New Guy looking for a new ride

[Lburgau303]

I've decided this is the year that I ride again.  I haven't purchase my new bike yet and there are a couple that I'm interested in for various reasons, famous last words, but I have a question.
Since these bikes aren't in production any more I am under the impression that add on parts might be difficult to come buy.  I've found a couple of bikes with the mileage I'm hoping to get but they don't have accessories that I'd like on my next ride.  Should I wait and look longer for the bike with the mileage and accessories I'd like or are accessories easily available via swap meets, e-bay etc.
In other words, should I buy a standard bike with the mileage I feel is acceptable and add the parts, even though they might be somewhat more expensive this way; or, are parts hard to come by and it would be better to wait and find a bike with the mileage and accessories I want.  Two of my got to have accessories are a triple tree and hard saddle bags with mounting brackets.

A new guy looking for a way out.

[WamegoRob]

Welcome!  And accessories are very easy to get, though a few are quite costly (like the OEM trunks and saddlebags).
If you're willing to travel a bit, there are lots of Valks scattered around the country for sale in all stages of accessorization.
To aid in your search, it sounds like you want a Tourer.
The Valkyrie has three models (not counting the Rune):
  Standard - vanilla sweet bike
  Tourer - standard + windshield & bags
  Interstate - Tourer + fairing, trunk & various toys

[PhredValk]

There's a good chance that there are more GL1500 Goldwings on the road than any other model of Honda, and Mother Honda still actively supports them. The Valkyrie is about 60% 1500 Wing.

Unique items like body parts and exhaust systems are getting harder to find and more expensive, but they can be found. You can find just about anything on Pinwall (bike wrecker) and from Honda, and there are lots of junkers and deals out there.

Accessories now, like Kuriaken (sp?) etc are all over the place. Lots of them fit any bike out there, and this board has sponsors that pump out items specifically for the Valkyrie.

Have a good tour of the Shoptalk page.
See you on the road,
Fred.

[cookiedough]

Parts you are looking for are easy to come by.  If you want hard side bags, get a tourer.  If you want hard side bags with a little better wind protection and stock stereo with mp3 player hookup, get an interstate with the extra middle luggage trunk in back.  I'm sort of the odd ball and prefer accessories that add value and usefulness/functionality to my cycle over just chrome dress up.  Not that I couldn't afford them and buy the chrome goodies, but not trying to impress the neighbors.  I think my almost stock interstate speaks for itself just fine cruising on down the road and I am happy and that is all that counts to me for the most part.  An interstate runs roughly 1-2 grand more than a tourer valkyrie and I like them both, either way can't go wrong.

[R J]

Look in the Classified on this board for a Tourer, or an Interstate.

What is this triple tree you want?

Welcome aboard and Hope you many smiley miles on your new to be bought bike.

This is my TOURER.  1 step down from the Interstate.

[f6gal]

If you want hardbags, I would find a bike that has them already.  

As far as the triple tree, you're not likely to find that already on a bike; not many ppl made that mod.  I actually have one (somewhere) that I purchased long ago, but never installed.  I can't even remember the rake change it would have produced, but it wasn't drastic.  I also have no idea the going rate on them or how hard they are to find.

I would suggest riding the bike for awhile before deciding if you even want to change the tree.  Of course, I don't know your intent... if you're looking at a chopper type rake, you'll probably have to have it machined.  

[Lburgau303]

The item I'm calling a "triple tree" I believe refers to an additional lighting system, it has 2 additional driving lights with 2 large blinkers under them and of course the main head light. I may be incorrect in my terminology; I am working off of a 20 year memory.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks
LeeB.

[Gary]

I believe a Lightbar is what you're looking for, not a triple tree.

[f6gal]

The item I'm calling a "triple tree" I believe refers to an additional lighting system, it has 2 additional driving lights with 2 large blinkers under them and of course the main head light. I may be incorrect in my terminology; I am working off of a 20 year memory.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks
LeeB.

Gary's correct, you're referring to a light bar... Your description sounds like a Cobra Light Bar.  They are no longer produced by Cobra.  However, they are relatively common, so you can probably find a bike with one already installed.  They do come up on ebay, but I think they get kind of spendy.

[Gear Jammer]

I'd find the bike that "looks" like I want it to look, regardless of the mileage, unless it proves to be ragged out.     You can find and buy mechanical parts (including complete engines) for less than the accumulative cost of all the add-on accessories and body parts (bags and rails, trunks, windshields and chrome farkles) that you'd have to find to make it your own.    And yesterday a set of used engine hanger covers went for $181, and Cobra Light Bars (NIB) sold for $691, which is respectively quadruple and double their original cost from dealer      .   And if you buy it "ready", you can ride it on day one.  Despite what some may say, riding it is much more enjoyable than working on it  

[solo1]

There is a police officer here in NE Indiana that has a standard that he wants to sell.  It is a standard in every way. Even has the OE sissy bar.  There is nothing extra on it.  Very low mileage and an earlier year.

He rode only 800 miles last year.

Probably a very nice bike but buying accesories for it would really raise the $$$$ that you have invested in it.  I don't know what he's aaking  for it.

[grandpaweaver]

I bought my tourer last year, very nice the way it came and could ride it just as is forever, but if I had it to do over again I would hold out for an Interstate. At the time I thought the extra $3000.00 put it out of my price range but now I'm wishing I could trade up.

Keep looking until you find the bike you're dreaming of and you can't go wrong with the best cruiser ever built.

[Gryphon Rider]

Awww, I'm too late for my smart-alec comment that amazingly all Valkyries come from the factory with triple trees installed. 

I would wait for the Valk with the most expensive accessories already installed, such as a Tourer with a light bar.  I would be more concerned about the condition of the bike than the year or mileage, with mileage being the deciding factor between equally equipped and maintained Valkyries.

[Irish-Valk]

Decide whether you would like the 'Standard', Tourer' or the Interstate' look. Then buy the best bike you can find of that model within your budget. I wouldn't worry too much about milage, but for your own peace of mind I would try to get one with less than 60 or 70 thousand miles, then you could rest assured you had 200k of trouble free miles ahead of you.
You will enjoy tracking down accessories and they are easy enough to source. This site is a great source of ideas and inspiration. If you can get yourself a good Valkyrie you won't regret it. It will serve you well, you'll enjoy the ride, you will enjoy the company and the comradeship in here. You will have a very solid reliable bike that will serve you for years and will hold its value. It will be somewhat unusual in so far as you be seeing one around every corner, it will turn heads. They are a little thirsty (35mpg) though, this might be a consideration now that fuel prices are going mad.
My advice, go buy yourself an Interstste, polish it, then go enjoy years of open roads. Accessorise to your own taste and to your hearts content.
Welcome to the VRCC and safe riding...

[Scooby]

They are out there..............just had a buddy drive from South Dakota to Atlanta to fetch one.  You might have to be willing to travel.  Seems they are not a dime a dozen anymore, had my 97 since 98 and every time I see one locally Iam just amazed.

[Davet261]

It took me a year to find the one I wanted, I looked at several before I bought mine.  Originally I was looking for an Interstate, but I found a Tourer with very low miles (7600 miles).  Although it is a 98 it was not uncrated until 2004, for some reason they did not sell very good in the beginning.  An old man had it, said he could not hold it up and he was afraid he would drop it, so he let his son ride it and he only rode it a couple times a month just to keep the gas from going bad.  A lot of people in here will say buying a valk with this low of miles is a mistake, but mine runs like a top.  It was completely bone stock when I got it, I bought just about every piece of chrome there is (I still have some to get but 90% there)  Buying chrome can be very addictive, kinda like tattoos, once you start you cant hardly quit.

Buy the bike you want, if it is not set up the way you want, do it yourself, make it the way you want, go as little as you want or go all the way, your bike means its your choice.  I would never ever sell mine, I'll have it till the day I die, even if I cant ride it, it makes one hell of a centerpiece in a garage.

 

[Paxton]

I bought my stripped down 2000 Standard w/34k miles... in immaculate condition. Paid $4500. 

After seeing others Blinged Out, I went crazy. Can't resist buying all the goodies! 
I am now in for $9200... total.    NO regrets...

PROS & CONS:
When you go my route, it is more expensive, but you get to create your machine in your own image... 

Given your statements, though, you'd be better off starting with a tourer. If I was looking again, I'd be seeking a Tourer. 

Whatever you buy, make sure it's Black. They are by far the fastest! 

Right now there are many for sale. All colors. I saw a bunch of beautiful ones in the Huston / Dallas CL.

If you are willing to fly ("anywhere") and ride back, the seller is ALWAYS eager to pick you up at the airport. 

Good luck!

THE MYTH OF THE VALKYRIE

https://picasaweb.google.com/103917731019176896112/2000ValkyrieStandard?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmdjLG26rq5xwE

"He drew the dagger and laid it on the table between them;
a length of dragon bone and Valkyrian steel,
as sharp as the difference between right and wrong,
between true and false, between life and death."
 George R.R. Martin (A Game of Thrones)