Got the color, got the year (new user thread)

[Medina]

Almost...almost got another goldwing..just wanted something....different..but insisted on Honda, and frankly...theres a reason goldwings hold the value..until I started shopping for Valks! Man, folks are proud of these cruisers!  Any I've seen for less than 4500 had insane miles or were beat.
Been lurking here, and a couple of other places.

Being OCD, did my research...Had to have a Tourer, Had to have teal/black, so had to be a '98
Over the last FIVE months I've found 6 total. None less than 5500 and none less than 35K miles
made friends with shippers assuming I'd need their help...Texas, Cali, Florida..nothing anywhere close.
Assumed I'd have to drop at LEAST 5, probably 6 to get one here.


Ever sift thru hundreds of old craiglist ads? I did
Tracked down this one. 90 miles from here. It was listed back in November outside Toledo.

My 86 goldwing fit in this trailer....this Valk did not..Holy crap, what, are these like 9 feet long??
I had to jog it sideways to wedge it in my trailer, stressful ride home, high winds, crazy high cross winds.
Stopped at this old run down, shut down place in the middle of Ohio to check straps. yes, towed by a Honda, and its resting tonight next to the honda mower...lifes funny like that.



got it home, washed it up, will do routine fluid flush maintenance this weekend.
New rear tire, battery has a 04/2015 date on it, front tire looks good, but I think the stamp says its four years old.
threw some water at it, rubbed it dry, found a dozen scratches, one  ding on the front fender, lost the alt cover and one paint chip on the rear bag, NO doubt, all from how poorly it was stored, no cover, nothing, he was using it like a table.



found a tiny tear in the passenger seat



oil looks like it has not been done in a while, the alternator cover did NOT make the ride home...ffs..its somewhere on the side of the road in nowheresville western ohio...hope I can find one fleabay



the gas smelled like mountain dew and turpentine, but DAM, it fired right up once we dug all the crap the guy had it covered up in the back of his garage...no way to treat a bike.

its got just over 16,000 miles

He insisted, his price was FIRM...he would not waver, told me so in texts and twice on the phone and AGAIN when I pulled up!
.... so I gave him the four thousand he wanted,  got the title, shook hands and took off like a bat outta hell.

[DirtyDan]

welcome aboard

its a great bike you wont be disappointed

dan

[hubcapsc]

so I gave him the four thousand he wanted,

So... that's $8,000 for your new Valkyrie 

-Mike "alternator covers are $4,000"

[Oss]

welcome

When I got my interstate in 02 I just gave the man what he wanted for it as well

no regrets  not one

[old2soon]

so I gave him the four thousand he wanted,

So... that's $8,000 for your new Valkyrie 

-Mike "alternator covers are $4,000"

4 G for an alt cover? WHEN Zackly did they come down?  RIDE SAFE

[gordonv]

Nice bike and color. When ever my friend and I rode our ACE Toures together, no one would look at my black/cream parked beside his Teal one. Was always jealous.

[Medina]

well...it alt covers are 4 large..I'm thinking the bare alternator is pretty sexy!

Honestly I feel like I stole the thing. Plane black standards with 20K miles are 5 grand in north ohio.

thanks for the welcomes

...f'ing monday, after work...maybe, if I'm lucky...WHY isn't the title bureau open on sundays?!??

[signart]

Nice choice, glad you didn't have to be a "Settler".   Bad news on the alt cover, but make a friend here and score a stock seat for cheap. You'll probably want to upgrade seats anyway.
Welcome to the club.

[The emperor has no clothes]

so I gave him the four thousand he wanted,

So... that's $8,000 for your new Valkyrie 

-Mike "alternator covers are $4,000"

[Jack B]

Great color I sold this one about 2 years ago with 111,000 miles.

[Pappy!]

Welcome aboard from Central Florida! I did the same thing as you did except I was on the hunt for the black with the red racing stripe. Definitely the fastest color! Took almost 6 mos. to find one. I flew from Florida to Austin,Tx on a Friday night in December a few years ago and spent the next two days trying to get ahead and stay ahead of a nasty cold front on the way home!
Congrats on your new ride!
Fill that profile out a bit more and add your location. Also be aware that a couple hundred of us are heading toward West Virginia this June.....join us!

[Steve K (IA)]

Nice choice, glad you didn't have to be a "Settler".   Bad news on the alt cover, but make a friend here and score a stock seat for cheap. You'll probably want to upgrade seats anyway.
Welcome to the club.

Love the color.  And yes, you may want to upgrade the seat.  You'll know after the first long ride.   

[Bighead]

First welcome.
How did the alternator cover fall off? You sure it was there when you loaded it up? Is the bolt that holds it still there?
Don't think twice about the mileage when looking for one of these girls look at how well it has been maintained. There are many here with well over a 100k on the odometer like the Bee in the picture. Ther is one that has over 500 k and still runs like a new one

[Medina]

profile details. thanks forgot

seat. I'm an iron butt rider, as budget allows, 300-500 for a seat is an investment, not an add on

alt. cover; yeah...it was sacrificed to the side of the road highway gods...I'm guessing they are plastic? I see it in the photos the guy sent originally.
I see the top bolt is missing, bottom bolt in, with a tiny C shaped piece of plastic in its teeth.
Probably due to insane cross winds and how I had the bike sideways in the trailer...I was white knuckle across miles of wide open, flat terrain and gusts to 40..I saw road signs flapping in the wind and trucks leaning over from it...

miles. former goldwing'er...it was a mental thing. I KNOW I maintain my stuff..dont trust the other guy so much. typically I average 8-9000 miles a year...work, love life, and my sweet kids interfere with more than that, LOL...until #1 graduates high school in 3 years, hence, the search for low mileage.

Color; yeah...was a hold out..that red/black, yellow/black nearly gave me an aneurysm deciding. I even spotted what looked like black and offwhite? that one had whitewalls and really made me think.
Finally, I just  took photos and asked a collection of hookers, strippers and single moms what color combination they found more appealing, the "blue one" won out 




edit: with due respect to any hookers, strippers and single mother users in the forum.
The Management

[RDKLL]

The best color, I too have a Black and Teal '98. Made a few changes...when you get your upgraded seats, I will take the stock passenger seat off your hands

[Hook#3287]

Welcome to the board, new blood is always a good thing.  Nice score. 

Just don't ask what oil or car tire we use.  Better to do a search than to start that avalanche.

I bought my Pearl Jade Green and Black just about 5 years ago with 17K on her.  She's now my main ride and she gets a lot of lookers. 

Don't wouldn't worry to much about the small scratches and paint nicks, consider them battle scars.

I have the same trailer and the only way to put the bike on it, is the way you did, kitty corner.

[Gavin_Sons]

The Alt cover only has one bolt in the bottom and also a nipple that snaps into a grommet. Love the teal and black bikes, you did good.

[Valkorado]

Welcome, Medina!

[Skinhead]

Is this the old place on the east side of RT250 just before you get to the RT224 intersection?  Good find on the bike.

PS. I think I have a stock passenger seat in the garage in Troy MI.

[Medina]

Just don't ask what oil or car tire we use. 

I have the same trailer and the only way to put the bike on it, is the way you did, kitty corner.

tires, oil...did I mention I'm OCD? I have volumes of data...and set in stone thoughts..I even bought one of those laser temp things to determine precisely what a 10% heat increase was as it related to what cold air pressure I should use on a specific bike and specific tires...I cornered some poor dude from Dunlop at a MidOhio event...he foooolishly mentioned he was on the R&D team for their tires..
only a nutter spends an evening reading about oil..

I have an idea for the trailer, I'll post pics.
basically cut a 2' wide section from the front. Move the locking wheel chock forward, weld a plate there and repair the removed section for looks. Fixed and still use the trailer for everything else. win win

[signart]

The Alt cover only has one bolt in the bottom and also a nipple that snaps into a grommet. Love the teal and black bikes, you did good.

Yep, that tab at the top was probably already deteriorated and cracked (common) and as you guessed, got in the cross wind and went sailing.

[Misfit]

Welcome. I have a better idea for your trailer. Park it and ride the bike.  Nice color choice. 

[LTD]

Special color you got no doubt about it. Welcome to this crazy world you will love it.

[Pappy!]

The best color, I too have a Black and Teal '98. Made a few changes...when you get your upgraded seats, I will take the stock passenger seat off your hands

Nawwww......you just have a black and teal tank.

[pais]

Welcome Medina, from Pais just due east of you in KENT.
Once you see these bikes, ya just gotta have one! Next to the bike itself. This board is a great place to spend your time.
   Good luck and enjoy

[Mr Whiskey]

Honestly I feel like I stole the thing.

'at's cuz ya DID!!
Sweet score! Nice to see someone rescue one!

...did I mention I'm OCD?
..only a nutter spends an evening reading about oil..

Oh, you're gonna fit right in here
Welcome aboard

[Daddie O]

Welcome to the club!  Nice ride! 

[Master Blaster]

Bike reminds me the first time I met Big BF.  Was on the way to the Prescott Bash at a gas stop, he had forgot his wallet at home and went back to get it, prolly a 200+ mile detour.  Didn't take him very long though to catch back up.  He knew how to flog that art deco color.  Am sure you are gonna love it.

[mike72903]

That was the color I wanted the first time I saw it.  Found mine down in Texas. Paid about a thou more than you but was pleased. Got it from a member here.  Only other color I might have gotten was the maroon and cream (97 I believe).  I have been told only 380 of our black teal bikes were built.  Wonder how many are left?  First thing I did was replace the stock seat with a Mustang.  My alt cover chrome has wrinkled so for the cost of a replacement I'm just going to strip it and paint.  Some great stuff in the technical forums here. I've learned a lot. 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Welcome to the club 

[Medina]

thanks folks

took the behemoth for a highly illegal spin down the road. I couldn't stand it..did the fluid changes, went over things...it was about 50 degrees and the next 10 days are going to be in the 30's with chance of snow...not a cop in the world would give me a ticket...hehe
(WHY are not Title Bureau's open AFTER 12pm on Saturdays and in this day and age at least half a day on sundays- I can talk to God and still be able to comp my life after working 45 hours a week????)

so...first impressions... it does not sound or accelerate like its counterpart '98 GL1500...feels the same, almost -handlebars maybe wider or higher?, but brakes, turns, pretty much feels like a GW with tourette's syndrome that ate its spinach..or smoked meth.. smiles will comp the mileage easily.

the alt cover...the more I look...the more I LIKE seeing the alternator....its gorgeous...its like cleavage...inviting, yet socially acceptable...its REAL..never had a bike with a "real"  alternator before..and I've had a dozen or more bikes
I'm going full indigenous white peoples on it.. remove it, polish it, and that strip, that is currently painted green? Going to have a pint color matched teal and paint it, leave the rest polished.
I sprayed the whole area in there with oven cleaner, attacked with tooth brushes, hosed it off, shop air it dry, sprayed with dielectric spray to remove any water in the alt
Any problem leaving it uncovered? I do, and will ride in bad weather from time to time.

I must admit, I love my asian overlords...the genius in their airbox designs, frame geometry, their Vtwins, their boxer engines, their inline engines, their damn lawnmowers, everything, the whole thing, I love old dead jap bikes...I've had true basket cases, like..you buy it in boxes? always impressed.
...however...what loon Japanese engineer decided to chrome stuff behind covers, under neath the back...the deeper I dig on this (adding ground wires, cleaning wiring harness connections) the more "finished" surfaces I find...

I have been told only 380 of our black teal bikes were built.

I assumed there were few.. explains the problem, and eventual luck I had tracking one down.
OCD baby, LOL

[CaribouHunter]

Always to see an unused and unloved Valkyrie go to a good home.  Welcome.  Got two, still looking for an IS. 

[old2soon]

While we MIGHT be a tad bit strange to the uninitiated the One thing we ARE is-Family.  I've seen it time and again here on the board and at our get togethers-Inzanes-F C Rs and other rides I haven't attended as of yet. Besides having a GOOD charity for our Inzanes one story comes to mind about one of our own and a bike he calls-Ali. He got her back at Asheville but the story of the HOW is what sticks out. My puter skills SUCK and somebody most likely will post the link but it is-the story of Ali-in the archives. If you've read any of DDTs naratives you noticed he calls her-our bike.  Some-hell-MOST of us are a bit off kilter but most M/C riders I know are off a wee tad mite!  Welcome to our sand box and if you insist on feeding the inmates-Q and icy cold adult beverages are a good start.  RIDE SAFE.

[Super Santa]

Welcome to the insanity.

A large group of fellow Valkyrie enthusiasts are gathering in early June in Morgantown, WV for our annual VRCC get together.  Would love to have you join us and get acquainted.

Look in the messages for messages concerning 'Inzane 2016'. 

I think you would enjoy the time immensely.

[Medina]

Group runs are interesting. My job has me on call every other week, perhaps I'll make one or the other as they appear.

took it out for a ride yesterday.
cold.
check
windy.
check
fun
double check

and, my first official complement
getting gas, someone drove by and said "nice harl......wait thats a...." and as the distance increased I couldn't hear the rest of it.

not a harley.
check

[signart]

not a harley...
double check!

[old2soon]

Wait til you park in a sea of harleys and they gather round the fat girl!  Be very CAREFUL when the eyeful that came in on a H/D starts REALLY lookin at yours!  RIDE SAFE.

[Flrider]

Group runs are interesting. My job has me on call every other week, perhaps I'll make one or the other as they appear.

took it out for a ride yesterday.
cold.
check
windy.
check
fun
double check

and, my first official complement
getting gas, someone drove by and said "nice harl......wait thats a...." and as the distance increased I couldn't hear the rest of it.

not a harley.
check

[jimmytee]

Welcome    Nice save