valkyrie peculiarities

[a99miata]

I am looking at a 97 tour valkyrie. It has 20K on the odo. it has set for 2 yrs due to the owner being disabled. It is now on consignment at a bike shop. the owner of the shop said he went through the bike with new oils but never answered my question on the brake fluid and anitfreeze. So my question is"Outside of the normal things to watch for in an older used bike(old gas in carbs, brake fluid, etc), what should I watch for in an valkyrie?"

thanks in advance...

[GOOSE]

a99miata......you can look at the windows in the two master cylinders on the handlebars: the left handlebar mounted master cylinder is for the clutch, and the right handlebar mounted master cylinder is for the front brakes......look in the little glass windows on each of the master cylinders....if the dot-4 fluid is clear, and clean then they probably have changed the fluid.....if it looks dark/and or caromel colored, then it has not been changed.  the rear brake master cylinder is located behind the right side cover....be careful on how you remoce this cover....you can break the tabs very easily which hold it on.  the radiator overflow tank is located behind the left side cover with the same warnings as the right side cover.  start the bike....it should fire easily with no abnormal noise, and run smooth once warmed up.  these bikes are very long lived, and very reliable.  you don't say where you are from, but i'll bet that there is another valkyrie owner near you that would go with you to look at this bike.....put your location up.  good luck with the valkyrie.....you will love it.

[PhredValk]

Check the age of the tires (if you can talk with the previous owner(PO) it would help. You're going to want to remove the rear wheel and do a good cleaning and replacing of the lube on the drive splines, and probably the drive shaft and pinion cup.

This all sounds like a lot of work, but it's annual maintenance and the bike will last forever if you keep it up. Have a look at the Shoptalk page, it answers most everything.
Welcome home,
Fred.

[Bugslayer]

When you take off your rear wheel for spline service, you'll most likely need to replace the o-rings. Last time I had mine off, the big one that goes on the spline had broken.
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Elusive%203rd%20O-Ring.htm

[Willow]

Find ChrisJCMA (Jeff).  He lives very near you and knows all you need to know about checking out a Valkyrie.

[Chrisj CMA]

I am looking at a 97 tour valkyrie. It has 20K on the odo. it has set for 2 yrs due to the owner being disabled. It is now on consignment at a bike shop. the owner of the shop said he went through the bike with new oils but never answered my question on the brake fluid and anitfreeze. So my question is"Outside of the normal things to watch for in an older used bike(old gas in carbs, brake fluid, etc), what should I watch for in an valkyrie?"

thanks in advance...

If Willow is right and Im close to you a99miata, Id be glad to help in any way I can.  Im in Crestview (south end) where are you?

[RonW]

an opinion from an experienced owner is your best insurance. Valk being a discontinued model, replacement parts are very expensive. Even if you can afford the parts, assembly is another matter. I personally don't know a dealership on my island that that knows how to wrench a Valk properly. Overall, younger technicians haven't heard of a Valkyrie.

[CASABROKER]

You'd probably buy a car that set for a couple of year especially if it had 20k miles on it.  As said start it up let it warm up and if she rums smooth bet ya she'll run forever.  What kind of price are they talking??

[BF]

Find ChrisJCMA (Jeff).  He lives very near you and knows all you need to know about checking out a Valkyrie.

From reading Jeff's posts, he's a much, much better wrench and way more versed on the Valk than I am, but I'm in Fort Walton Beach and would be glad to help you if you need it.  Which shop is the Valk in?  I was in Fort Walton Honda/Yamaha a few days before Christmas and didn't see a Valk there. 

It wouldn't be that green and cream tourer at Racetrack Powersports would it? 

[a99miata]

I'm in the Niceville area. The guy is asking 5K for the bike but I am sure I could get him down some.  I IM'ed Jeff. I have known Jeff for a few years now through CMA. 

and yes it is the green & cream one at Racetrack Powersports. you know any history on the bike.

[BF]

I'm in the Niceville area. The guy is asking 5K for the bike but I am sure I could get him down some.  I IM'ed Jeff. I have known Jeff for a few years now through CMA. 

and yes it is the green & cream one at Racetrack Powersports. you know any history on the bike.

No I don't.  Stopped in and took a very casual look at it one day, but didn't go over it real hard or anything and don't remember much about it.  The bike has been sitting there for awhile.....but I don't know for how long.

Terry Smith is the owner of Racetrack Powersports and seems to be one of the good guys.  I don't know him personally, but I know several people that do and they tell me he's a straight up guy.  He was a mech. at Honda on Beal St. for a couple decades before starting his own place.  He's worked on my bike before.  I'd trust whatever Terry would tell you about the bike. 

[Michvalk]

I think you will find the OWNERS of Valkyries more peculiar than the bike is

[a99miata]

and I thought the beemer guys were odd!!

[Gryphon Rider]

the rear brake master cylinder is located behind the right side cover

Maybe you're thinking of another bike, but that's not where the master cylinder is.  The rear brake fluid reservoir is behind the chrome cover beside the bottom right corner of the right side cover.  The master cylinder is behind the chrome cover above the right foot peg.

[Ricky-D]

I'd trust whatever Terry would tell you about the bike.

"Trust but Verify" Reagan 1987

***

[BF]

a99miata.......

I was out running around town earlier today getting ready for our Biloxi trip and stopped by Racetrack Powersports and took a look-see at that green and cream Valk. 

Here's my .02 for what it's worth......

I'd say that the miles on it or correct.  The bike looks to me like it's been sitting way more than it's ever been riden....and judging by the rust on some of it, I'd say that its sat outside for a goodly amount of time. 

The forks arn't all ate up as if they'd been in the wind much.  The timing belt cover looks like it hasn't been in the wind much either from the looks of it....it looks new. 

I'm not a 100% sure, but the tires look to me like the original Dunlops.  Or at least the original OEM tires on it were replaced with original OEM Dunlops.  If those are original to the bike, they'll need replacing.  I wouldn't trust tires that old (especially the OEM Dunlops if they're that old). 

The OEM windshield is fogged and needs to be replaced (about $250 or so either with an aftermarket replacement or with an OEM replacement). 

The rear sissybar pad needs replaced from where it's come apart at the seam (probably from weathering and age).  Again, if the bike has been sitting outside most of it's life, the foam in the seats probably don't have much life left in them either. 

The clutch and brake fluids are old and need replaced (they're Coke colored).  And if they're old, I'd bet that the coolant is original and should be replaced also. 

If you haven't done so already, take a look down in the tank to see if there's any rust/corrosion. 

I didn't start it up so I'm not sure how it'll run or if the carbs will need to be cleaned.  But judging by it's appearance and the miles on it, it's possible that it might need carb work once the old girl gets back on the road.  Keep in mind that a bike that old that if it's been sitting most of it's life might have some deterioation issues with some of the rubber parts, seals, o-rings and pieces. 

With that said, overall, I'd say that it's probably a pretty good and straight bike that without too much work and a little shine, she'd be a great bike to own and ride. 

I'd say offer 'em 4200 (but I wouldn't go over 4500) and see if he'll bite.  The bike has been there and sitting since at least last spring-ish or so......so I'm sure they haven't had too many offers on it (if any).  I seem to remember seeing it show up there not too long sometime after last year's Sand Dollar's Bunny Run or so. 

Good luck.....and get Jeff to go and take a look at with you with you there.....and have him ride it.   

[BF]

This is a direct link to the bike if anyone is curious about it......

http://www.racetrackpowersports.com/showcaseproductdetail.htm?ID=191369&Used=1

[a99miata]

BF

thanks for the info on the bike. It would appear to need about $700 worth of work to it.  tires, fluid, seafoam, windshield, etc...I was planning on getting with Jeff after the first of yr to eyeball it for me.  I can do some of the simple maintenance( oil change, bulbs, add outlets, etc) but getting into the motor is different. I can take them apart but they ain't the same when I put them back.lol.

[Tropic traveler]

a99miata, that sounds like a pretty good deal on a very low mileage bike. Even better if you can get it for $4500. I have a little experience bringing back neglected Valks. It aint too hard to do, they respond very nicely to some attention!
That's a great looking color combo & best of all it's a Tourer with factory hardbags.  
I'm sure with great guys like Jeff & BF in your corner bringing that Valk back to it's rightful glory will be a great experience!
BTW, I think I have a decent stock passenger backpad floatin' around here somewhere.

Here's my "project" Valk.

 

[BF]

BF

thanks for the info on the bike. It would appear to need about $700 worth of work to it.  tires, fluid, seafoam, windshield, etc...I was planning on getting with Jeff after the first of yr to eyeball it for me.  I can do some of the simple maintenance( oil change, bulbs, add outlets, etc) but getting into the motor is different. I can take them apart but they ain't the same when I put them back.lol.

Unless someone has done something specific to screw it up, odds are the motor is fine.  And even then if the motor was messed up, I'm sure that Terry would tell you.  It really takes alot to mess up a Valk motor.  The carbs might need some attention (I'm betting that they do), but even that isn't overwhelming. 

If you can pick it up for low 4 grand or so, it'd be a steal actually.  You could part it out and make money for that price.  The tins are in great shape.  The bags have one or two scratches on them, but they're in great shape too actually.  The inside of the right bag (the one I looked in) looked new. 

Sounds like you have a plan getting with Jeff.   

[RonW]

You might take a look at Valkyrie Rebuilt. Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2010 better read from earliest post to newest.

From sample condition like this ....


To this ....