GL1800 engine in a Valkyrie

[jdwf6]

Notwithstanding the Rune, has anyone tried installing a GL1800 Goldwing engine in a Valkyrie? I have a 1997 Tourer with 140K miles that I would love to "freshen" with fuel injected bliss. Has anyone seen such a thing documented anywhere? I reached frustration threshold pretty fast when nothing relevant came up after 45-minutes of Googling every combination of "GL1800 engine Valkyrie install" that I could think of.

Thanks...

[Big Mike]

With enough time and money I do not know why you can not do it!!!

[Garland]

I notice that someone has an Interstate on ebay that has been bored out to 1700cc. I did not think that was possible...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-Interstate-2001-Valkyrie-GL-1500-Interstate-enhanced-to-1700cc_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a54839e1bQQitemZ250526015003QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

[Larry]

Search for  X Wing. Someone stripped a 1800 Wing down. Closest you'll get to a "1800 Valk" unless Honda produces one.  Here is the link:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,9381.msg74432/topicseen.html#msg74432 

[Jeff K]

I notice that someone has an Interstate on ebay that has been bored out to 1700cc. I did not think that was possible...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-Interstate-2001-Valkyrie-GL-1500-Interstate-enhanced-to-1700cc_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a54839e1bQQitemZ250526015003QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,10103.0.html

[skromfols]

I just checked out the pictures of the X-wing, and all I can say is Wow!  I've only owned my 98 Valk standard for about a year and still can't get over how many people have questions or favorable comments every time I stop for gas or go on a poker run.  Even Harley riders sneak over to check it out.  So I can't imagine the attention that the X-wing must receive.

One of my previous bikes was an 84 V-65 Magna, which I sold because it was 25 years old and starting to suffer electrical and other non-engine related problems.  I'm not a mechanic or I would still have that bike, because it would just blow new cruisers away and was a comfortable all day cruiser with a set of throw over bags and a windshield.  Even at 25 years old the engine started easily and ran great.

I put the big Magna in the same catagory as my Valkyrie, a great bike that Honda should never have discontinued.  And I agree with the previous comments, if Honda made something like the X-wing they would have people standing in line to buy them.

[sandy]

Swapping engines can't be done. The Valk frame just isn't big enough for the 1800 engine. About the EBay I/S; I don't believe a 1520 can be bored that far. If it was tried, I'd stay away from it.

[Jeff K]

Swapping engines can't be done. The Valk frame just isn't big enough for the 1800 engine. About the EBay I/S; I don't believe a 1520 can be bored that far. If it was tried, I'd stay away from it.

It would need to be sleeved and stroked.

[Tropic traveler]

Sleeving, boring & stroking can be done to increase the power of the Valk. I'm sure there is a LOT of horsepower available for a Valk just by some head work & cam swap along with the requisite jetting. As far as getting the benefits of fuel injection on a Valk, I'm sure a nice FI set up could be fabricated but the $$$ would be out of sight. I like the idea of cutting down an 1800 'Wing to a more "motorcycle looking" motorcycle better anyways. All the benefits of a factory sorted out powertrain with your own personal taste of looks. We all change our bike's looks to suit ourselves anyways, right? 
To satisfy my creative energy, next year I'm going to start on my own "Frankenbike" project. A Honda inline 4 powered cruiser. Tenative plans are to swap a 70+ HP Nighthawk 750 engine into a VT750DC Shadow Spirit. Out with the anemic 43 HP V twink & in with some CB horsepower. I will try to reuse as much of the stock Honda parts as possible. My initial measurements look good! Hopefully it will look like it came from the factory.
If that project turns out well I will be looking for a not too badly wrecked GL1800 & try to make my own X-wing style bike. That blue one is totally cool!
I've done dozens of engine swaps in cars, usually in the name of gaining displacement or HP so I figure why not with a bike?? Honda won't make what we really want so.........................

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

  And I agree with the previous comments, if Honda made something like the X-wing they would have people standing in line to buy them.

I remember the local Honda dealer here still had 1997 Valkyrie's on the floor when the 1999 models came out     So I'm not so sure about that whole " standing in line " to buy one deal 

[hardhead]

There are still some new and lots of low milage 1800 Valkyrie Runes for sale.  The prices are expensive and they are ugly but could be customized to overcome the ugliness.

[roboto65]

To satisfy my creative energy, next year I'm going to start on my own "Frankenbike" project. A Honda inline 4 powered cruiser. Tenative plans are to swap a 70+ HP Nighthawk 750 engine into a VT750DC Shadow Spirit

Hehehehe not to take away from your dream but why not buy a Magna 3rd Gen V4 engine 80 some odd HP at the rear wheel and loves to be redlined at around 10000 grand and can cruise all day long... I think some call them baby Dragons!!!! And they will keep up with a Valk other than the gas range !!!

[skromfols]

There are still some new and lots of low milage 1800 Valkyrie Runes for sale.  The prices are expensive and they are ugly but could be customized to overcome the ugliness.

The only thing I can think of uglier than a Rune is my old 4rd grade teacher, and I'm not real sure if she was all that bad (memory fades with age).  I certainly haven't seen any new Valkyries waiting to be sold, and don't remember Honda making an effort to sell them when they were available.  I saw lots of ads on TV etc., for Goldwings, but none I can remember for the Valkries.   I think Honda just wanted to increase their profits by using an engine that was already available and putting it in a cruiser frame to get additional customers.  If they really wanted to keep the model going they would have added self canceling turn signals, fuel injection, the 1800 engine, etc.  There is just more profit in the Goldwing and the Valkyrie was probably taking away from the Wing sales.

One of my biggest disappointments with Honda is they don't promote group and family rides like Harley does.  Ya, they sponsor the Goldwing groups, but it would really help sales if they took the Harley approach to promoting groups, gatherings, rides, promotions, etc. for bikes other than the Goldwing. 

[hubcapsc]

The only thing I can think of uglier than a Rune is my old 4rd grade teacher

Oh please, Leonid Brezhnev is uglier than a Rune...



-Mike "might have to move this thread to the sandbox  "

[skromfols]

Yep, he's as ugly as a Rune, but then I wouldn't want him in my garage either.

[Tropic traveler]

To satisfy my creative energy, next year I'm going to start on my own "Frankenbike" project. A Honda inline 4 powered cruiser. Tenative plans are to swap a 70+ HP Nighthawk 750 engine into a VT750DC Shadow Spirit

Hehehehe not to take away from your dream but why not buy a Magna 3rd Gen V4 engine 80 some odd HP at the rear wheel and loves to be redlined at around 10000 grand and can cruise all day long... I think some call them baby Dragons!!!! And they will keep up with a Valk other than the gas range !!!

I agree about the Magna, great little bikes! I thought about the Magna engine but I just really like the I-4 for a swap. Air cooled, great sound, more striking visually. The V-4 looks like a V-twin viewed from the side & God knows we need more V-twins in the world.
Simplicity will be my guide on the 750 project. Looks like a no cut swap, same size chain, similar weight etc. Swapping a GL1800 into a Valk frame would be a NIGHTMARE in comparison. Just wish Honda would help us out with a new flat 6 powered cruiser.  


 

[Jeff K]

To satisfy my creative energy, next year I'm going to start on my own "Frankenbike" project. A Honda inline 4 powered cruiser. Tenative plans are to swap a 70+ HP Nighthawk 750 engine into a VT750DC Shadow Spirit

Hehehehe not to take away from your dream but why not buy a Magna 3rd Gen V4 engine 80 some odd HP at the rear wheel and loves to be redlined at around 10000 grand and can cruise all day long... I think some call them baby Dragons!!!! And they will keep up with a Valk other than the gas range !!!

I agree about the Magna, great little bikes! I thought about the Magna engine but I just really like the I-4 for a swap. Air cooled, great sound, more striking visually. The V-4 looks like a V-twin viewed from the side & God knows we need more V-twins in the world.
Simplicity will be my guide on the 750 project. Looks like a no cut swap, same size chain, similar weight etc. Swapping a GL1800 into a Valk frame would be a NIGHTMARE in comparison. Just wish Honda would help us out with a new flat 6 powered cruiser.  


 

Yeah, but if your going to go with a V4 I'd slap a 1200 Vmax motor in it!!