'99 Standard new owner

[Locomotive]

Hello all - I am new here- about 3 weeks ago I bought, and in about a month (after the rain can wash the winter salt off of Vermont's roads) I will be bringing home a '99 Valk Standard with just shy of 19k on the odometer, and in pretty much immaculate, close-to-showroom condition. I'll be the third owner and all signs are that the first and second owners were meticulous in how they made best efforts to treat and care for the bike. I've been reading up here and other places to learn about the Valks and how to best care for this. Coming from my Ural (which I still own and still like) the Valk should be refreshingly low-maintenance/ predictably reliable. My main goal is to ride and enjoy (I have plenty else to wrench on with other things) but I also want to make sure I do all that I can to keep this very special bike in best possible shape for as long as possible. A Pingel fuel tap is probably on my shortlist, to ward off risk of hydrolock, and at some point I may refresh the fuel system with all viton. Regarding the rear splines and other potentially challenged/challenging components in the rear drive, if I cannot detect anything amiss, and since the bike seems to have had very good care and not been beaten upon, am I rolling the dice too badly to ride for a while (local and close-in-regional) before I pull the rear wheel to see what I find? Any other symptoms or systems that I ought to be on the lookout for in early ownership? Thanks in advance!

[Hook#3287]

Hey Locomotive, welcome to the site from a fellow New Englander.

Congratulations on your Valk purchase.

My advise, which may differ from others, is to see if you can find out when and where the last rear tire was replaced, then quiz them on if they inspected/serviced ALL of the rear end, then based on what you discover, wait till your next rear tire.

19K is not a lot of miles and if she's as well taken care of as you state, you should have no problem in the drive system.  I did over 80K on my first Valk before that issue became common knowledge here and everything was in great shape when I finally took it apart.

But, if you're the type that needs to know, by all means, take it apart and check.  Nothing like piece of mind.

Good luck with your new love, some nice riding in your state. 

[Farside]

I echo the Welcome Aboard Locomotive!  Great bike to have some thrills with riding America's roads! Maybe you can make InZane in June. 

[matt]

Welcome aboard, 

Matt
Derry N.H.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Welcome aboard 

[WintrSol]

Welcome - I find this a very good resource for keeping these great machines happy.

Check the DOT date code on the tires, as this is a lot of bike to trust to old rubber. Also, there may be someone on here who is near enough, and also has a DigiSync tool, to help sync the carburetors. If it's never been done, it should be, and you will appreciate the improvement. I have one, and, if you were near enough to St. Louis, I'd do it for you.

Also, make sure the clutch and brake fluid has been flushed out in the last two years; if not, it needs it, too. With only 19k miles, it probably doesn't need much else.

[Chrisj CMA]

Welcome, and I agree, if PO says the right things, you should be good till the tire wears out.

When you see how fast twisting that throttle can wear out that back tire. I think you will be looking At those splines before you know it

[rockbobmel]

Welcome.  Greenfield, MA here. Just below you.

I'm new also 12-17. I got to ride mine home (80mi.) just to put it up for the winter.

[Hooter]

Welcome! FWIW.. Fresh gas, about a 1/3 can of Sea Foam in the tank and ride it home. Then I'd change the oil / filter to what you want when you get home.

[..]

Hello all - I am new here- about 3 weeks ago I bought, and in about a month (after the rain can wash the winter salt off of Vermont's roads) I will be bringing home a '99 Valk Standard with just shy of 19k on the odometer, and in pretty much immaculate, close-to-showroom condition. I'll be the third owner and all signs are that the first and second owners were meticulous in how they made best efforts to treat and care for the bike. I've been reading up here and other places to learn about the Valks and how to best care for this. Coming from my Ural (which I still own and still like) the Valk should be refreshingly low-maintenance/ predictably reliable. My main goal is to ride and enjoy (I have plenty else to wrench on with other things) but I also want to make sure I do all that I can to keep this very special bike in best possible shape for as long as possible. A Pingel fuel tap is probably on my shortlist, to ward off risk of hydrolock, and at some point I may refresh the fuel system with all viton. Regarding the rear splines and other potentially challenged/challenging components in the rear drive, if I cannot detect anything amiss, and since the bike seems to have had very good care and not been beaten upon, am I rolling the dice too badly to ride for a while (local and close-in-regional) before I pull the rear wheel to see what I find? Any other symptoms or systems that I ought to be on the lookout for in early ownership? Thanks in advance!

Check your email

[F6Dave]

In my opinion the yellow and cream was the best color combo Honda ever used on the Valkyrie. Beautiful!

[Locomotive]

Welcome - I find this a very good resource for keeping these great machines happy.

Check the DOT date code on the tires, as this is a lot of bike to trust to old rubber. Also, there may be someone on here who is near enough, and also has a DigiSync tool, to help sync the carburetors. If it's never been done, it should be, and you will appreciate the improvement. I have one, and, if you were near enough to St. Louis, I'd do it for you.

Also, make sure the clutch and brake fluid has been flushed out in the last two years; if not, it needs it, too. With only 19k miles, it probably doesn't need much else.

Thanks- when I went to look at it I asked the seller about the age of the tires, and he said [and he seemed super honest and forthright] that he'd replaced them twice, once within just the last few years. I will definitely check the date codes, though- nothing to mess with. When the time comes for a rear tire, I see myself likely going darkside.

I splurged and ordered a Digisync, which just arrived today- super impressed with the quality of it.

Thanks to all for all of your suggestions, and the friendly welcome.

[Fazer]

Let me add my welcome as well.  I agree the yellow/cream is a great color combo.  This board is great way to keep your Valk in tip top shape.   Lot's of knowledge and help.  BTW, in lieu of the Pingle, some of us run a Dan Mark electric fuel shut off using the stock petcock.  They are easy to install when doing a de smog.  Search for both on the board--tons of info available.

[Savago]

What everyone posted is all good advice, I would also add in the check/todo list:

a) New oil/filter: easy job, less than 1h (counting the 20 minutes riding to warm up the engine). Won't suggest any oil here to not start an 'oily' war.


b) New final drive oil: in a standard there is no side pannier in the way, I would say 20-30 minutes job. Recommend Mobil 1 full synthetic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ONZXPK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

c) New coolant fluid: also pretty easy, I guess 30 minutes. Recommend the Honda blue coolant: https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-Long-Life-Coolant/dp/B006YX9YZE/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1520982364&sr=1-2&keywords=Honda+Parts+OL999-9011&dpID=51Z0fpGgIdL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch.

Maybe also add some fuel cleaner (e.g. Techron) in the gas tank?

Compared to a Ural, you will see that a Honda Valkyrie is pretty much trouble free.