The thrill is gone

[Robert]

For 13 years me and my 1500 Valk have seen many adventures. It still looks great in my garage but sometime in the future it will probably look just as good in someone elses garage.

I went for a ride on it since I have not had it out in awhile and it came to life beautifully and performed flawlessly but I have gotten used to the 1800 and I don't really want to go back.

I did not really realize and was amazed at how much I have gotten used to the 1800 and enjoyed the benefits of the new Valk till I rode the 1500 again. I had a dream bike in mind when I bought my 1500 and it seemed to fit like a octagon peg in a round hole. There was always just something missing. I have put many extras on it and thought if I sell it would I want to sell them separate, but I cannot think of stripping down the bike just to sell it. It seems almost hurtful or mean to the times I have had with it.

I thought of the old song Ive grown accustomed to your face in My Fair Lady and thought what a perfect song for the 1800. Dam, Dam, dam. and yet Ive grown accustomed to the ride.   The ride is second nature to me now, Ive grown accustomed to the looks, Ive grown accustomed the feel,  Dam. She was so delightfully dirty, so low, not gentile at all, but now Ive become accustomed to the bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HroAq_E075Y


Dean Martin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR_AT4TpE7M

[Mr Whiskey]

Yep, same with our Wing.
I miss my IS, but there's no goin' back!

[woofred1832]

                            Your right...... I thought when I got my 1998 1500 that I had the bike I always wanted,,,,and it was till DAM  DAM  DAM they brought the valkyrie back in 2014,and as much as loved the 1500 that 1832 was just TOOOOO much more motor to pass up. Luckly a friend of mine also liked my 1500 so I sold it to him and got the 1832. now I DO have the last bike I will ever get,and I get to see the 1500 every time we ride togeather...Oh by the way he is keeping his Harley to ride on some day rides, but will always take the Valkyrie on the trips we take,like down to the Dragon ride in Madison Wis. this past Sept.      I have had 7 bikes in my 47 years of riding. Started with a Honda 450, then a Honda 750, then a BMW 750, (that sold me on shaft drive) then a Suzuki 850,which I had for 20 years,then I got a Honda VTX1300 to go to stirgis for the first time,Thats where I saw the Valkyrie1500,WOW had to have one......So I found one and was in heaven I thought,Well almost..... My 1832 is the best bike I ever road,and Ive ridden many MANY bikes.... Im 65 now and retired so every day is Saturday now. I plan to ride at least 10+_more years god willing,and then I will give the bike to my grandson,Yes my daughter already knows my plans, thats my story ,Whats yours...

[rusty]

wow really neat to hear about you guys.
 when i saw the 1520 in 1999 ride by in Milaca, MN i knew i wanted one. i thought just give my different way of life a few more years... just to make sure i was really on the (better) path. the spring of 01 was here and a sale for the beautiful 1520 i could not pass.  what a fine bike!!!!!!!!! was always proud to be seen on it !!
a bad driver took it away from me in june 2015 R.I.P.  2 1/2  months later and healing up i bought a 2014. as my old bike i am just as proud to have it and be seen on it.
i am not a hard time rider, before i bought my 1520 it was 25 years since i owned one. the valkyrie's have brought it out in me. there was no second choice of buying another kind of bike.
i like my new valkyrie!
 for me the riding seasons is over. today i started her up just for a few minutes, sat on her and revved her a few times just to hear once more, turned her off and took the battery out and covered her up for a winter sleep. i will wait with excitement till i can ride her again. 

[blackvalk]

I enjoyed reading about how people feel about their 1500's. Mostly because I feel exactly the same way.

We (I) continue to fine tune our bikes with add ons until it fits us perfectly. Sometimes spending much more than we know we will get out of it when or if we sell it.

After fine tuning my 1500 for looks, comfort, handling, I see an add for the 1800. So affordable I went and test rode one. I owned the '14 that day.

I always wondered how much better my 1500 Valkyrie would be if it was the new 1800 engine with fuel injection, better handling..............

My go to bike is now the 1800 but I love looking over to the 1500 because of its classic look. I love the way it looks. I actually love riding it but again, choose the new one most of the time.

I do find the new one a bit hard to put the same amount of luggage on, and still have it look like I'm not strapping on exposed bags.

I find, fine tuning my bike is a work in progress but once I get there, it's an extension of me. If you don't own a motorcycle, you just would not understand.

Not everyone likes the look of the new Valkyrie and normally that might bother me, but I love the new one so much, I could care less what someone else thinks.

When I get on and ride, it's like an extension of me. It does everything well, that's why I love it.

[Thor32]

Well said 

[_Sheffjs_]

Well, having two Vlak 1500s once here is where I am at.  Seeing I have the 1800c at the "cottage" it would be nice to have kept one 1500 for home. I would like to be able to afford another 1800c for home but I can't.  So maybe I might pick up something for home, maybe another 1500 seeing they are so affordable. I love the 1800c and made the right choice as most of you feel the same way. If I just had one place I would only need or want one bike. So Robert I agree.

Let's see what a used 1800c cost in 3 years???  Hummmm 

BTW Robert is Titusville doable? There is a high noon RTE on the FL board this Sat.   

[rusty]

maybe.... the only down side i can see that these bike are not that popular or being discontinued (?) is that the resale would be very low, just like the 1520's................

[woofred1832]

                                      2 things... I think if Honda does discontinue offering this model Valkyrie... In afew years it will be MORE in demand like the Ruine... 2nd this valkyrie is NOT ment to bring yaya from the current Valkyrie owners, as they are already (content) in love with the bike they have,and in fact many have more than one. I think it is ment for those up coming riders that are ready to move up in class ,or for those that are tired of their crotch rocket, but are not ready to give up the feel of the power when you twist the throttle, or some (middle agers) that are ready to get back on a bike since the kids are gone,or grown, or finally they are single for what ever reason.....so this model Will in fact fit the needs of more riders than most think, it will just take some time since it looks soooooo much different than what most are used to... Personally THATS what I liked about it, beside the fact that the 1832 motor is one, If not the best performing, motor to date... ______Just my opinion_____

[_Sheffjs_]

                                      2 things... I think if Honda does discontinue offering this model Valkyrie... In afew years it will be MORE in demand like the Ruine... 2nd this valkyrie is NOT ment to bring yaya from the current Valkyrie owners, as they are already (content) in love with the bike they have,and in fact many have more than one. I think it is ment for those up coming riders that are ready to move up in class ,or for those that are tired of their crotch rocket, but are not ready to give up the feel of the power when you twist the throttle, or some (middle agers) that are ready to get back on a bike since the kids are gone,or grown, or finally they are single for what ever reason.....so this model Will in fact fit the needs of more riders than most think, it will just take some time since it looks soooooo much different than what most are used to... Personally THATS what I liked about it, beside the fact that the 1832 motor is one, If not the best performing, motor to date... ______Just my opinion_____

Well said and I agree with almost everything said. Going on I don't disagree at all saying I will be interested to see if they do indeed become more in demand if discontinued.  I will add though it proves I am a strange duck as we are 90% two up and I came from owning two (at the same time) 1500 Valks.

It would be interesting to know out of total sales what percentage came from 1500s. Oh well, not sure we will ever know.   

[woofred1832]

                         What I would like to know is how many (new) 2014s are still in creates? and how many Honda made before they switched to 2015s(only is base red),and how many 2015s are left? Guess I will call a guy I know at a dealer and see if he has any idea. I dont think you can contact Honda America direct, or even if they would tell you if you could. I did hear that when the 2015s came out there WERE new 2014s available at a big reduced price from what I paid but Im not really mad cause I got the bike I wanted and have put the acces. on that I wanted. My bike now is unique just for me and there is not another one just like it any where, but then I guess ever rider can say the same... even those "you see it everywhere Harleys"

[Chaz1076]

I traded in an old 84 standard that I rode for years.  It was my second Goldwing.  For a long time I thought I would not need more then this.  I loved everything about the bike.   I turn 60 in a couple of months and the notion of upgrading one last time began to take root.  Much of it had to do with the idea of looking on EBay for parts was starting to get old.   When I first saw the new Valkyrie photos online I thought, there is my next bike.   I don't need radios and intercom systems, head lights and windshields that go up and down and toggle switches that do what ever.  But when I saw the bike in the show room, I was stunned. I loved the way the rear end looked.  But when I stood in front and got a good look at the Star Wars type radiator pods that well, just stuck out, I thought what a funky looking  front end.  So I waited.  Then came the CTX 1300 and I thought okay there is the direction I'm going.  Well, after some careful research, I discovered that performance wise, the CTX had been 'detuned'  and that my old wing actually had better performance stats (yes not much) so back to the Valkyrie.  So one afternoon I took the plunge and bought it.  WOW.  When I rode it home,  I thought I had died and gone to motorcycle heaven.  So this is what new technology feels like.  I had the opportunity to get up Sturgis way this past summer and quite frankly, I thought is was pretty dang cool having a bike that didn't look like every other bike.  I think one problem all of the motorcycle industry is having is trying to find what the next generation of motorcycle  enthusiast will ride?  I agree with what woofred1832 said.   From what I hear from talking with folks at different dealerships is, most of the people coming in the front door are older.  Take away the crotch rocket riders and the heard thins real quick except for folks like me, aging baby boomers who are upgrading toys probably for the last time.   So I also believe that is one reason the new Valkyrie  looks the way it does, trying to appeal to a younger generation.   But looking at sales, it looks like they are not into motorcycles, or at least not yet.  As for me, well, I now think it is a very cool looking bike.  I might even go so far as to say sexy looking.  So if you just happen to see some ol' guy on a red Valkyrie with a happy crap-eating-grin on his face, it's probable me.

[_Sheffjs_]

Well, having two Vlak 1500s once here is where I am at.  Seeing I have the 1800c at the "cottage" it would be nice to have kept one 1500 for home. I would like to be able to afford another 1800c for home but I can't.  So maybe I might pick up something for home, maybe another 1500 seeing they are so affordable. I love the 1800c and made the right choice as most of you feel the same way. If I just had one place I would only need or want one bike. So Robert I agree.

Let's see what a used 1800c cost in 3 years???  Hummmm  

BTW Robert is Titusville doable? There is a high noon RTE on the FL board this Sat.  

Ok so to buck the trend here, last Thursday I bought this

My third 1500

[bscrive]

That is a sweet ride Jerry.  You obviously have too much extra cash laying around.  For Christmas you can send me one of your IS.  I really miss mine.   

[_Sheffjs_]

That is a sweet ride Jerry.  You obviously have too much extra cash laying around.  For Christmas you can send me one of your IS.  I really miss mine.   

Nope broke. And the Two interstates were sold so I have two bikes and that is plenty.  Besides how much did that new little toy of your wife's cost? Uh huh?  What??  LOL. 

Sorry wrong Santa.   

[woofred1832]

                             Very pretty, like the colors, I thought I had the best of both worlds when I had My VTX1300 and the 1998 1500 Valkyrie in my garage, but almost each time I got ready to ride I ended up taking the Valkyrie cause it was soooo much more bike,and fun...... could not afford a thir so, the other 2 had to go to make room for the 2014 Valkyrie,and Im NOT sorry at all, its all the bike I will need for the rest of my life,  WELL, riding life that is, being 65 and retired I plan on riding for many more years to come,and when that time comes I am going to give my bike to my grandson, who by then will be just the rite age to get a super machine. With at least another 100,000 miles of life to go.....

[rusty]

nice plan woofred   

[Thor32]

  Agree Woofred- I feel fortunate to stumble on this bike after 30+ years of missing out on the  "wind therapy"! I feel no need to look further or feel it lacks in any way>Enjoy the ride!

[woofred1832]

                                            Glad to have you back in the wind Thor, I have been riding for 46 years, some years alot more than others when kids, or job, or wife got in the way... but the kids are grown, im retired, and the wives are out of the picture, I mean they dont dictate my life anymore, free at last,free at last, thank God im free at last........................not rich by means of extra money but, rich in the way that now I do WHAT I WANT... WHEN I WANT...oh ya I will work through the winter to make those all mighty dollars so that next summer I can hit the roads ,find the twisties,roll that throttle,and enjoy all the freedom that the open road has to offer, keep cool (oh ya its winter), stay warm, be ready to roll it out in the spring....................

[_Sheffjs_]

I am with you on the new.  however it is nice  to have a bike at home and the "cottage"  The 2014 is at the cottage where Florida yields some of its best roads.

Now if I could afford two new 1800s      But I just can't