Pondering A Change

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
07/25/2016 at 10:04 • Filed to: two wheels good

There’s nothing wrong with my Honda PC800. But my latest project has been building one good Suzuki Savage from two that needed help - one that I completed this past weekend. And after a test ride, I thought to myself, “I want a cruiser.” The Savage is physically too small for me, but I’m thinking a Shadow, Magna, Vulcan, Maurauder, etc. would be a good fit. (I’m not anti-Harley - I enjoyed !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a few years ago - but I don’t want to pay Harley prices.)

Turns out my friend Kate (who I recruited to write for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) is trying to thin her herd, and has a 2000 Honda Valkyrie almost exactly like the one in this pic that she’d like to re-home. It’s a big bike. It has a souped up Goldwing motor in all its 1500cc of flat-6 glory. I absolutely don’t need a bike this big. But it’s tempting. And she’s willing to make me a good deal on it.

It’s at least worth a test ride, right? Just to see if it actually sounds like a Porsche 911, of course...

DISCUSSION (12)

Tekamul > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 10:26

I have a Magna, and they’re great, but the maintenance can be a pain, with 4 carbs and 16 valves.

The same is true for the Valkyrie, but the motors are incredibly bullet proof. I almost bought a used Valk just prior to my buying the Magna. They are very unique.

My only caution would be to make sure you’re comfortable with the peg position, because the flat six reduces your options for highway peg placement.

Hammerdown > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 10:39

They’re fantastic bikes. There’s a reason they still bring 5-7k in the used market. As long as you take care of them they don’t require much maintenance. However, if you let them sit, there are 6 carbs that can get gummed up.

Go ride it. I bet you’ll be surprised how well it handles and rides.

Justin Hughes > Tekamul
07/25/2016 at 10:47

Four carbs? HA! The Valk has six. :) And I admit that’s a bit intimidating. But I spent my early riding career on a series of Suzuki GSs, which also have four carbs.

Fortunately, since it’s my friend’s bike, I’ll be able to test fit and test ride it before buying. The engine does limit peg placement, but I’ve never had highway pegs before, and I do OK.

Tekamul > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 10:49

Yeah, just look online for the custom synchronizers people have built for a valk. But it’s worth it.

Justin Hughes > Hammerdown
07/25/2016 at 10:49

Yes, I’ve already been told I need to drain the carbs religiously before putting the bike away for winter. And this one needs just a little help in that department. Not bad - it still runs and all, but it’s not living up to its potential, either. It’s also more than I’d planned to spend. I planned to sell my PC800, then ride the Savage briefly while shopping for a metric cruiser of equal or lesser value. But I’ll try it. I may decide to splurge.

jimz > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 12:43

guy I know through work has one, a 2012 I think. He’s got about 80,000 miles on it.

yeah, he rides.

DipodomysDeserti > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 13:40

That bike has a larger engine than my car.

The Compromiser > Justin Hughes
07/25/2016 at 19:19

Vtx 1300c. Big enough, one carb, Relatively cheap, good forum support, and you can get it in Yellow.

Justin Hughes > The Compromiser
07/26/2016 at 09:33

A friend of mine has a VTX. Not sure if it’s a 1300 or 1800. It’s funny because she’s a small woman on this big bike.

Kinja'd!!!

I mean, she can do that.

The Compromiser > Justin Hughes
07/26/2016 at 10:31

That is a 1300C. The C is: Short fenders, integrated Risers on the handlebars, one Pc seat. 1300s have “plain” spark plug covers. The 1800 has 2 Fake (I think) bolt heads on each one. Hammerdown has an 1800, I have a 1300C.

It goes well, is a comfortable bike that can be made perfect with a seat and adding risers to the risers (parts that move the handlebar/riser combo back). a lot of guys on the forums have had theirs since new and have no plans on getting rid of them. I do my own maintenance on just about everything. I even rebuilt it after I crashed last year. It hauls my Fat Ass around like it was nothing. The 1800 is referred to as the Hot Rod. Different gearing in the rear and the monster motor.

And tell your friend that that bike is sweet! or Sick, Or Dope. Whatever you kids say these days.

Justin Hughes > The Compromiser
07/26/2016 at 10:56

Will do! She calls him Gus.

I’m wondering if something like a VTX, Valk, etc. is more bike than I need. Looking at CL, I can pick up a very nice Shadow ACE or similar in the $1500-2500 range - about what I’d like to get for my PC800.

The Compromiser > Justin Hughes
07/26/2016 at 13:04

Well then, Gus is rad! (do kids still say rad?)

I found the only issue I had with the Shadow 750 was that I was just too damn big at 5'11", 200Lbs (At the time), and it seemed to have to work too much to move me around. It always felt like I was a “Big Guy On A Little Bike”. It was a great bike though. I could throw it around pretty easy, and only started to lose out at the very top end (it felt like it needed another gear).

And if you are only getting what you need, a 125-250 should just about do it. Life can’t all be about practicality ;)