Recommended Mechanic - NY/North NJ

[zuc3sal]

Can anyone recommend good Valkyrie mechanics for North Jersey/NY?  24K on my bike and want valves checked/adjusted, plus carb sync if necessary.  Thanks!  SteveZ  Mahwah, NJ

[Oss]

Did you just buy the Valkyrie?

Shame, BigBF was at my house for 4 days this summer and he is pretty darn good.

I know Dan is Vernon has a carb sych machine. PM wild6 if he doesnt answer this thread eventually  Lots of other members within a short ride of your house.

I'm the NY rep and live in Ossining. Dont think we have a NJ rep anymore.  Still time for riding as long as the snow and ice is off the roads      If Dan or someone else steps up maybe I will ride over if its a Saturday project and the roads are clear in the mountains of NW NJ

[DirtyDan]

Is something wrong with the bike ?

That sounds way premature to me, I'm not a mechanic

193k i never touched the valves

Dan

[zuc3sal]

Thanks guys.  Had this one 14 years.  Nothing but fluids/plugs/filters/tires.  Low miles due to working too much!

Warming it up, I'm starting to hear knocking at around 1500 rpm.  Goes away north of that.  I'm not a mechanic (just basics), but opened up my manual and the 24K service called for the valve inspection/adjustment.  Figured it wasnt a bad idea.

Oss - Would definitely like to meet up with you.  You're not far at all.  For now, I have it on my trailer ready to go get fixed. 

DirtyDan - 193K!  You're my idol.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks guys.  Had this one 14 years.  Nothing but fluids/plugs/filters/tires.  Low miles due to working too much!

Warming it up, I'm starting to hear knocking at around 1500 rpm.  Goes away north of that.  I'm not a mechanic (just basics), but opened up my manual and the 24K service called for the valve inspection/adjustment.  Figured it wasnt a bad idea.

Oss - Would definitely like to meet up with you.  You're not far at all.  For now, I have it on my trailer ready to go get fixed. 

DirtyDan - 193K!  You're my idol.

It's not a bad idea. My standard's valves needed some minor adjusting at about 30k. But it sounds more like a slight ticking instead of a knocking. I wonder if you are getting some detonation due to carbon buildup ? Some fuel cleaner probably wouldn't hurt either.

[zuc3sal]

Thanks.  Will try.  I do add the Lucas ethanol fuel conditioner with every tank.  Would like the bike checked out anyway.   

[Bighead]

Also the pair valves will make a knock type sound sometimes before warm.

[Oss]

Its only a 4 or 5 day ride on the bike to Phoenix where Big BF is located

I took 7 days to get there because I stopped at the Pacific ocean for a couple of days

Seriously, some swear by Techron, Ive never used it myself

have you ever replaced anything before noticing the sounds?

[zuc3sal]

Thanks for the input.  I replaced the intake manifold o-rings yesterday.  Easy job.  Unfortunately they have nothing to do with the knock.  I'll try the Techron, but still want it to be serviced!

[Hook#3287]

Checking the valve clearance is a relatively easy job.  Get your hands on a service manual for instructions.
If your bike is running good at all speeds, then you most likely don't need a carb sync.

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/1520manual/valkyriegl1500.zip

[zuc3sal]

Thank you very much.  I know my limits though.  I'd rather let a pro do it.  BTW..I did attempt to schedule with the Honda dealer.  Booked up for weeks.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thank you very much.  I know my limits though.  I'd rather let a pro do it.  BTW..I did attempt to schedule with the Honda dealer.  Booked up for weeks.

Any decent mechanic at an independent shop can do it. This engine has the easiest valve adjustment of any bike I've owned in 45 years. Check with some other shops, even auto mechanics would be familiar with this.

[kahnma]

Can anyone recommend good Valkyrie mechanics for North Jersey/NY?  24K on my bike and want valves checked/adjusted, plus carb sync if necessary.  Thanks!  SteveZ  Mahwah, NJ

I have a guy that is great with the Valkyries and has serviced mine over the past 5 years. He is just outside of Albany, NY,  about a 2 hour haul from you. 518-495-0533 his name is Ken and he could probably get you in quick if needed. You can tell him Matt sent you and im sure he will say bring it over.

[zuc3sal]

Thanks Gentlemen!

Matt - Spoke to Ken and made an appointment for this weekend.   On my way up to the country so perfect!  Appreciate your help! 

[kahnma]

Thanks Gentlemen!

Matt - Spoke to Ken and made an appointment for this weekend.   On my way up to the country so perfect!  Appreciate your help! 

No problem, glad it worked out!

[G-Man]

Please provide your experience with Ken.  Been looking for good mechanic in these parts.  Local Honda dealer in Mamaroneck, NY said they don't work on many flat 6s.

I was lucky enough to have Bill look at mine when he was at Oss' house.  2003 with less than 45,000 miles . He did carb sync and adjustments and a few other minor things but said it didn't need a valve adjustment.

[kahnma]

Please provide your experience with Ken.  Been looking for good mechanic in these parts.  Local Honda dealer in Mamaroneck, NY said they don't work on many flat 6s.

I was lucky enough to have Bill look at mine when he was at Oss' house.  2003 with less than 45,000 miles . He did carb sync and adjustments and a few other minor things but said it didn't need a valve adjustment.

I met Ken about 5 years ago through a mutual friend. Ken is a family man that works as a construction manager and runs a side business (D&K repair). In his younger days he was sponsored, and raced snowmobiles and motorcycles. Now he is well into his 50's with a wife and kid that is getting ready for college. He spends his free time with his family and working in the shop. D&K repair has expanded a lot, and went from a garage that was connected to his house, to a massive full blown shop that he and Dave (business partner, hence the name D&K) built. Ken has a passion for motorcycles and anything with a motor. He also has a bike of his own that he rides when he gets the chance (Suzuki M109).

I have put about 40k miles on my Valk. In that time it has been to Kens shop for everything that has been done to it. Everything from simple oil changes and tires to changing the alternator when it crap the bed. I have a lot of extras on my bike and Ken has installed all of them (Tsukayu bags, exhaust, fairing, ect.). Some were straight forward and some were things that I had him do custom. My favorite project he had done was the Woody’s fairing. I got a blank fairing from Glenn, and Ken figured out cutting in a speedo, tach and radio and made it all fit and looks great! You can see pics that BF posted for me towards the top of this link: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,73660.msg720055.html#msg720055

Currently my Valk is back at Kens and he is recessing in the license plate to the rear fender and cutting in horizontal lights nice and low into each bag which will have run, brake and independent turn. He will then get rid of the stock brake light and all of the extra nonsense on the rear fender to give it a nice clean look. He is also adding an interstate tank and a fuel gauge in the fairing. Then the bike is getting painted and I am driving it down to Daytona for bike week. I don’t have any major motor work or anything like that done to the Valkyrie because it hasn’t been needed but I would be confident to bring my Valk to Ken if it had any issues. He has also done work to my father’s VTX (neck bearings, oil, tires) and my brothers Vstar. The shop is typically filled with bikes and I have seen him doing everything from motor to frame work and full custom builds.

Ken has a passion for custom work and really enjoys pushing the envelope and doing something that hasn’t been done before. He also enjoys performing just the typical maintenance items to keep your bike running the way it should be. There isn’t much that Ken is limited to doing and his work speaks for itself.

[G-Man]

Thank you for all of this info.  Good electrical work is verrrrry important.  I added a trailer harness and LEDs and I messed everything up.   Took BigBF to figure it all out.  Was also thinking about a fairing with a radio and amplified speakers.  Could be a project we can talk about one day.

 

[kahnma]

Thank you for all of this info.  Good electrical work is verrrrry important.  I added a trailer harness and LEDs and I messed everything up.   Took BigBF to figure it all out.  Was also thinking about a fairing with a radio and amplified speakers.  Could be a project we can talk about one day.

 

I guess its worth noting that he also installed a trailer hitch and did the wiring on it and everything works the way it should.

Actually I think I met you once G-man at the Powwow down state. It was about 2 years ago and Oss was riding a BMW if i remember correctly something had happened to his Valk and he could not take it. I was one of the younger guys there and I had white LED's on the bike.

[BigBF]

Can anyone recommend good Valkyrie mechanics for North Jersey/NY?  24K on my bike and want valves checked/adjusted, plus carb sync if necessary.  Thanks!  SteveZ  Mahwah, NJ

If you can wait for me to get to NY this summer?

[gordonv]

Can anyone recommend good Valkyrie mechanics for North Jersey/NY?  24K on my bike and want valves checked/adjusted, plus carb sync if necessary.  Thanks!  SteveZ  Mahwah, NJ

If you can wait for me to get to NY this summer?

Or meet in the middle, at InZane 17 in Billings MT.