98 Tourer VS 08 Harley Road King & 09 Street Glide

[F7daved]

After all the chat from a previous topic Valk Vs Harley a couple weeks ago, me and my 2 Harley buddies thought we would have a race with a couple rules. The rules were simple, 1/2 mile max, and the race was over @ 110 mph. Most importantly honesty was an important factor with the speed. I  had to races both Harleys, 4 times each which means the valk had raced 8 times that day. It was an 80 degree day here Saturday so we spent about 2 hrs doing this so the air cooled bikes didn't get to hot. 2 of theses races were done on a 3 lane wide each side straight rd with a stop light to start, & about 1 1/2 miles long with a grass median, with a posted speed limit of 55 mph. The other races were done on the freeway.

The Bikes 98 Tourer With @ K&N Air Filter, & 18in glass packs with truck stacks to the rear & a rear car tire.
Both Harleys Had Stage 2 kits
Race 1 road king vs valk From a light start. Harley took it out of the hole by 2 bikes, but at the top end of 2nd shifting into 3 valk was a bike lead ahead and pulling away with the valkyrie totaling 3 bike lenghts ahead at the end.
Pretty Close as same with the street glide but was 3 links ahead @ 110
Winner VALKYRIE

Race two 25 mph roll Harleys jumped out to a 1 bike leap but next gear the race was over, Valkyrie just kept pulling away finished 3-4 bikes ahead. Winner VALKYRIE

Race 3 40mph roll Valk jumps put 1 bike and never looks back wins by 4 bikes. Winner VALKYRIE

Race 4 60 mph roll Both bikes stayed next & the start, but next gear the valk pulled away by 2 bikes. Winner VALKYRIE.
Those 2 Harleys were so close to one another when they raced each other, but the street glide was a little faster.

The intent of this race was not to bash any brand just some fun for the day.
We rode 150 miles that day 5 harleys, 1 vtx, 1 valkyrie & i think the only thing my bike lost in was when we went to the gas pumps. This was just a fun filled day & none of us are professional riders, but one thing was clear, none of those Harleys parked next to me at lunch. Just my 2 cents.

[eric in md]

all for 10 THOUSAND  less also you go   

[F7daved]

Uh Oh Could Be In Trouble My Buddie Said He Just Got His Road King Back From His Mechanic & Said Bike was Out Of Tune & Thats Why The Valkyrie Beat Him Up So Bad. Told Him Hope His Mechanic Found 4 Bike Links LOL

[woefman]

Least he Can't Cry  Rice Burner beat him  LOL   Maybe Rice Profit Money only.

I get these Harley's bearing down on me all the time , then get up along side of me on freeway
and they give you that look like "  WTF is that, maybe a v-8", funny how quiet their pipes get after that.

as they mutter on behind me.

[Jabba]

I was in Sturgis in 2004... and was riding in a group that had 4 HD's, a boss hoss and me.  I was 2 -up, and between us we weighed about 650 lbs.

There were two of the HD's that had upgrades, and loud pipes and were a little bit mouthy, plus were riding 1-up.  At one point our Sherpa (on a 2000 Road king with 150K on the clock) passed another group of HD's on a long uphill grade.  I was in #2 slot, and went with him.  I heard both of the loudmouths down shift a gear, while I stayed in 5th.  I pulled them both on that grade, and reeled in the Sherpa as well.  

The Sherpa made a hude deal out of how impressed he was with the Valk and how the other guys better get to the shop and spend some dough before running their mouths to someone on a Valk again.  They didn't show up to ride with us the following day.

Jabba

[1FAST6]

Uh Oh Could Be In Trouble My Buddie Said He Just Got His Road King Back From His Mechanic & Said Bike was Out Of Tune & Thats Why The Valkyrie Beat Him Up So Bad. Told Him Hope His Mechanic Found 4 Bike Links LOL

Sure...  What's the wrench gonna tell him??? "Learn your place boy, it's behind the Fat Lady!"

[Sludge]

Uh Oh Could Be In Trouble My Buddie Said He Just Got His Road King Back From His Mechanic & Said Bike was Out Of Tune & Thats Why The Valkyrie Beat Him Up So Bad. Told Him Hope His Mechanic Found 4 Bike Links LOL

Sure...  What's the wrench gonna tell him??? "Learn your place boy, it's behind the Fat Lady!"

LOL +1

Run him again... he will get the same result 

[Jabba]

Make sure to tell him that Valks don't get "out of tune" either.   

Jabba

[Former Valk Owner]

What's the obsession with being faster than Harleys. As a former Valk owner I just enjoyed the bike for what it was. Now I'm back to a Harley and realize its slower than a Valk but I like it the way it is. It's a matter of preference. Nobody on the Harley sites talk about Valks. Remember a good 600cc sport bike will leave a Valk in the dust. So why do you own a Valk? It can't just be for speed.

[fstsix]

LOL!!.......wait a minute.......oh yea this is a VALKYRIE board got a little confused for a minute until i checked my browser, i guess the real issue is why don't Valkyrie owners hang out on HD boards, Dude just having a little fun LOL!!!! BTW a little competition in life keeps ya young at heart, that's of coarse if ya don't work for Congress. So how about i Go on a HD board and start a thread about My Jap Crap being Made in the USA that would be fun eh!!? oopps BTW Our preference here is Still the Valkyrie, sorry for the loss of your preference LOL!!! Now i am going to watch NASCAR and see witch brand will Win FORD or Chevy sure hope none of those drivers get too competitive today that just wouldn't be political correct    but that's right John Force has a car that is faster LOL!! TROLL

[Jabba]

It's mostlt because HD WANKS... (Not all HD riders) want to challenge us ALL the time.  I have some HD RUB try to race me weekly.  New Valkers don't have the confidence sometimes.  I have lost to HD's... but not many.

Besides... if I wanted a vibrator... I'd have borrowed one from a woman.

Jabba

[Tropic traveler]

What's the obsession with being faster than Harleys. As a former Valk owner I just enjoyed the bike for what it was. Now I'm back to a Harley and realize its slower than a Valk but I like it the way it is. It's a matter of preference. Nobody on the Harley sites talk about Valks. Remember a good 600cc sport bike will leave a Valk in the dust. So why do you own a Valk? It can't just be for speed.

A better question would be "What's the obsession with HD owners constantly putting down & belittling non HD bikes & their owners".
Please remember two things here before you "defenders of the MoCo" post here:
1} Our "obsession" is a RE-action to the put downs that all non HD riders endure.
2} As fstsix pointed out..... This is a Valkyrie forum & we love our bikes just as much if not more than any other brand owners.

I believe the Valkyrie has EARNED it's "legendary heritage" reputation through it's quality of design & build. I get awfully tired of hearing about the "legendary heritage" of a certain brand of American built bike. All I see are overpriced, underpowered motorcycles that have a lot of Jingo-istic {look it up} blowhard owners. 
I guess I'm one of those people that "has to ask".


There ...... I feel better already!!    

[Sludge]

What's the obsession with being faster than Harleys. As a former Valk owner I just enjoyed the bike for what it was. Now I'm back to a Harley and realize its slower than a Valk but I like it the way it is. It's a matter of preference. Nobody on the Harley sites talk about Valks. Remember a good 600cc sport bike will leave a Valk in the dust. So why do you own a Valk? It can't just be for speed.

Actually, with a blower you can surprise the little crotch rockets on the eighth.  Ive beat stock GSXR 600s, Honda 919, etc... Now if you get ahold of anything bigger... or the little ones with after market mods... your in trouble but on the eighth you wont be embarrassed.  Now the 1/4 is a whole different thing...

Its not all about speed though.  Although a good many ppl (myself included) I suspect are attracted to the Valk due to its power just as many HD folks are attracted to the V-Rod.  Its about the whole package IMHO.  It handles gracefully, is comfortable, very dependable, long engine life, low maintenance, ... the list goes on and on about what I like about it.  I prefer the far narrower feet forward position of the V-Twins but I sacrifice that for the rest of the package and of course I could buy and completely outfit a Valk before I could even buy a baseline HD.  Not that I couldnt have a HD if I wanted one.  I could.  I just chose the Valk and the Goldwing as the bikes that fit me and my needs best overall.

As for why HD folks are talked about on here.  It is my opinion that it is because so many HD folks have an attitude toward non HD riders.  Take my cousin for example.  Talked crap about my bike every chance he got ... until we rode together.  I didnt encourage it, but he tried to race me on the bottom, roll on, on top, in the twisties... everywhere.  I never let him have an inch and whipped him in all modes of riding.  I never said a derogatory word about his bike.  It was beautiful.  It was his choice... etc.  Then he started after me about how his would hold its value better.  He just wouldnt let up.  At one point a bunch of his friends, he and his wife, were talking about going to Myrtle beach.  Well, I ended up having some time off and told him that I might tag along.   Thats when he told me that his friends wouldnt ride with me.  I ask why ... you guessed it.  I wasnt on a freaking HD.  Now, I have nothing against the HD brand.  Its been a spectacular marketing program.  Perhaps one of the best brand management illustrations in the history of business.  I really like the V-Rod and would love to own one.  I like the other flavors they have too.  The most distasteful thing about the HD is the owners that I run into.  Not all by any means, but there is a significant number that I run across who will simply walk by me and my motorcycle and sometimes utter stuff like Jap Crap.. etc.  That bad attitude from any group of bikers turns me off.  You can find it from the Goldwing and BMW riders as well at times but its rare and I have yet to see one of them go out of their way to bash someone elses bike.  However, some of them do have attitudes.

my 2 cents

[Former Valk Owner]

A better question would be "What's the obsession with HD owners constantly putting down & belittling non HD bikes & their owners". 

quote]please remember two things here before you "defenders of the MoCo" [/quote]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I never put down riders of any other kind of bike. I've had every kind. I know you're right about some Harley riders putting down foreign bikes. There're just idiots, haters, and have an ego problem. There are some that just do it for fun or peer pressure. I'm not one of them. Love all bikes and had a special fondness foe the Valk. Had my Harley 17yrs. before I went to the Valkyrie Tourer. Nobody made fun of me. Had it for three years but it was too big for my type of riding so I went back to Harley and I'm definately not a defender of  MoCo.

[fstsix]

Well hey.....what can we say? and should i say, we should not have to defend ourselves here on a HONDA board LOL!! i got my first new Honda mini trail 50cc back 1966, 305 Scrambler, CL 350, 750k1, I have worked the main gate @ Virginia bike week for years, i Was Road Captain VA Beach CMA and most had HD's you would be surprised after doing at least 5 events of volunteer work a month the things i have been told, and even Cussed at for parking my bike too close to a Renegade Outlaw, I had my CMA vest on or i would NOT have moved it (if ya catch my drift) I must admit Like the UN COLA I have a Ulike a V twin as i could find, not trying to fit in and don't need no Posi, Got WAY to much Self confidence to have a HD  BTW i used to go down to Boneshakers in VA beach and have ran 145 CI bad boys with billet motors just to Pi$$ them off it doesn't get any better LOL!! I try to wear my Jimmy Buffet flower shirts and look like a nerd and WAX um!! waaay tooo funny!

[Former Valk Owner]

The Valkyrie is a unique bike. Maybe even more so since it's been discontinued. If I could afford a second bike it would probably be the Valk. Maybe a Vmax. Sometimes I feel the need for speed but I don't want a crotch rocket that I have to lean over the tank. But for now my Lowrider fits the bill. Handles a little better than my old Valkyrie and I get a sound out of it I could never achieve from the Valk. That's just my opinion. Awesome HD dealer here too. Going back to HD forum now just wanted to checkout this forum and see how it's doing. With all the Valkyrie enthusiasts out there looks like it will be around a long time. By the way I think this forum is set up better than the HD forum. Good riding to all.
Former Valk Owner.

[Jabba]

By the way I think this forum is set up better than the HD forum.
Former Valk Owner.

Seems appropriate. 

Thanks Willow!

Jabba

[BonS]

The Valkyrie is a unique bike. Maybe even more so since it's been discontinued. If I could afford a second bike it would probably be the Valk. Maybe a Vmax. Sometimes I feel the need for speed but I don't want a crotch rocket that I have to lean over the tank. But for now my Lowrider fits the bill. Handles a little better than my old Valkyrie and I get a sound out of it I could never achieve from the Valk. That's just my opinion. Awesome HD dealer here too. Going back to HD forum now just wanted to checkout this forum and see how it's doing. With all the Valkyrie enthusiasts out there looks like it will be around a long time. By the way I think this forum is set up better than the HD forum. Good riding to all.
Former Valk Owner.

You're welcome to stick around! I have a first gen V-Max that I ride whenever I feel the need. All good. I've had the V-Max and my Valkyrie since they were first sold. I've ridden all kinds of bikes over the years. For whatever reason never an HD. No offense, it just seemed that they went from problematic to too expensive overnight; that and my garage has been full for years. Regards!

[fstsix]

A little something to remember us, 

[F7daved]

I Guess The Former Valkyrie Owner Missed This "The intent of this race was not to bash any brand just some fun for the day".

I Guess I Could Say Sorry He Took A Step Backwards & Bought & Harley. Just My Opinion

[Westernbiker]

But for now my Lowrider fits the bill. Handles a little better than my old Valkyrie [/quote}

WHAT???? Handles better than your Valk? I don't think so!

[highcountry]

But for now my Lowrider fits the bill. Handles a little better than my old Valkyrie [/quote}

WHAT???? Handles better than your Valk? I don't think so!

Can't speak for his HD but my other bike is a FJR1300 sport tourer and I am hard pressed to say that it handles better than my Valk.  The braking on the FJR is superior but I like the handling on the Valk better - - might be the stock tires on the FJR are wearing down and holding it back a little.  The shootout reviews back in the day usually had the Valk as the comparison winner against comparable bikes including HDs.

I have nothing against HDs but for the money, I would probably go for a current generation Indian.

[Jabba]

I have nothing against HDs but for the money, I would probably go for a current generation Indian.

For the money... I'd buy a Valk Interstate and a Rune.

Jabba

[rdunbar123]

i just visited abilene texas and as usual stopped in the Honda dealer there to talk. I was on my venture. my valk is waiting for the blower to come back. anyway conversation comes back to valkyries and that dealer said that the last valk he had a man flew in from Georgia to pick up. Thats brand loyalty. BTW my wife again said that she likes the valk better than the venture for the ride. I have to agree. Also the HD owners always start first in my opinion. I have a friend who insists if i ever road a harley I'd never go back. I have ridden harley and they are underpowered. He consistently refuses to ride my metrics. I do like the point that if I wanted a vibrator I'd get one from a woman. I'll use that during my next argument. All good natured of course.

[Jabba]

I have a VERY good friend of mine that has 2 HD's.  An Ultra Classic and a Road King.  He won't ride my Valks.  Says he has too much invested in HD motorcycles and clothes to fall in LOVE with a Valk.

At least he's honest about it.
 

Jabba

[F7daved]

Hey Jabba No Need To Worry Went For A Ride With My Harley Buddies Again Today, A 2nd Race Wasnt Even Needed After We Were Getting Onto The Freeway, I Was Following The Harleys & They Gunned There Throttles To Merge On & I Had To Push Them Out Of The Way From A 35 Roll. I Guess There Simple Tune Like There Mechanic Said Wasnt The Fix. O Well U No The Results.