Motorcycle consumer news 2014 goldwing valkyrie full review

[98valk]

60-0 mph braking worst than the original.

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval.asp

performance index  see other valkyries/bikes to compare

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/article_index.asp

[F6Dave]

The braking is no surprise.  Since weight transfer makes the front tire handle nearly all of the braking, the original Valkyrie's enormous front tire gave it some of the shortest stopping distances of any motorcycle built.  Look through the tables and you'll find few bikes that match the old Valkyrie's numbers.

[98valk]

bottom of performance tests

Shortest 60–0 Stops
1] 2006 Triumph Speed Triple . . . . . . . . . . 104.8'
2] 2008 BMW Megamoto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.4'
3] 1999 Triumph Speed Triple . . . . . . . . . . 106.7'
4] 1997 F6 Valkyrie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107.4'
5] 1997 Suzuki Marauder 800 . . . . . . . . . . 107.6'


new vette less than 100'   progress
I would think a newest latest designed 18k bike at 750lbs would have better braking 60-0mph 123.7' than even the '99 valkyrie tourer @ 776 lbs 60-0mph 114'
even the F6B at 102lbs more than the '14 valkyrie only needs 2 extra ft to stop and the 909lb GL1800 needs only 2 ft more than that at 127.4'. the 833lb I/S stopped in 116'.
I think that is unsafe engineering on honda's part to make the new valkyrie faster but cheap out on the brakes.
If I'm on a bike that runs 0-60 in under 4 sec, I need better brakes than honda provided for the '14 GW Valkyrie.
Owners/riders should be aware.

[hubcapsc]

I need better brakes than honda provided for the '14 GW Valkyrie.

Besides what you read in that magazine, what did you think of the brakes when you rode it?

-Mike

[98valk]

I need better brakes than honda provided for the '14 GW Valkyrie.

Besides what you read in that magazine, what did you think of the brakes when you rode it?

-Mike

Have not ridden a '14.
 MCN does not accept any advertisers, so testing has always been considered the best and very accurate.
The brakes on my '98 are exactly like MCN stated.

[hubcapsc]

I need better brakes than honda provided for the '14 GW Valkyrie.

Besides what you read in that magazine, what did you think of the brakes when you rode it?

-Mike

Have not ridden a '14.
 MCN does not accept any advertisers, so testing has always been considered the best and very accurate.
The brakes on my '98 are exactly like MCN stated.

I have them both, and I've had several confidence inspiring experiences with the brakes
on the 1500.

The brakes on the 1800 seem better in every way, though I have not experienced any
emergencies with them yet.

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

95% of emergency braking is due to rider inattentiveness.

(I just made that up)

[hubcapsc]

95% of emergency braking is due to rider inattentiveness.

(I just made that up)

 

One of my "confidence inspiring experiences" absolutely involved something
akin to rider inattentiveness... an approaching rider on a curvy road came
over into my lane and ended up passing me on my right. I was going
downhill, and the 1500's brakes worked really well that day, I slowed
way down, neither wheel locked up and I continued in my lane in the
same position relative to the center line the whole way. My plan was
to be going as slow as possible "at the last second" and I was going
to do whatever I could at that last second to avoid the impact. I ended
up doing nothing besides the slowing down, as he passed me cleanly
on my right...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Smooth under pressure Mike.   

Probably in the 5%, other guy's fault though as he came over around a curve without much time for you to react.

Guys that ride like that are just like squirrels, and if you slow and keep a steady line with no sudden changes, you may have the best chance to miss him (braking and hunkering for a collision is nonetheless a good idea).  And slower (and straight) gives you the best chance for a last second swerve if that becomes necessary. 

I've had guys come over in my lane, but I got to the right shoulder (and slowed ready to go off the road if I had to), but never pass me on the right.  I can't be sure, but that would probably make me somewhat angry.   

Freakin' squirrels.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

95% of emergency braking is due to rider inattentiveness.

(I just made that up)

 

One of my "confidence inspiring experiences" absolutely involved something
akin to rider inattentiveness... an approaching rider on a curvy road came
over into my lane and ended up passing me on my right. I was going
downhill, and the 1500's brakes worked really well that day, I slowed
way down, neither wheel locked up and I continued in my lane in the
same position relative to the center line the whole way. My plan was
to be going as slow as possible "at the last second" and I was going
to do whatever I could at that last second to avoid the impact. I ended
up doing nothing besides the slowing down, as he passed me cleanly
on my right...

-Mike

Coming off The Blue Ridge Pakway into Maggie Valley , North Carolina ..... I remember that day.... Cool under pressure     That " could " have ended very bad.

[postoak]

So the links you gave didn't take me to any articles.  Was the distance 123.7 feet as someone implied?  That's pretty good for a 754 pound motorcycle.  It beats the Triumph Bonneville T120 (129 feet) and the Honda CB1100 (131 feet).

[98valk]

So the links you gave didn't take me to any articles.  Was the distance 123.7 feet as someone implied?  That's pretty good for a 754 pound motorcycle.  It beats the Triumph Bonneville T120 (129 feet) and the Honda CB1100 (131 feet).

they re-did their website so links went dead. u can still search for the articles on the site.

[postoak]

Actually, my bad, I thought the link was doing nothing but it actually downloaded a pdf document showing statistics for ALL motorcycles.  I noticed the 0-100 time was 9.5 secs. which is darned good too.

[cookiedough]

I did not read the article, but I think I have heard that ABS braking increases stopping distance just a tad vs. NON ABS braking.  That could be part of the worse braking/stopping distance. 

Either way,  no newer goldwing will be in my future so not too worried about it.