Just bought a new 99 Valkyrie. Curious about upgrades and new gear.

[punk4hire]

Yeah, I cancelled my Amazon order for the b12. I thought b12 was some secret handshake, Illuminati, Valk rider secret. Thanks for killing the feeling of exclusivity.

Wife will grab that for me today. Seems no matter how much money I bring in, or how much stuff we buy, she has the need to go to Wally World daily.

I couldn't find anything for pinwahl.

I'll keep my eyes on Craigslist and eBay too. If I find a parts bike, I'll grab that. I've been out in my garage since 4am working on the stereo upgrade (got the new speakers in by the way, I'll wire the amp this afternoon), and I'm coming across all sorts of missing parts and crap I do not want to fix.

The inside front fairing where the speakers are housed had only a few screws in them and they were so long they came out the front of the fairing. So I'll need a new fairing. Looked on eBay, and couldn't make heads or tails in terms of what I need.

As for the trailer hitch. They're in the same state as the baffles. I was handed a large black garbage bag with the com system, the two set of baffles, the hitch and a couple of helmets when I purchased the bike. The contents of the bag were soaked through with water. Lots of rust, and I don't know how to get it off. Yet!

I'll likely see if there is a place to trade the hitch for something I do need.

I'm can barely pump my own gas, let alone turn a wrench. I'll pay the pros for that. I'm a computer programmer, cut me some slack.

Also, after spending some time with her this morning, I'll most likely be getting a paint job this year too. She's not a mess, but it wouldn't hurt.

There's a lot of other small things she needs. I would love to find that engine cover I'm missing, and OEM screw sets. For the seat strap, the fairing, the side panels (both are missing currently), and I have nothing to go on in terms of what WAS there.

I'm also hoping to have those baffles on today. I have a guy coming out to clean the bike and my wife's car this afternoon. After that I'll work on the stereo, then see what I can do with the baffles. Seeing how they were in the wet bag, they'll need some cleaning up, but I'll just make sure I can figure out where they go first.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Try "Pinwall Cycle". If the fairing has screw holes in it they most likely can be repaired with ABS glue. A replacement fairing will set you back a few dollars and may be in worse shape than yours.  As far as your hitch it does look pretty bad, but somebody might be interested in it.

[Jess from VA]

Using an on-line parts schematic is helpful (and tedious).  The individual schematics can be blown up to larger size and printed or saved to documents.  You generally have to buy your parts one by one, including each nut, bolt and spacer.  It sounds like the guy fixed his turning fairing anchors with long screws through the fairing  .

http://www.servicehondapsn.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=2552271&category=Motorcycles&make=Honda&year=1998&fveh=132665

Cheapest new OE parts source appears to be here.  
http://www.procaliber.com/

PinWall Cycle Parts Inc.  When I needed stuff, I called them on the phone and made an immediate deal and did not play the bidding games). 
 http://stores.ebay.com/PinWall-Cycle-Parts-Inc/_i.html?_nkw=valkyrie&submit=Search&_ipg=&_sasi=1&_sop=1&_vc=1&_sid=12458664

Downloadable Valk OE Manual (and other stuff).
http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

[punk4hire]

Thanks for the links. I think I may just be well off to drop her off at a body shop and point out everything and have them give me an estimate. I'm not much of a wrench turner myself, and I'm afraid of any damage I may cause.

[Jess from VA]

No offense intended, but if you bought a total project bike, you should be a project guy. 

Otherwise, you should have bought a bike (pretty much) ready to ride.

Most body shops will want you to do the complete disassembly, and bring them the stuff to paint. 

[punk4hire]

Thank for your comment Jess. Does it look like a total project bike?

Also, in terms of what the body shop wants. I'm willing to bet with the proper amount of money they'll do whatever I like.

[Jess from VA]

No, actually it doesn't look like that at all.

As I had a woman driver in the house for many years (until I fired her), I have a great deal of experience with body shops.  Almost none want any motorcycle business at all, unless you bring in the paintable parts. Their paint man will do good body work, filing, sanding and prep before paint, but the wrenches don't want to touch them (and have no experience with them).  They work insurance production and turnover on cages.

Now if you find a custom bike painter, he may be willing to do all disassembly, but these guys mostly think they are Michelangelo, and charge accordingly.   YMMV

[punk4hire]

Luckily there's a few good bike shops around me. I'll ask them if they have anyone they use if they don't do the work directly.

Well, I don't need Michelangelo. I simply need a black pain job, but I'm willing to bet that alone will offer 117 different choices for black paint.

Thanks for your tips. I'll post here how I make out.

[ValkISDan]

If you haven't already done so go to the "justpics" area of this board. Its full of pictures of just about every valk out there. Especially take a peek at the past several Inzane events bike show pics you will get tons of ideas of how to make this beauty your own. I love to customize but my first priority would be to get this bike running at its peak. Find the local Valkyrie whisperer mechanic and have it gone through, especially the carbs.

[cookiedough]

I have near identical bike but without kickshifter and no rear chrome bars wrapping around the hard side bags and loud cobra exhaust.  I like the looks of cobras, but the loudness would want me to go back to stock I/S exhaust or if you got the dough, MARK T's exhaust system is top of the line.

BEFORE you get rid of the chrome and replace,  the suggestion of using 0000 steel wool and some chrome polish (I use the cheap turtle wax chrome polish at walmart for 3 bucks) and put on and let sit to dry some and then rub off fairly hard in rusted spots but not too hard to scratch.  You will be amazed at how much spot rust will be removed, especially from say the bottom/inside exhaust.   Might be good enough in most locations to live with it removing over 75% of the rusted spots in 2-3 coats/attempts.

If into tunes,  first thing I would do is remove the right side cover and behind all the wires usually in the middle somewhere is a round black capped plug in for a 3.5mm AUX plug in jack for an mp3 player, etc.  Run the 4-6' (3 feet is almost not long enough for most locations) of 3.5mm AUX plug in jack to a suitable location to mount/use and set the left handlebar to AUX and crank the mp3 player all the way up to to max level (mine is 30) and volume on handlebars to around 20-22 or so.  Plus, set on left handlebar your auto volume control to H (high) or L (for low) - I prefer on H, since is almost a must on hwy. because as speed increase, the front speakers volume increase as well, very nice feature.  Is cool because as slowing down, the volume also goes down, pretty cool feature for way back in 2001.  

I run my AUX jack wire under the tank and up into my aftermarket 'iron horse' tank bib, but there are other tank bibs that are available to buy as well easy enough, just google them.  Almost all have a middle pouch where you can put your phone or mp3 player in to play your favorite tunes and store other smaller items-I love mine.  Although, with cobra exhaust,  will be hard to hear music.  There are stock used I/S OEM pipes being VERY quiet like I have usually to purchase online and you could sell your loud cobras for I bet pretty close to a good used set of quiet OEM I/S pipes.  You need I/S pipes, not tourer or standard Valk exhaust, they are differently shaped.  

Stock I/S seat is adequate for me since driving under say 200 miles per day 99% of the time, but if into longer distances,  Russell day long seat and for your height Ultimate King boy would probably be best, but not cheap, both better than stock which is not bad to begin with in my eyes.  

At 6'6", you may prefer handlebar risers installed if the stock height of OEM handlebars seem uncomfortable/too low.  For me at 5'10", the stock handlebars are fine for me.  Your taller windshield than OEM by 3" or so is good for you being that tall, I would leave it alone if clear and in good shape.  For my height, I would have to replace since probably too tall you want to be able to look OVER the windshield just in case of fog or rain, etc. especially at night with fog being an issue for me at times.

Other than that,  I think you have all that is needed.  Oh yah, you can easily put that driver's backrest on by mounting with bolts by taking off seat and lining up the holes near the rear upper shock bolts.  It helps to take off the side saddlebags to get at, but can do with them on but I prefer to take them off to mount my aftermarket bracket backrest like you have.  Is not needed for shorter 30-40 mile trips, but longer distance riding is much appreciated.  

You can easily do yourself new coolant and rear gear lube and of course the use of synthetic oil and new filter (near 4 qts.) all of which I would do sometime this year for peace of mind if not known when done last.  Depending on mileage, new NGK spark plugs cannot hurt but probably not needed since most run tons of miles on them and still look good.  You can also easily do that yourself easy to get at.  All of these are cheap things to do not breaking the bank.  

If your clutch/brake fluid is pretty darkened as shown in the round circle on reservoir on both handlebars vs. slightly off clear color, get that flushed and put in new this year as well.  If pretty clear and not too darkened, it can probably go until you need new rear tire and get that done then in next year or two.

Oh yah,  if ordering the barefootwillies black cupholders like I have done for 20 bucks or so from jpcycles in IA store or directly from mfg.,  I think they are the cheapest and good quality have had 2 of them mounted on my handlebars and are a MUST for me drinking (non alcoholic) beverages for now 3-4 riding seasons and hold LARGE beverages just fine with no breakage or coming apart.  Plus, if you buy 2 of them which I would,  mount 1 on each handlebar and the misses can like mine does just tap my right shoulder in back and at a safe point, I grab with my right hand her drink and she taps me again to hand it to me to put back in the barefoot willie cupholder.  Or for now, until you get a tank bib with pouch for your AUX 3.5mm jack,  you can run the wires under tank and into the cupholder and leave your phone or mp3 player in one of the 2 cupholders.  I'd get 2 for the price can always use both mounted on your handlebars one on each side like I do,  just make sure the round clamp is right sized since comes in I think 2 sizes.