Opinions on this Valkyrie please.

[Bret SD]

Valkyrie listed on CL for 2850.00, claims it's a 96.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/d/san-diego-1996-honda-valkyrie/7393392224.html

Here is a video of the bike running, to me it sounds like it takes a long time to start, mine fires up within a second or two with no choke on.. Keep in mind this is San Diego so it's not cold. When running, the engine sounds funny to me, as well as the exhaust. Of course it's hard to judge the sound of Valkyrie exhaust from a laptop sound system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0IQne7jmQ

[spurliner]

sounds like there is something very wrong with the engine....? never heard that noise before... 

[Bret SD]

sounds like there is something very wrong with the engine....? never heard that noise before... 

May be clanking from the belt pulley/tensioner..?.. or something. Whatever it is it doesn't sound good, and revving is very laggy compared to mine. It doesn't sound like a rod knock, you can't hear it too well from the side, only around the front.

[Pete]

Like others I did not like the sound or slow startup. Also noticed the bags look like they were not taken care of.

Needs some on site to inspect and listen. Be careful.

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya it sounds like it’s not at full power. Something wrong

[Rio Wil]

Sounds to me like a cold engine being started with no choke and idling about 500 rpm with pretty much open exhaust......maybe a exhaust gasket leak at the head........warm that puppy and see if it sounds better.

[old2soon]

       Even with my chintzy external speakers as a Guess this one is NOT firing on all six. See if they'll take a 800 and work from there.  worse come to worse you'll have at least that in parts. Either loose plug wires or an entire coil died! And if it's been laid up awhile Maybe stale gasoline. Could end up being a decent project. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Keep in mind, if the carbs on these boxer type motors are way out of sync they will knock and rattle like that...if not worse. I had that once some years ago on an old 4 cyl. Wing motor, the guy wanted to get rid of it cuz he figured it was about to come apart internally. I took it off his hands, got home and set it on a makeshift stand, placed a gallon jug with fuel on my workbench and hooked a garden hose to it for cooling...didn't seal very good but worked. Got it started and what a racket, sounded like a door knocker on the front door. Shut it off, hooked up my 4 gauge set I used on the old fours and started it again. My suspicions were right, carbs were so far off I was surprised it even ran. About 15 minutes later it was smooth and quiet.

I feel the thing is idling too slow which will make out of sync sound even worse. I see it said the carbs were clean so if they were gone through, it's possible they weren't set up right when done. I'm betting a good carb sync and idle set to around 800 will make a big difference. JMHO

[Earl43P]

Cold start, low idle, questionable synch, exhaust isn't my taste but it's not obnoxious.
I'd HAVE to test ride it, but wouldn't offer or pay >$2k.
I'd expect that battery is weak because it fires up after he releases the start button.
Front tire looks ok, maybe the rear is worn, use that to talk him down.

Worth looking at if you're "looking" for another. Ride yours there to display how poorly his revs.

[Bret SD]

I noticed his YouTube channel is called 'elgaragemotorcycles' and he has several recent videos of motorcycles and even a car or two. My guess is this guy picked it up for next to nothing, got it running and threw it on Craigslist for a quick sale.

Like others I did not like the sound or slow startup. Also noticed the bags look like they were not taken care of.

Needs some on site to inspect and listen. Be careful.

The bags do look pretty bad though I think they can easily be refurbished to look like new. It's possible this thing has sat outside under a cover, which isn't ideal.

Sounds to me like a cold engine being started with no choke and idling about 500 rpm with pretty much open exhaust......maybe a exhaust gasket leak at the head........warm that puppy and see if it sounds better.

      Even with my chintzy external speakers as a Guess this one is NOT firing on all six. See if they'll take a 800 and work from there.  worse come to worse you'll have at least that in parts. Either loose plug wires or an entire coil died! And if it's been laid up awhile Maybe stale gasoline. Could end up being a decent project. RIDE SAFE.

Good points here, it will definitely take an in-person inspection to see what's going on. I'm not convinced the carbs were rebuilt either, maybe he got lucky with putting additives in the gas tank.

Keep in mind, if the carbs on these boxer type motors are way out of sync they will knock and rattle like that...if not worse. I had that once some years ago on an old 4 cyl. Wing motor, the guy wanted to get rid of it cuz he figured it was about to come apart internally. I took it off his hands, got home and set it on a makeshift stand, placed a gallon jug with fuel on my workbench and hooked a garden hose to it for cooling...didn't seal very good but worked. Got it started and what a racket, sounded like a door knocker on the front door. Shut it off, hooked up my 4 gauge set I used on the old fours and started it again. My suspicions were right, carbs were so far off I was surprised it even ran. About 15 minutes later it was smooth and quiet.

I feel the thing is idling too slow which will make out of sync sound even worse. I see it said the carbs were clean so if they were gone through, it's possible they weren't set up right when done. I'm betting a good carb sync and idle set to around 800 will make a big difference. JMHO

Cold start, low idle, questionable synch, exhaust isn't my taste but it's not obnoxious.
I'd HAVE to test ride it, but wouldn't offer or pay >$2k.
I'd expect that battery is weak because it fires up after he releases the start button.
Front tire looks ok, maybe the rear is worn, use that to talk him down.

Worth looking at if you're "looking" for another. Ride yours there to display how poorly his revs.

I think it's, in the end, going to depend on what the guy's goals are with this thing. Obviously he wants to get the most money he can out of it, anybody in their right mind would not pay his asking price. The bike is open to be picked apart by a buyer, anywhere from tires to condition.. Especially the way it runs and sounds, he's going to have a hard time selling that bike unless he finds a real sucker. If it looks like it has good bones I might offer him 1500.. tops.
I think him seeing and hearing my bike run will be a wake-up call, he'll know exactly what a healthy Valkyrie sounds like.

It looks like he has an oil temperature gauge on top of the oil dipstick as part of the dipstick itself, I haven't seen that before. IMO the bike has nothing special going for it, and the fact that it's around 25 years old isn't going to help him much either. The cost of shop work isn't cheap these days and I can use that as leverage, I won't to tell him I do my own wrenching.

I'll try and get a look at it in the next couple days. Thank you for all the input, you've brought up some good points that I had not thought of.  

[John Schmidt]

When you go to check it out, take an inspection mirror along and look at the settings on the sync screws on each carb. If the sync is way out in left field, those screws won't be even close to the same setting from one carb to the next. It's not a perfect test, but will give some insight.

[Bret SD]

It does have the oil dipstick temp dial. (They are pretty common) It has the chrome fork covers. Those are pretty hard to come by these days. (And worth a few dollars) It has several other add ons. Transmission covers, swingarm covers, lower engine cover, rad cover, Honda line fork deflectors, spark plug covers, newer model seat, and a few other things. It sounds like the slow jets are slightly clogged.

After posting what I did about it being nothing special I went back and started looking in detail at what it has on it. The radiator cover and the trim below it are nice, possibly the chrome mud flaps along with the other items that you have mentioned. I have the chrome fork covers on my bike so I'll have to compare the condition.
I think this bike when looking good and running in top form would easily sell for at least twenty-five hundred bucks.. Could be a no-brainer.

It also looks like it may have an LED tail light with a clear lens.. Have to look at that again, couldn't tell if the headlight is LED or not.

[Bret SD]

When you go to check it out, take an inspection mirror along and look at the settings on the sync screws on each carb. If the sync is way out in left field, those screws won't be even close to the same setting from one carb to the next. It's not a perfect test, but will give some insight.

Good idea, thanks for the tip John.

[Glaserbeam]

Having bought an '02 five years ago that had been sitting for 7 years, and also idled roughly with slow throttle response, I'd say that bike simply needs carb rebuild (why no carb caps on it?) a simple check of the valve clearances and timing, and possibly a new exhaust (sounds like drilled baffles).  I feel it's worth $1,500 to $2,000 as is, assuming the coolant looks clean (no internal oil/coolant leaks).  It's nicely accessorized.

[John Schmidt]

I'd sure like to know where they got that lower front VALKYRIE adornment that drops down and protects the oil filter...among other things. Anybody have a clue?

[Glaserbeam]

John, I see them on eBay every once in a while ... snagged a lightly used one in July.

[Bret SD]

Having bought an '02 five years ago that had been sitting for 7 years, and also idled roughly with slow throttle response, I'd say that bike simply needs carb rebuild (why no carb caps on it?) a simple check of the valve clearances and timing, and possibly a new exhaust (sounds like drilled baffles).  I feel it's worth $1,500 to $2,000 as is, assuming the coolant looks clean (no internal oil/coolant leaks).  It's nicely accessorized.

Your assessment is pretty sound I'd say, I like the lower end of your price range.. the bike has been listed for over 2 weeks now, so he could settle for less. The great thing is I'm not feeling like 'gotta have it'!! Which puts me in a much stronger negotiating position.
Don't know why no caps on the carbs, that seemed a little odd to me as well.

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[pancho]

Somebody snapped up a good deal on a bike!           snoozers are losers

[Bret SD]

Somebody snapped up a good deal on a bike!           snoozers are losers

I've been monitoring CL daily for 3 years now, doing that I know what bikes sell and how much they sell for, at least a ballbark area. This one sat for over 2 weeks, the seller likely took a best offer around 2k is my guess.

There was a beautiful 99 BMW r1200c for 1800 in bumblebee colors recently, sold same day.. for asking I'm sure.

I'v learned you have to move quickly on the good ones, people like me are out there watching and waiting. I need to clear space and sell some things before I jump on a new to me bike.

[Bighead]

Sounded fuel starved to me. Like when hou turn the Petcock off and let it run til it dies.  They will sound like that when reving the brown ngine just before it dies. Like it is running on 3-4 cylinders.

[Jess from VA]

Me, I'm willing to pay more for something in good shape.

What I never set out to buy is a big pain in the ass project. 

I always seem to have enough of those around my house without paying for them.   

The only reason my last two vehicles were new (one car 2003, one truck 2017), is I don't want to work on them anymore.  All of my previous vehicles (and all but one of my bikes) were used.   

[Bret SD]

Me, I'm willing to pay more for something in good shape.

What I never set out to buy is a big pain in the ass project. 

I always seem to have enough of those around my house without paying for them.   

The only reason my last two vehicles were new (one car 2003, one truck 2017), is I don't want to work on them anymore.  All of my previous vehicles (and all but one of my bikes) were used.   

I'm in this mindset too now Jess, though I have a hard time resisting diamonds in the rough.. obviously haha
My goal going forward is purging all but basic necessities, extra cars, tools, trailer, clothes.. everything is getting pared down. Simplicity and minimalism are where it's at.

[Jess from VA]

Pairing down all the extra crap around my house is one of those big PITA jobs I avoid. 

Just the other day, I realized my yard work pants were really getting threadbare with holes.  Rather than go buy some more, I realized I have a dozen pair of nice khaki dockers from my corporate casual days, and some of them will even button around my spare tire.  So they are getting re-purposed.   

And my old wobbly Lazy Boy chair became spare seating (and sleeping) in my big Promaster van.

I pared down the 2d wife 11 years ago.   

But no tools are being pared down. 

[Bret SD]

I pared down the 2d wife 11 years ago.

Haha, good move if necessary 

[Jess from VA]

I pared down the 2d wife 11 years ago.

Haha, good move if necessary 

Of course it was necessary, I just don't go around firing wives willy nilly.  It gets expensive you know.

She always said what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine.... and the judge agreed. 

[Bret SD]

I pared down the 2d wife 11 years ago.

Haha, good move if necessary 

Of course it was necessary, I just don't go around firing wives willy nilly.  It gets expensive you know.

She always said what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine.... and the judge agreed. 

Yep, they get the gold mine and we get the shaft.. or so 'they' say .. 'they' would be black robed messengers of joy 

[Knapdog]

There was a beautiful 99 BMW r1200c for 1800 in bumblebee colors recently, sold same day.. for asking I'm sure.

A pal of mine had a BMW R1200C. The chrome came in two parts. Half of it on the bike and the other half on the floor. 

[Bret SD]

There was a beautiful 99 BMW r1200c for 1800 in bumblebee colors recently, sold same day.. for asking I'm sure.

A pal of mine had a BMW R1200C. The chrome came in two parts. Half of it on the bike and the other half on the floor. 

I read about that and a couple other issues to watch for, namely final drive seal and rear seal between motor and trans.. Those are the main ones to look out for but there's a few more. Mostly the seal problems occur from the bike sitting too much.
There is another 98 listed for sale here with 11,000 on the clock, looks like the pipe chrome is falling off and I'd be wary of seal problems.