New member looking for advice

[Zanderk98]

Hi all –

Been reading all I can in this 1500 Tech forum & just got my log in activated.  Looking for any & all advice I can get on these old Honda Valkyries.

My story – A coworker who is into old cars recently came across a massive “barn find” that is going to auction next month.  An older gentleman (i.e. pack rat) died & his son has no interest & needs to get rid of 40+ cars to pay the back rent on the storage.  In the mix of vehicles & machinery, there are (4) damaged 1999 Valkyries, 4 new frames, 4 new short block engines (still in crates), & 2 trike conversion kits.  It’s all sitting untouched in a steel building since at least 2012, possibly longer.  I’m very much considering purchasing everything as a package deal, if the price is right.  I haven’t yet seen any of the stuff in person yet, just some photos my buddy took one night with a flash light & cell phone.

I currently ride a 1999 V-Star 650 Classic but being a motorcycle guy this project interests me.  I’ve always lusted after a 1999 Valkyrie Interstate.  I think my mechanical skills are up to the challenge.  I do all my own work on my vehicles, restored a basket case 1960 VW-based Manx dune buggy & done all kinds of rebuilds on old dirt bikes, woodworking & misc. small equipment.   Looking to get some expert opinions here on what all this stuff might be worth from a pricing standpoint?   What work is suggested?  What is the ‘proper sequence of events’ to bring bikes that have been sitting this long back to life?  If I get my hands on this treasure chest of bikes, I assume the process would be along the lines of pulling plugs to see if the engine turns > drain & replace old coolant > check carb condition/rebuild carbs > fresh fuel > new battery, etc.  Assuming I can find signs of life, then I’d get deeper into properly restoring every system.

Please let me know your thoughts.  I’m hopeful the experts here will help guide me & possibly help prevent ‘learning the hard way’ if there’s specific tips & tricks to these bikes.   

-Zanderk98

[Tfrank59]

Your sequence looks good but add checking gas tank for rust

[Jess from VA]

You would do well reading the recent threads by Rusty Valkyrie on here.

Look over Shop Talk.

Carburetors are probably not going to be your friends.

[gordonv]

If it's a legit barn find, with no history, suspect everything. All you are buying is parts bikes.

As for help, you'll get all you can ask for. I read this forum and the Tech section for over 6 months before getting my bike.

It should all come down to cost of the items. We all would hate to see something that could be fixed, parted out.

If/when you get them, is the time to start reading over the Known Problems in Shoptalk, and ask more questions here, specific to each problem. Most likely search will be your friend.

If I saw right, you also have your location in your profile, for those times you ask for local help. With summer coming and warmer weather, some would be looking for things to do.

Good luck, and don't forget to take pictures, so others can come along on the journey.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hi all –

Been reading all I can in this 1500 Tech forum & just got my log in activated.  Looking for any & all advice I can get on these old Honda Valkyries.

My story – A coworker who is into old cars recently came across a massive “barn find” that is going to auction next month.  An older gentleman (i.e. pack rat) died & his son has no interest & needs to get rid of 40+ cars to pay the back rent on the storage.  In the mix of vehicles & machinery, there are (4) damaged 1999 Valkyries, 4 new frames, 4 new short block engines (still in crates), & 2 trike conversion kits.  It’s all sitting untouched in a steel building since at least 2012, possibly longer.  I’m very much considering purchasing everything as a package deal, if the price is right.  I haven’t yet seen any of the stuff in person yet, just some photos my buddy took one night with a flash light & cell phone.

I currently ride a 1999 V-Star 650 Classic but being a motorcycle guy this project interests me.  I’ve always lusted after a 1999 Valkyrie Interstate.  I think my mechanical skills are up to the challenge.  I do all my own work on my vehicles, restored a basket case 1960 VW-based Manx dune buggy & done all kinds of rebuilds on old dirt bikes, woodworking & misc. small equipment.   Looking to get some expert opinions here on what all this stuff might be worth from a pricing standpoint?   What work is suggested?  What is the ‘proper sequence of events’ to bring bikes that have been sitting this long back to life?  If I get my hands on this treasure chest of bikes, I assume the process would be along the lines of pulling plugs to see if the engine turns > drain & replace old coolant > check carb condition/rebuild carbs > fresh fuel > new battery, etc.  Assuming I can find signs of life, then I’d get deeper into properly restoring every system.

Please let me know your thoughts.  I’m hopeful the experts here will help guide me & possibly help prevent ‘learning the hard way’ if there’s specific tips & tricks to these bikes.   

-Zanderk98

4 damaged bikes ? As in wrecked and needing the 4 frames ? Short block engines in crates ? I’ve never seen that. What is meant by short block ? OEM from Honda ? Just minus the carburetors ?

The vehicles are not on the deceased’s property, but at a rented storage ?
It’s hard to judge a value on it all without knowing and seeing more. Do you have room for all of that ?

[semo97]

Do you get titles to any of this? The frames are a good find, but need paper work, title or legal proof they can be registered as usable for a licensed bike. Took my son and I six months to find a none salvage frame to rebuild his IS and it was not cheap. It would be worth the time to go see. New frame with title could be 1k. Crate blocks if they are for the valk do not have a clue what they are worth. Cost to develop a running engine in parts could be expensive. They need to be a realistic cost for all parts, used parts sell if you got the time. In ten years how many valks are going to be on the road, mine will be 34 years old, and I will be 80. Out of curiosity I would like to look at them.

[BigBod]

Personally, I'd take a chance and buy the lot, bit of a find I would say. Would keep me quiet for years sorting that little lot out...

Go for it I say..

[Zanderk98]

Thanks for the info from those who replied thus far...

I have recent posts by Rusty Valkyrie & those have been really informative.  Thanks for turning me on to Shop Talk as that's got great info too.

As of yet, I can't comment on the true condition of the bikes.  From the photos I have, each looks to have been in some sort of minor accident.  Damage I can see looks minor -dented bodywork, bent mirror, scratched engine guard type stuff.  I spoke with the auction house & all the vehicles are being cleared from the barns & brought to the auction company property this week.  By Friday I may be able to go there in person & see this stuff in daylight with my own eyes.

As GordonV said "if it's a legit barn find, with no history, suspect everything. All you are buying is parts bikes." - statement couldn't be more true.  No one involved knows any history on any bike or part being auctioned.  It really is just a collection of parts that only has value to the 'right person'. 

To Semo97 comments, I do not know what I might get in the way of legal paperwork.  That alone makes me cautious of investing any money in this venture.  There may be original titles... or not.  Or salvage titles... or not.  I do expect a statement of sale from an attorney that should be the legal document to prove I legally purchased the bikes/parts & nothing is stolen goods.  The engines are something I've never seen.  They appear to be in original Honda wooden crates & are 100% complete less carburators/fuel rail.  For all I know, those to could be seized boat anchors.

[Speedy Coop]

You can always get a Vermont registration as long as the VIN,s checkout that they are not stolen. I have done this four times. New York state is near impossible to get a title if you are not the original owner, just google Vermont motorcycle registration.

[CoreyP]

Depends on the price. I think not too many people will know what they are looking at?

I would bid on this for sure but without knowing exactly what's going on I wouldn't bid much. Couple thousand with out more info.

Short block engines in crates? What engine? If those are Valkyrie motors my bid would hit $5000 for sure. If the bikes are complete wrecks the tanks are worth money and many other parts.

This batch may be worth $10,000 to someone who knows what they are doing but too many ?????

[Zanderk98]

Well, I'm starting to see some photos being posted online which is exciting.  The auction company has moved the majority of the vehicles to their location and I can see that there are 4 complete Valkyries, none of which are any of the 4 that I was shown a year ago.  That means there's got to be 8 or 9 Valkyries total (+1 circa-1993 Goldwing).  Of the 4 known Valks in their photos, two are standards, one a touring, and 1 is an Interstate.  Still no photos of the spare engines, nor trike parts.

I spoke to someone at the auction company & she mentioned something that just gave me the creeps... She said their mechanics were actively working on starting all the vehicles!  Knowing what it takes to bring back machinery that hasn't been touched in 10-20 years, the last thing I want to hear is some hack is adding fresh gas & connecting a jumper pack to "see what happens".  Really better to not touch them at all.  Someone who loves these old treasures needs to take them home, use lots of penetrating oil, heat, restore things slowly & methodically over many months/years to make them run properly again.

I guess it's all part of the risk in auctions...

[gordonv]

A running bike, no matter how badly, is worth at least twice more, than one not running at all. I would suspect that their mechanics are very familiar with starting vehicles being revived from long term storage.

After my wreck, what I thought was minor, turned out that the frame after sitting bare in the weather for a week, started bleeding rust, from everywhere that the paint cracked after the impact. I had a 10-20 mph front end, bent forks and broken fairing (IS).

I parted out that IS and got over $7K, and still had the trunk and some other parts. I sold the expensive parts for about 1/2 of what they sell (asking $) for now.

Isn't a short block motor, one with out heads, and a long block has the heads installed. No carbs or accessories, these would come from the wrecked engine. Like mentioned, the additional parts make it very expensive to make a complete working engine.

If it's being removed to an auction house, be prepared to pay a lot more. Now you'll be fighting with the bike wreckers. Unless there is something there that is rare, I suspect you won't get something out of it.

You mentioned online pics, is this something you are still holding close to you, hoping to buy something out of it, or are willing to let the cat out for others to try also?

[Zanderk98]

Well to update folks, the auction came & went last Saturday.  I took home nothing.  The 1 & only Valkyrie that that had keys & a title (a '99 Roadster) went for $1,300.  1 other parts bike sold for $800.  Everything else was <$150.  Most of the bikes were basically trash from accident damage & long term neglect.  I'd estimate that there was enough pieces/parts to assemble 2 complete Valkyries from the hodgepodge of the 9 that were auctioned.  The engines did appear to have value.  There were 2 & both appeared to be complete (less carbs & airbox) rebuilt & stored clean in well preserved condition.  Other auction lots were just parts - tanks, fenders, wheels, frames - that all appeared 100% brand new still in stretchwrap.  If you were only interested in parting everything out online, it was a goldmine. 

Having come out of the auction with nothing other than life experience, I'm still looking for one of these beauties.  Considering a '99 Interstate for sale near me.  It's a 2nd owner (female) who converted it to a solo-seat Super Valk (assuming I'm understanding that term correctly)  It's got 75K miles, new time belts at 50K, always had Shell Rotella oil.  Owner still has the original trunk, hardware, & seat to convert back to Interstate.  Its 100% stock except for custom paint, 2 LED spotlights mounted in the radiator shrouds, and they cut the pigtails out from stock pipes to give a slightly better exhaust note.  Asking $5K...  Might find it's way to a new home in my garage.

[CoreyP]

I would have buying up stuff to part things out. But I have a nice Valkyrie to ride around on and you seem to be looking for one to ride, not sell off parts.

Items like gas tanks especial new are worth $700 all day or more.

The wrecked bikes without titles wouldn't interest me. Unless they were like $200. 

[da prez]

Its after the fact , but I would have tried to buy everything Valk related. I try to save the bikes and a parts supply like that would have found a good home.  I also would have searched everything because parts could have been mixed elsewhere.

             da prez