went to cycle dealer today for a looksie

[cookiedough]

much to my surprise out of 100+ cycles this large used cycle dealer had a mint condition mint green/black 1998 tourer even with OEM Honda tourer windshield ONLY 25K miles looked brand new for only 4500 bucks. 

if it was not way cold out and wanted another cycle,  this would have been worth considering.

http://www.roadtrackandtrail.com/used-new-motorcycles-atvs-utvs-snowmobiles-for-sale-milwaukee-wi--xAllInventory#page=xAllInventory&vt=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter&make=honda&model=valkyrie%20tourer

sitting right next to it was a rocket III and sat on that and liked it a lot as well very similar setup and frame and fit me very well, even had a turbo installed that dealer claimed near 200hp.   It was red/black and looked equally as sharp and great ergos on it, but near double the price of the Valk they had sitting right next to it.

http://www.roadtrackandtrail.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=4145304&p=1&make=triumph&s=Year&d=D&vt=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter&fr=xAllInventory

pics do both bike no justice have to see in person. 

I actually wanted to go there to sit on 1 of 2 suzuki b-kings they had and after sitting on them I think my days of feet behind me and still stooping forward to reach handlebars are out.  Besides, that tank is HUGE and WIDE.  I heard ergos are good but after sitting on them,  am sure is better ergos than a busa, but still not that flexible anymore.  Besides,  they told me the white one modded for 6K which fit me better seat wise,  had 200hp and probably the fastest bike they had of over 200 or so stock piled up and likely would hurt myself on it in no time.... 

they even had a few VERY nice VTX1800's all chromed out and 3-4 used V-rods which looked awfully small.  Even had a modded 2004 red goldwing in nice shape but had NO joke 8 round mounts for items like GPS, etc. on handlebars and very odd looking windshield plate up front as well as a very weird looking rear extra tank mounted way in back down low.

http://www.roadtrackandtrail.com/used-new-motorcycles-atvs-utvs-snowmobiles-for-sale-milwaukee-wi--xAllInventory#page=xAllInventory&vt=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter&make=honda&model=gold%20wing

http://www.roadtrackandtrail.com/used-new-motorcycles-atvs-utvs-snowmobiles-for-sale-milwaukee-wi--xAllInventory#page=xAllInventory&vt=motorcycle%20%2F%20scooter&make=suzuki&model=b-king

[Jack B]

They usually have over 600 bikes for sale there with good prices.
I bought a Interstate there about 10 years ago.
A lot of the cycles are auction bikes so buyer beware.

[cookiedough]

They usually have over 600 bikes for sale there with good prices.
I bought a Interstate there about 10 years ago.
A lot of the cycles are auction bikes so buyer beware.

agree on buyer beware on what they have, never really know.  Been there twice was looking for a bike for my son, a basic suzuki 250, pics looked good but when got there this spring was rusted up and not worth the over 2 grand price.   Test rode there then a kawasaki vulcan 500cc and they wanted 1800 firm was a tad bit too much offered 1500 and they said no so I left.  also kid was interested in a honda cbr250cc crotch rocket and drove that but after one 3 mile ride came back said NO way being a torquey little thing but my days of putting my feet way back to shift and leaning forward is DONE, plus not enough power sounded like a mini-bike with a fat 280lb. man on it.  Made a better decision buying private a 1997 honda magna in March of this year for 1900.

That 1998 Valkyrie tourer with OEM tourer windshield was in mint condition though, not sure I can deal with that mint green and black color though?  That rocket III intrigued me though claims near 200 hp TURBO even and wish it was over 36 degrees out to go test ride it, even a b-king test ride would be nice to have done. 

Is the one place you can go to though to test ride willingly and not too high of pressure for a sale.  I just happened to be in the area and decided why not take a look.  Just wish I could have found that honda st1300 in black they had online would like to have sat on that as well.  yah,  I was LOW on the 100+ cycles looked more like 500 all pushed together like sardines unable to even get in between most cycles to sit on them.    I told their 5-6 salesman or more they need to sell more cycles since way too cramped together.

[¿spoom]

Good people in my experience, bought 2 bikes from them and traded one in. They run fairly high volume and low margin, with no emotional ties to anything or brand. If they can't do a deal they'll simply say so, and no hard feelings. I try to stay away from there-too easy to end up with another bike 

[cookiedough]

Good people in my experience, bought 2 bikes from them and traded one in. They run fairly high volume and low margin, with no emotional ties to anything or brand. If they can't do a deal they'll simply say so, and no hard feelings. I try to stay away from there-too easy to end up with another bike 

that is what I got out of them as well dealing with the kawi vulcan 500 my value 1500, theirs 1800, so skipped it and no hard feelings on either side. 

That 98 valkyrie tourer green/black with only 25K miles though seems more than fair for 4500 in very, very good condition, new tires and no dents/scratches with nice honda OEM tourer windshield as well.  I did noticed though they do not move much on their pricing maybe 100 bucks tops or so.  That 2004 Wing maroon red with 55K miles or so asking 7500ish was not too bad either glad I did not offer 7K....

[Savago]

@cookiedough: I once seriously considered buying a Rocket III, I was really attracted by the huge displacement triple.

But after researching on it, found out that transmission issues are common in this bike. Basically the powertrain is not up to the task of the 2300cc engine.

I wouldn't expect 'Honda class' reliability in one of this bikes, but they certainly look like lots of fun.
:-)

[cookiedough]

@cookiedough: I once seriously considered buying a Rocket III, I was really attracted by the huge displacement triple.

But after researching on it, found out that transmission issues are common in this bike. Basically the powertrain is not up to the task of the 2300cc engine.

I wouldn't expect 'Honda class' reliability in one of this bikes, but they certainly look like lots of fun.
:-)

sure would be fun to have taken that rocket III with turbo installed  for a test ride since dealer claimed near 200hp.  did not say I would buy it at 7500 price tag for a 2006 model year when the green/black 98 valk tourer sitting beside it was 4500.   Not too many cycles make the valk tourer look smaller but next to the rocket III it was for sure smaller in stature.  I actually liked the seating/handlebar position of that rocket III something that means a lot to me in terms of comfort while riding. 

[Jack B]

 Friend of mine had a Rocket III, he drove his hard and his transmission did break after it was repaired he traded in for a Honda.

[Savago]

@Jack: yep! I recall reading an article that the original plan for the Rocket III was to be a 1700cc displacement but then some other manufacturer released a 1800cc bike and Triumph decided to bore out the engine but didn't upgraded the final drive.

Not sure if the story is true, but would make sense.

[northernvalk]

Honda, vtx1800 was the bike.....