If you were to buy a low mile Valk

[_Sheffjs_]

That has routinely been driven short distances during its life.

What would you look for as possible costly immediate needs??

Tires look OEM?
Rust in tank?
Rear end serviced?
Fluids changed?

What else?   

[gordonv]

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

Known Valkyrie Problems

I would start there, read up. How low miles? I would expect running issues (carb), old tires (need to be replaced), rear end maintenance.

Outside of these running issues, the other would be petcock testing. The rest would be how it looks.

[Bighead]

In 2012 I bought a really low milage Interstate. 8 k miles and it was a '99 so about a 800 mile a year average. I did nothing but ride it when I went to look at it then ride it,it was as new a a Valk could be and only checked the rear when I changed tires ( no they were not original) solid when I rode her and have made 3 Cross country trips on her and the only problem was a rear wheel bearing last summer.

[semo97]

A lot depends on what part of the country it has lived in. Some protection can be taken in any part of the country. Just take that into consideration salty air and blowing sand country for exp.

[_Sheffjs_]

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

Known Valkyrie Problems

How low miles?

 Pathetically low

[Bighead]

Great price? If so and you pass point me in the correct direction please

[Hook#3287]

Also depends where it spent it's down time.  Outside under a tarp or in a heated area.  Makes a huge difference.

I think each bike has a different storey and you just have to learn to read them.

To me, mileage don't much matter, cause I'm going to go thru her anyways.

Replace all fluids, do a rear drive service, new air filter, new oil & filter,  de-smog, 38's, float valves and that's just the for sure stuff.

Then there's shock bushings, new tires, brake pads on the most likely list.

Depending on her care, there's the complete tear down to clean up the back of the motor and front  of the swingarm area, usually pretty gritty/oily there.

Then you got to hunt down the chrome do-dads she missing.

[Firefighter]

I would do those things you already listed, but most importantly changing the tires and don't forget the metal valve stems! That would be all for now, need to start riding! Be careful.

[Beardo]

Also depends where it spent it's down time.  Outside under a tarp or in a heated area.  Makes a huge difference.

I think each bike has a different storey and you just have to learn to read them.

To me, mileage don't much matter, cause I'm going to go thru her anyways.

Replace all fluids, do a rear drive service, new air filter, new oil & filter,  de-smog, 38's, float valves and that's just the for sure stuff.

Then there's shock bushings, new tires, brake pads on the most likely list.

Depending on her care, there's the complete tear down to clean up the back of the motor and front  of the swingarm area, usually pretty gritty/oily there.

Then you got to hunt down the chrome do-dads she missing.

Agreed. Pretty much what I did when I bought mine. Also did wheel bearings and new petcock.

[kodiakfisher]

My dad and I both purchased used low/average mileage I/S Valk interstates and rode them across country. His averaged about 1 mpg better.

Be careful about being talked into emotional maintenance. Two things, does the owner have any maintenance records. Is the bike showing pitting and or rusting around undercarriage bolts?

These should give you a bit of direction. I do think fluids changed if no maintenance log, do make sure it wasn't created with the same pen/pencil otherwise suspect BS. Oil and rear oil are always a good start with an air filter and coolant. Check the brakes and shock bushing, check the spark plugs for consistency and check the air pressure. If tires are really old probably good to replace depending on how hard you ride the twisties. We rode from Wisconsin to Oregon with aging tires and I basically rode the last 2k miles off the rear tire.

I think it is important to be careful not to chase a solution for everything that has ever gone wrong. Now to be fair I have taken my rims off and am having them chromed so doing wheel bearings and in the process realized the front brakes are not going to last for the next riding season. In the end I've put all chrome switch housings, levers, new spark plugs (wasn't needed), sync the carbs, all fluids changed, brakes and clutch fluid changed, air filter, oil filter but much of this was done due to making upgrades to the bike. It can add up really really fast.

I do think the underlying motivator for much of the initial maintenance is confidence in your bike and where the routine maintenance stands. You hear about people replacing timing belts long before recommended mileage yet I have never heard of one failing...

Doug E on the Valky

[Bone]

You hear about people replacing timing belts long before recommended mileage

I haven't found a recommended mileage on replacing timing belts. Honda tells us to check them in the manual, no mention of replacement that I can find.

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

That has routinely been driven short distances during its life.   

Or ridden just a bit and then sat for years and years...........

[kodiakfisher]

You hear about people replacing timing belts long before recommended mileage

I haven't found a recommended mileage on replacing timing belts. Honda tells us to check them in the manual, no mention of replacement that I can find.

Exactly my point, don't you think if it was necessary it would be listed with all the other maintenance that is listed down to lubricating cables and pivots. I don't think this was an oversight. 

Doug E on the Valky

[phideux]

I found my 16yr old Valk  10 months ago, with 19,000 mile on her. Not alot. The tires were pretty new, the bike was clean, no rust or pitting anywhere. You can usually tell a beat-up/abused bike pretty easy. I checked/changed the fluids, gave it a good once over, and have been riding the hell out of it. When a valve stem broke and I got a flat, I checked/cleaned/lubed the rear end, everything looked great there. These big Hondas are great, low maintenance bikes. Now I'm starting to do some teardown and re-doing stuff to make it mine, as I take stuff apart, I'll take a better look at stuff and do some maintenance, if needed.
The only "issues" I've had with mine were the turn signal switch grease/lube got old and I had a turn signal issue, no biggie, and when I put new brakes in I had a dragging caliper, again no biggie.

[Hook#3287]

I found my 16yr old Valk  10 months ago, with 19,000 mile on her. Not alot. The tires were pretty new, the bike was clean, no rust or pitting anywhere. You can usually tell a beat-up/abused bike pretty easy. I checked/changed the fluids, gave it a good once over, and have been riding the hell out of it. When a valve stem broke and I got a flat, I checked/cleaned/lubed the rear end, everything looked great there. These big Hondas are great, low maintenance bikes. Now I'm starting to do some teardown and re-doing stuff to make it mine, as I take stuff apart, I'll take a better look at stuff and do some maintenance, if needed.
The only "issues" I've had with mine were the turn signal switch grease/lube got old and I had a turn signal issue, no biggie, and when I put new brakes in I had a dragging caliper, again no biggie.

If you haven't yet, might be time to do a start button maintenance.  The grease in it, is as old as the turn signal grease.

[MarkT]

Besides the stuff above, get the headlight load off the starter button and hi/lo light switch.  Easiest to just buy BonS's Smart Switch.  Also move the battery ground on the back of the engine block to the left driver's footpeg mount - from aluminum ground to steel.  Add spots if it doesn't have them for safety/visibility. I did pretty much all of the above tuneup issues plus these and more to Jade, bought at 26k miles. The "more" is Progressive 444 shocks, Russell seats, Clearview shield with vent - tipped, Brake-Away throttle lock, two pairs of spots - the bigger ones are actually headlights with my custom circuit so I can select Hi, Lo, Follow the main headlight, off, or parking lights; belly tank with custom plumbing, replaced petcock with a Pingel, forward controls with Kury highway pegs, shifter anchor mod, high power headlight relays mod with 130/90 bulb, rear markers run/brake/turn with clear lenses and red LED arrays, Radiantz LED array in taillight with smoke lens, all lights except H4's are LED's, high power white LED's in instruments with a dimmer switch, Hitchdoc with swivel ball and trailer brakes, 6" Harley pullback risers, Zumo 660 with Sirius weather/traffic & mp3 player, Bluetooth preamp/mixer into 300w amp, auxiliary power port, Iphone X-mount with USB port, 2 drinkholders (Butler & std cup/bottle holder), power panel and relay panel, permanent mounted lift adapter of my design, a custom Highlighter displaying a Spartan helmet in red LEDs with blue eyes for brake and turn; and of course my pipes with glasspacks, silencers and organ pipes. I've documented pretty much all of these if you have any interest; want to search on the tech forum for my posts.

[phideux]

I found my 16yr old Valk  10 months ago, with 19,000 mile on her. Not alot. The tires were pretty new, the bike was clean, no rust or pitting anywhere. You can usually tell a beat-up/abused bike pretty easy. I checked/changed the fluids, gave it a good once over, and have been riding the hell out of it. When a valve stem broke and I got a flat, I checked/cleaned/lubed the rear end, everything looked great there. These big Hondas are great, low maintenance bikes. Now I'm starting to do some teardown and re-doing stuff to make it mine, as I take stuff apart, I'll take a better look at stuff and do some maintenance, if needed.
The only "issues" I've had with mine were the turn signal switch grease/lube got old and I had a turn signal issue, no biggie, and when I put new brakes in I had a dragging caliper, again no biggie.

If you haven't yet, might be time to do a start button maintenance.  The grease in it, is as old as the turn signal grease.

Makes sense, It'll only take a minute to open it up, gunk it down, blow it out and lube it up.

[Hook#3287]

I found my 16yr old Valk  10 months ago, with 19,000 mile on her. Not alot. The tires were pretty new, the bike was clean, no rust or pitting anywhere. You can usually tell a beat-up/abused bike pretty easy. I checked/changed the fluids, gave it a good once over, and have been riding the hell out of it. When a valve stem broke and I got a flat, I checked/cleaned/lubed the rear end, everything looked great there. These big Hondas are great, low maintenance bikes. Now I'm starting to do some teardown and re-doing stuff to make it mine, as I take stuff apart, I'll take a better look at stuff and do some maintenance, if needed.
The only "issues" I've had with mine were the turn signal switch grease/lube got old and I had a turn signal issue, no biggie, and when I put new brakes in I had a dragging caliper, again no biggie.

If you haven't yet, might be time to do a start button maintenance.  The grease in it, is as old as the turn signal grease.

Makes sense, It'll only take a minute to open it up, gunk it down, blow it out and lube it up.

If you decide to take the switch mechanism apart, be careful taking the black sliding piece out of the white case.  With age, the white piece gets brittle and will break easily.

[Brian]

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

Known Valkyrie Problems

How low miles?

 Pathetically low

I bought my 97 Standard from the original owner with 895 miles showing in 2006. The bike sat for over 3 years with gas in it. The bike was not running when I bought it. The pipes were blue from the heads all the way out to and including the tips. Needless to say I started from scratch going thru everything. Had low compression in 3 cylinders, turned out to be carbon buildup on the valves. I had both heads off and hand ground in all the valve seats. The carbs needed torn down and thoroughly cleaned, 3 carbs had bad needle valves, replaced all these. I highly recommend you get the Clymer and/or the Honda shop manual. The list goes on before I had this scooter running. Now she runs like a Swiss watch. I ended up with a nice ride with added accessories for $5,300 total including the cost of special tools and parts.  The members on this forum will help you all the way, they are awesome. The problem I had, I did not know about this forum till after I had this bike on the road. Good luck,