How fast are we?

[holly]

 I am up in years now, so going fast is not as big a deal as it used to be. But yesterday I was visiting with a nice young man at a Quick Check store, who was riding a 1200 sportster. We got to talking about our bikes and the who is faster subject came up. My take was that the sportster might stay with the Valkyrie for one or two gears, but then the big six would start to dominate. He did not agree or disagree, and I neither of us suggested finding out. I was just wondering if any of you have had a chance to take on other bikes, Harley or not?

[wiggydotcom]

I think you'd be correct about the Valkyries result over most Harleys. "Some" Valk folks make a sport out of chasing down Harleys, especially the one's with their "mightier than thou" attitudes.
I ran into two such ones tonight. I was stopped in the first spot at a traffic light and two Harley boys with full outfits/jackets pulled up next to me in the left turn lane. They didn't even bother looking over for the 20 seconds it took for the light to change As they were talking, one of em was pretty much looking in my direction but wouldn't even make eye contact.

Now IF they had been going straight, I might have toyed with em a bit before showing them the tail lights of an F6b.

[rocketray]

well my understanding is a standard w/o windshield will do the 1/4 in a bit over 12 seconds and will go nearly 150mph for top speed..it might take a little while to get there--I would bet w/Attic Rats mods and Viking headers--the tech board posts show some 125 rear wheel horsepower so mid 11's I guess would be possible...I have had some fun little stoplight runs to 50-60 against Harleys and pulled them before shutting down due to safety/saneness...the need for speed  just isn't what it used to be--50 mph over the speed limit is a felony in Texas..35 mph over is reckless driving and is a jailing offense...

[DirtyDan]

Really ?

[rocketray]

yes...if the police chase you for 1/4 of a mile...you are "fleeing"..another felony....if you were going along at the high end of "flow of traffic" that 1/4 mile is gone in less than 10 seconds....and Dallas jails are NOT where a white boy is going to have an uneventful stay...the jailers don't seem to care or have other priorities

[Jess from VA]

I'm not so sure about the biggest inch FI Hogs anymore, but there was a time a really well tuned/modified 1200 Sporty was about the fastest thing they had.  I did some roll-ons with a nice one the other day, and he could not keep up (but he didn't disappear either).  As usual, after leading onto the freeway and settling down to 10 over with everyone else, he blew by me weaving in and out of traffic (and hurt my ears with his pipes).  

Racing, especially drag racing from a stop, is generally a bad idea and a good way to get multiple tickets.  Riding along in a decent open space and rolling-on with someone is safer and less likely to draw 250 people's attention.  And it's not always the best bike.  Sometimes it's the better rider.  It's the most fun when it's both.  

If 35 over is reckless in TX, 20 over is reckless in VA (discretionary: you might only get a speeding ticket), and you can be cuffed and taken away for any reckless (and bike towed).  80 anywhere is also reckless, and that includes 80 in a 70 zone on the freeway (only 10 over).  

[Mr Whiskey]

I doubt you're gonna see 150mph outta any of the flat 6's,
shaft drive pretty much dooms 'em to a top speed of about 135.

[Rams]

I doubt you're gonna see 150mph outta any of the flat 6's,
shaft drive pretty much dooms 'em to a top speed of about 135.

Mr Whiskey,

Please enlighten those of us less educated on this.   Honestly, I don't understand why the shaft drive would put such a limitation on the bike.   Not that I ever intend to test it.    I'm also of the age that going that fast is simply looking for a bad end result.

[sleepngbear]

Shaft drive has no bearing on top speed beyond the few more HP it might lose at the final drive over a chain. If anything is gonna doom the top end, it's Honda's insistence on gearing everything so low. But I believe our Valks are electronically limited to 125 mph, so that point is moot. My days of jaunts into the triple-digits are long behind me anyway; it's just about the fun of roll-ons and getting from here up to reasonably within the legal speed limit these days for me, and the Valk is easily all that I can handle for that.

[Sorcerer]

Only the 1800 Valks are limited to 125mph. Indicated and actual speed are two different things.

[Rams]

Shaft drive has no bearing on top speed beyond the few more HP it might lose at the final drive over a chain.

That's pretty much what I was thinking but, I don't pretend to have all the answers so, I thought I'd ask.

[Moonshot_1]

Shaft drive has no bearing on top speed beyond the few more HP it might lose at the final drive over a chain.

That's pretty much what I was thinking but, I don't pretend to have all the answers so, I thought I'd ask.

I do have all the answers. Just don't have any idea where they are.

[John Schmidt]

Shaft drive has no bearing on top speed beyond the few more HP it might lose at the final drive over a chain.

That's pretty much what I was thinking but, I don't pretend to have all the answers so, I thought I'd ask.

I do have all the answers. Just don't have any idea where they are.

I've reverted to my teenage years.....I have all the answers, just don't have a clue what the questions are. 

Re. top speed, one thing I've found as I grow older.....it takes a lot less of anything to give you a thrill. You can apply that to any category that comes to mind, hands down. As for racing a HD, or any other brand, it's kinda like kissing a beautiful woman. First time you feel great about it and you have something to talk about for a short time until you find out you're just one of many that's been there before you. And once it has been done, what have you proved....or gained.    Shortly after I got my Valk 14 yrs. ago, once I got used to it I opened it up to see what it could do. At a GPS 120mph I realized it had more to go but I didn't so I shut down. At the time I only had the w/s on but no bags or corider seat/backrest. I've never been back up there since. Over the years I've had some "interaction" with other brands, they found the result rather surprising. Strangely enough, the HD riders were the only guys that took it personal. Just my experience, your results may...and probably will be....different. 

[sleepngbear]

Only the 1800 Valks are limited to 125mph. Indicated and actual speed are two different things.

Oops, forgot which section I was in.

Indicated, actual, don't matter -- it's very, very seldom I'm even up near an indicated 80 mph. One reason I'm hesitant to put a windshield on is all that headwind tends to make my throttle hand behave more prudently.

[rocketray]

I recall reading in this forum of a guy--documented--that ran some 145 + for several miles--I had a 1150 Suzuki 1150 ES w/125 rear wheel horsepower -it weighed 550 pounds-and a similar frontal area of a standard Valkyrie--I got it going on a slight downhill and was too scared to look down for over a flick of the eyes and some 157 showed..on a closed track of course....triple digits just aren't safe anywhere around DFW--far west Texas maybe-they have the Big Bend Open Road Race in Fort Stockton annually for cars--with a rollbar they let you go 168--full cage and probably fuel cell it is unlimited...

[DirtyDan]

My Valkyrie was at 138 ready for more. It was enough for me

Dan

[rocketray]

years ago on my 1st honeymoon the guys and gals were all leathered up on their 'Busa's running 175  by me on the Autobahn in Germany...my 4 popper rent car would hardly do 100...over there the faster vehicle has the right of way--and strict lane discipline is religion...

[BF]

As per the title of this thread of...."How fast are we? "

I got to 105 once and it was STILL climbing.  That was way more than enough for this old guy. 

One time with the wife on board, I rolled up to a stop light with no one else around.  When the light turned green, I thought that I'd give the wife a thrill and open it up.  With both of board, the bike got to 95 and still had WAY more than enough to keep on climbing. 

At that 95, all I heard was the wife back there with her hands up in the air screaming WOO HOO. 

I thought to myself....OK, where's my wife and what have you done with her.   

[wiggydotcom]

I'm sorry if I'm a doubting Thomas, so to say, but my eyebrows raise a tad every time I hear a claim that such and such hit 145 or 150 on their Valks....and then say it was still pulling! Really?

The reason I 'm skeptical is because the fastest I've ever heard ANYONE go on a classic Valk was Dragbars Christian's 161 mph. And that was with a blower and a stripped down bike that had engine work.

For those that aren't familiar with the Bonneville Project, I'll print the link.

http://www.dprracing.com/bonnevalkproject.html

To the rest who claim 140+ on an original classic Valk, take a video showing your run while capturing your GPS speed of 140mph or more in the same video and I'll buy the first one breakfast at IZ.

[Alberta Patriot]

Hate to break it to Y'all but the average off the rack sport touring bike equipped with windshield, travel bags and all will blow away both the 1800 and the 1500...no problem...The Honda 600RR that my son had would easily blow away all of the above(once you spin it up above 10,000 RPM). I choose the long haul comfort of the Valkyrie knowing it has all the juice that I need.
I would like a Yamaha FJR as a solo touring bike though...(the wife would hate the small pillion)

[BF]

I'm sorry if I'm a doubting Thomas, so to say, but my eyebrows raise a tad every time I hear a claim that such and such hit 145 or 150 on their Valks....and then say it was still pulling! Really?

The reason I 'm skeptical is because the fastest I've ever heard ANYONE go on a classic Valk was Dragbars Christian's 161 mph. And that was with a blower and a stripped down bike that had engine work.

For those that aren't familiar with the Bonneville Project, I'll print the link.

http://www.dprracing.com/bonnevalkproject.html

To the rest who claim 140+ on an original classic Valk, take a video showing your run while capturing your GPS speed of 140mph or more in the same video and I'll buy the first one breakfast at IZ.

I've only ever tried twice to see what the bike would do.  

The one time I hit 105 was WITHOUT a windshield.  And my eyes were watering at that...so I'm not totally sure that I actually did 105, but I think I did.  

The other time that I hit 95 with the wife on board was WITH the stock windshield.

Those are the only two times that I have ever tried to see what the bike would do.  

After I put the fairing on the bike, I've never tried to see what the bike would do.  Never felt the need to try that ever again.  

However, I really doubt that a stock Valk would do much over 125/130....but I don't know for sure.  

[Jess from VA]

I personally don't give a crap about top speeds.  I don't go there at all, been over a 100 a dozen times, maybe 115 once.

What I care about is how quick it gets up to say 70-90.   And the Valk gets there quickly.  Quicker than most.  And she runs through the twisites really well for a big old fat girl too.  I do these all the time.  Not top speeds.  

And top speeds require long flat straight roads.  I hate those roads.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I personally don't give a crap about top speeds.  I don't go there at all, been over a 100 a dozen times, maybe 115 once.

What I care about is how quick it gets up to say 70-90.   And the Valk gets there quickly.  Quicker than most.  And she runs through the twisites really well for a big old fat girl too.  I do these all the time.  Not top speeds.  

And top speeds require long flat straight roads.  I hate those roads.  

I don't get over 100 very often anymore. But it sure doesn't take a long , flat, straight road to get there. There is an overpass over a little wash about a 1/4 mile from the signal light where I work. I have been known in my excitement of getting off work to hit 100 by the time I reach it. 

[3fan4life]

To the rest who claim 140+ on an original classic Valk, take a video showing your run while capturing your GPS speed of 140mph or more in the same video and I'll buy the first one breakfast at IZ.

Will this work?   

[wiggydotcom]

To the rest who claim 140+ on an original classic Valk, take a video showing your run while capturing your GPS speed of 140mph or more in the same video and I'll buy the first one breakfast at IZ.

Will this work?  

Although it's cool and might stroke your ego, it doesn't satisfy the requirements for a free breakfast.

Btw, just what airliner did you take your GPS on?   

[ridingron]

Btw, just what airliner did you take your GPS on?   cooldude   

I didn't think airlines flew that fast. I had an old GPS I bought used. The highest speed box was 638 mph. Don't know how he got that kind of speed reading.

I ride an ST1100 (Honda, V-4, ~100 HP, ~70 torque, 5 speed, shaft drive) that I GPS speed of 117 mph. Had some left but why? The urban myth has it at 132 mph. Several have said 4th gear will get you a higher top end as the torque won't pull much in 5th at top end. I don't know.

[Mr Whiskey]

I doubt you're gonna see 150mph outta any of the flat 6's,
shaft drive pretty much dooms 'em to a top speed of about 135.

Mr Whiskey,

Please enlighten those of us less educated on this.   Honestly, I don't understand why the shaft drive would put such a limitation on the bike.   Not that I ever intend to test it.    I'm also of the age that going that fast is simply looking for a bad end result.

Gearing
Ya jus' caint go out & change the gearing on a shaft drive bike like swappin' cogs on a chain/belt drive....
You're pretty much stuck with what ya got, & it is what is...
Primary Drive        1.591
Secondary Drive    0.971
Final Drive            2.833  
1st gear               2.66
2nd gear             1.722
3rd gear              1.291
4th gear             1
5th gear             0.805
That's why I've always wished they'd chose to produce this one instead...

[The emperor has no clothes]

I doubt you're gonna see 150mph outta any of the flat 6's,
shaft drive pretty much dooms 'em to a top speed of about 135.

Mr Whiskey,

Please enlighten those of us less educated on this.   Honestly, I don't understand why the shaft drive would put such a limitation on the bike.   Not that I ever intend to test it.    I'm also of the age that going that fast is simply looking for a bad end result.

Gearing
Ya jus' caint go out & change the gearing on a shaft drive bike like swappin' cogs on a chain/belt drive....
You're pretty much stuck with what ya got, & it is what is...
Primary Drive        1.591
Secondary Drive    0.971
Final Drive            2.833  
1st gear               2.66
2nd gear             1.722
3rd gear              1.291
4th gear             1
5th gear             0.805
That's why I've always wished they'd chose to produce this one instead...

Whoa ! That's bad ass ! Chains and sprockets could get expensive though. 

[Lyle Laun]

I've always used this for the "how fast" questions

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/articles/2015_01PerfIndex.pdf

Lyle

[John Schmidt]

So you wanna race, eh?  I just came from an all-you-can-eat burrito lunch and my afterburner is ready to go so bring it on. 

[holly]

 Well, since I started this mess, I guess I should give my two cents worth. When I was much younger, I never missed a chance to take on other bikes or cars for that matter. The fastest I have ever been on a bike is 137 mph by the speedo on a 79 cbx. That 137 was as fast as it was going to go. However, I had a guy I worked with that said his cbx would run 160. I doubt that it would have, but it may have been a little faster than mine. I have owned several bikes that were quicker than  my Valkyrie, a GS 1000, three GS 1100s, and probably the cbx. I also had a GS 750 that would have come pretty close in the quarter mile. My 1981 GS 1100 would run a high 11 second quarter with me riding it, but my 82 and 83 were both quicker, but I never raced them at a strip. I think the magazine times for the Suzukis that I owned were anywhere from 11.0 to 11.5, of course that was with riders that were much more skilled than myself.

[art]

Before I quit riding I've tested my Valk standard plenty of times. My son owns a Triumph dealership in Socal an we had a drag race through a deserted intersection one night a few years ago. He was on a Triumph sport bike.an I took him for about 50 to maybe 100' and then he blew by me. We topped out at about 60 t0 70 mph and shut down.  I have gone up to 135 on I-17 up out of Phoenix,Az with a new 1800 VTX and a new Harley Road King. The Vtx showed 131 and I showed 135ish side by side. The Harley was so far behind he didn't count. The best was 0_100_0 mph in 19 seconds in the Az. desert. during my high speed braking practice. I just wanted to see if I could do it. At 65 years old at the time it was all I could do to keep going due to getting dizzy fron the hard take off. I have normally low blood pressure and sure felt it. BTW the VTX 1800 is faster than the Valk. He could slowly pull away from me while he was two up.

[hubcapsc]

Me and Wimp both have Red and White Valkyries. Once, on an island ten miles outside of the
territorial limits of the United States, we drag raced... he would always pull away
from me when I shifted into fifth gear.

-Mike "don't shift to fifth gear..."

[therapist]

Many years ago, felt frisky after detailing the Valk (standard with windshield off) took her up to 137 (indicated) on a deserted local straight away. I had just switched out the ignition module for an Interstate one, was curious to it's effect.

Afterward, I scolded myself. All it would have taken to meet my maker, was some loose gravel or a deer popping up. That adrenaline rush was pretty intense though 

[holly]

 I have owned a 1800 vtx and I am not sure it would out run my Valk. Once again, like the Harleys, it makes most of it's power at lower rpms. I would give the vtx the edge for the first 2 or 3 gears, but I think the f6 has the advantage after that. It would probably be a really close call.

[Willow]

Many years ago, felt frisky after detailing the Valk (standard with windshield off) took her up to 137 (indicated) on a deserted local straight away. I had just switched out the ignition module for an Interstate one, was curious to it's effect.

Afterward, I scolded myself. All it would have taken to meet my maker, was some loose gravel or a deer popping up. That adrenaline rush was pretty intense though 

LOL!  I'm a littler scared by high speed these days.  Some three point five years ago I was apparently doing about 80 mph when the inflation of my rear tire gave out rather rapidly.  I hit the pavement hard injuring my finger, wrist and brain.  There also were my knees, big toe, nose, face in general and the flesh on the back of my left hand.  I've come to the conclusion that I will meet my Maker when He decides it's time and not based upon so much what I do or what happens to be in my path.  I do, however, experience some fear at high speed and my pulse tends to increase when I pass a freighter on the flyway.

This past weekend returning from the Kansas monthly lunch I ran for a time at 105 - 110 indicated at the encouragement of a two up V-twin.  Fortunately a Kansas State Trooper showed me his lights a quarter mile ahead of where I was rolling as he crossed a few lanes to assist a tow truck on the right shoulder.  Honestly it was fast enough and long enough for me.  The machine had more left in it.

Life is interesting, isn't it?  

[3fan4life]

To the rest who claim 140+ on an original classic Valk, take a video showing your run while capturing your GPS speed of 140mph or more in the same video and I'll buy the first one breakfast at IZ.

Will this work?  

Although it's cool and might stroke your ego, it doesn't satisfy the requirements for a free breakfast.

Btw, just what airliner did you take your GPS on?   

Who says that it had to on an airplane?

After all I do ride the Fast Black. 

[3fan4life]

Btw, just what airliner did you take your GPS on?   cooldude   

I didn't think airlines flew that fast. I had an old GPS I bought used. The highest speed box was 638 mph. Don't know how he got that kind of speed reading.

I ride an ST1100 (Honda, V-4, ~100 HP, ~70 torque, 5 speed, shaft drive) that I GPS speed of 117 mph. Had some left but why? The urban myth has it at 132 mph. Several have said 4th gear will get you a higher top end as the torque won't pull much in 5th at top end. I don't know.

The big ones do when cruising between 30,000 and 40,000 feet.




I've seen 135mph on the speedo, didn't have the gps on the bike that day.

I might have had a litttle left to give but not much.

[3fan4life]

I have owned a 1800 vtx and I am not sure it would out run my Valk. Once again, like the Harleys, it makes most of it's power at lower rpms. I would give the vtx the edge for the first 2 or 3 gears, but I think the f6 has the advantage after that. It would probably be a really close call.

A friend of mine has a VTX 1800 that I have ridden several times.

They are quick but not quite as quick as the Valks.

Susposedly, they have more top end speed than the Valk.

I've never had his over 100 mph but Iknow that it will run into the triple digits easily.



He bought it just before we took a trip to Daytona, he traded in a 750 Shadow that he'd been riding for a few years.

He never rode the Shadow hard, he normally isn't an agressive rider.

Once on our trip to Daytona I came out of a rest area running hot. When the speedo hit 120 on the Valk I started to close the throttle and let him catch up.

It's a good thing that I looked in the mirror first, he was running about 3 foot off of my back tire.

Usually, I can take him off of the line but I can't run off and leave him either.

[czuch]

Long straight Arizona road, nothing in sight.
Several guys an I turned around to fetch a fair maid's glove.
Then the , "look". I let her rip. 6.5 in each gear.
5th at just under 7K rpm,was 136(ish) indicated.
I figured if a javalina came out of the bush, we were both gonna die.
I held it just a little longer, backed off and blew by the group in the oncoming lane.
97 Tourer with the window. I don't think the gas was touching the side of the float bowl.
These wonderful machines, I had the same sensation as at 60 mph.
 You could tell she was workin, but it was smoothe* as ever.
* "E" added for emphasis.