Question about the reverse in the Goldwings

[Old Geezer Richard]

A friend of mine was asking is it possible to install the reverse gear in his Valkyrie  ....  I don't remember what year it was or if it was the 1500 Goldwings came with the reverse.... is it possible ? Thanks Old Geezer Richard

[R J]

In all of the Valk's that were shipped to Japan, they all had a reverse.....  I should say, that is what I heard at the Honda Homecoming in Maryville, I think it was InZane III.

I've never really checked it out, but I'd lay $$$$ that all the reverse parts in a 1500 Gold Wing would fit nicely in the Valkyrie.......    I can push mine around, but, if it had a Trike kit on it, Reverse would be nice to have.....

As long as I have this one, MGM will not be Triked out.

[Zorba]

It should fit?
I know they make an after market reverse for Harleys that doesn't work off of the starter, it's a pretty cool set up!

[N8171S]

Goldwing 1500 s built after 1988 had or had the option of reverse.  My1996 has it.  It works off the starter.  Valks buuilt for export to Japan had reverse that worked off the starter.  I would love to get my hands on one because they are so rare

[Dodis]

Quexpress had once mentioned that a friend had compared parts lists (Valk & Wing) and figured out what parts were needed, and got them from wrecks/HDL. He was going to get the list next time he spoke to him...

Out of town on a slow connection, or I'd get the link from the archives... I'd like to have the list, to!

Mike

[quexpress]

Quexpress had once mentioned that a friend had compared parts lists (Valk & Wing) and figured out what parts were needed, and got them from wrecks/HDL. He was going to get the list next time he spoke to him...

Out of town on a slow connection, or I'd get the link from the archives... I'd like to have the list, to!

Mike

Yes I did, but haven't been able to talk to the guy since then.
Basically, all what he did was to take the transmission parts fiche from both bikes and see what extra parts the Goldwing had. He then took these extra parts and installed them onto the Valkyrie. It now has a reverse. 

[Madmike]

In my GL 1500 C manual it says that the output shaft for the Valk is identical to the output shaft for the Goldwing.  The Valk transmission has a reverse gear in it but it is not used. 

I compared the 2 relevant sections of teh manuals and the Goldwing and Valk manuals show the same breakdowns.

It would certainly seem doable, apparently it adds about 100 pounds of weight to the bike.  The new parts are not that expensive from the fiche.  It would be nice to access a Japanese parts fiche and see if the parts are listed as the Valk lever that was used on those bikes is quite different in appearance from the Goldwing setup although the actual selection mechanism in behind teh lever may be similar. 

There is a fellow from Japan that was on the old site from time to time but I haven't seen him here yet, someone may have a contact that know how to access parts fiche from Japanese models.  Maybe phone Honda America?

Guess it depends how much you want it.

Here is an old forum lin that shows a picture of the reverse lever.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/forum/tech_archive.cgi?noframes;read=675493

Here is a link to the 2000 Wing reversing section.

http://www.hdlparts.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=147930&category=Motorcycles&make=Honda&year=2000&fveh=3464

Reverse shifting linkage detail is selectable by selecting "reversing bar" from the drop down menu.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

I've stripped and rebuilt both the Wing and Valk and toyed with the idea of fitting reverse to my own Valk but from memory I think the Valk and Wing have different shifter drums.
On the Wing the drum has an extension with a hole thro that pins the gearbox in neutral whilst reversing.
The reverse handle on the Wing has an electrical switch and a mechanical linkage to ensure the gearbox is locked out (neutral).
Aside from this it all looks like the Wing parts will fit but I did'nt like the idea of all the extra wiring, relays etc that the Wing carries. I guess you could just fit the mech parts and loose the lockout, timer relay and temp relay from the starter - maybe next time.

[NiteRiderF6]

I just happen to know where a '98 GL1500 engine and transmission is... complete... for $1,000.... it has only 9400 miles on it.... they say.... if anybody wants to give it a try....

I think the way to go would be to use the 1500 engine block and tranny and put the Valk heads, cams and intakes/carbs, etc on top of it....

It is complete with all relays, switches, and cabling to wire it up.... anybody feeling froggy?

[mr. maxxx]

Yes, the reverse system on the gl1500 goldwing works on the honda valkyrie. I have one on my valkyrie. Works great!

[gordonv]

Pictures? I know myself, and I'm sure others, would like to see how it's down.

I'm wondering how the lever transfers over.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yes, the reverse system on the gl1500 goldwing works on the honda valkyrie. I have one on my valkyrie. Works great!

I agree with Gordon. You should post some pics. If you have difficulty doing that, you could text or email to one of us and we can post them. Did you do this mod ? If so, a write up would be a great idea. 

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Meathead or Gordonv give me an email address I'll send you photo's of the reverse system I made for one of my Valks'

[Avanti]

Meathead or Gordonv give me an email address I'll send you photo's of the reverse system I made for one of my Valks'

Would you be willing to give permission for the pictures to be posted?

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Avanti - no problem if photo's are of any use the VRCC can post 'em.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Meathead or Gordonv give me an email address I'll send you photo's of the reverse system I made for one of my Valks'

Hi, Steve. I'm thinking you must not have got my PM with my email the other day. I'll resend it. Along with a number for texts, if that works better. 

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

email on its way - thanks Steve

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks, Steve  your bike is beautiful. And the mod is very interesting and well done. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'd love to see more pics of your bike, Steve. What kind of pipes do you have ?

[gordonv]

I like that florescence blue, looks sharp.


I like the reverse. Looks like they just went to the end unit, and attached a lever to it, smart and easy. I wonder how the other items are? Neutral, sensors, and heat sink for the starter motor. It gives some food-for-thought.

I was thinking more along the lines of transferring everything from a GW to the Valk. I like the idea of keeping it simple, better. Might keep my eyes open, when the border opens up again, for a used GW motor. Something I would rather do while I'm still able to do it, than not ride or need someone else to do the conversion for me.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Thanks guys - since fotos I've sold the bike to a club member (he was knocked out) and started work on a 2000 std bought from another club member. The pipes are Motad headers with the silencers by a genius called Pete. He made them from detailed drawings I gave him. We made 5 sets and I sold 3 keeping a couple of sets for meself and they are of course from stainless steel. I'll post meathead a couple of pics of the complete bike if thats OK.

[Avanti]

Is your Valkyrie reverse system a complete GL 1500 engine put in a Valkyrie or just the reverse parts added to a Valkyrie engine, by using the rear transmission housing and related parts.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Avanti - it was a complete Wing motor that I bought new unused from Ali, a Goldwing club member. I bought it 'cos I thought it was a good price and might get me out of trouble if the blue bike ever needed bits. At the time the blue bike was supercharged and at about 55000 miles it shed the teflon from the compressor rotors and ate it. Did a number on the left hand bank badly scoring (beyond reboring) all the bores and eating a couple of pistons. Over the years I've fixed, modified and serviced Wings and Valks so had plenty of parts new and used 'in stock'. Although the Wing and Valk share basic architecture there's a few bits need changing. The Wings rubber mounts have to be pressed out and replaced with solid, the water pump and transmission door need to be swapped as does the thermostat housing. More obviously the camshafts, followers, carbs and timing cases have to be exchanged. You can swap gearboxes but I used the Wings (it was new). Note you need to use the Wings selector drum as its slightly longer with a hole through the end that takes the pin to lock it in neutral when the reverse handle is used. As I said in an earlier post you have to use the Wings starter motor and as it's slightly longer and the power feed stud is in the 'wrong' position its a tight fit. It fits (and removes) with the wing engine in the frame - just. Nice little project for lockdown or winter. You could use the rear case and associated parts from a Wing but you will still need to split the left and right hand crankcase to exchange the shifter drum.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very cool ! I’ve always enjoyed how you Euros mod your bikes. Very unique and individual. I noticed you also made your own alt. cover. 

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Thanks for posting Meathead - alt cover fabd from 316 stainless sheet relatively straight forward. Alt covers were inexpensive here until you guys found out and started buying them 2 at a time, dealers got wise and started charging USA prices.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for posting Meathead - alt cover fabd from 316 stainless sheet relatively straight forward. Alt covers were inexpensive here until you guys found out and started buying them 2 at a time, dealers got wise and started charging USA prices.    

My pleasure. Thanks for sending them.   The more I look at your pics, the more stuff I see that you have done up. Those footpeg lowering plates look good. I'm assuming the fuel tank bung is for the supercharger setup ?

I have a confession to make.   I was one of those who bought up alt. covers from a euro dealer. I think I got 4.

[ridingron]

... More obviously the camshafts, followers, carbs and timing cases have to be exchanged. ...     

I thought the heads interchanged. Use the complete Valk heads on the Wing motor?

[gordonv]

Wow, that was a lot more swapping of parts between the GW and Valk engines, than I thought you would have to do, to swap engines. Not to get into the reverse working, just to swap the engines.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

Meathead - bung in the left side of tank is the fuel outlet removed from centre of tank and (along with the breather pipe) welded to outside of tank. Way more convenient and with a chrome Pingel looks trick. For the supercharger generation 2 flatslde Mikuni we cut the rear half out of the bottom of the tank and welded in a curved plate to clear a large K&N filter. Magnacharger supplied a kinked intake hose with a K&N filter on top of the alternator, looked goofy.

RidingRon - GW heads fit straight on the Valk but they have hydraulic lifters and a different grind cam. They work with no mods but develop less power. The Valks cams and solid lifters fit the GW's heads so it's win-win.

[ridingron]

  RidingRon - GW heads fit straight on the Valk but they have hydraulic lifters and a different grind cam. They work with no mods but develop less power. The Valks cams and solid lifters fit the GW's heads so it's win-win. 

I was thinking the other direction. Valk heads on a Wing motor.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

RidingRon  Yep completely interchangeable. Used mostly GW because I'd bought a new unused GW motor.  Probably not the cheapest way to achieve reverse but a lot of workshop fun.

[mr. maxxx]

Sorry it took so long for me to reply.......I see someone was able to get some pictures up. It seems to be very difficult to post pictures. My bike has a much more factory look to the reverse setup. It is actuated by an electric motor rather than a lever so it is turned off and on with a button .