member should have had to have his bike down waiting for a U-joint.

There's no reason to stockpile for fear of not being able to get a part, but there are several parts that some of us keep as spares just because we want to have them when we, or one of our friends, needs them.  For me that list includes U-joints, wheel bearings, brake pads, clutch levers, an alternator, a final drive, and a number of small items.

[Jess Tolbirt]

the only spare part i have for my bike is,,well shoot my mind went blank,,o yea,,oil and filter,,,thats it..

will hit 100 thousand this summer,,,when it breaks i will find something to fix what ever breaks,,,in the mean time Bev and I just ride,,,,if it quits on the road i will rent a uhaul van,,load it up and take it home and fix it,,,,,

[BIG--T]

XGuy, you're going to worry yourself to death with this bike.  My best advice to you, and I say this with kindness, is to sell the Valkyrie and replace it with something that will cause you less mental anguish.    

To answer your question, the U-joints are not "hard to find".  Honda lost their manufacturer of the Valkyrie (and some Gold Wing) U-joints and took much longer than they should have to find and engage a replacement manufacturer.  They are in production now and in a short time will be readily available.

During the backorder period there were hundreds of us sitting on spare U-joints.  There's no reason any VRCC member should have had to have his bike down waiting for a U-joint.

There's no reason to stockpile for fear of not being able to get a part, but there are several parts that some of us keep as spares just because we want to have them when we, or one of our friends, needs them.  For me that list includes U-joints, wheel bearings, brake pads, clutch levers, an alternator, a final drive, and a number of small items.

Thanks for the kind words but I do not "worry" but was just concerned about parts as I've read many that were inquiring about them. As the administrator, I'm sure you've read more posts than I have  about this subject. Back in the day before the internet, I had an old 75 850 Norton Commando that I loved just like my Valkyrie and parts became harder to find and finally obsolete and had to sell her. I just want to insure history doesn't repeat itself

Thanks for that last paragraph as you answered my question. As far as my other posts, I've learned a lot from the nice folks on this forum and hope I can also help other people when I learn. Over the 40+ years I've been riding I have owned a lot of bikes from one cylinder to 4 cyls. and now 6 cylinders! I always love to be different that's one reason I bought the Valkyrie, same as the Norton both are and were unique. Also some HD guys hate them mostly because I can blow their  sidecovers off! No, I love my fat mamma

[BIG--T]

the only spare part i have for my bike is,,well shoot my mind went blank,,o yea,,oil and filter,,,thats it..

will hit 100 thousand this summer,,,when it breaks i will find something to fix what ever breaks,,,in the mean time Bev and I just ride,,,,if it quits on the road i will rent a uhaul van,,load it up and take it home and fix it,,,,,

I didn't think Hondas broke down! Congrats on the 100K!! That means, let's see, I've got 90K to catch up with you

[RainMaker]

I'll bet you wish you still had that Norton - those were indeed classic.  I'm slowly (like in very slowly) rebuilding my CL350-Four as I find the parts.  It's in sad shape but I'll get there.

Glad you're sticking with the Valkyrie.  I'd ride my 12 year old Interstate anywhere - it just keeps going.

RainMaker

[BIG--T]

I'll bet you wish you still had that Norton - those were indeed classic.  I'm slowly (like in very slowly) rebuilding my CL350-Four as I find the parts.  It's in sad shape but I'll get there.

Glad you're sticking with the Valkyrie.  I'd ride my 12 year old Interstate anywhere - it just keeps going.

RainMaker

Rainmaker you sure are right about my old Noron, black with fancy gold letters...yep wished I'd never sold her! If I only knew there would be an internet one day i'd still have it! Now parts can be found pretty easy and probably with your 350-4 also. As far as the Valk, she ain't going no where! In my reply to Jess i made a mistake, I have 91,000 to go to catch up! She is definetly unique and beautiful in my eyes. Everywhere I go I get compliments on her - like today I went to 2 bike shops and was a crowd gathered around mine. The funny part is the hard core HD dudes were looking and pretending they weren't!

[PAVALKER]

XGuy, you're going to worry yourself to death with this bike.  My best advice to you, and I say this with kindness, is to sell the Valkyrie and replace it with something that will cause you less mental anguish.    

To answer your question, the U-joints are not "hard to find".  Honda lost their manufacturer of the Valkyrie (and some Gold Wing) U-joints and took much longer than they should have to find and engage a replacement manufacturer.  They are in production now and in a short time will be readily available.

During the backorder period there were hundreds of us sitting on spare U-joints.  There's no reason any VRCC member should have had to have his bike down waiting for a U-joint.

There's no reason to stockpile for fear of not being able to get a part, but there are several parts that some of us keep as spares just because we want to have them when we, or one of our friends, needs them.  For me that list includes U-joints, wheel bearings, brake pads, clutch levers, an alternator, a final drive, and a number of small items.

Now I know who to go to for some spare stuff I don't have.... LOL   

But.... Why the clutch levers????  I replaced mine with Wide Chrome Wing levers... more comfy.  I guess I have a spare set of levers now too.

[JimC]

XGUY

You answered your own question.

With the internet, we have access to the parts off of bikes that are being stripped 2,000 miles away.  Years ago, those parts would have been unobtainable, today they are at our fingertips.

I would also still have my 1st bike,  a 1968 BSA,  if the internet was around when the motor blew in the late 70's.  I still have a 77 wing, and the parts are everywhere for that bike. All of the old wings that were sitting in the corner of a garage seem to be getting stripped down and the parts offered for sale now.

With the internet, I think there will always be Valkyrie parts to be had, but with that said, I am keeping my eye out for an extra rear end, they may get hard to find years (decades) down the road.

Jim

[Willow]

But.... Why the clutch levers????  I replaced mine with Wide Chrome Wing levers... more comfy.  I guess I have a spare set of levers now too.

I also ride with chromed wide levers.  I had one disintegrate on me 60 miles from home (work).  It was an interesting ride back that evening.  I can live without a brake lever, but no clutch lever creates a challenge.

It doesn't take up much room.    

[Tropic traveler]

I have built up a small stash of new & used Valk parts myself. I don't "worry" about the availability of parts for our old, obsolete choice of motorcycle but I have been pro-active for a couple of reasons.
We have 3 Valks in our fleet so it's a factor of 3 for me with maintenence parts. We ride our Valks a lot & don't like down time. Even at best it's a week to get some parts for the Valk from Honda. Good thing the Valk is so anvil solid!  
I have been in auto parts for 35+ years so chasing down parts is second nature to me.
So far I have a variety of new switches, cables, caliper rebuild kits, hoses, t-stat, kickstand parts along with at least 10 oil filters in the stash. Just bought a nice used {20K} rear end & have 2 sets of stock Valk exhaust just in case the noise police ever come to Florida. Have a brand new rear drive hub that I didn't even need to use on my '97 at 100K miles. If I never use these parts & get rid of the Valks I'm sure I'll have no problem getting my $$ back on the parts stash.
Worry about parts availability for the Valk... No.    Plan ahead a bit... Yes.
Just my conservative nature I guess.

[PAVALKER]

But.... Why the clutch levers????  I replaced mine with Wide Chrome Wing levers... more comfy.  I guess I have a spare set of levers now too.

I also ride with chromed wide levers.  I had one disintegrate on me 60 miles from home (work).  It was an interesting ride back that evening.  I can live without a brake lever, but no clutch lever creates a challenge.

It doesn't take up much room.    

Tip taken.....   

[BIG--T]

XGUY

You answered your own question.

With the internet, we have access to the parts off of bikes that are being stripped 2,000 miles away.  Years ago, those parts would have been unobtainable, today they are at our fingertips.

I would also still have my 1st bike,  a 1968 BSA,  if the internet was around when the motor blew in the late 70's.  I still have a 77 wing, and the parts are everywhere for that bike. All of the old wings that were sitting in the corner of a garage seem to be getting stripped down and the parts offered for sale now.

With the internet, I think there will always be Valkyrie parts to be had, but with that said, I am keeping my eye out for an extra rear end, they may get hard to find years (decades) down the road.

Jim

Jim when you say I answered my own question, not really. I have been to many big well known websites and for Valkyrie parts and  would say something like 'this item has been discontinued and no longer available'.
I loved those BSAs, my friend had a 650 lighting I used to ride  as a kid and she was fast then! You mentioned your wing, I don't think parts would be hard to find since they made so many over the years.

[Walküre]

Thanks for the kind words but I do not "worry" but was just concerned about parts as I've read many that were inquiring about them. As the administrator, I'm sure you've read more posts than I have  about this subject. Back in the day before the internet, I had an old 75 850 Norton Commando that I loved just like my Valkyrie and parts became harder to find and finally obsolete and had to sell her. I just want to insure history doesn't repeat itself

Whatever you stock-pile, the part you need will be the one you don't!! Murphy's Law comes into play with the Valk, just like anything else. Best bet is to buy a couple more Valk's, one for parts, and one to ride, while changing the parts around!

I DO wish that it was easier to find a parts bike - seems the Pinwalls, and other bike recycle places, have it all wrapped up with the insurance companies, so that it's hard to find a wrecked one. I've looked a bit. And I'm not about to go out and wreck mine, just to have one...  

I don't have any spare parts, and about the only think I would like to have is a complete rear end. Seems that is the main part that can get pretty boogered up, rather quickly. Not that I'd neglect mine, but again, Murphy is lurking in the shadows...

[MP]

Jim when you say I answered my own question, not really. I have been to many big well known websites and for Valkyrie parts and  would say something like 'this item has been discontinued and no longer available'.

[/quote]

I believe that when you get that, you are looking at new, either OEM or aftermarket add-on parts.  Those will continue to get harder and harder to find, as they have quit making them.

They do not stop you from using the Valk though.  The running gear parts are pretty available.  In fact, the only OEM part that I know of that is unavailable at this moment is the U-joint, and it WILL be coming.  With all the Goldwings that use that same u-joint, they will be made.

MP

[BIG--T]

Thanks for the kind words but I do not "worry" but was just concerned about parts as I've read many that were inquiring about them. As the administrator, I'm sure you've read more posts than I have  about this subject. Back in the day before the internet, I had an old 75 850 Norton Commando that I loved just like my Valkyrie and parts became harder to find and finally obsolete and had to sell her. I just want to insure history doesn't repeat itself

Whatever you stock-pile, the part you need will be the one you don't!! Murphy's Law comes into play with the Valk, just like anything else. Best bet is to buy a couple more Valk's, one for parts, and one to ride, while changing the parts around!

I DO wish that it was easier to find a parts bike - seems the Pinwalls, and other bike recycle places, have it all wrapped up with the insurance companies, so that it's hard to find a wrecked one. I've looked a bit. And I'm not about to go out and wreck mine, just to have one...  

I don't have any spare parts, and about the only think I would like to have is a complete rear end. Seems that is the main part that can get pretty boogered up, rather quickly. Not that I'd neglect mine, but again, Murphy is lurking in the shadows...

You are right about stock piling and not having what you need and that would be just my luck! Lol Good point about getting a parts bike if at all possible. I found with cars/trucks you always come out better to buy the vehicle rather than buying a couple of parts off it- if you can but it cheap enough. But on the other hand finding a Valk wrecked or blown is probably slim to none. Most are wise about the parts situation and would capitalize on it and then there's the insurance companies that sell to salvage dealers..Sooo, I'm just going to ride, ride and ride somemore and ain't gonna worry about it til it tears up and I'll fix it or sell parts  I can afford to wait on parts if I have to since that's not my only scoot

[BIG--T]

MP you are right,  it's the OEM and aftermarket parts.