Sorry (not really) but I LOVE my Valkyrie!!!

[nogrey]

OK, here's the deal. I can't afford a Harley Davidson. Can't afford a Victory, Can't afford a new 2014 Valkyire. But I can afford (barely) the '97, the "01 and the other '97. Fact is, I can have 3 Valkyries for about 1/3 the cost of a minimal (insert aforementioned bike here). AND I absolutely am as happy as a tick on an overweight dog whenever I'm riding one of my Valkyries. My brother is all about his new Triumph Rocket III. Says that's all he wants to ride. Great! Have at it! I'm sticking with my Valks. It's probably the last bike I'll ever own. So, you all go ahead and get your new fangled, better than a Valkyrie, more expensive than a Lamborghini latest that can be had fuel injected-hybrid-2 gozillion horsepower machines for more than the national deficit. I'm going to stick with my good ole' reliable, fast, fun, affordable classic looking bad-ass, coolest-looking-eye-catching affordable Valkyrie.

Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest. And I'm not sorry.

[cookiedough]

feel better now that it is off your chest? 

Don't ever tell a HD or Victory or whatever rider that his cycle costs 2-3x's the cost and yet no real gain in anything over the Valk besides more out of pocket money.  They don't want to hear it plain and simple.  One idiot at work even states he will NEVER buy a Honda of any kind and ONLY buys Ford pickups and HD's and NOTHING else.  He is brainwashed been drinking the kool-aid WAY too long.  Yet, he owns a Kawasaki ATV and last time I knew,  both Honda and Kawi are both Japan products, agree?   He's a total dick besides his one sided viewpoints and surprised he still has a job.   

[jshram]

That is one awesome row of bikes...   

Yeah, I been away from the bike for a week and am having withdrawls. 

Took the wife to the grocery store for some vittles on the Valk.. walked back out with a couple bags and a young man with his wife  stands up out of the truck, mind you he's two rows over, and shouts - "Sir, that is the baddest looking bike I've ever seen."

That doesn't happen on the Connie.

Sweet!  You know, he's right.   

[bogator]

Went to the Post Office yesterday------little elder lady says-----that is a good lookin bike you have there, when I told her thank you and its 16 years old ---she looks at me and says----no way--it looks new--I says thank you again ---I try to take care of it ----she just smiles---and I do too--off I go with that same smile--you won't do that on a HD---

[BobB]

Yesterday, I rode down to a very popular car show at an old fashion A & W in Spring Valley.  This event draws 300+ rods, customs and classics from the area.  As I rolled in, I saw a line of motorcycles parked on a side street, so that's where I parked the Valk.  As I got off, I got two of those "nice bike" complements from people there to look at cars.  Walking away, I always tend to look back.  Once again, Lady Val gathered a crowd, several of them snapping pictures.  I even got complements on the Inzane XIII tee shirt that I was wearing.  

The 1500 Valkyrie is both a classic design and unique when one lays their eyes on the engine.  There are times I will go out in the garage, sit down on the roller stool, and just look at her.  I'm sure no one else does that.  

[BF]

I'm proud of mine.   

[cma1]

most folks don't have a clue, even bike owners don't. I bought a Kawasaki 800A and rode it for a summer as a 2cd bike, I lost count of how many other bike owners I knew made the comment that they thought they would never see me ride a Harley.

on my Valkyrie I have a chrome moulding off the trunk of a Cadillac that says 5.0 liters, it fits on the chrome cover that covers the carb linkage and looks like it was born there. guess what ? yep, even at Sturgis I keep getting this "dude, that's as much engine as my mustang"

I wonder how big pistons would be if a 6 had 368 cu. in. ? (5.0 liters)

funny, I have had folks say "hey, nice Harley" sometimes I think the word "Harley" is used sort of like the word "coke"

[Jess from VA]

I also had a Kawi 800A for awhile (to help teach the wife without riding my hot/loud hog around the neighborhood for hours, then later, she moved up to the 800).  Sort of a 3/5 version of a Soft Tail.

[scooperhsd]

There are things you need to learn to NOT apologize for - like your love for your significant other and your Valkyrie 

[Jess Tolbirt]

Went to the Post Office yesterday------little elder lady says-----that is a good lookin bike you have there, when I told her thank you and its 16 years old ---she looks at me and says----no way--it looks new--I says thank you again ---I try to take care of it ----she just smiles---and I do too--off I go with that same smile--you won't do that on a HD---

wanna bet?

[Bighead]

Jess (and everyone else) this is not being posted to piss you off or make you take offense but I have had 100x more compliments on my 97 Valk than I ever did on my Harley(even had a guy guy yesterday on a custom painted Yellow Ultra tell me sharp Ride). (Which I don't own anymore).
And I am not trying to offend or run anyone off but why do folks that don't ride Valks come here? Ok you used to but moved on I get it but why hang out on a Valkyrie forum? (I don't get it). Also why I am on the subject i never understood why someone put down another brand bike period, I have owned many brands and never wondered what anyone would think of my choice (or cared) the way I see it is if it has two wheels we share a common interest if you actually ride.(not aimed at you Jess) just sayin Ride what you want and to hell with anyone who don't like what you ride is what I am saying I guess



Oh yeah I ride a Valk because I WANT to not because I have to, I still grin just as big now when I twist the throttle as I did that day in 1997 when I test rode her and swore she was mine til I died or she did. I am 700 miles from home on her now and she has never once let me down or left em stranded.I may not make it home without her failing me but I am gonna risk it

[Bronxboy]

Jess (and everyone else) this is not being posted to piss you off or make you take offense but I have had 100x more compliments on my 97 Valk than I ever did on my Harley(even had a guy guy yesterday on a custom painted Yellow Ultra tell me sharp Ride). (Which I don't own anymore).
And I am not trying to offend or run anyone off but why do folks that don't ride Valks come here? Ok you used to but moved on I get it but why hang out on a Valkyrie forum? (I don't get it). Also why I am on the subject i never understood why someone put down another brand bike period, I have owned many brands and never wondered what anyone would think of my choice (or cared) the way I see it is if it has two wheels we share a common interest if you actually ride.(not aimed at you Jess) just sayin Ride what you want and to hell with anyone who don't like what you ride is what I am saying I guess

Exactly...Well said.



Oh yeah I ride a Valk because I WANT to not because I have to, I still grin just as big now when I twist the throttle as I did that day in 1997 when I test rode her and swore she was mine til I died or she did. I am 700 miles from home on her now and she has never once let me down or left em stranded.I may not make it home without her failing me but I am gonna risk it

[BF]

There's alot of very nice Harleys out there. 

And to some people, all bikes are Harleys. 

Kinda like all tissues are Kleenex, all bleach is Clorox and all soft drinks are Cokes. 

[Bighead]

True enough. But I am speaking as a knowledgeable bike owner not a guy who,sees two wheels and sez Harley. (Or any other brand)

[olddog1946]

 

[Felonious Thump]

Nogrey. I am with you. Got a real deal on my Valkyrie. Otherwise I would be on a newer 750. Could not afford more. So glad I could get the bike I dreamed about years ago. Still would rather have my '99 standard then anything else on the road. I tried bikes from 750 Shadows up through vtx1800's. Wanted a cruiser, but I never wanted to look like everyone else. Our Valkyries are the smoothest, most comfortable, most capable cruisers that the not well healed can buy. Why would I not want one? I happen to like the look better then the new ones anyway. If I had the money for a new Valkyrie. I would most likely buy more old ones, and spend money customizing them. I would love to have a Hobbit tribute bike with Smaug airbrushed on a batwing fairing, along with more...

[Jess Tolbirt]

well let me put it this way, A while back about 3 years ago ,, no lets go back to , what was it 1998?,,before i bought a valkyrie, i was the rally coordinator for another well known group and i said i did NOT want to let valkyrie owners become full members of our group,, we were over turned,, i liked the new valkyrie so i bought one and told the other group i quit and i looked for someone with similar interest,, i found a newly formed group called Valkyrie Riders Cruisers Club,,I made a lot of friends,, many times when some one needed help i broke out the check book and gave what i could, many years later my son in laws house burned down and  this time I asked for a little help,, well i got a hell of a lot more than a little help,,and that i will never forget,, o i have made some enemies on here too but thats ok,, and the only time i say something is when someone puts down another ones ride, which seems to be mostly harleys..yep i ride a harley now, i dont have any harley friends as most of my friends ride valkyries,,so after making these friends and what these guys have done for me, you will play hell running me off from this place.. i consider this place home on the net and is set to my home page..
o by the way i still own 3 valkyries...

so what was the question again?

my answer was a reply to bighead

[Bighead]

Jess if you will reread I think I said it wasn't aimed at you and I get you have friends here and always will I hope to be one of those guys one day.

My response was to the author as much as anyone . (Trying to justify what he rides)
Personally I could care less what a fella rides as long as he is riding.
Like I sated before I have owned/ridden about all makes. And Ride a Valk because I want to not because I have to.

And glad to hear you still have 3Valks what are they?

[8Track]

Valkyries never fail to attract admirers, no matter what company they're in.

On the weekend I went riding my Valkyrie with a group of cafe racers. There were Triumph Bonnevilles, Ducati Monsters & Diavels, Royal Enfields, and vintage BSAs. Some of them were beautifully modified and immaculately turned out, but guess which bike drew the most people and generated the most discussion?

Of course it was my Valkyrie. There is just something about them that really engages the general public.

[R J]

Valkyries never fail to attract admirers, no matter what company they're in.

On the weekend I went riding my Valkyrie with a group of cafe racers. There were Triumph Bonnevilles, Ducati Monsters & Diavels, Royal Enfields, and vintage BSAs. Some of them were beautifully modified and immaculately turned out, but guess which bike drew the most people and generated the most discussion?

Of course it was my Valkyrie. There is just something about them that really engages the general public.

I think it was the 4th Hot Rod Power Tour, I rode MGM across the US from San Bernardino to Florida in 7 days with all the Hot Rods.   Ones who started and finished were all given a plaque stating we were 'Long Haul Gang'    I ended up doing one from 1999 to 2005 every year.    All the rest of them were done on the Chevy Trike.

Every venue we stopped at for the night, MGM drew a crowd and a lot of them never saw all the cars that were entered.     That whole tour, I did the nickle trick every night for about a 1/2 hour.

One night in Kansas City I stated to the crowd I was going to balance a nickle on the edge and start the engine and put at least 3,000 to 3,500 RPM's.

Some guy in a Harley jacket, loudly said ain't no firkin way that will happen.    I'll bet ya $20.00 you can't do it.    I looked him in the eye and said you are covered.   Please give your $20 to that nice lady and I'll give her mine.    Someone watch the tach to make sure I get to a least 3,000 rpm.     A LEO  standing there, said I'll watch the tach.   Got the nickle on edge, turned the key on fired the engine and gave it some throttle.     I knew from the sound at about where 3,500 was.   Looked at the LEO and gave him a shush signal.    I turned the wick up some more and at about 4,100 I shut it down.

He told the lady to give me the $$$ as I had turned 4,100 R's.

Told them I had never tried this before, but I was going to try a penny.   Said if the penny works I'll try a dime.    Penny got up to 3,000 and I chickened out.   Shut it down and put a dime on edge.    That is harder than it looks, trust me.

Fired it up, let it idle and started giving it some throttle.   At, 3,300 the dime fell over.     I was happy.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Jess if you will reread I think I said it wasn't aimed at you and I get you have friends here and always will I hope to be one of those guys one day.

My response was to the author as much as anyone . (Trying to justify what he rides)
Personally I could care less what a fella rides as long as he is riding.
Like I sated before I have owned/ridden about all makes. And Ride a Valk because I want to not because I have to.

And glad to hear you still have 3Valks what are they?

97 tourer cream and sedona red, 97 red and white,, 99 i believe black and yellow,, none of which are rideable,,i keep them for insurance multi vehicle discount,,

[cookiedough]

Jess if you will reread I think I said it wasn't aimed at you and I get you have friends here and always will I hope to be one of those guys one day.

My response was to the author as much as anyone . (Trying to justify what he rides)
Personally I could care less what a fella rides as long as he is riding.
Like I sated before I have owned/ridden about all makes. And Ride a Valk because I want to not because I have to.

And glad to hear you still have 3Valks what are they?

97 tourer cream and sedona red, 97 red and white,, 99 i believe black and yellow,, none of which are rideable,,i keep them for insurance multi vehicle discount,,

Yes, this is true having 3 bikes will lower your insurance rates on all 3 adding 3 vs. say only 2.  I found this out when we bought for our new 16 year old driver in the family a 3rd vehicle to our 2 we had.  NOT that the darn insurance company cares since they sock it to us having a teenage driver as far as overall insurance rates, but the other 2 vehicles we have went down some in rates by having a  3rd vehicle we added onto our policy. 

I find it horrible what some insurance companies charge for teenage drivers on honor roll even a daughter which is suppose to be cheaper than a boy.  I got one quote from an insurance company on the 3rd vehicle she drives being 1700 per  year on ONLY one vehicle vs. say normal 600 bucks on that vehicle thru most other insurance companies.  I just laughed them off and hung up on them telling them they must be joking and crazy all at the same time.    Even on an old 1986 caprice classic that runs is about it we have which she won't drive but MUST insure with her on policy it was like more than the car was worth being around 1000 bucks in value.  They must think I am nuts or rich or both?

[Jess Tolbirt]

with one bike full coverage the cost is 950 a year, with one full coverage and 2 liability only the cost for all of them is 550 a year..this is geico

[nogrey]

Jess, Bighead, and others. It really was not my intention to "put down" any particular bike or brand. I mentioned several brands in my original "rant", not just Harleys. I frequent the local Harley dealership. Just to look at the bikes. They have the nicest dealership in town. I mention Harleys, Triumphs, Victories, etc because I admire those motorcycles as great machines that I'd have in my garage if money was no object. I'm very fortunate to have 3 Valkyries, and 1 wife who has no issue with that because she knows it makes me happy. I was on a bit of a rant at the time I wrote that because of my brothers continuous tirade about his newly acquired triumph rocket III. Again, a bike that I really admire. Conversely to what it may seem, I wasn't "bashing" Harleys, or any other brand. I was merely indicating that I myself grow tired of the "my brand is better than your brand". I think the brands speak for themselves, and like any other motorcycle, car, airplane, toothpaste, mouthwash, candy-bar etc, you will have people who consistently tout their choice as "the best there is", even though "their choice" was once the brand that you also chose, only now they have moved on to the next "best" thing. I was just saying, I love my Valkyrie. I fully acknowledge that there are many, many other choices out there for a two-wheeled ride. And so many of those rides are excellent ones. That's why Jay Leno's garage is so large and not filled with any single brand.
So, just for clarity, I do love my Valkyrie, and even if I had the money to own Leno's garage, I'd still have one.
Thanks for allowing me to "rant".  

PS: Jess, when you're ready to sell one of your non-running Valks, give me a shout!

[Jack]

I have the Rocket III.  My Valkyrie is and always will be my favorite bike.  I would seriously consider trading the Rocket III for a second Valkyrie.  Yes, I am a Valkaholic.

[Valkjerk]

Right now, I have in my stable, a 2011 blue/silver Kawa Voyager that I am helping to sell for my friend's wife. He passed a few weeks ago. I did manage to sell his Concours but every time someone shows up to see the Voyager, they get a look at my two Interstates and there goes the interest in the Voyager. This Voyager is drop dead gorgeous with all the bells and whistles with only 2100 miles and all visitors show more interest in my 15 yr. old Interstates. To be honest, my friend attempted to trade this bike for one of my I/Ss before he died. I thought he was kidding but he was serious. He said he made a big mistake because he found the bike to be grossly underpowered and he was willing to take the hit. I think the beauty of the Voyager sold him.

[Felonious Thump]

I have lots of friends who ride other bikes. Personally I love cruisers, but I like standing out in a crowd. I have always been the nonconformist type. I have always gone 100% on anything I do. Took a second job as a ski lift attendant when my son was young, so I could afford to have him ski race, 5 years later I was the mountain manager. That's the drive I have. So for me the Valkyrie is the most logical bike to have. Different, extreme, and comfortable. First time I saw one my tongue was dragging on the ground. Many of my friends with big v-twins love the looks of it to. I ride with guys who have all the big name twins, and we respect each other's choices. Sometimes one will give me hints that tell me they would like to have enough guts to be different also. Usually they are the ones who have older HD's because that is the status bike. They payed as much or more then I did for a much older bike.  I have ridden many bikes, and still like what the Valkyrie is above any other. That's just me. I have one son who rides a super bike, and another who is on his first bike, a VLX600, Honda of course. My older son is looking real hard at a Valkyrie for himself now. He likes track days with his rocket, but not on the street. My younger son thinks he needs to ride for 3 or 4 years, then he wants a Valkyrie of his own. From the miles that these bikes can put on them I think they will be happy for a long time going along with the old man. I have a standard now, but think I would like to add an interstate. Then I might get my wife to ride one, she has a 750 shadow.