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ValhallaIamComing
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« on: June 15, 2011, 06:16:24 PM » |
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This has probably been covered before, but I am new to the bike and the board... Why did Honda drop the Valk? To this day it remains popular and it is one of the most, if not THE most, original motorcycles they have ever mass produced. Way more curb appeal than a VTX1800, which is so heavy it defeats its own engine power and was skunked by both the Valk and the venerable V-Max in muscle bike shoot-out tests... why didn't Honda just upgrade the Valk to an 1800cc flat-6 when they upgraded the Gold Wing?
Maybe it is just because I haven't been looking... but I never hear about huge VTX rallies and rider clubs like the Valk has! Is there really anyone who is "VTX by choice?"
The Triumph Rocket III proves there is still a market for a non V-twin super/muscle cruiser!
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sheets
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« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2011, 06:48:08 PM » |
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... due to an underwhelming response from the target market. Sales were stagnant with '97 & '98 vintage bikes still in crates in 2000. The guy who designed it was a visionary. He was thinking too far out side the box for the masses. When he died, so did his vision we know as the Valk. Aka the Fat Lady. She has sung. Turn out the lights. The party is over.
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sandy
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« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2011, 07:04:23 PM » |
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Sales fell off so the bean counters decided to stop it. The wing motor was not designed to be exposed. It has too many ugly doo dads hanging off of it. AND HD convinced all the Lemmings to buy a V twin. Just last week at a BMW rally, I heard a guy ask why anyone needed a 6 cyl bike. They were talking about the new K1600 Beemer. It seems that most folks don't understand lots of small pistons VS 2 really big ones.
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highcountry
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« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2011, 07:15:40 PM » |
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...To this day it remains popular and it is one of the most, if not THE most, original motorcycles they have ever mass produced. The Valk is awesome but the Rune probably deserves this moniker. It was WAAY ahead of its time. |
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Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005
Member
Posts: 13834
American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.
Beautiful east Tennessee ( GOD'S Country )
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« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2011, 07:27:16 PM » |
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I always heard that the Goldwing 1500 was made year after year with very little change. When sells for the flagship 1500 Wing started to fall Honda had to do something...The Goldwing 1800 was born....What do we do with all those 1500 wing motors we have....The Valkyrie
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 I've seen alot of people that thought they were cool , but then again Lord I've seen alot of fools. |
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rodeo1
Guest
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« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2011, 08:16:02 PM » |
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I always heard that the Goldwing 1500 was made year after year with very little change. When sells for the flagship 1500 Wing started to fall Honda had to do something...The Goldwing 1800 was born....What do we do with all those 1500 wing motors we have....The Valkyrie
might be a good story except the valk came out in 97 and the 1500 wasn't disconitinued till 2001. my honda stealer claims sales went south because the valk was too fast for the cruiser crowd. they got their shorts set on fire, got scared and bought a harley. personally i don't care why, i'm just glad i got mine. |
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F6Dave
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« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2011, 08:34:20 PM » |
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Honda is simply not the same company they used to be. Mr. Honda had a passion for motorcycles and especially for engines. Over the years, while others were content building mostly inline 4 bikes (often referred to as UJM - Universal Japanese Motorcycles), Honda was different, with the inline 6 CBX, H-4 then later H-6 Goldwing, Transverse V-Twin CX (including a turbo), V-4 Interceptor, oval piston race engine, and many more. They were the unquestioned leader in technology. But if you look at their line of bikes today, there's little (other than the VFR-1200) that reminds you of their glory days. They now seem content to follow.
They certainly could have continued to build the Valk. With all the Wings that used that motor and drivetrain, there wasn't much R&D investment to recoup. Heck, other companies have sold low volume 'niche' bikes without going broke. Take the Venture Royale. I see less of those on the road than Valkyries, yet Yamaha still builds it. The original Concours ZG-1000 is another example. Kawasaki produced it with virtually no changes for 20 years. At times they sold so few that they ceased production for a year, then brought it back. The Rocket III is no high volume bike either.
It just takes a company that want's to build somewhat different bikes. I don't think Honda is that kind of company anymore.
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Walküre
Member
Posts: 1270
Nothing beats a 6-pack!
Oxford, Indiana
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« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2011, 01:17:27 AM » |
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Sales fell off so the bean counters decided to stop it. The wing motor was not designed to be exposed. It has too many ugly doo dads hanging off of it.
I have to agree, Sandy - very possibly the last truly beautiful boxer was the R50/60 style BMW motor...in my opinion, at least. Plus, the Valk doesn't REALLY lend itself to forward controls, etc - just too wide. In fact, I haven't found a truly COMFORTABLE forward peg position - I've played with mine, and I've found a few that are a nice "change", but not a comfortable riding position for any long distance. And I'm not abnormally tall/short/fat or rich... YMMV, but as much as I like my Valk, and I wouldn't trade her right now for anything, it's NOT the most comfortable/convenient motorcycle I have ever ridden.  |
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2000 Valkyrie Standard
1999 Valkyrie Interstate
2000 HD Dyna Wide Glide FXDWGRoger Phillips Oxford, IN VRCC #31978 Yeah, what she said...
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MacDragon
Member
Posts: 1970
My first Valk VRCC# 32095
Middleton, Mass.
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« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2011, 03:06:25 AM » |
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Right... back in the 70s I had an R90S, the 900 BMW. Duel, horizontally apposed twin engine and it was a GREAT bike. Wish I would have kept her. What a joy to ride. Most "automotive" motorcycle of it's time. BMW, I believe, was the first drive shaft bike and has been drive shaft since 1923. R26 R27 R50 R60 R69 R75 R90 R1000 etc. Not that they were stolen a whole lot... but they were easy to steal because the key was just a shaft/pin type that was inserted into the top of the headlight bucket...They were all the same key. You could start the thing with a stick or a screwdriver of the right size...  In my 20s back in the day... I worked for a place, Capital Cycle, in Washington DC. that sold the BMW motorcycle parts for those awesome machines. We would ship the parts all over the country to shops and private owners. A lot of the 11 digit part #s are still in my head for the "staple" parts like oil filters, cables, carbs and gasket kits etc. Amazing what you remember when it is brought to your attention after years.  |
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« Last Edit: June 16, 2011, 03:13:53 AM by MacDragon »
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 Ride fast and take chances... uh, I mean... ride safe folks. Patriot Guard Riders |
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rmrc51
Member
Posts: 1087
Freyja. Queen of the Valkyries
Palmyra, Virginia
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« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2011, 03:31:17 AM » |
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I have to agree, Sandy - very possibly the last truly beautiful boxer was the R50/60 style BMW motor...in my opinion, at least. Plus, the Valk doesn't REALLY lend itself to forward controls, etc - just too wide. In fact, I haven't found a truly COMFORTABLE forward peg position - I've played with mine, and I've found a few that are a nice "change", but not a comfortable riding position for any long distance. And I'm not abnormally tall/short/fat or rich... YMMV, but as much as I like my Valk, and I wouldn't trade her right now for anything, it's NOT the most comfortable/convenient motorcycle I have ever ridden.
Although this is off-topic, I have to agree with the above post. I've tried all different peg positions and have installed 'Forward Controls'. None have been truly comfortable and the 'Forward Controls' caused down shifting problems (I've since removed them). I "LOVE" the Valkyrie and understand why the shifter and rear brake are positioned where they are due to the wide engine. Many people on this site find the 'feet straight down' position comfortable. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. If the Valk had a 'feet forward' design, she'd definitely be the 'Best of the Best' in my book! |
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VRCC # 30041
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MacDragon
Member
Posts: 1970
My first Valk VRCC# 32095
Middleton, Mass.
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« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2011, 04:06:09 AM » |
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I have to agree, Sandy - very possibly the last truly beautiful boxer was the R50/60 style BMW motor...in my opinion, at least. Plus, the Valk doesn't REALLY lend itself to forward controls, etc - just too wide. In fact, I haven't found a truly COMFORTABLE forward peg position - I've played with mine, and I've found a few that are a nice "change", but not a comfortable riding position for any long distance. And I'm not abnormally tall/short/fat or rich... YMMV, but as much as I like my Valk, and I wouldn't trade her right now for anything, it's NOT the most comfortable/convenient motorcycle I have ever ridden.
Although this is off-topic, I have to agree with the above post. I've tried all different peg positions and have installed 'Forward Controls'. None have been truly comfortable and the 'Forward Controls' caused down shifting problems (I've since removed them). I "LOVE" the Valkyrie and understand why the shifter and rear brake are positioned where they are due to the wide engine. Many people on this site find the 'feet straight down' position comfortable. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. If the Valk had a 'feet forward' design, she'd definitely be the 'Best of the Best' in my book! I agree... That's why once the shifting is done... the feet go right to the highway pegs. |
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Ride fast and take chances... uh, I mean... ride safe folks. Patriot Guard Riders |
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Ferris Leets
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« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2011, 06:28:29 AM » |
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I am one of the comfortable ones. The riding position is almost perfect for me. It needed risers so I sit more straight up now. At 5'8" with 30" inseam the feet under position is just right. I also like to go light on the seat when crossing rail road tracks or other expected bumps and this position makes that easy. My Nomad was more feet forward and it was hard to get my ass off of the seat. I never liked "highway" pegs, I want my hands and feet on the controls. I know of a couple of accidents that were blamed on the rider trying to get his/her fet back to the brake and shifter.
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judd
Member
Posts: 265
VRCC# 13453
B.C. Canada
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« Reply #12 on: June 16, 2011, 06:32:58 AM » |
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I have to agree, Sandy - very possibly the last truly beautiful boxer was the R50/60 style BMW motor...in my opinion, at least. Plus, the Valk doesn't REALLY lend itself to forward controls, etc - just too wide. In fact, I haven't found a truly COMFORTABLE forward peg position - I've played with mine, and I've found a few that are a nice "change", but not a comfortable riding position for any long distance. And I'm not abnormally tall/short/fat or rich... YMMV, but as much as I like my Valk, and I wouldn't trade her right now for anything, it's NOT the most comfortable/convenient motorcycle I have ever ridden.
Although this is off-topic, I have to agree with the above post. I've tried all different peg positions and have installed 'Forward Controls'. None have been truly comfortable and the 'Forward Controls' caused down shifting problems (I've since removed them). I "LOVE" the Valkyrie and understand why the shifter and rear brake are positioned where they are due to the wide engine. Many people on this site find the 'feet straight down' position comfortable. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. If the Valk had a 'feet forward' design, she'd definitely be the 'Best of the Best' in my book! I agree... That's why once the shifting is done... the feet go right to the highway pegs. That's why I got this................shift with my thumb and leave the feet n the Highway pegs and brake with my heel ............I love this bike even more now.   |
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« Last Edit: June 16, 2011, 06:34:40 AM by judd »
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rmrc51
Member
Posts: 1087
Freyja. Queen of the Valkyries
Palmyra, Virginia
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« Reply #13 on: June 16, 2011, 10:11:28 AM » |
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That's why I got this................shift with my thumb and leave the feet n the Highway pegs and brake with my heel ............I love this bike even more now. Looks interesting. Can I ask where you got it? |
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VRCC # 30041
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Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
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« Reply #14 on: June 16, 2011, 11:27:49 AM » |
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 I once thought this was the future of the Valkyrie. I know I'd like one. |
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 Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
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judd
Member
Posts: 265
VRCC# 13453
B.C. Canada
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« Reply #15 on: June 16, 2011, 04:49:39 PM » |
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That's why I got this................shift with my thumb and leave the feet n the Highway pegs and brake with my heel ............I love this bike even more now. Looks interesting. Can I ask where you got it? Got this one off of the Classifieds right here, but here is their Web Site http://www.kliktronic.co.uk/ |
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kybigmac
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« Reply #16 on: June 16, 2011, 05:11:33 PM » |
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Local honda dealer said they told him they quit making the valk to help vtx 1800 sales!
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ChromeDome
Member
Posts: 2175
Aurora, IL.
60 miles West of Chicago!
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« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2011, 07:44:15 AM » |
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Because they are STUPID!  |
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