It's a Valkyrie.

[Otus]

I went for a ride today and on the way home I stopped at the corner store for some beverages. Parked my bike on the side of the store and on my way in decided to text my wife and daughter to see if they wanted anything. As I'm playing with my phone a man and his wife pull up on a nice Harley bagger, fast black and almost as much chrome as a Valkyrie. While they are getting off their bike a guy comes walking around the corner of the store and heads straight for me. He comes up to me and points over his shoulder and ask if that was my bike and I said yes.  He started firing off questions.  Is that a Goldwing motor? What is it? Is it custom built? I told him it is a Goldwing motor, Honda decided to slap more carbs on it, some hotter cams, put it in a cruiser frame and called it a Valkyrie. While he is telling me what a beautiful piece of machinery it is I see the Harley guy looking at him like, hey I have a motorcycle too. Nothing against Harleys, but they are such a mass produced bike that I don't think they excite some people anymore no matter how pretty they are.

[Mr Whiskey]

If ya wanna run with the big dogs..............



I'm jus' sayin'

[Otus]

 

[Jess from VA]

I spent all day riding with brand new CVO Road King and Ultra Classic Limited (which to my eyes is one of the sweetest Hogs ever made).  I'm on my 16yo supervalk.  Guess who got all (and I mean all) the love?  Mostly non-riding citizens of all ages, but several other riders too.  I'm just being polite and answering questions and my buddies are waiting to leave.  OK, keep your pants on, I'm coming.  

[bentwrench]

"Guess who got all (and I mean all) the love?"
Jess you got that right.We were at Van Sant airport today,one of the coolest little bike hangouts in s.e. Pa.
all the harleys were  lined up in a row but everyones stops and points at my 16 yr. tourer like it was the coolest thing they ever saw.Sometimes parking this bike is almost as fun as riding it.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

NON-riders do the love the Valk a lot.

Non-Riders also love Hot Dogs and Pizza and usually Obama.

Drive Foreign Cars, and have never changed a spark plug in their life.

Glad you had fun though.

[bentwrench]

While there are non-riders passing through that little hangout,much of the love is coming from other riders.It's surprizing how many riders haven't seen a  Valk before.

[Gavin_Sons]

Harley riders hate the valk because they are treated like second class citizens when one is around. "I didn't spend 40k on this bike to not be noticed" 

[Bighead]

Let the pissin begin
I have ridden both and gotten compliments on both but usually from totaly different crowds.

[BudMan]

It's about a toss up of whether the Valk or the Harley get's the most attention. Probably the Harley, but that's mostly because people are trying to figure out what the lever on the tank is for and where the clutch is. 

[Jess Tolbirt]

Harley riders hate the valk because they are treated like second class citizens when one is around. "I didn't spend 40k on this bike to not be noticed" 

you are dead wrong,, harley riders like and respect the valk because of what it is and not trying to copy something...

[Mr Whiskey]

Poor Al, bought a third of the motorcycle, at 3 times the price! 

[cookiedough]

A used 2001 HD ultra classic (closest HD comparison I think in size/stature as my Valk I/S) are not that much more in price retail used as my 2001 Valk I/S, maybe 2-3 grand more is about it, if that.  Used HD's are fairly common but not many used Valks.  New pricing though of a HD is outrageous as is a new Goldwing though. 

Only if I win the lottery will a new 2015 red/blacked out Wing be in my garage at well over 20K. 

If I clean up my Valk I/S even all black,  it sparkles and cleans up really pretty enough so to get noticed after everytime I stop somewhere drawing 1-2 people usually.  Thus, I prefer to keep it slightly dusty/dirty with bugs and dust to not get noticed so much. 

[Jess from VA]

I would make one thing clear.  I do not ride a Valk because it gets lots of attention from riders and non riders, I ride them because they perform, and because they are reliable.  I would ride them if no one ever paid any attention at all (the attention my bikes get from time to time is always a bit of a surprise.... I'm pretty sure it's not my face).  I rode a Hog for 18 years, and I loved that bike too (and my other Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and BSA).  I like all well maintained bikes and most of people who ride them.  

When guys I know and ride with ask me why I changed, I simply tell them it was time to move up (performance and reliability again).  But I am not judgmental about what others ride.  I am judgmental about poor and unsafe riders.... and idiots and drunks.

 

[jimmytee]

I ride with a whole lot of Harley riders. During a brief stop,  and some banter back and forth about something , I responded " Obviously I don't give a s#$t what people think, I ride Hondas" 
Later , one of my CVMA sisters (she rides a Heritage Softail) commented how at ease my bike (F6B that day) went through the corners and I told her that is one of the reasons I bought it.

There you go, like Jess and I'm sure most of us, I ride these bikes because they perform their function so well. Also, though, they do stand out. Yes both my Valk and the F6B get some attention. A lot of it is because of their uniqueness . I don't really ride Hondas, I ride a Valkyrie and now also a F6B Gold Wing that happen to be Hondas. If it weren't for those models and the flat six engine, who knows, I might be on a Harley. You can actually find some decent deals on used Harleys and the new one's ( non CVO models) are not that much different in pricing than new Gold Wings. However, if the flat six wasn't an option, I think I'd have to look seriously at an Indian.

[Robert]

I would say about once a week I have someone come up to me look at the bike stammer a bit and say what is that a Harley? I Have also taken rides with my son and step son both on fully dressed Harleys and had people pass them by come over to my bike and go, wow. Mind you one of their bikes is almost fully custom. Both were a bit sheepish when the guy looking at the bike while walking away gave me a thumbs up sign and didn't even look at their bikes. I have had about 12 Harley riders pull up and look at my bike and just stand there and look ask some of the same questions and say nice bike.

  Like many have said here I dont really care if they approve but its nice to have people admire what I did the first time I saw one in an advertisement and said I want that bike. I think Honda has a brand recognition problem more than anything. If Honda had made more of a splash in advertising the Valk it may have changed the course of not only the Valk but also Honda.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

I now know why the fellows I used to ride with, usually TAKE THE HONDA VALKYRIE TANK

BADGES OFF.

Put Harley Bat Wing Fairings on.

They are non-committal about having the Bike of their dreams.

Afraid of being ridiculed for a choice made and later like, the bike

of their fathers.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Poor Al, bought a third of the motorcycle, at 3 times the price! 

It only costs more when you buy the first one, after that 1st class is cheaper.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Harley riders hate the valk because they are treated like second class citizens when one is around. "I didn't spend 40k on this bike to not be noticed" 

you are dead wrong,, harley riders like and respect the valk because of what it is and not trying to copy something...

Amen to that,,,,,,,,,knock offs wreak.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

As Smokin Joe says,,,,,,,,if when you get off your bike and walk away without looking back,

you bought the wrong bike.

I always look back.

[John Schmidt]

I now know why the fellows I used to ride with, usually TAKE THE HONDA VALKYRIE TANK

BADGES OFF.

Put Harley Bat Wing Fairings on.

They are non-committal about having the Bike of their dreams.

Afraid of being ridiculed for a choice made and later like, the bike

of their fathers.

Nice try Al, but in most cases it doesn't fly bud. I was riding Harleys looong before you were and what I've done to my Valk has nothing to do with suppressed desires or wishes. The tank badges came off so I could have an uncluttered surface for painting. The fairing, if I hadn't been given it for "my price" (zero)it wouldn't be on there, I'd have a Woody's or similar with the same profile but nicer amenities. As for being noncommittal re. a bike, that's almost hilarious(correction; it IS hilarious). When Harley starts to build an engine that will go 300-400k miles without being replaced or rebuilt, they you'll see an increase of crossover buyers. They do build a beautiful bike, but it's like a body-builder with a bad heart. As for dad's bike, at the time he was growing up there were basically only two bikes available; HD's and Indian. His choice when he could afford one: Indian. Why? He simply said it lasted longer and had fewer problems. Seems that issue goes back quite a few years, in his case the teens and twenties of the early 1900's and beyond. 

[old2soon]

Since I've owned the Phatt Ghurl I can count on one hand and only needing two fingers the number of folks that-A-have had a REALLY bad day or-B-the kool aide has rotted their brain. That's precisely the number-2-that have given me a hard time about Honda in particular and "rice burners" in general. The rest have ben good natured AND most of the folks I ride P G R with-probably 80 85% are on other brands and mostly V-twins. The one thing that most of my brothers and sisters in P G R agree on-there is NO substitute for being in the wind!   And I've also noticed that when wives/girlfriends get a look at the passenger seating and when they get to park their keester on the seat and in a few instances-with permission-I've taken the ladies out for a ride I've had more than one ask me NOT to tell their guy they like how much better my bike sits and rides than the one they are on!   While I do jab once in awhile as long as yer in da wind and happy I could car less how yer in da wind!   Has ANYBODY here ever ben told by the wind that you NEED to be on another brand to enjoy it?   I thought not!   RIDE SAFE.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

It only costs more when you buy the first one, after that 1st class is cheaper.

Don't worry Al I'd still ride with you on your overpriced little bike (if you could keep up). 

Does your's have the standard made in Japan Showa forks and shocks?

[Valkjerk]

When folks (non riders) take the notion to comment on my bike, they usually ask if it's an HD. I tell them no, it's an HV.

[RainMaker]

I do appreciate it when someone comes up and compliments my Valkyrie and I do the same when I see a nice looking Harley or any other bike.  But mostly the Harleys.  Their paint and chrome are top notch and if someone is keeping their bike clean and beautiful, I tell the rider.  Not once have I received anything back other than a smile and a thank you.  Most riders are proud of what they ride and that's OK with me.

I won't be changing my ride to anything but another Honda but that does not keep me from appreciating other brands.

[5_19]

[/quote]

Don't worry Al I'd still ride with you on your overpriced little bike (if you could keep up). 

[/quote]

I for one like to see that and my bet is on Big Al!

[Willow]

Don't worry Al I'd still ride with you on your overpriced little bike (if you could keep up). 

I for one like to see that and my bet is on Big Al!

Raymond is currently riding an ST1300.  Apparently you've not ridden distance with the Black Pearl's Captain.  Keep your money in your pocket on this one.   

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Don't worry Al I'd still ride with you on your overpriced little bike (if you could keep up).  

[/quote]

I for one like to see that and my bet is on Big Al!
[/quote]

Thanks 5_19,

In a straight line, the Valk, a 600cc sport bike, a Indian Scout, VFR, Triumph Speed Triple, a really fast Burgman, a T-Bucket with a  Big Block Chevy, or a Boss Hoss would win.

But get on the Dragon, we may make a good race of it.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

It only costs more when you buy the first one, after that 1st class is cheaper.

Don't worry Al I'd still ride with you on your overpriced little bike (if you could keep up). 

Does your's have the standard made in Japan Showa forks and shocks?

Yes still has the SHOWA built specifically to Harleys Specification Fork Tubes and Rear Air Shocks.

I am proud of those too, My Old 1981 Supped up Harley Roadster(Google that) had terrible back

shocks.

[Ken Tarver]

"DRUNKS" ?  I resemble that remark Jess.


Ken

[Jess from VA]

"DRUNKS" ?  I resemble that remark Jess.
Ken

I'm sure that's not true Ken.  (Just don't ask officer Friendly)

[BobB]

"Guess who got all (and I mean all) the love?"
Jess you got that right.We were at Van Sant airport today,one of the coolest little bike hangouts in s.e. Pa.
all the harleys were  lined up in a row but everyones stops and points at my 16 yr. tourer like it was the coolest thing they ever saw.Sometimes parking this bike is almost as fun as riding it.

And the Valk doesn't have to be beside Harley's.  The most notable time for me was in the parking lot of the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley NC.  I returned to my bike to find a rider on a BMW K 1600 GT parked next to my '98 Tourer.  The rider, wearing an Aerostich riding suit, obviously had money.  We talked for a while and I learned he had 12 bikes.  Several other people approached us to inquire about the Valk, but no one said a thing about that $30,000 BMW.