today's chuckle

[DanL]

Went & finally got a haircut and the barber/hair stylist? saw me pull up and asked what kind of Harley I was riding.  When I said it was a Valkyrie, he asked if that was a new model Harley? When I said it was a Honda, he thought I was kidding. He asked me what year was it and when I said 2001.  He said "I was 9 years old when it came out!" He asked how many miles on it and I said around 93 or 94. my barber said 93 or 94 hundred with a quizzical look on his face.  The guy in the next chair who was listening blurted out 93,000 or 94,000? When I said yes, his barber and him both turned around to look at the Valk.
After leaving and starting up the Valk, the barber opens the door and yells out "what's the name of that bike?"

It was a great day!

I've thought about trading in the Valk but after days like this, I know I can't.   

[ybnorml]

I used to chuckle at those comments myself Dan....
"What kind of a f*cking Harley Davidson is that ??"
Always told them it was the new proto type I was trying out,
had fake badges and markings as to not reveal the secrets.
Less than a dozen were being tested across the US.

Speaking of crotch rockets zipping past you....
On our way north on I 95 after Jake's Ride, we watched in the south bound
lane 2 riders standing on their rear pegs doing wheelies and passing vehicles.
We pulled into a service station / rest area for beverages and snacks,
and couldn't stop talking about those 2 idiots.

[Hook#3287]

It was a great day!

I've thought about trading in the Valk but after days like this, I know I can't.  

I've never thought of trading in, just know I can't

Went to the drag races in Oxford, Maine this past weekend.

Getting gas, a HD rider came up to me, asked "is that a Valkyrie" and told me it was beautiful. 

I agreed.

Was riding with a couple of HD buddies, one that is a young 76 years old and riding a Road King w/side car, so I stayed pretty much at the posted speed limit.

We were on I-95 and usually not too many cars pass me, but lot did that day.

I watched this young girl go by, looking at my bike, then slowing down for a better look.

She looked up at me, gave me a big smile and thumbs up, and tooled down the road.

Seeing as my other buddy is riding a 2014 Street Glide with a blower and a awesome paint job, that felt pretty good.

Not bad for a 18 year old bike.

[dalai-lama]

Agree to all of the above.  Don't know what I would do without my I/S.  Fixing Joe's bike also has me amazed on what a bike that is 18 years old still can look like and do.

Update on the repairs on that.  So far

rebuild clutch - works good now
replaced carbs
replaced trigger wheel with stock
replaced timing belts
replaced ICM with an I/S ICM
rebuild rear caliper
rebuild front calipers
replaced spark plugs
replaced petcock with pingle (OEM was disintergating from old fuel and in fact screen on it did)
replaced air filter
changed oil
desmogged

Having an issue with the front brakes in that pressure builds up when riding and locks the brakes.  Cracking the bleeder allows me to continue.  Going to rebuild the master cylinder tomorrow.

If the master cylinder rebuild does not cure the problem then the brake lines will have to be replaced as I know the calipers are ok.  Did notice on HDL parts that the OEM front brake lines are no longer available, so some parts for the old girls are starting to be not available.

Still to do:

install dan-marc fuel selenoid
sync carbs (got Karen's Digisync tool to try for that)

[DanL]

I used to chuckle at those comments myself Dan....
"What kind of a f*cking Harley Davidson is that ??"
Always told them it was the new proto type I was trying out,
had fake badges and markings as to not reveal the secrets.
Less than a dozen were being tested across the US.

Speaking of crotch rockets zipping past you....
On our way north on I 95 after Jake's Ride, we watched in the south bound
lane 2 riders standing on their seats doing wheelies and passing vehicles.
We pulled into a service station / rest area for beverages and snacks,
and couldn't stop talking about those 2 idiots.


Terry
the last time I saw something like that was when I was going through the south station tunnel in Boston about 8 years ago and one of the clowns on the crotch rockets painted the wall and I didn't even feel bad.  I guess I'm not politically correct. 

[DanL]

Agree to all of the above.  Don't know what I would do without my I/S.  Fixing Joe's bike also has me amazed on what a bike that is 18 years old still can look like and do.

Update on the repairs on that.  So far

rebuild clutch - works good now
replaced carbs
replaced trigger wheel with stock
replaced timing belts
replaced ICM with an I/S ICM
rebuild rear caliper
rebuild front calipers
replaced spark plugs
replaced petcock with pingle (OEM was disintergating from old fuel and in fact screen on it did)
replaced air filter
changed oil
desmogged

Having an issue with the front brakes in that pressure builds up when riding and locks the brakes.  Cracking the bleeder allows me to continue.  Going to rebuild the master cylinder tomorrow.

If the master cylinder rebuild does not cure the problem then the brake lines will have to be replaced as I know the calipers are ok.  Did notice on HDL parts that the OEM front brake lines are no longer available, so some parts for the old girls are starting to be not available.

Still to do:

install dan-marc fuel selenoid
sync carbs (got Karen's Digisync tool to try for that)

Brett
I was with my two grandsons today going past the track at Loudon when one of them asked if I would ever take the Valk to the track.  That's when I relayed the story about you going down the track on the Valkyrie on one wheel.  We had a good laugh and I told them no way would I do that, only some crazy person would do it.   

[ybnorml]

Agree to all of the above.  Don't know what I would do without my I/S.  Fixing Joe's bike also has me amazed on what a bike that is 18 years old still can look like and do.

Update on the repairs on that.  So far

rebuild clutch - works good now
replaced carbs
replaced trigger wheel with stock
replaced timing belts
replaced ICM with an I/S ICM
rebuild rear caliper
rebuild front calipers
replaced spark plugs
replaced petcock with pingle (OEM was disintergating from old fuel and in fact screen on it did)
replaced air filter
changed oil
desmogged

Having an issue with the front brakes in that pressure builds up when riding and locks the brakes.  Cracking the bleeder allows me to continue.  Going to rebuild the master cylinder tomorrow.

If the master cylinder rebuild does not cure the problem then the brake lines will have to be replaced as I know the calipers are ok.  Did notice on HDL parts that the OEM front brake lines are no longer available, so some parts for the old girls are starting to be not available.

Still to do:

install dan-marc fuel selenoid
sync carbs (got Karen's Digisync tool to try for that)

Just replace the seat Brett and you'll now have a new bike !!!   

[Oss]

I remember stopping for gas somewhere in Kansas on the way to Denver and saw a sweet HD, the burnt orange colors
Anyway I compliment him on his bike and he asked me how many miles on mine. It was around 45000 back then
He asked me how many engine rebuilds and I said none and I havent even changed the plugs yet
He said he is on 3rd one with 12000 miles

wowee

Good to see you keeping that Valkyrie alive Brett