Noob question: What does this do?

[tmfp]

Hi from a new owner in England. I have been enjoying riding my new standard 1997, dated 6/96 on the label.
I met another Valk for the first time at a seaside bike night and the owner was poking around my engine, then stopped and pointed with his finger.
"Why have you got one of them and I haven't, just blanks on the engine? What does the pipe do?"
I got 0/2 in this quiz, I'm sure you guys can beat me.




 

[John Schmidt]

It's part of the PAIR valve system that injects air into the exhaust stream. Helps with emissions, among other things. If the other rider doesn't have them, it's because his bike has been "desmogged" by removing that bit of plumbing and the associated parts on top of the engine. Doesn't hurt anything to remove it, and doesn't really improve anything except get rid of a bunch of vacuum lines. In doing so, you're getting rid of a future problem by removing the vacuum lines...they tend to crack causing vac. leaks that in turn affects the engine operation. When removing those lines in the pictures, we cover that hole with a small freeze plug. There's two on each side on top of the engine, front and rear, and one underneath in the center.

[tank_post142]

hit the shoptalk section of the site you'll love it!
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

[Farther]

Your friends Valkyrie is one designed for the Euro market and yours is a USA bike.  I think your friends bike has a throttle position senser on it and your does not.  If you start to have some issues with vacuum leaks, then you have the choise of making repairs to the system or removing it according to the shoptalk article referenced above.

[tmfp]

Awesome response gents, thanks very much.
Mine is indeed a recent import from Colorado, and his European. His aren't blanked off though, slightly  different engine moulding?
I'll keep them till they play up, quite like the look, classic weird Honda touch.

Pushing my luck and completely ignoring the Search Function, would you point me in the right direction for "Why Early Valks are Faster" threads, as I've just pulled 6500 in top, 140-145 mph and felt like it.
Going to do a couple of gentle 1/4 miles against my friend's hopped up Sporty next month.
I love this bike.

[redflash]

You'll only need "gentle" to  chastise that Sporty

[tmfp]

Thanks, I have read that I should expect a bit of popping and gurgling on the overrun which I'm getting, so does that mean the vacuum system is working as it should? I don't dislike the sound.
If I tap the right hand muffler, there is a rattling sound inside of something loose, and I think the bike has got a bit louder. Is this common?

[Ricky-D]

I feel that "over-running" is not a normal occurrence and is usually a sign that the carburetors are out of sync.

***

[John Schmidt]

Boy, did I ever miss that one. Read Farther's note and the reference to the European bike so went back and read your original post. There it was in black and white. Oh well, never said I was perfect....well, maybe once or twice. But I was under 30 at the time.