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Tim H
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« on: September 10, 2011, 07:53:52 PM » |
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I'm not making a horse racing joke just because I'm in Derby City, but it does describe pretty well my jump in riding choices. I brought my Valk home tonight. 1998, 31k miles, $4800. Windshield, fiberglass removable bags, exhaust stacks, highway pegs, and lots of extras. I did the title transfer Monday, but it's been raining all week and I didn't want to bring it home in that. I ended up hauling it in a truck bed so I can get some practice behind it first in the neighborhood. I moved up from a Suzuki GZ250 to this one, so it's going to take a couple of days to get use to it. I'm in Louisville, KY and would be glad to ride along with anyone where I could work it into my weekends. I'm new to the Valkyrie. I wasn't even looking for one, but everywhere I researched the V-star, VTX, and Vulcan this thing just kept popping up. I thought you all can't be mad, so I made the plunge and found a bike nearby that fit my bill. Is there any thing that I need to know as a new Valkyrie owner? In-crowd movies to watch (not the Tom Cruise Valkyrie please, I can't watch that again), songs, dare I say books? I don't like to read on paper. I'm pretty excited to get riding and in turn meeting many of you.  |
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16468
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2011, 08:02:57 PM » |
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Nice Valkyrie you have there. I won't offer any advice except to learn the Fat Lady a little at a time, she isn't that 250 you used to ride. BTW, I'm not that far away, Frankfort, KY. Maybe we can ride the wind soon.
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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Tim H
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« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2011, 08:21:39 PM » |
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Nice Valkyrie you have there. I won't offer any advice except to learn the Fat Lady a little at a time, she isn't that 250 you used to ride. BTW, I'm not that far away, Frankfort, KY. Maybe we can ride the wind soon.
You're on! The bike came from Lawrenceburg. |
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Varmintmist
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« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2011, 08:24:34 PM » |
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They are really well behaved in tight turns and when she gets moving it is light to the touch.
Take it EASY. It will take off if you ride it like the little bike and you will see triple digits going through the gears like you did before, and you won't realize it.
It will not slow like the little bike. Cover the front brake, and come down HARD on it to get her woahed.
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However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.
Churchill
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Valkahuna
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« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2011, 08:31:54 PM » |
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Welcome! You've bought yourself a great bike there.  You've got the right idea about starting off slow on her. Take her to a big old empty parking lot, and learn braking, truning, slow speed maneuvers, emergency stops, etc. Better to find out there what she can, and can't do. It will be a big change from your 250, but you will love it. You also got to respect her as well.  |
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The key thing is to wake up breathing! All the rest can be fixed. (Except Stupid - You can't fix that)
2014 Indian Chieftain
2001 Valkyrie I/S
Proud to be a Vietnam Vet (US Air Force - SAC, 1967-1972)
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old2soon
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« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2011, 09:12:39 PM » |
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You sir have parked in your garage the reason we call em fat girls.  Starting out slow is a dang good idea.  Six times the displacement and what? 3 or 4 times as heavy as your 250. You will get used to it. 100 H P about the same torque. You will be amazed when you finally do ride her some and ask the same question i do. Where in the h3ll did the weight go when i let out the clutch?? Look over the tech board. A lot if not most of your ?s are already answered there. Welcome to the insanity.  You will like it here.  Lot of folks willing to share their knowledge to help you keep your Valkyrie running right for years to come. Again-welcome from the ozarks.  RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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X Ring
Member
Posts: 3626
VRCC #27389, VRCCDS #204
The Landmass Between Mobile And New Orleans
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« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2011, 06:07:56 AM » |
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Welcome to the madness. Here's some light reading for you. http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/Marty |
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People are more passionately opposed to wearing fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than bikers.  |
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Daniel Meyer
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Posts: 5493
Author. Adventurer. Electrician.
The State of confusion.
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« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2011, 06:15:05 AM » |
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Welcome! That's quite a jump in bikes! Sounds like you got a pretty good deal. As far as books...*cough*looks-at-link-in-my-signature-line*cough*  |
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CUAgain, Daniel Meyer  |
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slider
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« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2011, 06:22:05 AM » |
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welcome to the madness!!You have joined a great bunch of riders.Take it easy and learn to handles the fat girl...she will become part of your family.Heck Im sure I am not the only one that talks  to mine.LOL |
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a proud navy veteran
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Oss
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Posts: 12684
The lower Hudson Valley
Ossining NY Chapter Rep VRCCDS0141
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« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2011, 07:56:05 AM » |
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welcome and congrats on the new addition to your family
Only advise I can offer is learn to feather the rear brake when doing parking lot maneuvers and not the front as if the bars arent pointed straight ahead you will gain a new understanding of the power
of gravity.
Almost ten years and I still smile every time I think about riding the Valkyrie and still cant control the throttle when I hear or see a HOG up ahead.
Your harley riding friends may poke fun but if they get a ride they will shut up forever
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If you don't know where your going any road will take you there
George Harrison
When you come to the fork in the road, take it
Yogi Berra (Don't send it to me C.O.D.)
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YoungPUP
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« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2011, 08:33:27 AM » |
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Welcome to the nut house!!! |
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Yea though I ride through the valley of the Shadow of Death I shall fear no evil. For I ride the Baddest Mother F$#^er In that valley!
99 STD (Under construction)
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old2soon
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« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2011, 03:14:05 PM » |
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welcome and congrats on the new addition to your family
Only advise I can offer is learn to feather the rear brake when doing parking lot maneuvers and not the front as if the bars arent pointed straight ahead you will gain a new understanding of the power
of gravity.
Almost ten years and I still smile every time I think about riding the Valkyrie and still cant control the throttle when I hear or see a HOG up ahead.
Your harley riding friends may poke fun but if they get a ride they will shut up forever
You will absitively posalutely teach/show/remind your H/D buds that the fat girl is NOT to be made fun of. Course there are those that need to be reminded frequently. RIDE SAFE. |
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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scoobydoo
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« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2011, 06:35:40 PM » |
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Welcome, you're in for a lot of fun. I'm 2 hrs west in Indiana if ya ever head my way look me up. Going to miss a good ride Oct. 8
Scoobydoo
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Big IV
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« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2011, 07:09:19 PM » |
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welcome aboard the board. Enjoy
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"Ride Free Citizen!"
VRCCDS0176
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highcountry
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« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2011, 08:51:30 PM » |
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Congrats on your new girl. And welcome aboard!
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Tim H
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« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2011, 06:31:11 PM » |
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Here's the fat lady tonight... limping along. Front tire is off for valve stem replacement tomorrow. The tread is low enough for me to think about my options, but for now I'm just going to get her riding again.  |
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16468
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #16 on: September 18, 2011, 03:46:03 AM » |
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Tim, Great meeting with you yesterday. After our breakfast, (thanks for catching the bill) and spending time in the parking lot gawking at each other's Valkyries, I've got to say you've got a nice looking ride there. Not as pretty as mine but, that's OK.  Short ride together, you'll notice I let you take the lead. After observing you on the bike, I doubt you'll have any issues. You seem to have adapted to the bigger Valkyrie very easily. Didn't see you do anything silly. Looking forward to riding with you again. Next time I'll buy.  |
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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Tim H
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« Reply #17 on: September 18, 2011, 07:05:29 PM » |
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Great hanging out with a fellow Valk owner. You've given me some ideas of things I may do to my bike one of these days. I just have to land a real job and have a slight bit more security. It was a leap to get this bike in the first place when I could have spent the money on a car, but I don't regret it.
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16468
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #18 on: September 18, 2011, 07:10:55 PM » |
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Great hanging out with a fellow Valk owner. You've given me some ideas of things I may do to my bike one of these days. I just have to land a real job and have a slight bit more security. It was a leap to get this bike in the first place when I could have spent the money on a car, but I don't regret it.
Do you think the lady in the Harley Edition Ford was coming back, she said she'd blow me away, that's why I stepped back. Though she was grinning, you never know what she was packing. I might have pushed the wrong button when I replied to her, "I'll bet you wish you had a twin." With Nah, I carry a tow rope so I can pull'm back in.  She was grinning wasn't she? |
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« Last Edit: September 19, 2011, 03:07:00 AM by blackrams »
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008
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« Reply #19 on: September 18, 2011, 09:39:44 PM » |
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I was riding a 95 yamaha XT600 before stepping up to the lady. I bought mine in Houston and had to take I-45 north and the Beltway 8 home the very first time I rode it. I was white knuckled and so up tight that you couldn't drove a 10 penny nail in my rearend with a 10lb. hammer. Now 9 years later and over a 100k I'll drive her anywhere anytime, and after all this time I still have a grinn on my face. Welcome to the club take a little time to learn her manners and enjoy your fatlady.
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16468
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #20 on: September 19, 2011, 03:10:18 AM » |
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After riding with Tim for a short time and speaking with him for a while, I have no doubt he'll be just fine as long as no cagers decide to occupy the same space as he is in. But, that's true for all of us. |
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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