New guy, new (to me) Valk

[Hyde]

I don't see an intro section like on some forums so I will post it here. Just wanted to say thanks for the the advice while I was lurking that led me to picking up my First Valkyrie!

The last few years and many thousands of miles I have been flogging and customizing my 1976 GL1000. While it gets tons of attention after some modifications and I really enjoy riding it, after about 400 miles in the saddle it starts to wear on me.

So it was time for something bigger, heavier and more powerful to eat up the miles. Like any Honda boxer fan would do I instantly looked to the Valk. Thanks to some "what to look for" threads here I think I found a good one, picked up a 1999 Tourer today from a nice older gentleman with just over 12,000 original miles! After a 50 mile ride home Im trying to get used to the darkside conversion, and I already have some modifications planned like changing the bars. Anyway threads are worthless without pics!

My GL1000


And my new Valkyrie!

[JimC]

Hyde,
Welcome to the insanity,
I did pretty much the same thing, 2 GL1000's (still have one) and 1 Gl1200 and 1 GL1500 then a Valk, now on my second Valk. When you get a chance put your location in your signature line so you can possibly hook up with some riders local to you.

Jim

[Thunderbolt]

Welcome Hyde.  You might try postimg for your photo hosting site and see if that works, it did for me.  Darkside impressions usually depend on which tire was installed. 

[Chrisj CMA]

Welcome.  I hope your Valkyrie experience is half as good as mine has been.  Your photo bucket won't work unless you pay their ransom.  I wouldn't do it.

[Whooray]

Welcome to family from Treasure Valley (Boise area ) Idaho. Its always great to have new folks come on board.
Not sure where in northern Idaho youre at but Dave Diehl is in Sagle and there are alot of great folks in Washington that hold an annual event. Check them out  on the Northwest group.
If you ever get down our way be sure and look us up here in the valley would love to get together with you.
                                           Raymond (Whooray) Hill

[old2soon]

And another welcoming you to the insanity that are us!  And you would be surprised how much help will be there specially iffin yer servin cold adult beverages and meat on the grill!  But dats like a suggestion.  Again-WELCOME.  RIDE SAFE.

[woofred1832]

Ya welcome to this forum. Its a good read and lots of info for anything that you have questions on. I hope you kept the GL  cause after selling my 2004 VTX13000 and my 1998 Valkyrie , to a Harley rider friend to get my 2014 1832 Valk. I went looking for a second bike and found an original 1975 GL1000 with only 19, 000 original miles, had to have it for my day, back n forth to work and those short weekend rides of 100+ miles. Now I have what I think is the best of both worlds.  The 2014 Valk for crusing and cross country and the GL1000 FOR day rides. Love them both, I will never have to buy another bike as long as I can ride. My phone # is 224-374-0005 would love to talk to you any time
        Or gmail blondie5052@gmail.com lets talk........ ride safe......

[Pappy!]

And a hearty welcome from rainy Central Florida! Welcome to the addiction! These are special rides for sure!

[Hook#3287]

Welcome from New England!!

Pretty sure you just started a long love affair.

And yes, these girls LOVE eating up the miles.

Which C/T are you running?

[Avanti]

Welcome. I have ridden since 1965. Many different motorcycles starting with a bicycle and McCulloch chain saw engine. The Valkyrie fits my style best.

[Hyde]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I will be keeping my GL1000, it was my first "big" bike and I dont think I could bring myself to part with it. It handles great with the setup I have, it sits taller than stock and the nubs are still nearly ground off the pegs. Great around-towner or shorter rides.

The Valkyrie, well quite simply Im loving already, I already ordered a new set of bars, Im fairly long in the arms and torso and the factory bars arent particularly comfortable for me. Other than that its a great machine.

As far as the tire, it has a 175r16 Taxi tire mounted up that is nearly new, it seems to ride the grooves and crown of the road to where Im almost always at a slight lean or putting pressure on the bars. That may be just the nature of a wide tire and vague feeling bars though. All my riding in the last few years has been on a 130 series rear and drag bars so this is a new experience.

[Hyde]

Lets see if these pictures work

My GL1000

temporary photo upload

And the Valkyrie

temporary photo upload

[Hook#3287]

Wow, she's a beauty. Definitely a keeper.

The taxi tire is a very popular c/t, as your probably aware of if you've spent any time on this board 

They do ride a little different than a m/t, especially when going slow, but it's not bad, just different.

Nice gl1000, she looks like fun.

Do you ride w/o the belt cover?

[Pappy!]

What fairing is that on the 4-banger? Looks great!

[Hyde]

Thanks guys, the fairing on the 1000 is an Emgo Viper. The last 10,000 of her 70,000 have been open belts. Rain, gravel roads, on dirt in the brush haven't had a single problem. It gets a ton of looks!

I'm thinking about trying a regular tire on the Valk, I'll keep the Taxi tire around but I want to see if the handling quirks are the bike or tire related.

[old2soon]

My I/S came with dunflop E-3s and scared the livin kaka outa me in da rain. Straight to the D/S. NEVER looked back. I'm on an Austone Taxi tire and I like it a lot. A Lady I used to date commented on the lean and the speeds in the corners I kept. Her words were somethin to the effect of her old boyfriend on his h/d did NOT hit the corners with as much enthusiasm as I did.  Course her at a buck ten I didn't Really know she was there-she rode THAT good.  RIDE SAFE.

[Hyde]

The tire will stay on there for at least a while, I'll see how it feels when my drag bars show up and go from there.

[Hyde]

Side note, does anybody recognize that fairing? I think Im going to list it for sale, its too short and blasts me, have my eyes on a full batwing and stereo setup to replace it.

Edit: Nevermind found it, generic Ebay fairing

[Hook#3287]

Thanks guys, the fairing on the 1000 is an Emgo Viper. The last 10,000 of her 70,000 have been open belts. Rain, gravel roads, on dirt in the brush haven't had a single problem. It gets a ton of looks!

I'm thinking about trying a regular tire on the Valk, I'll keep the Taxi tire around but I want to see if the handling quirks are the bike or tire related.

My first thought was, if he brave enough to run w/o a belt cover, whys he running w/the crash bars?

What seat is that on the gl1000?

[Willow]

... have my eyes on a full batwing and stereo setup to replace it.

If you're looking to replace the fairing seriously consider Woody's Fairings.  Woody's Fairings for Valkyrie and VTX

[Hyde]

What seat is that on the gl1000?

Crash bars are there so I have a place to put my feet on the long rides! Seat is factory HD Sportster

[Hook#3287]

What seat is that on the gl1000?

Crash bars are there so I have a place to put my feet on the long rides! Seat is factory HD Sportster

Well, you won't be needing those anymore.

Thanks for the seat info

[Hyde]

Had to update after a real break in ride. Did 530 miles yesterday and only about 90 of it was freeway. Took me a while but I think the darkside weirdness was all in my head and not trusting the tire. I did the Rattlesnake Grade of Hells Canyon early in the day and if I stopped reminding myself about the tire and just went for it I realized she would pull through, I was scraping highway pegs in no time.

Sure am glad I ordered bars though! These stockers are a shoulder killer for me, hopefully they'll show up soon.

Other than dismal mileage (high 20s to a high of 32) Im in love with this machine. I dont particularly care about the mileage figure I just need the range so I have looked into the belly tank. Time to save up some pennies!

[Willow]

That fuel mileage is way below expectation.  Perhaps setting the fuel mixtures and syncing the carbs will give you significant improvement.

[Hook#3287]

That fuel mileage is way below expectation.  Perhaps setting the fuel mixtures and syncing the carbs will give you significant improvement.

  I'd agree with that, but, it depends on how much of this was involved

, I was scraping highway pegs in no time.

I've gotten as low as 25MPG cruising at over 80MPH + and as much as close to 40MPG idling around New England back roads.

All depends on how hard your right wrist works.

Usually get around 33-35 MPG, but I no way bought a Valk for her gas mileage.

[Hyde]

The group I ride with moves along pretty quick most of the time, steady 75mph is not at all uncommon. I still haven't overcome the desire to really twist on it either, still marvelling at the power!