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[popsix]

a Valkyrie owner, that is... finally!

Hi, all. First post.

Been lurking here a while and at the same time looking for a Valk I could afford to buy. Finally found a somewhat neglected 97 Standard. She's fairly rough around the edges but I hope you guys will encourage me to fix her up to the condition she deserves.

Anyway, here's the obligatory pic. Looks a lot better in the dark! 





Pop

[Gangman036]

You have come to the right place!!! These people have inspired me to become my own mechanic with professional advise from all corners of the world ! I am now doing things that I use to pay huge sums of money for other to do for me as far as mechanical work goes.
The rest that you'll find here is usually good humor and prayers when you need them. Discovering this site has been a great blessing for me. Thanks to all !!!

Hint........specific questions get a more qualified answer as well as offers of help from those close to you.

[Gear Jammer]

Welcome to our corner of the insanity    You're gonna like it here.  Fix her up, and then take some daylight pics 

[Michvalk]

WE can tell you stuff about your Valk you don't even want to know. Welcome to the board, and the nuthouse

[Red Diamond]

When I wanted another Valkyrie, I purchased what I thought was a neglected 2K Tourer. It does not look neglect anymore, little time and elbow grease, with help from the board. You'll do just fine and enjoy.

[old2soon]

popsix-looks better in the dark. I have from time to time awakened with some female company that looked a lot rough in the dark. The big difference is-the bike can be made to look lots better. Welcome to the asylum.   And please do feed the inmates from time to time. Cookies and beer and good whiskey go a LOOONNGG way here. Lot of knowledge here. These folks on this board have been there and done that and will be happy to help you do the same. Do Not be afraid to do some research before asking the question. Again-welcome to the insanity and RIDE SAFE.

[olddog1946]

There ain't no ugly black Valks....come to think of it any ugly Valks at all..Welcome aboard, fix her up the way you like her and ride her hard..

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Welcome to the insanity 

[F6Mark]

Welcome!  Of course we will encourage you to do all kinds of stuff to your Valk when needed and sometimes just for the hell of it.
Of course it is a shame you couldn't get a red/black like Red Diamond and I but your Valk looks perfectly fine.
Mark in College Park, MD

[Fudd]

Get on it bro.....every minute you spend shinning on it will pay off the very 1st time you see a crowd gawking over it at some bike nite.

[Tropic traveler]

Congrats & welcome to the cult!  

I have no doubt that you will get her fixed up in no time at all. Valks clean up very well.
I had my own neglected Valk fixer-upper too. Bought this '99 Standard for $2K last year. Ran great mechanically sound but nasty & not well loved at all. 46,000 miles.


Had intentions of a quick clean up & a de-rednecking of the Valk to flip it for some extra cash. Bad timing I guess as all I got were tire kickers looking at it. Anyways It's an extra now as we already have 2 other Valks but I continued to add things to it.


Now it's a faux-Tourer & we have no intentions of selling it anytime soon.

You will enjoy the process of fixing up your Valk & making it your own. I know I have enjoyed all 3 of ours. We will be here all the way for you!  
More pics & details please!    

[Dogg]

welcome to the neighborhood...

[popsix]

Thanks, guys. Y'all are awesome. Actually, Ive already picked up quite a few pointers reading some other threads. One even gave me a bit of relief. I was getting a little oil smoke at start-up but from what I've been reading here, there's a little too much oil in the crankcase. I'm going to drain some out and see if that cures it.

Good grief, Dogg... 2K? Don't you know theft is against the law?        No way could I find any kind of Valkyrie around here for that. Most everything I looked at was 6K and up. I'd be embarrassed  to tell you what I gave for mine.

Well, first things first... I've got a good service manual on the way and I'll be putting it to good use ASAP. The odometer shows less than 25K and the PO said it's correct. But the bike doesn't look that young, if you get the idea. Weepy fork seals, a lot of corrosion everywhere and I've seen factory paint on 100,000+-mile bikes that looked a lot better.
Anyway, this is what I like to do - I enjoy resurrecting old neglected bikes. Just never done it with a Valkyrie. Leave 'em better than you found 'em, right? Of course I'm expecting that getting to ride such a great bike any time I want will be worth the trouble.

Pop

[da prez]

  The service manual is an excellent way to start , but the tech board is much better for the proven procedure. WELCOME HOME.
                                                   da prez

[Fudd]

I got you a present.

It's the entire service manual on pdf, courtesy of Dagg in Norway.

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

[popsix]

I got you a present.

It's the entire service manual on pdf, courtesy of Dagg in Norway.

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

Oh, man! Thanks, Fudd! You shouldn't have! Anyway, that will sure get me started!

Now I gotta check out the tech board that da prez mentioned. So much to do, so little time.

Thanks!


Pop

[BF]

At the top of this page (and on every page come to think of it  ), there's a tab called "Shoptalk".    Tons of valuable info there.  Also, check out Rattlebars.  He's retired and isn't making anything for the Valk any longer, but there's tons of info on his site as well. 

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/valkyrie.html

Just open up the drop-down menu at the top of his page and you'll find you've struck gold.  You might want to open up and book mark all of that valuable stuff there before it dissappears (hint hint  ). 

Here's a few other links with some good stuff.....

http://www.valkyrieguy.com/

http://www.timskelton.com/valkyrie/how_to/index.htm

http://www.timskelton.com/valkyrie/how_to/index.htm

http://www.timskelton.com/valkyrie/valk_links.htm

http://www.virtualbiker.com/valkyrie/

http://www.bigbf.com/

Those are just a few and should get you started.  Have fun......and welcome.   

[popsix]

Thanks, BF. That's enough reading material to last me a long time, I'm sure. I appreciate it.

Pop

[popsix]

OK, so Gear Jammer asked for daylight pics. No gots. But I did get a chance to snap a couple twilight ones. I've been rubbin' on 'er, but she ain't ready for full daylight yet. 

[fon1961]

bike's looking great!

[Fudd]

Nice bike!

I see you've learned one of the tricks to divert people from noticing the rough edges.  You put the bike in a gorgeous senic location for the photograph.


Here is the other way to "hide" the bikes blemishes.

[YoungPUP]

If thats what you consider rough.....

[popsix]

Hey, Fudd, I think I prefer your technique. Hubba-hubba.



Seriously, PUP, if you saw my bike in person you would change the subject. I think I'll take some close-ups tomorrow so I can maybe do a before/after later on. Stay tuned -you'll see what I'm talking about.



Pop

[Garfield]

So is this Valk related? I don't see one in the pic.

[F6Mark]

So is this Valk related? I don't see one in the pic.

Popsix, you'll find this sort of thing happening whenever you are out and about on the Valk. 

[popsix]

Popsix, you'll find this sort of thing happening whenever you are out and about on the Valk. 

Oh, my.   ???    Mrs. Pop ain't gonna be too keen with that. She's a good old girl and all, if a little on the possessive side. I may have to change my strategy here - maybe turn the thing into a rat bike. Hey! I'm already halfway there! 


BTW, Fudd... is that your Valk? I've always admired that paint scheme. It really pops on a Valkyrie. 

[popsix]

Hey, guys, I need a little windshield advice. See, the PO left these brackets on the bike but he had disposed of the shield and everything else that went with it. 



I assume they're Hondaline. Question is whether you would try to find the rest of the bits needed to put on a Clearview or similar, or start over completely from scratch with a Rifle SS or something. Ideas?

[BF]

Nothing beats mother Honda's shield for protection.  It's the best there is.  If I were you, I'd find another Honda shield.  

Those mounts are the original Honda mounts for the original Hondaline windshield.  A "Tourer" windshiled is the exact same only with the word "tourer" on the front.  

If you can find a shield here or on ebay or somewhere, all you have to do is order the bolts/washers to attach it with.  

Even if you get an old worn out shield, as long as you have the windshield's chrome parts and gasket, you can replace it with a ClearView, Cee Bailey's or F4 Customs shield.  They're all a direct replacement for the Honda hardware.  

 

[Tropic traveler]

Ditto what BF said, the OE style is the best!
If I were you I would be getting back with the p.o. double checking as to the whereabouts of the OE shield! I got lucky when adding the w/s to the '99. One of our local Valkers {Bert} was adding a Harley style fairing to his Valk & sold me the OE for a very fair price. The clear part needed replacing but that was easy to find, the bracketry is the bugger. I have right at $350 in the whole set up including the new "glass".
You have a head start with the fork brackets already there. Scour E-bay & any other online sources for a shield off a wrecked bike then just buy a new clear shield.  
You're on your way!

[fon1961]

So is this Valk related? I don't see one in the pic.

Popsix, you'll find this sort of thing happening whenever you are out and about on the Valk. 

PROMISE?!

[popsix]

Thanks, BF and Traveler. Seems like good advice. I have read that the Hondaline shield gives excellent protection and I also like the look of it. I'll just have to be patient - not something I'm particularly good at.