I guess it's time....

tonyfan70

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Posts: 295

Apparently they know you?

Central Illinois

I guess it's time....

« on: February 12, 2012, 09:46:21 AM »

for me to introduce myself.

My name is John. I bought my 97 standard 2 years ago from a relative. My cousin Roy bought the bike brand new. He saw the article about "Hondas 100 hp rocket" in one of his magazines and immediately went to his local WI Honda dealer and ordered a bumblebee. I recall him saying his was the first bumblebee in the state of Wisconsin. He rode it a while and then sold it to his son in law in Idaho. Regretting that decision as soon as he made it, he purchased another. Like has been posted on here numerous times, he said the 2nd bike was not as quick or powerful as the 97.

Fast forward to 2 years ago. While on a sled trip, I asked Roy if he was interested in selling his Valk, which was bike #2. He told me he sold it already and I sighed. He asked how bad I wanted one and I told him "pretty bad". He let me know his son in law Matt was selling the 97 for a Victory Cross Tour fund. I immediately worked out the details for purchase and after a semi ride from Boise, the bike arrived at the trucking firm I work for in Illinois.

Matt had purchased a complete set of tins for the bike and painted them. He owns a well known body shop in Boise and they look great. So as the bike arrived, it was purple with chrome side covers and a purple batwing. I refer to my Valk in this guise as the "Flying Purple Harley Eater".

Much to my joy, he also shipped me the following....

The oe bumblebee tank, front and rear fenders
A hondaline clear windshield
Purple side cover set
Extra fork lower protectors
Clear short shield for the batwing
oe exhaust tips
oe turn signals
oe carb covers
2nd passenger seat and backrest
oe trigger wheel
round highway pegs
set of oe tank emblems
oe mirrors
a round tube light bar with spots
Haynes Manual
and a few other parts. cooldude

So as the bike sits I have it purple with the tinted shield on the batwing. I love the look and sound of the Cobra 6 pack pipes and it's been jetted and tuned on a dyno by a local shop. There is a 6 degree trigger wheel installed. I have a Cobra fluted lightbar with lights and fluted carb covers installed. Last winter I installed a set of Elite 3's. I have a driver backrest installed. I have a set of locking hardbags, painted purple on her right now and a hondaline 6 pack rack. I put a set of kury offset longhorns on for highway pegs.

I have been lurking here on the forum for 2 years soaking up the info. I know there are different opinions regarding the 6 pipe setup, but I LOVE the look and sound. I know my lightbar is wired poorly without a relay. Some like Elite 3's and some don't. I know the 6 degree wheels hurts a tad on the top end, but I rarely break 100 mph much anyway. I've had it to 115 but the batwing seems to push alot of air and starts a wobble around that speed. Roy told me that stock, he hit an indicated 140 without the batwing. Maybe, maybe not. Riding that fast is a little tough on my CDL anyway. When I put the tires on, I thoroughly went through the rearend and lubed it all up.

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I am very happy and proud of my bike. Hell, with 14,000 miiles when I got it....it's like new. I've put 7 or 8 thousand on it and love the power in every...single...gear! I cannot believe the handling this 700 lb plus bike has and can whip it around as easily as my other bike, a 98 Magna. The Magna is fun, but the fun doesn't start until 5000 rpm. This bike pulls like a train from just off idle all the way to 6500. The instrument lighting kinda sucks but...if thats my only bitch...I'm nitpicking.

Best part? All this happiness and joy for ... $6500. A bike thats been taken care of with kid gloves, by family, since new. I still have a picture of my cousin Roy sitting on the bike the day he rode it home.

I am working on the possibility of taking vacation in July to head down to Arkansas for Inzane. I drive through AR alot in my rig and always think "What a beautiful state for a bike". I accidently took Pig Trail Road in my 70' semi and would of much, much rather been on my bike! Shocked

Enough from me for now. Good day all.

...and yes. I know the nickle trick.


« Last Edit: February 12, 2012, 02:20:40 PM by tonyfan70 »	Logged

1997 Standard. Original bumblebee tin stored.
1998 Magna 750
2000 POS Sportsman 500

Skinhead

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J. A. B. O. A.

Troy, MI