new to me interstate.

[kerncop]

I just bought. A 99 valkyrie interstate.  The mechanic looked at it changed the oil and rear breaks and said nothing else is wrong. I was getting on the freeway today and BAM the bike seemed like it was in neutral and refer to 6000 . I don't know what the hell that was. I came from riding. Hayabusas to this and everything is strange, the sounds rattles and clunks of the gears. Any ideas? Or am I just too new on the dragon.

[gordonv]

Might be the yoke that snapped.

Personally, I like to do my own work. Save my money for other things, like long trips and hotels, so I can ride more.

I would remove the rear wheel and check it out. Even if it is not the usual drive items, it might be the trans, and you need to do it anyways, along with the lubing of the rear splines.

I'm sure others will have a better idea of what it is, or questions to ask and clarify the problem.

[AussieValk]

Did it just jump out of gear? Had that happen once when I hadn't shifted 'properly'. Clunking while engaging gears is pretty normal too. You didn't say whether your ride ended after the "BAM" or not.

[valkyriemc]

Shift with determination. Preloading shifter helps. I also ride a busa_'08, and you can't compare sportbike shifting re sounds, force, and lever travel etc., to changing gears on a heavy cruiser. More info would help.

[ricoman]

Valks do have there own noises. Gears do whine and every shift will not be butter smooth.
Maybe a fellow Valker could ride it -he'll probably say the sounds are normal.
Took me a while, on my first one, to get used to it. Second one, I heard nothing I hadn't heard before.
Good advice from Gordon-lube the splines and it would be a good idea to change all fluids (brakes, clutch, coolant, trans, final drive and blinker). Check/maintain tire pressure often-this is usually not paid attention too.
Please do not start a "what's the best oil/lube" thread! Do a search and you'll see why.
Ride as often as you can-get to know her.

[kerncop]

Thanks to all. This is a big change going from a Super bike to this....After the BAM and 6000 rev, I continued home. It just took me by surprise while I was getting on the freeway. Many new noises to get used to. As to working on the bike myself....I would love to but I can take anything apart just can't put it back togeather again    I hope it was just somthing simple like not a complete shift...As always thank you all

[gordonv]

I didn't really understand your first post, but by others reply, and then reading it again, it seems that it just poped out of gear.

Like mentioned, you need to do a solid shift. After a while, it will be second nature and you won't have to do it with as much force.

[PhredValk]

If you don't get into second nice and solid, it will jump back to neutral. Of course it will rev up because you're on the throttle. It happens to me all the time.

As for the noises, only the Interstate comes with a special tool to get rid of them. Turn up the stereo!

You are going to love that bike...
Fred.

[kerncop]

Another question since this bike is new to me. The bike feels sluggish....Is this due to it not being my super bike????  In the mornings it starts fine but when i drive away it is very sluggish and on the freeway arounf 70 it feels like there is hesitation. It was suggested to do a tune up and adjust the valves for 500.00 No cash right now I just bought the damn thing.....

I am planning my commute home 220 miles each way and do not want to be stranded..Any thoughts??

[Ferris Leets]

First a little correction---what you have now is a Super Bike.  The Hayabusa is a sport bike.
      If you are in 5th at 70 you are not going to get gut wrenching acceleration.  Drop down to 3rd for that. 
      Welcome to the group.  I got my '99 IS about 2 years ago and it just gets better the more I ride it.  You now have the correct tool for a 220 mile commute.  Enjoy and shift firmly, not hard just firmly and all of the way up.

[ricoman]

Another question since this bike is new to me. The bike feels sluggish....Is this due to it not being my super bike????  In the mornings it starts fine but when i drive away it is very sluggish and on the freeway arounf 70 it feels like there is hesitation. It was suggested to do a tune up and adjust the valves for 500.00 No cash right now I just bought the damn thing.....

I am planning my commute home 220 miles each way and do not want to be stranded..Any thoughts??

Ferris is right-just ride her.
Try to note the rpm where you feel the slugishness. My guess between 2600 and 3100-just coming off the slow jets. Run some seafoam, techron, etc. through a tank of gas. keep the rpm's from being constant. work through 2500 to 4000, gets the gas through slows and mains. Any acceleration below 3000 is modest-but hang on above that.

[2qmedic]

Yep, kinda sounds like it slipped out of gear on 1st inpression.

BTW - Welcome to the greatest Cruizer in the world!!!
   
O-Yea...

[Steve K (IA)]

Another question since this bike is new to me. The bike feels sluggish....Is this due to it not being my super bike????  In the mornings it starts fine but when i drive away it is very sluggish and on the freeway arounf 70 it feels like there is hesitation. It was suggested to do a tune up and adjust the valves for 500.00 No cash right now I just bought the damn thing.....

I am planning my commute home 220 miles each way and do not want to be stranded..Any thoughts??

$500. for a tune-up?  Change the spark plugs, use the correct NGK plugs.  Get a bottle of Techron or SeaFoam and dump into the gas tank.  Go for a 5 mile ride, come home and park it for the night...your letting the carb cleaner do it's thing.  Take it out for another ride and see if it hasn't improved.
The valves...if you are the least mechanically inclined, you can do this.  Look on this site for the instructions or get your hands on the service manual.  Or...there might be someone close enough to you who may be able to help out with the valve adjustment.
Here is a link to valve adjustment. http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/carlvalve.htm

[old2soon]

Got my i/s not quite a year ago. They make some noises that you WILL get used to. The shifting can be clunky-get some decent gear whine out of em-and when they run-they run. I go right at 220 lbs and my daughter goes right at 135 lbs. In a traffic situation we came to almost a complete stop. When it sorted out-we were in the front of the mess. I eased out the clutch in first and just got er rollin. Hit 2d and grabbed a big handful(no clutch dump)the front end came up. I have had the front end come up runnin single also. These are extremely fine motorcycles. Ride it like ya stole it. If you can take stuff apart-your half way there. Pay attention and learn how stuff goes back together. Dealers in most circumstances charge way to much and far to often get it WRONG. There are a lot of folks on this board that are willing and in a lot of cases happy to help. Go to your local or state board. Help could be just around the corner. Becuz of this board i did all the required service myself. Including changing out the timing belts. B T W welcome to the insanity. Ya got a problemo-all ya gotta do here is ask. RIDE SAFE.

[gordonv]

The concenses on this site is you never have to changer your plugs on a Valk. Unless you have a bad one, they don't wear.

Doesn't hurt at the start of your riding time, to dump 1/2 a bottle of some carb clean in the tank, and drive it at different speeds (city driving), then maybe just buy your gas at Chevron for the Techron additive. IF there is some clogged slow jets, this should help. May even have to do it a second time.

Valve lash should be easy. I used to do it on my old VW bettle when I was 16. The gaskets are reusable, but maybe buy a spare set for when they do brake, and someone mentioned some "caulking" for the corners. Might even want to get a set or two for the valve cover bolts seals, and don't over tighten.

Since you are a new owner, 2 other things to consider. But first, search is your friend. So use your friend and look up the following two issues.

Timing belt and rear end lubrication. The rear should be easy, and if you don't know when it was done, you should do it now, not later, and check your u-joint. The GL1500 engine is an interferance engine, and if the belt goes, so does you motor. Belts will cost you less than $100 for a pair, and your time.

[X Ring]

Timing belt and rear end lubrication. The rear should be easy, and if you don't know when it was done, you should do it now, not later, and check your u-joint. The GL1500 engine is an interferance engine, and if the belt goes, so does you motor. Belts will cost you less than $100 for a pair, and your time.

If you go to Rock Auto they'll cost you less than $50.

Marty

[kerncop]

Thank you everyone for the great info. I will be taking my first long trip thursday. I took you advise and added a little sea foam to the tank and I will again at fill up. I have to find out why the rear speakers are not working but other than that I will be planning the rear lube and belt change in the near future. Thank you again...

love the bike and the group

[Jess Tolbirt]

Our interstates didnt come with rear speakers, they were an option,, there may not be any in there,, they are easy to get to if they are there to check the connections,,,just a phillips screwdriver,,,
the radio connection in in the right side cover,,,

[Steve K (IA)]

Thank you everyone for the great info. I will be taking my first long trip thursday. I took you advise and added a little sea foam to the tank and I will again at fill up. I have to find out why the rear speakers are not working but other than that I will be planning the rear lube and belt change in the near future. Thank you again...

love the bike and the group

I'm laughing as I type this.   Are you sure there are speakers in there?  I ask because when I bought mine new in 2000, I couldn't figure out why I couldn't hear the rear speakers.  Went back to the dealer to find out that they didn't come with rear speakers.....WHAT?     You would think when you pay that much for a bike rear speakers would be standard.   

[gordonv]

There are 2 very easy ways to check.

Easiest, look for the wire behind the passenger going up under the back rest pad.

A little hard, but just as easy (if you use a flash light), look through the holes in the rear pods. If you see speakers, then you have them. If you can't tell, then you don't. I was able to look with out a flash light and confirm.

Like already mentioned, they are not a stock item, but an option. The pods are stock.

[PhredValk]

If she has the original valve stems on the wheels, change them out for steel choromed stems at your earliest convenience. I'm told they are the most dangerous parts on the bike.
Fred.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

If you do find rear speakers in the trunk already. There is a front to back fader adj. in the controls someone may have turned it to all on the front speakers.

[kerncop]

The bike does have rear speakers, ( I looked and the other owner told me they worked) I adjusted the fader to the rear but no sound. The other owner stated he removed a bettery tender prior to sale and might have done something. All I know is they do not work and when I had the bike checked out they could not find the proble. I will be removing the seat when I get home this weekend. I need to hot wire a Gerbing jacket temp control. I hope I can fine the problem....

Thanks all...

[gordonv]

Can then only suggest to insure all connections are plugged in. Mine didn't have the rear speakers, but I think they start at the radio and the wire goes down the RH side of the bike to the trunk.

[toetruck21]

I had rear speakers in mine that did not work also.  I took the front speaker and plugged it into the rear speaker wires and the speaker worked.  The rear speakers that had come with the bike were so shot that they could no longer even produce static.  Just because you see the speaker doesn't mean that speaker is going to work.  If the front ones work, try plugging one into the rear slot.  If it no longer works in back then start tracing the wires to the problem.