New member

[Otus]

   Hi, my name is Otus and I just got my valkyrie about 10 days ago. I belonged to a forum for another bike I owned and they were a group of friendly helpful guys. Been looking my bike over, when I bought it I assumed it was a tourer but it says it's a gl1500cd. I looked it up and it says it's a deluxe which just means it has high pollished rims. I imagine the other parts were ad ons. Has the proper bags and windshield. A question I have is my bike seems to ride like a brick. I was expecting a softer ride with such a big bike. I weigh 160 lbs. And the shocks are set at 2. Should I drop it down to 1 for my weight or could someone have put aftermarket shocks on it for a stiffer ride? The shocks are Showa mzo-a41. I havent got the picture thing here figured out yet but I'll have some soon.

[NC_Rob]

Welcome! Someone will chime in with an answer shortly I'm sure.

[Hoser]

  Hi, my name is Otus and I just got my valkyrie about 10 days ago. I belonged to a forum for another bike I owned and they were a group of friendly helpful guys. Been looking my bike over, when I bought it I assumed it was a tourer but it says it's a gl1500cd. I looked it up and it says it's a deluxe which just means it has high pollished rims. I imagine the other parts were ad ons. Has the proper bags and windshield. A question I have is my bike seems to ride like a brick. I was expecting a softer ride with such a big bike. I weigh 160 lbs. And the shocks are set at 2. Should I drop it down to 1 for my weight or could someone have put aftermarket shocks on it for a stiffer ride? The shocks are Showa mzo-a41. I havent got the picture thing here figured out yet but I'll have some soon.

I too am a solo rider, 160 lbs, seems position 2 would work, but try 1 if you want.  I found that by inflating my tires from 30 to 35 lbs instead of the max pressure, provides the smoothest ride for me.  Seems to eliminate tire cupping also. You might want to use bias ply tires as I do.  It seems to contribute to the smooth ride also.  If you double up or haul a load, you can always adjust your tire pressure up. Oh, and welcome aboard.  Hoser    Hope this helps.  

[Tropic traveler]

Keep experimenting with tire pressures & shock settings. The Valk is not the smoothest riding big bike I assume a super soft ride is a trade off for the great big bike handling the Valkyrie has.

Tourers. Note factory bags & windshield.



Welcome!!!

[MarkT]

Can't check what is says on the stock shocks as I replaced them 15 years ago.  I'm guessing they aren't OEM with the Showa name on them.  The OEM shocks are known to be a weak point - a very popular upgrade.  Hardly anybody in this community is a lightweight like yourself.  So likely it's a HD shock.  That's heavy-duty, not Hardley Drivensome.  Anyway, there's lots of info on the search fn about shocks.  Or you can ask.  Guess you did.  Duh.   I've replaced my suspension front & rear, both Progessive brand.  Rear is air suspension, and I installed an air system to support it. Deerslayer has a cushier ride than all my other vehicles - and even a Caddy. http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/A_Premium_Air_System/a_premium_air_system.html

The advice on going to bias ply is a good one.  You can run lower pressures and the ride quality improves - is softer.  Has other benefits too.

Here's an enlargement of the avatar above:

[Otus]

Hell, I think I still have the factory dunlops on it. 4, 700 miles on it when I bought it, 5,300 on it now. Took a road trip the week I got it.   do you guys see the pic? Still working on it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hell, I think I still have the factory dunlops on it. 4, 700 miles on it when I bought it, 5,300 on it now. Took a road trip the week I got it.   do you guys see the pic? Still working on it.

You might wanna consider new tires!

[Mapper]

Welcome!  Never heard of the "Deluxe," what year is it?  I've got a '97.  Tires might be a good upgrade... 6+ years old seems risky to me.

Look forward to seeing that picture...  

[Otus]

Yes, new tires are definitely on my list for this winter. Just going to put around on it till the end of the season. I am checking them all the time to make sure they arent doing anything funny. It's a 2001  gl1500cd . That makes the tires 12 years old.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yes, new tires are definitely on my list for this winter. Just going to put around on it till the end of the season. I am checking them all the time to make sure they arent doing anything funny. It's a 2001  gl1500cd . That makes the tires 12 years old.

Be careful man, we don't need any new guys going down.

[Otus]

    Yay me!!!!

[Otus]

[The emperor has no clothes]

    Yay me!!!!

nice looking bike!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Also go with metal valve stems when you get new tires.

[Oss]

welcome to the family

[Flrider]

Welcome aboard, bike looks great !!!

I'll second the metal stem valves advise as soon as you can.

[Mapper]

SWEET RIDE!  Those rims look good!  Glad you went with black... though not everyone admits it, black Valks are the fastest.  No one really knows why, but it is definitely true.   

[HayHauler]

Welcome to the asylum!  You're gonna like it here.  Lots of info in this site.
My advice, get new tires and metal valve stems ASAP.  12 year old tires are time bombs waiting to unravel. 

Welcome!!

Hay
Jimmyt

[MarkT]

Looks like you have my basic pipes with bones.  Odd that he spent money on pipes, highway pegs and a Rivco horn but then didn't ride much.

[cookiedough]

check the 4 digit date code on those dunlop D404's if OEM.  If they really are 01 tires,  change ASAP, but I bet they are the 2nd set of dunlop's like I had on mine when bought 5 years ago with only 14K miles on bike.  They still had some tread left, but the ride was harsh beating me up pretty bad so changed them out the next spring as you will do as well.  Check psi in tires as mentioned and if riding pretty harsh/jolting,  lower the psi to around 35 psi but not over 40 as is customary on our Valks, it will help a tad.  Doubt the shocks are the issue, but tire psi and old tires and yes recommend metal valve stems.

Also, as you have said, keep checking the psi in the old tires since my old Dunlop's lost 2-3 psi it seemed like over a few weeks only and really need to check psi routinely.

[Otus]

My tires are at 33 lbs. What I'm checking for is any sign the tires are delaminating or anything. They do feel hard, may be my problem.

[Otus]

I went out in the garage and checked. I do have metal valve stems but the date code is 4600 which I guess means April 6 2000. You really looked my pics over good Markt.

[mmurffy03]

well if it was a standard and has OEM bags and windshield and is now a tourer you have 1500.00 bucks more in your pocket that the previous owner spent on both those items

[Willow]

I went out in the garage and checked. I do have metal valve stems but the date code is 4600 which I guess means April 6 2000. You really looked my pics over good Markt.

When we say metal stems we are talking about stems that are entirely metal.  The OEM stems are metal in the part showing but have a flexible rubber portion where they pass through the wheel.  That's the reason for the outside support.  Your outside support is showing.  I doubt you have the replacement stems in all metal.

Markt has better eyes than do I.  Those pipes look a lot like the OEM pipes.

4600 means the 46th week of 2000.

[fudgie]

Whats laying on the road behind your bike?  ???

[RainMaker]

Welcome to the insanity.  Your bike looks nice and will give you many miles of smiles.

However, I also join the chorus in regards to the tires - there are so many stories out there regarding tires over 6 years old that look fine but are just time bombs, per Hayhauler.  Both your ride and your chances of not going down will improve with the new tires.

RainMaker

[Otus]

The pipes laying on the ground behind my bike slide into the exaust and bypass the sound deadening material.so its got two sounds to fit your mood.

[Otus]

I am concerned about the tires, even before your warnings. So there is a metal valve stem suport upgrade? Sounds logical and probably looks better. I'll get them when I get the tires.

[Otus]

And isnt the standard tank smaller than the tourer tank? Mines 5 gal.

[old2soon]

Not so much a support as it is an ALL METAL VALVE stem. We as a board have had 2 members within days of each other had the O E M valve stem failures.  The old tires and the valve stems need to be replaced NOW NOW NOW.  I/WE can NOT stress this enough.    Otus my friend-we want to talk to you-NOT about you.  Oh and B T W-welcome to our little corner of the insanity we call"the board".  RIDE SAFE.

[Otus]

Hey old2soon I'll stay off them till I  get them replaced. I understand what your saying about the valve stems now, I see the rubber base.

[RainMaker]

These are all metal stems and what many of us use


http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=17-562&Category_Code=6-3

[HayHauler]

Otus, you have a PM. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Squealy]

We as a board have had 2 members within days of each other had the O E M valve stem failures. 

I'm at least one of the one's who had a valve stem failure recently.  I was two-up in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin on my way to Inzane and the rear valve stem failed at 70+mph.....  I knew that my valve stem needed replaced and I was going to do it on my next tire replacement and I was getting close to a tire replacement.  I didn't make it to tire replacement time, it failed.  I was lucky no one got hurt, others havn't been as lucky...  REPLACE your valve stems if you don't know how old they are....

[The emperor has no clothes]

Otus,  tires & stems won't set you back too bad and before you do it read in shoptalk about the rear flange maintanence and most importantly proper sequence of putting it back together. And you'll be good to go! Looks to me like you got a great deal even if it is one of the slow black ones

[HayHauler]

Looks like you have my basic pipes with bones.  Odd that he spent money on pipes, highway pegs and a Rivco horn but then didn't ride much.

Good catch Mark.  I thought those were the bones laying on the ground behind the bike in the pic.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[MAD6Gun]

 I am the other that had a valve stem failed. Front one at 75 MPH last Sunday. Got it stopped with no damage except to the tire. Pick up the new tire tonight. Got a all steel valve stems to install. Should have it back together tomorrow.......

[Hook#3287]

Otus, welcome to the best MC site on the web and congrats on getting the fastest Valkyrie, a FAST BLACK one

Looks like in your second pic, there's a little bit of the reflector on the rear fender behind the seat. If so, I believe your bike started it's life as a Standard and someone with class & $$$, made her a Tourer.

That's a good thing, cause IMHO, Honda makes the best bags and screens to fit our bikes.

Consider changing out the tires ASAP.

Enjoy.

[Hook#3287]

And isnt the standard tank smaller than the tourer tank? Mines 5 gal.

Standard and Tourer have the same tank, Interstates have a larger tank.

[old2soon]

Hey old2soon I'll stay off them till I  get them replaced. I understand what your saying about the valve stems now, I see the rubber base.

We really don't need anymore folks having exciting incidents with not only their motorcycles but their lives.  Just before Inzane this past July Carl(Willow)had I believe a tire failure.  In additiom to Squealy and Mad6Gun there was one other valve stem failure recently.  You have a VAST amount of hard won knowledge about these beasts we ride at your fingertips.    I'm not sure where you live/reside/hang yer hat/park yer fat lady.  If you put your town and state in your avatar you might be surprised zackly HOW much help you will be offered to learn about Valkyries.  The thing that kinda sorta ties this whole shootin match together is our love of these fine machines that have chosen us to be their keepers.  And YES it WILL become an addiction-caint be helped-yer hooked now!!  RIDE SAFE.