They never cease to amaze me..

[DarkSideR]

They never cease to amaze me..

I rode the Valkyrie to my son's school to drop off the laptop case he forget on the last day of school.

On the return ride home a fellow m/c rider pulled onto the road from a side street into the lane next to me, and we both quickly caught a red light. I looked over to nod and say "hi". He didn't acknowledge my existence? I looked down to see he was on a loud and obnoxious Sportster.

When the signal turned green for the left turn lane he lurched the bike showing his hand. "Oh, you wanna play that way" I said out loud. I launched the Valkyrie with ferocity when that light turned green. Upon dropping it into 3rd and easing up a bit I looked into the rear-view (of course) and saw him flipping a U-turn. I thought to myself "he must be heading back home to put the bike up for sale".

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya. I’ve seen that guy. Only a HD will do. Doesn’t know how to ride but believes he’s the master of the universe.

[Valkorado]

They're here too.  Something about riding an obnoxious, overpriced bike makes them rude and ignorant.  I do love schooling them on Valkyrie logic.

As Teddy Roosevelt said,

Speak softly and carry a big stick.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I don’t care to race them. You never know what kind of rider they are, and what experience they have. I does strike me funny when they don’t even acknowledge you as a fellow rider.

[Avanti]

I am fueling up in Amnicon Falls south east of Duluth MN and youngster pulls in on Street Glide next to me. He asked where you headed. I say east. He responds me too. Than he asks is it fast.  I respond when l ask her she is and when I turn out of here I am going to ask her for the last 400 miles of this day. He says you will be in the next state. Yep!!
You do not need to race them when you can just flat out ride them but both is good.

[LTD]

My experience whenever I go to a Harley event at a dealership serving food music etc.. I cant get to the show room without 3 or 4 guys stopping me wanting to talk about the valkyrie. Trust me Harley riders respect the valkyrie big time. They may not ride one but secretly they love the bike.  A Valkyrie doesnt take a back seat to any bike I do not care what your riding.

[Jess from VA]

Even among the Hog crowd, they're not big fans of the Sportster (the 900 anyway, the 1200 does have some cred). 

My experience is the HOG rider disdain for other brands is waning, but it's never going away.  Bless their hearts.   

In truth, it obviously should be all bikes versus soccer moms in their minivans with cell phones blazing.  We're all in this together.       

[Davemn]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

[John Schmidt]

Up here in Wisconsin it seems the HD reigns supreme. I walked out of Walmart one day last year and as I was getting my bike a big loud HD pulled in next to me. He sat there for a few seconds looking at my bike until his lady suggested they get off and go about their business. As I'm backing out he turned and asked rather loudly "how come you're not riding a Harley?" To which I answered equally as loud..."just lucky, I guess!" His lady friend busted out laughing as they walked away and he was obviously po'd over my response, especially when I noticed she kept looking back at my ride. I circled the area into the adjoining lane to leave the parking lot and she waved as I passed behind them...he didn't appreciate it, I did!  

[cookiedough]

Up here in Wisconsin it seems the HD reigns supreme. I walked out of Walmart one day last year and as I was getting my bike a big loud HD pulled in next to me. He sat there for a few seconds looking at my bike until his lady suggested they get off and go about their business. As I'm backing out he turned and asked rather loudly "how come you're not riding a Harley?" To which I answered equally as loud..."just lucky, I guess!" His lady friend busted out laughing as they walked away and he was obviously po'd over my response, especially when I noticed she kept looking back at my ride. I circled the area into the adjoining lane to leave the parking lot and she waved as I passed behind them...he didn't appreciate it, I did!  

be careful there John or you might be getting a new lady soon amongst the sea of HD's as you say here in WI.   I raced off the line a sportster and 1st gear he took me off the line getting the jump but as soon as 2nd gear comes on he was toast.   I also raced off the line a 1832cc goldwing he got me off the line but never pulled away from me were side by side him slightly in front of me in 3rd gear doing well above the 35-40 mph in town speed limit before we both backed off not wanting a ticket which am sure we would have gotten.

I will have to remember that line next time a HD rider asks me why not riding a HD?    JUST LUCKY I GUESS.    that is a good one.   Only thing is though they probably then want to pick a fight with me.

[Bighead]

That wing rider was being polite.

[John Schmidt]

Up here in Wisconsin it seems the HD reigns supreme. I walked out of Walmart one day last year and as I was getting my bike a big loud HD pulled in next to me. He sat there for a few seconds looking at my bike until his lady suggested they get off and go about their business. As I'm backing out he turned and asked rather loudly "how come you're not riding a Harley?" To which I answered equally as loud..."just lucky, I guess!" His lady friend busted out laughing as they walked away and he was obviously po'd over my response, especially when I noticed she kept looking back at my ride. I circled the area into the adjoining lane to leave the parking lot and she waved as I passed behind them...he didn't appreciate it, I did!  

John, you  recall I worked in Daytona Beach.  Harley county.  The guys at the factory were quite agreeable to me having the Valkyrie.  It was considered a good little bike to mess around with until I got my Harley.

The damnedest thing happened in my town of Apopka, FL.  I finished fueling my bike and a man and a woman pulled up in a cage.  He was President of the Apopka Gold Wing club.  He told me my bike was almost a Wing so they would allow me join their club.  They could teach me all about motorcycles.  "We can teach you how to ride that motorcycle".  I was politely puzzled, as he never saw me ride a motorcycle.  Never saw my other motorcycles, either.  He handed me some literature and left.  I ducked in for a hot dog.  Out of curiosity I looked at their webpage.  A costume party?  Good grief!  But... if you never had a Gold Wing, you knew nothing of motorcycles.

And that's why though I'm a Life Member of GWRRA I no longer participate, haven't for a good 20 yrs.  After moving up here I checked with the local GWRRA group, wanting to try and make some local contacts since I was new to the area. Went to two of their gatherings...no more. They found out I had a Valkyrie and not a Wing...OMG...sin of the highest order. 

[Jess from VA]

This never gets less funny.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjqAT3iqo7w

And while the bike is part of it, we all know it's the rider more than the bike.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB3qTVg3hhs

[98valk]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

   2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.9

   2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200
0-60 mph 4.0 Quarter mile 12.4

   1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
0-60 mph 4.1 Quarter mile 12.5

   1996 Honda Valkyrie F6
0-60 mph 3.9 Quarter mile 12.0

https://www.zeroto60times.com/body-style/motorcycle/

[Valkorado]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

   2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.9

   2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200
0-60 mph 4.0 Quarter mile 12.4

   1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
0-60 mph 4.1 Quarter mile 12.5

   1996 Honda Valkyrie F6
0-60 mph 3.9 Quarter mile 12.0

https://www.zeroto60times.com/body-style/motorcycle/

Cool!  My Bullet was built in October, 1996.  They VIN tagged her a 97.  She goes fast, right off the line.

[h13man]

My experience whenever I go to a Harley event at a dealership serving food music etc.. I can't get to the show room without 3 or 4 guys stopping me wanting to talk about the valkyrie. Trust me Harley riders respect the valkyrie big time. They may not ride one but secretly they love the bike.  A Valkyrie doesn't take a back seat to any bike I do not care what your riding.

I get same respect here with the HD people. They let me ride in the back which I do so quite willingly as I like "situations" to happen in front of me if chit happens. I might forget them if I were in front as I wouldn't have to listen to their pipes and stereo's. 

[DarkSideR]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

I've had Attic Rats magic performed on my bike. Wasn't worried.

[Bighead]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

Did you even  read what you posted?
A stock 1200 sportster high 12’s
Valkyrie low 12’s
So which would do the 1/4 faster

[Davemn]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

Did you even  read what you posted?
A stock 1200 sportster high 12’s
Valkyrie low 12’s
So which would do the 1/4 faster

Maybe you didn’t read what I posted. I said the same thing. A Valkyrie will NOT smoke a Sportster like the original poster claims. Attic Rat or no Attic Rat. One half second isn’t smoking.

“I looked into the rear-view (of course) and saw him flipping a U-turn. I thought to myself "he must be heading back home to put the bike up for sale".

Comprehension please!

[Davemn]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

   2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.9

   2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200
0-60 mph 4.0 Quarter mile 12.4

   1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
0-60 mph 4.1 Quarter mile 12.5

   1996 Honda Valkyrie F6
0-60 mph 3.9 Quarter mile 12.0

https://www.zeroto60times.com/body-style/motorcycle/

Thanks for making my point. Nobody is Smoking a Sportster.

[98valk]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

   2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.9

   2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200
0-60 mph 4.0 Quarter mile 12.4

   1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
0-60 mph 4.1 Quarter mile 12.5

   1996 Honda Valkyrie F6
0-60 mph 3.9 Quarter mile 12.0

https://www.zeroto60times.com/body-style/motorcycle/

Thanks for making my point. Nobody is Smoking a Sportster.

older sportsters, 883s and big twins are slow and can be smoked, new ones not slow.

the magazine tests of later yr valkyries and the I/S were barely making it into the 12s.

[Rams]

Although I still like to play on my fat ladies, I really try to not get into races any longer.    Don't care what you ride (even though I have a lot more respect for Valkyries), each of us make our own decisions and live/ride with the consequences and joys.   There's several bikes out there that will "smoke" my Valkyrie.   Very few of them are HDs but, that's alright, cause I don't care.    I know she's fast enough for me.

Not really a fan of the new F6Bs looks but, I know they can "Smoke" my Valkyrie and most other bikes out there.   If you're riding what you love, who really cares what the other dude is riding.

Rams

[DIGGER]

At 70 yrs old my riding habits have changed a lot.   I used to race my Valkyrie against anybody on the street that wanted to pick a fight.   Not anymore.  Also,  There is a lot of liability that goes with street racing.    If you are racing someone and the other bike crashes you can have some really serious charges brought against ya.    Also, I have discovered that My body doesnt bounce like it used to.    However, when approached by a Harley that wants to play I still get the urge to try him on but my older common sense tries hard to beat the urge down....ha

[MAD6Gun]

Yeah I wasn’t there but he wasn’t racing you or he was 300 pounds. A bone stock 1200 runs the quarter mile in high 12’s. Our Valkyries run in the low 12’s with a good rider. He couldn’t hang with you above 90.
Be careful of Sportsters.

   2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.9

   2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200
0-60 mph 4.0 Quarter mile 12.4

   1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer
0-60 mph 4.1 Quarter mile 12.5

   1996 Honda Valkyrie F6
0-60 mph 3.9 Quarter mile 12.0

https://www.zeroto60times.com/body-style/motorcycle/

Thanks for making my point. Nobody is Smoking a Sportster.

 Evidently you're the one having trouble with comprehension.   A 2013 Sportster runs the 1/4 in 12.9. A 96 Valk in 12.0 flat. A bike that is literally over 16 years older then the Harley.   A second in a drag race is an eternity. A second may not be "smoking" but it's sure as Hell beating it.

 On a related note. Years ago, I raced a Sportster with my 70 Pontiac Bonneville with a 455 HO. I smoked his ass. No I didn't look to see if it was a 883 or a 1200. Doesn't matter. A Harley got beat by a 4600 pound 19 foot long car.

 If you love Skirtsters so much go buy one and leave us alone.

[98valk]

0-40 mph and 0-60 mph is where its at on the street.

as listed all of those cycles are basically the same, so it depends on who the rider is.

magazine testing of the valkyrie over the yrs never matched the original factory prepped '96/'97 model that was running 12.00 in the 1/4 for the magazine testing.

[Bret SD]

Here in SD there are a few tools around riding Hardley Worthitsons, but not many, mostly people are cool. If a dude has to hang his worth on a motorcycle..?.. he's got more problems than I want to have.

Millennials really like my bike, I get many compliments from the younger set. Methinks it like this, in the movie The Incredibles the main villain character says, 'when everyone's super, nobody's super'. I think the same thing goes for Harley Riders, 'when everyone's cool, nobody's cool'. If you ride a generic Harley like everyone else.. you're not cool, you're a clone.

Having said that, I have nothing against Harley's or their riders, and have had zero problems with them. They're always cool and respectful, some guy (older Harley rider) recently said at the local biker hangout, 'love that Honda'!