BeastRider's Honda Valkyrie
February 2006 Update: I had to sell my beautiful
silver and blue Interstate when I moved to
I took this picture right
after I bought it. Since then I’ve
put the windshield back on and purchased a Givi trunk box for it. You can click the smaller photos to see what
it looks like. I’ve even built a
rack to carry my golf clubs. I just
remove the right bag and attach the rack.
Very handy since this scooter is my primary (read only) transportation
in
The Honda Valkyrie has got to be one of the most amazing motorcycles ever built. On this web page, you'll find pictures of my own Valkyrie(s), plus various tips and suggestions for maintenance, additions, and trailering. Write me at wayne@herberts.org if you have further questions.
The history: While I was at school at Rice University in late 1996, I saw my first Valkyrie while riding a Honda Shadow VLX 600. At every stoplight, the woman riding it would just zoom away when the light turned green. I was intrigued. A few weeks later, I had an opportunity to test drive one. Big mistake! I finally broke down, and in April 1999, I bought my first Valkyrie. It was a 1998 Tourer. Maroon and Creme.
Talk about falling in love! I put more than 12,000 miles on that bike in less than a year. I put $3,000 worth of chrome and accessories on it, including glass pack mufflers, highway pegs, and a backrest. Then the unthinkable happened. My Valk was totaled in a wreck. Fortunately, with the blessings of my wife and a decent insurance payoff, I was able to purchase a 2000 model Valkyrie Interstate.
Here are a few specs on the Honda Valkyrie Interstate I own and ride.
- 95 HP at the rear wheel.
- 98 lbs ft. of torque at the rear wheel
- 865 lbs wet weight
- quarter mile times of 12.5 to 13 seconds
- 6 cylinder, 1520 cc, 6 carburetors
- Electronic ignition
- Twin floating caliper, dual pistons brakes front, single dual piston, rear.
- 5 speed transmission, shaft drive.
- See the Honda Sales Brochure for more specifications
Overall, any sport bike, aka "crotch rocket", with more than 600 cc's can outrun this machine. On the other hand, it eats Harleys unless they have a Stage 3 kit in them. Then, they can keep up, but while the Harley gets rebuilt at 40,000 miles, 100,000 miles and more is typical for a Valk. What is most fun is to race Mustangs and fast Camaros. They know they can beat a Harley... they learn real quick that they can't beat a Valk. The best thing about this bike is the combination of power, smoothness, and size.
As a side note, my brother had been riding
various motorcycles for decades. After I bought my Valk, I told him about
it, but warned him not to test ride one. Well, he ignored me and test
rode one. Three weeks later he too, owned a Valkyrie, a Standard.
Shazaam! A New Valkyrie - And In My School Colors, Yet!
Valkyrie Related Links
My Original Valkyrie
The Wreck That
Destroyed It
Technical Pages
Relationship Between
RPM's, Gear and Speed
Torque, Horsepower,
and Acceleration
Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About Gasoline
Projects And Additions to the Valkyrie
Build a Low Tech Lift
Adapter
How to Build a Cheap
Harbor Freight Trailer
How to Attach a
Trailer Hitch to a Valkyrie
How to Attach
Trailer Turn Signals to a Valkyrie
Miscellaneous Valkyrie "How To" Pages
Mounting Baker Air
Wings and Rivco Air Horns
Baker Air Wings on An
Interstate
How to Tie Down a Valk
for Trailering
Comparison of
Hondaline and Rifle Windshields
Picture of an
"L" Bracket to Raise the Honda Windshield
Pics of Burnouts, Kewl
Bikes, Etc.
Other Valkyrie Websites
Terminal Valkocity – Probably the most comprehensive set of
Valkyrie links on the web.
Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club (VRCC)
Valhalla Six Guns - A Texas Riding Club
Rattlebars
Excellent Valkyrie FAQ's
Delphi Trailer Towing Forums
Page last updated 12 February 2006