Hot Rod, single seater.

[phideux]

My back tire has a slow leak in it. It's flat right now, bike has been sitting while I've been bobbing her for a couple months. Both tires have good tread, the back one has had a flat before, but that was a valve  cracked, not a tire. Anyway, I figure I'll put new rubber on her. I'm thinking of just going all out DD on her. Don't want a pro/con thing, just tried and  recommended size/air-pressure info and favorite front/back combo.

[DarkSideR]

My back tire has a slow leak in it. It's flat right now, bike has been sitting while I've been bobbing her for a couple months. Both tires have good tread, the back one has had a flat before, but that was a valve  cracked, not a tire. Anyway, I figure I'll put new rubber on her. I'm thinking of just going all out DD on her. Don't want a pro/con thing, just tried and  recommended size/air-pressure info and favorite front/back combo.

I recently researched this and ended up mounting a Rear Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17 on the front. Though I have only been able to take it around the block I can share with you what I know thus far.

Your size options:
Stock Size             D/S Sizes
150/80 R17             130/90 R17      140/80 R17
4.72                      4.61                4.69                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                5.51                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21               26.92               Diameter
83.09                    82.35               84.58               Circumference
762.53                  769.41              749.15             Revs/Mile

Notes;
- I went with the 130/90, but the 140/80 will also work.
- Wing'rs running this tire on front of their bikes reporting +20k
- The 130/90 is slightly more narrow than stock and MarkT reported it gives the steering a lighter feel, and I can confirm this with just my short test ride.
- You must run the rear m/c tire backwards on the front!
 + When I got my new tire I put it side-by-side with the front tire currently on the bike with both directional arrow pointing forwards. I then noted the tread pattern on the new rear tire was backwards. When I spun the new tire backwards the tread patterns lined up.
- I paid $132 delivered for the Michelin.
- I'm running a Hankook Optimo 205/65 on the rear.
 + Here's my write up on the Hankook (http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,79572.0.html)

Hope this helps get you started.

DarkSider  

[phideux]

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[phideux]

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[idaida98]

Joe Valk what kind of fairing is that?// It looks like something I would be interested in. It looks great.

[Joevalk]

Corbin
Not easy to mount, I had to make my own mounts.

[phideux]

Just an update. I got the fenders cut and primed, ready to paint. Next is pull the tank and get it ready. But I signed up for an extra night at work and have to work the next 4 nights. S, next week. I'll put some pics up next week too. Still looking for handlebars.

[phideux]

Anybody say......Bobber?

Where did you get those handlebars????

[phideux]

I almost got all the paint done today. Everything is done except the tank, and that's in prime getting ready to paint. I have to work all weekend, but I hope to get the tank painted Monday and start the pinstripe on the fenders and stuff. I'm hoping to get it together in the next week or two. I miss riding her, I like my Fatboy and have been riding but I miss the Fatgirl.

Going to pull it out on Monday or Tuesday and wash it down while all the parts are off and I can clean the spots that usually never get cleaned. I had my buddy order me some turn signals which will be in Monday. I'm gonna fab up some sort of plate holder and I threw in a new air filter while the tank is off.

I"m welding up some Lolipops to build up some back pressure, they are awesome. I have made Lolipops before, for my Ironhead, with a bolt and a 3/4 washer, these puppies are stop sign shaped and 4.5 inches across.

I got a bunch of pics, just need to get them from phone to here.

[phideux]

Getting there. Still looking for handlebars.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208793845155586&set=pcb.10208793846355616&type=3

[Gryphon Rider]

Getting there. Still looking for handlebars.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208793845155586&set=pcb.10208793846355616&type=3

Can't access photos even when logged in to Facebook.  I guess I'm not in your audience.

"The link you followed may have expired, or the page may only be visible to an audience you're not in."

[Hook#3287]

Getting there. Still looking for handlebars.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208793845155586&set=pcb.10208793846355616&type=3

Can't access photos even when logged in to Facebook.  I guess I'm not in your audience.

"The link you followed may have expired, or the page may only be visible to an audience you're not in."

same here "Sorry, this content isn't available right now"  is what I get

[phideux]

Finally got a chance to get some pics on Photobucket, so here are a couple.
I'm still looking for some handlebars, I can't find any, I want some tall T-bars or Burly bars, or something similar. I've seen pics of folks on here with them, C,mon help a brother out, where did you get them???

Going out there in a bit to do some more work on her. I want to get her on the road again this week. I found some tiny but super bright turn signals, going to fab up some brackets for them and get them on, gotta fab up a license plate holder, tighten up some bolts and I got some emblems, reflectors and stuff to put on. Also have to finish up the Lollipops and stuff them in. That's about it. I'm gonna order tires next week, going Darkside, maybe even DD.

I had some takeoff parts in the for sale/trade thread. I got everyones E-mail and stuff, we've been slammed and short handed in the ER and getting busy on the Ambulance, so worked some extra hours and been busy. As of now, I have the next 4 nights off. I'll get out there and get some pics at get back with you. Sorry for the delay.

[Jess from VA]

That is a nice bobber you have there.  

Before I read your post, I thought... the only thing I would need was different bars (well, and a seat).

I would definitely try to pull those back (and down) quite a bit for possible use, but you can see pulled that far back the grip angle would be pretty wrong.

If you are looking at getting a set of drag bars where the handlebars are also the risers (and bolt right to the triple tree), keep in mind that Harley and Kawasaki space their riser bolt holes in the tree at 3.5" apart (to centers), whereas Honda and others space them 100mm (4") apart.  They are made both ways, but you don't want the wrong ones.  



I spent a lot of time looking for different handlebars for my interstates, including drag bars.  The valk handlebar dimensions (with taller risers) are just about perfect for me, but like many I just wanted to get my wrists/hands straighter on the grips.  You pretty much need a drag bar, or Z bar, or possibly a set of miniapes (similar, but shorter to what you have on there) (but those will still have a bit of kink in the wrist).  

On drag bars, I looked for a one piece bar that had the long pullback the OE risers do (Oe Valk bars have 14" of pullback, and taller risers do add a bit to that sitting on the angled tree) and about 8 or more inches of rise (since those bars have to give you everything you get with both risers and handlbar rise alone), and only a couple even got close.  I think these were Wild Chubbys, and likely in a 1 1/4 bar (though reduced to 1" at the controls).   I wanted a straighter grip, but I did not want to have to lean (far) forward to reach them.  In the end, most all bars with long pullback, give you bent wrists.

The other way I tried to go was with an angled back fairly straight drag bar (without integral legs), mated to a set of super tall and long pullback risers.  Not a lot of luck finding those risers (though SCOOTWORKS has a few).  (Plus whatever I got had to match up OK with the IS fairing in terms of function/fit (none will really look right).

Tall risers with a bent drag handlebar (but not enough pullback).
 

After a lot of looking and measuring, and considering that no matter how carefully I mounted bars or bars and risers for fit, if they didn't work for me, I was going to have a very hard time returning things that had been mounted, and it was going to get expensive doing it trial and error.  Add to that, that I might need longer cables/throttle, but no idea how much longer, I finally gave up and quit trying.

I never could find a drag bar setup (with or without risers) that I was satisfied with.  The best bets I found were Harley OE bars for like a Road Glide (or one of their dressers), and a couple versions of aftermarket one inch miniapes.  But understand, I was not looking a bars for a bobber, but bars that would perform well on an interstate with fairing, let me sit back, but still give me a flat, straight wrist hand grip.

This site is the best one extant for shopping handlebars.  I does not have every bar available, but it gives all the OE bike handlebar dimensions in terms of rise, pullback, centers, length, and clamp, and shopping by dimensions is likely to get a better result than just shopping by looks (and if using risers you have to add the rise and pullback they give to the handlebar specs).

http://www.sideroadcycles.com/ImportedMotorcycles/ImportHandlebars/ImportHandlebars.html

Size Chart:  http://www.sideroadcycles.com/AmericanMotorcycles/Handlebars/Stock_Bars.html

Scootworks.  Lots of tall (a bit clunky, but strong) risers.  http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/page=partshonhandle.htm/SID=PUT_SID_HERE

Wild Chubby 100mm centers (metric) drags:  Most of these would make me lean forward, maybe off my seat.
http://www.wild1inc.com/metric1.html

Finally, here's a bunch of Z bars.  They look a little strange, but they can get your hands where you want them.  https://www.google.com/search?q=tall+pullback+risers+with+drag+handlebar&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivv8OY5b7TAhWK6SYKHQL7BecQ_AUICCgB&biw=1424&bih=638#tbm=isch&q=Z+bars
  

[Hook#3287]

When I looked at handlebar options (I admit I didn't look as deep as Jess did)  I wasn't able to find anything under $200.00 that I liked.

I ended up using the 4" risers that came on the bike with these almost straight bars.  Around $20.00 and they work great.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/502-198

I figured the positions and drilled the holes in the bars for the studs in the switch housings.

The position gives my wrists a straight line.

[Crazy Miles]

seen this one at Americade a few years ago.   He was from NY city.        Very WILD!      

[Houdini]

Here's mine

[phideux]

That's some nice rides. Almost there, Having turn signal issues which is addressed in another thread. I hurt myself at work so that slowed production on the bike down. What's left???
I took the tank back off to stretch the wires/cables/lines for a set of Apes, got them on. Need to put the tank back on, got everything pretty much wired up,except for the blinker issue, was welding up the Lolipops tonight and ran out of wire for the welder. So a trip to Home Depot in the morning. Once the tank is on and the Lolipops are in, I can take her for a spin. I need to order some tires though, but I can ride on mine until I get some, they got a little life left.
I'll put up some pics when I'm done.  We are in the middle of bike week here. Wanna take the FatGirl out and show her off.

[phideux]

  Got to go for a couple of rides yesterday and last night. We're in the middle of Harley week here, but the ole FatGurl turned some heads.



I like her like this.



Here's a before pic.

[Jess from VA]

Looks good.  I like everything but the..... well, you know. 

I had three wasp stings in my armpit last year (with normal bars and an interstate fairing).  Just sayin'.

[ridingron]

Never "got" the ape hanger thing but it is your bike. Since you seem to be going for form over function did you consider aligning the handle bars with the forks (slight angle back)?

[Relax]

I don't know any details , I just saw the pic somwhere and kept it..

[phideux]

Never "got" the ape hanger thing but it is your bike. Since you seem to be going for form over function did you consider aligning the handle bars with the forks (slight angle back)?

Tried it, didn't like the way it felt. I like the bars where they are, and it handles great with the Apes.

[Hook#3287]

Are your front brake lines stretched to the max?

Seems like they might be a little too short.

Maybe just the camera angle?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Are your front brake lines stretched to the max?

Seems like they might be a little too short.

Maybe just the camera angle?

Agreed, look way too short.

[mello dude]

Bike looks great. Never understood why Honda never came out with a pearl white for the Valk.
Well gotta admitt, I dont understand Apes........

[phideux]

Must be the camera angle, the brake lines have plenty of slack, the wires and clutch line are fine, the throttle cables are fine, only thing a little tight is the choke cable, but it works.
I was looking for some tall drag bars, like I have on the Harley, and while looking a friend had some Apes in his shed that he let me try on for size, they were a little tall but I liked them, so I ordered a set a little shorter. I think she handles great with them. I tried them putting them in line with the forks, didn't feel right, so I cocked them forward a bit and found that sweet spot, I don't know, I think that "out of line" look is growing on me too, I like it.