New Valkyrie Owner

[Racewriter]

Just to clarify, I mean "new owner of a 2000 Valkyrie," not "owner of a new Valkyrie."  Been riding for three years now.  Started on an Intruder 800, traded to a Magna 750, now purchased a 2000 Valk with 23K miles for highway and long trips.  Wow.  I love this thing.  Makes you feel like you own the road.  I've test ridden other cruisers and this is the only one that accelerates like my Magna (which I am keeping for commuting, short trips, etc.).  Going forward, I'll be 'baggerizing' the bike.  It's a standard, and right now it has an old set of leather bags and a Memphis Fats windshield - other than that, it's stone stock.  Add some bags, remove the pillion seat (the wife rides her own Nighthawk), and some custom paint, and this thing will be awesome.

[Racewriter]

[BobB]

Congratulations on your purchase, it looks very clean.  23k miles is extremely low for our Valks, be mindful of the fuel related issues described on the 1500 Tech Board.  Sitting for long periods is not good for our Phat Girls.  Welcome to the insanity...

[Willow]

Some ten years ago I bought the Valkyrie to use on long trips and planned to keep my Magna.  After a year of disuse I sold the Magna.  The Magna is a fine bike.

Welcome aboard.  

[Oss]

welcome to the family   

[BF]

Welcome.  You'll like it here.     Sometimes, we even talk about motorcycles.   

Be sure to check out the Shoptalk link at the top of the page. 

[Billinva]

I also have kept my 1998 Magna that I put about 28,000 miles on. I haven't ridden the Magna since I bought my Tourer about four years and 30,000 miles ago. At 73 now, I might go back to the Magna someday, but it will need major carb work.

I still enjoy the Valk too much to part with it.

[Pappy!]

I too am a 3rd Gen Magna lover!
They are like the lighter, more nimble version of the Valkyrie!

Welcome to the Valkyrie fold!
Glad to see you already have plans to make the phat gurl your own.
As has been said, go to the shop talk pages and look through and also go to the photo pages for pictures of custom Valks!
They say black is the fastest color but add a red (centered) racing stripe to the black ones and it would be even faster!

[jshram]

Sweet! Just got  mine this week too. Ours look almost the same. Congrats!

[weeder]

don't forget that motorcycles  are a taste -- there is no best bike.  its all about what suites the owner/rider .
Pics soon-- W

[cookiedough]

congrats as well am sure you will enjoy it.  The heaviness of the Valk will very quickly go away in a matter of a few weeks of riding to get accustomed to it.  At first I was very timid of riding such a huge 800lb. I/S going as well from a 1984 honda magna sold in 1997 been of cycles for 10 years bought 2001 Valk I/S fast black with only 14,500 miles on it in 2007.

I wish I would've kept my shaft drive 6 speed honda magna I had that maroon red decked out with windshield, hwy. pegs, tall passenger backrest, leather saddlebags, and rear rack with locking trunk able to fit 2 helmets inside.  Awesome bike indeed I find a lot of Valk owners come from either the 80's or 90's/early 2000's honda magnas (believe then were all chain drive though, not sure).  Very sharp and quick 1-up bikes that like to rev similar to the Valk at 200+ lbs. lighter.  Sold it for 1500 could easily get 1500 today for it no problems. 

[Racewriter]

Yep, the third gen Magnas were shaft drive bikes.  I actually considered a V65 (1100 cc) Magna from the 80s before settling in on a Valkyrie.  The reason I went with the Valk was that I felt like making a touring bike out of a V65 Magna was trying to make something into something it wasn't supposed to be (a musclebike into a touring bike).  The Valkyrie is designed as/from a touring bike to begin with, so I think this is the right direction.

I already have a list of stuff to do to it.  Basically throw the Kuryakyn catalog at it - new grips, pegs, pedals, etc.  New brake/clutch levers (not a fan of the big bend in the levers).  Do something about the harsh ride, which it appears others have experienced.  The rear preload is set on 2; I'll back it down but I'm guessing that the real fix will be Progressive shocks.

And of course, hardbags, a solo rack, new upholstery and paint.

[Bighead]

If it has a harsh ride it is most definitely bad shocks also the front forks probably need new oil.

[Willow]

Yep, the third gen Magnas were shaft drive bikes. 

The 3rd generation Magnas were chain driven.  I owned two.

I believe the 2nd generation Magna may have been shaft driven.

[Pepmyster]

Congrats!!!!!!

[Racewriter]

Yep, the third gen Magnas were shaft drive bikes. 

The 3rd generation Magnas were chain driven.  I owned two.

I believe the 2nd generation Magna may have been shaft driven.

You're right.  I mean to type that the 3G's were chains.  I just adjusted the chain yesterday!  The first two gen's were shafties.

[ValkISDan]

Welcome new Valk owners. You are now the owner of the baddest cruiser in the land.

[R J]

Welcome to the BIG sand box.

Pull up a lounge chair, chew some fat and set a spell.

The Valkyrie is one tough machine and will take a 3477 of a licking before breaking.

Only real breakage I've had with MGM was when he decided to blow a starter relay because this dumb ass never put a relay in the driving lights when he installed the Cobra light bar.

Made the mods to it to keep the lights on at all times unless I turned them off.  About 6 months later, I wired them to go out when ya hit the starter, but tht was too late, damage was already done, just hadn't showed up yet.

[jshram]

I find a lot of Valk owners come from either the 80's or 90's/early 2000's honda magnas (believe then were all chain drive though, not sure).  Very sharp and quick 1-up bikes that like to rev similar to the Valk at 200+ lbs. lighter.  Sold it for 1500 could easily get 1500 today for it no problems.

Yup... owned MANY Magnas and loved them.  Still wish I had one.  Here's my first on a trip all over the west coast... young and dumb.. no shield, blanket roll, no rain gear.  When you're young, being miserable means you're tough I guess.  This is 1984 on my 1982 750 Magna in SoCal.

[Texas Jimbo]

I went from an '87 Super Magna to a '97 Valk.  Interesting trend here....

[Chippy01]

I went from an '87 Super Magna to a '97 Valk.  Interesting trend here....

It's quite amazing how many moved up from a Magna to a Valk 

I went from an '88 SuperMagna to a '98 Standard Valk. The problem was, I just couldn't bear to be parted from my faithful '88 ........................ so I kept it.

The Valk gets used when herself and myself head out for a jolly or a tour. the Super gets used as my commuter.
Happy as a pig in sh1t, me!......