25 years ago today...

[f6gal]

The first production Valkyrie rolled out in Marysville, Ohio.  

[Patrick]

Interesting stat. Nice.

[Rams]

The first production Valkyrie rolled out in Marysville, Ohio.  

Anyone got the VIN for it?
It's history?
Anyone know where it ended up?
Is it still on the road?
Is there a way to track motorcycle VINs?

Rams

[f6gal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCVrvVEj6pg

[f6gal]

The first production Valkyrie rolled out in Marysville, Ohio.  

Anyone got the VIN for it?
It's history?
Anyone know where it ended up?
Is it still on the road?
Is there a way to track motorcycle VINs?

Rams

It was a standard, either Black, Red & White, Purple & White.  Supposedly the first 100+ were California models.  Thus, the VIN would be 1HFSC341?VA000001.  The question mark is bc it is a check digit and it's kind of impossible to guess that.  

No idea beyond that.

[Rams]

Thanks for posting that F6gal.  
That brought me to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMz_02r6Nxk

Enjoyed the hell out of it.   Kept looking for folks I might know but, I didn't recognize anyone.   Well, that's not really true.   Recognized Oz and thought I might know a few of the folks but, they don't look quite the same now.     
There were a few short blondes there but, I couldn't make out their faces.

Rams

[f6gal]

Thanks for posting that F6gal.   
That brought me to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMz_02r6Nxk

Enjoyed the hell out of it.   Kept looking for folks I might know but, I didn't recognize anyone.
There were a few short blondes there but, I couldn't make out their faces.

Rams

That was at IZ3.  I'm at 3:56 (burnout, but they cut it off); 4:59 (background running games).  I was supposed to be on the ride at the end, but I was putting out some fire instead... damn, sometimes it sucks being the adult in the room!

[RP#62]

The first production Valkyrie rolled out in Marysville, Ohio.  

Anyone got the VIN for it?
It's history?
Anyone know where it ended up?
Is it still on the road?
Is there a way to track motorcycle VINs?

Rams

It was a standard, either Black, Red & White, Purple & White.  Supposedly the first 100+ were California models.  Thus, the VIN would be 1HFSC341?VA000001.  The question mark is bc it is a check digit and it's kind of impossible to guess that.  

No idea beyond that.

The check digit would be 6 in that VIN.  You have to know the secret algorithm to get it though.

-RP

[Serk]

And while we're reminiscing, this is obligatory:

https://youtu.be/-iOE_3grDKU

[f6gal]

The first production Valkyrie rolled out in Marysville, Ohio.  

Anyone got the VIN for it?
It's history?
Anyone know where it ended up?
Is it still on the road?
Is there a way to track motorcycle VINs?

Rams

It was a standard, either Black, Red & White, Purple & White.  Supposedly the first 100+ were California models.  Thus, the VIN would be 1HFSC341?VA000001.  The question mark is bc it is a check digit and it's kind of impossible to guess that.  

No idea beyond that.

The check digit would be 6 in that VIN.  You have to know the secret algorithm to get it though.

-RP

Damn, a secret algorithm?  Impressive.

[Rams]

Thanks for posting that F6gal.  
That brought me to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMz_02r6Nxk

Enjoyed the hell out of it.   Kept looking for folks I might know but, I didn't recognize anyone.
There were a few short blondes there but, I couldn't make out their faces.

Rams

That was at IZ3.  I'm at 3:56 (burnout, but they cut it off); 4:59 (background running games).  I was supposed to be on the ride at the end, but I was putting out some fire instead... damn, sometimes it sucks being the adult in the room!

I went back, looked again and yep that's definitely you.   Doing a great job.

I thought at first you might have been the lady on the trike early in the video but, I realized she could put both feet on the ground so, I knew it was someone else.  

Rams

[f6gal]

Thanks for posting that F6gal.  
That brought me to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMz_02r6Nxk

Enjoyed the hell out of it.   Kept looking for folks I might know but, I didn't recognize anyone.
There were a few short blondes there but, I couldn't make out their faces.

Rams

That was at IZ3.  I'm at 3:56 (burnout, but they cut it off); 4:59 (background running games).  I was supposed to be on the ride at the end, but I was putting out some fire instead... damn, sometimes it sucks being the adult in the room!

I went back, looked again and yep that's definitely you.   Doing a great job.

I thought at first you might have been the lady on the trike early in the video but, I realized she could put both feet on the ground so, I knew it was someone else.  

Rams

No trike for me, thank you.  I couldn't believe they cut away from my burn-out.

[Rams]

Thanks for posting that F6gal.  
That brought me to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMz_02r6Nxk

Enjoyed the hell out of it.   Kept looking for folks I might know but, I didn't recognize anyone.
There were a few short blondes there but, I couldn't make out their faces.

Rams

That was at IZ3.  I'm at 3:56 (burnout, but they cut it off); 4:59 (background running games).  I was supposed to be on the ride at the end, but I was putting out some fire instead... damn, sometimes it sucks being the adult in the room!

I went back, looked again and yep that's definitely you.   Doing a great job.

I thought at first you might have been the lady on the trike early in the video but, I realized she could put both feet on the ground so, I knew it was someone else.  

Rams

No trike for me, thank you.  I couldn't believe they cut away from my burn-out.

Yeah, I can only imagine that.   Maybe you can recreate it this InZane.,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Rams

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I think # 10 is at barbers motorcycle museum in Alabama it's got 10 miles on it.

[Rams]

And while we're reminiscing, this is obligatory:

https://youtu.be/-iOE_3grDKU

Serk,
Thanks for posting that ad.

That ad is permanently embedded into my mind.   It is the reason I was determined to get a Valkyrie.
Now, I have two.   Was in a friend's garage recently.   I was awed by the collection of Valkyries.   Wish I had the room and money for a few more.   Alas, we all have our limits.   Would have to sell another toy to make room for any more.   Decisions, decisions.....................   
My problem is, I can only ride one at a time.   

Rams 

[98valk]

the honda valkyrie book by peter rakestrow, has a black/yellow "bubblebee" as the very first production off the line. Bill Wood of American Motorcyclist magazine followed production from 9am to 12:18 pm and rode it off the production line.

[Serk]

followed production from 9am to 12:18 pm and rode it off the production line.

Little over 3 hours to go from boxes of parts to a ridable motorcycle.

...takes me longer than that to do just the rear end maintenance!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Bought this one in June 1998 as a Standard. Still got it will never sell this one. oZ worked on the picture 

[f6gal]

I think # 10 is at barbers motorcycle museum in Alabama it's got 10 miles on it.

Wow, that's amazing!

[f6gal]

the honda valkyrie book by peter rakestrow, has a black/yellow "bubblebee" as the very first production off the line. Bill Wood of American Motorcyclist magazine followed production from 9am to 12:18 pm and rode it off the production line.

I'd like to see that book.  I never heard of it.

[hubcapsc]

the honda valkyrie book by peter rakestrow, has a black/yellow "bubblebee" as the very first production off the line. Bill Wood of American Motorcyclist magazine followed production from 9am to 12:18 pm and rode it off the production line.

I'd like to see that book.  I never heard of it.

$22.95 down at Amazon...

-Mike

[98valk]

the honda valkyrie book by peter rakestrow, has a black/yellow "bubblebee" as the very first production off the line. Bill Wood of American Motorcyclist magazine followed production from 9am to 12:18 pm and rode it off the production line.

I'd like to see that book.  I never heard of it.

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-Valkyrie-Peter-Rakestrow/dp/1445674866