New member. Building custom 1999 'valk. Have questions! Need suggestions!

[Red Label Moto]

Hello Valkyrie World! Kie in Seattle here. Have always liked this model and picked up a ’99 standard the other day with just under 18k miles and some needs. Huge HUGE Honda fan-boy I am as well.

I own/operate a small used bike/scooter sales shop in Seattle. One day a friend of a friend called from out of the blue. He owned this ‘valk and an unfinished ‘yami 750 triple café project. He had not touched either bike for years and wanted both of them gone. For better or worse I was the guy lol. Later that day I discovered just how difficult it is to push one of these little beasties up a ramp into my VW Eurovan with both tires at 0 psi. Krikey!

Anyway… with regards to this ’99. Previous owner had started a “build” maybe 5 years back. Unbolted the fenders/headlight and began modding the exhaust. Then… full stop.

Of course, a smart guy would just get it running, bolt the stock parts back where they came from and move it on down the road. Since I am completely deranged I’m building a mild custom for my own amusement. My basic plan is to freshen up all the mechanicals then turn it over to someone to “bring it home” with the custom touches.

I dropped the bike off today with technician Walter Myers at his Seattle area shop. On the honey-do list…

~new fork seals, fluid and Progressive springs

~new tires

~new battery

~new spark plugs

~new timing belts

~valve clearance check/adjust

~new coolant

~PAIR gizmo delete/desmog

~carburetor cleaning/jetting

~new exhaust once I figure out which one to get

~coolant flush

~new driveline fluid and rear wheel spline service

~new oil/filter

~new air filter

…and whatever else it needs.

So… ideas and suggestions please for the custom phase!

I really like this one from Germany…





I kinda like this one built by meancana on this ‘site…






I don’t care for the “big-rig 18-wheeler” size exhaust tips. The Supertrapps on that German built bike look great to me.

The rear fender style on the German bike I love.

Handlebars. Again, the German bike has the ones I like. Perhaps not so wide if I had to split hairs.

Ultimately I want something that looks tough but more importantly it has to be useable as a real bike. Don't want a back seat.

So I have many questions. For this thread I'll try to limit it to...

~Fenders. Are peeps trimming down the stockers? Is there something I can buy and paint/bolt on?

~Handlebars. Show me some ideas please!

~Headlight. Just run the stock huge round thing? Smaller round thing? Last year I built a CBR600RR into a mild custom. Went with an LSL light from Germany and love it. Would that be out of place on a 'valk?

~Just run the stock instruments? I'm kind of "meh" on them. Would not be opposed to a nice single unit multi display digital gizmo.

~Exhaust. Don't want the huge/long pipes. Is that Supertrapp on the Geman bike above still available? I have access to a custom exhaust builder but I'd rather just buy something if I can. Ideas?

Any and all ideas/suggestions please let them fly.

Thanks!

My 600RR streetfighter:







My RVF400 NC35:





A 1980 CB750F I have that was all modded up in the 80's:

[Red Label Moto]

May as well post some pics of my bike. Decent platform to start with methinks.

[Pappy!]

I would think that Mark T can supply you with the exhaust for your project. He had some photos up about a year ago of some shorty turned-out exhaust he did for a similar project. They were absolutely wicked looking.

[Red Label Moto]

I would think that Mark T can supply you with the exhaust for your project. He had some photos up about a year ago of some shorty turned-out exhaust he did for a similar project. They were absolutely wicked looking.

thanks much I sent him an email

[BradValk48237]

I think its great looking that way,,,,,

Amazing what taking a few parts off can do......

Brad

[ValkISDan]

I personally would like to try a Rune type rear fender, rake the front end, VTX style headlight, lengthen or replace the tank, paint a little more, chrome a little less, and put a low slung seat on it. Looks like your headed toward the bobber, that definitely works too. Thanks for preserving another Valk!

[MarkT]

Here's a link to the thread when I explained the build on our friend George's blown bobber, who went to Valhalla in 2003 - the build 10 years later.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,62086.0.html

Here's a link to my post of the pipes on the bike:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,67975.msg663475.html#msg663475

Chuck joined us at The Great Brisket Ride last fall, and I got a video of him riding it, also a walkaround:

Here's the walkaround:

The GREAT BRISKET RIDE - the parkin lot bike tour	powered by Aeva

And Chuck firing it up:

The Great Brisket Ride - Chuck fires up the George Bike	powered by Aeva

[Red Label Moto]

I personally would like to try a Rune type rear fender, rake the front end, VTX style headlight, lengthen or replace the tank, paint a little more, chrome a little less, and put a low slung seat on it. Looks like your headed toward the bobber, that definitely works too. Thanks for preserving another Valk!

Thank you for the input. I guess I am going the "bobber" route... never thought I'd be saying those words lol.

I like you ideas but those mods require more ambition than I have at the ready for this project haha.

[BF]

Some have used a headlight from an 1800 VTX.

I love the looks of this Valk....

I personally would like to try a Rune type rear fender, rake the front end, VTX style headlight, lengthen or replace the tank, paint a little more, chrome a little less, and put a low slung seat on it. Looks like your headed toward the bobber, that definitely works too. Thanks for preserving another Valk!

I dunno.  Not so sure about that look on a Valk.....

[saddlebag]

Yeah.....

I like that bobbed/hotrod look.

Blackened headers...how do you do that?

[Red Label Moto]

Man the exhaust is going to be a tough choice 

Thanks MarkT for the email and the links and such. Your work looks stunning. I will need to digress and decide if I can come to grips with the sheer manliness of it all lol.

The story of George/Chuck's bike kind of got to me. Strange since my dad's (who got me a Trail 90 when I was 6) name is George and my (middle) name is Chuck (Charles). Weird science!

I feel almost sheepish in admitting that at this point my clear favorite is the style George had on his bike back in the day.

Is this system still available new?

[MarkT]

No, Super Trapps have been unobtainium for awhile now.  Might still exist stored somewhere - watch CL, ebay, VRCC classifieds.

[Red Label Moto]

No, Super Trapps have been unobtainium for awhile now.  Might still exist stored somewhere - watch CL, ebay, VRCC classifieds.

MarkT it was a pleasure chatting on the phone. Thanks for all the good advice 

Would you believe it? JC Motors has a few new sets still on the shelf. Just got one for my new obsession lol.

http://www.jcmotors.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=6619&SEName=supertrapp-62-megaphone-series-exhaust-system-for-honda-valkyrie-1500-1997-2003#tab1

[MarkT]

No, Super Trapps have been unobtainium for awhile now.  Might still exist stored somewhere - watch CL, ebay, VRCC classifieds.

MarkT it was a pleasure chatting on the phone. Thanks for all the good advice 

Would you believe it? JC Motors has a few new sets still on the shelf. Just got one for my new obsession lol.

http://www.jcmotors.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=6619&SEName=supertrapp-62-megaphone-series-exhaust-system-for-honda-valkyrie-1500-1997-2003#tab1

I'm pretty sure they have been out of production for some time so they must have bought a bunch they are selling out of their warehouse.  Good find.