Valk does not like Rain

[roboto65]

Yesterday on my way up to Alabama ran into a little rain now the last time I rode in rain I was on my Magna had never been in rain on the Valk IS. 2 things she does not like rain as when it started and the road got WET she died coasted to a exit ramp turned over fine and fast not sure why but kinda I think figured it out .   

When I got the bike it did not have a vent line on it so well I put one on without the T now I know what the T is for I think what happens is the rain or water got into the vent line well it is under vachumm when you are running and the water would block the passage.       Now this is just thoughts is there anything else that anyone has run into as far as water shutting the bike down..   

For what is it worth once I stopped and it sat for a minute it restarted it did it one more time and when the rain stopped it ran great the whole way to  my destination.

And now the other thing I have Avons on the bike and let me tell you it was not fun riding that big thing in the rain I felt like the front end was going to slip out the whole time and when passing a truck it would wiggle all the way till I got by NOT FUN
I have ridden in the rain on the Magna many a time and it was solid as a rock in fact I felt better on it than in the car but the Valk was not fun it was very unsteady to say the least!!!!

Other than the rain problems I am in love she rode great and did 803 miles from my house to my Dads going out to give her a good cleaning!!

[Daniel Meyer]

Definately sounds like the "T" vacuum breaker in the vent line...

My experience in the rain is that I'll drown long before my Valk does...

[vanagon40]

And now the other thing I have Avons on the bike and let me tell you it was not fun riding that big thing in the rain I felt like the front end was going to slip out the whole time and when passing a truck it would wiggle all the way till I got by NOT FUN
I have ridden in the rain on the Magna many a time and it was solid as a rock in fact I felt better on it than in the car but the Valk was not fun it was very unsteady to say the least!!!!

Call me what you want, but I do NOT like riding in the rain.  That said, on either the Interstate or back roads, I have never felt these tires even once think about wanting to slip or slide in the rain.

[fldragon6]

I had the same problem and found that the T was missing and the vent tube was sitting squarely on the swingarm, When dry not a problem but add a little moisture and that vent line would seal itself to the swingarm and starve the motor for gas. I am glad I had a couple of seasoned Valkyrie riders with me to help figure it out. I can just imagine what a Honda shop would have charged me.

[roboto65]

Yeah no doubt on the stealer  got a T fitting today and fixed her up will find out if that was it when she gets wet again 

[22Dasher]

I have Avons on my Tourer and here lately it seems I get caught in the rain more than the sun and not one time has the Bike acted as you described on wet rds matter of fact she feels pretty solid on the rds wet or dry although I don't push my luck when its wet.
 I'm with ya though I don't like riding in the rain either if.I wanna get wet I have a boat for that.

[SANDMAN5]

And now the other thing I have Avons on the bike and let me tell you it was not fun riding that big thing in the rain I felt like the front end was going to slip out the whole time and when passing a truck it would wiggle all the way till I got by NOT FUN

That's kinda how I felt with an E3 on front, with or without rain!! I have an Avon front, my first,
but haven't really tried it in the wet. I always had good traction when I had a Metz leading the
way, I just couldn't get them to last very long. GYTT rear.

[roboto65]

May have to try the Metz on the front when the Avon wears and I most likely will be going to the Darkside when the rear wears out too seems like the GYTT is the way to go ...  Have rain today for the Trail of Tears ride will see how she does !!!!

[Sleeper]

I know this is an old thread but I'm having the same problem. Valk dies every time it gets wet and will not run until it dries out thoroughly. I've had it in the shop three times with no improvement. Can someone give me details on the "T" vacuum breaker in the vent line. Or anything else that could cause this issue. Thanks a bunch.

[6jugzz]

I had the same problem and found that the T was missing and the vent tube was sitting squarely on the swingarm, When dry not a problem but add a little moisture and that vent line would seal itself to the swingarm and starve the motor for gas. I am glad I had a couple of seasoned Valkyrie riders with me to help figure it out. I can just imagine what a Honda shop would have charged me.

Nce............me like!!

[roboto65]

It is kinda hard to see but at the back of the tank on the bottom there is a vent hose that allows air to enter the tank as fuel goes out I just took the whole hose off  and have had NO more issues with the rain.

[Pete]

There are two or three ways to fix this.

1. go down the vent hose a few inches and drill a small hole on the upside of the hose.
2. go down the vent hose a few inches and cut the hose  and insert a tee with the open tee pointing  up.
3 reroute the vent hose so that it is not exposed to water splashing up on the exposed bottom end.

Removing the hose may be a bad idea as under certain conditions, full fuel tank, exposed to sun or heat the vent can expel gas  onto a hot engine. On rusty tanks sometimes the vent tube inside the tank will develop a hole and actually drain gas from a full tank thru the vent hose.