Ohh Nooo-----Not another "New" guy! and he wants to know about Valks too....

[BF]

Thanks, I may call on one of you guys to give me a second set of eyes when I check out the possible contenders.
BF - That was a Hell of a Winter project going from red to what you have now. Nice job!! Thanks for adding to the explanation of models as well. So there is no change in wheelbase or overall ride height between the standard and the tourer?

Wheelbase is the same for all models.  It's the same bike for all models, but each model is appointed differently.  And as Michael said.....since the odds of finding a pristine new bike are slim, you'll be shopping for a used one.  Most likely, there will be differences in seat heights from bike to bike and model to model because of previous owners preferences for ride height and seat comfort.  Different seats will make a difference in seat height.....different shock lengths will make a difference in seat height too.  

Dag is a member here (he's in Norway) and has a web site that has a ton of info on it with specs, tech articles, videos and lots and lots of other info about our Valks.  You'll want to save his link for future reference.  

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/

Standard specs.....

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/Valkyrie%20Standard%20NEW.html

Tourer specs.....

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/Valkyrie%20Tourer%20NEW.html

Interstate specs.....

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/Interstate%20NEW.html

From Dag's site....."Model Differences"......

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/MODEL%20DIFFERENCES.html

[Fudd]

They used to tell us that there were old pilots, and there were bold pilots, but not too many old, bold pilots.

To have the life experences that you have, you have obviously learned how to operate equipment within the envelope and not push your luck.  Operating a large motorcycle can kill you, as can most any other kind of high horsepower fun machine.  Although aging inherently reduces muscular stregnth, the experence we gain in years of riding helps us to stay out of dangerous situations.

Motorcycles, like airplanes are operated with finese instead of brute stregnth. That doesn't mean there are times that it wouldn't be nice to have some youthful leg muscles to help balance a 800 lb. bike, if you stop on a irregular surface.  An experenced, older rider makes decisions subconsciously that helps keeps him safe and avoid bad situations, most of the time.

We, as pilots transition well between aircraft and 2 wheelers.  It has a lot to do with understanding the concepts of "banking" in a turn.  Also, pilots that have already mastered slipping, skidding and coordinated turns have a decisive advantage on a bike compared to other new riders.

I say, go for it. Take lessons to shorten the learning curve.  If you stay within your limitations, your life experences will make up for any statistical disavantage of starting at a more senior age.

[bigguy]

At the risk of


I'll make one more post on this thread, then quit. (My 2$ is up to about a dollar by now.)
With all due respect for your intelligence, training, and skills, you don't have experience handeling a big powerful bike. Simple little things like counter steering, and target fixation, can't be overcome by intelligence, study, thought, or reading. Experience is the only way to develop the muscle memory and subconscious skill, and conditioned reflexes required to keep you safe. And no other vehicle will give you those skills. If I'm not mistaken, don't commercial pilots have to have certain minimum time in the make and model of the equipment they're considered qualified to fly? And that's in the same type of vehicle. Flying skills may well give you a head start on learning to ride a motorcycle. They do not give you the experience you need to avoid injury.
Starting out on a big bike is a bad idea. Buy it now if you want, but give it the respect it deserves. Put a few thousand miles on an easier to ride machine first.
I get the feeling you actually know this, but were hoping for some validation for taking a short cut. I'm not trying to be insulting. I'm truly trying to give advice I believe will keep you safe.
Here is the advice I gave to a dear friend. I'll pass it along to you for what it's worth.
Your First Motorcycle

[bigguy]

What ever you decide, thanks for the blog idea. 

[BF]

He's sixty.  That's probably pretty close the average age on this board.  He ain't gettin' any younger and the clock is tickin'.  Sounds like he's done alot more ballsy stuff in his life than alot of us may have done.  

He sure as heck won't be the first guy to start, or restart riding motocrycles on a Valkyrie.  Doubt he'll be the last too. 

I say go for it.    Just go for it slowly and learn, practice, learn some more, practice some more.....and then learn to practice more.  

[Pappy!]

Wow - eolquence among motorcycle riders! Am teasing but actually I couldn't have put these answers and reasons both for and against getting into this any better than most of you have!
It seems that a few in here are familiar with aircraft and flying. The flying part is simple.
The comparisons of flying and cycles are somewhat accurate on the safety aspects I imagine. Although you have to be constantly on the lookout for other traffic in the air you also have ground controllers looking out for you as well if you are smart enough to announce you are in their airspace and do an ident. Other than that airplanes are totally unforgiving and merciless or can be one of the safest modes of transportation - it is all up to you. Sound familiar?
But, in an aircraft you cannot pull over and check a map, check your fuel quantity vs. what the gauge says or check anything outside the aircraft, can't stop and walk or run to wake yourself up. You better know where you are and what direction you are going in and whats ahead when you decide to eat, drink or take a nature break while flying. You aren't paying adequate attention to what the plane is doing while doing any one of these. 
Decision making is a constant process because the aircraft is constantly moving.....and fast. It can and will get ahead of you and it doesn't care, it is totally unforgiving. Check lists for pre-flight, engine start, taxi, pre-takeoff, takeoff, decent, landing all must be done plus your weather checks, radio frequencies, airspace restrictions, conditions at your destination all must be checked. All this is for some of the simplest of aircraft if you want to fly from point A to point B in daytime visual flight rules (VFR). Things are more difficult at night or bad weather as you have pretty much zero point of reference on the ground to navigate with and cannot pick out an emergency landing area, period. If you fly for a long time you become proficient at this/these. I do my damndest to be careful and prepared when operating things that are unforgiving.
Add no protection, old geezers on lots of prescription drugs that can't see (Florida during the Winter), people pulling out in front of you, stopping in front of you to check a map, turning right from the left lane, swerving while texting, cutting you off, etc. and you have your motorcycle....trust me....I get it! Seems pretty much totally different! New skill set and a measure of luck thrown in?
Now, for the benefit of those who are recommending I start smaller I am not opposed to it but that means buying and having to sell another cycle before getting what I want. I do not  know the market for cycles like I do marine stuff and absolutely do not want to get stuck with a bike that takes months to resell. I live in a one way in and one way out (cool) neighborhood out in the sticks so what would be the major issue with riding the neighborhood to familiarize myself with the more difficult low speed handling and then the limited access country roads I am blessed with to build my skills? Absolutely taking the course......thats a given. Sorry for the long winded reply. Oh, and sorry if I talked anybody out of taking flight lessons!

[BF]

The "naysayers" are looking out for your best interests.  Really...they are...and they're offerring very sound advice.    

They've seen it before....plenty of times.....usually the middleaged guy with the midlife crisis thing.....never rode but always thought they'd like to.....or it's just the image thing .....goes out and buys that new Harley.....scares the crap out of himself with it (if they don't kill themselves with it first) and the bike ends up sitting in the garage untill they end up unloading it on Craigslist.  If you want proof, just check out the adds on C/L sometime....you'll see plenty of very low miles Harleys on there.  

Starting out smaller and lighter.....especially when you dump it (notice I didn't say IF you'll dump it) is wise advice.  Starting out on an 800 lb bike isn't usually the best option for learning how to ride (how's your knees by the way?).  I almost started to give you the exact same advice as the other naysayers but changed my mind given your background.  

At sixty, you should know yourself and your limitations by now.  Starting out on a Valk or something smaller is something you'll have to decide on.  You just need to be damn sure what it is that you'll be jumping on to start out learning on way before you actually do.  Go look at a bunch of Valks (other bikes too....the more the better)....sit on a bunch of them too, every one you can....get a feel for one before you actually take off on one.  Read everything you can on this board.....and ask all the questions you want.  This board is full of great guys that are more than happy to offer advice when you need it.  They've heard all of the newbie questions before and are here to help you.  

You won't be the first to start out riding on a Valk, but you seriously need to know what this bike is and what you're doing on it before you even think about group riding, taking on a passenger, slow speed handling and the like.  Tell you the honest truth, it took a good year on my Valk before I felt that I was truely proficient on it (and even now, I've got things to learn).  It's a big bike and can be a handfull at times if not prepared (and experienced).  

I still think you can do it.....but you'll have to decide if starting smaller is the better choice for you.  

If you do decide to start smaller, just ask on here which bike would be a good candidate....you'll get plenty of advice I'm sure.    

You've found the best motorcycle forum on the internet......sometimes we even talk about motorcycles here.      

[FLAVALK]

There are several of us here from the Central Florida area. I'm just northeast of Orlando and me and a few buds head over your way quite a bit.

Welcome! There are a great bunch of folks on this forum who will gladly help you any way they can. Just ask!

[Former BMW Guy]

It's my belief that the motorcycle injury and death statistics are tilted by the incidence of past middle aged men buying heavy, powerful cruisers as a first bike.

The ratio doesn't approach 1:1, though, so there is a more than even chance of a favorable outcome.  I'm just unwilling to encourage the flirtation with a less than favorable outcome.      

FWIW I agree 100%

JP

[RP#62]

Aviation and motorcycling have many parallels.
-RP

[Pappy!]

lol....love it!! Good one RP!

[Rams]

At the risk of


I'll make one more post on this thread, then quit. (My 2$ is up to about a dollar by now.)
With all due respect for your intelligence, training, and skills, you don't have experience handeling a big powerful bike. Simple little things like counter steering, and target fixation, can't be overcome by intelligence, study, thought, or reading. Experience is the only way to develop the muscle memory and subconscious skill, and conditioned reflexes required to keep you safe. And no other vehicle will give you those skills. If I'm not mistaken, don't commercial pilots have to have certain minimum time in the make and model of the equipment they're considered qualified to fly? And that's in the same type of vehicle. Flying skills may well give you a head start on learning to ride a motorcycle. They do not give you the experience you need to avoid injury.
Starting out on a big bike is a bad idea. Buy it now if you want, but give it the respect it deserves. Put a few thousand miles on an easier to ride machine first.
I get the feeling you actually know this, but were hoping for some validation for taking a short cut. I'm not trying to be insulting. I'm truly trying to give advice I believe will keep you safe.
Here is the advice I gave to a dear friend. I'll pass it along to you for what it's worth.
Your First Motorcycle

While not trying to argue, I will disagree on one point.  If anyone understands target fixation, it is someone that is or has been a pilot.  Personally, I think he'll be fine once he develops enough respect for the handling and power of our cruiser.  A lack of respect will most definately result in a lesson not easily forgotten.  

One thing I brought from my aviation career was the habit of constantly scanning, inside, outside, instruments, right, left, up and down.  Still use that habit when I ride, it's kept me from meeting some folks, animals and objects that I would have much preferred to meet while stationary.  I'm sure you know what I mean.  

I still believe in taking safety training courses and highly recommend them and recommend taking them every few riding seasons.  I always seem to re-learn or learn something new.  Take the course(s) and let's go ride.    You can lead.  

As far as which Valk suits you, that's a completely personal decision.  I'm a Standard/Tourer fan and owner/rider.  I like the clean look and it's easier to personalize, other's prefer the luxuries of an I/S.    Quoting one of my friends, we don't need no stink'n luxuries.     Let's ride. 

[Tropic traveler]

OK Pappy..... here's one for you.
There is a real nice looking 1997 green & white Tourer in super condition with silly low miles on E-bay right now. Guy is right up the road from you in Debary.
No connection whatsoever, just noticed it while poking around.
Item # 120966342452. Just listed a few hours ago. Check it out! 

[Michael K (Az.)]

OK Pappy..... here's one for you.
There is a real nice looking 1997 green & white Tourer in super condition with silly low miles on E-bay right now. Guy is right up the road from you in Debary.
No connection whatsoever, just noticed it while poking around.
Item # 120966342452. Just listed a few hours ago. Check it out! 

And it's a plus that Eddie,(Tropic Traveler) is a right snappy Valk wrench who would probably give ya some good answers! (as Mike waits patiently for the check T.T. will be sending me for the PR work!)

[Pappy!]

I'm back!
Took the MSF course on my birthday (August 19th)
Had been talking to friends about bikes and ran across one that told me had a bike that he would sell me that I could not refuse. Bigger than I was looking for. He was correct in that the price simply could not be touched.
I now own a 2003 Vulcan 1600 Classic. Purchased with 1076 miles on it and a one month old gel battery in it. Was flawless in paint and chrome, garaged and covered.
Changed the tires due to age although there was not a single weather crack anywhere.
My goal is still to move into a Valk but will stick with this one until then.
I now have a little over 1500 miles on it.
Before I reward myself with a back roads ride I go to an abandoned housing development and do low speed work including stops and starts, rights and lefts from a dead stop, figure eights in a cul-de-sac, tight turns (circles) and panic stops. Then I go for a short ride on back roads with minimal traffic.  After almost 500 miles the bike is becoming a little more friendly to ride.
Just an update for you guys and gals! Nobody ran me off and I did not disappear!

[Willow]

Congrats, Pappy.

Sounds like you're doing the right things.   

[flsix]

Hang in there pappy and enjoy the new ride. Just watch the tourists in a few months.

[Pappy!]

Hang in there pappy and enjoy the new ride. Just watch the tourists in a few months.

You mean the ones with the horse blinder sunglasses and the tons of legal prescription drugs that pull out in front of you, change lanes at will and hit the brakes to think about where they originally were going when they got in the car in the first place?
Glad I have a Rubicon with a bumper from Hell in the front for that crowd!
Am in the middle of Snow Bird Heaven or Hell depending on the way you look at it and Naples (where you are) isn't far off either!!

[billyboy]

Good for you Pappy  I got my valk a year ago after not riding for almost 35 years. I thought I bit off
more than I could chew but I stuck with it, went in parking lots alot hit the slab then small roads
then started looking for curvy roads.  I took a trip for about 3 weeks this summer and put on 5000
miles, all totaled i have put on around 16,000 in a year. Ride with some one and you will learn
alot. I get up there sometimes and i'm always looking for a ride as alot of others do. Just remember
they are out to kill you. (Cages that is.) Ride safe and enjoy the wind. Bill

[saddlesore]

I've been riding cycles for 43 years and picked up my 99 standard new. I now have 96,600 miles on it.
It took a bit of getting used to after riding a 1973  Goldwing 1000 for 23 years.  Any way, while I've been riding lately,thoroughly enjoying it, I was thinking the only other thing that could compare to it would be flying.
I haven't done a lot of flying but I remember soaring in a glider, banking and turning into a dive. It was exhilarating!   I can see why people here made the comparison. On the flying I envy you.
Welcome to the brotherhood of bikers.