Trailer hitch won't work, at least that's my first impression.

[John Schmidt]

The link shows the exact same hitch I have and I just tried a loose fitting before removing the bag mounting hardware and guard rails. The bottom of the side arm comes down on top of the cross piece for the bag mount. Do I have to remove and not use that part? I recall some of you in another post I did a few weeks back said you rigged up a different type of brace for that area. I'm wondering since I have the guard rails if would that give the bottom of the bag mount enough stability in that area. It has its own cross brace that is external of the fender. Has anyone tried that? The other thing that I realized is I can't use my receiver mounted luggage/cooler rack which I made about ten years ago for my 1500 Wing. If I happen to get this thing installed, the ends of the cooler rack stop right in front of each exhaust. I guess I could use a draw bar with a 3-4" drop/raise and mount the rack on that in place of the ball. The one I have now has a 2" raise and it doesn't quite clear the pipes. But, until I get the cross brace problem solved that is a moot issue. I'm beginning to think this "hitch thing" isn't worth the trouble. I was planning on using it for extra carrying capacity in place of towing a small trailer...which I'd have to license and insure, or adding a trunk...which I don't really want to do either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-GL1500-1500-TRAILER-HITCH-PLUG_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5afb5f4cQQitemZ130375442252QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[roboto65]

My friend looked at his and says his ended up sitting on top of the bar so maybe you might have to do a little finagleing to make it work and yess there was a post about it Joe and a couple other guys were talking about it !!

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,13042.0.html

Found it

[X Ring]

I've got that hitch and didn't have any problems with interference.

Marty

[NordicValk]

I have a Hitch Doc on my 99 Interstate non reciever type and had to remove the cross over tube until I had the hitch in place. I then reinstalled the cross over bar and tightened it properly. My friend has a 99 Interstate with the same hitch you have and as far as I know he still has his cross over tube in place. Neither one of us has the bag rails so they may make a differance in your install. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
                                                                                           Mark

[John Schmidt]

I checked the link to the earlier posts, one thing I noticed is none appear to have the guard rails. That also is a factor, the hitch center piece seems to be the exact width so it comes up against the bottom of the guard rail....the piece that goes forward to where the bag mount clamp is. This is getting more frustrating by the hour. Does anybody know who makes that hitch? It's a bit different than the Hitchdoc.

[fudgie]

Hey I got that same hitch! 

Yes, I did have trouble. I originally had MC enterprise bag gaurds on my Tourer. Wont fit with the hitch. Hitch was more important then the gaurds. I also had trouble with the bar behind the rear wheel. Once hitch was on I used BF clamps to get my bar on right. But it drew the rear of the bags inward and slightly down. It looked sucky from the rear. Next year I took off the bar and made one. I used 3/4" cooper and made it the length that look good with the bags. Then used a 90 deg elbow with a 3" pc over the chrome. It shaped like this- [  I used a screw and went down thru the hole where them 2 little clamps are that holds the bar behind the rear wheel. Painted it black and you cannot see it. If left out my bags were flimsy. My paint also flacked off like in the pic but I just repainted it. A little FYI, check them 6 bolts that hold the hitch together. Mine were to small in diameter and with weight applied to hitch, it would tilt down ward. I got wider diameter bolts and its all better now. The heads are bigger but its not noticable once painted.
The hitch brand starts with a 'M'. I thought it was stamped somwhere real small. I'm really happy with it. Get a bigger reciever for the cooler. You could also have another hitch pin hole drilled into the reciever by a welder, I did. Not sure about your bag gaurds, might not be able to use them.
If you want pix I can send the Sat at work. My home pc is to slow.   

[R J]

Does the bar across the back look like this one?   With the dip in it.



If it doesn't, then you do not have the Honda made rails.    There is another set of rails out there that have a straight bar.   It comes to the rear and then droops.

You could make one like this one.

[John Schmidt]

I'll let you know if any pics are needed. I was trying to mount one side at a time but looks like I'll have to take off both bags and loosen up everything. I remember the [ shaped thing you talked about a couple weeks ago, but if the guard rail gets in the way I may have to come up with something else as well. I'll mess with it a while longer, then if it creates more aggravation than I want to incur, I'll just get rid of the source of aggravation.

[John Schmidt]

I ordered them from a local dealer, came in the Red Wing packaging. That connecting rail on my guard rails doesn't droop, it curves out and around the end of the fender, follows the shape of the fender but is even with the end of it all the way from one side to the other.

CORRECTION: My recollector wasn't on target. It does have that same droop in it. I had to go out to the garage and take another look. If it went straight across it would hit the fender, so it does have that little droop in it to drop down just below the tip of the fender. The problem is where the short piece goes forward and bolts to the clamp for the bag mount. I'll just have to remove the other bag and loosen up both sides, then see where I stand.

[R J]

John, call me.

five one five 287 one three seven seven.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I ordered them from a local dealer, came in the Red Wing packaging. That connecting rail on my guard rails doesn't droop, it curves out and around the end of the fender, follows the shape of the fender but is even with the end of it all the way from one side to the other.

You have the MC brand saddlebag rails ? Hondaline ? If you have Hondaline and the hitch is more important I know someone that will pay a fair price for them .If its the MC I don't think you can give them away.

[Steve K (IA)]

That is the Big Bike Parts hitch.  I have had it on my I/S for 9 years.  I also have the Honda bag rails. 

Remove your bags and bag rails, including the center piece.  Mount the hitch, one side at a time.  Loosely mount the center part of the hitch.  Put the bags back on and the rails.  Tighten things up.  It will be very close between both of the center pieces...rails and hitch.  For a while I had a rattle and put a small piece of rubber between the parts that were extremely close.  Now years later, no rattle and no rubber.  It will work.

[John Schmidt]

Steve, thanks for the suggested procedure, I'll give it a try.

Joe, if push comes to shove....I'll keep the rails(they're Hondaline) and get rid of the hitch.

[junior]

I've got that hitch and didn't have any problems with interference.

Marty

do you still have that hitch? and if so, could you be so kind as to give me the mesurement of the crossbar that the reciver is welded to?

TIA junior

[X Ring]

junior, I was referring to the interference between the hitch and the cross tube for the saddlebag mount, not the bag rails.  Sorry if i caused any confusion.

Marty

[John Schmidt]

junior, I was referring to the interference between the hitch and the cross tube for the saddlebag mount, not the bag rails.  Sorry if i caused any confusion.

Marty

FINALLY!  Kind of a PITA, had to locate some longer forward fender bolts(10mm) and ended up cutting threads on some. But it's now in place, just have a small rubbing issue on the right bag from the top guard rail in the area by the reflector. Still working on that but it appears to have been caused by that cross tube. In order to slide it in place I had to press the two sides together and that may have caused the entire mounting system to squeeze in around the bags. Planning to experiment with it today.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,14157.0.html

[X Ring]

John, I was going through this last night installing my saddlebag rails.  Were you able to get the mounting clamps for the cross tube to engage the holes in the mount?  Mine are 1/4" shy.

Marty

[John Schmidt]

John, I was going through this last night installing my saddlebag rails.  Were you able to get the mounting clamps for the cross tube to engage the holes in the mount?  Mine are 1/4" shy.

Marty

Yes, but with some effort. It's all together as designed but took some forcing so I'm going to disassemble and see if I gain the clearance needed on my right saddle bag. If so, then I'll come up with some other method for that cross member and clamps. Might make a longer one from copper tubing, or similar.

[X Ring]

Looking at your pics it appears your hitch hangs a little lower than mine.  I'm considering slotting the holes in the hitch to allow it to receiver to hang a little lower or removing the top receiver lip.  That should allow the center section and cross tube to move forward enough for the hooks the engage the holes.

Marty