Look at what followed me home today.

[John Schmidt]

1999 I/S, $10k, 68k on the clock, rode it home...about 20 miles. After riding 2-wheels for well over 60 yrs. it felt strange to steer through curves and corners. Needs a few things tightened up, left rear wheel sounds like a bad wheel bearing. In general it drove quite well, will be better after I go through it and make it mine.  Overall, I'm quite satisfied, will be selling my current bike and bike hauler trailer after I've switched everything over that I can. I just felt if I want to keep riding I need to get a trike more or less as a safety issue. I'll be 83 when I hit the highways next spring, at least this won't tip over at a stoplight although I did catch myself putting my feet down a couple times. Old habits are hard to change. 

[scooperhsd]

Nice !!!

[Bret SD]

Very nice bike/trike!

Saw a yellow Valk trike on Hwy 46 this week.

[Rams]

Excellent, I'm sure it'll provide many smiles!   

Rams

[Pluggy]

Happy day.  Just showed the pictures to Nancy.  She says: "Now that's really something".

[signart]

Congratulations! Very sleek looking trike

[larue]

 Beautiful bike john, now make it down to the cottage and show the Florida boys your new toy

[..]

Excellent.

[f6john]

You just can't hide money! Sweet ride for sure.

[pocket aces]

That's a beauty John. Congrats

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think you did good John   congratulations. So the tank, side covers, front fender are getting switched over ?

[Big Rick]

beautiful trike, congratulations

[Jack B]

Looks great John I'll have to ride up to check it out.
I noticed it has the hard to find fog lights.

[John Schmidt]

I think you did good John   congratulations. So the tank, side covers, front fender are getting switched over ?

Among other things...yes, plus the seat, backrest, tank & fender bibs. I'm thinking I might just pull the forks/wheel as a unit and swap them out. Reason being, I rebuilt the forks on mine last year, has a newer tire w/lower mileage, and I polished the forks a few years back. Also the calipers were rebuilt at the same time I did the forks. I'll pull the fairings on the two bikes and do the swap as a unit along with large amounts of cleaning while in there. It needs some repairs and replacements but in general it has been taken care of. The guy that had it knows nothing about these bikes, found that out real quick in conversation with him. Dude is 70 and said he's reached the age where he can't ride anymore. When I met him it was obvious...I'll say nothing more.  

One item that's getting moved over is the air horn mounted inside the right pod. That OEM horn is sick, the "meep meep" is just enough to piss off another driver....my air horn, different story. 

[Serk]

I'm thinking I might just pull the forks/wheel as a unit and swap them out.

Does the trike have the factory rake or have they been modified for trike usage? Might wanna verify that one way or another before swapping 'em out, definitely not something I'm an expert in but I think trikes generally want to have a different rake on the front forks...

Regardless, congrats, can't wait to see what you do to make it yours! And hope our paths cross again so I can see it in person and perhaps we have a bit of time to sit and chat more than we did in Asheville!

[Valkorado]

She's  beauty, John.  I've got a hunch she'll be drop dead jaw dropping gorgeous when you're done! 

[John Schmidt]

I'm thinking I might just pull the forks/wheel as a unit and swap them out.

Does the trike have the factory rake or have they been modified for trike usage?

Yes it has a 6 degree rake kit installed. As for swapping the forks, that's not an issue....the rake comes from different triple trees, not the forks themselves. Sometimes an internal spacer is used so the front end has the same height, that's something that I'll check and will change those over if installed.

[old2soon]

      Sooooooo with a Trike now do this mean yer officially old?  Lookin good dere John!  RIDE SAFE.   
                           

[John Schmidt]

      Sooooooo with a Trike now do this mean yer officially old?  Lookin good dere John!  RIDE SAFE.   
                           

Dennis, I think I reached that point a while back. I am officially poorer however, for a while at least. 

[boss hoss bill]

Looking good John.

Once you get your goodies transferred over it'll be a even sharper looker.

Can't wait to see the finished product.

Wish you the best.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Nice... Ride On

[98valk]

Looks fantastic John. swap out the viking headers.  God Bless you.

[da prez]

John , I'll be up to get your o l d. Bike. Will you take a post dated check. Log
 Congrats .

                     da prez

[John Schmidt]

John, have you considered moving the trike kit onto your original bike?   You keep the engine and all the parts you know and love.  Is this possible?  Practical?

Actually, I did give that some thought. It is possible but don't believe it's practical. It would be quite a big undertaking and in the end, it would be easier to transfer the stuff rather than reinvent the wheel. The one thing I don't like about the trike is it's a rather rough ride, I'm assuming the shocks are pretty stiff in back along with the performance sway bar option that's installed. I plan to make a list of questions re. maintenance & how to access various things and call the factory. I know the left rear wheel sounds like a bad bearing in there or possibly an issue with the left axle and its CV joints. Hope to show it to you guys in person next year. 

[Oss]

 

[mrtlc]

You will have a sweet ride when your done John. I'm a few hours away, if you need an extra pair of hands sometime, give me a call. Would be happy to lend a hand. Take Care Terry Cilley

[Warlock]

Beautiful trike. good price also. I payed $9500 for my 97 trike. Would have bought one like that in a heart beat. Did several things to mine since getting it. Added a rake kit, Chrome, handle bar risers, chrome, and then added more chrome. Picture of it before I added anything to it. Best mod was rake an ultimate seats.

David

[Rams]

John,
I'm curious and obviously uninformed.
Does this trike have a reverse option?

Rams

[John Schmidt]

John,
I'm curious and obviously uninformed.
Does this trike have a reverse option?

Rams

Yeah....left foot and right foot.   No, doesn't come with a reverse, however I did find it not real difficult to roll if on fairly level surface. I guess hitting the gym helps. 

[Rams]

John,
I'm curious and obviously uninformed.
Does this trike have a reverse option?

Rams

Yeah....left foot and right foot.   No, doesn't come with a reverse, however I did find it not real difficult to roll if on fairly level surface. I guess hitting the gym helps. 

Well, it's still a beautiful trike and I'm envious.   Enjoy and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Rams

[Charlie McCready]

good looking ride John !!  I think you did well !!

[DDT (12)]

John,

Encouraging to see you'll still be setting the pace for us whipper-snappers! Whenever I start to feel like the end might be approaching, I'll think of you... You remind me that I still have a very long way to go! Thanks for remaining such an inspiration...

DDT

[baldo]

This is the trike equivalent of that most dangerous of questions...

Do these fenders make my butt look big?

Beautiful trike, by the way.