Question: Is is possible to ride a Valkyrie without gunning the throttle?

[jshram]

Picked up my Valk this week and have been trotting around on it and have determined several things:

1.  I love the sound
2.  The Cobras are a bit loud (with baffles), but I LOVE the sound.
3.  The low-end torque is amazing.. I thought big twins had torque, but no... 2k RPM and pull out of a slow corner.  SWEET and SMOOTH...
4.  Handling - it is heavy but once it is rolling it handles like a sport tourer, you WANT to zip in and out of cars on the hwy.  Simply amazing.
5.  It is beautiful.  It gets all kinds of looks, you feel like you're riding a work of art (that performs like a muscle car).
6.  The sound..did I mention that?

Conclusion:  With the amazing torque and V8 growl when you twist, is it possible to ride this without gunning the throttle?

I doubt it.... I'll never see 40mpg.. nope....

[BF]

The answer is.....no.   

[Raider]

I agree, the answer is, "No." 

I'm surprised that you thought it had more low end torque than a big twin.  My Road Star (1600) also put 100 hp and 100 ft/lbs to the wheel, but it had much more grunt in the low end than the Valk.  Now, it wouldn't corner like the Valk, wouldn't run the 1/4 with the Valk, and isn't as comfortable as the Valk, but it had low end torque in spades. 

[BnB Tom]

  Only when you're outta gas and rolling down a hill      

Yes!  All of us Valkers LOVE the sound 

[Paxton]

Ask your area's Highway Patrol.

[Michvalk]

I agree, the answer is, "No."  

I'm surprised that you thought it had more low end torque than a big twin.  My Road Star (1600) also put 100 hp and 100 ft/lbs to the wheel, but it had much more grunt in the low end than the Valk.  Now, it wouldn't corner like the Valk, wouldn't run the 1/4 with the Valk, and isn't as comfortable as the Valk, but it had low end torque in spades.  

Take your roadstar down to 25 MPH in high gear, twist the throttle and let her out, then talk to us about torque. V- twins don't have any usable torque until their revving a bit. Valks have torque all the way from idle

And the answer is NO

[BobB]

No Way

[Crackerborn]

"is it possible to ride this without gunning the throttle?"

Is this an example of a rhetorical question? 

[Raider]

I agree, the answer is, "No."  

I'm surprised that you thought it had more low end torque than a big twin.  My Road Star (1600) also put 100 hp and 100 ft/lbs to the wheel, but it had much more grunt in the low end than the Valk.  Now, it wouldn't corner like the Valk, wouldn't run the 1/4 with the Valk, and isn't as comfortable as the Valk, but it had low end torque in spades.  

Take your roadstar down to 25 MPH in high gear, twist the throttle and let her out, then talk to us about torque. V- twins don't have any usable torque until their revving a bit. Valks have torque all the way from idle

And the answer is NO

I don't have the Road Star anymore and I like my Valk better, but you're mistaken about twins and torque.  Check out this graph.  http://www.motorcycle.com/gallery/gallery.php?g2_view=largephotos.Largephotos&g2_itemId=266490  The twins make their peak torque at far lower than the Valk does.

Here's the Valk's chart for comparison.  It displays it in MPH vice rpm, but it's still a fair linear comparison.  Clearly, the Valk doesn't peak out in torque until a much higher RPM. http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/downloads/dynocharts/Dyno-Honda1997-2003-Valkyrie.jpg

This isn't a shot to Valks.  The power is simply delivered differently.

[Jess from VA]

Is is possible to ride a Valkyrie without gunning the throttle?

I have been followed a few times by two-tone sedans with the funny lights on top..... so yea, it's possible, even likely.      

[jshram]

I have been followed a few times by two-tone sedans with the funny lights on top..... so yea, it's possible, even likely.

Yes, but you were essentially coerced by the funny little red lights into submission... doesn't count.

Yes, it is a rhetorical question..... Of Course Not!

[3fan4life]

I've been told that it is possible.

However, I don't possess the ability.

[Greenmando]

I live in the mountains so I often ride on some mountain roads that I may not see any speeds over 35 all day. But I do enjoy letting the phat girl out to play on the open highway. I am looking at a near full moon out the window, time to take a midnight stroll up to the lake.

[HayHauler]

No. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Joevalk]

No I never see 27 MPG

[scooperhsd]

Difficult indeed to restrain oneself  when on a phatgurl  . But it is possible. 

40 MPG ? Not with the ethanol crap we're forced to use. But I usually average around 35 MPG

[doubletee]

There's usually a governor on the passenger seat that keeps me from using WOT. The times I do use it, it provokes a loud response from the governor.   

[sixlow]

I keep getting told that it is possible from the back seat and then often get slapped in the back of the helmet at 5k  RPM in 2nd gear as a reminder. Must also be why i get better MPG when 2 up than solo., HUH wonder why that is ?

[doubletee]

I keep getting told that it is possible from the back seat and then often get slapped in the back of the helmet at 5k  RPM in 2nd gear as a reminder. Must also be why i get better MPG when 2 up than solo., HUH wonder why that is ?

  Exactly.

[Willow]

Question:  Is is possible to ride a Valkyrie without gunning the throttle?

It is.  It's possible it only occurs with the passage of time as familiarity with the Valkyrie increases or as age advances.

I find that I can enjoy these days a ride even when it involves only moderate speeds.  That can change almost instantaneously during a ride.  It's nice to be on a bike that can go from almost lazily cruising to screaming down the road with just a twitch.

Enjoy the ride.  Variety is good.    

[Felonious Thump]

I never get out of neutral without gunning it a couple times. Then in each gear once out of the driveway. Even if it's at 45 in fifth headed to the closest store to pick up that one item my wife needs for dinner. Sometimes I have enough control to go to the close store...

[cookiedough]

simple answer is NO.

It can be done, but not EVER for me on a cruise of any kind, any mileage,  at least 2-3 times.

If you got it, flaunt it I always say.

AS far as V-twins vs. the Valk,  I tend to agree the HD/Kawi/Victory, etc.  V-twins seem to have just a tad bit more of low end grunt especially off the line usually (depending on bike and rider of course), but once I hit 2nd and 3rd gear,  they are behind me 99% of the time.   Some rides I sometimes wonder why a need for 5th gear since cruising over 3000 rpms in 4th gear at 65 mph and forget to shift into 5th.  Other days when feeling more mellow,  in 5th gear I reach for that elusive 6th gear pushing the clutch in and attempting to upshift with no luck of course. 

One thing I really like the most about the goldwing engine is I like to putz in 5th gear at 30 mph in town never having to downshift ever and then flow right on thru town if not hitting any stoplights NEVER having to take my feet off the hwy. pegs upfront of the hot engine.  I know it is not recommended since if need to divert a potential accident 3rd gear would be better in town, but I try to keep my distances from all on the roads since I find daily idiots on the road.

[BigBod]

When I had to standard pipes on I was quite happy pootle about and ride it just the same as may Goldwing. Now I have recently put 6 into 6 on I ride it like a hooligan. Can't help myself, the sound is just soooo gorgeous.

Just waiting to get a ticket for speeding some time soon

[czuch]

What kinda question is that?
Hunhh,,,,NO,,,,,,,,,,,,HELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!