I use to own one a interstate model and I will tell you it was the Best all around motorcycle I’ve owned and I have been riding for over 50 years! You can’t go wrong. Honda is just Great !
I bought my first Valkyrie 97 new. I bought my second Valkyrie 99 Interstate new. I am now riding my third Valkyrie 97 used. Also have a 93 red-headed stepchild Goldwing that gets minimal use. The difference in rides is amazing. Lincoln versus Hot Rod Lincoln. I've been riding for 58 years, the last 26 years on a Valkyrie. You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda Valkyrie. Keep the Shiny Side Up. 😎✌️🇺🇸
I made the ABYSMAL mistake of selling my Valkyrie and now own a 1500 Goldwing (NOT a mistake). Although the two are VERY similar, dynamically, the experience of riding a Valkyrie is unparalleled. Now, that's a bold statement, but I've been riding for 47 years and have lost count of all the bikes I've owned and I stand by it without reservation. It IS that good.
I own the same bike. It was always a bucket list bike for me. You did great. $1600! Yep, keep cruising Jesse James. Lol. The 6 into 6 will be my next purchase.
Another Valkyrie owner here. I bought my 1999 Interstate, brand new, still in the crate, in early 2001. Got a killer deal on it and it was my first NEW bike in 30 years! All my other rides were bought used. I have since rolled up 145K miles on this motorcycle and fall in love with it all over again at the start of each riding season. Being a 20+ yr old bike does mean that there are issues finding some parts, such as bodywork and add-ons, but most basic mechanical parts are still available. Also having a bike this old means you need to look after more things like rubber parts that you wouldn't normally touch on a much newer ride. I still look around for something newer as a replacement, but have yet to throw a leg over anything that really compares with my Valkyrie. It's painful to hear this motorcycle described as a Dad bike, but I get it. If only Honda had stuck with the original platform and added things like fuel injection and ABS, this bike would still be killing it. I'll keep looking for a new alternative, but in the meantime, I'm going to roll as many miles on this one as I can. Great video and thanks for the perspective from a younger rider!
I don't know if this helps you or not, but most of my bikes since the mid nineties have been heavy bikes, and I can honestly say that even though the Valk is a heavy bike, and it feels heavy, it doesn't feel anything like other heavy bikes. The weight is lower, and the entire design is well-thought-out. It is shockingly nimble, a surprisingly deep-leaning bike, and if it weren't for the wheelbase, you'd swear it handled like something in the 750cc range (for cruisers, anyway). But hey-- if you get tired of the weight, give me a shout. I have three so far, and unless it falls through, I will be picking up a fourth one Saturday. Since they went out of production, I am hedging my bets against ever being without one. Been riding since I got my first dirtbike at age 9. I'm sixty three now, and I have always had two or three bikes. I have never found one more perfect-- for me, of course-- than the Valkyrie. Enjoy it, Sir!
@@Twowheelsandchill Thanks, but the fourth one well through. Rode all the way to Orlando to pick it up, only to get the "oh, I sold it yesterday" story. A stinkin' phone call would have been nice, Dude....
Cool dads drive HOT-ROD cars and ride HOT-ROD bikes. The GL1500C “Valkyrie” is a HOT-ROD bike. It’s not a sedate “dad bike”. It a cool dad’s MUSCLEBIKE.
You should go back to that old lady and buy her some nice roses, bottle of wine and thank you card - for such a nice gift 😜. $1,600 for a Valkyrie is a border line theft 😆. Enjoy your ride brother ! Mine is 97, black with all around chrome . Not my idea. The original owner swapped whatever he could with chrome. Looks very classy. He sold the bike with all the original parts in the box to his neighbor, and that’s how I got it. With 2 boxes full of original parts, owner’s manual, additional documents, and printed Valkyrie bible. For $4,600 😉 I’m loving it !!! Enjoy yours !!!
You might want to service the final drive hub where it splines to the wheel they get dry and can wear out over time and are a little pricey if they go out... great video by the way👍
There seems to be a hard bias on the valkyrie engine.....although the same displacement and flat 6 lay-out it has almost zero similarities with the goldwing ... engine base and mounts are different for a start, then pistons, rings, camshafts, rockers, valve adjustment, carbs, gearbox, frame all is different. Thats why its such a great bike
Agreed! I have ridden a a Goldwing and much prefer the Valkyrie. The smoothness is the same, but the power from the Valkyrie is so much more. A great US made Honda!
That was not an issue for me at all. I actually find it more comfortable than forward controls. There is the option for highway pegs but with those, your legs are spread fairly wide.
I just picked up my second Valk last week. It had a nice seat and cobra 6-6 pipes. So $1500 didn't seem too bad. The carbs need cleaned. The guy pulled them off already.
Anybody who doesn’t appreciate the Valk, well, they just don’t have a clue to what a real bike is!! I’ve owned many many bikes. My 98’ Standard is my fav all around hands down
Blue and Silver Interstate, 96k, woundn't trade it for anything. Did a Iron Butt qualifier on it, 1007 miles in 15 hrs ten minutes, used a LOT ofgas though LOL.
When you got it, did you service the belts? I just picked up my 97 and it only has 10k miles on it. Forum advice is back and forth. It’s literally steel mesh and housed in a sealed compartment. Just wonder if you changed yours.
Thats just taking advantage of an old lady who doesnt have much experience with bikes. Nothing to be proud of. I hope you'll do the right thing and give her a fair price for an insanely good bike.
I did not take advantage of anyone. She was very aware of what a running Valkyrie was worth. But that was not the case. The bike was not running and surely needed a carb clean which is pricey if you have someone else do it and she needed it gone. She could have easily said no.
"Why I bought the greatest boulevard/power cruiser ever built." No explanation necessary. Fun fact: the Valkyrie was an American-built bike, and was available with reverse... but the reverse-equipped models were only available for export.
There’s only 3 things I’ve ever purchased new. My Ski equipment. Honda Valkyrie and now Gen3 KlR. Still have Snow ski but haven’t been on slops in yrs, the Valkyrie and KLR still get ridden often.
I’ve got a ‘99 GL1500C Valkyrie with 1 carburetor for each of its 6 cylinders. And I have an ‘84 GL1200S GoldWing with 1 carburetor for each of its 4 cylinders. Both bikes are STOCK as they came from the factory. That’s FOUR carbs on a GoldWing, not two as you stated in your video here.
You are correct. The 4 cylinder Goldwings did have 4 carbs like my 1975 did. When they went to the 6 cylinder motors in the GL1500, they moved to 1 large carb per side.
Years ago I had a black/yellow '97 standard. I traded it for a 2007 Victory Kingpin. I just recently found a '97 the same color as the one I had. I traded my '08 FJR for it. I'm not letting this one go ! Great motorcycle !
All earlier Goldwings had 1 carb per cyl. My 1980 GL1100 undressed, had 82h.p., and Did the 1/4 mile in 12.5 secs. at 105mph! At 2500rpm all 4 carbs kick in, and away you go.Cheers from B.C. Canada, EH!
After riding Harleys for 50 years , I bought a 97 Valkyrie, just because I always wanted to try one. I'll always be a Harley fan , but the Valkyrie is one awesome machine. I'll never sell it.
Wow, you scored a real beauty for a great price. I'm sure she's happy with $1600 in her pocket more than a bike in the backyard. I rode a GoldWing once and it was the easiest bike to ride.
When I got the bike, the owner did not know where the windshield was or even if her late husband still had it. Oh well! Still got a great bike for a steal!
