Ok one more and I'll go to bed -- Flywheel:

[_Sheffjs_]

Next   Ugly stupid.   Way back in HS a buddy had a VW dune buggy and to this group shaving the flywheel down was all the rage. Super,  the front wheels would pull off the ground and impress the unknowing but let off the gas and we were shoved in to the dash and our eye balls we're a week in front of us.  Feels like the new Valk has a lighter flywheel than the old Valk.   Maybe it is the FI?

[mrtappan]

I don't notice the 1800 engine "feeling" any different than any other modern engine.  You're probably not used to the FI since carbs tend to be a little smoother off throttle thanks to them working on vacuum. 

FI bikes have a tad choppier throttle to me.  Not as smooth and precise as carbs but it's such a minor thing.  The benefits of FI far out weight the headache of a multiple carb bike. 

[st2sam]

Honda states the Wing and Valk motors and transmissions are the same.

I think it's the lighter weight, shaft drive and not high enough gearing.

(IMO a 6th gear would be nice.)

[thork86]

Honda states the Wing and Valk motors and transmissions are the same.

I think it's the lighter weight, shaft drive and not high enough gearing.

(IMO a 6th gear would be nice.)

I remember a few threads ago, someone mentioned the Valkyrie's motor has a slightly differently-modified airbox than the Goldwing/F6B's 1832cc motor. Otherwise, it's identical. Granted the airbox/exhaust are technically attached TO the motor, but still.

True or e-rumor?

If true, is it performance-related or simply a fitment/aesthetic modification?

[mrtappan]

I've never ridden a bike where sixth gear did anything other than make me shift one extra time. 

2006 Yamaha Roadliner - 5 speed, 85 mph, 3200 rpm 
2013 Victory Hardball - 6 speed, 85 mph, 3200 rpm 
2014 Valkyrie  - 5 speed, 85 mph, 3200 (maybe 3300) rpm

Usually the 6th gear is the same final drive as as five speed.

[st2sam]

2014 Valkyrie  - 5 speed, 85 mph, 3200 (maybe 3300) rpm

WHOA, my tach or speedo must be off.
 
If I remember right closer to 3800 than 3200 rpm at 85?
Now you got me think'in, I'll have to check...

Anywho, IMO this bike has so much torque 2500rpm at 85 would be fine.

[mrtappan]

I might be wrong too.  I seem to remember it being no different than any other bike I've owned.

I know the Yamaha and the Victory were 3200 for sure.  I used half the gears in the Victory.  1, 3, and 5 usually.  6th on the Victory bogged it down too much unless you were going interstate speeds.  Even on the Valkyrie I only use 2nd through 5th.  Using first in that bike got annoying to me so I just stopped using it.  It's too short. 

[dans2014]

  5 speeds works fine for me!!! on mine.

[Robert]

Neither the old Valk or the new Valk have flywheels, about the most they have are the clutch pakk.

[Bighead]

  The benefits of FI far out weight the headache of a multiple carb bike. 

Tell me what the headache is please?

[_Sheffjs_]

 The benefits of FI far out weight the headache of a multiple carb bike.  

Tell me what the headache is please?

No doubt the carbs on the Valks are amazing and work very well and have served and continue to serve the most beautiful bike ever made in my opinion.  I am also very thankful to those that will keep these beauties going for decades to come. Moreover I need to see them so I can admire them. No doubt we have read or experienced simple fuel rail leaks, stuck floats, vacuum leaks and hydro locks.   If someone loves to tinker there is no headache unless one says hydro.......        

Must be something to FI that is amazing.  Can't seem to buy a new carburetor cage anywhere.  I keep looking past that yellow beauty trying to find a 58 Chevy in that garage.   I love a 58!!!  

[Bighead]

One of the biggest problems with the 6 carbs in my opinion is that people feel the NEED to tinker with them. 130k + and never been messed with. So I Guess if you had a problem I can see the point but how many FEEL the NEED to pull the carbs and go through them for Zero reason? More than have problems with them would be my guess, unless you let one sit for a year or two then expect it to not be gummed from the fuel produced toay.

[_Sheffjs_]

Expound: if one has a stuck float, leaky fuel rail or vacuum leak then to fix if you like to tinker is no headache.  I totally agree leave it alone if it is fine. Run it, do not let carbs or FI sit. I can't imagine anyone happy about a hydro lock.   Big Head we need to ride together sometime, that way I can be with a beautiful Phat Lady that I can enjoy looking at and at the same time twist the new muscle box that feels like a nighthawk 700s as far as agility and the unreal power that my 1832 has putting a smile on my face that no one can smack off.  Sounds like a win win for me.  The new Valk is the most amazing bike I have ever twisted in 40 years of many different bikes.      

[Bighead]

Never said the 1800 Wasnt an awesome machine but too many muck with something that there is no problem with and as Far as Hydrolock many things have to come into play for it to happen not just because it is carbed. I was simply asking what is the headache with a multi carbed engine.

[_Sheffjs_]

Yep and I responded.  Hydro lock.  Can't hydro FI no stuck floats on FI.

[Bighead]

No more response from me if that is the only answer

[_Sheffjs_]

Neither the old Valk or the new Valk have flywheels, about the most they have are the clutch pakk.

Please view the entire opening line as analogy......  Feels like.  I was pretty sure that it was the F.I. That I was feeling as I felt the same thing on a new wing.  Carbs roll off smoother for sure.  It just was the best way I thought to explain the feeling.   

[mrtappan]

Just like a lot of folks aren't thrilled about the cosmetics of the new Valk, I wasn't thrilled about yester-years technology on the old ones.  In a perfect world I would have preferred a more traditional styling on the new Valkyrie or I might have settled for FI on the old one. 

[_Sheffjs_]

    I hope there will always be a group of 97-03 Valks that I ride with and I support the ones that stay true to the original beauty of these bikes. I wish mother Honda could have taken the hint as well but it is what it is.  Yes there are many that just can't deal with the new image, that's ok, Just don't take one out for more than 2 miles.

    I know what this does   

     and I know what this does

[Robert]

Would I have liked that Honda would not have departed so radically from the original Valk, yes I would. But it does not stop me from looking to my new Valk for the upgrades that have always kind of annoyed me about my current Valk. I had always looked and thought about a Kawa Concours or a BMW or any other more current touring bike as a second or maybe only bike. Now that the new Valk has come out I can have the best of both worlds. So I know the styling is not to some peoples taste and maybe their current Valk is just what they have always wanted. But why is there such a non acceptance of this trend? Hell you would think we are Harley riders talking about Jap crap WTH? I would not have been happy with my current Valk either without the mods I have done to it over the years. One is the suspension work that was paramount to my comfort and controllability of my bike.

COMPROMISE that is the word. Honda designed and built the original Valk and they did the same on the new one. Both have pluses and minsus but change and time waits for no one, Good or bad it happens. I made compromises with my original I will make compromises with my new one. Just as anyone makes compromises with any choice but the satisfaction I get out of the new Valk with hope will be the same or more than I have gotten from my original Valk. But it will not be a subject of me putting down anyone's bike of choice. Even if a new Valk was designed with not departing so much with the original I would say it too would have just as many naysayers.

[3TV]

Bighead,  how would those carbs work with big changes in altitude?  Just wondering, because I live at 6000 ft elevation at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.  A common ride that I like to take includes a loop that ranges from 1500 ft elevation in the high desert, to 11,000 ft elevation in the alpine mountains, all on one tank of gas.  I've owned three street motorcycles recently (FZ1, M109, F6C), and they were all fuel injected and had no problems with altitude changes.  A little longer ago I owned a KTM 950 Super Enduro that was carburated.  It still ran at high altitude, but not as well.  It tended to be a little lean at low altitude, and a little rich at high altitude.  I've also owned lots of dirt bikes and ATVs that were carburated, and they ran so poorly that you were better off rejetting the carb for high altitude.  When fuel injection hit the ATV market it was a huge improvement.  After one ATV with fuel injection, and not having to automatically rejet the carb as soon as you got it home from the dealership, I was hooked on FI.

I have no idea how a carburated Valkyrie would do with wide swings in elevation, that is why I'm asking.