Do these Valks like to get revved?

[yrunvs]

My question is do these bikes like to be revved up? Will they take hard driving or should I be short shifting and keep it in lower revs? I like to get on my bikes a little aggressively from time to time will these Valks take that or should I tone it down and ride it more casually? I really like this bike and I don't want it to break from riding it to hard.

[JimC]

You will be fine as long as you stay below the red line.
I always run mine up to 3,000 to 4,000 rpm on everyday riding, I just love the sound.
That is the good thing about the Valkyrie's, they can handle just about anything you throw at it.
Jim

[F6Dave]

The engine is mildly tuned with a fairly low redline. If you do try pushing it the rev limiter will intervene.

[gordonv]

Some ride very aggressively and are up into the rev limiter, so there is one, so don't worry.

I like the power range, just around 3200 seems right for me, on heavier acceleration, 3500.

All I can mention is, on my 1st Valk, I would get a good 190 miles to reserve on my IS. Driving a lot more fun, I only got 125 to reserve. The choice is yours, and how you like to ride, I'm sure it will take it.

In case you didn't know, some have added blowers to their Valk.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My question is do these bikes like to be revved up? Will they take hard driving or should I be short shifting and keep it in lower revs? I like to get on my bikes a little aggressively from time to time will these Valks take that or should I tone it down and ride it more casually? I really like this bike and I don't want it to break from riding it to hard.

These bikes are actually pretty comfortable thu out the entire range. I regularly bring them to redline. (At least in the first 3 gears) You can pull the front wheel up on them. I've also been in 5th t 20mph and pulled smoothly up to 85. You don't need to worry about these engines.

[CoreyP]

I bounce off the rev limiter once and a while. I found if you want to go max acceleration you need to shift up around 6000-6200 RPM. My bike has been tuned and is not stock BTW.  Also first gear doesn't do much for you if you want to go fast off the line.

I wouldn't worry about engine rev'ing on this bike. Limiter is set low. For that matter why care? If I blow this engine, I'll just get another. These bikes aren't worth enough to hold back your riding because of cost of a blown engine.  I don't ride around Hell bent all the time but here and there I run my Valkyrie.

Also I serious doubt you can blow this engine. This flat 6 is built well above motorcycle standards. I have no fear of seeing 100,000 miles with little or no attention. There are guys on here with 200,000 miles and more than that. In the motorcycle world that is big mileage.

[Valkorado]

If you haven't experienced redline on a Valkyrie you haven't lived!

[yrunvs]

woohoo....I'm going to have to get a backrest so my arms don't get pulled out of my sockets. I can't imagine bouncing off the rev limiter. I was only talking about 5k or 6k rpm.

[hubcapsc]

There's a straightaway on the Tennessee side just past the Dragon,
along the river. Wimp and I both have Red and Whites... once we
were going along there and he pulled up next to me and made
that "wrist motion" and it was on. We did it several times, and
he would always pull away from me when I changed to fifth.
Later, I found out the secret... don't change to fifth 

-Mike "they go good wound out..."

[Jess from VA]

Though it sounds and feels high reved, running around between 3-4+K is fine all day.  (little harder on the gas mileage... but who cares).  Coming from V twins, it took a while for me to get used to this (and often shifting for the nonexistent 6th gear at higher speeds).  

Just riding around between 2-3K is comfortable and easy on the gas.  However, when riding hot in the twisty corners and especially elevation changes (like mountains), constantly running in higher revs (one gear lower than normal) gives you a great deal of extra speed control.  So as you run into corners or other spots where you need a bit of slowing, you get it by just perceptibly easing off the gas, with no need to be tapping the brakes all day.  I really do not care for following someone who is on his brakes (with brake lights) in every single corner on the mountain (or twisty road).

If you want to enjoy some revs, the (very) best sweet spot go-daddy in the Valk's drive train, is at 3K rpm in 3rd gear.  If you snap the throttle open at just that point, hold on, there are very few vehicles out there than can match that acceleration.  

[Earl43P]

Beware of the dramatic deceleration at red line cutoff in second gear.

[h13man]

If you haven't experienced redline on a Valkyrie you haven't lived!

Or lifting the front wheel under a 1st. gear rolling HARD throttle no clutching added. 

[Tfrank59]

If you haven't experienced redline on a Valkyrie you haven't lived!

Yeah I guess I haven't lived yet because in 65,000 miles I've never redlined mine. I just don't need to cuz to me the bike is like having the space shuttle between your legs. I've never really needed to go above 5K on the tach to do what I want to do. That's just me. I'm on the forum for my Miata and those guys are saying you gotta red line it everyday to keep it running good it's that Italian tune-up thing, and I don't buy it. I just drive the way I drive which is never redline anything I own, that includes my 250 motocrosser.

[old2soon]

If you haven't experienced redline on a Valkyrie you haven't lived!

Or lifting the front wheel under a 1st. gear rolling HARD throttle no clutching added. 

THIS-happened with my teenage Daughter on the back. Not really on purpose-lets just say a traffic situation and my impatience caused the wheely.  No clutch dumping just a HARD roll on in 2nd from about 15 1M P H. Bout 3200  3300  revs the tire chirped and she Hooked UP! Truly amazed me how quickly motocross "stuff" was remembered and came back to assist.  Hit the chip/rev limiter-you Will NOT break it. Then and Only then will you KNOW!  RIDE SAFE.

[h13man]

Yes we have to be careful on uphill switchbacks with momma on the back. 

[Savago]

Aside gas considerations (i.e. > 3.5K RPMs those 6 carbs get really thirty!) the engine can be run hard the whole day.

The only potential issue for hard acceleration is the amount of torque/power that you will be putting in the final drive (FD). I have the impression that the FD on valkyries are running at borderline limit given the massive amount of torque provided by the engine.

[Tfrank59]

Aside gas considerations (i.e. > 3.5K RPMs those 6 carbs get really thirty!) the engine can be run hard the whole day.

The only potential issue for hard acceleration is the amount of torque/power that you will be putting in the final drive (FD). I have the impression that the FD on valkyries are running at borderline limit given the massive amount of torque provided by the engine.

I think you're right on this.  I worry about my u-joint failing...should buy a new one and install it one of these years...

[Chrisj CMA]

Aside gas considerations (i.e. > 3.5K RPMs those 6 carbs get really thirty!) the engine can be run hard the whole day.

The only potential issue for hard acceleration is the amount of torque/power that you will be putting in the final drive (FD). I have the impression that the FD on valkyries are running at borderline limit given the massive amount of torque provided by the engine.

It's not the final drive that would be at risk (likely the drive splines if installed improperly) but properly aligned the final drive is almost bullet proof. The part that fails first in abusive conditions is the yolk (U-Joint)

[Led]

I take mine out for a high rev on occasion.  No wheelies or burn outs.......but I like to.........as they say......."blow the carbon" out of Her........once in a while!