My Riding Impressions and Other Thoughts

Well I've had my newest bike for just over a week now, and gone on a few around-town and through the country rides. Since this is my first Valk ever I guess my impressions on it are pretty much new, so to speak.

First of all I guess I need to point out for reference sake the bikes that I've owned and ridden quite a bit:

82 Yamaha Maxim 650
85 Honday V65 Magna
92 Suzuki 750 Katana
96 Kawasaki GPZ1100

So I've never really owned a large cruiser or ridden one so I can't truly compare it to any of its competition. But my impressions are a little more toward comparing it to my past (and current bike, the GPZ). Which I guess is fair or at least has some point to it...

Yeah, the first thing that I noticed was the weight. It is definitely noticeably heavier than any of my past bikes. No big shocker there since I had already read quite a bit about it being so. But something else that I had read and didn't truly understand till I rode it was its ability, or rather tendency to feel much lighter and responsive when you actually start riding it. It took me about 10 minutes to get used to the weight, probably just the time it took me to get comfortable with it, and then I was riding fine. Well fine enough anyway. After I re-acquainted myself with the technique of leaning the thing when taking right angle corners at intersections... everything just started flowing normally again.

The ride: Well it is very smooth, much smoother than what I'm used to but I guess was to be expected with the extra weight and engine design. It still feels really nice. I feel like I'm cruising around on one of those big police cruiser bikes... and I guess I am. I'll have to wait till later to try riding with a passenger.

Handling: It's rather amazing handling for such a large bike. I feel a little more limited in responsiveness than what I'm used to but much less than what I expected. It seems to handle very well for its size.

Looks: Well it's a little unfair because my predecessors added quite a bit of chrome and took really good care of her but... she is beautiful. All of my friends who have looked at her so far just about refuse to believe that it's a 98 model bike. It just looks too good. But that's only condition. The Valk is what I have considered for years now to be the most beautiful cruiser ever built, and I continue to feel that way.

Engineering: Well it took me a little while to find the seat release key slot. Geez, why'd they put it down there. That's a rhetorical question though because I like it down there. I just didn't immediately look there for it. I also like the ignition key location, down on the side and not apt to get water or other adverse debris in it. Nice design. The battery compartment is the first that I've had/seen to have the little cover on it. I was looking around for the tool box till I noticed the bungee thing was tight, then realized that I needed to remove it and look underneath. What a great way to access the battery too. Layout is nice, but I'm a 6' tall guy so I don't really have to reach for anything. This bike is the perfect size and layout for me.

All in all this bike is pretty much everything I expected it to be, and a little more here and there. I'm expecting to keep her indefinitely. Sorry for all the words but I just thought I'd toss my impressions out there for anyone who was interested.

[Valker]

77K on mine and still in love

Well a nice ride on Sunday introduced me to two interesting things:

1. Short range of gas tank. I started noticing a loss in power at 135 miles on the trip odometer. I'm not sure that the guy I bought the bike from completely filled the tank so don't know if this is typical or recurring for the bike.

2. The loss in power when needing to switch over to reserve was intersting. The bike wasn't trying to die, it just felt like it had lost about half of its power. Made it easy to reach down there and switch to reserve. Nice charasteric/feature.

My 98 Valk hits reserve around 135 too driving freeway speeds and a bit more.  You are right about the slow drop in power.  It took me awhile to figure out that when the bike was slowing down and sounding a little odd that it was running out of fuel. I was releived that that was the case, not something more serious.  Unless you are already on reserve of course.

Ride safe

[sonny turner]

I have had my 03 standard since it was new, about 13 months now and absolutly love it! Just turned over 9800 miles today, the wife and I just got back from a long 4th with my sister and brother in-law who live in Mica Washington,beautiful open wheat fields and no traffic!!! what a blast we had.
I pushed her pretty hard coming home today,we were makin some time 80 to 85 alot of the time. Loaded with 2 up and a Tourmaster tank bag, and a FULL NelsonRiggs Pack, both saddle bags stuffed to the gills. and over the mountains we flew.....
I normally switch to reserve at about 135 -138.....Normally..
at 80 - 85 and in the mountains today it was 118 when I felt the
slight missing and reached down and went to reserve.
I think you will really have a good time with your new bike, I don't think you could find one that is as smooth and such a brute as the Valkyrie. WE can't get enough of ours.
Sonny

Honestly, I never noticed a difference with a passenger. Easy to forget they are there.

[RebornRider]

I have also taken the plunge after two years of admiring the big Valk's. I have ridden many bikes over the years for 1969 to 1989 and then had to take time away as we started a family. My wife and I loved to take extended long trips thru the country on the bikes I have owned over the years passed so when the youngins grew up I purchased another bike in 2003 (Honda Shadow Sabre) I really wanted a Valk Interstate but was a little skeptical about starting back riding a bike this big after all of the time I had been away from riding. Well after waiting and looking and lurking on this site I bought one in in June, a 1999 Black & Red Interstate. I absolutely love this bike as it has a great ride tons of power and does not handle bad for as big a beast as she is.I and my wife have ridden almost 2,500 miles on the bike in the last month and both of really enjoy cruizing on the beauty.

Welcome to the fraternity Reborn. Like you, I was on hiatus from cycles for about 10 years. I believe folks like us are referred to as re-treads. Heres my ride. Small world, eh?

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[RebornRider]

Ya know if I wasn't sure my bike was home sitting in the garage I would tink ya had my bike. I must say you have a nice looking ride there ha ha. I  am like you I plan riding this bike till the wheels fall off ,I have a new found love affair going with the lady!

[John-LXII]

I was intimidated by the Valk 4-1/2 years ago when I got "back in the saddle", so I bought a Magna 750/4.  A year later was drooling over a Valkyrie I saw at Americade (the owner was nice enough to let me stand it up to see how it felt) and I bought an I/S at the beginning the next season (last year).

My wife and I just drove it down to Tennessee for the Honda Hoot and we were both real happy with the ride.  2 miles, or 2,500 miles… it doesn’t matter to a Valkyrie, she just wants to go.

She's not red and black, but I guess I got it half right….

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[RebornRider]

John,

     Nice looking rig ya got there. Hey it looks like ya got Baker air wings on the bike? If so how do ya like them, as I was thinkin about getting them for my I/S.

[John-LXII]

I like them, although I did take the removable deflector off for the summer, because I wasn't getting enough airflow and therefore getting too much heat from the engine (see picture).  They are real easy to take off / put on and small enough to keep in the side bags.

I'm going to try to install snaps on the plexi-glass so they are even easier to put on, as they help keep you dryer in the rain as well.

If you want another opinion, I know Evan (Ossiningvalkyrie) just put them on his I/S, but he may still be in Montrose

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[John-LXII]

I almost forgot... Thank you (for the compliment on my baby).

We don't judge a man by the color of his ride. Just as long as the H is followed by O-N-D-A. She's a beaut  John.

['KC']

Glad to see that you are enjoying your Valk, how could you not? I (like Valker) have had mine for a while. I'm just about to hit 72,000 on mine, and that would match the mileage that I had on my '99 Interstate. SSSSOOOOO after nearly 144,000 miles I"M STILL IN LOVE.