New to Me 1999 IS

[Kelly]

I bought and moved My IS from Kansas to Ohio. After taking it to my local dealer for a sevice (37k)
He informs me of a cylinder miss and did a disassemble and clean of carbs and fuel system.
On the next day I noticed a miss again so back to the shop...they tell me I fouled a plug..1 plug, maybe I over choked it.
  I bought the bike and have put 1800$ more into tires(avon) ,carb service,scheduled service ,and an F4 windshield. I studied this bike and really expected low maintenance.
This was a 1 owner Valk and I have all maintenance records. I want to Keep it but cannot afford to continue to pour money into it. I quit riding Harley because of the continued out pour of cash.
So far I am out 8300$ and have ridden maybe 2 hrs.
I have wanted this bike for 13 years and finally got it. Hopefully this trend will not continue.

[Dave Ritsema]

Congrats on the new bike and sorry to hear of your problems. The issue here regarding your carbs is most likely a direct result of bad fuel (stale, not properly stabilized) not a reflection of a poor quality motorcycle. The Valkyrie is easily a 150K plus mile machine with the proper preventative maintenance. Hopefully they will get your carbs properly cleaned and you will be good to go. Proper driveshaft maintenance is also very important. I suggest you go to out Shop Talk area and get that done as well.

[R J]

First thing I'd suggest is ya do your own wrenching.

Even if you don't know which end of a left handed Monkey wrench to use, you can learn real quick how to tear apart, repair and put it back together.

1st thing to do is 1) get a service manual for repairs, 2) put that damn stealer on your crap list.   You got $$$$ and he will find a way to get into your hip pocket.

These stealers are in business  to get all the $$$$ out of a customer they can.

You have a great bike there.    I've got a 97 Tourer converted to a Trike now with 243K+ miles on it, and it has only failed me once.    That was when I wired my driving lights wrong and burned the starter coupling.    It done did melt it all.

I really didn't wire it wrong, I just took a shortcut as I didn't have a relay laying on the shelf and I wanted to go one a 7 day trip.    Took trip and got back, forgot I hadn't put a relay in.   Didn't take long for me to fix that when it fried the connector.

[Kelly]

Agreed , I wanted to start out on the best foot. I am an industrial electrician and do everthing myself.
I did not want to break into 6 carbs my first trip out. Honestly ..I want to ride it not work on it. I enjoy preventitive maintenance..corrective is a pain.
I put the bike away with seafoam in the tank and ran it for 30 minutes on the street before putting it on battery tender. I took it out of storage to get a full service done,which is when they discovered the miss. Hopefully I can start with a clean slate and enjoy the wind.
I would like to see your trike pics!
I would like to get an answer to how its possible to foul 1 plug (from 6 new pugs)?

[old2soon]

While these machines ARE NOT maintenance free they do fall into a low maintenance frame. I'm with R J on this one-if you do not know how to wrench there are folks in your area that most likely would be happy to help. B B Q and cold adult beverages are WAY cheaper than a stealer.   I'm retired and on social insecurity and I KNOW I can NOT afford dealer repairs.   Once you do any service the 2nd time it gets way easier. Peruse the tech pages there is an wealth of information with pictures sometimes bout taking care of these machines. It's NOT rocket science just everyday common sense on these Dragons we ride. RIDE SAFE.

[Kelly]

Thanks Men.
I am a Nam Era Vet. Not retired and work 2 jobs . The joy of riding for me is to and from one adventure to the next.
Since we have the same bike Maybe you can give me some himts on PROPER warm up.
I have also seen the chrome saddlebag covers (on the front face ) any Idea who sells these.
Also looking for Saddlebag lid gaurds or covers/leather would be cool. I have been watching classifieds as well.
I have read fuel specs but would like to know what the riders actually put in the tank 86,87, 89 octane?
This Valk is near mint and I want to keep there. So I have been scouring these pages for tips and beneficial mods.
As an electrician I know amploads can be added up to meet contact ratrings . I can not imagine valkyrie relays are that tight to FLA. I guess that is way all of CHETS Mods have relays.

[Paxton]

I'd never take my Valkyries to any HONDA Dealer. Indeed, I would never take any Cage to the dealer for repairs.

Many dealers hire kids just out of a 6-month course in Auto Mechanics. Minimum wage is king.
So, their specialty is to unbolt "suspect" parts and replace them with new ones.

The hourly rate is outrageous and the "come back" stats are... well you'd know.

Get a second opinion from a qualified Independent HONDA Mechanic. Do not tell about previous work.
Just ask for a general diagnosis and see their findings.

[R J]

Agreed , I wanted to start out on the best foot. I am an industrial electrician and do everthing myself.
I did not want to break into 6 carbs my first trip out. Honestly ..I want to ride it not work on it. I enjoy preventitive maintenance..corrective is a pain.
I put the bike away with seafoam in the tank and ran it for 30 minutes on the street before putting it on battery tender. I took it out of storage to get a full service done,which is when they discovered the miss. Hopefully I can start with a clean slate and enjoy the wind.
I would like to see your trike pics!
I would like to get an answer to how its possible to foul 1 plug (from 6 new pugs)?

Kelly, try this on for size.

Take it out and get the engine warm.  If miss is still there, feel the pipes and see which pipe is not hot.    That cylinder, pull the plug and check the gap.   It just might be closed up.  If so, regauge it install it and go enjoy your ride.

If plug okay, add some SeaFoam in the tank, like 1/3 of the can, fill the tank up w/gas, take it out and ride it.  Keep the RPM's under 2,500 for at least 30 miles.    I know, it is hard to keep them under 90 on the road.

Bring it home and make it stand up as straight as you can get it.

The next day try for the miss.    If it is still there, add some more SeaFoam, and repeat the above instructions, only this time put the rpm's up to where you feel safe riding.    Last 10 miles home stay under 2,500 prm's again, put it in the garage, kickstank on a 2X4 chunk and let it set and soak for 2 days.

[Jess Tolbirt]

put the cheap gas in it,, ride it and forget about the miss, it will go away on its own,,wouldnt hurt to put some carb cleaner in the gas,,maybe seafoam or marvel mystery oil...the only reason to go to the dealer is to buy a new helmet..or try one one to see what size you need..

[Kelly]

ALL GREAT common sense approaches .
I am a professinal soccer trainer(second job).
If your kid falls down and goes boom...walk it of kid.
If my kid falls down and goes boom ...call 911 and dispatch the resue helicopter.

Thanks all!

[wiggydotcom]

Kelly,
Welcome to the VRCC...along with the good advice you've already received, I'd suggest attending Inzane if you can. It's in Asheville, NC this June 9th-13 with the early bird arrival being the 8th. I know you said you work two jobs, but if you can get away for that event, you'll get to meet a lot of us and can also attend Daniel Meyer's tech sessions where he shows YOU how to do the most common maintenance on your Valkyrie.

You'll save a ton of money and will have the satisfaction that it's done right...by YOU.

Lastly, while I think Seafoam is a fine product and have used it in the past, I now think Techron is even better at cleaning out the Carbs. It's for sale at most auto part stores.

Good Luck and enjoy your Valk!

[old2soon]

Kelly,
Welcome to the VRCC...along with the good advice you've already received, I'd suggest attending Inzane if you can. It's in Asheville, NC this June 9th-13 with the early bird arrival being the 8th. I know you said you work two jobs, but if you can get away for that event, you'll get to meet a lot of us and can also attend Daniel Meyer's tech sessions where he shows YOU how to do the most common maintenance on your Valkyrie.

You'll save a ton of money and will have the satisfaction that it's done right...by YOU.

Lastly, while I think Seafoam is a fine product and have used it in the past, I now think Techron is even better at cleaning out the Carbs. It's for sale at most auto part stores.

Good Luck and enjoy your Valk!

+ a 6 pak of Techron!  Durned gooooooooood stuff.  RIDE SAFE.

[Pappy!]

Techron is amazing stuff.
Welcome to the world of the Valkyrie. You will love it.
Absolutely do not think you fouled a plug. Make the dealer produce the plug for you and use an ohmmeter on it. A fouled plug will read a low to no resistance between the center electrode and the hex case or ground wire. A good plug should read open lead. Bet your plug was good and they found what they screwed up the first time and gave you a BS story about the plug. Like the other guys have stated, either do it yourself, get with another Valk rider that lives close to you or find a good local shop that has been recommended by one of the folks in here.
Truly an amazing motorcycle!
Oh, by the way, fill out your profile so we know where you live. Maybe help is closer than you think!

[ptgb]

I bought and moved My IS from Kansas to Ohio. After taking it to my local dealer for a sevice (37k)

Where are you in Ohio? What dealer?

[cookiedough]

Agree,  Techron is stronger cleaner agent for the carbs and follow bottle recommendations.  Seafoam is for everyday general use not as strong but does help some.  I've used both plus mystery marvel oil as well.

I think it's been said to run at low rpms with choke on as well to really get the techron/seafoam in the carbs.

After a few times doing that,  unchoke as normal and ride it like you stole it!

What about vacuum lines cracked/split?

More often than not if you do the techron/seafoam stuff a few times it will work itself out better.  I wouldn't have let the stealer steal my money and if I did pay them to fix the miss and it was not fixed still missing,  I'd either get my money back or keep taking it back to them time and time again NO charge until they fixed the miss since you've already paid them once.

Once you get the bug worked out and you probably will eventually,  you will surely enjoy the near  maintenance and headache free Valk.

[lifguardct]

+1 on the Techron.

[sandy]

Octane: I use 87 all the time. While traveling, I've gone down to 85 with no problems.

[pitbull]

It could be that you have bought a faulty new plug.

Buy one more new plug and swap them over one at a time, ride between swaps and see if the problem goes away.

If it cures the problem, job done, if it doesn't you can investigate elsewhere and you can always keep the extra plug, just in case.

[TDL]

Swap the plug to another cylinder and see if the miss follows it. If you have a inferred heat gun check temp at pipes, coldest one not firing. I have also herd techtron is great as others have said.

[Kelly]

Techron it is.
The Inzane event sounds great. I will get more info.
I did take IS back to dealer and they did resolve the problem. They told me it was a fouled plug. I live just north of Cincinnati O. so Fairfield Honda Motor Sports is where I landed. I will certainly check these pages before I take it into a STEALER again.
I have a friend that owns a Standard but is selling do to his inclination to procreate on a regular basis. So meeting other Valk Junkies would be nice.
  This weekend I will install the F4 windshield. I bought the 4" taller, hope the top does not hit at eye level.
I would like to see what others have done to brighten up the back end especially in braking. I have looked into adding low mounted fog lights but want to be careful not to
Add junk that will destroy the beauty that is my Valkyrie.
I am a Industrial Controls Electrician and can weigh in on electrical issues..maybe not as it relates directly to the Valkyrie but in theory.

[Skinhead]

Welcome, if you come north, look up the Rogue Riders and join our MI chapter message board if you are interested in what is happening in the great white north.

[old2soon]

I-14 in Asheville N C is THE place to be 2nd week in June if you are or want to be a Valkaholic.  The first one I went to(I-12 in Eureka Springs Ar.)was helpful not only with Daniel's tech sessions but putting names with faces was PRICELESS.  And for some or a lot of us the once a year Inzane is the only time we see each other. AND I'm fairly certain you will make new friends. And I've heard from folks that we are heading into a primo riding areas in N C TN. and the Virginias. And if you do decide to go-make it Sunday for the early bird festivities. Hope to meet you there and share wind with you. Also done 2 tours off of Nam and now retired. RIDE SAFE.