new to board new valkyrie woes

[Jackl0426]

hi all im jack
not new to bikes new to the valykyrie. ever since i saw the add in 95 or when they were first released. ive always wanted one. so i looked for acouple months and no luc all high milage and well used. so last week an add popped up 22000 miles original owner. i went and looked looked great very clean new tires etc. i rode around where he lived 45 miles an hour shifted all good smooth and fell in love the sound is amazing even stock. agreed on a price its in my garage. next night check pressure in tires all fluids threw gear on and off i went. hit the main road up to 50 ok. got further out and opened her up 53mph bad vibration foot pegs keep going 65 ok gone 70 all godd figured rough road back down to 65 vibration down to 53 then gone. so now im like ok something up ujoint or something. i have a vtx 1800 also. stop bike in gear roll back and forth no clunk nothing take off again 53 and vibration road home at 45.next day tear down rear end and remove ujoint it seems just fine. found bad pinion cup and driveline. yay. no big deal been working on my own bikes for years. the issue of course parts. i ordered everything up u joint too from rocky mountain 4 weeks out i didnt realise parts hard to get. then i looked up same parts for my vtx and same deal all back ordered. so now valkyrie is in garage on stands for a month hopefully only a month. just my adventure so far. anything else i should check right away im aware of petcock issue but other things i can check out before hopefully parts get here? bummed i cant ger her going sooner. oh and some cobra 6x6 pipes would be great. non existent lol. well sorry for long post hi to all happy i found this board.

Update found pinion cup and shaft etc. here next week.
only looking for ujoint now.
thanks for all the help so far.

[98valk]

cobra 6x6 still avail new, see then on ebay all the time. beware they loose HP and MPG.

goldwing GL1500 uses same u-joint, many low mileage part outs on ebay.
if yours is 22k miles, u-joint should not be bad.

https://www.babbittsonline.com/oemparts/c/honda_motorcycle_2000/parts  has drive shafts in stock just got one from them a month ago.

check upper shock bushings oems are done at 15k miles. final drive o-rings and shock bushings only use redeye.

https://redeye.ecrater.com/c/1757263/final-drive-suspension

[Jackl0426]

thanks yeah im sure ujoint is ok ordered one just because. pinion cup and driveshaft done. thanks. any good pipes out there not to loose milage and power? may just keep stock. yeah shock bushings are toast too ordered them too.

[Jackl0426]

how do you know what babbitts actually has in stock. i dont see anyway to tell. just add to cart and no est ship times?

[98valk]

how do you know what babbitts actually has in stock. i dont see anyway to tell. just add to cart and no est ship times?

I ordered last month. they should still have ones in stock.  Babbits system must order and they charge u and then u find out when avail.   call them I did

I had orders in with them and Rocky. Rocky kept telling me not avail until Nov. Rocky has never charged me over the yrs until they shipped item.
 Babbit got it in two weeks.

[Jackl0426]

ill call them thanks.

[98valk]

thanks yeah im sure ujoint is ok ordered one just because. pinion cup and driveshaft done. thanks. any good pipes out there not to loose milage and power? may just keep stock. yeah shock bushings are toast too ordered them too.

oem shock bushings don't last, usually last 15k max. I have over 30k on redeye's still look new. nylon or bronze bushings like a lot of VTX riders use is not the way to go, don't last as long and can provide a stiffer jarring ride.

these are also on ebay. they make more power and mpg. the head pipes are slightly larger ID than OEM. OEM actually chokes the engine at higher rpms and reduces mpg during cruise.

https://delkevic.com/product-category/motorcycles/motorcycles_honda/motorcycles_honda_2000-models/motorcycles_honda_2000-models_valkyrie-f6c-gl1500c/

[Jackl0426]

do you run stock or after market do u run the delvic if so hows the sound over stock.

[Willow]

Don't pay much attention to people telling you that Cobras lose power and MPG.  If there is any such it is not enough you will notice it unless you are in a very serious drag race.  There are also two options with Cobras that are with or without baffles.  Some adjust the fuel mixture if running without baffles.

[Jackl0426]

yeah once i get parts to repair diff cup and drive line etc parts which is the hold up now. i am gonna try to find a set of cobras with baffles. i may need to rejet as original owner said he had bike rejetted to 38 and 105 not sure why. seems to run great even with stock exhaust. maybe was gonna put exhaust on it and never did. i have reciepts 1400 complete carb rebuild. 5 months ago.

or maybe he pulled an after market system off and put stock exhaust back on and sold it hmmmm fun stuff lol

[98valk]

Don't pay much attention to people telling you that Cobras lose power and MPG.  If there is any such it is not enough you will notice it unless you are in a very serious drag race.  There are also two options with Cobras that are with or without baffles.  Some adjust the fuel mixture if running without baffles.

plenty of Dyno runs out there proving they cause a loss of 8-10HP over OEM.   Even FactoryPro.com offers a jet kit with mods done to air box to just get back to stock. 
straight pipes always make less and less mpg vs. head pipes with a collector installed system esp down low in the RPM range.
this is the reason the cobra needle kit falsely called a jet kit, caused a rich condition which bumps up the bottom end torque, so they riders feel it makes more power.

[98valk]

do you run stock or after market do u run the delvic if so hows the sound over stock.

I run the no longer made Viking Exhaust.

also  for the final drive and drive shaft splines consider using this spline grease.
two places to buy.

https://www.tsmoly.com/grease-spline-grease-p-367.html

and

https://www.beemershop.com/product/ts-60-spline-lube.html

[Jackl0426]

Well now i may have a probem called babbitts. looks like pinion cup nation wide backorder no release date. same with ujoint. shaft available. rocky told me all available by the 15th of october. now where the heck am i gonna find the ujoint pinion cup and shaft new ? rocky is probably blowing smoke dont know real bummer. grrrrrrrrrr

[Pluggy]

any good pipes out there not to loose milage and power? may just keep stock.

Welcome.  Stock exhaust is good.  For some owners, the "mods and accessories" are essential.  My bike never got those and has been fun and reliable for years. 

Most owners will tell you the service manual is the #1 thing to obtain.

[98valk]

Well now i may have a probem called babbitts. looks like pinion cup nation wide backorder no release date. same with ujoint. shaft available. rocky told me all available by the 15th of october. now where the heck am i gonna find the ujoint pinion cup and shaft new ? rocky is probably blowing smoke dont know real bummer. grrrrrrrrrr

few wks ago new cups were on amazon and ebay.

[Jackl0426]

I'll check again

[Willow]

Don't pay much attention to people telling you that Cobras lose power and MPG.  If there is any such it is not enough you will notice it unless you are in a very serious drag race.  There are also two options with Cobras that are with or without baffles.  Some adjust the fuel mixture if running without baffles.

plenty of Dyno runs out there proving they cause a loss of 8-10HP over OEM.   Even FactoryPro.com offers a jet kit with mods done to air box to just get back to stock. 
straight pipes always make less and less mpg vs. head pipes with a collector installed system esp down low in the RPM range.
this is the reason the cobra needle kit falsely called a jet kit, caused a rich condition which bumps up the bottom end torque, so they riders feel it makes more power.

I run Cobras on a bike with 80,000+ miles, some 70,000 since acquisition.  I run TBR 6X6 on two bikes.  I run OEM on two bike but I will convert one of those to TBR 6X2.

My experience says that the universal claims of significant reduced horsepower and MPG are BS.  Does it happen?  Yes, I am sure it does.  Are there differing setups of the tested bikes?  Yep.

I see the claims put out regularly by folks who don't run the pipes they're criticizing.  I am sure some of these folks are good, knowledgeable mechanics but my advice is if you don't have real life experience keep your universal BS claims to yourself.

[98valk]

Don't pay much attention to people telling you that Cobras lose power and MPG.  If there is any such it is not enough you will notice it unless you are in a very serious drag race.  There are also two options with Cobras that are with or without baffles.  Some adjust the fuel mixture if running without baffles.

plenty of Dyno runs out there proving they cause a loss of 8-10HP over OEM.   Even FactoryPro.com offers a jet kit with mods done to air box to just get back to stock. 
straight pipes always make less and less mpg vs. head pipes with a collector installed system esp down low in the RPM range.
this is the reason the cobra needle kit falsely called a jet kit, caused a rich condition which bumps up the bottom end torque, so they riders feel it makes more power.

I run Cobras on a bike with 80,000+ miles, some 70,000 since acquisition.  I run TBR 6X6 on two bikes.  I run OEM on two bike but I will convert one of those to TBR 6X2.

My experience says that the universal claims of significant reduced horsepower and MPG are BS.  Does it happen?  Yes, I am sure it does.  Are there differing setups of the tested bikes?  Yep.

I see the claims put out regularly by folks who don't run the pipes they're criticizing.  I am sure some of these folks are good, knowledgeable mechanics but my advice is if you don't have real life experience keep your universal BS claims to yourself.

your Butt Dyno is out of tuned compared to all of the actual Dyno runs that have/been/were done over the yrs.

[Willow]

your Butt Dyno is out of tuned compared to all of the actual Dyno runs that have/been/were done over the yrs.

You have no real experience in this matter.  I don't have a butt dyno.  I clearly used the term significant regarding the horsepower. I do have much experience in the MPG as I have ridden various Valkyries on distant rides next to my wife on the Cobra pipes bike.

We disagree.  Let us leave it at that and not turn the tech board into a debate forum.  I think you are in this matter blowing smoke out your ass.  You think that I am unreasonably basing my assessment on personal experience.  Let us leave it at that.   

[Cracker Jack]

Come on man!! Let Willow have the last word as requested!  

[Jackl0426]

Sorry folks didn’t mean to open can of worms. I just need new pinion cup drive shaft and ujoint so I can get this beast ion the road

[98valk]

your Butt Dyno is out of tuned compared to all of the actual Dyno runs that have/been/were done over the yrs.

""You have no real experience in this matter.""
 Really all knowing? I've read riders reports including dyno reports for 20+ yrs, and my friend had a new '00 Std, he put the cobras on and the needle kit. he constantly stated performance was down and reduced mpg.  which is same as all of the reports. he kept it for another 6 months and then traded it in for a VTX 1800.
but funny how the conversation is about cobra pipes and u jump in and talk about TBR pipes which are different and attack me and my opinions.

 ""I think you are in this matter blowing smoke out your ass.""   Looks like somebody is violating the "Rules of the Road", and should be reported.

here is Factory pro bringing the HP back up

""This was posted by J. Orr, 3/27/1998, on the GWRRA BBS, valkyrie section.
The following mods were done by Marc the owner of Factory Pro on a valkyrie that had cobra 6x6 pipes.
K&N filter (w/o prefilter)
Air box mod (remove plastic welded baffle)
38 pilot jet
3.5 turns idle mixture screw
front needles set on #3
mid and rear needles set on #2
115 main jets all carbs
this picked up 5 hp over the base run with the cobras.

this HP is still down from the stock pipes or almost the same.""

I'm done!!

[Jackl0426]

update. found pinion cup and driveshaft be here mid week. now just looking for ujoint would like to replace just because seems ok but wont know till i get other parts and get back together. seems ujoints are non existent with all suppliers ive called saying not available no status on availability. fingers crossed. thank u for everyones help so fr board is awsome

[Chrisj CMA]

Don't pay much attention to people telling you that Cobras lose power and MPG.  If there is any such it is not enough you will notice it unless you are in a very serious drag race.  There are also two options with Cobras that are with or without baffles.  Some adjust the fuel mixture if running without baffles.

plenty of Dyno runs out there proving they cause a loss of 8-10HP over OEM.   Even FactoryPro.com offers a jet kit with mods done to air box to just get back to stock. 
straight pipes always make less and less mpg vs. head pipes with a collector installed system esp down low in the RPM range.
this is the reason the cobra needle kit falsely called a jet kit, caused a rich condition which bumps up the bottom end torque, so they riders feel it makes more power.

I run Cobras on a bike with 80,000+ miles, some 70,000 since acquisition.  I run TBR 6X6 on two bikes.  I run OEM on two bike but I will convert one of those to TBR 6X2.

My experience says that the universal claims of significant reduced horsepower and MPG are BS.  Does it happen?  Yes, I am sure it does.  Are there differing setups of the tested bikes?  Yep.

I see the claims put out regularly by folks who don't run the pipes they're criticizing.  I am sure some of these folks are good, knowledgeable mechanics but my advice is if you don't have real life experience keep your universal BS claims to yourself.

I agree with this. I had cobras for years don’t think there was a significant HP loss.  A friend has two brothers. The two brothers are on a 98 model and we rode each others bikes and agree that my 97 with cobras was a little stronger than his 98 with two brothers. Then, he sent his bike to Attic Rat. I think he has the edge on me now and Im now running OEM.

Carl, at one time you subscribed to the cobra losing significant horses. I never concurred with that and still don’t.