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Author Topic: Looking for something new  (Read 3525 times)
Adirondack Bill
Member
*****
Posts: 219

Upstate New York Near Lake George


« on: January 16, 2021, 12:55:17 PM »

About this time last year, I submitted a post indicating it was time for a new bike. Due to COVID, there were not any bikes available, and I didn't see anything I liked anyway. I have had my Valk going on 7 years and I have greatly enjoyed it. But I am ready for something new. The Indain Challenger sparked my interest mainly due it's powerful engine. I was not fond of the look of the thing due to it's HUGE frame mounted fairing. Have never owned a bike with a fairing, so I sat on one to see how it felt. It was weird, you could not see the front tire, hec, you could not see the floor of the dealer unless you looked 15 feet in front of you. Not sure I like that. Also, 2020 was the first production year and Indain is still working out some bugs. I never thought I would want a regular Gold Wing, but the 2021 Gold Wing standard looks pretty nice, and we all know how powerful and dependable the wings are. How come  the big 4 Jap companies are not coming out with any new cruisers or baggers. Is this market dead?  I know Adventure bikes have become huge, but us 60 + people are still looking for cruisers/baggers. Yes, I know Harley still does this, but I was never a fan of them. Anyone have any experience with the Challenger?
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..
Member
*****
Posts: 27796


Maggie Valley, NC


« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2021, 01:36:47 PM »

I've ridden a couple of Indians. They feel so small and insubstantial.

Go ride the V1800. I hope you would be as surprised as me. I'm very pleased I bought my 2014.

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hubcapsc
Member
*****
Posts: 16768


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2021, 03:04:18 PM »


I went over and rode an Indian Springfield... hard bags, windshield, no fairing.
I liked it a lot. It seemed under powered compared to Valkyries, but the salesman
set it to "mild" and was particular about me riding a certain little loop they had
picked out instead of the loop I had picked out. Anywho... there were a lot
of good things I thought about it.

A bunch of us have 1800 Valkyries that we've fixed to where we like them now...

-Mike
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Robert
Member
*****
Posts: 16948


S Florida


« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2021, 05:13:07 PM »

I looked high and low before I bought my Valk to see what I liked and tried quite a few since then. The ones I considered

Kawi CONCOURS 14
Goldwing
Rocket
Bmw K 1600 GTL

Looked at other Hondas and Harley and Indian not an option for me. Of all the choices I would have to say the Concours would be the most likely because to me the price is ok the power is good it has all the features and just cruises nicely without all the bells and whistles.

The Wing looks nice since they cut the size down it about the same size as the Valk has all the bells and whistles you could want and with the new transmission is great. The price is higher than I would want to pay and they still are just a bit to soft.

The BMW costs, expensive to repair, I have heard parts are not readily available and you cannot really repair it yourself. But it is a top notch sport cruiser.

In all very hard to beat our Valks.

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“Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”
Adirondack Bill
Member
*****
Posts: 219

Upstate New York Near Lake George


« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2021, 09:28:22 AM »

Robert, I also looked at the kawasaki "Connie" and the Yamaha FJR 1300. My wife rides with me occasionally, and both the Kawi and FJR don't look too comfortable for the passenger. The Triumph Rocket certainly has plenty of power, but the new design looks like a sport bike- passenger seat way up in the air!. The BMW 1600B looks nice, but like you said- price over 26k and maintenance costs are scary.
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Robert
Member
*****
Posts: 16948


S Florida


« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2021, 04:51:49 AM »

Robert, I also looked at the kawasaki "Connie" and the Yamaha FJR 1300. My wife rides with me occasionally, and both the Kawi and FJR don't look too comfortable for the passenger. The Triumph Rocket certainly has plenty of power, but the new design looks like a sport bike- passenger seat way up in the air!. The BMW 1600B looks nice, but like you said- price over 26k and maintenance costs are scary.

Look at the Corbin seats if that is the only thing that is stopping you from the Connie. They are much more comfortable and seem to have a more cruiser style riding position, in concerns with height. When I was researching one the other thing was the handle bar height that some modified to a more upright position. When I sat on the Connie I too was not thrilled with the seating position. Pegs are also available to reposition since the bike is used for some cross country runs. But like any bike or pair of shoes sometime you need to wear them in to be comfortable. That is one of the hardest things to do, know how the bike will feel years or even months down the road.

I was so close to pulling the trigger on one before the Valk and would look at it again.

I want a bike that I can repair myself, the BMW with most of the electrical items cannot be. The problem is it takes a scanner that is 15k to read and erase codes. Most of the parts are high tech too and may require factory coding to make them work. So even if you buy the scanner or find one, programing many be an issue.

That is one thing about the Valk that is nice, it still has blink codes to diagnose a problem. The parts do not require any coding to work with the other electronic parts on your bike and you can get them used.

This is more an old school way of doing things since today all car manufactures require some form of coding for their parts and some will not sell you the parts, citing proprietary programing. From light switches to headlights, instrument clusters, all require some form of programing.

Since you no longer have a direct connection to anything in your car even steering, accel and braking, its all electronic. Yes even headlights require programing, you can replace a bulb and sometimes a headlight assembly but anything beyond that requires programing.
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“Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”
Crabballs
Member
*****
Posts: 89


« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2021, 11:57:27 AM »

About this time last year, I submitted a post indicating it was time for a new bike. Due to COVID, there were not any bikes available, and I didn't see anything I liked anyway. I have had my Valk going on 7 years and I have greatly enjoyed it. But I am ready for something new. The Indain Challenger sparked my interest mainly due it's powerful engine. I was not fond of the look of the thing due to it's HUGE frame mounted fairing. Have never owned a bike with a fairing, so I sat on one to see how it felt. It was weird, you could not see the front tire, hec, you could not see the floor of the dealer unless you looked 15 feet in front of you. Not sure I like that. Also, 2020 was the first production year and Indain is still working out some bugs. I never thought I would want a regular Gold Wing, but the 2021 Gold Wing standard looks pretty nice, and we all know how powerful and dependable the wings are. How come  the big 4 Jap companies are not coming out with any new cruisers or baggers. Is this market dead?  I know Adventure bikes have become huge, but us 60 + people are still looking for cruisers/baggers. Yes, I know Harley still does this, but I was never a fan of them. Anyone have any experience with the Challenger?

My suggestion is keep the Valk and get the new Wing!  The Valk is so unique and you'll be sorry you sold it.  Take a new Wing for a long test ride, preferably the DCT, and give it one hell of a workout.  Try to do the same with the 6 speed manual as well.  I never ever thought I would ever own a motorcycle with an automatic transmission, but I love it.  I'm glad I have both because they are two different animals with personalities so far apart that you'll wish you had more riding time to split between the two.
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