First ride of the 2016 season shortly to commence!

[AdrianR]

50 degrees now, manageable wind...roads are relatively clear...  Going for my first ride since early Dec. 2015.  Man I tell ya, FI is awesome.  Bikes hasn't been started since last Dec.  Turned the key, no battery charge...fired up immediately and settled into a nice idle within that same second or so.    My old bike (Shadow 1100 Sabre)..as cool as that bike was, after sitting for a couple months you had to open the petcock...let the fuel fill the carbs...full choke... and then run the starter a couple times before she would fire.  Goodbye forever carburetor!

Blew off the dust, aired the tires...quick coat of spray wax...ready to go.

[mikesgotmods]

I must agree with you on the FI benefits, I rolled my 2014 out of the garage today for a warm up of the engine and started first try with no issues. I then rolled my 1997 tourer out of the garage and she was a no go!!  I think I tried too soon before the carbs filled up but cranked the battery down to critical and had to plug back into the battery tender.

[Robert]

Every morning I standing next to the bike turn on the key wait till the pump shuts off then start it. No hitting the throttle, no smell since I start it in the garage, let it warm for a  minute or two then get on and Im on my way. Thats another thing in the garage there is almost no exhaust smell with these bikes they run so clean.

Glad you got some air, I would really go crazy if I couldn't get at least a small ride every day. BTW I have another set of Michelin tires waiting on the side for when these wear out but so far they look really good.

[hubcapsc]

I must agree with you on the FI benefits, I rolled my 2014 out of the garage today for a warm up of the engine and started first try with no issues. I then rolled my 1997 tourer out of the garage and she was a no go!!  I think I tried too soon before the carbs filled up but cranked the battery down to critical and had to plug back into the battery tender.

I ride my old Valkyrie less since I have a new Valkyrie too now. I have formed an
opinion about starting an old Valkyrie that's been sitting around for a few weeks
in the winter time.

A lot of the time, my old Valkyrie will fire right up after a few weeks, its not like
its been in storage or anything, its just two or three weeks...

But sometimes, it doesn't fire up after three or so button presses. I just stop,
and walk away and come back in five minutes, and it does start in two
or three button presses.

I don't have the knowledge to explain the technical details of "doing it right", but
my opinion is that flooding it or running down the battery by repeated failed
attempts is "doing it wrong"... I've had to cringe a few times recently, seeing
people on cold mornings at far-away rides setting themselves up for a bad day,
cranking away.

Wait five minutes and try again, I'll say... they just look at me like I'm an idiot.

-Mike "what does me being an idiot have to do with it anyway  ?"

[FormerVTXRider]

50 degrees now, manageable wind...roads are relatively clear...  Going for my first ride since early Dec. 2015.  Man I tell ya, FI is awesome.  Bikes hasn't been started since last Dec.  Turned the key, no battery charge...fired up immediately and settled into a nice idle within that same second or so.    My old bike (Shadow 1100 Sabre)..as cool as that bike was, after sitting for a couple months you had to open the petcock...let the fuel fill the carbs...full choke... and then run the starter a couple times before she would fire.  Goodbye forever carburetor!

Blew off the dust, aired the tires...quick coat of spray wax...ready to go.

Took my FIRST ride on the Valkyrie last night.  Shipper parked at the local truck stop for the night and wanted to know if I wanted to come pick it up then or have him deliver it in the morning.  So at 10pm at night  I rode it the 6 miles home in chilly 33 degree weather.  It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smooth!!!!!!  I grinned all the way to bed and them some.  Can't wait for warmer weather to get it out again!

[AdrianR]

50 degrees now, manageable wind...roads are relatively clear...  Going for my first ride since early Dec. 2015.  Man I tell ya, FI is awesome.  Bikes hasn't been started since last Dec.  Turned the key, no battery charge...fired up immediately and settled into a nice idle within that same second or so.    My old bike (Shadow 1100 Sabre)..as cool as that bike was, after sitting for a couple months you had to open the petcock...let the fuel fill the carbs...full choke... and then run the starter a couple times before she would fire.  Goodbye forever carburetor!

Blew off the dust, aired the tires...quick coat of spray wax...ready to go.

Took my FIRST ride on the Valkyrie last night.  Shipper parked at the local truck stop for the night and wanted to know if I wanted to come pick it up then or have him deliver it in the morning.  So at 10pm at night  I rode it the 6 miles home in chilly 33 degree weather.  It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smooth!!!!!!  I grinned all the way to bed and them some.  Can't wait for warmer weather to get it out again!

Cool..and I am sure it was...lol...  But if it is new...just wait man...as the miles pile on the bike gets better man..seriously.  I love the power...