Headlight options

[Tonysax]

I love the 1800 its an awesome machine. However the "look" is kinda too sport bike. Has anyone thought of swapping out the transformer headlight for a more old school bullet type? Don't get me wrong the factory headlight is very good for throwing light, but it's just to artsy. Bill (making a fairing) stripped the front off and looks like it should be no problem. I just like the look my 98 has. I also thought of deleting the plastic pods and showing the squareness of the radiators. I can't leave well enough alone as my wife says.

[Robert]

I thought about not replying to this because the uniqueness of the bike is a whole package. I look at others that have made a retro bike out of the look and they look good but to me it only shows the owners preference of the older style. Its almost like all or nothing with this bike. I like the look and sometimes I think it looks like a scooter or to much plastic but all in all I must say I love my bike and the way it looks and performs. While no bike is 100 percent perfect and some make modifications according to personal specifications these bikes its harder to do than most. I think this is where the rub is with these bikes, no real ability to modify easily. With all this said I love my bike, I love the way it looks, I am happy with it as it stands and hope that all who perform modifications on this bike have a easy and fulfilling time with good results.

[hubcapsc]

I'm starting to get used to it... like it, even 



If you've never taken all that stuff off, I'd say... bleghh... just leave it alone...

-Mike "it works so well..."

[_Sheffjs_]

Interesting thread, "all or nothing"  I see your thought here Robert.  OP, with the picture Bill has of the triple trees and forks without the light, it can surely be done. I feel it would look good but I could be totally wrong.    In short I've said nothing.        

Am I old "SKOOL" Robert? 

[Robert]

That is a beautiful shot and you are definitely old school  When I saw all the mods you had so meticulously done to your 1800 and made everything work so well, I thought to myself its not a 1500. I loved the mods you did including the bags but it only verified one thing to me, that the 1800 is what it is.

  Either you take it pretty much as is, or you don't. I'm sure there are some with a vision like Bill that does mods and they look good but you no longer have the 1800 as it sits and how it was made from the factory. Somehow the 1500 with any mod was still a 1500 Valkyrie and you knew it. The mods unless gaudy were never seemingly out of place but that is not the case with the 1800. Its futuristic, and going back to old school on a new school bike somehow seemed out of place. Maybe some jet engines like the Batmobile or something like that would work. 

I posted how much I enjoyed taking my 1500 out and the looks I got but my heart is with the 1800 even though driving the 1500 is a blast.

What makes the 1800 the bike for me is the tech and the ride along with easier maintenance and care. I don't worry about washing it so much and will take it out in the rain. I love the swing arm, fuel injection, larger brakes, no rattles, and the suspension and chassis. I can overlook, so to speak, the looks of the bike. The fact it does not have the chrome and presence of the 1500 in favor of the tech. When I turn the key hit the starter and it just comes to life its wonderful and I don't worry about a carb or anything else. I always wanted a Gold Wing without the fairings. I love the sound of the engine at idle and nothing sounds like this bike except a Gold Wing and when it drives along all quiet yet the torque and power is always there. I said I can Overlook the looks but this bike is no slouch or hard on the eyes. Its just not well ,,,,,, Old School. LOL

It was really funny, while at Lowes I was pulling out and this kid gave me a compliment on the bike, His words were, "that is some piece of a## bike". I said, what did you say? and he repeated it and I laughed and thanked him and went my way. Like you one day I'm going to sell one of my bikes and like you love both but the difference is it will be the 1500 not the 1800 and we will both look and say what a great bike, but Im glad I made my choice.

[Bill Havins]

Tony,

The triple clamps on the 1800 F6C seem to provide a good mounting platform for almost anything you want to do.  To mount a headlight you'd have to fabricate a bracket of some sort.  But I think it can be done.

As you look at headlight buckets consider what you are going to do with the wiring that is normally cable-tied to the back of the headlight nacelle.  There are four multi-pin connectors that you'll have to deal with.   These are the connectors that "electrify" the handlebar switches.  Two connectors for the right grip switches (housed in a black rubber cover) and two for the left (also housed in a cover).  I don't know how comfortable I would be trying to cram all of that in the back of a headlight bucket, especially if the headlight bulb gets really hot.  It's a lot of wire and connectors.

I don't know if I'm "old school" regarding my motorcycle preferences.  I guess I'm really "has to function well for my purposes" school.  And when I look at a bike I appreciate it even more if, added to function, it has "style."  In its stock form the 1800 F6C falls short on my first "test" (function well for my purposes).  Thus my fairing build.

Good luck with your conceptualizing!

Bill

[AdrianR]

That is a beautiful shot and you are definitely old school  When I saw all the mods you had so meticulously done to your 1800 and made everything work so well, I thought to myself its not a 1500. I loved the mods you did including the bags but it only verified one thing to me, that the 1800 is what it is.

  Either you take it pretty much as is, or you don't. I'm sure there are some with a vision like Bill that does mods and they look good but you no longer have the 1800 as it sits and how it was made from the factory. Somehow the 1500 with any mod was still a 1500 Valkyrie and you knew it. The mods unless gaudy were never seemingly out of place but that is not the case with the 1800. Its futuristic, and going back to old school on a new school bike somehow seemed out of place. Maybe some jet engines like the Batmobile or something like that would work. 

I posted how much I enjoyed taking my 1500 out and the looks I got but my heart is with the 1800 even though driving the 1500 is a blast.

What makes the 1800 the bike for me is the tech and the ride along with easier maintenance and care. I don't worry about washing it so much and will take it out in the rain. I love the swing arm, fuel injection, larger brakes, no rattles, and the suspension and chassis. I can overlook, so to speak, the looks of the bike. The fact it does not have the chrome and presence of the 1500 in favor of the tech. When I turn the key hit the starter and it just comes to life its wonderful and I don't worry about a carb or anything else. I always wanted a Gold Wing without the fairings. I love the sound of the engine at idle and nothing sounds like this bike except a Gold Wing and when it drives along all quiet yet the torque and power is always there. I said I can Overlook the looks but this bike is no slouch or hard on the eyes. Its just not well ,,,,,, Old School. LOL

It was really funny, while at Lowes I was pulling out and this kid gave me a compliment on the bike, His words were, "that is some piece of a## bike". I said, what did you say? and he repeated it and I laughed and thanked him and went my way. Like you one day I'm going to sell one of my bikes and like you love both but the difference is it will be the 1500 not the 1800 and we will both look and say what a great bike, but Im glad I made my choice.

Great post...I agree 100% I like how it doesn't look like just another American 'vintage' bike like the older Valkyrie...aside from the cool looking engine on the 1500...it just looks like another Harley...  Strange...when I first saw the new Valkyrie I instantly loved the styling, but it cost too much, fast forward a year or two and the prices dropped.  I bought the bike immediately and afterwards the looks began to wane somewhat...but now with the new chrome pieces the bike is really growing on me in the looks department.  The headlight/and it's mount are still kinda of strange...but they blend well...and I am getting used to it.  Of course the way the bike rides and sounds is sensational...I am developing a passion for this bike more then any other one I had before.  I simply cannot find one thing I dislike about the ride...and more so, LOVE everything about the ride, especially since I discovered where to set the suspension and the correct tire pressures..for my weight and riding style.  I will probably buy another bike in the future as I love motorcycles, but the chances of me selling my Valkyrie is very slim...  It's just such a well designed machine, and I love how unique it is...  add in the fact that it is basically a hot rod Honda Goldwing with it's bullet proof reliability and longevity...and there is just no reason to sell it.

[Moofner]

That is a beautiful shot and you are definitely old school  When I saw all the mods you had so meticulously done to your 1800 and made everything work so well, I thought to myself its not a 1500. I loved the mods you did including the bags but it only verified one thing to me, that the 1800 is what it is.

  Either you take it pretty much as is, or you don't. I'm sure there are some with a vision like Bill that does mods and they look good but you no longer have the 1800 as it sits and how it was made from the factory. Somehow the 1500 with any mod was still a 1500 Valkyrie and you knew it. The mods unless gaudy were never seemingly out of place but that is not the case with the 1800. Its futuristic, and going back to old school on a new school bike somehow seemed out of place. Maybe some jet engines like the Batmobile or something like that would work. 

I posted how much I enjoyed taking my 1500 out and the looks I got but my heart is with the 1800 even though driving the 1500 is a blast.

What makes the 1800 the bike for me is the tech and the ride along with easier maintenance and care. I don't worry about washing it so much and will take it out in the rain. I love the swing arm, fuel injection, larger brakes, no rattles, and the suspension and chassis. I can overlook, so to speak, the looks of the bike. The fact it does not have the chrome and presence of the 1500 in favor of the tech. When I turn the key hit the starter and it just comes to life its wonderful and I don't worry about a carb or anything else. I always wanted a Gold Wing without the fairings. I love the sound of the engine at idle and nothing sounds like this bike except a Gold Wing and when it drives along all quiet yet the torque and power is always there. I said I can Overlook the looks but this bike is no slouch or hard on the eyes. Its just not well ,,,,,, Old School. LOL

It was really funny, while at Lowes I was pulling out and this kid gave me a compliment on the bike, His words were, "that is some piece of a## bike". I said, what did you say? and he repeated it and I laughed and thanked him and went my way. Like you one day I'm going to sell one of my bikes and like you love both but the difference is it will be the 1500 not the 1800 and we will both look and say what a great bike, but Im glad I made my choice.

Great post...I agree 100% I like how it doesn't look like just another American 'vintage' bike like the older Valkyrie...aside from the cool looking engine on the 1500...it just looks like another Harley...  Strange...when I first saw the new Valkyrie I instantly loved the styling, but it cost too much, fast forward a year or two and the prices dropped.  I bought the bike immediately and afterwards the looks began to wane somewhat...but now with the new chrome pieces the bike is really growing on me in the looks department.  The headlight/and it's mount are still kinda of strange...but they blend well...and I am getting used to it.  Of course the way the bike rides and sounds is sensational...I am developing a passion for this bike more then any other one I had before.  I simply cannot find one thing I dislike about the ride...and more so, LOVE everything about the ride, especially since I discovered where to set the suspension and the correct tire pressures..for my weight and riding style.  I will probably buy another bike in the future as I love motorcycles, but the chances of me selling my Valkyrie is very slim...  It's just such a well designed machine, and I love how unique it is...  add in the fact that it is basically a hot rod Honda Goldwing with it's bullet proof reliability and longevity...and there is just no reason to sell it.

I wanted the bike because it didn't resemble anything else and it felt so good to sit on. Before this I was all about Bandits. The radiator pods sell the whole thing to me.

Funny our tastes are different.

[Tonysax]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to hold off on the headlight swap, hoping it will grow on me. I thought about Bills comment about the wire harnesses , I was thinking of a Road King type of set up with a solid plate over the triple tree housing the wiring. I just like making stuff my own. I'm going look into getting the pod lights for the time being.

[Moofner]

So I'm not trying to be rude when I post these pictures, but personally I don't believe removing the Tupperware pods improves the bike's looks. I could see doing something a little Mad Max like if you did take them off. I've had them off many times and have a few pictures that show what it will look like, minus the lights. I'm just providing some perspective for visualization.

[Tonysax]

So I'm not trying to be rude when I post these pictures, but personally I don't believe removing the Tupperware pods improves the bike's looks. I could see doing something a little Mad Max like if you did take them off. I've had them off many times and have a few pictures that show what it will look like, minus the lights. I'm just providing some perspective for visualization.

Dude you nailed the "Mad Max" thing. I'm leaving my bike stock but now I envision blacking out the radiators without the tupperware. Down the road. Thanks for the pictures.

[Bill Havins]

Box out the triple clamps and add a headlight nacelle to the design....simple, and it would work very nicely (for those who want to run a round headlight).

Bill

[Shrubbo]

I'm starting to get used to it... like it, even 

...

I don't like it, I love it. I can still hear that chick covered in Harley merchandise say "It is a bit too Buck Rogers for me". They should have gave her a commission