Handling issues or am I crazy?

[luna negra]

Picked up a '97 that has been a restoration project for me.  It's been sitting for years and I've been slowly going through the various issues (carb rebuilds, clutch, brakes, electrical).  Runs like a sewing machine now and the remaining things are mostly cosmetic however I can't get over how bad this bike handles in the corners - it literally feels like the front end is pushing in every corner.  Have to use tons of countersteer to get her to turn tight at speed and she does not feel stable at all when doing so.  Literally I feel like I'm pulling 10-15 lbs of pressure on one side of the bar for a 40 mph corner (going 40 mph!).

I actually rode this same bike many years ago and seem to remember that it handled extremely well for such a big bike.  Had no problem taking it to peg-scraping levels but it's no where close to this now.

Tires are fair with plenty of tread- running 32 psi all around.   Head bearings feel good.  Axles, bars, and everything else, is tight and torqued.  No unusual vibrations or noises.  Right side fork seal has been leaking but I haven't got around to those yet.

I'm no stranger to riding or bikes (have a barn full of sport, dual & dirt) but this is my first heavy cruiser.  Am I crazy to expect something better or is there something else I should be checking?  Like I said, I seem to remember a much better handling bike.  Thanks, Jon

[signart]

I know most folks around here are running more like 42 rear/40 front m/c tires give or take a couple. Don't know if 32# causes that drastic of a handling issue but that is way low for these bikes to start with.

[luna negra]

That seemed low to me too but the service manual recommends 33.  What you other guys running?

[WintrSol]

You don't say what brand/type tires you have, which can make a big difference. I run Metz front and rear, and have 40-41 rear, and 38-39 front.

[luna negra]

Dunlop Elite 3 - 41 psi max.

I'll try bumping pressure up tomorrow to see what happens.

[Avanti]

You mention that it has been setting for years, so how old are the tires? Having good tread means nothing if the tires are past there useful age.

[JimBob]

On some of my other bikes, having low tire pressure, particularly in the front tire, makes it want to 'turn in' in corners.
I'm with the rest of the guys.... set the pressure up to 40 PSI or so and see what it does.
All the Best!

[Tfrank59]

Welcome to Valkyrie riding! Go ahead and up your tire pressure as has been suggested, but like you I'm a former dirt rider and when I switched to a heavy road machine it was a big change.  I went from a KTM 530 to a Triumph bonnie, which was a huge change for me, then I went to my Valk, another big leap.  I think much of what you're experiencing is the difference between a light, easy handling dirt bike, say ~ 300 lbs, to a fairly heavy (albeit with low center of gravity) phat gurl ~ 750 lbs. It's going to be a radical change for you in riding technique and feel, particularly cornering.

[Kunkies]

Avon Cobras AV71 (front) and AV72 (rear, 200/60R-16 v-rated)

42 PSI up front
45 PSI rear

I average ~8,000 miles, max 9,052 miles on the rear, x2 front

[LB]

To answer your question, yes, there is something wrong. My Valk is flickable in the mountain twisties no afford at all putting her into or out of a curve.

[Jims99]

Agree. There's something not right. This is the best handling cruiser I've ever owned. Check tire size also. Ive had two of the same bikes with different size tires and rims, they felt like two completely different bikes.

[Tfrank59]

Do you have anybody in your area familiar with Valkyries who could take a test spin on your bike? That would be one easy way to verify whether it's the bike or you. For example if I rode your bike I could tell in less than a mile if there's a problem or if it's just you adjusting to the big girl.

[luna negra]

Figured it out and feel like an idiot now - my high-tech, made in China, digital tire gauge is flat-ass wrong.    Was 15 psi off.  Back to old school analog. 

[DarkSideR]

Air up the front to 42, and rear to 40.

Also check you rear shocks. I had mine stock shocks set to '1' (the lowest setting), and the bike handled terribly. Bumped them up to the 3rd setting and all is well.

[Tfrank59]

Figured it out and feel like an idiot now - my high-tech, made in China, digital tire gauge is flat-ass wrong.    Was 15 psi off.  Back to old school analog.  

Yep that would be a problem especially if the error was 15 psi less than you previously thought which was what 32 PSI? That would put you at roughly 17 psi, barely enough air to lift the rim off the ground.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Current I/S has latest generation D206 Dunlops - 39 front; 41 rear.

Current Tourer has Avon Cobras - 40 front, 42 rear.

Both handle almost as good as my sport touring bikes when the tires are inflated to their loaded sweet spots.

[..]

Figured it out and feel like an idiot now - my high-tech, made in China, digital tire gauge is flat-ass wrong.    Was 15 psi off.  Back to old school analog.  

I'm sure you are not the first and doubt if you will be the last to do this  

A good kick to the tread can determine if a tire is definitely under inflated.

[rocketray]

I had my fork seals re-done and that made a HUGE difference

[Jim in Idaho]

I run 40 in the front and 46 in the rear  with Avon Cobras.  The owners manual was just plain wrong with the air pressure recommendations and it's kind of shocking that they never fixed it.

Also if you've had a slow leak in the front forks I would try adding some as it makes a huge difference when it's too low.  The bike will dive in any type of corner and it will not handle well.

I'd also echo one of the previous posters note.  My PO was a very small guy and had the rear shocks set at "1" and the handling was horrible until I figured it out.

Jim in Idaho

[SPOFF]

Figured it out and feel like an idiot now - my high-tech, made in China, digital tire gauge is flat-ass wrong. 

LOL.  I had a similar problem with a Kawasaki KLR 650 that I got running this year. I cursed the dual sport front tire all summer until it occured to me to maybe check the tire pressure: It was 12 psi. Actually, it is okay to run 12 psi in that tire off road, but it sucked balls on pavement.