Accidental newby Valk owner has a question.

[tubehead]

Bought a cheap(for Australia) immaculate 1998 Valk with a genuine 7200 miles on it purely to re sell for a profit.
Should never have ridden the bloody monster because now it's a keeper
I have more than enough bikes and need this like a hole in the head but too late now because I love this thing already and have never owned a cruiser.
Although the bike has low mileage the owner used it pretty regularly for a sunday ride so it has never sat idle for more than 3 months but I am considering replacing the timing belts when I give it a full service
in the next few weeks.
I had a look at them and they look new but was wondering what you guys think about 16 year old timing belts.

[Skinhead]

I'd Leave Them Alone.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'd leave them alone also.

[Bone]

My 98 Tourer has 120k miles right now, I've left them alone.

[JimmyG]

Congratulations mate, welcome to the board

[Hook#3287]

Congrats on your new relationship

Just check them for cracks and tension, which is a little looser than OEM specs, and if good, leave them alone.

[Black Dog]

Changing the belts is an easy job, and the procedure is available in 'Shop Talk'...  The bike is 16 years old, and while the mileage is low, those belts are 16 years old (I know that age is not mentioned in the maintainace schedule, most cars say 100K or 10 years, whichever comes first)...

These are interference engines, and even at the price for original Honda belts, it would be cheap insurance 

Black Dog

[98valk]

Changing the belts is an easy job, and the procedure is available in 'Shop Talk'...  The bike is 16 years old, and while the mileage is low, those belts are 16 years old (I know that age is not mentioned in the maintainace schedule, most cars say 100K or 10 years, whichever comes first)...

These are interference engines, and even at the price for original Honda belts, it would be cheap insurance 

Black Dog

cars have underhood heat which shortens life. EPA regs since '97 require anything to do with ignition must last minimum 100k miles. 
as others said just inspect for condition, u will see they look brand new.

[Gryphon Rider]

I might be wrong, but I don't think anyone on this site has ever reported a belt failure, or even any badly visibly aged belts.  Many have replaced them for peace of mind, but have almost always said the old ones looked virtually brand new when they took them off.

It is MUCH more important to inspect and properly replace the lubricants of the final drive components, such as the wheel splines, the drive shaft to gear case (a.k.a. pumpkin, or what some mistakenly call the differential) pinion cup splines, and the U-joint at the front end of the drive shaft.  The U-joint itself cannot be lubricated, but should be checked for play.

Another thing to look at is the connections at the starter relay, which is located near the fuse block behind the right side cover.  The connections have a tendency to oxidize, creating bad connection which overheat and melt things.  While we are talking side covers, be VERY careful when you remove and install them, as the connection between the side cover and the centre cover will break if forced when not aligned properly.  After you have pulled the back and bottom edges out a bit to release it from the two rubber-grommeted holes, look closely at the front edge connection before carefully separating it.

[97Valk_CT_Euless]

I'd change them, but then again I look fr stuff to do.  As said before, if you get the gates belts (should be available there?) it's cheap insurance, and you get to check the tensioners too.

[Chrisj CMA]

If I were you I would actually remove at least one belt to fully examine it.  Only by bending it all possible ways and getting a close look between the nubs and all sides will you know for sure if there is any dry rot or not.  If not put it back on and forget about it for 100,000 miles.

[tubehead]

Thanks for that advice I did actually remove the cover and inspect the belts and they look brand new.
I own 2 air cooled Ducati's and the belts in those get changed every 2 years regardless of miles.
However I have stopped doing that now after accumulating a large collection of perfectly good belts.
So I will just leave the valk belts  for now.

[BobB]

Well, if you intended to turn it over for profit, you should never have ridden it.  If you ask here, everyone will tell you that they have had the same experience.  Some many years ago, some just yesterday.  It's the first time I've herd the Valk called a "Bloody Monster", we refer to them as Dragons or Phat Girls.
Welcome, you'll find all the information you need to maintain your Valk right here.

[old2soon]

Should have never ridden the "bloody monster"!  These Phatt Ghurls of ours set the hook quick and hard and generally you stay hooked.  Rear end service oil changes and a few other simple maintenance procedures and you WILL make her live a long time and get MANY smiles per gallon!  RIDE SAFE.

[tubehead]

I just sold my 79 CBX1000 last year which I considered a very heavy bike and every bike I own now is under 200kg wet and on the sporty side and ridden that way so I am stunned by the different but very addictive ride this massive motorcycle offers.I love the sound of the flat 6 and the totally different experience this bike offers and for the first time in 45 years of riding I can enjoy legal speeds and just taking in the scenery.
All my riding buddies think I have lost my marbles.
Wow what a great secret the 1500 Valkyrie is.

[R J]

A few of you commented they had not heard of an engine failure due to the belts.

That is very true, but I know of 4 bikes that the owner(s) changed the belts, didn't know what the hell they were doing and popped a couple of valves and a piston or 2.

They never lined up the cams, they just pulled the belts and stuck 2 new ones on as it set.   One guy I know shelled out a little over a Grand to the steeler he took his bike to for repair.

So keep that in mind before ya pull a belt.

My son has a Mazda in his shop that the owner tried to change the timing belt because the labor cost was 6.5 hours.      We are now trying to find him a good used engine.   Son already has 3 hours into it.   I think I found a engine in EAST Texas for it.    $2,500 for the motor and $300 shipping.    Engine guaranteed to not be an oil eater.

[Ricky-D]

You can be sure, if you take off a belt, that you will completely

destroy the belt if you twist and turn it every which way. The

belts were not made to be able to withstand such treatment.

You want to do that?  Have some new belts on hand for replacement

for you will surely need to replace them.

***

[salty1]

Thanks for that advice I did actually remove the cover and inspect the belts and they look brand new.
I own 2 air cooled Ducati's and the belts in those get changed every 2 years regardless of miles.
However I have stopped doing that now after accumulating a large collection of perfectly good belts.
So I will just leave the valk belts  for now.

Good decision IMO. Welcome to the asylum. Your going to love your new MC!

[CoachDoc]

I have a couple of brand new Gates belts that I'll let you have at a good price if you decide to replace them. Send me a PM if you would be interested.