How long to parts last?

[agrady1995]

My goal is to ride until my engine doesn't work. Figuring about 400k + miles. What am I going to need to replace?

How long does the U joint last?

This is my Interstate I'm mainly talking about. I baby it through all gears unless someone is speeding up behind me, take country roads and I have changed virtually every piece of rubber out already. Shes at 94k with all services up to date.

[old2soon]

My goal is to ride until my engine doesn't work. Figuring about 400k + miles. What am I going to need to replace?

How long does the U joint last?

This is my Interstate I'm mainly talking about. I baby it through all gears unless someone is speeding up behind me, take country roads and I have changed virtually every piece of rubber out already. Shes at 94k with all services up to date.

            Git ahold of DDT. I have over 100000 miles on mine and mill marks are still seen on the splines-rear drive. Alternators I've replaced 2. The key on our Valkyries IS Proper maintenance. U-joint-git a spare or 2-NEW-in your stock NOW. You may Never need them but on the other hand ya never know! Keep 1 in the saddle bags when you travel Long. Others will chime in with other ideas. RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

I think the usual replacement cycle on U joints is not much over 100,000 miles. Even if they don’t fail. If you remove it and vigorously test it most will have some play in the joints at around 100K

[garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis]

My 99 tourer u-joint went out at 42,000 miles, about 300 miles from home. Got a u-haul to get it home, cost big bucks. My 99 Interstate's u-joint went out at 84,000 miles about 150 miles from home in my home state. Got a ride home from Troopers to my house. My 97 standard has 205,000 miles and still has the same u-joint, pinion cup etc.  I wondered if 1999 was a bad year for u-joints.  I've used every type of grease in the rear end, now use Walmart boat and trailer grease a for awhile on the 97, and I probably put to much grease in, but the cup and splines still look great.

[Jess from VA]

Stocking up on spare parts is a crap shoot.

Wheel bearings, brake pads and usual wear parts sure.

Things can already be hard to find.  But mostly can be found or fixed.

I wouldn't spend large for a supply of things that may never wear out.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I've kept a spare U joint on hand since Blondie bought one for me shortly after we were married. ('02. Thanks, kiddo.)

Additional wear items kept on-hand are a final drive, pinion cup, alternator, rear drive flange, O ring and seal sets, wheel bearings, hoses, thermostat, fan thermal switch, things necessary to R&R both wheels, steering head bearings, parts necessary to rebuild the forks, final drive dampers, alternator drive dampers, starter and parts to rebuild one, Brake pads, air and oil filters, sidestand and handlebar switches, sidestand springs, shock bushings, master cylinder rebuild kits, brake calipers and rebuild kits, Petcock parts, assorted electrical bits, carb slides, air cut valves and a rebuild kit or two. Everything needed to repair damage from a hydrolock, though I've converted one bike to a manual petcock and will do same with the other.

I also have spare "hard to find" accessories for my current Valks. An OEM fog light, CB for both Standard and Tourer, spare radiator pods (both bikes now have I/S pods and radiator), engine guards, heat shields, Set of pipes. Bags of fasteners, sorted by type. Etc.

The idea is to not have to wait on a hit-or-miss supply chain in case of normal (and not-so-normal) maintenance tasks.

I bought my first Valk as a relatively young man, and from the day our partnership began I knew I'd have them around until I can't ride any longer. Thus, my focus has been on doing exactly that - with minimal or no down time.

[JimC]

I've kept a spare U joint on hand since Blondie bought one for me shortly after we were married. ('02. Thanks, kiddo.)

Additional wear items kept on-hand are a final drive, pinion cup, alternator, rear drive flange, O ring and seal sets, wheel bearings, hoses, thermostat, fan thermal switch, things necessary to R&R both wheels, steering head bearings, parts necessary to rebuild the forks, final drive dampers, alternator drive dampers, starter and parts to rebuild one, Brake pads, air and oil filters, sidestand and handlebar switches, sidestand springs, shock bushings, master cylinder rebuild kits, brake calipers and rebuild kits, Petcock parts, assorted electrical bits, carb slides, air cut valves and a rebuild kit or two. Everything needed to repair damage from a hydrolock, though I've converted one bike to a manual petcock and will do same with the other.

I also have spare "hard to find" accessories for my current Valks. An OEM fog light, CB for both Standard and Tourer, spare radiator pods (both bikes now have I/S pods and radiator), engine guards, heat shields, Set of pipes. Bags of fasteners, sorted by type. Etc.

The idea is to not have to wait on a hit-or-miss supply chain in case of normal (and not-so-normal) maintenance tasks.

I bought my first Valk as a relatively young man, and from the day our partnership began I knew I'd have them around until I can't ride any longer. Thus, my focus has been on doing exactly that - with minimal or no down time.

Bagger John,
Please send me a note when you get out of riding. I want to be at your garage sale.   lol
Jim

[Chrisj CMA]

Parts last a long time, but when they wear out or break and you need a new one it can get dicey. Over the last twenty years I have collected enough parts to (hopefully) keep the old girl going until the end of the world or when one of us craps out which ever comes first. Even though I think I have everything covered once or twice you can never have everything you could possibly need. But you can try. Lol

[agrady1995]

I've kept a spare U joint on hand since Blondie bought one for me shortly after we were married. ('02. Thanks, kiddo.)

Additional wear items kept on-hand are a final drive, pinion cup, alternator, rear drive flange, O ring and seal sets, wheel bearings, hoses, thermostat, fan thermal switch, things necessary to R&R both wheels, steering head bearings, parts necessary to rebuild the forks, final drive dampers, alternator drive dampers, starter and parts to rebuild one, Brake pads, air and oil filters, sidestand and handlebar switches, sidestand springs, shock bushings, master cylinder rebuild kits, brake calipers and rebuild kits, Petcock parts, assorted electrical bits, carb slides, air cut valves and a rebuild kit or two. Everything needed to repair damage from a hydrolock, though I've converted one bike to a manual petcock and will do same with the other.

I also have spare "hard to find" accessories for my current Valks. An OEM fog light, CB for both Standard and Tourer, spare radiator pods (both bikes now have I/S pods and radiator), engine guards, heat shields, Set of pipes. Bags of fasteners, sorted by type. Etc.

The idea is to not have to wait on a hit-or-miss supply chain in case of normal (and not-so-normal) maintenance tasks.

I bought my first Valk as a relatively young man, and from the day our partnership began I knew I'd have them around until I can't ride any longer. Thus, my focus has been on doing exactly that - with minimal or no down time.

Thank you for the list. I am going to be ahold of a new alternator soon, and now I have a decent list (most of which I DO already have) and plan to order what I need soon. Thanks for the detailed account. I think O rings will be ok to go without. I've replaced all my rubber components and have an electronic PM list that pops up with to-do's on a calendar. I have a PM for "replace all o rings again" set for 20 years from now.

Final drive i've got a spare, and will rebuild the swap with my inevitable service in a few weeks on my tourer/racecar.

Thank you very much!
Kilroy 26, Lakeland FL

[Bagger John - #3785]

Bagger John,
Please send me a note when you get out of riding. I want to be at your garage sale.   lol
Jim

I've begun to divest myself of chrome pieces and parts I used with previous Valkyries. At one time I owned 5 of them: Two Tourers, two Interstates and a 2003 Standard. I built the Standard for Blondie when were were together, along with one of the Tourers. My original Tourer and I/S along with the Standard were sold to finance other things...namely, a pair of Concours 14s.

I used a lot of Add-On, Big Bike Parts and other manufacturer's items to dress all of the bikes up and bought spares of the various accessories I decided to keep on them. When the bikes were sold, the spares stayed...against the day I might reprise one of those styles.

My current Tourer (which was Blondie's main ride) has become something of a memory bike. A number of accessories from members or vendors who are no longer with us are on it. Parts from friends I've hung with at InZane or ridden with elsewhere. I went the other way with my I/S: It's getting very blacked out and doesn't have a lot in the way of flashy chrome aftermarket stuff, though there are a few things.

I want to find a low-mileage '03 Standard and build Blondie's old bike once again, albeit with a few changes for me. And a lower-mileage black I/S, which I'll keep stock for the most part - save the fog lights and CB. The rest of the dress-up stuff I have on-hand will be sold or swapped for OEM/NOS spares to keep my fleet on the road.

Simplifying this for the OP: If it's a wear item or consumable, keep one or three on hand.