2000 standard at a auction

[skiffman]

I see the local auction lot has a 2000 valkyrie. It shows 19,000 miles!! It only has a windscreen and passenger back rest. A fair amount of surface rust and dented muffler shield. Tires look good and paint is very nice (Red & Black). License expired in 2013. I'm guessing the battery is toast but will see if it fires during the preauction viewing.
My questions is; what, in your experience, should I look for that is particular to the Valkyrie? Been riding and wrenching for 40+ yrs so will be checking for the usual rot, plugged jets, wonky petcock etc. But figured I should check with those who know the bikes as to any major fixes that may have landed this bike in a auction. (My feelings is its part of a estate. Judging by the cleanness and expired tabs + surface rust.)
Thanks for your replies, Tom

[Hooter]

Open the tank and make sure it isn't full of rust. I wouldn't fire it until it has fresh fuel and a load of Sea Foam in the new fuel. Dump the old fuel if there is some and fire it with the new. (hope the petcock is off). Ck the oil and make sure its up. Open the radiator cap and make sure the antifreeze is up. 19,000 miles, isn't even broke in. Other than the obvious like you said not much that "should" be wrong with only  that many miles. If you get it fire, ride it, that will tell ya if something else is wrong?

[gordonv]

I'm going to assume you know about bikes, and what to look for.

I would be concerned about hydro lock. Someone may have tried to start it, and tore out the gears. So if you don't know what it is, read up on it, and what to do if you try to turn the engine over.

Bike sounds like a standard model. One in auction, no history, not running, etc, etc. I would consider a parts bike and pay accordingly, maybe no more than $2K. There really isn't much on a std worth parting out, like there is on a Tourer or an Interstate.

Models, and colors are here.
http://valkyrienorway.com/About%20the%20Valk%20NEW.html

[cookiedough]

I'd go up to 3 grand very tops, if that.  You just never know especially at an auction unable to ride it more than likely or inspect it over fully.

I doubt keys will be in it to start will have to ask but might not be able to.  check for brake/clutch fluids being darker in color as well as oil dipstick on level surface sitting on it and installing dipstick not screwed in all the way if OEM dipstick.  Wouldn't hurt to bring a small phillips screwdriver to remove the small screw holding radiator cap on and check to make sure filled up.

I went to a farm auction 2 years ago on a 1997 tourer red/white around 30K mileage and was rusted, dark fluids, and 2nd set of tires over 10 years old needing replacing ASAP with some rust in areas that would am sure not come out fully.  If tons of gunky partickles floating in gas tank, I'd probably pass on it but I bet not much gas in the tank able to see the metal down inside and pass also if any rust inside tank.  there is a 4 digit code date on tires being day and year made.  If 4 digits are over 6+ years old,  new tires are in order as well costing 500 bucks or so as well.

I went up to 3 grand tops since will need 1 grand to fix up real well.  It went in my eyes for over full retail at 4400 the way it sat. 

Goes to show you there is a sucker born every minute.  Also goes to show you our Valks still fetch a pretty penny as well as our old Valks still got it!   

[skiffman]

Thanks guys. I fully intend to check all the fluids too. I am figuring the tires have to be at least five years old . If they were checked I wouldnt even bother to show up to bid. But they have good tread and check free sidewalls. The bike appears to have been well kept, but I have only looked through a fence. Preview is 10 days away before I can mess with it
. I will drop out of the bidding if it goes North of $2500. Just judging from what I see other standards for sale for. Figure adding in in the price of fresh tires, battery and Ebay muffler.

[hubcapsc]

Add to your cost estimate a million dollars worth of little
chrome parts... mine was owned by someone who lived
at apartments or something and had to sit outside and
got surface rust...

We don't know if it has an OEM windshield, but either
way - is it cloudy or clear?

Does it have an OEM seat on it?

Decent pipes are $300 - $500 and you might have to
search hard for them...

A tired Valkyrie will nickle and dime you to death, but
can be made good... There's a shiny black low mileage
Valkyrie with billet on it for $5,000 in the Classifieds...



-Mike

[skiffman]

Yea Hubcapsc, if I was out to have a super clean bike I'd start elsewhere. Like I said it appears to have been a well kept bike until it wasnt ridden after 2013. Screen is clear and probably stock. My current bike is a 07 Yamaha Royal Star Venture. Before that, a ZX14. So I like big bikes.
This would be something to play with until spring and decide if I want to replace the Venture with a Valkyrie. If I do I'd make the decision to keep this particular Valk or not.
But Hey! first I got to steal it at the auction. Dont want it for anything close to retail. If there is a number of bidders I would bow out in the $2000 area. Auctions are buyer beware and can be full of 'folks' overpaying in order to 'win'. Heres hoping for a cold, rainy, poorly attended auction day!!

[cookiedough]

let us know what it goes for for _hits and giggles.