1999 I/S Reviews?

[twdurdentwd]

What do you guys think about this one? I've only had 2000s...is anything different between the two? Parts interchangeable between 2000 and 1999? How many folks with this year I/S have had any issues?

[Jess from VA]

Except for perhaps a couple very minor details (if any), all ISs are the same.

And they made 5480 in '99, 2690 in '00, and 1440 in '01, so chances of ending up with a '99 are very good, both of my ISs are '99s. (and both marked Made in USA). 

No issues out of the ordinary for all Valks.

[Earl43P]

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/marshall/Interstate.htm

^ That particular link is how I found the VRCC, then later, the bike I own.

Pasted below is a response I wrote on NGW for a fellow looking at Valkyrie IS, coming from a GL1800.

I have a 99 Valkyrie I/S.
Flogged a tad over 22k miles on it since I got it in July 13.

It is a handful. (I'm 5' 11" and 165 lbs.)
It is very top-heavy and unwieldy to manuever at low speeds with a passenger.
I have to be very careful after filling the tank with the wife on board and anytime I have to slow or stop on uneven surfaces. I made these problems worse by installing a car tire on the rear (but I won't be going back to a MC tire anytime soon).

The stock seat is atrocious, hard and uncomfortable for long trips (I took it to AZ, ouch).

I dislike the trunk (looks "off") and the saddlebags are less than they could have been, especially the lids.

If you like the Valk, I agree, the Tourer would be a better choice, but you will miss the intercom and stereo (coming from a GW).

If I had it to do-over, I would probably be happier with a GL1800. I still plan to wear out the Valkyrie, however. The big problem with that plan is that I DD the Oldwing and keep the Valkyrie for trips, two-up rides with my wife and pretty days (hate to clean that beast). If this Oldwing keeps logging the commuter miles like it does (~700 mi./week), I'll never, ever wear the Valkyrie out.....it's got about 44k on the clock and runs like a Swiss watch. Don't ask about acceleration (wheeeee!) or MPG (steady 36). It pegs my fun-meter.

Earl

[old2soon]

Yes I have a 1999 Valkyrie Interstate.  Yes I like it a LOT.  At this point in time mine I/S is NOT for sale.  I have a flaming death rear tire-think D/S-and I plan on being at Inzane in June.    There are I/Ss for sale in a lot of different venues. Compliment I like the most about my Phatt Ghurl-no way in h-ll THAT bike is 15 years old.  RIDE SAFE.

[MP]

Not a nickels worth of difference in any of the 3 years of I/S's. Go by what farkles you want, condition, and color!  :cool dude:

MP

[Tailgate Tommy]

Love my 2000 red-black IS, love my 2003 standard. Oh wait, love all Valkyries! 

[Bighead]

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/marshall/Interstate.htm



I have a 99 Valkyrie I/S.

It is a handful. (I'm 5' 11" and 165 lbs.)
It is very top-heavy and unwieldy to manuever at low speeds with a passenger.
I have to be very careful after filling the tank with the wife on board and anytime I have to slow or stop on uneven surfaces. I made these problems worse by installing a car tire on the rear (but I won't be going back to a MC tire anytime soon).



Earl

Earl your problem with low speed maneuvering may be just because of your stature. I am a tad larger  :-\and seem to not have any issues with it. And if properly maintained it will be many many many moons before you wear it out

[Builder630]

I just picked up my first 99 I-S, and I LOVE IT. I'm 5-7, 165#, and for me, the low speed ( under 5 mph) turning is HARD. The acceleration and handling besides that is awesome. I'm hoping that by August I'll perfect the low speed handling to ride the Needles highway in SD.

[twdurdentwd]

I am more concerned with reliability, for example, my 2000 standard has had issues twice with the rear case breaking in conjunction with hydrolock so I'm wondering if this was a problem in the 1999 interstate model?

[Michvalk]

All Years and all Models of Valkyries can have Hydrolock. If you are interested, you can go to the tech board, type hydrolock into the search and read for hours

[twdurdentwd]

But not every valkyrie hydrolocks..so what makes the difference and why do some do it and others have 100k+ miles with never that issue.

What am I doing wrong?? 

[Michvalk]

My experience is the more the bike is ridden,(consistently) the less likely to have hydrolock. I had one right after I got my interstate (nothing broke). It had sat more than it was ridden, very low miles. After cleaning the carbs, and about 10,000 miles a year. I haven't had another. Fuel goes bad faster now-a-days, so, if you have to leave it set all the time, run fuel stabilizer all the time. I use Seafoam at normal mix all year long, and heavy for storage in the winter. Helps with the problem, and don't cost much

[0leman]

In reading about HydroLock problems, it seems the common denominator is 1) stuck/malfunctioning float valve and a 2)Leaking petcock.   This could happen to any bike at any time.   Thankfully it doesn't happen very often.

As said above there is no difference in the I/S produced except for colors.