I am gonna buy a Valkyrie

[Hangzhoudave]

I am a relatively new rider...since about 2007...I have as my first bike a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100...I am too big and old to enjoy it anymore...6'5" 245lbs...I'll be 62 on the 25th.

I think if I get a Valkyrie Tourer and add an Ultimate King Big Boy Seat and highway pegs...that I'll be doing the best I can do to fit a bike to me and still have a Honda.

I have read as much as I can and I am ready to buy a bike.

One question that I need help with...if a bike has seriously blued pipes (aftermarket) and elsewise meets all the obvious requirements...should it be of concern...and if so...what should you do?

I'll take all free advice.
Thanks for your help.

A Newbie

[Former BMW Guy]

Welcome to the INSANITY!

I think you need to track down the cause of the bluing....probably carb adjustment.
The cause of exhaust bluing is usually a lean running engine, exhaust that has been overheated, or simply a cheaper single-walled exhaust pipe. Removing the bluing is relatively easy.
Most of the Valks that I looked at were usually meticulously maintained so not much cause for concern.

I'm a relatively new convert myself.
You will enjoy the ride.

Joe P

[Chrisj CMA]

OEM pipes ahould not blue.  If they are cobras they will all blue no matter what dont even worry about it if the plugs are the right color

[valkyriemc]

I would look for a bike from an owner who knows valkyries and their idiosyncrasies. The bike could be well sorted out for you rather than you starting from scratch with a bike that has not been maintained. May check classified ads on this web site.

[Dozer]

off topic for a sec...how did you come by the name Hangzhou Dave? Going from an 1100 saber to a valk will be like going from a VW bug to a buick park avenue! Theres no comparsion between the two but you'll love it

[old2soon]

And BEFORE I REPEAT BEFORE you put on any serious miles look at and service the splines. Could save you a buck or three on down the road and a LOT of heartache later.       And as former bmwguy says-welcome to the insanity. RIDE SAFE.

[Blaze]

I am a new Valk rider also. All I have to say is that you definitely came to the right place. The VRCC is full of great people with a wealth of information on the Valkyrie's. Whatever question you have it will be answered quickly. And I must also say the Valkyrie is definitely the right bike to get. I've also had a 1100 Shadow in my past and the UPGRADE is so great you will love it on the first ride. 

[Fritz The Cat]

Don't forget to add a drivers backrest if it doesn't already have one. 

[BF]

OEM pipes ahould not blue.  If they are cobras they will all blue no matter what dont even worry about it if the plugs are the right color

Ditto what Jeff said.  You said that they're aftermarket pipes.  If they're Cobras, then it's normal for them to blue.  They're a single wall pipe.......it's normal. 

[Westsider]

OEM pipes ahould not blue.  If they are cobras they will all blue no matter what dont even worry about it if the plugs are the right color

Plus one...post where your located and ask if any valkyrie owners would want to go with you to inspect the bike. The more eyes on it the better.....there no charge!!!!


And Wecome to all the info you will need for your valkyrie, place ,. As someone said, "the valkyrie has more  of a tubrbine like  power". Dave .   Keep it maintainted, and I just dont think youll be able to hurt the beast.
Paul.

[Hangzhoudave]

You Guys are Great!...I go for short ride, come back, take and nap...and I have 9 replies!!!

Thanks!

First...The name  "Hangzhou" Dave...I was sent by my company to live and work in China in 1997 and to help start-up a service company for pumps that we made here in the USA and sold there.  I lived there until 2001 (and the expiration of the arrest warrant) and then I came back home to Houston.

I was given that monicker by the people of Hangzhou, China...in gratitude for my leaving .

The pipes are ..."custom SUPERTRAP" pipes...and they are blue from the engine exit point for about a foot on eacch pipe...the bike I am looking at has is a 1998 with about 20k miles...seems reasonably cared for otherwise.

Thanks again for you help!

HD

[mario]

going from a sabre to a valk-no problem.   i have both.  the main change, as far as seating, is your foot positioning.  on the valk your feet are more under you instead of in front like on the sabre.  the valk it heavy but so well balanced, you should be good to go.  you may need to look into forward controls or micko pegs and i'd get a the backrest option with the ultimate seat.
i hope your valk search goes well.

[Earl in Pensacola]

With that low milage (20K) there are very likely no "issues" yet.  However, a real good question to ask would be: Did the P.O. keep any service records??  By-the-way, take a real good look at the tires!!  Very likely will have some serious weather checking at that age, unless P.O. already changed them.  Have you ridden it??  No hesitation, stumbles, etc.??  If not, then the P.O. must have used a good stablizer in the fuel!!  Good luck!

[F6MoRider]

Bluing on pipes, especially non-OEM, is normal. I was once told aftermarket pipes are all single wall construction which is why they blue if it's not fuel/air mixture related bluing.  

See if you can get a Valk owner local to you to accompany you to check the bike out.  The condition of the rear end is probably the best indicator if the bike has been cared for or not.  If you can, pull it and inspect it before you close the deal.  It can be expensive and time consuming to find the parts and replace them.

Get any manuals, OEM parts, and service records if they available.

Enjoy her, and welcome to the VRCC.

[Disco]

Welcome, Dave!

There are lots of GREAT VRCC folks and a tremendous amount of Valkyrie (and other) knowledge in Houston and the surrounding area.  I'm sure many will chime in.

Looking forward to meeting and riding with you soon,

Disco Dave

Hi Westsider   

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

OK Hangz there is alot of good valkyrie folks in the Houston area so give some of us a shout when you get your lady or when you go to look at a bike.  I'm on the east side near humble several people on the west, north and south side. Some have very good skills some like me after 9 years are still learning but we all would love to meet you and kick some tires. WELCOME

[shooter64]

When I got mine the cobra exhausts were blued at about the first 8 inches. Painted them (only the 8 inches) with Rustoleum high temp black stove and grill rattle can paint. Search info on this forum about "potential petcock issues" just to be aware.

[Dozer]

welcome back to the states Dave. Maybe I'll see you on the road sometime. Meanwhile, enjoy the valk and above all, learn as much as you can about its quirks & differences. Its not like othger bikes.
Here is a very good place to start:  http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Known%20Valkyrie%20Problems.htm

[Master Blaster]

Even the stock double wall pipes will blue if you let it idle too long with the choke engaged.

[cookiedough]

Even the stock double wall pipes will blue if you let it idle too long with the choke engaged.

Agree, my exhaust is OEM on my 2001 I/S and when I bought it they were blued probably from the same reason letting it idle too long with choke on from previous owner plus only had 13,500 miles on it 5 years ago when bought it.  But, I didn't care too much and have used blue-away with 0000 steel wool or cloth and blue-away a few times to get rid of over 50% of the blueing on the OEM pipes.  Ran pretty rough first year from sitting in barn for a few years not running with a huge layer of dust, but after 2-3 good cleanings most of the gunk came off good enough for me.  I used seafoam, techron, and mystery marvel oil a few bottles in the tank the first year and changed spark plugs and seemed to help a lot.  It may not run at 100%, but 90-95% strong is still faster and smoother than 90% of the other bikes on the road. 

Coming from a honda shadow 1100 that is a nice bike in it's own right, just don't be surprised when you see only around 35 avg mpg at best vs. well over 40 mpg with your shadow.  6 carbed cylinders suck the gas but am willing to sacrifice 10 mpg for a nicer ride.  Sure beats my V8 truck getting 17 mpg so cannot complain too much.

[chauffeur]

We made the same upgrade (shadow sabre to a Valkyrie interstate) six years ago.   I'm within 10% of your size and went with the king big boy.  You are gonna like it.