Just purchased an Aussie 99 Valk and riding it 1,100+ kms home!

[8Track]

Hi guys,

This is my first post. I have just bought a 99 Valk in Canberra, ACT, Australia. I'm flying over there on Tuesday to pick it up and ride it home to Adelaide, South Australia.

This is my first big cruiser, moving up from a '96 Honda Magna. The Valk is naked - no screen or hard bags. Its black and orange, and done 32,000 kms.

I test rode it a month ago when I was over there on business and its a solid, well looked after bike.

Before commencing the trip back, are there any things that you recommend should be checked beyond the usual safety check?

My route home will take me through the high country so I expect to take in some great scenery. Will take plenty of photos, so will share some highlights with you all here.

Thanks,

Mark

[Blackduck]

General check of fluids and tyres should be enough.
Should run around 200 k's before hitting reserve, depends on the fun you are having.
Welcome to the world of Valkyrie
CHeers Steve

[old2soon]

Has that rear end EVER been serviced???? VERY VERY important. Getting tire or tyre pressure correct helps usually 40 42 P S I front and 43 46 P S I rear with motorcycle specific tires. Good look at the brake pads front and rear and enjoy. Welcome to the insanity. RIDE SAFE.

[GJS]

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the forum, and the world of Valkyrie!
Best long haul cruiser ever built (imho  ).

With only 32,000kms (20,000 miles), you have a barely broken in bike.
That is now 12 or 13 years old.
I think the important stuff will be to check for signs of aging/sitting.
I'd be curious about the fluids, all of them.
As well, I'd make sure and run a can of Carb Cleaner through the system. If you can get ahold of SeaFoam or Techron (they seem to be the favourites), that stuff helps to move the crap in the fuel system along.

Anyway, sounds exciting! Ride safe, have a good trip and post some pics when your back.

Best regards,

Glenn

[Daniel Meyer]

Welcome! Have a great ride!

1100kms is a walk in the park for the Valk. Check the fluids condition of the tires and ride.

Remember it doesn't get great mileage...

Do the rear end service when you get it home...check splines and pinion cup.

Take pictures! Avoid kangaroos!

[olddog1946]

Welcome, welcome, welcome...You are gonna enjoy your fat lady..If it has been taken care of (especially the final drive service, fluids) you should be ready to run other than your regular before ride checks.

[8Track]

Thanks everyone! I am super excited. I may have access to a workshop in Canberra, so I might be able to pull the rear and check the splines etc.

If not, I will check all the fluids and hope for the best. Final drive work to be then be done at home.

I'm not counting on it having had thorough maintenance with the last owner though. He didn't even know the bike had a tool kit!

Cheers,

Mark

[Oss]

some asian valks actually have reverse but I think they are ones made for japan

if you have what looks like a suicide shifter on the left low down you have one

either way you wont stop smiling for 10 yrs, I havent yet

welcome

oss

[Davet261]

Welcome to the world of Valkyries

1,100 k's is quite a ride, the Valkyrie is one of the best cruisers ever built, but I am betting if you have a stock seat you will feeling it in your rump after the first day.  I have a stock seat and I got a gel pad and a Utopia backrest for it.  ($200 bucks for a pad/$200 bucks for backrest  vs the cost for a premium seat)  Unless my tush is more delicate than others you will be feeling it there but trust me it will be worth it.  Not too many people get to take a maiden voyage on a Valkyrie that distance. 

Somewhere I saw on line that New Zealand has a great place to buy aftermarket parts, lots of chrome.  I found it once but for the life of me I cant find it again.  Buying chrome for a Valkyrie is like getting a tattoo, you will always want more.  Might be something you want to look into. 

[Blackduck]

Not sure when  they changed the seats, my 01 is differnt to the 98 I had, better seat.
Have taken both across the Nullabor a few times, the last few with a sheep skin cover.
The Sheep skin certainly helps on long runs.
Longest day 1600 K's in 18 hours and could still walk OK at the end.
Cheers Steve

[bigdog99]

had a friend buy a bike that was old, took it for a ride and forgot th=o check the tires. pressure wasd good by tires were almost plastic from being so old. make sure the tires are good, no cracks.
enjoy the ride home.

[MartinT]

Congratulations and welcome to the nuthouse!

+1 on what everyone above has recommended. One thing I noticed when I picked up my 99 Valk earlier this year (26000 miles) was that the front brake pads were OK, the rear brake pads were at their last legs and the brake fluid in all reservoirs including clutch was LOW. I only had a 150 mile ride back home, but I would have been much more at ease had I taken a small bottle of DOT4 with me to top off the reservoirs.

Martin

[John U.]

The suggestion to get a sheepskin is good advice. Pick one up before you make the trip home if you can, monkeybutt can be very uncomfortable.
If the brake or clutch fluid look bad (dark) it might be wise to bleed them, also before the trip back.
Safe trip. Let us know how it went.

[8Track]

Hi everybody,

Thanks to you all for your warm welcome and great advice. Tomorrow I fly across and will commence the return journey on Wednesday.

The bike has a sheepskin on it so that's a bonus. Fluids in the brake and clutch reservoirs are clear and full. Tyres have plenty of tread, but I don't know when they were fitted

I have packed the following for the trip:

Puncture kit
First aid kit
1/4" drive socket set
Pliers and a couple blade & phillips head screw drivers
Torch
Gaffer Tape
Various fuses
Zip Ties
Swiss Army Knife
Pen & Paper
Ziploc bags
Tie-down straps
Phone & charger
GPS
Camera
Video camera
Ipod
Sweets (a sugar hit if feeling tired on the road)
Sunglasses
Clothes
Toiletries
Riding gear
Wallet inc license, cash and credit card

Anything else you guys can think of that is a necessity that I have missed?

Thanks,

Mark

[tank_post142]

more water than you think you can ever drink in two weeks

[Paxton]

Take Bail money... Lots and lots of it! 

[8Track]

Hi everyone,

I am pleased to report my new Valkyrie took me all the way home in comfort and style. There were no problems at all - she ran like a Swiss watch!

Comfort wise, I need some highway pegs. The stock seat is fine for 3-4 hours, but after that the bum does get some pressure points - so really not too bad. Wind deflection by the headlight and gauges is actually quite good, but I do see a screen in my future.

The prevoius owner had the tyres inflated to 30 psi. This has caused scalloping of the tread, and the oft reported vibes when turning. I have increased to 38/42 front/rear and this has improved things dramatically.

I rode from Canberra, ACT down to Cooma and then through the high country (ski fields) of Jindabyne and Thredbo. Then 80kms of tight twisties down the mountain to Tallangatta Lake. Then onto Albury NSW where I stopped for the night, taking in a great Chinese meal and a movie at the local cinema.

Got an early start the next day and made it all the way home to Adelaide via Shepparton and Bendigo where I stopped for lunch with a mate.

All in all, a great trip, and I couldn't be happier with the bike!

Below are some photos. Enjoy.

[image][/image]

Cheers,

Mark

[8Track]

Looks like this forum doesn't allow photo uploads! Sorry!

[Tim H]

Looks like this forum doesn't allow photo uploads! Sorry!

I see the above post with [image] tags, try using [img]

[8Track]

Thanks Tim,

But I can't make it work. I tried using your tags with the picture location on my disk in between them and no result.

Thanks,

Mark

[Colin]

Your photos need to be hosted on the web elsewhere. Put them up on Photobucket / Picasa / anywhere similar and then put the link to them in the img tags as suggested.

[Blackduck]

Use Photostash on this site, After loading photos in there you only need use the insert image button above then  hi lite the address on the photo, copy and paste between the ][
Cheers Steve