Fat lady's 20th birthday make-over

[Colin]

   

Last week my Honda Valkyrie turned 20 years old and so I decided to give her a birthday treat of a makeover.

The first change, as my wife no longer rides with me, was remove the rack and the pillion seat and backrest.



The chrome on the velocity stacks had started to peel, I tried having them chrome powder coated and I was very disappointed with the result it was more like a dark grey colour rather than shiny silver. As a result I delivered them to my local painter at Airbrush Shack who did the airbrushing on my front mudguard and helmet. Cliff did a great job on them like he always does. Whilst he was doing the velocity stacks I got him to airbrush the cam end covers black with yellow dragons.

IMG_1451

The cam belt cover chrome was in poor condition when I rebuilt the bike and so I had it stripped and then polished but it was a pain to keep clean and so I decided to let Cliff do his magic on this too and it is now gloss black with yellow stripes.

IMG_1452

I never have liked the large front indicators mounted on the forks and had always liked the handle bar ones mounted on some Harley's. I found some on eBay that were suitable and then ordered handlebar clamp mounts from another eBay supplier and now have the turn signals mounted on the handlebars below the brake and clutch reservoirs.

IMG_1454

To finish up the makeover I removed the speedo and rev counter and replaced them with a digital gauge from Koso which has all the important functions on it, including fuel level should I buy an interstate tank.

IMG_1455

That is all the work for now but given the new front end look I will be on the hunt for a VTX headlight. Whilst Cliff was doing the painting for me I got him to paint my spare wheels black and yellow too and so when I need new Avon's I will put the painted wheels on too.

[Alpha Dog]

Very tasteful indeed.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Nice looking bike.   I agree with the VTX headlight.

Maybe some of those chrome buttons to cover the speedo and tach mounts ?

[..]

 

[RDAbull]

That is very nice Colin.  I was thinking, and looked at your location.  Made me stop thinking that for now.
Might be had to ride over to your place and get mine done.

[G-Man]

 

[Beardo]

That exhaust is a work of art. 

[gordonv]

Nice.

I would like to see what style you had the rims painted in.

[Gerard irl]

Very nice colin  tasty 

[Pappy!]

I like your style! Very nice

[art]

   

Last week my Honda Valkyrie turned 20 years old and so I decided to give her a birthday treat of a makeover.

The first change, as my wife no longer rides with me, was remove the rack and the pillion seat and backrest.



The chrome on the velocity stacks had started to peel, I tried having them chrome powder coated and I was very disappointed with the result it was more like a dark grey colour rather than shiny silver. As a result I delivered them to my local painter at Airbrush Shack who did the airbrushing on my front mudguard and helmet. Cliff did a great job on them like he always does. Whilst he was doing the velocity stacks I got him to airbrush the cam end covers black with yellow dragons.

IMG_1451

The cam belt cover chrome was in poor condition when I rebuilt the bike and so I had it stripped and then polished but it was a pain to keep clean and so I decided to let Cliff do his magic on this too and it is now gloss black with yellow stripes.

IMG_1452

I never have liked the large front indicators mounted on the forks and had always liked the handle bar ones mounted on some Harley's. I found some on eBay that were suitable and then ordered handlebar clamp mounts from another eBay supplier and now have the turn signals mounted on the handlebars below the brake and clutch reservoirs.

IMG_1454

To finish up the makeover I removed the speedo and rev counter and replaced them with a digital gauge from Koso which has all the important functions on it, including fuel level should I buy an interstate tank.

IMG_1455

That is all the work for now but given the new front end look I will be on the hunt for a VTX headlight. Whilst Cliff was doing the painting for me I got him to paint my spare wheels black and yellow too and so when I need new Avon's I will put the painted wheels on too.

I got a VTX headlight way back when I had my Valk, $500 and had to get a VTX windshield to match because of the headlight hole was different another$500.WOW!

[John Schmidt]

I like it, very simple changes but makes a big difference in the appearance. Too bad they don't still make that exhaust, I always thought it had a better sound than either the Two Bros or Cobras.

[bill-jr]

any concerns about heat on these surfaces with the paint ???

[hukmut]

NICE!!

And "maybe" some of that pinstriping on the rims of your stacks?

Merely a suggestion. .02.



Ride safe, y'all!

[F-six]

Looks great! 

I do have suggestion though, you may want to consider to cover the rubber rings above the carburators. I've got a set of these and they look great: http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Honda-Valkyrie-carburator-insulator-covers-/192015342955?hash=item2cb5019d6b:m:mWUvERs50DV5JN0emEeYfKg

Relatively cheap, great result.

[Misfit]

Nice work. That is Hard Krome exhaust in case any of you were wondering. It can still be had on rare occations. Colin if you plan on selling your speedometer my son is on the hunt for one.   

[John Schmidt]

Looks great! 

I do have suggestion though, you may want to consider to cover the rubber rings above the carburators. I've got a set of these and they look great: http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Honda-Valkyrie-carburator-insulator-covers-/192015342955?hash=item2cb5019d6b:m:mWUvERs50DV5JN0emEeYfKg

Relatively cheap, great result.

If you can't find any, just go to a hardware store or plumbing supply and pick up some chrome drain pipe for under the sinks in your house. Cut them up in sections long enough to cover the rubber parts referred to, then cut lengthwise so you can spread them slightly to slip on. Looks great and quite inexpensive to do. 

[Colin]

Thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions.

Particularly the insulator covers I hadn't thought about that.

I do have a spare MPH speedo other than the KPH one that was on the bike so PM me if your son is interested @Misfit. I will be keeping the KPH one though.

I don't have any concern about the temperature and the paint, my painter tells me the paint will cope fine, it is used on some of the F1 cars and they get hotter than a Valk is likely to.

[SpidyJ]

Wow!

Glad you took your time and made it yours.....one of a kind.

Nice job.

[Valkorado]

Like the others have said, that's a sweet setup.