Touring On A Valk

[JamminJohn1]

My local boys may be able to help. No hurry. My bikes are still runnin' great.
Can't beat that Honda Six.

            JJ

[Law Dawg]

I've bought my 2014 Black Valkyrie August 2016, brand new and still in the crate...I looked for several weeks on cycle trader...Finally found one in El Campo Texas, paid $9,999.00.......My buddy bought his 2014 Valkyrie new in 2014, he flew to Chattanooga Tn. and he paid $14,000.00...He races Pro Endurance, owns several bikes, buys older bikes, rebuilds them, rides them, then sells them..He's very talented and knowledgable on any bike..My wife loved his Valkyrie, she didn't like the GW, said it was an old mans bike, haaaaa, I'm 59 so I guess I'm not old enough..I took her on a 2 hour ride on his Valk in the southern Texas heat. He's changed the rear shock and reworked the front forks, so I never knew how the stock Valk rode...Riding 2 up on his Valk was very very smooth, never felt bumps, cornered like silk with 2 up..Once I bought my Valk, I could tell a big difference in the ride/suspension...I'm gonna buy the same rear shock and fork rebuild and let him install these..I also bought the OEM leather bags, luggage rack, sissy bar and tall Honda windshield, this OEM windshield works excellent and is a blessing deflecting the wind and road bugs..I added the Kuryakyn black Ergo II Cruise Mount Highway pegs and Kuryakyn Passenger Cruise Pegs for the wife.. The seat is ok for now, my buddy had a Corbin which was better than stock but I want to get the Russell Day seat, it looks very soft...
We both rode from Sugar Land Texas to Colorado, 11 day trip in July, I was on my Voyager and he on his Valkyrie...A V Twin isn't even close to the ride, comfort and effortless power like his Valkyrie...
I like the Cruiser type ride, no frills and I'm itching to go back but on the Valkyrie this time...

[JamminJohn1]

Thanks for the insight. 

            JJ

[Kidd]

I  have allready replaced my rear  shock and spring , was still too stiff , tomorrow we are replacing the spring with a softer one in the hopes of less jarring ride

What company is your friend using for shock  replacement ??

[Dragunslayer]

I've bought my 2014 Black Valkyrie August 2016, brand new and still in the crate...I looked for several weeks on cycle trader...Finally found one in El Campo Texas, paid $9,999.00.......My buddy bought his 2014 Valkyrie new in 2014, he flew to Chattanooga Tn. and he paid $14,000.00...He races Pro Endurance, owns several bikes, buys older bikes, rebuilds them, rides them, then sells them..He's very talented and knowledgable on any bike..My wife loved his Valkyrie, she didn't like the GW, said it was an old mans bike, haaaaa, I'm 59 so I guess I'm not old enough..I took her on a 2 hour ride on his Valk in the southern Texas heat. He's changed the rear shock and reworked the front forks, so I never knew how the stock Valk rode...Riding 2 up on his Valk was very very smooth, never felt bumps, cornered like silk with 2 up..Once I bought my Valk, I could tell a big difference in the ride/suspension...I'm gonna buy the same rear shock and fork rebuild and let him install these..I also bought the OEM leather bags, luggage rack, sissy bar and tall Honda windshield, this OEM windshield works excellent and is a blessing deflecting the wind and road bugs..I added the Kuryakyn black Ergo II Cruise Mount Highway pegs and Kuryakyn Passenger Cruise Pegs for the wife.. The seat is ok for now, my buddy had a Corbin which was better than stock but I want to get the Russell Day seat, it looks very soft...
We both rode from Sugar Land Texas to Colorado, 11 day trip in July, I was on my Voyager and he on his Valkyrie...A V Twin isn't even close to the ride, comfort and effortless power like his Valkyrie...
I like the Cruiser type ride, no frills and I'm itching to go back but on the Valkyrie this time...

I notice you stated he changed the shock and made changes to the forks. Sounds like he knows how to make a a great bike better. Changing one end or the other with a combined effort will most likely result in the same poor suspension.

[brew1brew]

I have to wonder if the 1800 Valk you rode had the shock adjusted to the stiffest position, The rear shock is adjustable.

I had a VTX 1300c and a 2002 Valk Standard 1500, my 2014 Valk ride is smoother and I feel less jarring bumps than I did on ether of my other two bikes. And I have a tumor in my lower back that is pushing on a nerve root. Believe me, I really notice hard jarring bumps and this bike is by far the best ride or the three I listed.

 

I have owned a 1999  and a 2001 Valk , 2 months ago I rode a 1998 Valk  

The ride on the 2014 is jarring , others have stated the  same thing here on this board

I do not disagree with you , Dragunslayer , Tuesday , my bike goes in to switch out springs in the hopes and we'll  see how it turns out .
When they replaced the shock the first time , I could tell a 10 to 15 % difference , it just took the edge off , less edgy , less sharp .
I may end up doing something with the front , too.

I do not agree totally that the 1500 Valkyrie had a plusher ride. Sinc eI owned two of those as well. Like I have told you in private if you think just changing the shock is going to make a plush ride you are mistaken.

The forks and the shock of the bike work together. Changing one way help or hurt the overall performance of the suspension. If the dampening rates in the shock are changed but the same is not done to the front you will still end up with a harsh non compliant ride.

Are you there test mule for Valkyries (possibly). But suspension is not as easy as just saying I weight this much and want a plush ride. The downside to not going to the source to have the work done in person is that you will play tag back and forth.

Different scenario but sample principle would be when I had a base line suspension setup done at the track on my stock suspension. I went out on track and the bike was chattering on the brakes going into corners and exiting on the gas.

I go in an tell the guy the issue and his response was "oh you are one of those guys that likes soft suspension". I do not think I like soft suspension but know that there is more to suspension than just a shock and an adjustment.

Tires come into play. Michelins will perform better on a stiffer suspension since they flex more and act as a dampening force. Try to same settings on a Dunlop and you think you are riding on a hard tail.

[Shrubbo]

I have not found it jarring to ride to be honest but it just occurred to me that long ago I wound down the preload as far as it could go in an attempt to get some relief from that seat. I don't remember winding it back up.

[JamminJohn1]

It's a drag that every maker puts crappy seats on their bikes.
I've replaced the seat on most of my bikes although my V65 Sabre had a very good seat.

                    JJ

[BoldlyGo]

The factory Honda accessory bags are 24L each, a mid-large-sized bag in the motorcycle world.  You can install larger bags on the factory Honda brackets, just buy bags with a 'blank' (non pre-drilled) backside.  The factory Honda bags are well proportioned for the bike, they fit the allotted area well and do not get in the way, which I can't guarantee if you go larger.

As I frequently mention, Gustafsson Plastics makes windshields in an entire range of sizes for our new Valk

https://bikescreen.com/collections/popular-items/products/honda-goldwing-valkyrie-f6c-2014-2016

Choose the height, mounting system and plastic color of your choice - a huge combination of options to find your preference.  

The tank is steel and holds 6.2 gallons, good for a continuous road cruise at a standard 65-70MPH solo rider range of about 220 miles before you need to seriously be concerned about finding fuel.  YMMV, of course, but minimum range cruise range (that is, relatively constant without playing animal on the throttle) is at least 190 miles.  I get from 40MPG to 45MPG on average over various road conditions.

Seat is the real distance killer on the Valk, the stock seat stinks.  Too square, too wide with not enough front taper and too hard.  For touring a new seat is an absolute requirement, once you get one that you are happy with then touring is easy.  Highway pegs IMHO are also pretty much a requirement on Gold Wings, as I've discovered, but I guess that is why there are so many styles available, you need them on long trips to give your knees some stretching-out space from the behind-the-engine location.  I'm using Mick-O-Peg DD's, they are great.

I do 1,000 a weekend on average, usually 6 to 11 hours a day, touring is very doable on this bike.  Get your seating straightened out and add a shield of your choice and away you'll go, the rest of the bike is very well sorted and absolutely, amazingly refined, makes distances go by easy.

Thanks for the Gustaffson link as I have ordered the 10" with light smoke to go with the menacing black colour of my 2015 Valkyrie.  I purchased the bike for $14k with150km on it!  The bike came with the Honda boulevard screen (5") - which actually does a remarkable job on the highway breaking the wind from your chest.  I figured the 10" custom windshield would do a perfect job and blend nicely with the look of the bike.

[ledany]

I  have allready replaced my rear  shock and spring , was still too stiff , tomorrow we are replacing the spring with a softer one in the hopes of less jarring ride

My Valk has now 34,000 mls on the clock and today, in the only curves of our famous highway, the jarring began at 112 mph so I had to give up. Last year the bike had 16,000 mls and I could go faster without jarring. I'm 143 lbs, I thought the rear shock and front spring would last longer   
From day one, I fixed the shock as stiff as possible. 

[dinosnake]

34K is a long time for motorcycle suspension, it is certainly time to service the forks with new oil and seals and service or replace the rear shock.  There is nothing wrong, you got good life out of them.

I have my forks serviced at around 24K, generally.

[ledany]

A long time for japanese suspension ! 
With my former BMW K1200 R and K1200 GT, the shocks were quite allright still, with twice the mileage. The curves I'm talking about are my landmark 
But you are right : I have to change the oil fork (BMW telelever where are you ?  ) , I'll let the dealer fix it and ask him about the sleeves. 

[barney fife]

Lawg Dog is referring to me.  The front shock has the AK20 Cartridges from Traxxion Dynamics.  The stock suspension is ok, but can be improved.  The AKs are awesome, but after doing the front I could definitely tell the rear shock could use some improvement.  So I had on road off road suspension in Austin, Texas get a Penske rear for me.  It is a little to stiff, so it needs a little tweaking.  I just havent had time to pay him a visit yet.

[dinosnake]

A long time for japanese suspension ! 
With my former BMW K1200 R and K1200 GT, the shocks were quite allright still, with twice the mileage. The curves I'm talking about are my landmark 
But you are right : I have to change the oil fork (BMW telelever where are you ?  ) , I'll let the dealer fix it and ask him about the sleeves. 

Yeah, but that's not really a fair comparison, the BMW's you mention are Telelever with "real" gas monotube shocks, not a valved atmospheric telescopic fork.  A tube shock will outlive any fork's service lifespan any day of any year. 

Servicing forks is just something that mortals need to do    I've got to get mine done, the roads here have beaten my front end to pulp.