Why ride a Valkyrie

[TC]

I haven't ridden in years. My last bike was a Yamaha 1100XS Special, about 20 years ago. Since then, I've ridden a few, tried out a few, but that's it.  Now, the bug has hit me again. I'm retired now and have several friends who ride regularly and, of course, they are urging me to join them. My wife is not in favor of this at all, but I'm working on that, too.

My request for the forum is to tell me about Valkyries. There's one for sale at a local dealer that appeals to me, but the weight of it and the size of it made me wonder. I'm beginning to think I should start with something smaller and lighter, ride that for a season, then trade it on something bigger, like the Valyrie. The dealer also has a low mileage Magna 750 that seemed more manageable.

So tell me about Valyries folks. Thanks!

[don07tncav]

TC, like you I went several years without a bike and got back into them. My first two were XS-11's that I restored then resold. Saw a Valk at a Cracker-barrel and had to have one. At first all I got from Mama was a lot of grief and "that part of my life was over" but one day she wanted to go out and buy a helmet and she started riding with me again.

After we saw the Valk, I sold my XS's and picked up a Black IS at a reasonable price. The past three summers, we've toured on the Valk and were talking to each other at the end of the summer.

The Valk has a fairly low center of gravity compared to the XS, plenty of power, very smooth, draws attention, and I found the Valk easy to drive. You might consider a refresher riding course then go for the Valk.

[TC]

Thanks for the reply, Don. A refresher course sounds like a good idea. I have kept my cycle endorsement on my driver's license over the years, so I don't have to do that again, but a refresher course might build my interest and help my wife get over her fear. She assumes that I'll be killed the instant I get on a bike again. And, this is a woman who used to race snowmobiles when she was young!

I'm surprised that Honda quit making the Valkyrie. Any info on why that happened?

[MP]

I bought my Valk last June.  Best thing I have done.  LOVE the bike.  Once you start moving, the size melts away, and it handles great.  Take a refresher course.  Good for everyone.  Get the Valk, and join the VOAI!

MP

[clintsdivco]

Like you I hadn't ridden for 10 years.  Had not ridden any bikes at all over that time period but the day after I retired I flew to El Paso, Tx, bought an Interstate and rode it 1100 miles back home to Independence, Mo. Was pretty much used to it by the time I left El Paso City Limits.  That was in March of this year & I have put 26,600 miles on it since then.  I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the Valkyrie, it is a great machine.

Clint

[cookiedough]

I was in the same boat less than 2 years ago.  I sold my 1984 Honda 700cc magna in 1997 and have not driven a bike since buying my 01' Valkyrie Interstate at the end of the riding season in 2007.  Although I have not putten too many miles on the Valk this year due to a knee injury torn ligaments bad in June non cycle related, I can honestly say I too was a little intimidated riding the first 2-3 times the 1520cc vs. my old 698cc Honda.  Trust me, if you are able to ride any bike over 700cc, you can drive a valkyrie.  I find the Valkyrie Interstate just as easy to drive as my old Magna, but with more smiles per mile.  There is nothing wrong going solo with a Magna, but if the misses EVER wants to be on back, you and her will regret the Magna purchase since the back seat is even bigger and more comfy on my Interstate than the 1520cc Goldwing I was looking at buying before I bought the Valkyrie according to my wife.  I weigh 265 lbs., 5'10",  and the misses pushing over 180, so a Magna will not cut it unless you are under 200 lbs. and the misses under 130lbs. - too small and not enough power.  If the price is right and after you test drive it, you will not look back. The valkyries handle like a much smaller 700cc cycle in my opinion and the only time I notice the weight is when I stop sometimes with the wife on back it seems a little heavy on the legs or when I try to back it up into my garage to park it and move it around in my garage (tight fit with the extras in the garage).  The bike is very well balanced and not overpowering and I say take a ride with the misses on back and she will let you get it.

[TAZ]

all good advice I say,  Taking a refresher course at your local Motorcycle Safety training place is the key here.  Having been off a bike for so long before you ever get out riding take that course big time!  There are public and private places that hold these courses so either one will get you the right training and will save your life.  The records show that middle aged men or older going out and getting a big bike that have not ridden in years have a higher rate of crashing that those kids on crotch rockets.   Depending where you live I would suggest getting a smaller bike from say 500-750 for a few months and ride it alot getting use to the steering, cornering, traffic, etc then sell it or keep it for your wife and get the Valk after that.   That is what I did after being off a bike for a few years and it really helped me with my confidence on riding a bike.  Plus when you do the safety class it will be much easier for you using a little bit smaller bike. I would even suggest taking the beginner safety class as they are very good and they supply the bike for you.  So what have we covered here is simply...TAKE THE SAFETY CLASS FIRST THING....IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE....hopefully.

[NITRO]

I rode a Shadow 600 for a year before buying the valk. They're big bikes for sure, but if you respect her, you'll do just fine. Hope you find your bike and join us for some rides! And if you get a non-valk first, remember that you're always welcome to join in here and at the ride-ins.

[TAZ]

oh yea, if you get a good valk, check out the jade and black in the classifieds, buy that and then get a cheap smaller bike for like acouple of months to get use to it again and then sell the small bike in the spring...you'll be glad you did, just to get the jist of it gain and for safety reasons....we want healthy live members on here....and do yourself a big favor.

[cookiedough]

You will be surprised on how stable and easy the 700+lbs. is to move around in traffic as long as you are about 5'9" on up and you are in O.K. shape.  However, if you are in your mid to late 60's (not to discriminate as I'm sure there are several 60+ old riders out there who could show me a lesson or two), you may want to make sure you are strong enough legwise to move it around by foot if you have to before you buy.  My Valkyrie was owned by someone in their 60's who could no longer handle the weight and size simply because of old age setting in along with my neighbor who sold his older Harley Ultra Classic because at around 68 years old, he felt the bike was too heavy for him to handle and it did not help that he tipped it riding along a corn row fenceline on the old farm (I told him it is not a dirt bike, but he is a retired farmer).  This is from my neighbor who now at age 73 is overall in excellent shape and walks 2-3 miles everyday and is physically active and probably could outwalk me anyday.  Personally, if I was in my mid 60's even though over 20 years away, I'm sure I could not handle the bike I have now unless something drastically changes like losing weight and in overall better physical condition.

[ohblackwater]

I realize I'm a late poster...but what the heck.  I have a few items to add. 

1) I am 5'7" tall and I have ZERO problem handling the Valkyrie.  I wear good boots with a heel on them and I can flat-foot my bike at a stop.
2) I have the Valkyrie Standard (682 lbs).
3) I would encourage buying the Valkyrie as a first "back at it" bike for someone who was a skilled rider at one time and still is confident in their ability to ride. 
4) Regardless of how confident I was about riding the Valkyrie, if I'd been away from motorcycling for some period of years, I'd ride the bike for 1,500 miles before taking on a passenger, or taking the bike to the drag races or anything like that! 
5)  My 1,500 mile number is the amount of experience I feel is necessary to get the bike and rider to "understand one another" and it gives the rider time to have encountered the vast majority of the circumstances he's going to encounter while riding.  I'd do this 1,500 miles without radio's a bunch of electronic devices that are likely to take away attention, etc. When I get a new bike, I devote this time to becoming one with my machine.
6)  Many of my friends have ridden my bike and commented on how "light" it feels and how fantastic the Valkyrie handles.  I came to this bike from riding a crotch rocket, and while this is NOT a crotch rocket, it handles very well, and is a super strong performer. 

Nothing against the Magna as I understand it's a great bike.  I'd get the Valkyrie and get what you're going to want to live with rather than something to settle on until you can't stand it any more and you end up getting the Valkyrie anyway!  Hahaha. Best wishes.
JQ

[MP]

Good comments.  +1

MP

[mello dude]

Thanks for the reply, Don. A refresher course sounds like a good idea. I have kept my cycle endorsement on my driver's license over the years, so I don't have to do that again, but a refresher course might build my interest and help my wife get over her fear. She assumes that I'll be killed the instant I get on a bike again. And, this is a woman who used to race snowmobiles when she was young!

I'm surprised that Honda quit making the Valkyrie. Any info on why that happened?

Hi TC, -- I think the story on why Honda stop making the Valk is that - first the bike is a bit of an odd ball and most crusier guys are just V twin diehards. (fools) So the Valky atttrached only a certain kind of people and we're really a small group. So riders that wanted one, jumped out and bought theirs. Its classic supply and demand. The demand dried up, so the supply has to too.

Comments on handling the beast - the bike has such a low center of gravity, that once you get moving passed a fast walking speed, the wieght seems to melt away. The only place the weight is really  apparent is in U turns and to a degree cornering. In U turns you have to have some confidence that you can handle what is going on and make the bike go where you want to. And then in corners, some counter steering is a very good idea. After all it is 700 pounds. Take it a step at a time and you should be alright.

MD

[cookiedough]

   Just like riding a bicycle.  Once you learn, you never forget, just a little nervous at first going back on after awhile. 

[bigfish_Oh]

Why ride a Valkyrie ?   ---   

That's easy, the first thing that pops into my mind is 2 of us on a '82 CBX even with a 1268 engine and the other top upgrades was still not "comfortable" and we are bigger and less limber today.

  I've had my 99 since October

   I sold my bought new '82 after 12 years when my son turned 16, no
arguments that way and I wasn't riding much anymore, my leathers had shrunk also !
I had about 28K on it and a 1268 engine.2010, 13 years later by fluke
I get a Valk. As a joke I got in the back of the closest before going
to work one day and got out a leather skirt and jacket and told my wife
to have these on when I get home. She said , "buy a Harley". 5 minutes
later I found one local to call about on my way to work. She did not
realize I had same stash and could sell an extra tractor(Allis Chalmers-
ORANGE) and toys(farm toy collection) and buy a bike. It was sold, and
while searching I found out a sportster is a baby bike(for 2 big
people). So I started looking for a dyna T sport, little harder to
find, then I remember Honda made a second 6 cylinder. 2 weeks later and
a couple toy sales I find an 99 ORANGE one above Detroit ! a really
nice one owner, 20K miles.
   MY Destiny ----    while uploading some pictures to a web site I
found the only bike picture on my computer that had no reason to be
their. I downloaded/saved that picture in 1999 because it was a 6 and
ORANGE(they only made in 1999) and forgot about it. It was the bike I
just bought, it has been at my feet for 12 years !!!