Well, it's done. :'(
Bought the 1999 Valkyrie in late 2004 from the VRCC classifieds from a nice guy who resided in Georgia. He trailered it to the Tallahassee airport, the half way point between us, I rented a car one-way, and rode the decked out Valk home "the long way", along the Gulf coast heading east to Orlando. It had Boss Bags, Mustang seats, Memphis Shades, chrome, and CB radio, well cared for with 19k. I was newly separated, soon to be divorced, and riding was a big release, who needs a therapist if you ride a motorcyle? Met new riding friends, and it influenced at least 3 guys to buy bikes, unfortunately they took the "follow the crowd" choice with HD's, but they were riding. Took about a dozen gals on rides and had 'good times', rode it all over South Dakota at Sturgis '06 including Custer Natl Park and the Badlands (trailered to SD), rode in the North Carolina mountains and did the Dragon, and rode over a large part of Florida and many many biker bars and breakfast cafes, 6 Bike Weeks and Biketoberfests, putting 30k on it. Took my new bride-to-be on a ride on our 4th date and a hundred rides thereafter. Great memories.
Sold my Valkyrie to a gentleman from Bartow.
Why? I moved to a townhouse with no garage 7 months ago, couldnt stand to see it sit outside under motorcycle cover again, as it did the first 3 years I owned it. Also, needed some bucks. At the end of his short test ride, he came to a stop, and fell over
! So off she went, on a trailer, with me standing watching her drive off.
After coming inside and being silent for an hour, my wife asked how I felt. I said "numb". Weird. I grabbed a cigar and George Dickel, and had a quiet hour on the porch. It would be different if I was replacing my valk with another valk, or new motorcycle. But now I am bike-less. Strange feeling not being able to slide over the saddle on a Saturday afternoon for a ride into the country, maybe stop for a beverage here or there.
I may get another smaller bike in a year or so, one that can sit outside under a cover and not be affected, like a Versys or something similar without chrome. Yes, without chrome
I will still visit the VRCC as I have over the last 7 years. Interesting place, interesting folks. I made sure the new owner knew about this site, especially the Tech part.
When I do get a garage again, there could very well be another Valk soon thereafter
