Lemon Pledge & other assorted...

[Xtracho]

Well...this guy is a happy Valk owner now! Flew into St. Louis a day after returning from Brazil, closed the deal, and rode my new (to me) '98 Valkyrie back to Panama City Beach.

First thing I know I've gotta do is work on a custom saddle! Rode 650 miles the first day, then the final 180 or so the next day. With my 6'5", 270 lb frame, I know a new saddle is in my future. Any suggestions on a vendor for the new saddle would be appreciated.

Being a Goldwing owner we've always sworn by Lemon Pledge for cleaning the ride. What do Valkyrie owners use?

And how about waxing? Is there a preferred wax out there that I should consider?

The bike has Kury ISO dually pegs, but again with my large frame and legs they are way too close to the valve covers and I can burn my calves if not careful. I have the Kury Longhorn Offsets on my 'Wing and they are great. I tried to move the pegs to the upper crash bar but that is a larger diameter than the lower bar. Any highway pegs that are preferred by you good people?

As you can see, I'm now in the process of getting my lovely phat lady customized to fit. Any advice, guidance, and suggestions will be most appreciated.

Here she is safely at her new home...

[doubletee]

A discussion about seats is about like a discussion (argument?) about oil.    You'll get several different opinions. If you can find anyone near you with different brands of seats, most would probably let you swap for a short ride to see if you like it. I have an Ultimate Big Boy on my Std and love it. On top of that, Ultimate is a long-standing friend and sponsor to the VRCC. (no affiliation, blah, blah, blah.)

Several here also swear by Pledge, so no harm in continuing its use from your Gold Wing to the Valk.

Most importantly, just ride! Enjoy your new (to you) Valk and ride safe!

[Xtracho]

Thanks double...sent an email to Ultimate. Just wondering if the Utopia backrest I have will work with the Ultimate seat...and off to Wallyworld for a case of Lemon Pledge!! 

[donaldcc]

Thanks double...sent an email to Ultimate. Just wondering if the Utopia backrest I have will work with the Ultimate seat...and off to Wallyworld for a case of Lemon Pledge!! 

  There you go. 

[Michael K (Az.)]

Hydrogen peroxide,(I keep it in a spritzer bottle), sprayed on the windshield will bubble and soften the carapace of bugs allowing you to wipe them off so they wont stick,(think love bugs). I use it on the rest of the bike also when the bugs attack. Try soaking a rag and laying it on the buggy shield for a min. or so. Then wipe!!

[MarkT]

Congrats on the new ride.  You'll love it.  I have mine set up to be more comfortable than my wing.  Except the seat, I screwed that up.

Finding the saddle for you will take experimenting and luck.  Seat comfort is very personal, it's likely most advice on this subject applies to the speaker but not to you - you need to find what YOUR butt is happy with. Borrowing saddles is a good plan, if you have locals that can help.  Try to use the borrowed saddles for couple hundred mile day rides for better checkout rides.  I have an Ultimate Big Boy and don't like it.  My butt hurts in a hundred miles or so. I did have two previous saddles that were much better on the long haul - a Mustang, and my custom modified OEM saddle.  Both took a several-month break-in period, though my custom seat was faster.  See my tech article at http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Rood_Saddle_Mod/rood_saddle_mod.html  The Ultimate looks nice, and I don't need long distance anymore, since I use my Wing on road trips.  If comfort is your focus, I have never seen a negative report on Russell Day-Long saddles - other than their being ugly.  Might not matter, if your butt like it.  I have seen negatives on every other maker.  I'm getting a Russell for the wing - meanwhile still using the OEM which bruises my butt on thousand-milers.

Cleaning - I detail most of the bike with Honda Polish.  Actually it's a ripoff of their cleaner/polish which was discontinued some years ago.  And another maker came out with a knock-off with a very similar can which is also sold at Honda dealers.  I clean the plastic with Plexus.  Use a clean micro-fiber cloth and rub the cloth vertically only on the windshield.  No circular movement or horizontal or you will create scratches that catch low backlight. Do not use towels on the plastic - they all have course polyester threads which will scratch the plastic. You can get a pack of micro-fiber towels at Costco. First put a bath towel soaking wet with hot water, laid on the shield while you detail the rest of the bike.  That will soften the bugs if they've dried on.  Cleaning the bike - avoid washing it unless it's really dirty.  Water gets on the connectors and rusts them - makes it a mechanic's nightmare.  Lots of washing makes the bike look nice, but go to work on it and half the connectors are rusted frozen and then break.  I had a customer ride in here on an Interstate who had washed it a lot.  R&R'd the exhaust, replaced it with custom pipes.  Normally takes under 2 hours including torquing all fasteners, even if minor tweaks are needed. It took an EXTRA full day with EVERY connector rusted - and all the broken fasteners that I then had to remove & replace.  Ask any mechanic his pet peeve - high on the list will be rusted fasteners from excessive washing.

On your peg mounts - Kuryakyn 1-1/8 dia clamps work on the curved part of the crash bar.  That's where my hwy pegs are mounted.  With that and my pullback risers, the Ultimate backrest, Baker wings, tilted-back Hondaline shield, the Brake-away throttle lock, Zumo, sound system, air suspension, Progressive fork springs and Yokohama A048 tire at 32 lbs - the bike is comfortable for at least most of my riding.

[R J]

There are many places that make seats for our ride.

Ultimate, is a VRCC vendor and makes several different seats.   Kind of stock to exotic, and they are all beautiful.     I have one of his Big Boy seats on MGM.
This is an Ultimate driver, passenger and built in back rest for driver, passengers just replaced the stock Honda but it a little larger than stock, wife, daughter, son's other 1/2, all love the passenger backrest with the passenger Ultimate seat.



Corbin is another one.

Diamond seat is or was a good seat the last time I had one.

Mustang seat - very much like a Corbin in my opinion.

PS::::::::::     Don't use an add-on backrest, get one built into your seat.

Russel Day long seat.   Ugly and pricey, but well worth the clinkies.

There are some more but my brain just took a memory fart.    DUH.

I have had all of the above seats and the only one I really disliked was the Corbin.

Jump onto the Internet and use Google,    Type in 'motorcycle custom seats'.   You should get about 4 or more pages to look see.

[Steve K (IA)]

Thanks double...sent an email to Ultimate. Just wondering if the Utopia backrest I have will work with the Ultimate seat...and off to Wallyworld for a case of Lemon Pledge!! 

The Utopia will work with the King Big Boy seat from Ultimate.  Won't work with the Big Boy or Low Rider.

I have the King with Utopia on my Std....great match. 

[Hoser]

I have a diamond custom seat with a utopia backrest, I like the velour inserts on the backrest and seat, no more monkey butt!  I don't know that the diamond seat is available anymore.  Hoser  

[Xtracho]

Thanks so much everyone!! A good start for sure.

There is a company in Oregon, Rich's Custom Seats, that was recommended by another member that has an I/S. They use photos and height/weight, along with other criteria, to match their seats to each rider. Anyone have any feedback from them? And yeah... ...the seat issue matches those oil, tire, and (at least on the GW forum), deer alert threads!! LOL...but any and all feedback is a big help.

Thanks again! BTW Hoser...love the color combo!  

[RP#62]

Hydrogen peroxide,(I keep it in a spritzer bottle), sprayed on the windshield will bubble and soften the carapace of bugs allowing you to wipe them off so they wont stick,(think love bugs). I use it on the rest of the bike also when the bugs attack. Try soaking a rag and laying it on the buggy shield for a min. or so. Then wipe!!

Good idea.  Keep some in the saddle bags and you can either clean your windshield or treat wounds.
-RP

[JDW365]

No one chimed in that I saw on foot pegs. I recommend Mick O Pegs, very comfortable and put you in a natural riding position, www.ridingiswonderful.com also a good sponsor, friend of the VRCC..

Nice ride! Enjoy

JDW

[Willow]

I have Ultimate saddles on my Valkyries.  They provide the comfort and support necessary for me for 800 - 1200 mile days.  Honestly, the OEM 2000+ saddle provides about as much comfort and can be had new for $90, but the Ultimate saddles are prettier.  Ultimate saddles operates out of a store down the road from you at Daytona.

Consider Joe's Juice for waterless cleaning and shining.  Joe is a well respected VRCC member out of Michigan and markets an excellent product.

Link to Joes-Juice.com  

I mount my highway pegs off the upper engine guards, but then my legs are likely shorter than yours.  My inseam is thirty inches.

Enjoy the ride.

[Thespian]

Thanks so much everyone!! A good start for sure.

There is a company in Oregon, Rich's Custom Seats, that was recommended by another member that has an I/S. They use photos and height/weight, along with other criteria, to match their seats to each rider. Anyone have any feedback from them? And yeah... ...the seat issue matches those oil, tire, and (at least on the GW forum), deer alert threads!! LOL...but any and all feedback is a big help.

Thanks again! BTW Hoser...love the color combo!  

Rich's is actually in north Seattle, and has moved out to Kingston. Here's the link.
http://www.richscustomseats.com/

I had one built for my Fat @ss. Got five more years out of my shadow than I would have me thinks.

[BF]

As tall as your are, you're gonna want a seat that'll put you further back in the saddle. 

I don't know anything about "custom" seats that are built for the individual rider, but the most popular off-the-self seats seem to be the Ultimate, Mustang and Corbin. 

I've owned a Ultimate King.....didn't really like it....it's a veeeery wide seat.  If it was cut down some, I'd have liked it better.  It sat me further back to were I wanted to be on the bike....but for me, it still felt further forward than my Mustang seat does.  I put different saddle bags on my bike and the King wouldn't work with them so I sold that seat. 

Haven't owned a Corbin yet, but I've sat on a couple.  Very firm, sit low...and seem to fit my rear pretty good.  They're probably too firm (some report it's like riding on a brick), but I might try one some day.

I had a Corbin stinger seat on the Valk for a while.....that one was actually alright.....worked great for a solo seat, but it put me too far forward (alot actually), so I sold that one.   

Have owned the oem seat you have now......horrible. 

Have also owned the 2000 and up oem seat.  That one I liked (kinda cushy...nice), but I felt it put me too far forward still so I sold that one.  You can buy them new for around 90 bucks or so. 

I've owned the Mustang seat that came on my Valk since I bought it.....and I keep going back to it.  I'll bitch about it from time to time, but it's the most consistant seat I've owned for my butt.  It's a firm seat to be sure, but it puts me further back than any seat I've sat on....and it sits a little taller than any seat I've sat on also.

Waxing......anything with carnauba in it. 

Kury has a bunch of pegs that might work for you, but also check into the Mick-o-pegs.  I've never tried them, but a bunch of people on this board rave about them. 

[wdvalk]

http://www.brillianize.com/
I have used this for years,works awsome

[Lyn-Del]

Thanks double...sent an email to Ultimate. Just wondering if the Utopia backrest I have will work with the Ultimate seat...and off to Wallyworld for a case of Lemon Pledge!! 

Some of us have found that Lemon Pledge can attract bees.  Just sayin' ....

[PAVALKER]

I will toss my vote for Ultimate Seats.  As far as cleaning it up..... I think you are just spreading dirt and scratching a finish unless you use some soap and water to rise it away, and a leaf blower to dry it off.  That being the case... I recommend S100 and for finishing touchups I recommend Eagle One Nano Wax and micro fiber.

[Ghost Rider 2]

  When I bought my Valk a couple of years ago it had a new Ultimate seat on it.  I rode it to my house and pulled it off.  Could not get rid of it fast enough.  There is enough foam in that thing to make a mattress  for a king size bed.  Way to much for my bottom. I rode the stock seat for a few weeks and then install a Corbin.  Greatest seat ever built. The guy I sold the Ultimate to loves it.  So I would say look around and see if you can at least sit on a couple of different brands.
 

[Misfit]

Run to Daytona and taik to Des or Leslie. They will let you test ride any of their seats. They also have a 14 day garantee. At your size you will want the King Boy. Welcome to the world of Valkyries. 

[Michael K (Az.)]

Run to Daytona and taik to Des or Leslie. They will let you test ride any of their seats. They also have a 14 day garantee. At your size you will want the King Boy. Welcome to the world of Valkyries. 

Egg zactly!!

[Xtracho]

Run to Daytona and taik to Des or Leslie. They will let you test ride any of their seats. They also have a 14 day garantee. At your size you will want the King Boy. Welcome to the world of Valkyries. 

Good advice and reason for a quick road trip to Daytona. I'm home for a month until it's back to Brazil so there is time. And all of you that have chimed in I am grateful. This thread is bookmarked to reference as I move forward. I really like the ISO dually pegs and will most likely stick with them if I can get them up on the upper crash bars and away from the valve covers. Keep the great advice coming and thanks for the hearty welcome from all of you.

[Michael K (Az.)]

When you go to visit Des and Leslie, you'll find at least 2 Valks there to eyeball plus a lot of years of Valkyrie experience for different set-ups. It will make you happy!

[Hoser]

Thanks so much everyone!! A good start for sure.

There is a company in Oregon, Rich's Custom Seats, that was recommended by another member that has an I/S. They use photos and height/weight, along with other criteria, to match their seats to each rider. Anyone have any feedback from them? And yeah... ...the seat issue matches those oil, tire, and (at least on the GW forum), deer alert threads!! LOL...but any and all feedback is a big help.

Thanks again! BTW Hoser...love the color combo!  

Hmmm!   I wonder why?       Hoser   

[Toledo Mark]

Recently ran out of the car wash liquid soap I use so I decided to try liquid laundry soap and to my surprise I think it works better.  I have a bottle I pour it in then connect to the hose.  It suds up and I use a mit to wash.  Rinse then blow dry with the air compressor.  Less then 20 minutes to clean.  Sometime I use tar and bug remover if the bugs are bad. M

[Rams]

I won't discuss the seat issue other than to say borrow a different seat every time you can until you find the one that fits your butt and riding style.  I ride with an Ultimate Low Boy, it does for me what I like best.  Any seat will get to you eventually.  I don't care which one you eventually decide on.  Spend enough time on in the saddle and..............  Well, you know the drill.

Pegs, I've got Kury's and a set of Mick O Pegs.  Put the Mick O Pegs on just before riding to Inzane.  Road with my feet on them 90% of the highway miles there, on to Western KS and then back to KY.  I'm a believer.  When I ride her, I can't wait to get my feet on the M. O. Ps.  Most confortable riding position I've ever been in.  They aren't for use in the twisties but, you'll figure that out quickly.  Check them out, not the cheapest pegs out there but, well worth it.

[MarkT]

I forgot to mention -  

If you have to ride on a dirt road and get a coat of dust on your bike - as soon as you get home, get out the compressor hose with airgun and blow it off immediately before the dust has a chance to set on.  Even with a black bike you can blow almost all of it off with 120 lbs of pressure.  If you wait, it won't blow off so well.  I use to wait and do it later before I left on the next ride - but discovered the setting-on thing recently.  Static electricity or whatever I'm guessing.

I can't emphasize too much, about avoiding water to clean.  I'd say those who are recommending frequent washing to clean have not experienced the long-term effects of rusting the fasteners.  Or they have to more often due to more rain. However I will say, if you do have to wash because it's really dirty, a powerful leaf blower saves time with water spot removal using Hondapolish (or whatever).  I do wash occasionally - almost always because I got caught in rain and there's road grime all over the bike.  But that's rare - at least here in Colorado - it's semi-arid, not quite desert but much drier than most of the country.  Now I'm thinking, anti-sieze or WD40 or Loctite 242 to coat the fastener threads, might be a preventive to stop the rust before it happens, thus allowing more cleaning without the rust problem.  I recall my mechanic at the dealer grumbling once, about the beautiful '97 Valk he was working on in the shop - looks really good, but working on it, all the fasteners were rusted from excessive washing and he was breaking and replacing them.  Grumble grumble...