Riding the purchased Valk home

[Willow]

In another thread a comment was made about a long way to ride a purchased mystery Valkyrie home.  It caused me to think a bit about my history.  I have bought remotely and ridden home three standards and two Interstates.  Additionally I have traveled to and ridden two Interstates for friends.  Mileages were as follows:

Standard - 560 miles.
Standard - 883 miles but stretched a bit further.
Interstate - 532 miles (for a friend).
Interstate - 792 miles.
Interstate - 785 miles (for a friend).
Interstate - 2,225 miles but stretched to just under 3,000.
Standard - 735 miles but stretched to 1,200.
 
So how about you?  Have you bought a Valkyrie unseen and ridden it home?

[Chrisj CMA]

Never ridden the new to me machine Home. Actually bought three but only one absolutely sight unseen except for pictures. That was the cobra bike. It was in Ft Lauderdale. The shop trailered it to me at my home and delivered it on Feb 14 2002. The big burly tattoo covered biker dude rolled the old gal up my driveway like it was a child’s toy. As he got to where I was standing he said in a gruff voice “happy Valentine’s Day “ lol

That was the beginning of my addiction. Much more to the story but I ll spare you those details

[NautiBrit]

Following Katrina, I was working out of Baton Rouge for 2 months then to Florida for a month. I was missing my Valk, so bought a standard from a guy in Metairie, rode it around LA on my days off, took it to Deerfield Beach, then rode it to my daughter's in Arizona. I'm guessing that I put over 5,000 miles on it before eventually selling it to a friend in Phoenix. I never did get it home to SoCal, as I moved to Phoenix soon after my return to Laguna Niguel.

[Rams]

Bought my fat lady based on the pics and what the seller told me.  He could have been lying his ass off but, I trusted him...   How was I to know he was pushing an addiction...   Didn't have the time to go get it.  Wish I had.   That and the fact that, I hadn't sat in the saddle of a big bike in almost 15 years, seemed kind of foolish for a man with very little time for traveling, not knowing the bike or trusting my own long past experience.  Had her shipped to me.     I'd like to meet that dude and thank him.  
Willow, where were you when I needed ya?  

Rams

[..]

First one. Bought on eBay.

About 270 miles from Valdosta to Roswell, GA.

Unknowngly I chose a day in April 2002 that most of FL headed north from winter relief in the south.

I split lanes at about 2 - 10 mph for about 50 miles.

In other news I rode my ST1300 from Dallas, TX to Roswell. About 810 miles. This after one forum member went to take a look at the bike in Austin. Another member then drove to Austin with his wife and then rode the bike to Dallas, picked me up at the airport, let me stay overnight and helped me add a couple of accessories.


"You meet the nicest people on a Honda."

[Oldfishguy]

930 miles

Found the model and color I was hunting for on Search Tempest

Negotiated the deal over the phone

Bought one way tickets, did a short test ride, paid cash, and then rode 2 up 390 miles that day.

Still have the machine.  

[gordonv]

99' IS with 44K, bought from Arlen Ness MC in Las Vegas, driven over 2 days to Richmond BC. 1250 miles (2K Km).

[The emperor has no clothes]

2,400 miles Tampa -Lake Havasu. But the last 700 were by way of a uhaul truck and trailer.

[Carl]

I can't match any of the distances covered, but might be able to match some of the times.  

I live about 25 miles south of Houston, my soon to be 1st Valkyrie was about 25 miles north of Houston.  Possibly 75 miles total.  

I'm not sure why this one became mine.  I had looked at others, that were in better shape, but when I saw this one I was hooked.  Bought her and headed home with her within an hour of our first introduction.

Anyway, I started for home, but decided to take a much longer route home.  About 250 miles total.  I headed west, intending to turn south following some isolated country roads that I like. About 1/3 of the way home I started seeing clouds on the horizon.  Much, much darker than I had expected to see today.  Need I mention I was without any gear of any kind.  Quickly running through my options, I headed towards a more populated area.  Hoping to at least find a refuge, if needed, from the rain.  By the time I made it to a major thouroughfare I had spent about 10 minutes in a misting rain.  Finding a dry haven I dismounted, checked my weather/radar app and just groaned.  It did not look good.  My only hope was that at this time of year it was not unusual for afternoon showers to gather and then die out as things cooled off.  Such would not be the case today.  After 2 hours of waiting, talking to strangers about my bike, and drinking too many diet cokes, I caught a break in the rain and decided to try my luck.  

Well as luck would have it the stretch of road I was on when it decided to start raining again was about as desolate as it could be.  No exits, no overpasses, no buildings, no nothing for several miles.  By the time I found a dry spot, I was soaked through and through.  Made my decision simple, keep pushing towards home.  

I was fortunate that there was very little traffic.  No one else was stupid enough to be out on a day like this.  After several hours of slowly trudging through the rain, as well as a pit stop or two, the weather broke and the sun started peeking through the clouds.  Eight and one half minutes from home.

Ten hours after my adventure began I was finally home safely.  Greeted by my son who showed his concern for me by laughing loudly at my waterlogged condition.  

Well, that is the story of my first ride home on the first Valkyrie I ever bought.  It is also the story of how she earned he name - Rota - which means storm.  I've bought other bikes but compared to this they were a walk in the park.

[DGS65]

Being I was given a motorcycle my story is a little different.  I had helped pick out even test drove my bike about 20 years ago then My former business partner  moved across country.  I hadn't seen the bike it over ten years in which time he only put about 300 miles on the bike.  Being he hardly used the bike it seemed like every time he went to use it he had carb issues it which point he offered it to me for free.  I sent a truck to pick it up more or less sight unseen but it wasn't much of a risk.  He had the bike serviced before I sent the truck he wan't to make sure it was in top running condition before I got it and for the most part it was.  Being it was an older bike I expected there to be a few issues and of coarse there were a few things I had to deal with so I'm glad I didn't try to drive it home long distance or it would have been an issue!  I was minor issues but I had to order parts and it time to make these repairs this would have been an issue to deal with on the road.

[Safety Steve]

I just got a bike from Bob Smith aka The Attic Rat, it was his #2 bike a 1997 bumble bee, he had sent pics to me and I have gotten to know Bob and he is the must trust worthy guy I know, I flew down on the July 1st and rode it back to Georgia, I'm working down here on a Demo job.  I didn't have my ear buds so I was looking at my phone at gas stops well the ride was supposed to be only 870 miles but it turned into just over 1000 miles which was ok with me.  The bike ran flawless, it handle great and was fast as hell.  it only had 12000 miles on it when I got it, now its pushing 14,000 miles.
Bob did ask me how it ran compared to my red and white that Bob did his performance work on last year and it is smoother, shifts like butter, and the suspension is better, as it should be, my red and white has over 79,000 miles. 

That is my fly and ride story.

Steve   

[hubcapsc]

I thought about riding my Ebay Valk back from Philadelphia. If I had
tried I suspect I would have left it and its rusty drilled-out mufflers
on the side of the road and walked back.

-Mike "I rode the Black bike home..."

[Bighead]

My first one I rode from the dealer to my house about 20 miles. Left on it the next morning for florida.
My IS I bought over the phone in IL. And had a buddy drive me up and rode it back the 475 miles home.

[Pete]

Bought and tried to ride 2 home. 50 percent success rate.

1 from Ebay, made if from the owners home to the first gas station (it was on reserve). As I filled it up I began to smell gas, stronger than normal. As I hung the gas nozzle up I noticed a large and spreading pool of gas around me. Needless to say Niagara Falls was coming from under the tank.

Mileage covered, less than 5 miles, mileage to go 50, called a wrecker. Mileage on the bike around 1300, age of the bike 13+ years.

Solution - new gas tank (rusted, coated and rerusted) and carb clean (crud in float valves) and petcock service (crud and seal issues).

1 via VRCC general board (and Craigs List). Thanks to Ibsrp (VRCC member) for the heads up.
Successfully road all the way home (25 miles) but you could tell it was not running correctly. Carb clean and adjustment and o-rings made it right.  Mileage on the  bike at purchase 19500 bike age 14+ years.

[longrider]

Bought an Interstate a year ago on July 1 in phoenix.  26k on the clock.  PO said the carbs were done at the local dealer and it was obvious they were.  Bike did not idle well but above that it was fine.  Ran home to B.C. Canada in three days 1650 miles.  I found out 110 degrees is hot.  LOL.  Removed the carb bank and the dealer did everything right but set the pilots. 

[vanavyman]

Looks like I’m not as trusting as most on here. I’ve bought 6 Valkyrie’s and 2 Goldwings over the last 6 years. U-haul has been my friend. Bought 1 local and between 680-1100 miles for the others. Always have felt better knowing a bike before depending on it. Only exception is my last Goldwing which was purchased in Colorado Springs and drove the 1900 miles home last August, but it only had 25,000 miles on it. Trish stayed home and I rode it back myself over a weekend.
Dan

[0leman]

In 2008, drove to Reno NV, about 90 miles from where I was living.  Saw an add for a '99 IS.  Guy lived on a gravel road (really bad road with large rocks sticking out.  Did a 15 minute test ride, left my vehicle and DW with him.  Valk had some 33K on the clock.  Fell in love, paid money.  Had him help to remove the heel toe shifter, just couldn't get use to it during test ride.  Thankfully he lived on myside of Reno area.  Rode her home without problems. 

Biggest problem was making the three trips on that gravel road.  Riding a bike that weighed a lot more than the Shadow I had, was a bit scary. 

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Interstate - 532 miles (for a friend).
 
So how about you?  Have you bought a Valkyrie unseen and ridden it home?

Nope never. But I bought one and had a friend ride it home. I hope he took a somewhat scenic route.

[Serk]

My current one and only Valkyrie I rode the ~20 miles from the dealership I bought her brand new at to home.

However, if everything goes to plan I'll be riding my 2nd Valkyrie home from about 200 miles within the next few days, so I've got that...

Maybe in another 20 years I'll try Iron Butting one a real distance home... I like to work up to those things.

[sutterhome]

Bought my one and only on ebay in January from guy in Michigan City In.4 degrees the day i rode it 70 miles home.Smile is still frozen on my face.

[old2soon]

No where NEAR a lot of the miles related here. Bout 125 miles from my place to a used car dealer in Sullivan Mo. Found the ad in a paper called-The Horse Trader-no picture a word description. This was a bit over a year after I retired and I was needing to git back on a Motorcycle and RIDE! Now mind you EVERY vehicle I had ever owned that was green I've Always had "issues" with.  Even my ex wife-some one HAD to drive my cage back-when she saw it said no way in hell yer buyin a green M/C. Course after the test ride she owned me-Phatt Ghurl!  I stayed behind the ex most of the way and she said even with the helmet and my shades the GRIN on my face was There. Still is there-the Grin-after all these years. The ex is gone gone gone but Phatt Ghurl and the Grin are still here. RIDE SAFE.

[Gary]

I had 3 sight unseen experiences which involved active telephone and email plus photo's.

Flew out to San Jose, picked up an 00 Tourer, rode is down the coast to Downey to surprise mom for Mothers Day. I had also installed the Vista Cruise and Rattlebars Heel Toe shifter I'd brought with me at mom's and headed home with some touring of The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, The Million Dollar Highway, The Enchanted Circle and then home to Elk City, OK. Approximately 2,000 miles.

Next up was my sons first street bike, a 97 Shadow ACE. He got the winning bid on Ebay, I flew to Greensboro, NC, took in The Tail of the Dragon (the only time I've been on it) and made my way back to Alamosa, CO. Approximately 1,800 miles.

Last one was an 00 IS which involved flying out to Glendale AZ. I headed west to Lake Havasu, then on to the Laughlin River Run Rally, up to Vegas to visit daughter on her birthday and back to Los Alamos, NM. Total miles approximately 1,100. Had to get back quickly as the seller of the IS was nervous/anxious about letting me take the lic plate and needed me to mail it back to him ASAP.

All good experiences except the Shadow which was very temperamental when going beyond the comfort range of the jets. Once I started in near Raton NM and climbing in elevation toward LA Veta Pass it would foul the plugs toot sweet. The seller did include a few different sets of jets and I had picked up another set of plugs while on the road. That and that thimble size gas tank.

[RainMaker]

Bought my first Valkyrie new from a dealer in Los Angeles though a company called MotoBroker.  The price was better than any around the DFW area had and the locals would not match.  So, sent a cashier's check and the bike was shipped on Atlas Van Lines to the CompPC factory in Fort Worth.  I put gas in it and rode it through the factory to the ramp area, then rode it 20 miles home to sit until I got tags for it.  Still have it with 106K miles.  Bought one for my son for college Graduation in Durango, Colorado.  Flew up with a one way ticket and my gear, picked it up, paid cash then rode back to DFW through the wettest, hardest, coldest rain I'd ever ridden in between Albuquerque and Amarillo.  That was about 900 miles. Big BF has worked his magic on that Tourer in the last 3 years and it runs like new and sits safely in my garage between rides.  No outside storage allowed for the Valks except on trips.

[G-Man]

Summer of 2003 the dealer in Mamaroneck, NY said "What do you want a 2003 for, wait until the 2004's come out and said he wasn't gonna look for a 2003 for me because it would be a waste of time.

A week later walked a few long avenue blocks in Manhattan during lunch and spoke with the dealer who said he'd see what he could do, but not to get my hopes up.  He called next morning and said it is being shipped from a warehouse in Chicago.  I reminded him that I haven't bought it yet and he said "Don't worry, I'll make you an offer you can't refuse".  List price was $13,200 for the 2003.  I paid $11,200.

Only about 20 miles to home.  Made it all the way up the West Side Hwy and just about onto the Saw Mill Pkwy when she sputtered.  I flipped to reserve but she died fast.  Jiggled the bike and was able to hear gas but when I opened the tank I heard a whoosh.  Yep, the dreaded kinked breather tube.  Unkinked it and all has been right with world ever since.
 

[Jess from VA]

I bought and rode two home.  PA and MA to VA.  Uneventful, except the ride home from PA ended up being in maybe the worst storm (with lots of lightning strikes all over the place) I ever rode in, and the ride home from MA I strayed into New Jersey by accident (I'd have felt better in Syria). 

The best story though is sitting on my first Valk in a PA driveway, taking it for a short test ride, rolling down the driveway, shifting for first (getting a clunk), leaning the bike way over to turn onto the road, discovering I was still in neutral, and nearly dumping it right in front of the still current owner.  All my previous discussion with him about my vast past riding experience seemed worthless.

What a maroon.   

[Willow]

Interstate - 532 miles (for a friend).
 
So how about you?  Have you bought a Valkyrie unseen and ridden it home?

Nope never. But I bought one and had a friend ride it home. I hope he took a somewhat scenic route.

Oh, he did.  It was a fine ride after he got he right amount of air in the tires.  If I remember correctly that was his first long ride on an Interstate.   

[Valkorado]

August 2012, short 409 mile jaunt from Salt Lake City to Gunni after retrieving the Silver Bullet.  Just enough for the addiction and love affair to begin...

I remember riding into Green River for gas and seeing some folks jaws drop for the first time.  All I could think was, damn this engine pumps out a $%it-load of heat!  It was creeping in on 100° that day.

[RP#62]

Bought 2, rode 2 home.  First one I bought brand new off the showroom floor.  Rode it home from New Castle PA to Imperial PA, west of Pittsburgh.  Not a long ride but memorable as it was the first time I ever rode a Valkyrie.  My wife followed me home in the truck.  I remember thinking to myself please don't drop it.  It wasn't so much scratching my new bike that I was worried about as the thought that the first person on the scene was going to say, what a dumbass.

Second one I bought off of Ebay.  Got a great price.  Rode it from just outside of Minneapolis back to Pittsburgh.  Told the prospective seller that if I won it, I was be riding it from his house to mine and if it broke down on the way, I'd be heading back to his house.  He said no problem, and that's what convinced me to get it.

-RP

[Hook#3287]

I've bought 4 unseen but only rode one home, from GA, about 1100 miles.

It's a long story on the GA bike, so I'll shorten it.   I found an I/S ad on craigslist I thought was a scam because it was priced so low.  I almost didn't call on it.

I only did because the listing was in GA and my brother lives there.

Turned out, it was in my brother's hometown and the owner was from a town about 30 miles from my town, now living in GA.

There is so much more to the story, but I won't bore you with it.

Bike condition, weather and time didn't permit riding the other 3 home.

I'd buy one again unseen anytime and the only thing I care is that it starts.

And maybe if it doesn't.

[Pappy!]

Bought my Standard just South of Austin,Tx. Think it was around December 12th of 2011 or 2012.
         I live in Central Florida.
Flew out on a Friday night from Orlando, stayed at the seller's house overnight, swung a leg over the bike at 6AM the following morning and left in the rain and ice cold wind for home. Got out from under the impending cold front for the rest of the day and stayed just inside the Alabama line that night. Front caught me that night and started Sunday the same.....trying to outrun the front.
Made it home mid-afternoon that Sunday. 1100+ miles in a little over a day and a half. What a great way to buy a bike!

[Kidd]

Wired 12k or 13K  dollars to a dealer in Ohio for my new 2014 'Kerry  , I believe it was Ohio  , had it shipped to Sedona via  motorcycle   shipping company , cost was $400  .
Sight unseen , but , it was new . It was blue when it arrived , now it's white

[thedon]

Bought Barb's valk trike from Mac in Cumberland Furnace, TN. Rode it home 610 miles to Wisconsin

[Rams]

The one Valkyrie enthusiast that I believe leads the pack in riding Unknown
Valkyries home is Valkhound, he has done it many times.   That man has some stories he can tell.....

Rams

[Rio Wil]

I was looking for a 2001 I/S for the color scheme (black and champagne) and found one in TX and one in WI......since it was late October and the best buy for the money and low mileage was in Houston......there I went.  Flew from Sacramento to Houston with a pocket full of hundreds and made the buy after a quick test drive.  Never rode a Valk before....... Headed north from Houston to Oklahoma City to visit a brother,  stayed overnight and headed for Laughlin, CA to meet my wife who was doing a little gambling. We then caravan'ed up to Rio Vista, near Sacramento. Coming across Arizona, me and this trucker were cruising about 90 and bucking about a 30 mile head wind.  There were about as many  tumbleweeds coming down the freeway at us as there was oncoming cars.  Only hit one, I zigged, it zigged, I zagged, it zagged.....it was as tall as the bike, Hit the sucker just off center on the left, I ducked behind the windshield and it exploded into a million pieces. I stopped at the next gas up to inspect the damage........musta been my lucky day, nothing a little rubbing would take care of.  The buyer said the bike had been sitting for months and the carbs were fouled up.  Cost him $600 to get then cleaned and he graciously put about 100 miles on just to validate the rebuild before I struck out on the 2250 mile trip to home. Oh yeah, gas mileage while running with the trucker and into the headwind was 17 MPG.......I wondered just what the hell had I gotten myself into......then realized, we had been cranking along at a equivalent of 120 mph.......so, ok I get it. I still get a sh*t eat'in grin on my face when I hit the edge of town and crank it up into the countryside along the levee roads on the Sacramento River..........just plain cool......

[Oss]

The 2001 Valk interstate was my 2nd Valk

I rode to Tappan NY and met the owner who was a NJ cop. He was with friends and they followed me while I test drove it for half an hour on local roads I knew well.  Then they followed me across the river to my home where I paid the price asked.

Being a cop he had to tell my wife I was exceeding the speed limit (asswipe) on the Saw Mill River Parkway almost said keep the bike, glad I didnt though as I love this bike.

The insurance money from the totalled 2000 IS that had around 20k mileage paid for this new bike that had only 3000 on the clock & even covered new helmet and safety chrome and a jacket and chaps.

Thanks to BigBF who worked on my bike once in Phoenix at an Inzane or two and here in Ossining.

Now she has a room mate while the police bike guards the garage from outside