Intro: proud new owner of an Interstate 1999

[Savago]

Dear Friends

This is my first post, even though I have being following the forum for quite a while. I have being riding motorcycles for just 5 years, have owned before:

- Honda Shadow VTX 600cc (logged 8K miles on it)

- Honda Shadow ACE 750cc (logged only 2K miles)

- Suzuki VStrom DL650 (logged 2K miles). This one I'm preparing for riding to Alaska, but that is another story.

But let's face it: even though they are quite formidable bikes (if you factor in cost X features X handling), I always lusted for a Fat Lady.

I was looking for a full bagger model and considered the excellent Yamaha Royal Venture (V4 engine) but felt it too top heavy.

Finally, in the last Father's Day, I made a dream come true: bought a Valkyrie Interstate 1999 (65K miles). And boy, I'm excited with it.

For this weekend I'm planning to do this preventive maintenance:
a) Flush break/clutch oil;
b) Replace break pads;
c) Flush coolant;
d) Oil/filter change;

Considering the milage, is there any other preventive maintenance that you guys would recommend?


Best regards


Adenilson

[wiggydotcom]

Yes, but you don't have to bite off too much at once.

Besides the things you're already doing, consider checking/changing the air filter. That involves gas tank removal.
You might want to check the conditions of your drive shaft and splines but that's a more detailed procedure which involves pulling the rear wheel. You'll either need one or more of these, a jack, an adapter to steady the bike when picked up by a jack, a Rivco Center stand.  Do a search for driveline maintenance and you'll find plenty of info.

How does the bike run? If it runs good, maybe just pop half a can of Seafoam or Techron(my preferred choice) or Berryman's B12 every now and then as a preventive maintenance.

I'd also check the petcock if you are pulling your gas tank to make sure it isn't allowing fuel to flow without a vacuum.
If your bike pops on decel, check the condition of your vacuum lines going to the intakes.

Enjoy!

[tank_post142]

Read, Read, Read.
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/

[The emperor has no clothes]

Check your tire valve stems. And as Mr. Tank says read everything in shoptalk.

[Ken Tarver]

Welcome aboard

you will find excellent help here and many good people.
I've owned 2 valks in about the last 8 years, everything I know about them I have learned here reading the tech board and shoptalk.
A huge help...get a shop manual. the Clymer manual should suffice. I think you can download a free one from Dag on the Norway board.

Feel the fork tubes to see if you have any oil leaking.

Ken

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Welcome 

[sandy]

Post where you live. Maybe someone local can meet up and help you with your first maintenance.

[8Track]

Hi mate,

Congratulations on your new purchase. Valks are one of the best cruisers ever built. I am sure you will enjoy owning and maintaining your new bike for years to come.

In my experience the maintenance items I would do before taking a long distance journey on a new to me Valk with 60,00+ miles are:

Oil & Filter change
Brake & Clutch fluid change
Brake pad inspection and replacement if needed
Air filter replacement
Coolant change
Rear Drive oil change
Valve adjustment check
Vacuum & fuel lines - check for cracks and replace if necessary (make sure main fuel line runs downhill to carbies and tank vent line isn't kinked)
Petcock - check that fuel doesn't flow in any position without vacuum applied to the diaphragm
Synchronise carburettors
Battery check condition and replace if necessary
Timing belt change (if they haven't been changed before)
Rear wheel splines - lube, replace O-rings and ensure thrust washer is in place
Rear wheel dampers - check for tight fit and replace if they are loose
Drive shaft - check U-joint for looseness and play, lube and/or replace if necessary
Drive shaft - check pinion cup for wear, lube and/or replace if necessary
check tyre age and condition - replace if necessary
Wheel bearing replacement front and rear
Replace tyre valves with good metal ones

That is a pretty long list but if you know all those things have been done, peace of mind is the reward. The Shoptalk section will help you immensely with how to tackle most of these jobs. There is a wonderful step by step presentation on doing the rear end service which is worth its weight in gold!

Have fun!

Cheers,

Mark

[Oss]

welcome to the family

Its all good from here on out

Oss

[Savago]

Dear friends

Thanks you all for the tips. I would say that the forum complements the bike (both are awesome!).

I live in Sunnyvale - CA (Bay Area).


Cheers


Adenilson

[cookiedough]

timing belt not needed until 100K or above. 

The little mileage you do (me too only about 4-5K per year tops)  the next 40K should be good to go for many, many more years if you do those few things you listed.  Splines/rear drive I'd recommend lubing every tire change since you have to take rear tire off anyways to get at it.  Some say every 10K for rear maintenance, but you figure tires are usually every 13-16k or so which is a good time to do them then.  Between 10-16K (that extra 6K tops) is not a biggie as far as I am concerned. 

Maybe pull the spark plugs as well unless you know they have been changed the last 30K or so.  If original plugs at 60K and as long as you got them 6 pulled (VERY easy to do) might as well spend like 3 bucks per OEM NGK plug and just put new ones in while they are out.     

antifreeze/coolant is easy to do, spark plugs, rear drive gear lube, and oil change pretty much anyone can do.  Brake and clutch fluids change as well like you said.  Brake pads inspect or just change out if you see there is no ribs in pads left.  OEM honda brake pads seem to be more liked by most but I have OEM brake pads since 2001 at near 30K miles but will be changing them out come next tire change in 2 years or so.  I'm usually not a hard braker. 

Not sure how long brake pads usually last to be honest (guessing 30-40K easily) if not a hard braker.  I can see 15-20K miles if you brake hard and often which is usually not me. 

welcome by the way,  you will enjoy the upgrade from a mid-sized honda shadow and the extra weight is so low and balanced that to me, it feels almost like a 750cc bike already once get used to it in a few weeks of driving. 

One thing I like is the quietness of stock I/S pipes and the overall smoothness plus being able to drive in 5th gear down to 25 mph very easily without shifting and then if need be,  not having to upshift to get up to speed since 25 mph in 5th gear can speed up pretty well.  Most v-twins lug the engine in top gear at that low of speed, not so with the Goldwing 6 cylinder engine. 

I bet the ONLY thing you will miss is the 45-50+ mpg you use to get with the honda shadows.  If you see 35-36 avg mpg on the Valk I/S you are about right but some have seen up to 40 mpg or as low as 28 mpg if you drive hard.

[Savago]

@all: thanks for the tips and for the warm welcome. I see now that valkyrieforum is *the place* to ask questions about this great motorcycles!

@cookiedough:

My impressions on the bike so far:

- weight: it is a big bike, but once it starts rolling, it is like the weight goes way. I can do turns almost as easily as I do with my VStrom (I guess it has to do with the high clearance + low center of gravity); Heck! I feel it is easier to ride than the Shadow ACE 750!

- ergonomics: pretty comfortable, more standard riding position (similar to vstrom) than say the Shadow ACE with legs more stretched. The previous owner included some forward foot pegs that I'm planning to install this weekend (I can see its use while riding in the Interstate 5);

- power: oh boy! It is almost like riding an automatic transmission car: from 35miles/h to 90miles/h in 5 gear is possible *with no* complains in the engine. In the highway, it just goes smoothly from 65 miles to 85 miles/h with no hesitation. And the sound of the engine... it is like a porsche! My bike came with the stock pipes and I got no plans to change it (since my objective for this bike is long weekends rides and loud pipes gets boring after 30 minutes in the highway);

- looks: even though it is a 15 years motorcycle, it is a beauty. Its huge size also helps to get noticed by 4-wheelers, which I think helps on safety for the rider.

Concerning gas consumption, I'm planning to do a ride in Sunday afternoon and then I will be able to have some idea about how bad it is. The vstrom gets around 55mpg riding in the highway, but I'm ok if the valk stays in the range of 30-35mpg (so I would have at least 200 miles of autonomy).


Best regards


Adenilson

[Felonious Thump]

  I'm a bit green right now. I am attempting to purchase a 1999 standard. Fell in love with the phat lady in 1998 when I had my first chance to ride one. Bad hips took me to the place where I could not ride for a few years. Now that my rebuilds are working good I am making an attempt to join the ranks.
This has been my must have bike for to long.

Felonious Thump

[wiggydotcom]

I'm a bit green right now. I am attempting to purchase a 1999 standard. Fell in love with the phat lady in 1998 when I had my first chance to ride one. Bad hips took me to the place where I could not ride for a few years. Now that my rebuilds are working good I am making an attempt to join the ranks.
This has been my must have bike for to long.

Felonious Thump

Wishing you luck on finding the right Valkyrie. Not everyone gets a second chance. I'm sure you'll savor it.

[Felonious Thump]

Thanks. I am test driving one today.

[PAVALKER]

Dear Friends

This is my first post, even though I have being following the forum for quite a while. I have being riding motorcycles for just 5 years, have owned before:

- Honda Shadow VTX 600cc (logged 8K miles on it)

- Honda Shadow ACE 750cc (logged only 2K miles)

- Suzuki VStrom DL650 (logged 2K miles). This one I'm preparing for riding to Alaska, but that is another story.

But let's face it: even though they are quite formidable bikes (if you factor in cost X features X handling), I always lusted for a Fat Lady.

I was looking for a full bagger model and considered the excellent Yamaha Royal Venture (V4 engine) but felt it too top heavy.

Finally, in the last Father's Day, I made a dream come true: bought a Valkyrie Interstate 1999 (65K miles). And boy, I'm excited with it.

For this weekend I'm planning to do this preventive maintenance:
a) Flush break/clutch oil;
b) Replace break pads;
c) Flush coolant;
d) Oil/filter change;

Considering the milage, is there any other preventive maintenance that you guys would recommend?


Best regards


Adenilson

I'm just guessing here... But I think your new bike is Green/Silver combo, like mine, has an Ultimate King Boy Seat maybe,  a CB in the left saddle and some other goodies as well.   If it is, you will need to replace the fork seals, fluid and front brake pads.  I think it might need a new rear tire as well, but check the born on date on the front tire as well.   Run some Seafoam or Techron in the Carbs  and give it a good detailing as well.  It might need a good ride to get the blood flowing smoothly...... And if you are located in Western PA.... Let me know and we can hook up for a ride, or meet up next week at Thunder In The Valley.

Congrats on the new ride.  And if my guess is wrong..... Then I will have to get a new crystal ball, to have it tuned up at least.


Edit.... Ooops... Further reading indicates you are on the other coast and I guess you didn't get the one I was thinking of.    Congrats on the new ride.... Enjoy it.

[Scoop171]

Dear Friends

This is my first post, even though I have being following the forum for quite a while. I have being riding motorcycles for just 5 years, have owned before:

- Honda Shadow VTX 600cc (logged 8K miles on it)

- Honda Shadow ACE 750cc (logged only 2K miles)

- Suzuki VStrom DL650 (logged 2K miles). This one I'm preparing for riding to Alaska, but that is another story.

But let's face it: even though they are quite formidable bikes (if you factor in cost X features X handling), I always lusted for a Fat Lady.

I was looking for a full bagger model and considered the excellent Yamaha Royal Venture (V4 engine) but felt it too top heavy.

Finally, in the last Father's Day, I made a dream come true: bought a Valkyrie Interstate 1999 (65K miles). And boy, I'm excited with it.

For this weekend I'm planning to do this preventive maintenance:
a) Flush break/clutch oil;
b) Replace break pads;
c) Flush coolant;
d) Oil/filter change;

Considering the milage, is there any other preventive maintenance that you guys would recommend?


Best regards


Adenilson

Enjoy your phat lady! Many miles of smiles are ahead.   

[Donut]

Check your tire valve stems. And as Mr. Tank says read everything in shoptalk.

if the valve stems are OEM, replace'em PRONTO !   don't ask how I know

[Paxton]

Adenilson;
You don't need no stinkin' maintenance.   Jump on it and ride her like you stole her.
It's a VALKYRIE for goodness sake!
Well err... a little maintenance won't hurt. 

Enjoy her. The older the fatter.