From VTX to Valk - Do I make the jump

[Ruby9]

Ok so I am at the local powersports dealer to get a new rear tire monted on my VTX.  Been avid VTX'er for 5 years.  "It'll take about 40 minutes" the guy says.  So I have some time to walk around the place.  Looked at the new bikes - Fury is interesting - but I am happier than a pig in stink with what I have.  So I meander over the "brokered" bikes, and there are two Valks, 2000 I/S, 18k miles, and a 1998 tourer, 14k miles.  I am 5'6", so there is no way I can get flat footed with these monsters.  Lo and behold, it felt damn good.  So I ask the man, what was being asked for these gentle giants.  9999.00 for the IS and 6495.00 for the tourer.  Hmm.  Interesting I was expecting more.  Anyway, I can't get this Valk out of my mind.  I have been a v-twin man for many many years.  I called later in the day and asked if I could come down and ride the tourer.  Sure he says.

What do I need to look for.  Every model I ever had and loved, had an idiosyncrasy about it - VTX is notorious for the steering bearing and gives the death wobbles at 35-40 mph if hands are off.  What is the idiocyncrasy for the Valk.  I ride long and hard.  Significant other is in PA and I live in VA, so there is 350-400 every weekend.  I like nice west virginia twisties.   How do these Valks handle?  Any, any information you can provide would be very helpful.  Any maintenance peculiarities - VTX needs valves done every 8k miles. 

Look forward to responses - advise if I am in the wrong forum. 

Ruby 9   Culpeper, VA

[Michvalk]

The Valk will need some lookin after, but not with the intensity of other bikes. With all the horsepower and smooth response, you will enjoy longer trips. There are a few things that you will do on a regular basis. Check the oil and ride. Rear wheel bearings take a lot of abuse(I just put a new set in tonight) But I rode 20,000 miles since the last set. They do have mechanical lifters that need adjusted occasionally. And six carbs that need sync'd. I have 28,000 miles on my bike and have yet to have to do either one. I get about 38 miles to the gallon back and forth to work. You will find that changing oil and checking the air in the tires are about the only things that have to be done on a regular basis. If you do buy one or the other, I would look the bike over closely, check the fluids and ride!!

[Bagger John - #3785]

I own both. If all-out torque is what you want, stay with the VTX. If an all-around, do-everything motorcycle better suits your riding style, go with a Valkyrie.

[John U.]

You will no doubt find, as I did that the smoothness of the flat 6 engine is a pure joy. I know all about the sound and fury of a V twin but when you ride a Valk for a while you will find that the power is there but the vibration isn't.
I rode a couple of Can-Am Spyders (V twins) this past weekend. They are interesting, and more impressive than I expected, though they are definately not bikes. The big difference I noticed immediately after a bit more than 1/2 hour of Spyder riding (other than the 2wheel/3 wheel difference) was the lack of vibration when I took off on my own Valk.
Sometimes it takes a direct comparison to remind us of one of the big reasons Valks are great bikes.
The answer to one of your questions is the Valk will perform amazingly well in the twisties.
The best part is you have the advantage of a great technical resource which you have already discovered (meaning this board).
Those sound like reasonable prices for bikes that with basic care could easily go 200,000 miles.

[Tropic traveler]

Ditto what John U. said about the smoothness of a Valk. While the Valk does not have the down low grunt of a big twin it more than makes up for it when you turn up the wick! Different animals, the Flat 6 & VTX twin. You will learn to love it I can assure you!
I think you will find the Valk much more comfy on long trips. I personally love the foot position of a Valk which is akin to the old "standard" bikes of years gone by. If you simply must have the "gynological exam" feet forward riding position common on most cruisers there are many ways to add highway pegs to a Valkyrie. I have spent time on both a 1300 & 1800 VTX and they are some of the best V-twin bikes out there. But.................they aint a Valkyrie! I say pull the trigger on the Tourer, that is a killer price if the bike checks out all right. 
I was so impressed with the Valkyrie I sold a perfectly good Triumph Rocket 3 just to get my wife her own Valk. Great decision on my part! Even the MASSIVE torque & HP of the R3 wasn't enough to sway me.
 
94,000+ and still tickin'


Only one thing better than a Valkyrie.... That's two of 'em!

[39 Chev]

I just came off this bike...





To this bike...



I LOVED my VTX, but it wasn't a bike that I could stay comfortable on for longer distances.  That foot-forward position feels really comfortable at first, but it's nice to have options.  I put highway pegs on the Valk so I can change positions on longer trips.

I still think the VTX is a fantastic bike for cruising around town and shorter trips, but the Valk does everything well.  I also think the Valk handles BETTER than the VTX.  I had Progressive front springs and rear shocks on my VTX and the Valk has stock suspension, but it feels much more solid around corners (especially if the corners have bumps).

I loved the looks of my VTX, but I decided that I want to go with "Function over Form" (not that the Valk is bad looking  ). 

I'm definitely happy that I switched!!!   

[Ruby9]

Ok, I'm gonna ride it tomorrow after work!  I'll let you know

[Ruby9]

39Chev

You and I have the same VTX, you black, studs, whitewals,  I white, studs, white walls.  Guess there is something in the cards for this Valk

[HotRod]

Befor

After

[Trynt]

I have an 1800 VTX C and a Valk.  The "X" is a blast to hot rod and great for shorter trips. But If one had to go, the Valk would stay.  It just does so many things well. 

[Dag]

The Valkyrie has it all - long distance touring capability - excellent handling – smooth -  vibration free - and awesome power. . and it looks like a motorcycle, it oozes presence. Taking this bike through the twisties is a real pleasure. Handling is light and completely predictable and the low speed handling is surprisingly good for a bike this big.
The powerful six cylinder motor have a strong pull from less than 1000 rpm to the red line.

[bg]

i have both.
a valk I/S 2000 and an 1800R 2003.
if i had to get rid of one or the other, the X would be gone in a heart beat.

[Big Rig]

I would go with the I/S with a few mods you would have to  many options in front of you on looks and styling (Super Valk)...the thing I like the most on the looks front is the valk looks like nothing else...in a world flooded with v-twins, when you see a valk...you know right away what it is...they do stand out in a croud and you will have people asking you all about it when you are out.
As for the handling, for a BIG bike, it handles great, light and nimble...it is a ferrari in a Hummer box....

[TX Wolfman]

If you do a google search for Honda Valkyrie you will see a muscle cruiser performance test with seven bikes, Valkyrie, Vmax, Vrod, VTX, Meanstreak, Road Warrior and Magna. Read that and I think you will be surprised.

[Dag]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/performance_cruiser_comparison/index.html

TEN BEST REAR-WHEEL TORQUE
1 1997 Honda Valkyrie 102.3 lb. ft.
2 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter 100.1
3 2002 Honda VTX 99.4
4 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate 94.9
5 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa 93.4
6 1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer 92.5
7 1997 Honda GL1500SE 87.7
8 1999 Yamaha Road Star 83.1
9 1997 Yamaha V-Max 83.1
10 1999 Honda CBR1100XX 80.0

[Puffs Daddy]

I'd never owned a cruiser before the Valk. Just not a "cruiser" guy, I thought. Had a BMW K1200RS and loved it. But after I bought a Honda Shadow Sabre for my wife, I had the yen for a cruiser. My dealer had just taken a VTX in trade with 300 miles and $5K of bling on it. Took it out for a long ride and enjoyed it. But then I took it out on the freeway and at about 85 mph I realized it inspired none of the confidence of my BMW. "Why would I want a bike this big that I wouldn't want to ride across country?" I thought.

So back to the dealer. Happened to run into a fellow I barely knew in the parking lot at the dealer. "How did I like the VTX," he asked. "Not so much," I replied. "Guess I'm really not a cruiser guy." "Try my Valkyrie," he offered, and tossed me his keys. Twenty minutes later I returned to the dealer and asked him to order me a Valkyrie.

That was seven years ago. I've since ridden virtually every cruiser introduced after that. I watched as Honda dumped VTX's on the market at $5K under msrp. I watched behemoth cruisers come and go, making the "huge" 1520 cc Valk engine a "midsize" cruiser. The only bike that ever tempted me was the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, but not enough to let go of the Valkyrie. The BMW is long gone, replaced by a Moto Guzzi and the Valkyrie is what I take when I want to ride a thousand miles in a weekend.

I'm still not a "cruiser guy," I suppose. Had I bought that VTX 1800 I'm sure it would be gone by now. I fully expect to be buried with the Valk. 

[V98]

I sold a Yamaha VMAX to get my first valk, :cooldude:nuff said. I love it when I go to a bikenight and some Harley dude and his girl come walking by and she says to him "Ooooohh, what's that! Look how big that engine is!" He gets all pissed off and mumbles something about Jap scrap and stomps off in his Harley wannabe boots. I just stand by my bike and smile at my wife. Life is good!

[rainman]

Ditto to all the above.  I have 1700 roadstar and I love the big V-twin it is 05 with just over 60k on it. My wife and I have had a lot of long one day run the bike and at the same time my 04 goldwing sat in the garage.  So about 3 years ago I got to take a test ride on a valk and fell in love with it and that was the end of the goldwing two weeks later I traded the wing in on a 99 valk I/S and never looked back. Now I still have the roadstar but when it come to taking 7 to 9 days or more out I look to the valk just because of the way she handles and rides. Now I still take the roadstar out for long rides but I guess if I had to sale one of them it would be the roadstar. I’ll stay with the valk and if sound is what you want then go with a set 6 into 6.
And ride on my friend   

[Disco]

Hi Ruby,

Welcome to the VRCC!  (It's part of your future!)   

I hope you will ride them both.  Compared to a Standard or Tourer, the Interstate is top-heavy.  One of my Valkyrie buddies is 60-ish, about your height, and she rides an Interstate that we have recently taken the trunk off of.  Along with a lower seat, that has helped, but it's getting to be too much for her.  If you choose the Interstate, search for the "Super Valk" conversion on the Tech Board. 

Hope this helps,

DFG

The following quotes are from a thread (linked at the bottom) I started about my ride from Frisco, TX to Ft. Lauderdale on a VTX1800C this past January. 

From Rainmaker:

So, based upon the 1500 miles on the VTX, where would it rank against the Valk?  Sounds like the torque is there.  It is definitely not as wide, which may be a great thing.  If you had to replace the Rumblebee today, would you look for a Valk or a VTX?

From Dave:

The low seat height is great for a guy my size (5'10"-11" in my riding boots).  It's really comfortable at a stop to have my butt on the seat and my knees bent.  Thalas'shaya found it heavy to bring vertical, but it was OK for me - even with the saddlebags and tourbag loaded.  Perhaps my low altitude and practice riding two-up with Janet on the 'wing worked to my advantage.  I believe the Rumblebee, in Tourer form, has a dry weight of 714 lbs, or so.  That's not far from the 734 lbs of the C model I rode.  Throw in rider height / strength, relative seat heights, and relative centers of mass of the Vee and Flat and it could turn into a Darkside or Dyna-Beads discussion. 

The narrow (but adequate-for-me) seat / engine / tank were also comfortable because they didn't force my legs / hips to splay as much as the Valk.   

I also like the angle of the handlebars.  The drag bars are much more like the dirt bikes I grew up on.  The swept angles of the Valk bars often cause me wrist and elbow fatique / soreness - more elbow than wrist.  I've been thinking of changing bars on the Valk and this ride has probably added one more mod to my to-do list. 

On a smooth surface, with only the inherent vibration of the twin present, the thumping is fun at low speed and tolerable at high speed.  On the extended stretches of uniformly poor road surface (not bad repair jobs, but the original, large granule concrete and tarmac of I-10), the added vibration is quite annoying, and at times, hand-numbing.  In spite of the relatively short cruising range (110-120 miles before the low fuel light), I made several stops just to regain the feeling in my hands. 

The suspension was very comfortable and illustrated how badly I need to install my fork springs and get some new rear shocks.

It needs much more light up front.   

The stock 2 into 1 exhaust has an almost Jetson-like whistle on deceleration.  It's a fun, almost funny sound, but doesn't quite fit on such large engine.

After 1,500 miles, I estimate it would take me at least 2,000 miles to get completely used to the forward foot position.  I was getting there, but for me, a set of mid-mounts would provide the relief most of us mid-mounters find with highway pegs.  The highway pegs on the VTX did provide a slight change of position, but only served to increase my wish for mid-mounts.

Understandably, I was anxious to take the Rumblebee for a spin on Thursday.  Although for the first few miles it was strange how far back the grips were, how bent my knees were to get my feet underneath me, and how on/off my clutch is, after about 30 miles, I felt back at home.  What really struck me, though, was how absolutely turbine-like the engine is.  What a fantastic machine.  And at today's prices, what a fantastic value. 

If one were locked in on a V-Twin and not seduced or brainwashed by the bar and shield, the VTX line should definitely be a candidate.  I believe the same should be said for the other Japanese bikes, too.  But, to answer your question, if I had to replace the Rumblebee today it would be with another Valkyrie.  To state the obvious, there is nothing else like it.  Unless it's a 'wing.   

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,701.0.html

[Mikey]

I would definately go with the Valk... There's nothing like listening to your harley buddies downshift 3 times going up a hill and pulling by them in 5th  Plus, it's the only cruiser i've ever been on that will do a wheelie without the clutch 

[hubcapsc]

Here's what I had before the Valkyrie...

 

I don't know nuthin about no VTXs, but the Valkyrie is sweeeet.

-Mike

[Jabba]

I took a 60 mile test rideon a demo VTX 1800.  When I got back to the dealer, he had an 03 Valk with 3 miles on it waiting for me in the parking lot.  He knew that's what I thought I wanted.  My wife and I got off the VTX and onto the Valk, and I didn't make it out of the parking lot before I KNEW, the Valk was for me.  I was about to but that NEW Valk, when I bought mine on E-Bay for $9200.  It had 2765 miles on it and was less than 1 year old.  It was a 2002.  That was 6 years ago... and I still ove the Valk.  I rode her about 50 miles before it felt like I had been on her forever.

Jabba

[PAVALKER]

I have one of each... they are both great bikes, different rides.  It's all in your personal preference if you could only have just one.  Why not keep both..... it's always great to have a backup plan (and some here have multiple Valks).   

[mattfidaho]

I just did the same thing...
from :



To this:




Once you ride her it will be hard to get her off your mind... (the bike)

[mikeb]

not the same box of rocks here i rode a 1981 honda gold wing i picked it up of ebay i put 8000 miles on it seen a valk and had to have one i love my valk .. my wife owns a vt 750 c it was her i want bike from the frist time she seen it ..after three years and riding with the vrcc guys and sucking her tank dry in 90 miles trying to keep up.,we were sitting in the hot tub and i heard honey can ya pull the goldwing out i would like to ride it .. i said ya tryed last year and could not even stand it up.she said that was last year. so i got the wing out and now  she has put 6000 miles on it
 
and now i hear honey i want a valk..

it is going to take a bit of lowering but i think she's going to do it .. if not ill have two valks so how can i go wrong? the wing was going to be my youngest so the valk will have a home if she cant stand it up .

[fast black]

My Valkyrie is a keeper.  I will have it till the  day I die.   I'm serious.  I won't live long enough to wear it out.  That being said I still test ride other bikes and I have ridden  a lot.  I spent two days testing bikes at Bikes Blues and Barbeque and I still can't find one that is as good all around as the Valk , plus the ease of service on this bike  makes it desirable to me. 
If I had unlimited income  I would have a whole warehouse full of bikes, but I can't afford that, so the bike I have must do all things well and the Valkyrie does that for me.
adios
fast black

[SteveL]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/performance_cruiser_comparison/index.html

TEN BEST REAR-WHEEL TORQUE
1 1997 Honda Valkyrie 102.3 lb. ft.
2 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter 100.1
3 2002 Honda VTX 99.4
4 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate 94.9
5 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa 93.4
6 1999 Honda Valkyrie Tourer 92.5
7 1997 Honda GL1500SE 87.7
8 1999 Yamaha Road Star 83.1
9 1997 Yamaha V-Max 83.1
10 1999 Honda CBR1100XX 80.0

...and

SCORECARD
Cherney/Evidge/Friedman

V-Rod: 4.0 / 3.0 / 2.5
Magna: 2.0 / 4.0 / 4.0
Valkyrie: 3.5 / 4.5 / 4.5
VTX1800C: 3.0: / 4.0 / 3.0
Mean Streak: 3.0 / 4.0 / 3.5
V-Max: 3.0 / 4.0 / 4.0
Warrior: 3.0 / 3.0 / 3.0


Add those numbers up and.... uhhh.. I think the Valkyrie still wins with 12.5 with it's closest competitor at 11.

WOW! I was riding with one of my VTX buddies that has quite a hopped up X, with a Power Commander and Air Cleaner/Pipes.. basic Harlety Stage 1 set up. He was very proud of the X but evertime he'd try to roll away from me, I'd be right where I was when he started in his rear view. He just couldn't understand what I had done to the Valk to make that much power. Um.. does a K&N filter and Mark T pipes count a little bit, but really, the bike ALWAYS went that fast, even when it was bone stock.

[woody]

Dont buy the Valk!!!!

Its horrible, Ive had mine for nearly 10 years and all I ever get to do is wash it, change the oil and ride it.

Gone are those long weekends and late nights fixing the bikes I used to ride,

Gone are those hours of enjoyment trying to work out what I could afford to spend my hard earned money fixing this week.

All the damn thing ever does is start easy, ride hard, handle well and eat up miles like nobodys business.

I did get excited twice in the last 10 years, once when the battery went flat, and once when the bike lost power at full throttle. The latter was due to guvment interference, the down under (handed) guvment decided to put smaller jets in the Aussie model and I had an issue, fixed now, nut it was the only fun I have had for a while.

Dont buy the Valk if you want to enjoy weekends fixing it or the excitement of meeting new people on the side of the road when it breaks down. My parts dealer cant even remember my name any more, once he used to send me xmas and birthday cards.

[hillbilly]

Bought 1300 VTX in 05' Loved every mile, 38,000 from July 05' to March 08'. Adopted 99' Interstate March 2 2008. After riding Valk for a month got on VTX Could not believe the vibration ! Lack of power! Rode this bike to Sturgis in 07' now don't want to ride it to town. Love the power of the flat six, don't need the long straight streaches to pass ( not a lot of um in W V )  VTX is a great bike, but's it's no Valk.

05' VTX


99' Interstate


Dog Likes Interstate better!

[Rocketman]

You've heard the cheering, and while I'm sure it was helpful, it is still what you would expect from a group based on folks who love Valkyries.
I believe you also asked about things to look out for.  There are a few things that happen, albeit rarely, that can make life miserable.  I should know, I manage to find all of them, I think.
First and foremost:  Hydrolock.  It is possible to drip fuel into one or more cylinders (more cylinders = higher probability), and fill the cylinder.  Then when you hit the starter, the fuel won't compress, so things start breaking.  It gets a lot of publicity here, because it's a major pain to fix, but based on actual numbers of occurrences, rather than numbers of posts, it's rare.
Unfortunately, what you need to look for to prevent it is threefold.  First, if there's a clattering noise when you try to start it, things have already broken.  Second, if the petcock flows fuel when the engine is not running, then that needs to be rebuilt.  Third, and more difficult to detect with the stock petcock, is if the carbuerators will leak fuel through the float valves.

I would recommend looking for as clean a model as possible.  By that, I mean, very few additions (excepting possibly bolt-ons) installed by a previous owner.  Electrical additions, especially, can make life a little interesting for a while, if the PO didn't do things right, and you can't tell unless you rip it all out.

As for other issues:  Bearings and bushings can go out due to the weight of the Valkyrie.  U-joints/ other drive train pieces can go out due to the power being transmitted through.  None of these are tough jobs to replace, and the parts do last lots and lots of miles, but you'll find you put lots and lots of miles on the Valkyrie.  You have to ride it to detect bearing or drive train problems.  I haven't had those issues, so maybe someone will chime in on how to feel for them.

Once again, quite a few folks have run several HUNDRED thousand miles with not even the minor issues I mentioned, but you asked about potential problems.

Mark

[ROTTENRICK]

IT SEEMS TO BE A CONSENCES (SP?) VALK IT IS...

[Ruby9]

I thank everyone for their input especially for what to look for.  At 6495, 14k miles, and I  cannot find a paint chip or scratch on any of the chrome, I am going to take the 98 Tourer this weekend.  VTX is for sale.  In for a penny, in for a pound!!

[thumper]

I had an '04 VTX 1300.  A lot of you will remember that loud little bastard!   People hated riding behind those Cobra pipes.

Great bang for the buck.  I had a Magna and wanted something mid-sized before I moved up to the Valk.  Sure loved terrorizing the countryside on the X thought.  It was an "R" model and I completely groud through the floor boards in 20,000 miles....still have them to prove it.

No comparison.  The Valk is a rolling hard on.  It is the most beautiful looking motorcycle ever built.  That motor is a chromosexual's wet dream.

Every time I walk out into the garage I just get the same stupid grin

I've only got 18,500 miles on mine so I'll be riding for a while.

See you all at the FRC.

Paul

[Slammer]

you will be bummed with the handling.

[franco6]

if its got a stock seat , that s gonna have to go.if you are thinking of taking your SO with you on rides ,you might want to consider the I/S.