The Valkyrie is not a real bike

[Alien]

I'm a member of several Facebook motorcycle groups.  On one of them, talk turned to windshields.  I commented that I've had them on my bike for the last 90,000 miles.  One guy sent me
a PM.  Our conversation went like this:

Him: You put 90k miles on one bike???

Me: Yep, my bike has close to 150k on it.

Him:  Man, you must have spent more on that bike than it cost new just keeping it running.

Me:  Nope, just tires, brakes, batteries and fluids really.

Him:  How often do you rebuild the motor though???  I did mine at 50k.

Me:  Never rebuilt it.

Him:  Oh, it must be pretty beat down.

Me:  Not at all, it runs as good as it did new and you can still balance a nickel on the valve cover with it running.

Him:  ???  What kind of bike???

Me:  1998 Honda Valkyrie

Him:  Oh dude, I thought you had a REAL bike lololol!!!!!

Me:  Let's review, you have to rebuild your engine every 50k miles and I'm going on 150k with no problems.  So, which one of us doesn't have a REAL bike?

Him:  F@%k YOU! IM DONE TALKING TO YOU!!!!!!!

Good times, good times.   

Ride Safe,

Alien

[Robert]

Thanks for sharing. Hilarious   

[Moonshot_1]

Well, it is true, our bikes are UNREAL!!

[Hooter]

I have 2 Harleys. (Ya ya) and my Valk. I've had a simular conversation with a friend of mine that also rides a Harley. I told him I would ride him tank to tank and see who could walk after 500 miles. He told me the same thing, and he knows what the outcome would be. The first time he saw it he called me a traitor. 

[Alien]

I really have nothing against Harleys.  I even used to own one.  It's the swaggering attitude of some of their riders that gets to me.

[Bighead]

I have 2 Harleys. (Ya ya) and my Valk. I've had a simular conversation with a friend of mine that also rides a Harley. I told him I would ride him tank to tank and see who could walk after 500 miles. He told me the same thing, and he knows what the outcome would be. The first time he saw it he called me a traitor. 

Rode My Street Glide from Huntsville AL to Key West and back in 4 days also to Mexico and back in 4 days and never had a single problem with comfort and loved the gas mileage but the damn thing was waaaaaay underpowered so I sold it and kept my Valkyries

[dreamchaser]

Well I have nothing but respect for Valkyries!  I have owned Harleys and a bunch of other breeds and don't have anything bad to say about any of them. I have finally come to the point that I don't feel confident in my ability with my Valk.

I found a really nice HD dealer.  Road in on a Honda, test road a couple of bikes and I hope to finalize the paperwork tomorrow or Thursday on my new 2017 FXDF  Fat Bob.  Now whose the traitor?  I'm not sorry....I've really enjoyed my time here.  You guys are tops, no matter what you say about each other.  LOL  Neither the dealer or any of the employees or other customers were rude or made fun of the Valk and I got quite a few nice complements.  I'm still in a daze about that
and wonder if I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat.   





 

[Gavin_Sons]

Gotta love those arrogant idiots 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well I have nothing but respect for Valkyries!  I have owned Harleys and a bunch of other breeds and don't have anything bad to say about any of them. I have finally come to the point that I don't feel confident in my ability with my Valk.

I found a really nice HD dealer.  Road in on a Honda, test road a couple of bikes and I hope to finalize the paperwork tomorrow or Thursday on my new 2017 FXDF  Fat Bob.  Now whose the traitor?  I'm not sorry....I've really enjoyed my time here.  You guys are tops, no matter what you say about each other.  LOL  Neither the dealer or any of the employees or other customers were rude or made fun of the Valk and I got quite a few nice complements.  I'm still in a daze about that
and wonder if I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat.   





 

Don't feel like you need to leave.  Is the Harley that much lighter ?

[Gavin_Sons]

Well I have nothing but respect for Valkyries!  I have owned Harleys and a bunch of other breeds and don't have anything bad to say about any of them. I have finally come to the point that I don't feel confident in my ability with my Valk.

I found a really nice HD dealer.  Road in on a Honda, test road a couple of bikes and I hope to finalize the paperwork tomorrow or Thursday on my new 2017 FXDF  Fat Bob.  Now whose the traitor?  I'm not sorry....I've really enjoyed my time here.  You guys are tops, no matter what you say about each other.  LOL  Neither the dealer or any of the employees or other customers were rude or made fun of the Valk and I got quite a few nice complements.  I'm still in a daze about that
and wonder if I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat.   





 

Don't feel like you need to leave.  Is the Harley that much lighter ?

Fat bob-706
Valkyrie-721
Interstate-774

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well I have nothing but respect for Valkyries!  I have owned Harleys and a bunch of other breeds and don't have anything bad to say about any of them. I have finally come to the point that I don't feel confident in my ability with my Valk.

I found a really nice HD dealer.  Road in on a Honda, test road a couple of bikes and I hope to finalize the paperwork tomorrow or Thursday on my new 2017 FXDF  Fat Bob.  Now whose the traitor?  I'm not sorry....I've really enjoyed my time here.  You guys are tops, no matter what you say about each other.  LOL  Neither the dealer or any of the employees or other customers were rude or made fun of the Valk and I got quite a few nice complements.  I'm still in a daze about that
and wonder if I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat.   





 

Don't feel like you need to leave.  Is the Harley that much lighter ?

Fat bob-706
Valkyrie-721
Interstate-774

Thats about what I would have thought. And with the Valkyries C.O.G. being lower it wouldn't seem any lighter.

[Gavin_Sons]

Well I have nothing but respect for Valkyries!  I have owned Harleys and a bunch of other breeds and don't have anything bad to say about any of them. I have finally come to the point that I don't feel confident in my ability with my Valk.

I found a really nice HD dealer.  Road in on a Honda, test road a couple of bikes and I hope to finalize the paperwork tomorrow or Thursday on my new 2017 FXDF  Fat Bob.  Now whose the traitor?  I'm not sorry....I've really enjoyed my time here.  You guys are tops, no matter what you say about each other.  LOL  Neither the dealer or any of the employees or other customers were rude or made fun of the Valk and I got quite a few nice complements.  I'm still in a daze about that
and wonder if I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat.   





 

Don't feel like you need to leave.  Is the Harley that much lighter ?

Fat bob-706
Valkyrie-721
Interstate-774

Thats about what I would have thought. And with the Valkyries C.O.G. being lower it wouldn't seem any lighter.

Isn't the new valkyrie 150 pounds lighter than the old ones? I think I would have gone that way if weight is an issue. But that is just me.

[dreamchaser]

For some unknown reason the Fat Bob is leaps and bounds easier for me to handle.  I'm guessing that is because the rider sits lower into the bike.  This new bike has enough power to keep me happy!  It is a little louder than the cobras with baffles wrapped in  S/S wool.  Vance and Hines 2 into 1 short and fat.

[cookiedough]

I think the HD and other non Honda riders would know by now since our Valks are basically a goldwing and everyone knows the goldwings are comfy and reliable/long lasting.  

Maybe not the under 40 crowd buying newer HD's, etc, but for anyone say 45 and above would think they have heard of a Valkyrie?  

A former co-worker once called my VAlk I/S a boat anchor and I told him that boat anchor would drag his HD all over.  He is a NUT job HD fanatic if it is not HD or Ford, you ain't driving/riding apparently..

One night last year 2015 after he bad mouthed a fellow co-worker in our office repeatedly where he did not belong, I had enough of him in our office and talking smack,  reported him the following day on EXACTLY what he said word for word in writing to my boss and his boss being mgmt.,  and luckily for him and us in the long run instead of getting him fired as would have been the right thing to do, he got promoted OUT of our building into another building working out for him in the long run since less than 1 year later his job would have been eliminated.   Is interesting how someone who should have been fired gets promoted has happened to me 2x's with 2 different employees I have had to deal with that were worthless in all respects should be fired long before me, yet promoted OUT of our office.  Really makes one wonder what type of mgmt. is in place to do this kind of B.S.

[Oldfishguy]

Th HD's are heavy as well, but a lot of them the seat position is an inch or two lower.  For some the stop sign challenge on a hill, on your tip toes,is enough to switch.   The new HD's are good machines, but so are the new Indians; you owe yourself to take a look at them before the purchase.  The HD dealers are on their heels a bit as sales have been weak, more than likely they will be nice to every biker that walks in he showroom these days.

None of them will compare with the performance or long term durability of the Valkyrie though. 

Sincere best of luck.





 
[/quote]

[The emperor has no clothes]

For some unknown reason the Fat Bob is leaps and bounds easier for me to handle.  I'm guessing that is because the rider sits lower into the bike.  This new bike has enough power to keep me happy!  It is a little louder than the cobras with baffles wrapped in  S/S wool.  Vance and Hines 2 into 1 short and fat.

I do hope you stick around.

[Hooter]

There is nothing wrong with being brand specific as long as a person doesn't  entwine himself  in that brand alone and everything else is a POS. That is NOT ONLY HARLEY people. It is right here on this board as well.

You hear from most anyone anti Harley about cost compared to their favorite brand. All brands have a "high" costing top of the line. If you don't believe it go bike shopping. Most comparisons are based against Harley and very seldom any other brand. Price a new Indian ( I like Indians) Goldwing, Victory and compare pricing back to a Harley. The pricing is comparable.  

Then it's the Harley vibration thing, and at idle that's right. The vibration pretty much disappears at 1200 - 1500 RPMs. Compared to our Valks any bike other than a Wing vibrates!

Then there are those people who don't buy a Harley but spend a ton trying to make their bike look and sound like one. By the time these people are done, they could have bought one. But yet, they do nothing other than put Harleys down. We all know these people.

This whole thing is no different than the old Ford, Chevy, Chrysler rivalry.  Wouldn't be caught dead in a Ford. I hear that a bunch. Know what, don't buy one!

To me it's all the same. ALL MOCOs depend on someone becoming brand specific. These are the people thar have Harley underware, shine at a run like a diamond in a goats ass and ride 500 miles a year. They look the part but you can spot one from a mile away. This happens with EVERY brand as well and with it comes the attitude. Anything else that someone is riding other than their's is junk, high priced , vibrates, leaks,  and on and on.

Harleys break, Honda's break, Kawasaki's break, they all do. Failure isn't brand specific. who cares what someone else rides!? I'm riding what I want. In all attributes, all bikes have their plus and minuses. Be happy with what you have or move on.

[hubcapsc]

Isn't the new valkyrie 150 pounds lighter than the old ones?

It's about a hundred and fifty pounds lighter than a full blown new Goldwing,
'cause it's stripped down, but it is about the same as an old Valkyrie.

As I read through this thread I'm reminded that I sure do think the new
Indian Springfield is cool looking... they say you can schedule a test ride,
I want to do it, though I don't see a new bike in my future... until the 2014
Valkyrie it had been 16 years since I'd bought a "new" new bike.

My 1800's Russell seat's build date was two days ago, I hope it is on its
way here in the mail now 

-Mike

[MarkT]

One night last year 2015 after he bad mouthed a fellow co-worker in our office repeatedly where he did not belong, I had enough of him in our office and talking smack,  reported him the following day on EXACTLY what he said word for word in writing to my boss and his boss being mgmt.,  and luckily for him and us in the long run instead of getting him fired as would have been the right thing to do, he got promoted OUT of our building into another building working out for him in the long run since less than 1 year later his job would have been eliminated.   Is interesting how someone who should have been fired gets promoted has happened to me 2x's with 2 different employees I have had to deal with that were worthless in all respects should be fired long before me, yet promoted OUT of our office.  Really makes one wonder what type of mgmt. is in place to do this kind of B.S.

From 87 to about 94 I worked for AT&T, started in the big data center in Aurora hanging tapes, promoted (was underemployed with a BS in Computer Sci) into TS supporting Olivetti platforms - shop closed when AT&T quit selling PC's, intothe AT&T COMPIS software shop in Golden as programmer then DBA.  You're referring to fairly common corporate culture in big business.  That's how they did it at AT&T esp middle management.  If someone is a problem, they put them on the "fast track" and then promote them into a higher paying job - as long as it's far away.  It's kudos for the old boss who has a record of developing and promoting managers, it's kudos for the jerk on the fast track, it's good-riddance for his old boss, peers and subordinates.  The only losers are in the new location and they had nothing to say in the whole process.  Very political.  And BTW there are plenty of actual political venues that work similarly.  I was a victim on the receiving end of the process as well.  The new jerk was promoted into being my boss from a far-away state.  He was a token, minority person, completely incompetent both technically and as a people manager - in his position because of his color - absolutely an example of affirmative action gone wrong. WORST BOSS EVER.  Won't elaborate here - that would take a lot of typing.

[Savago]

If buying a new bike, I would go with an Indian. I test rode the Roadmaster and the Chieftain, they are both great at handling and have a nice and torquey engine.

Polaris knows how to build engines that will last a long time (can't say the same about HD).

[Alberta Patriot]

For some unknown reason the Fat Bob is leaps and bounds easier for me to handle.  I'm guessing that is because the rider sits lower into the bike.  This new bike has enough power to keep me happy!  It is a little louder than the cobras with baffles wrapped in  S/S wool.  Vance and Hines 2 into 1 short and fat.

I know what you are saying about the easier handling part.  I went from a Yamaha Stratoliner "Bagger" to the I/S and the wet weight of the I/S is about 20 pounds more than the Strat but is very top heavy in comparison.
The 1900cc Tractor Like Torque of the Strat was great as well...gobs of roll on acceleration without shifting down.
I wish I could have kept both.

[old2soon]

Last time I checked our Good friend The Wind couldn't give a ratz patootie HOW we got there!   ALL that Really matters is that we ARE in The Wind.   Do I give my V-twinky ridin friends s bit of grief? Yup-cuz if I didn't they'd think I didn't like em anymore!   And my Friends that have multiple choices fer a ride Never tell me ahead of time Which one they'll be on. Far as the arrogance of Some dealers da prez and I ran across that at Horny Toad H/D in Killeen Texas. All the Major M/C dealers are lined up along the same frontage road in Killeen stretched out over a mile and a half or so. ALL the other dealerships met us at the door and weren't "pushy" but would talk with us Even after I claimed I wuz just a looky lou. H/D was distant at best even after da prez said he was ready to purchase. I never even got the opportunity to mention I wuz a looky lou. AND to top it off we were in Ross's Cowboy Cadillac!   NOT on our Valkyrie's!   After lookin at the Indians were I in the market fer a V-twinky I'd look Hard and Interested at Indian!   RIDE SAFE.

[kodiakfisher]

I was at a local motorcycle gathering largely dominated by the crotch rockets. They welcome all bikes and I roll in on my 99 I/S Green and Silver with my dad and we parked right next to a 2014 or 2015 Indian Road Master. Now people immediately gathered around the Valkyrie's as they didn't know for sure what they are and TWO at the same time! The Indian guy could have cared less but I walk over and start chatting with them and mention that my dad has a 1939 and 1948 Indian and the 48 still runs and in fact he drove it here two weeks ago... still not much interest. What I immediately appreciated about the Indian road master was the attention to detail to the fit and finish all over that bike. In fact I liked it so much I have now put all chrome switch housings, brake and clutch reservoirs etc.

So the wife tells us the price of the Indian Road Master $28k and I actually carry my sales receipt with me as nobody believes me how much I paid for my bike (at this point absolutely zero had been done to the bike, it sat just as I drove it off the showroom floor). So the owner of the Indian walks over and proceeds to tell me how much faster his bike is and how it will blown mine away. I mention to him that he paid over five times what I paid for mine. At this point we have a few listening in. He absolutely called BS rather loudly and said he didn't believe it, in fact a few others said no way they didn't believe it. So I said yours is about $28k yes? Here I just purchased this bike and happen to still have all of the sales documents in the trunk. You can take a look then lets go run them and see how bad you blow me away as the only cruiser in the lot I'm not messing with is that rocket sitting over there. The owner of the rocket just smiled as we had already chatted. I believe right then and there I few people left that meeting and are now shopping for Valkyries! What is really odd is after this interaction the Indian guy seemed to lighten up and was willing to show me all the cool things about his Indian and the technology was pretty impressive really.

All in all a nice first outing for the Valkyries it is just important to appreciate all motorcycles for what they are fun transportation on two wheels. I am going to admire all the cruisers regardless of make and model as I'm well versed in several of them. But if you ride a stock V-twin and are claiming to blow a Valkyrie away be prepared to tell me by how much in the 1/4 mile and be prepared to back it up luckily for you all it will cost you is them buying me a drink.

Doug E on the Valky

[Alpha Dog]

I really like the looks of the Indians and got to spend two hours day before Thanksgiving in Walton, KY at an Indian/Victory dealer.

You are right Kodiakfisher about the fit and finish.  I could see myself on the Springfield or Cheiftain, or even Victory Cross Country.  This past year I noticed a lot more of the Indians on the road and I hope Polaris succeeds in a big way.  I have heard that the big push for the Milwaukee 8 was the power and smoothness of the Polaris 106 and 111, but then again who knows.

[kodiakfisher]

I really like the looks of the Indians and got to spend two hours day before Thanksgiving in Walton, KY at an Indian/Victory dealer.

You are right Kodiakfisher about the fit and finish.  I could see myself on the Springfield or Cheiftain, or even Victory Cross Country.  This past year I noticed a lot more of the Indians on the road and I hope Polaris succeeds in a big way.  I have heard that the big push for the Milwaukee 8 was the power and smoothness of the Polaris 106 and 111, but then again who knows.

If money was no option the Indian would have a significant amount of my attention. I also own a 1995 Honda Shadow ACE 1100. These are collectors items due to the single pin crank to mimic the Harley Honda only made them for a few years and these models where made more in the U.S. Than Harleys were at that time. Now I would be hard pressed to race a scooter with this bike...lol. This bike is deceptively slow.

Doug E on the Valky

[Alpha Dog]

I really like the looks of the Indians and got to spend two hours day before Thanksgiving in Walton, KY at an Indian/Victory dealer.

You are right Kodiakfisher about the fit and finish.  I could see myself on the Springfield or Cheiftain, or even Victory Cross Country.  This past year I noticed a lot more of the Indians on the road and I hope Polaris succeeds in a big way.  I have heard that the big push for the Milwaukee 8 was the power and smoothness of the Polaris 106 and 111, but then again who knows.

If money was no option the Indian would have a significant amount of my attention. I also own a 1995 Honda Shadow ACE 1100. These are collectors items due to the single pin crank to mimic the Harley Honda only made them for a few years and these models where made more in the U.S. Than Harleys were at that time. Now I would be hard pressed to race a scooter with this bike...lol. This bike is deceptively slow.

Doug E on the Valky

I also own a cousin to that Ace.  2000 Honda Shadow Ace Tourer made in same Marysville Plant.  It had the double pin crank to eliminate a good deal of the Ace vibration.  It also was mfg. with same Valkyrie bags and had its own screen.  I use it on  my so called county riding as it is super comfortable for me. Not super fast but not bad either.

[gordonv]

You thought your 95' ACE was slow? I felt my 98' ACE T was way too fast if I twisted the throttle.

I was through the 4 lane intersection and about 100 yards down the road, before the 1st car had cleared the intersection.



I also meet icandoitfaster who also had an ACE T, and came over to the Valkyrie the other year. Gavin_Sons, was also from the HSATF. I think there are a few who started out on the ACE T, and wanting something a little bigger/nicer for touring.

[cookiedough]

I have told this before, but a few years ago my HD fanatic neighbor came over for something and started talking about cycles since my Valk I/S was right in front of him.  I got sick of his bragging right there and then on his 03 ultra classic 30th anniversary this and that were blowing away at the track his modded engine, etc. newer 1832cc goldwings.  I asked him point blank if he wanted to race for pink slips, he politely declined.    I've seen him gun it with his loud pipes, all show, NO GO!  Luckily for me he wants to sell it soon in the spring for cannot take much more put, put, put noise idling for 20 minutes in front of his house before he decides to take off.  

I drive as a 2nd cycle a 249cc KYMCO scooter made in Taiwan and that I like to race HD's on from a stop sign up to say 40 mph and stay with and beat a lot of them fairly quick up to 40 mph, top speed around 78 or so totally floored but much over 72 mph gets a little bit buzzy engine sound do not get much above 70mph not enjoying the ride that fast with it.