99' with very low miles .. too low?

[Stormchase]

Hi,
So i picked up a 99 F6 that only has 9500 miles on it. 10700 now. Im wondering what things I should be looking out for as far as it sitting so long. It seems to run pretty good with high quality fuel. There is a noticeable difference when I run cheap fuel.
The first owner (from what I know) was a well to do doctor in Las Vegas. I was told the bike was a little too much for him and he wasn't really a die hard rider. I do not know how it was maintained as it sat between rides when he owned it. He was wealthy which usually comes with a high level common sense. But I do not know him.
The second owner was a collector. He did one ride on it for about 800 miles. I know he went though it but did not keep it due to space to put it. He had 35 other bikes.
Oil seems like new on the dip stick. I do seem to have a leak in the oil pan with darker oil on the bottom. Makes me wonder things. I didnt notice this when I made the purchase. Im sure I could replace the gasket on my own. Do they go out in time? From sitting?
The tank does not seem to have visible varnish even tho there is a lot that I cannot see inside. Hoping the carbs would be ok as well. With that said I do get some back fire / after fire on decel and sometimes when cruising at 1500-2000 rpm. It has cobra 6-6 pipes and was not re-jetted. He told me that I might need to re-jet due to the pipes. opinions? I have read a lot about cracked vacuum lines to cause this as well.
Im not a mechanic buy any means   but I can due basics. I was going to drop it off at a Honda dealer this Saturday and have them do their inspection for $100. Seems a little steep to look and not fix anything but that's me. An hour of labor and tax. I trust their professional opinion and they have excellent ratings and service so I said ah, what the heck. (Western Honda)
Is there anything I should look out for?
Anything I should do like plugs etc. before I take it there?
Any tips would be great. I know there are knowledgeable people on here!

[Tfrank59]

You know I wrestled with that a little bit last year when I was shopping for my Valk--If you get one with low miles, you got a figure that she's sat for a long long time especially if the bike is 16 or 17 years old.  You get one with let's say moderate mileage (30 to 60 K) then she was probably somebody's commuter bike.  If you get one with higher miles 75k and up, then she was probably a daily driver plus longer Highway trips.  What's going to be the best?  My Thinking actually was moderate mileage, because she will not have sat as much and stuff tends to atrophy when it sits--Not least my brain when I'm on the couch clicking the remote  But with a low miles bike, you gotta figure that pretty much anything metal is probably going to be like pristine, but all your rubber seals and stuff not to mention anywhere fuel has been sitting, has got to be looked at if not replaced. Just my opinion.   And I'll just add that I'm not one of those knowledgeable people on this forum, and I guess I really didn't tell you anything you didn't know, but it's my two cents

[salty1]

Stormchase we can give you our opinions, however since your are planning to take your bike to a dealer (stealer). I would strongly encourage to take it to BigBF instead who is in Phoenix. He's good, trusted and an expert when it comes to valks. Your dealer probably doesn't have any person that's even worked on a valk. FWIW

http://www.bigbf.com/

[Stormchase]

huh i posted up pictures and I have no idea where they went ...  ???
Im glad you brought up BigBF. I was going to bring that up shortly but you beat me to it. I will try and contact him! Thanks. I do not like dealers for the most part. They WERE cheaper then local shops tho, surprisingly.

Ah dang. His email links go to a search engine haha

[Jess from VA]

I second Big BF as a master valk mechanic.  He does it just right, every time (and takes the time necessary to do each job correctly).  And he's fair and reasonable (but this is part of his living, not just a hobby).  It is absolutely worth your time and effort to contact him, discuss the work you want done, get all the work done you can (desmog, valves, carbs, carb synch, petcock repair, rear end service/lube/o-ring and inspection, and so on), get all the parts you may need on hand (or let him get them), and end up with a like-new motorcycle.  You will not be sorry.

Couple summers back he was in my area visiting with a sick brother.  He spent three long days at my house tearing thru my two interstates, and I had everything done I could think of, and he found things wrong I was unaware of, and he showed me why they were wrong.  I provided a good work area and shade and food and drink for him.  He is deaf and does not speak, and you do all communication on a pad of paper.  He is a very good man.  

Dealers mostly suck.  And the only way to deal with them is go right through the service mgr/writer and arrange to talk directly to the guy who will work on your bike, and see if he can convince you he knows what he is doing on Valks.  If a service manager/writer won't do this for you, walk away.  There's always a big turnover in bike techs, and most of the time, most of them have been through schools that no longer cover a years' out of production model.  That, and they work on production, speed and numbers, and from start to finish, they are in a big hurry to turn you and your bike over.  There are exceptions, best of luck finding one.

http://www.bigbf.com/

98valk@bigbf.com

[Stormchase]

Wow awesome feedback. I sent him an email. I would much rather have someone like that do any work for me. Thats true also about a high turnover on mechanics. There are a couple schools out here and they are popping out students to shops everywhere.
As of now Im going to call the dealer to cancel and keep checking my email for a response from BigBF.

[old2soon]

Wow awesome feedback. I sent him an email. I would much rather have someone like that do any work for me. Thats true also about a high turnover on mechanics. There are a couple schools out here and they are popping out students to shops everywhere.
As of now Im going to call the dealer to cancel and keep checking my email for a response from BigBF.

     He IS worth the wait. At the Inzanes everyone has gone to bed and he is still wrenching. Like others have said-if it's wrong on a Valkyrie he can make it right! When you get it back from him it will be like it sposed to be.  RIDE SAFE.

[Stormchase]

Wow awesome feedback. I sent him an email. I would much rather have someone like that do any work for me. Thats true also about a high turnover on mechanics. There are a couple schools out here and they are popping out students to shops everywhere.
As of now Im going to call the dealer to cancel and keep checking my email for a response from BigBF.

     He IS worth the wait. At the Inzanes everyone has gone to bed and he is still wrenching. Like others have said-if it's wrong on a Valkyrie he can make it right! When you get it back from him it will be like it sposed to be.  RIDE SAFE.

I respect the comments everyone has posted. That goes a long way with me. It seems like he has a passion for Valks. I got in contact with him and am going to set up a time to go drop it off in the next couple days. I have the week off this week so I am trying to get as much riding in as I can. He is backed up a little right now as well. (Witch says a lot too). Too bad it has been raining yesterday and today. Might try and get a ride in to the grand canyon before I get back to work. We will see.
I look forward to dealing with BF. He is only about 15 min away haha. What else could I ask for!

[Jess from VA]

He is only about 15 min away haha. What else could I ask for!

 

[john]

B I N G O         

[salty1]

He's da man!

[Gryphon Rider]

Not that BigBF will need help diagnosing that it runs better on premium, but I wonder if the previous owner put a different trigger wheel in, which advances the ignition across the rev range.

[Farther]

He was wealthy which usually comes with a high level common sense.

Your premise may not be supported by fact.  The US legislature is full of wealthy people.

[Stormchase]

He was wealthy which usually comes with a high level common sense.

Your premise may not be supported by fact.  The US legislature is full of wealthy people.

hahaha so true so true.
From what i learned about the original owner he would not have done any advancing like that. You never know tho.
 

[BobB]

All of us here dream about being just 15 minutes away from BigBF.  Your very fortunate...

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

All of us here dream about being just 15 minutes away from BigBF.  Your very fortunate...

Amen to this

[Cracker Jack]

All of us here dream about being just 15 minutes away from BigBF.  Your very fortunate...

It might be more appropriate to say, "Many (Some, Lots, I,) of us here dream.....". It bothers me a little bit (Don't lose any sleep tho  ) when someone decides to speak for "all" of us.

[Gryphon Rider]

All of us here dream about being just 15 minutes away from BigBF.  Your very fortunate...

You dream about different things than I.

[BobB]

All of us here dream about being just 15 minutes away from BigBF.  Your very fortunate...

It might be more appropriate to say, "Many (Some, Lots, I,) of us here dream.....". It bothers me a little bit (Don't lose any sleep tho  ) when someone decides to speak for "all" of us.

Well if you are bothered by that, you need to get a life...

[Jess from VA]

What I really dream about, is being as good a mechanic as BF (and some others), and then I could do it all myself.  Mostly for personal pride of accomplishment, but saving money would also be nice.  But me being that good with machinery is just that, a dream.  I stumble along and do the best I can, and have tackled a few jobs I thought I could not do, and did OK (but it just as easily could have turned out otherwise).

Most (or many) of us DO wish we lived fifteen minutes from a grade A mechanic, and those that can do it all themselves are lucky, and my hat is off to them.

   

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

No one has ever done any mechanical work on either of my Valkyries but me, but I do know when a man does it for a living day in and out on our model his skills are hard pressed to be matched.