new valkyrie payback time

[strokerduster]

iv'e been riding for 45 years and just got around to buying a valkyrie. i researched a lot on this site as a reference when buying. i found a yellow and black standard with loads of extras and 4900 miles on it. i planned on taking a road trip and all i did was change all the fluids and plugs. previous owner said the reserve was unreliable and not to trust it. i decided to replace the valve with a new oe valve. when i pulled the tank, the valve worked fine but it had a filter installed. i drained the tank to check for rust/trash and it was spotless. i removed the filter as i think it probably why it wouldn't feed right when low on fuel and changed the valve anyway. ready to ride.... i have done long distance rides (ironbutt lite) for about 10 years. 2500-3000 mile trips on klr650, 650 vstrom, bmw r1150r, and now the valk. i just returned from a 2800 mile lap through Tx,La,Ms,Al,Fl,GA and back. about 800 of it in the rain and some of it in the RAIN! just wanted to pass on some observations of mine on return. the bike ran flawless, never missed a beat. the motor is a work of art, like an electric motor...just turn the knob and it accelerates. the trans is one clunky piece but works well otherwise. it is the most stable bike in the rain i have ever had (new venom r's) and you have to watch it or you end up over confident and riding too fast for conditions. handles well in strong crosswinds also. has corbin seats and is an inch or two too short saddle height for my bum legs/knees but highway pegs made it okay. 693 miles the 1st day (in the RAIN) and i was fine. the brakes are okay but not great. probably not a fair statement coming off a BMW with brembo brakes on it. you can actually see out the mirrors at 80 mph. 33-40 mpg depending on speed. i stopped about every 130-140 miles and sometimes not even get off. just pull up to the pump, stick a card in and fill. 2 minutes and on the road again. mileage wasn't a problem to me. biggest issue on this trip to me was debris on the roads. more than i have ever noticed before. ladders, pallet, 4x4 post, hubcap, fender, chair, spare tire etc.etc. i guess money is tight and they have cut back on maint. it was a good bonding trip with the bike and i'll change a few things for personal taste. overall the bike is impressive and i wonder why honda stopped production. on a side note, i your ever close to Birmingham, i too recommend the Barber Museum. ultimate motorcycle candy store. plan 1/2 day or more. just wanted to pass on my 2 cents and have a good one.....PS

[Black Dog]

Nice write up   

You are finding out why many of us have had our Valks for 10 years or more.  Heck, some lucky folks have more than one Valk!

Safe winds!

Black Dog

[f-Stop]

Congrats on the Bumble Bee!  Sounds like you picked up a choice bike.  

I found my '98 Standard about 14 months ago with a beautiful Corbin seat already on it, too.  The lower sitting position didn't work for my bum knee either, so I set out to get an Ultimate Big Boy.  Instead, I found a near new Mustang seat set on the VRCC classifieds...at about half price!  The seat - along with highway pegs and handle bar risers - makes for a pretty comfortable ride.  Couldn't be happier.

FYI, this Tech Board totally rocks!  Even though I have the Honda shop manual, this board has given me the information and confidence to do all of my own maintenance.  I've changed all fluids - brake, radiator, final drive, clutch and oil twice (that's a gimme! ).  I also built my own carb sync tool based on Dag's (Valkyrie Norway) design and adjusted my valves (not in that order!).  This winter I plan to rebuild the petcock and replace all my vacuum hoses.  I may do the de-smog as per the Tech Board archives, too.  And I was able to build a "low tech" lift adaptor based on a design found on this site.

Anyway, just wanted to throw that info out there...once again, congratulations!

[f6john]

    If your just getting familiar with the valk and think the trans is clunky, try putting a little pressure on the shifter before you engage the clutch and I think you may be surprised as the smoothness.

[Spirited-6]

    If your just getting familiar with the valk and think the trans is clunky, try putting a little pressure on the shifter before you engage the clutch and I think you may be surprised as the smoothness.

PLUS me. I only hear a "click" when shifting this way. Fast shifting is the way to go. 

[Dag]

Congrats with your good choice 

[John Schmidt]

You found a gem for sure, love that Bumblebee color. One question re. the filter however, when you spoke of the filter were you talking about the one inside the tank that fits over the petcock feed tube, or an external one? You don't want to run without any filter so hopefully it was an external item you removed.

[Disco]

Welcome my Bumblebee Brother!  I bought mine in August of '07 with 3,570 miles on it.  It has almost 20,000 on it now and the transmission is still loosening up.  You are 15-20,000 miles from broken-in.

[Six Packer]

Congrats on the BumbleBee  purchase.  I have had three Valks over the last ten years.  Having ridden bikes since '64 I can honestly say there is nothing like a Valk. 
If you didn't change your oil with a synthetic you should do so.  Most on the board will recommend it.  I use Shell Rotella synthetic from WalMart (about $20) and WalMart brand Tech filter--total cost about $23.  Use of the synthetic really does help with the shifting and tranny clunk. 

Also check on the Shop Talk pages here and you will find alot of info.

[T-Bird]

Congrats to you.!
Where are you located?  Smokin Joe has a ride this week in Robbinsville NC. There will be a lot of us there, if your close by join us. Check the upcoming events at the bottom of the main page.

[Sodbuster]

Welcome to VRCC !!  You're right,  these Valks are addictive. I've wanted one ever since they came out but couldn't afford one till now. Now I can't stay off of it.

[strokerduster]

thanks for the welcome's! the filter i removed was an add on automotive inline under the tank. the tube/screen on the oe petcock appears adequate to me. i own an auto parts store in the Texas hill country and oil/filter changes aren't a problem. i use synthetic in everything. i put 10w40 in it but think i will change it and go to 20w50 and see if it helps. may never get it clean again as nasty as it is now, but i'll work on it......PS

[John Schmidt]

thanks for the welcome's! the filter i removed was an add on automotive inline under the tank. the tube/screen on the oe petcock appears adequate to me. i own an auto parts store in the Texas hill country and oil/filter changes aren't a problem. i use synthetic in everything. i put 10w40 in it but think i will change it and go to 20w50 and see if it helps. may never get it clean again as nasty as it is now, but i'll work on it......PS

Just be careful with the synthetic oil, you can't use anything with "friction modifiers" in it. It will do a number on your clutch in short order. As for the filter, the internal is good enough to use with the OEM petcock.

[strokerduster]

Thanks for the heads up. i am very familiar with oils and sell/use royal purple motorcycle specific in all my bikes........PS

[FLAVALK]

thanks for the welcome's! the filter i removed was an add on automotive inline under the tank. the tube/screen on the oe petcock appears adequate to me. i own an auto parts store in the Texas hill country and oil/filter changes aren't a problem. i use synthetic in everything. i put 10w40 in it but think i will change it and go to 20w50 and see if it helps. may never get it clean again as nasty as it is now, but i'll work on it......PS

There is a reason owners install an inline filter....hydrolock. Do a search and you will find that this is one part of a multi-faceted solution for this dreaded possibility.

[valkyriemc]

In line filter under trunk, and rear end service_look see.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Elusive%203rd%20O-Ring.htm.

R/R O-rings , thrust washer, & regrease with Guard Dog or simlilar.

[Rocketman]

i own an auto parts store in the Texas hill country

Stop on by the Texas board (http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/board,3.0.html) if you want to meet some local Valkyrie riders.  We have some folks in the hill country, and the whole Texas chapter meets out there every year.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Congrats on a great decision. 

[valkyriemc]

 "thanks for the welcome's! the filter i removed was an add on automotive inline under the tank. the tube/screen on the oe petcock appears adequate to me. i own an auto parts store in the Texas hill country and oil/filter changes aren't a problem. i use synthetic in everything. i put 10w40 in it but think i will change it and go to 20w50 and see if it helps. may never get it clean again as nasty as it is now, but i'll work on it......PS"


  Two things popped in my mind when I read about the in line filter being removed. I installed an inline filter in my Valkyrie after draining the carbs and finding red-ish looking debris come out. Then I took the tank off removed the petcock and washed tank out with gasoline into a white towel, (my wife really enjoyed that) and got some more trash out. This took place in 2002 when I bought the Interstate. I installed a high flow filter that gets cleaned about once a year, or sooner.
 
 Re oil, check out this link, I'm not a dealer but think its better than RP. Just my 2cents. G/L.
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/G-2156.pdf