Valk Build/Mod Thread: Closer And Closer

Area for discussion of the Honda Valkyrie

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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#76

Post by Lucien Harpress »

I'll probably finish up the rear rack supports this weekend, and I'm picking at some minor things, but today a question:

I was looking around the upper radiator hose, as it goes by the frame on it's way into the radiator, and I found this clip jammed into the space between it.

Image

It wasn't attached to anything, and the rust spot on the frame that lined up with the hole in the clip leads me to believe it's been there for a while. Before I start combing parts schematics, does anybody have any idea what this thing is?
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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sgwilly
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#77

Post by sgwilly »

I don’t recognize it but I’ve never removed a Valk radiator either.
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#78

Post by desertrefugee »

Same here
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Liam
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#79

Post by Liam »

To me that looks like a clip to hold a paper sheet onto a drawing board.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#80

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Yeah, I'm inclined to believe it fell off something and just happened to get wedged between the radiator hose and the frame. Between the Harley parts and the Cobra goodies I can tell this bike has led a full, interesting life, so it could be anything.

That fact that other Valk owners have no idea what this is makes me feel a bit better.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#81

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Another day, another little detail to pick at. Today's goal? Horns!

So a bit of backstory, the bike as purchased came with an air horn. However, I was never too keen on it- while the compressor works, the horn doesn't. Either due to faulty horns or a split air hose, I'm not sure. Either way, the compressor is jammed up under the right sidecover, and while it "works" (so to speak), that plus the relay turned all the OTHER wiring into a mess. That paired with the fact I don't use any of the horns on the bikes I have that much led to me to decide to delete it.

Now, I could just put the stock horns back on, but where's the fun in that? A quick trip to eBay later, and voila!

Image

Now, as far as mounting them goes, I COULD just run them up by the front belt covers, like they came from the factory. But in my quest to do dumb things correctly, I went back to look at a bunch of old British bikes, and where they decided to put their horns. I noticed a lot of them tended to put them back by the rear fender, for whatever reason. Take this Ariel Square Four, for example.

Image

Now, I'm always a fan of a bad decision, so I just may try something similar. The issue is getting the fitment right so it doesn't get hit by the swingarm, rear shocks, or the feet of a potential passenger, while also looking good- again, a dumb idea, but executed CORRECTLY.

Not helping my case? When they arrived they were a bit... larger than I was expecting.

Image

I'm still playing around with fitment locations, but those are minor details. After that I'll fab up a quick bracket, and pretty soon it may be time for a trip to my powdercoater. Until then!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#82

Post by digger »

Looking good! I really like that rack and the saddlebags together, nice touches.
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#83

Post by sgwilly »

sgwilly wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:13 pm I just saw (and ordered) an aftermarket replacement direct from Japan.
https://www.megazip.net/zapchasti-dlya/ ... 1333MZ0A00
Turns out it’s not so aftermarket. Looks like the real deal.
047AAF56-DEF7-42FA-AF65-F84B1EB79E68.jpeg
047AAF56-DEF7-42FA-AF65-F84B1EB79E68.jpeg (424.15 KiB) Viewed 475 times
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
IBA #58082
All my stuff is old. It makes me feel young.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#84

Post by Lucien Harpress »

They must've been on the same plane, because mine showed up today too. It only took a few seconds to pop it on (getting the rubber grommet in was the worst part), and it looks great.

No photos, because I was too busy riding, for a change!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#85

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Image

I managed my first ride longer than about 10 minutes the other day, so I've got a bit better idea of what living with one of these beasts is actually like. In no particular order:

--These bikes are definitely planted. Everyone goes on about how smooth they are, but what got me was just how stable they are. If you're not dealing with a twitchy bike, it's easier to relax. I can see why these are such mile-eaters.

--Handlebars are perfect. They look great, and are very comfy.

--I knew the exhaust had been modified, but at the time I only thought the "piggies" (short extensions past the muffler, hidden under the exhaust tips) had been cut off, a rather common thing that was done. However, it looks like the baffles have been drilled out as well. The resulting noise isn't unpleasant by any means, but I'm also getting a bunch of light popping out of the exhaust. It sounds JUST like my Jeep with it's slightly-rotted-needs-to-be-replaced muffler. I could chase it, but with the modified muffler I don't see a point. It doesn't seem to affect performance in any way, so unless something pops up later, I'm just going to live with it (and maybe possibly be on a long-term lookout for a new exhaust system, maybe).

Overall? I get why people fall in love with these things. :crosso
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#86

Post by Jonesz »

Handsome Bike Lucien. Like the bags. Never seen a Valk that I didn't like although I am a bit prejudiced. Maybe would try to carry the bag look to another part of the bike to give it some continuity (tank bib or whatever).
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#87

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Yeah, I agree about the bags. I'm tossing around some ideas about adding some brown accents up toward the front. Maybe a tank bag or something.

I've never been a fan of the Valkyrie gauge and headlight setup- the wide-set gauges and chrome pods aren't my favorite arrangement, and the headlight is a bit too recessed for me to like. I got plans to revamp them both... eventually.

I'd also like to swap the seat out at some point too. The goal is to incorporate a cantilever solo seat somehow, and if I can get the cushion on that a similar brown shade, it would tie things together as well.

That can all be later though.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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sgwilly
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#88

Post by sgwilly »

Looks nice. Maybe a leather fork bag.

That popping may be due to cracked vacuum hoses in the air induction system. Capping them off is often done. Redeye sells a kit with chrome plugs but it can also be done with just a tube of JBWeld. Or you could also replace all the hoses.

A bunch of folks swap in a VTX headlight bucket which pushes forward a bit more with a bit more angularity.
vtx on valk.jpeg
vtx on valk.jpeg (11.79 KiB) Viewed 421 times
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
IBA #58082
All my stuff is old. It makes me feel young.
SGWilly Gallery
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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#89

Post by Whiskerfish »

One of my favorite ever GL1000's had a set of Valk Interstate side bags on it. The lines matched up perfectly.
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and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

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Re: I Did a Thing: Valk Build/Mod Thread

#90

Post by desertrefugee »

...But they are pricey.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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