If you had to replace the Valk today....

[YoungPUP]

Ok. By now some of ya are starting to see that I like to poke at the hornets nest on a regular basis   ( Running for cover is good cardio) I was wondering if I had to replace my '99 Std today, right now, with say $10K, and there were no Valks available for sale... ANYWHERE. What would it be.  Im a big boy  6'4"  300#ish So a big frame and Lots of power is a must for me. Im split between an 1800 wing, and ST1300.  Now Its time to run for cover!!!!

[97ValkSteve]

A Kawasaki ZZR 1200 which is what I sold to get the Valk.  TONS of power, cruising capabilities, cheap, easy, reliable. 

[Grandpa Bigbuck]

Can you get an 1800 wing for 10K?

[dubsider]

If you have 10K.. go to the bank to cover the rest for a victory cross roads. It is the only thing I would consider personally.

[BF]

Two VTX1800's.   

[Reb]

Suzuki M109r

[Hoser]

A 1500 wing or a Yammy Venture   Hoser

[Toledo Mark]

Maybe a Rocket 3

[FPG52]

Power/comfort - Wing ... BUT if you want the more traditional motorcycle look... the Kawasaki 1700's.  They are dependable and well built... have a Vulcan 1500 in former life 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

No Valkyrie's available anywhere...That would be sad 

I've always liked the Suzuki M109R in fact VRCC member Lyn-Del has a nice one for sale that crosses my mind all the time. The one below was posted on LaMonsters site a couple years ago he claimed it was a real bad ass.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Power/comfort - Wing ... BUT if you want the more traditional motorcycle look... the Kawasaki 1700's.  They are dependable and well built... have a Vulcan 1500 in former life 

Have'nt looked but can $10,000 buy a 1700 Kawasaki ?

[alph]

i like the BMW K1200LT.  it was actually the one cycle i was looking at before the Valk.  my dentist has one, he let me take it for a drive (of course after my cleaning), nice cycle

[Monkymate]

Well to get the same feel of a big bike, and have power to spare I have to say I would step up to a Boss Hoss!!  With a 350 V8 between your legs you will forget all about that Flat 6!

Just a thought. Oh kits can be had for them around 10K.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Seems the $10,000 limit this thread started with is out the window....I'll get me a Boss 

[3fan4life]

If I couldn't replace it with another Valk then it would be a.............



Royal Star Venture.

[fudgie]

Yamaha Venture or HD Road Glide. Not necc in that order. 

[Tropic traveler]

I would have to get another one of these.

It would be one of the "Roadster" model R3"s that have the pegs closer to the Valkyrie riding position. I sat on one a couple years ago at Bikeweek & it felt pretty good. Of course I would have to add hardbags & a W/S along with an aftermarket seat. 
If not that, a nice used 1800 'Wing. 

[NITRO]

After my Standard was wrecked last year I worked through a similar question. For the money, I don't think you can get anything that has all that the Valk does. I considered an ST1300 or Concours 14, but ended up with an Interstate. $10K won't buy a Rocket III or 1800 Wing and I didn't want a v-twin. I certainly think I made the right choice!

[Stanley Steamer]

I'd beat the bushes until I found another Interstate....nothing else catches my fancy......but IF the Rocket ever got an Interstate type set-up, I MIGHT give it a try.....

[R J]

Yamaha Venture...............

[Fudd]

Don't you know by now Y.P., there is no replacement for the Valkyrie.

Honda had me going there for a while......then they canceled what would be another "dream machine".....The EVO6.

[flcjr]

The 10g's is hard too stay under when trying to replace the fat lady but would look for a vmax or a 1800 wing depending what end of the valk you were trying to replace. This just shows that we own the best of both worlds (VanHalen)inserted here.

[Fla. Jim]

Don't you know by now Y.P., there is no replacement for the Valkyrie.

Honda had me going there for a while......then they canceled what would be another "dream machine".....The EVO6.

What a shame....What might have been! And to think they chose to go with a V-Twinkie instead. Shakes head and walks to 97 valk and kisses gas tank. To answer the question. Hope/pray I never have to find out.

[Walküre]

Wow, since we're talkin' NO Valkyries, and nightmares, I'd have to go with this:



And then, turn it into THIS!!!!



Yup, uh-huh, that's what I'D do!!!

[rmrc51]

I'd like a nice Hot-Rod from the late 30's!

I hate the hot weather which really reduces my riding time, so, a fully tricked out Hot-Rod (with ac) would be my next, and probably "Last", toy,,.

[DarkMeister]

What Stanley steamed. If the Rocket had a living room in the back seat that would be my choice. Without the back-seater's OK no bike would be a 'go'.

Re: some other choices mentioned. Had a couple of BMW K1200LT tourers and they are great machines. It is only my unbridled hatred for the company (at least here - BMW Group Canada) that would stop me from getting another. Long story.

Briefly had an 08 Venture RS and it's weird. Still can't pin it down but it just didn't "take". I ride with the fellow I sold it to. It looks great from ten feet away. Boss like the back-seat sofa. But me? I just felt out of place riding it. Sure do miss the cassette-deck. 

In the meantime, my IS could only be replaced by another. But, with only 21K on it, can't see that happening anytime soon.

[DarkMeister]

Addendum: to be honest (hold yer fire ) I also like the looks of a nice Ultra, whatever alphabet-soup version (FLHTCUI etc.). Never rode one. Had the wife sit on one in a showroom. The bag guard dug into her calf and that was that.
I keep telling her that I'll have to, at least, try one for a while and get it out of my system. No dice.
On occasion, I'll "accidentally" leave a prime example photo on my screen or something. Nope.
Her responses are usually thus:
- They are overpriced for what you get.
- Uncomfortable. (After one sitting???)
- I don't want to dress like a pirate.
- Harleys are everywhere you look - but how many Valks do you see? (Well now hon; do you mean in person? Or on-line?)

[Jabba]

$10K huh?  It'd be a  down payment on one of the new BMW 1600's.

Jabba

[Cattman]

Rocket 3. Rumor is they will have an interstate model next year. 

[Chrisj CMA]

$10K huh?  It'd be a  down payment on one of the new BMW 1600's.

Jabba

Jabba, me too, thats one sharp bike.  with 25 thousand reasons why I probably wont have one any time soon

[3fan4life]

Addendum: to be honest (hold yer fire ) I also like the looks of a nice Ultra, whatever alphabet-soup version (FLHTCUI etc.). Never rode one. Had the wife sit on one in a showroom. The bag guard dug into her calf and that was that.
I keep telling her that I'll have to, at least, try one for a while and get it out of my system. No dice.
On occasion, I'll "accidentally" leave a prime example photo on my screen or something. Nope.
Her responses are usually thus:
- They are overpriced for what you get.
- Uncomfortable. (After one sitting???)
- I don't want to dress like a pirate.
- Harleys are everywhere you look - but how many Valks do you see? (Well now hon; do you mean in person? Or on-line?)

Rented one on a trip to Daytona in 2007.



I liked the looks of it.

It was comfortable for both the wife and I.

It vibrated ALOT, especially sitting in traffic.

You have to shift WAY TOO MUCH.

There are absolutely NO 30mph top gear roll ons, in fact while riding up and down A1A everytime the speed limit dropped by 10 mph I had to downshift.

> 50mph 6th gear OK.

< 50mph needs 5th gear.

< 40mph needs 4th gear.
   

[Serk]

I would probably try to figure out how to make the spousal unit's ST1300 comfortable for a big boy like me if I were in such a nightmare situation. I've been thinking a lot about that lately too. As tough as they are, our beloved Valks ain't getting any younger.

The Boss Hoss has always intrigued me, but I've got a MAJOR hangup on it being a big scooter. I HATE HATE HATE automatic transmissions, be it on a bike, car, or anything else. If they made a version of the Boss Hoss that was a motorcycle instead of a scooter (Forgive me if they started doing so, I haven't been tracking 'em terribly closely) I would be far more interested. (But still wouldn't be able to afford one anytime soon...)

The Rocket III has also intrigued me, and I like the "*Expletive You* In your face!" looks of it myself, but I also like taking long rides in the middle of no where, and quite frankly "Long Term Reliability" and "Made in the UK" just don't go too well together...

[RainMaker]

I'd find a used gOldwing that some doctor or lawyer bought and then used it to ride to the coffee shop once a week.

I'm about to be old enough to ride a gOldwing, anyway....

[X Ring]

Wow, since we're talkin' NO Valkyries, and nightmares, I'd have to go with this:



And then, turn it into THIS!!!!



Yup, uh-huh, that's what I'D do!!!

I was at a sandwich shop in Mobile, AL last year and someone parked one of those "Smart" cars next to Sandman.  People were standing around laughing that Sandman was longer than it.

Marty

[hubcapsc]

Hey, I like Smart Cars - just not pink ones 



1800 wings can be had for 10k or less if you get a 2002 or 2004 or so... (just checked
eBay completed listings...)

-Mike

[RainMaker]

I had a Smart Car.  Incredible room inside for driver and passenger, and you could actually buy a lot of groceries and pack 'em in the back.  But 36-38mpg on premium gas, that balky transmission, no passing power - it just wasn't worth the hassle and small with no power meant you could not get out of the way.  Got rid of it after a year.  It did draw the crowds, though.

If they ever get really "smart" and put a true manual transmission in one and make it a diesel, I might go back.

[Wetrudgeon]

Rocket.  We bought this one a while ago. It's a good bike.

We trudge on.

[hubcapsc]

I didn't know the smart car was such a dog... the superchared Mini is nothing like that...

So... WetDragon  is that a Roadster... ? I like to hear good things about Roadsters, that is
one of the non-Valkyrie motorcycles I think about sometimes...



-Mike "on first glance that's what I see for wetrudgeon..."

[iliveforcurves]

If I had to replace the Valk I would consider the Rocket III.  They aren't common like v-twins and I like being different.  If I was going to go with a v-twin I would go with the Yamaha Road Star or the Raider (113 cubic inch).  Gold Wings are nice but I don't want all that plastic on them.

[czuch]

I'd be really unhappy. After the best, I dont want the letdown.
I'd probably go for an early 60's convertable. Not a big luxobarge but like a Cutlass or a Galaxie.