Discovery

[Hedgehog]

Buying a Valk is turning out to be a voyage of discovery.... I get the feeling this one hasn't been too well cared for. Knackered shocks, fork springs, birds nest of wires under the seat..


Took the tank off yesterday. Replaced choke cable, two throttle cables and air filter.

Seen worse air filters, but it does confirm what I thought...this one hasn't seen a workshop in awhile... >





I just don;t get that with a bike like this.... how can you NOT want to take good care of something so beautiful? ???

http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_33515/IMG_2390 (2).jpg

[Skinhead]

That's not bad at all.  Ask Romeo to show you a picture of his.

[Hedgehog]

Yeah, I know its not too bad, I Once found a wasp nest in one...

But I'd say its gone over the interval...not much dust around these parts (too much rain)... So filters often get to change point and are still OK.

Anyway I like all my stuff to be 'just so', hence I'm slowly taking the bike apart and replacing anything that's not at least 95%.. Service items obviously but also important systems and bits.

All braking system now replaced... new tyres and progressive springs / shocks after Christmas...

The aim is to have a 'better than new' bike by next summer... Its overkill, but I LOVE IT!

(Also I like to know that when I put bling on it, the beuaty is more than skin deep).

Lots to do though - ...
 

[old2soon]

And when you've completed it(ya i know NEVER completed) you'll have the satisfaction of a job WELL done. And a sharp Valkyrie to boot. And that in and of it self is a good thing. RIDE SAFE.

[Hedgehog]

Yes, I've got an old fashioned atitude to things like this - I take care of them more than most folks would, but then I've never been let down by a vehicle in 30 years of driving...and I also have the pride in a job well done.

In three months of ownership The Fat Lady (AKA Dolores) has had:

New Brake callipers, pads, steel lines, master cyclinders, fluid.
Physical clean of all component (including electrical)
New Avon Cobra's
Oil and filter change
Coolant change
Air filter
Choke cable
Throttle cables
Fuel hoses
Rivco centre stand
Grab handles
Heated grips
PIAA spot lights
Stebel Horn
Motosens water temp, clock and voltmeter gauges
Gear indicator (fitting soon)

Next  is:

Front progressive springs, rear progressive shocks, ultimate seat, hard saddlebags (and paint job), more spot lights, new cam belt, carb overhaul, new battery, rear end service, new wheel and steering head  bearings, HID headlight, OEM exhaust (found one brand new).


That should take a while....but then again, half the pleasure is in the anticipation...


Of course I know I'm mad, but I can't help it...

[Gerard irl]

  Well done Lad the fat lady is like All Women they
Like to have A fue Bob spent on them every now and then

[Hedgehog]

 Ah well Gerard, that's true, but the one can get jealous of the other if the spending is all one way!

[The Anvil]

Actually those deformed pleats speak of moisture in the air. Consistent with your environment.

The filter really isn't that bad. I've seen worse in a single season but the bike was a BMW R1150GS and the rider rode it every day, rain or shine and sometimes snow, in and out of Boston.

[hubcapsc]

Hedgehog, your bike sounds a lot like mine did when I got it...



I don't know how bad your pipes were, but I remember it was a great day
when I got some brand new pipes to replace the dented, rusty, rashed, cut,
drilled pipes that came on it...



-Mike

[Hedgehog]

I don't know what I like more hubcaps - your new pipes or yer dog!

The air filter is not too bad I know, but everything about the bike just looked tired when I got it ... But then that was the idea really - Truth is I probbaly wouldn;t enjoy a brand new one as much!

[Tropic traveler]

Actually those deformed pleats speak of moisture in the air. Consistent with your environment.

The filter really isn't that bad. I've seen worse in a single season but the bike was a BMW R1150GS and the rider rode it every day, rain or shine and sometimes snow, in and out of Boston.

Ditto. That air filter looks real good compared to the one I took out of our '99.
Bringing a Valk back from neglect & nastiness is a rewarding experience.

ICK!!! A simple ick does not do justice to just how icky this Valk was!!


Much better now!! Cleaned, cleaned, & cleaned some more. Changed all the fluids 'cept fork oil & added the little bits that were broken or missing. Still has 1 screwed up exhaust stud & a broken alternator bolt but I'll get to that soon enough!


BTW Hubcap, do you still have the take off stock exhausts from your Valk? I need some "cosmetically challenged" stock head pipes to experiment with.

[hubcapsc]

BTW Hubcap, do you still have the take off stock exhausts from your Valk? I need some "cosmetically challenged" stock head pipes to experiment with.

I have two, maybe three, really nasty exhausts... one of them (the reason I don't have four)
had relatively (I might have higher standards now  ) rust free headers
and I sold them to a VRCC member sometime around 2007 for $30 I think... I'd give the
remaining carcasses to you, but it would be expensive to get them to Florida...



http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~hubcap/d.pipes

I already gave the turnouts to a VRCC member, they were heavy duty, chromed, and
cleaned mostly all the way up... one or more of the chrome covers was good too, and
is on a pretty good (slightly dented dealer take-off) set of Interstate pipes I used
for a while...

-Mike

[Tropic traveler]

Mike, I might be able to work with those. Finish is unimportant just looking for some halfway straight headpipes. I got a guy who can Jet-Hot coat locally.
Where are you in S.C.? Kim has a sister just south of Rock Hill off of I-77 by the 901. You anywhere near there?

Thanks!

[hubcapsc]

Mike, I might be able to work with those. Finish is unimportant just looking for some halfway straight headpipes. I got a guy who can Jet-Hot coat locally.
Where are you in S.C.? Kim has a sister just south of Rock Hill off of I-77 by the 901. You anywhere near there?

Thanks!

My wife is from Rock Hill... it is 2.5 hours from me. From where you're talking
about, you'd just blast down I85 to exit 11 (the Townville exit)... exit 11 is
11 miles from Georgia...

-Mike