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name: Dave #3166
email: d.charron@nunet.neu.edu
harley: Softail (almost)
valkyrie: 2000 I/S

comments

I was on the waiting list for a Softail Standard when I had an extensive conversation with a Honda mechanic. He had a '76 GoldWing with 350K miles (unbelievable!). I saw with my own eyes. In that conversation, he made high praise of the Valkyrie, particularly with respect to engineering. From that point on, I was to make the Valkyrie my second choice if the Harley deal feel through. Well, the Harley fell through. The Harley dealer told me the waiting period was going to increase from 12 months to approximately 14-16 months because of new model unavailabiltiy. I thought it over for a few days and then removed myself from the Harley list. I took delivery on a new 2000 I/S on Saturday, 03/25/00, and I'll never look back. Ride safe. Dave #3166

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name: claude r pelletier
email: bovi@videotron.ca
harley: road king 98
valkyrie: 2000 interstate

comments

I had an accident with the road king caused by the steering being rubber mounted, at high speed ,115mph it began to tank slap and I woke up in the hospital. I then searched for a powerful cruiser that would handle and maneuver better and safer. I tried a Yamaha, good bike, no power, I bought a 1100 xx Honda, handled like a dream but had to wear full face helmet. felt like a prisoner. back to dealer. proposed a valk try. voila..., bought same hour .power ,handling, music, safety and braking. happy biker. I still wear my hd clothing and get flack about it ,so what. not riding a tractor any more claude

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name: louie
email: louielamour@yahoo.com
harley: 83 fxwg
valkyrie: 99 standard

comments

I rode (and built) HD shovels and pans for 25+ years. I guess I just got bored with the Harley scene. Got the need for speed and tried out the crotch rockets for a while (zx11) which was a blast, but cops did'nt think so. Then the Valk came out. best of both worlds takes off like the zx11, cool like a Harley without trying to be one, but smoother than both.

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name: FP
email:
harley: FLHS
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

I owned 4 Harleys. Years ago you could go into a Harley shop and talk to the wrench who would work on your scoot, asking questions and getting help in the event you could not fix the problem yourself. Now in Denver you cannot even get your eyes on the dope who is going to touch your ride. You end up talking to some ass in the new botique who was selling computers a week before. All shops in Denver are assholes. Friend turned me on to Interstate and never been happier, and Faye Meyers service treats you like gold!! Thanks J.D and staff!! Harley-You gave me great memories, but you outgrew your welcome. Good example of todays Harley rider happened when I was on ride last summer and dude on new HOG was stranded in Southern Colorado with his dressed to the nines ol'lady. Stopped to help and due was cocky, but could not get bike to start. Was on his cell phone at the time we stopped to help. Problem was: engine kill switch!! (true story!!) 

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name: Kenster
email: kenstree@rockisland.com
harley: 80/80 Shovel
valkyrie: Tourer

comments

Just bought a 98 Valk today...Last week I offered a local Harley dealer $400 less than his asking for a 95 Road King...Well the dirtbag sold the bike out from under me without even making a call my way, and after today's ride on the much more powerful Valk, I will have to thank him when I pick up the shovel from it's "Last" Harley service repair date at his dealership...FOR SALE 80/80 FLH....email me if you would rather wrench than ride.... KENSTER

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name: Rick Schrubey
email: rickx101@earthlink.net
harley: 1996 xlh 1200
valkyrie: 1999 Interstate

comments

I was treated much better by the Honda sales people unlike the "my shit don't stink" Harley dealerships. I am very pleased with my purchase and the service I received from Cedar Creek Motor Sports in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I can't say enough good things about this beauty. By the way I also own a 1976 GL1000 that does not leak any oil unlike the 1996 Sportster I just sold.

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name: Bob Adamski
email: Bestof21st@aol.com
harley: Ultra Classic & Wide Glide
valkyrie: Custom

comments

Valkyrie spanks Harley in speed, ride, comfort and confidence in the machine. Gone is the slow acceleration, intolerable vibration, scary lifter sounds, and sheep like big twin attitude. Now no cruiser beats me. Period.

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name: Bill Miller
email: Durell2@juno.com
harley:
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

I had an Electra glide Classic on order and money in hand to pay for it. However, this was in May and it wasn't suppose to come in until the following November. This was going to be my dream bike, something that I always had wanted. I wanted something to carry me through the summer so started looking around. Honda Goldwings always interested me and I thought seriously of buying one. The only think I didn't like was the enclosed engine and outdated appearance. There was a Valkyrie Interstate parked next to the Goldwing that I checked out. I got on the Interstate to see if my short (5'7") body would reach the floor. No problem! I got the green/gray color and have added just a few add-ons. I have absolutely no desire to buy a Harley now. Needless to say, I cancelled my order. I would like to get just a little more exhaust note out of the Interstate but there doesn't seem to be much out there yet. I get the impression that many people buying Harleys today buy them because they don't know about any other bikes out there. They just assume that a Harley is the bike to have. The choice was simple for me. Why buy a bike with a one year warranty, priced over list, a long waiting period before delivery, some problems with reliability (although much improved), requiring a considerable financial investment to bring it up to par; when I could get a bike with a 3 yr. warranty, proven reliability, $1,000. under list, and almost100/100 out of the box? My only other consideration was that the bike be made in America. Well, my Valkyrie is made in Columbus, Oh., with about 80% American parts. Comparable Harleys are about 70% American parts from what I've read.

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name: bernt rauschenbusch # 707
email: bernt.rauschenbusch@daimlerchrysler.com
harley: road king
valkyrie: valkyrie standard 98

comments

I did own 3 Harleys, 2 dynas and 1 roadking injection. the bikes are ok. I ride 5 to 8 thousand miles a year, on long tours, and I want to arrive on time. I had mechanical trouble with all 3 of them, but the service in Europe is just indecent, from august to end of September most Harley shops close for summer holidays. and I don't need the shop when there is snow and ice outside. so now, I ride a Honda and am very happy. Honda service is always open, never closes, the prices are 1/4 that of Harley and the service is on time and dependable. in short, to me a bike is as good as the service.

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name: VALK-6
email: danielhkidd@yahoo.com
harley: 1200"Custom" 95th anniv.
valkyrie: 1998 yellow/ivory standard

comments

I also was riding a 1200"custom" 95th. Funny I saw alot of them around. My Valk gets looks and stops traffic wherever it goes. I went and test rode a Valk "just for fun". I only went 50 feet till I decided I would trade. I got my Valk 2 days later. NO REGRETS!!!!!!!!!!. VALK-6

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name: Craig Jordan
email: pilot1088@freewwweb.com
harley: XL1200C 95th
valkyrie: soon, maybe soon

comments

Forgot to mention also I'm getting tired of cars outrunning my XL in the stoplight derby...

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name: Craig Jordan
email: pilot1088@freewwweb.com
harley: '98 XL 1200C 95th anniv
valkyrie: not yet, but maybe soon

comments

I haven't gone from HD to Valk yet, but I am drawn to the Valk. I prefer to have something unique, something different from the crowd and nowadaze it seems everyone is getting a Harley, donning do-rags and leather and riding around trying to look like bad dudes. I'm just not the poser type. I currently ride a '98 HD Sportster 1200C 95th anniv ed. I like it well enough but I can't stop thinking about the Valkyrie, and how even with it's size it felt better balanced just sitting on it and standing with it in the dealership. Being a private pilot, I like the flat 6 cyl config the Valk uses, reminds me of an aircraft engine, except for the revs and the water cooling. Think I'd like to put a set of beetle hard bags on it, makes it look like a cat crouched down ready to pounce.

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name: chiefj48
email: chiefj48@aol.com
harley: '96 road king
valkyrie: '98 valk standard w/bags

comments

If i have to explain you wouldn't understand !!!!

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name: Hans Lind
email: maclid@zeta.telenordia.se
harley: Sportster 1100cc
valkyrie: -98

comments

It is the only way if you wanna ride far and safe.

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name: Arnold Floaty
email:
harley: fat boy
valkyrie: standard

comments

I used to ride a Harley Davidson motorbike. Now I switch to the Honda. I'm riding a Honda motorbike and I don't ride the Harley Davidson motorbike anymore.

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name: Dave Hoffmman
email: dhoffman@televar.com
harley: 90 Fat Boy
valkyrie: Tourer 98 (Convertable)

comments

I went from 3,600 miles per season to 22,000 the first season, when I got my Valkyrie. Just added Cobra's 6n6 pipes. Wow! Started out this season sitting at 40,000. Have gone through 3 sets of tires. The first pair in 10,000 miles. That F6 can really burn them off if you know what I mean. I have never had a single problem with my Val and there isn't a Harley made that could have kept pace across the whole of Montana with me last year (averaged 135 mph) I have never been one to follow the crowd, I own a Saturn, a Macintosh and a Valkyrie because they all do the job and do it better. Live to Ride & Ride to Live!

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name: Mike Hildebrand
email: mhilde3434@cs.com
harley: 1999 dyna convertable
valkyrie: 1999 1500c

comments

I owned several Harleys before I bought the Valkyrie. I always wanted to check out the 6 cylinder bike. I bought the Valkyrie and figured I would keep both bikes and switch off. After a month, I found myself only riding the Valkyrie. I enjoyed the acceleration, the smooth ride and the handling of the Valkyrie. The Harley just sat in my garage so I decided to sell it. That says it all in a nut shell.

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name: BIG JOHN
email:
harley: 3-45's , '37 VL , 54 PAN
valkyrie: just enjoy true proformance,'98 Tourer

comments

So which story do you want to hear first. Pogoing down the highway with a 10 over springer or prying my newly chromed primary cover off on the side of the highway so I could put the primary chain back on or the draging kickstand or the rear brake and sprocket that in 2 bolts would have spelled a big disaster or the extreme vibes or the missing bolts or the day the oil pump let go-stain is still on the garage floor at my moms house after 23 years or the dual quartz headlight bracket that vibrated into junk and left me to use my bootlaces to hold my lights at 11:30 pm 90 miles from home. Like the shirt says " before you can be old and wise you must be young and stupid

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name: Dave "Rim Rammer" Rummel
email: drmcleod@hotmail.com
harley: Electra Glide
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

Park your loafers and pull up a saddle, 'cause Uncle Dave is going to tell it straight. First of all, I used to ride a Harley because it was the thing to do. All my buds rode Harley's and if I didn't ride one too, I thought they might accuse me of being a panser or pantaloon. Well, ol' Uncle Dave boogied around on his Glide for many years but when I caught sight of my first Valkyrie I said to myself, " !!!" I didn't say anything. I just said, " !!!" with my mouth falling wide open and a little glob of saliva hanging from my lower lip. My local dealer let me take one out for a spin and I immediately got wood. I says to myself, " !!!!" It was a thing of beauty. I felt like a screamin' cowboy piggyback riding on the tailfin of a Tomahawk Cruise missile. I never looked back, and only stop to refuel. Next time you're out cruising the blue highways, scan the horizon for a laughing skeleton mounted on a midnight colored Valk with the wind whistling between its teeth and the blood-red sunset reflected in its mirror sunglasses. Tip your hat and yell a howdy-do to Uncle Dave. I'm the 2-lane warrior who sleeps in his saddle and rides through the shadows of your wildest fantasies my friends. Life is good and sweet and short, and I happen to be in the process of choking the crap out of it. Adios fellow peeny puppeteers.{...with a wink and a whistle}

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name: SCOTT
email:
harley: Demo
valkyrie: interstate

comments

i went to buy a Harley.. I had the financing. I saw a sportster that had been customized by the previous owner and then traded in when he realized the amount of money he had spent. I thought it was a great value at well under 10,000 dollars for a 98. The salesman disagreed.. He said that at 6'2" I should be looking at the bigger Harley's. He tried to get me in to a dyna or fat boy, both of which i would have had to place on order till September of this year. I said no thanks I really like the sportster. he then called the owner of the dealership over to meet me. Same story different tune. This is a quote "sporters are the ladies bike in the Harley line up" Need less to say I was a bit offended , as i thought I had made an informed buying choice. I left and headed for home, passing a Honda dealer as I went. They had a yellow valk out front that caught my eye. So I stopped in and I now own a 99 Valk Interstate "a man's bike" for near the price of the Harley. As a salesman first rule is "never pre-judge your customer" I'm glad i got the valk, and will never go back!

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name: Richard
email:
harley: Sportster 
valkyrie: 97 standard - Black of course

comments

Harley I had was in early 70's, the good old AMF days. Need I say more? I think it interesting that the postings against the Valk in this forum are anonymous. They are inarticulate and without substance. I doubt that many of these posters have even sat on a Valk let alone honestly considered one. I hope this forum doesnt digress to flaming brands. I dont dislike Harley, I just prefer something else. I wonder if the Harley people understand supply and demand. Harleys best product is their marketing. my 2 cents

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name: John - kap kaos - Olliver
email: kapkaos1@aol
harley: Electro Glide Classic
valkyrie: 1999 Standard

comments

There comes a time were old out dated design and technology is just not enough - The Valk is a faster more stable bike on a wonderful platform and suspension -

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name: Robert Scott Wilmoth
email: bikerbobpoet@cs.com
harley: 77 shovel,48 panhead
valkyrie: 1997w/leather bags/windshield

comments

1. I got tired of having to work on it all the time 2. I can go farther away than I would feel comfortable calling a buddy with a truck to come pick us up...AGAIN! 3. I can stop! 4. I can corner! 5. I don't have to carry 2 quarts of oil with me at all times. 6. It isn't trying to be a Harley. Even my buddies that do ride Harleys respect it. 7. I've had two Goldwings (still do have one) You can't beat these motors. 8. It impresses ME, If it impresses someone else, great, if not, they DON'T know motorcycles!

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name: charlie
email: parsons341@aol.com
harley: sporster,  junk
valkyrie: custom

comments

I am 47 yrs old had a few Harleys, never had one that i did not have a lot of trouble with , and I had plenty of minor problems , and plenty of major ones as well , the only thing you can call a Harley sporster is a piece of junk.. the Valkyrie I have now I a real dream after 9000 miles have not found the first thing loose on it ,,it is a real dream and I love it ... also the people who ride Harley now a days , when there not on a trailer that is, they are the biggest bunch of phonies I have ever seen... love the Valkyrie and the people I meet riding it ... the old Harley riders like me are the real bikers...

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name: MANNY RIVERA
email: MRIVERA285
harley: 72 FLH
valkyrie: INTERSTATE

comments

I'VE BEEN RIDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. STARTED ON A SPORTSTER. THEN A CHOPPER. THEN I DECIDED TO BUILD MY OWN. IT WENT FROM RAT CHOPPER TO RAT DRESSER TO FULL DRESS WITH BRIGHT RED PAINT. WENT TO STURGIS TWICE ON HER. THE LAST RIDE WAS THE MOST DISASTROUS. WITH MY DAUGHTER WITH ME ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG WENT WRONG. FROM SPROCKET BOLTS SNAPPING OFF IN THE BADLANDS, BROKEN RADIO FROM THE VIBRATION ,BLOWN EXHAUST GASKET IN MISSOURI RESULTING IN FRYING MY WIRING AND BATTERY, AND FINALLY THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT LEFT ME STRANDED IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. MY BUDDY HAD TO PICK US UP (FROM NJ!) TO SAY I WAS DISGUSTED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IT SAT IN MY GARAGE FOR A YEAR BEFORE I DID ANYTHING WITH HER. JUST 2 DAYS AGO(10MAR00) I PUT A DEPOSIT ON A '99 VALKYRIE INTERSTATE .HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK I'LL BE RIDING IT. I GOT VERY DISGUSTED WITH HD, THE DEALERS, AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT RODE HD'S. THE ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE DISPLAYED HAS BEEN A REAL TURN OFF.

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name: Larry
email: Jdfcats@aol.com
harley: 1995 FLHTCU Ultra
valkyrie: 1997 Valk Tourer

comments

When I went to purchase a replacement for the 1995 Harley I could not find one at retail price. I had been having trouble with the Harley (only 10,000 miles) between the recalls that the dealer could not fix properly and break downs on the road (dead battery, Bad fuel valve, elect. shorts). So after 10 years riding Harleys (1989 soft tail and two Tourers 92 & 95) I say good bye. I am happy to say my 1997 Tourer (8600 miles) runs great. The only tool I need is the key to start it. Great power, smoother then the Harley Ultra. My wife said she feels that she doesn't have to get off and push it up the hills when we are both on it with full travel gear. It will be awhile before I go back. All my Harley friends like it too. One has already made the switch!

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name: Les in Seattle
email:
harley: 97 Dyna Convertable
valkyrie: 99 Tourer

comments

I loved my Harley. At 40 years old I felt it filled my needs just fine. Sure it had a few handling issues, but they weren't big (you just had to be careful sometimes), and the power seemed adequate for me. I continued this way for 2 and a half years. I noticed the Valkyries in the magazines and they seemed impressive. In person I thought the looks were awesome. I finally gave in to temptation and test rode a Valk. It took my breath away. The power simply devastated my HD. I went to all the dealers in the area test riding Valks to make sure. It wasn't just power, it was everything about the motorcycle. My HD just felt bad. It was a pretender. The Harley vibration and noise started to become obnoxious to me. I bought a Valkyrie and broke it in fast and took it to Sturgis this last summer with 6 Harleys. It was a great ride. My Harley friends teased me a little but they were also impressed by the bike. Some had spent many thousands on their Harley motors, and I could simply blow them away at will. The Harleys were also no match in the corners. I kept my Harley 6 months after buying the Valkyrie out of sentimentality. But it just felt bad, and I never really wanted to ride it. I began to notice that everyone and their brother had a Harley. I sold the HD and have no regrets. The Valkyrie is here to stay.

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name: Richard Barauskas
email: vmax@telusplanet.net
harley: new Fat Bot
valkyrie: 98 Black

comments

They had a Harley test ride day here in Calgary and I took out a new Fat Boy. I went down our infamous Deerfoot Trail and grabbed a handful of throttle at 65 mph, the Harley just made more noise and the speedo needle hardly moved. It was a beautiful bike but the big Valk definetly has it beat in the power dept. My friend has 96 Harley and at 12K miles already had to get the heads redone at mucho $$. I think they just can't handle the heat from sitting in our constant traffic jams, just idling away. Plus if Harleys are so good why don't they back them up with a warranty like the Valkyrie.

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name: gary wisniewski
email: excalibur_gc@earthlink.net
harley: lowrider
valkyrie: touring

comments

Harley is selling a item that is overrated and overpriced. no Harley on the market could compare to my Valkyrie, a Harley is slower smaller and twice the price. I feel bad for the people that pay all that extra for a name.

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name: Carl Bayer
email: cbayer4@tir.com
harley: 97 Road King
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

My Harley was a beautiful bike. Even now in my mind I see the Harley design as the most pleasing to me. Although everybody has an opinion. There are several reasons I left Harley, (1) even though the reliability of Harley-Davidson has risen tremendously over the years, my bike has left me in trouble 2 time in 11,000 miles. Nothing serious, but non the less a pain in the ass. (2) The performance is lacking, sure you can build the engine and add after market performance parts in order to get the juice you may feel you need. Your 16k+ bike just became 20k easy. Also the air cooled engine takes a beating and engine work is around the corner sooner or later. I guess that depends on the amount of riding a person does, 2 or 3 k a year and there's no prob. Lastly, I am into longer trips and plan to tow a trailer in the near future and the Valkyrie will do that with no problem.

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name: Mark Stewart
email: MAS764@AOL.COM
harley: Sportster
valkyrie: Standard with bags/shield/CDplayer/etc.

comments

The sporster was cool but unreliable; hauled it home 3times in a year. I also had a BMW R80RT,83K and dependable, but not very cool. I sold both bikes and shopped for a newer one,was snubbed at a couple Harley shops then read about the Valk. Last summer I bought my Valk from this webs classifieds. I simply love this bike. The group I ride with is 80% Harley and they have some nice bikes, but way over priced . Valkyrie is the total package, I have the POWER and they KNOW I have the POWER!

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name: dAVE mACHOUKAS
email: rEDRIDERR3@AOL.COM
harley: 1984 fxrt
valkyrie: iNTERSTATE

comments

sICK OF POOR BRAKES, LOWSY SHIFTING SLOOWW EXCELERATION TOO MUCH VIBRATION mOST OF ALL THE ATITUDE OF THE DEALERS AND THE WONNA BE YUPPIES THAT STARTED BUYING THEM sTARTED RIDDING HARLYS BECOUSE THEY WERE DIFFERANT NOW EVERYONE HAS OR WANTSA ONE rIDE fAST bUT sAFE dAVEm

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name: rod
email: rods99valk
harley: 96 fxdwg,97 softail
valkyrie: 99standard

comments

I got tired of turning wrench on the Harleys. The more power you get the less reliable the engine is. I still have some friends that can get me in the 1/4 mile on there bikes....but....none of them will go out of town unless there bike is on a trailer. I have 12600 miles on my valk and still love it. The HD images is cool but it wont get you down the road.

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name: Jim Terry
email: rubbidinks@aol.com
harley: '92 Lowrider convertable
valkyrie: '97 Red & White

comments

I'm 6' 2" tall, and about 195 lbs. It seemed that in the past, only Harleys were big enough for me to feel comfortable on. And of course, back in the 1960's and 70's, a 450cc bike was about as big as they came. British bikes came in 750cc sizes, but Harleys were 74 cubic inches, and parts were cheap to buy. I got rid of my old '68 Harley after getting out of the service, and didn't think about motorcycles for many years. I got married, got a good job, etc., etc. Then, the Harley thing was big news again in the early 90's, and I had to have one of those EVO Lowriders, and got a nice two-tone Red one. After putting on an S & S carb, new cams, pushrods, single fire ignition, and on and on, I think I had a whopping 60 HP or so. Then, in '96 I caught a glimpse of a six cylinder hot-rod on a TV ad. All I new was it was a Honda. A visit to a Honda dealer got me a flier about the Valkyrie, and something clicked. It made such design sense, six carbs into six cylinders, and out six pipes. Smooth, and POWERFUL!

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name: Mosa
email: tim.samosa@bigfoot.com
harley: Road King, 95
valkyrie: Tourer, 97

comments

I had constant problems with the bike. Mechanicals, electrical, leakage. I have now put over 30K on the 97 tourer and have had relatively few problems all of which were handled by the dealer quickly and under warranty. This bike's power is no comparison to the Road King. I've also installed glasspacks in the exhaust to make it sound as cool as it looks.... no comparison, the valk is a better bike overall.

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name: Tom Gray
email: tsm2000@earthlink,net
harley: FLHTCUI
valkyrie: ON order

comments

I rode a friends Valkyrie for a couple hundred miles and really liked it, that same weekend I hit a deer and really came out for the worst...6 months to get well and a $7500 repair bill on the Harley...I just was not anxious to ride the Harley anymore. So made the trade...The Valkyrie was the only bike other than Harley that I would get, Harley dealers just would not work with me and the Valk looks like you get a lot more for the money.

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name: Joe
email: itallian1@hotmail.com
harley: Electraglide
valkyrie: 1998 Valkyrie

comments

It would be difficult for me to compare new Harleys as I had a 1967 Electra Glide in mint condition. Sold it a few years ago due to the Big "D" (divorce). No doubt it was a "cool" bike and people loved the big seat with the springs underneath and all the chrome I had on it. But years of running at high temperatures, even using 60weight oil, couldn't stop the engine deterioration. And I had alot of work done on that engine. Also lost the tranny coming home from Cooperstown N.Y. I believe the mileage was in the 30,000 range at the time. Basically, alot of money to be "cool". I did get a chance to ride a 1999 Road King and my friend just bought a 2000 King. I must admit the 99 was a nice ride...more reason to own the Valk. As great a ride as the Road King was, the Valkyrie blows it away...not just speed. The newer Harleys seem to be plenty deep in power...But the Valk has speed, torque, handling, looks, and a freaken great warranty. You tell me why anyone who sells a bike bordering on 20K can only warranty the bike one year unless you pay, pay, pay some more...There is no question about Harleys re-sale value which isn't so much based on the quality of the bike as much as the demand for the bike from the public. I got a lot of money for my 67, however, over the years I put a "ton" in to it...I guess you really have to be into a motorcycle and what how it performs more than the "culture" associated with the bike. But you know, the Valkyrie not only has all the looks and performance anyone needs, it also has a "culture" all its own. There are many Valk owners and many more to come...And the best thing about them is they don't seem to care whether you wear leather and boots or jeans and sneakers...It's the ride man...the ride!!!!!!!!!!!!

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name: SKI
email: TJSCONST@aol.com
harley: 95 Heritage
valkyrie: 99 Valk Interstate

comments

Let's see, I spent 16k on extra's to get the hog to run 2 up on trips and be able to survive on the interstate, gave up and bought a Valk, Wow, a real motorcycle, good looks, speed, handling, brakes, no vibrating my fillings out, it's even made in America for those isolationists among us. Got some flack from the boys till I left them in the dust ( not even taking the Valk over 3500 rpm ( break in you know, haha) , they sure looked stupid having a dresser (interstate ) leave their sorry over priced archaic v twin oil leaking, over heating, mach crap motorcycles behind. After 1 day riding , they shut up and started asking to ride the Valk. My 120ci v twin is still in the shop and i hope to have it sold soon, I don't care it i ever swing a leg over Milwaukee Iron again . Remember when REAL riders rode Hogs, Now it's the wanna be's who ride hogs and the REAL riders choose a product the performs LIKE A MOTORCYCLE SHOULD Later SKI

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name: Tim
email: Hogwild 63
harley: 73 shovel/98roadking
valkyrie: tour

comments

Keeping the Road King, still love the look of a Harley, but tired or the maintenance of the shovel. The Val is sweet and huge! Its like an E ticket at Disneyland (for those who remember E tickets) Plan on changing the pipes thought, just too quiet. Now i have something dependable to ride when the Harleys in the shop or just sitting in the garage!!!!!!!!!!!

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name: trip
email: tferguson@advantisgva.com
harley: yes
valkyrie: yes

comments

quality, engineering, value

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name: Pete
email: Ntatxn@aol.com
harley: FLHS  1993
valkyrie: 99 Tourer

comments

I got tired of the bad ass image, the snobby attitude of the dealers (most of them), and the type of people associated with the brand. I love the Valk, but missed the feel and agility of a Harley. So, I ended up buying a Superglide to ride around on short, solo rides, and am keeping the Valk for high speed, two up, all day rides. Now, I'm happy.

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name: DALE
email: ldw7@yahoo.com
harley: 1979 superglide
valkyrie: 1998 Valkery

comments

I'VE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND I SOLD OUT FOR AWHILE. THEN THE TRUCKING CO. I DRIVE FOR GOT THE CONTRACT TO DELIVER THE HARLEY'S TO ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS...I STARTED GETTING BIT BY THE M/C BUG AGAIN. WELL, I FOUGHT IT AS LONG AS I COULD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I STARTED LOOKING AT HARLEY'S AGAIN AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE, AND I HAD TO WAIT. THEN ONE DAY I HAD A DELIVEY FOR A HONDA DEALERSHIP, AND I SAW M/C THAT RESEMBLED HARLEYS, WELL, I ENDED UP WITH A 1100 SHADOW ACE, GREAT BIKE, BUT A YEAR LATER I DISCOVERED THE VALKYRIE. AN EXCEPTIONAL DEAL CAME UP ON A SLIGHTLY USED ONE IN OHIO, SO I FLEW UP AND BOUGHT MY 1998 BLUE AND CREAM VALKEY AND RODE IT HOME. WITH THAT 1000 MILE TRIP I HAD A NEW LOVE. I TAKE MY RIBBING FROM THE HARLEY BOYS ,BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE A REAL RESPECT FOR THE VALK. I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT, AND CAN ONLY HOPE THE OTHERS DO SOON. THANKS FOR SUCH A GREAT WEB PAGE.

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name: KEVIN LINEMEYER
email: KEVINLINEMEYER@CS.COM
harley: 97 FLSTC
valkyrie: TOUR

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If I had to explain then you wouldn't understand.

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name: Gene Prentice
email: valkflame@aol.com
harley: Fat Boy 1997/ Sportster
valkyrie: 1998 custom painted tourer

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The maintenance costs were crazy on the Harleys. I put about 10,000 miles a year on my valk. Not to mention it has 50% more power than a Harley right off the floor. It is simply a awesome bike.

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name: Edwin R.Spomer
email: thefishermen@hotmail.com
harley: 1995 dyna wide glide
valkyrie: 99 interstate

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The Harley stock did not have enough horse power 2 up and loaded for a run in the mountains where we live. when you you build a Harley for 100hp or more it is impossible to maintain any dependability. you pay through the nose for more power and then it wont stay together. The interstate will cruise at higher speeds for endless miles and seems to handle the curves in the mountains just as well as the smaller and lighter Harley with smoother power. It is a lot more comforting to know you are going to make the run and back home without having to rent a room for the Harley so you can tear it down and while doing that you missed the event you were looking forward to it's a value time thing if you know what I mean. We have owned 67 bikes over the last 35 years of riding Harley & honda and without question the interstate is the best I could imagine for the full range of riding that we do and at the speeds we prefer to drive which is in the upper end of safety limits but with the superior brakes, throttle response and comfort of the interstate it is hard to slow it down. I have had the bike go into a wobble but at speeds above 95 other than that defect there is nothing I would correct. Leggs

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name: sketch
email: sketch15@earthlink.net
harley: FLH
valkyrie: Std.

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It was really a no brainer for me . Comfort ,dependability ,speed ,looks, dealer support and getting away from that feigned attitude of superiority. After riding the Valk I knew that this was more than profiling, it was the real deal. It backs up its looks with performance and handling.

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name: Pete
email: pwjcpa@juno.com
harley: ultra and softail custom
valkyrie: standard

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I sold my two Harleys in Spring of 1999 thinking I was going to give up motorcycles after many years. Then after about a month or so I began to miss the wind in my face. There were no new Harleys available in my area, so I decided to take a Valkyrie for a test ride. The power was awesome and the handling unbelievable. I had to have that bike and bought one on the spot. Fixed it up with some bags, removable windshield and riders' backrest. Now I have the best of all worlds, a great cruiser and a tourer when I want it to be.

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name: PANTA
email: cycle@intsvc.com
harley: 95 Road King
valkyrie: 99 Interstate

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I went from a 82 Gold Wing with over 155,000 trouble free miles to a new 95 95 Road King. My mistake. With the Harley I averaged a tow job about every 5,000 miles. I run a sidecar and with the Harley, it just didn't have the power to to get me up the mountains and I never could stay with the group as the left me in the dust. I spent thousands on the engine and gear changing with NO luck. So, when I saw the 99 Interstate it didn't take me long to make the swap. This bike hauls the sidecar with two people, one dog and a wheelchair with NO problem.

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name: Fred  (Grandpa)
email: fsmoose@ticon.net
harley:
valkyrie:

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Over the years I have had and riden numerous bikes. In July of '96 I saw an article describing the new Valkery. I went to the Honda dealer to see if they had one yet. No luck, but they said that they had one on order and it would be in soon. Well it came, I saw, I loved it and ordered mine and it was delivered after Labor Day. It's black with studded leather bags and seat. It is the sweetest ride I have ever had. It also saved my left leg. I was hit by a pickup truck that went through a stop sign and tore the left bank of the engine off, but I walked away! If I had been on any other bike it would have been my leg up there that took the impact. Well $7.800 worth of repairs and it was back on the road and running better than ever. You show me a Harley that can take that.

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name: Adrian West
email: apsco@thevision.net
harley: Several & 3 Wheelers
valkyrie: 98 Toure

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I bough my first Harley in 1971 and sold my last one in 1997. I almost always had more than one bike and some times as many as 10 at one time. I had a Harley 1200 Hot rod Sporster with a chunk in the engine plus every thing I could get on it and my touring bike was a 1500 Honda Gold Wing.

I got to where I hated to start the Harley because it was so loud that it hurt my ears and my wife's. I felt burnt out on Bikes in general so I put the Wing up for sale and The Harley. Sold the wing almost the same day but took 5 weeks to get rid of the Harley. I told my wife I was through with bikes only put 10,000 miles on the Harley and 8,000 on the Wing in 6 years, so who needed a Motorcycle anyway.

The first nice Day in 1998 I went down to my friend (The Local Harley Dealer) and he had a 98 Fat boy all set up for me and said here you go Adrian I knew you'd be back. I went home and told my wife that I was going to spend 18 grand for a new bike and she said that's fine its your money from your toy sale but I want you to know I'm not going to ride with you anymore. Of course I said why? Then she let me know that she was tired of the crowd, Tired of noise and didn't like her Knees in he chest all the time.

She had an add in Hot Rod Magazine about the Valkyrie and said I thought you liked this bike. I said it looked OK in the add but I didn't know. Hadn't seen one up close so how could an old Harley nut even admit he had looked at anything other than an Hog.

She says lets go and look at one and see what you think. When I looked at my bike setting there She said that things is nice and what do you think? I said I really like it so the next words out of her mouth was Then you buy that one and I will buy this 750 ACE Deluxe Shadow. Of course the rest is history and I put over 15,000 miles on my bike the first year.

I am so glad she went with me.

Adrian West

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name: Dave and Peggy Corbett
email: jsduqui@thegrid.net
harley: 1998 Heritage Softtail Classic
valkyrie: 1998 Tourer

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Comfort, handling, go (power), whoa (brakes), far less vibration, less maintenance, didn't like the Hog scene, the hype, the "brotherhood", the high $$$ for everything that has the logo. Even with an added $1000 in the engine, the Harley can't get out of it's own way. Now, on the Fat Lady, when that idiot comes screamin' up on my butt on the interstate, I just twist the throttle while in top gear and get out of harms way.

No regrets.

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name: robert haskell
email: rhaskell@cfl.rr.com
harley: super glide
valkyrie: standard

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I bought the Harley because of the BIG LIE that Harleys make gobs of power. I dumped a ton of cash on go fast parts and wound up with a scoot that would outrun most Harleys on the road but was still a pig by real performance measures. My Valk runs much stronger and it is bone stock.

Ever wonder why THE ALL HARLEY DRAGS are all Harleys.....The owners don't have to go home with their tales between their legs because the got whupped by a superior machine that cost a whole lot less....thereby perpetuating the BIG LIE!

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name: Pierre Chagnon
email: softail@sprint.ca
harley: wide glide
valkyrie: 1998 valkyrie custom

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big and powerful machine , f6 its the real thing ,the beast loaded of steroids, and the sound of Porsche carrera. For example my Harley its a air rifle gun, and my f6 44 magnum ,sorry for Harley drivers but the Valkyrie is the king of the custom bike.

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name: wedge again
email: jenkins3x@gatewat.net
harley: fatboy,sporster,flh
valkyrie: 00Tourer

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HAD TO LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT MY DAD HE IS A FULL TIME HARLEY RIDER, NO OTHER BIKE HAS EVER INTERESTED HIM, THAT WAS UNTIL I BOUGHT MY 00 VALK HOME, HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THE SIZE OF IT, ONCE HE GOT USED TO IT HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW SMALL IT MADE HIS FAT BOY LOOK, HE SAT ON IT AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE COMFORT AND LOW SEAT,I PUT HIGHWAY PEGS ON AND AGAIN THE COMFORT LEVEL WAS A 10,WHEN I TOLD HIM THE SIZE OF THE MOTOR,THE HP AND TORQUE #S, THE 3 YEAR UNLIMITED MILEGE WARR NOT 1 YEAR AS HE WAS USED TO, FINALLY THE PRICE HALF OF A DECKED OUT SOFT TAIL HE WAS SOLD HE IS NOW SHOPPING FOR ONE AND IS AMAZED AT QUALITY OF THE BIKE AND ITS POWERFUL STANCE, TRUST ME WHEN I TELL YA THIS IS A INCREDIBLE THING FOR MY DAD WHO IS A DIE HARD HARLEY MAN EVEN WITH ALL THE DEALER PROBLEMS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS HAD. SO IF ANYONE INTERESTED ONE 95TH EDITION FATBOY FOR SALE, DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE MY DAD MADE LOOK AT THE VALK BEFORE U BUY ANY OTHER CRUISER IT HAS IT ALL POWER, RELIABILITY,GREAT HANDLING AND THE PURE POWERHOUSE SIZE, RIDE SAFE AND ALL RIDERS TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER ON THE ROAD SEE YA WEDGE!

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name: roach
email: roach898@yahoo.com
harley: 88 flh
valkyrie: 99 inst

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I like to travel now kids are ground and not work on all the time. I ride 6000miles a year most yrs still go places and people all look to see what I'm riding. RIDE SAFE

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name: Dave Smith
email: dsmith@iowalink.com
harley:
valkyrie: Interstate

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I was on the list for a Sportster for over 8 months. I had ordered a Custom with the large gas tank. My bike came in, but with a 3 gallon tank. I told the dealer I really wanted the bigger tank, and was promised one within a month. I had gone to Chicago to attend some job training, and received a call from my daughter that the dealer needed to talk to me. I called the dealer and was informed that the big tank was not being put on this year due to problems on the line, so I told the dealer that I would take the smaller bike. I got back from my trip on a Fri night, called the dealer, and was told that they wouldn't hold the bike for me, that it wasn't their practice to do so. I reminded them that I had waited for over 8 months, and that they might have an obligation, to me the customer, to wait, and they blew me off. I immediately went to the Honda dealer, was treated as a customer, not as a bother, and purchased and rode out on my Valkyrie the same day. Harleys may be hot now, due in part to their intention to keep manufacturing down, to keep a artificial demand system in place, but believe me their time will come, and they will regret burning the customer bridges that they have done. I for one will NEVER own a Harley, and although I treat all bikers as friends, and would never belittle another rider for their poor choice in a motorcycle, I intend to stop and offer roadside assistance to all dedicated Harley riders. Please email me and I will let you know the offending dealer by name and location, as I would not want anyone else to suffer at the hands of this arrogant and obnoxious motorcycle snob!!!

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name: Ed Hamblin
email: hamblin@pilot.infi.net
harley: 1981FLT
valkyrie: 1998 Tourer

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I was spending too much time wrenching to support my riding style. I ride year round, and consider a motorcycle my primary transport. Even though I am a good mechanic, keeping my HD running was becoming a chore and costing me excessive amounts. I wanted something that could handle high mileage, give me great performance, and get me where I wanted to be without things to be fixed, either before or after the ride. I was also getting tired of the "new" Harley crowd who had suddenly become bikers; didn't want to be associated or confused with them. I have been a motorcyclist for around 35 years, and have owned American, Japanese, and British. The Valkyrie is the best all around ride I have ever had. Coming up on 20K miles after 15 months, this is truly an awesome ride.

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name: Dan Kanze
email: dan.kanze@prodigy.net
harley: Went to buy a Fay Boy
valkyrie: Interstate

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I have been riding motorcycles for 30 years, from dirt bikes on up. Most of the bikes I had were built by me, in fact I until I bought my Valk I only had two store bought bikes (out of 10).

I have primarily Hondas but always wanted a Harley (but too expensive). Over the years my financial means grew and I talked my wife into spending some bucks on my last bike and it was going to be a Fat Boy.

The week before I planned to go purchase one, I caught an article in a cruiser magazine about the Valkyrie. I read this article with amazement on this odd creation Honda Motors was selling. I decided to stop by my local Honda shop to take a look and my first impression was "this thing is TOO BIG". I left the store but in the back of my mind I was still wondering what it would be like to ride one. I went back to the dealer the following week and persuaded them to let me test ride an Interstate.

I took the bike out for a 15 minute cruise and when I returned I had this ear to ear grin on my face and my wife knew right away we were leaving with this bike.

I never got to ride the Harley but after the one cruise on the Valk, who cares!

Ride on........

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name: Steve Warren
email: rkaustin@ccms.net
harley: 1994 Road King
valkyrie: 1998 Valkyrie Tourer

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Harley is out of control. I also think the Valk is different. I started riding Harley's 20 + years ago because I thought they were different. Now of course everyone has one. Thought it was time for a change. A change for the better I might add. After all you can't beat all that horsepower and torque especially right out of the box. Ride on.

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name: Al Walther
email: aw1520@hotmail.com
harley: heritage softail from 93-97
valkyrie: tourer with Honda shiels and leather bags

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I always dreamt of owning a Harley and bought one new in 93 for its looks and for the Harley status. I could not believe how poor the performance, brakes and handling could be for a contemporary motorcycle. In fact I felt little difference between the Heritage Softail Classic and my friend's 1942 Indian Chief , with it's leaf spring front suspension and three speed tranny, on highways or backroads. In fact the Indian was smoother at 60 mph when the sweet spot on the manual spark advance (where the throttle is located on a modern bike. This Indian had a left grip throttle.)was dialed in just right. I was getting fed up with the unbearable vibration especially against a headwind or uphill at anything above 55 mph and of being passed or out accelerated by just about any other bike on the road. I had nothing but the highest regard for Hondas having owned two and having ridden a variety of models (including a CBX six). The Valkyrie is my first choice for long, weekend , two up rides and the occasional trip . It is competent from every aspect and I highly recommend it to anyone who can handle this class of motorcycle. This proud owner is 100% satisfied. (I wont bore you with the expensive repair bills and down time I incurred with my Harley before and after the 1 yr warranty expired.)

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name: Kristin Marie
email: nlr3@aol.com
harley: Sportster/RoadKing/LowRider/you name it
valkyrie: F6

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The man I fell in love with last year decided to introduce me to something other than a Harley. Last June he purchased a brand new bike for us because he knew how much I enjoy riding. All I knew up 'til that point were Harley's. When he pulled up in my driveway with his brand new beautiful Florida yellow and cream V6 Valkyrie, I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. We have taken several places already, and it's led to my personal goal of 2000....to obtain my Motorcycle License. I love you, Rick! Your Kristin

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name: E T Lou
email: usloan@usit.net
harley: 73 sporty  52 pan 75 FLH
valkyrie: 97 tourer

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The confidence of making it home every time. Just got tired of the HD image .

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name: cy hopkins
email: cyhopkins@prodigy.net
harley: dyna, sportster
valkyrie: tourer

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I have had many bikes over the past 25 years and have always been drawn to the look and riding feel of HD's. I gave up on HD's because of lack of real power. Prior to my current ride, a stock Valk tourer, I had a HD Dyna with 4 valve heads, dual carbs plus other goodies that dynoed at 90/90 which is roughly the same as a stock Valk. I also had a V-Max and if Honda would get the Valk to the same level as a Max (power/weight) they would have a true winner. I think the Valk's comfort for long haul is great but the sixe for day to day to commute can be difficult when lane spliting. Life is sometimes about compromises and the Valk is currently the best on the market for my type of riding and tastes. I also had a cbr1100xx for a brief period, though the performance was great, the riding position was too extreme for anything more than hour for my 40 something body.

Long live the Valk but it needs a lot more RW HP

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name: Mike Feil
email: feil@home.com
harley: e-glide,hertg s tail, etc
valkyrie: std w/bags&windshield

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Rode Harleys for 12 yrs. While I was happy with the bikes, I wasn't happy with the performance. I had taken several vacations,2up in the mnts, and the Harleys just weren't up to the task. My biggest concern when making the switch was ride, handling, power. After the test ride, it was all over. Currently have 8k since 5/99 and have no regrets except I didn't do it sooner

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name: ZZHOG
email: thewoodpro@worldnet.att.net
harley: 91 FLHS
valkyrie: 99 Black STD

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I've owned them all. BSA, Triumph ,Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, but I always ended up with Harley. In 94 I test drove a GL1500 Wing and was sold on owning the finest 2 wheeled land yacht in existence! There was nothing like having the power of six cylinders moving all that chrome and plastic so smooth and in what I called ideallic comfort. We rode every chance we could, even shopping for groceries! I sold the FLHS and after adding 7 grand, I had the father of the Valkyrie. 5 yrs later I test drove the 99 Valk and the rest is history. This bike is all the fun I have amassed in 42 yrs of riding into one! The best part of my purchase, was I got a new ride and put a 100.00 bill in my pocket to boot! ( Hmmm, I wonder how far that will go in the parts dept ?)

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name: Jerry
email: jfwalters1@mindspring.com
harley: Roadking,Heritage Classic
valkyrie: '97 Standard with Hondaline Shield, MC Setup Cruise, Leatherlike Bags, Hondaline CB/Stereo, Cobra Light Bar, Kuryakyn Pegs

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I always enjoyed my Harleys, but I hated the proprietary attitude of the dealers and most of the riders. For some reason, Harley riders think they're better than everyone else, too cool for the masses. I got tired of Harley riders that won't wave a hello to a non-Harley rider. I ride because I enjoy the bike, the freedom, and all that Mother Nature around me. I'm secure in who I am and don't need that thunder between my legs to feel like a man. Besides, the Valkyrie is smoother, faster, a truly awesome, dependable bike. The Valkyrie riders are real people that respect each other and all other riders. I've never enjoyed a bike like I do my Valk. The rub for the Harley guys is that, parked among a bunch of Harleys, my Valkyrie gets a lot more attention! Recently I was at the Crusin the Coast Hot Rod Convention and happened to maneuver a parking place near the cars on display. To my amazement, the spectators gathered around my Valkyrie, taking pictures and asking a million questions, while the Hot Rods on display were mostly ignored.

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name: big dan
email: tdyoung@alltel.net
harley: '81 lowrider
valkyrie: '97 standard

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i went to one Harley dealer who wouldn't sell you a new bike (the used ones were more$) unless you had a used hog to trade in so they could shaft the next guy by selling it for twice what they would give you trade. i had sold my previous hog a few years before (before the prices got stupid so i didn't profit). the 2nd dealer said i didn't need a trade-in. i waited on a list for 11 months and a new ( '97 then) road king with my name came in. when the dealer called, i said i'll pick it up tomorrow. he told me that they had added "a few" bolt-ons. this amounted to $3,000 for a few chrome doo-dads, take it or leave it, i left it. i wanted to customize to my tastes, not what they wanted to sell for the most mark-up! anyway, I'd owned Honda's in the past, and had read a lot about the Valk. three days after i told them were to put the Harley i bought a new '97 black/yellow standard. never a regret. big Dan

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name: Steve Miller
email: tecwrite@iafrica.com
harley: Roadking
valkyrie: F6C

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Don’t get me wrong. I really love Road Kings, Softails, Lowriders in fact almost all Harley Davidson's. I’ve had quite a number of Harleys my last “new” Harley being a 1997 Roadking on which I did 52 000 Km. The problem is that it’s the same engine in about three variants of frame every time. Sure one can dress up the bike like a prom queen to get attention but there has to be a realistic and sensible financial limit. No doubt, Harleys do look good, but try and turn them into a performance bike and you have to spend many thousands. To generate excitement, I’ve built my own custom Shevo (A 1975 electroglide with a complete new S&S EVO engine) and I built a ’61 Sportie chopper. Hey man how many years can you do this thing without getting into a rut? There needs to be a bit more excitement!

When the new 88-cube engine came out, the hype led me to believe that this was it! After all the dust had settled I realized that this was merely an incremental improvement. Harley has put a brand new engine in the same old frame configurations. By increasing the capacity and changing the cam angles they’ve managed to get a little more oomph. I rode the new engine and really there was not that much more for the considerable extra bucks one has to pay. I felt that perhaps the Motor Company was being too conservative when it came to change. The Boss Hoss concept of a multi-cylinder big capacity street rod is what I would have liked to have seen as the departure into the new Millennium.

One fateful day in Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa I met a guy on a Honda Valkyrie. After a chat about the merits of our respective bikes, we decided to swap. This was a big mistake. I was impressed with it’s size, torque and in particular the extremely good handling. I’m a confirmed cruiser rider and this machine had it all (except perhaps the sound). I was in lust.

Although weighing the same as the road King and being perhaps a touch wider and three inches longer, the difference was amazing. Features like upside-down shocks, dual four pot calipers on floating rotors, solid disk wheels are standard. The engine apparently puts out close to 100bph. Think of what it would cost to get this package in a Harley and then you would be pushing the reliability limits. Wow!

You might think that the core value of cruising has been eliminated or that buying a Honda is a sell out. I don’t think so. You’re talking to a guy who has done 52 000 km on his Road King in two years. If the Motor Company cannot produce what is required, you need to look elsewhere. Those at Harley with marketing savvy will eventually pick up on the trend that nostalgia only has so much appeal, and that power, performance and good engineering are still important to those who put their hard earned buck down for their ride. In addition, the Valkyrie is no Harley wannabe. It’s a whole new breed. It is the direction that the Indian Motor Cycle Company, with their pioneering multi-cylinder technology, would have gone if they were still in business today. It is certainly a hot-rod in the American tradition. Of course I had to buy one.

I rode a Harley club member's Heritage Softail to go and pick up my new Valk. When I parked the Valkyrie next to the Softail, an awe struck crowd gathered around the Valkerie leaving my buddy to mutter under his breath; “What’s wrong with my bike…..?”

Steve Miller (Cape Town South Africa)

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name: Barry
email: BRPBigDaddy@AOL
harley: 1200 Sporster
valkyrie: 1996 Valk

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In the late 70's I owned Hondas. They were always reliable and great bikes. After raising my two kids and starting into mid-life crisis at 39 I had to have a Harley. The prices spun me into STICKER SHOCK. But nothing doing I had to have it. I finally settled on a sporster (it was close to my price range) I have to admit the sound of that machine made me feel like a badboy. It was fun to ride for me, but my wife didn't have the same opinion. I sold the bike making a nice profit I might add and started on the long hunt for the perfect machine. I rode everything from the bigger Harley's (out of sight prices), Yamaha's Rodestar, Kawasaki's Vulcan, and finally the Valkyrie. I just kept thinking it was to big. Boy was I surprised it was and is the ultimate machine. I've never been happier. If you're thinking of buying a Valk, You can't go wrong. By the way you'll still be cool.

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name: Aldo Adriaan
email: aldo.adriaan@compaq.com
harley: Wife Did..lifetime HOG member
valkyrie: 1998 Valkyrie Standard custom

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So my new bride, second marriage for both of us, was steering me towards a Harley, as that's what she did for ten years, every weekend. She and her ex ran the San Jose Hog chapter. They brought the demo bikes from So Cal to Nor Cal. He was the president, she did the newsletters. They went everywhere on their Heritage, they had two of them (one was a spare?). So they split up and here comes me, Mr Rice Rocket. I've had 12 jap bikes, most of them cafe racer types. After we got married, she knew I wanted a bike. So she breaks out the HOG catalog, HOG clothes, the Harley enthusiast magazine I get monthly. Encourages me to subscribe to all kinds of mags like HOT Bike etc, with half naked girls on the front. If I bought a Harley, I would have bought a Fat Boy, because I am a Fat Boy!. But looking through these mags, I realized that the Harley seemed to be a starter kit for a real motorcycle later. I didn't have time for motorcycle motor legos, so I started looking around for the meanest, fastest, in your face bike I could find. The Boss Hoss was just out of my pocket range and the handling was out of control on it, so the F6 was my choice. I bought every available article ever published on the market for the Valkyrie. Everyone said it was the muther of all motors, smooth, comfortable and handles to boot! So I bought the bike and then the chrome sickness started...Anyway, my wife has finally come around to respecting the Valk. She helped me name it F6 Pack. .from the back the F6 looks like a 6 pack of coors silver bullets. I customized the bike before I took it out of the shop. I put so much stuff on there, they wouldn't finance all the extras. The only thing untouched is the motor, it needs nothing. I average 2000 miles a month.. the bike handles incredibly well, I ride it like I used to ride my old 1979 Suzuki GS1000E, flat out like a lizard drinking water. Even without my steel braided brake lines, two brothers triple clamp, Racetech front forks, works rear shocks, the thing was too amazing. Most nights I walk out into my garage and just look at it glow in the dark. Sounds great too with Mark T's glasspacks in it. I've also made it comfortable.. Largest tinted windshield on the market, with tinted lowers and tinted Baker air wings. This way I can ride at 120mph or more in a t-shirt, no fear of bugs or flying debris. We blew by a pack of Harleys coming back from Street Vibrations. The first thing that caused them to have a double-take was my multicolored strobe headlight, then the bright piaas  spotlamps, then in high gear overtaking them all on a gradient, two up, with loaded leatherlykes and a pack of stuff on the rear. Also amazing to them was I waved at them with my right hand off the throttle (throttle lock on). See, there are rules for customizing Harleys.. you can't do this, you can't do that..blah bloody blah

Not for me. .I put on my bike what I want. Motorcycling is about freedom. If you like a Harley, power to you, but respect the next man's choice. My wife calls my bike a "slut bike", because it's decked out in chrome. That's the way I want it.. that's why I bought a custom cruiser. .fast, comfortable, and way cool! And not a single bolt has fallen off in the 13,000 miles I put on it.. When people ask me what kind of Harley is that, I say Valkyrie! That way, we all win! If they're too dumb to know the difference in motor. .then the answer doesn't matter.

Cheers - enjoy your ride, whatever form it may take. I do mine! F6Pack

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name: Hump
email: hump2xs@sprynet.com
harley: I did, several models
valkyrie: I sure do, std custom.

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The mess of oil on the garage floor and the cost of repairs, which came quite often, is something I will not miss. The actual price of a HD and what one will sell for, combined with the price difference between dealers is a joke. HD motorcycles are too small just like their tires. Their actual get up and go is just not there. The whole HD "Gotta own one to ride with us" or "HD parking only" was enough to change.

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name: Jim
email: buick528@aol.com
harley: 97 Road King
valkyrie: 00 Black Tourer

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Mainly local Harley dealer attitude. Service dept. was great, parts department was the most arrogant and insulting a@#$%^&* on the planet. It ran hot in traffic, shook my brains on long hauls.......but my HD was perfectly assembled and flawless handling and appearance. I sold a 3 year old Road King, bought a new Valk and pocketed $4200. I've ridden motorcycles on and off for 30 years of various styles and complexions. I wanted smoother and MORE power. I took a test ride on a Valk, got a fantastic deal, and paid cash on the spot for an 00 Tourer, and rode it home that day. Honda needs to improve the quality and durability of some brightwork, but all in all, I love this bike.

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name: Joe Joyal
email: joe_scuba@excite.com
harley: Many!!!!!!
valkyrie: 97 Tour

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I got tired of the Harley BS, the factory and dealers treat customers like second class people and morons. They lie like dogs about their "American Made" motorcycle, Harley has been importing parts for so long they are afraid to tell the truth. I had a motorcycle shop specializing in Harleys/Indians for 15 years back when Harley was not popular, when they got popular and all the yuppies started buying them Harley tried to put guys like me out of business. To me Harley is not a honest company and builds a second rate (POS) motorcycle. When Honda came out with the Valk I knew what my next bike was going to be! I LOVE IT!!! It has given back a love that was lost in riding Harleys (A Touring bike with performance). BUY AMERICAN...BUY HONDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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name: Lamont ..again
email: f6rider@home.com
harley: Custom 87 FXR
valkyrie: Custom Blown Valk

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My name is Lamont, and I am Valkaholic. It all started back in Dec. of 96. At that time I was just doing the soft stuff ( you know, Harleys) but soon after the Harleys just wasn't doing it for me. I needed something bigger, something with more power, something that didn't leak oil and parts wouldn't fall off as I drove down the road. Sure I tried the Royal Star, but that was less of a rush than my Harley. I felt as if there was nothing that could satisfy me. Then I saw my first Valkyrie. It was black and beautiful. It was the biggest bike I had ever seen. It made a Fat Boy look like a toy. I thought to myself that this may be too big for me. What if I overdose? What if I can't handle it? What would my Harley friends say? At that point all fears had to be faced. I had to see what this bike was all about. I took her out for a test drive and that was it. I knew I had to have this bike. I told myself that as soon as I sold my Harley I would buy a Valk. Then something happened. I saw a yellow & black Valk for the first time. I knew I had to move fast before someone else saw this bike. This was the bike of my dreams. How was I going to get this thing? I couldn't eat or sleep till she was mine. I tried using the message boards to quench my desire, it just wasn't enough. I had to have that bike. Then there was the wife thing, how could I get her to go along with me owning a Harley and Valkyrie at the same time? Like a true Valkaholic I rationalized going into debt at 12% interest to buy this bike. I was out of control! I have never financed a toy before. But this wasn't just a toy, it was a part of my very being. I made the move and bought the bike. It was the best purchase I had ever made. Sure I paid too much for it but I didn't care. It was mine!

This was just the start of my sickness. I needed to make my bike special. First I made some saddle bags, then it was high way pegs, but that wasn't enough. I took my tank and cut it apart and made it 3" wider with a custom paint job but that still wasn't enough. I needed more sound, more power! I started working on the pipes. First I cut the piggies, then I punched out the baffles but that still wasn't enough so I gutted the pipes but then I had gone too far. I needed to make it sound better with more power, that's when I did the glass packs. Ok now I liked the pipes but I still needed more power! I jetted the six carbs tiring to squeeze out every pony in this beautiful bike. I polished intakes, removed baffles in the air box but that still wasn't enough! I needed more power! A supercharger was the only answer! I finely had the power I wanted and once again I told my wife " I am done messing with this bike" HaHaHa.

Then there were the web sites. I had been to every message board and every Valkyrie web site on the net but it still wasn't enough. There was only one thing to do. Find the best web master on the net that loved Valkyries as much as I do and build a super Valkyrie web site!

It would need a message board, a chat room, a tech info page, a store where you could buy parts at a discount, a picture page, a killer looking logo, great t-shirts and hats, and most of all good people to share the experiences on their Valkyrie.

And now you get and idea of how bad this sickness can be. :-)

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name: cassidy cruiser
email: cassidy cruiser@yahoo.com
harley: '91 FLHS
valkyrie: 99 black Std

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I still have the Harley and enjoy it's unique qualities, but I bought the Valk because I couldn't "deal" with the current Harley frenzy -limited supply, sky high prices, bad attitudes. The Harley scene is choking with posers and pseudo riders. The Valk riders I've met all seem like normal people who like to ride fast bikes.

The Valk is a phenomenal machine and even my hard core Harley riding buddies give it begrudging respect, although they do refer to it as Valerie.

For a realistic view of what Harley roadtrips can be like, check out www.geocities.com/cassidy_cruiser

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name: Ivan Sahba
email: ivan@digital-avenues.com
harley: FB, EG, Suicide, you name it
valkyrie: 97 Tourer, red/cream

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My father had a B&W Suicide HD and a Red/Cream leather custom seat Indian Chief. I have ridden many HD. They are nice, cool looking and definitely expensive. I do not have a car! Riding bikes all year. I have a Honda CB900 custom police bike. Honda Helix scooter, Valk, Honda Blackbird CBR1100XX/2000 (picked it up on 12-10-99). I have trained horses for soviet army for years. I might sound stupid but i do not like loud noise bikes! But the first time that I sat on a Valk it was talking to me better than anything else! I went to the big HD rally in Myrtle beach NC a couple of years ago on my Honda Helix scooter (its 234cc engine and goes 82 miles an hour so it not that much of a scooter) and tell you this: Coming back from rally for 20 miles of the road every half a mile there was a HD parked with 3 people trying to fix a leak or some other crap about them. Hell, they all looked cool but I thought life is too short and I sdo not have the time to fix bikes every free time i get. They are not cheap either. So i got my valk and 6 days later i was cruising down on I-40 to Greensboro airport at 77 mph and there comes 3 HDs beside my Valk ranting and gasing up inviting me to race them! First I thought no but then i thought why not, lets see what it will do. turned up the gas in 5th and 14 sec later i am at 134mph! I could see my HD fellows in the mirror. Eased off the gas and cruised down the exit, stopped at the red light. 15 sec later they get beside me and one of them yelled what the hell is that? I looked up and said: wouldn't you like to know, however, it ain't a Harley for sure! Bottom line is performance, it is elegant, quick when you want it, sturdy, vibe free, powerful when needed and very low maint. It does not leave you much of a choice. Thanks Lamont!

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name: Fred
email: Darmiki@aol.com
harley: Dyna Wide Glide '99
valkyrie: Interstate

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I found that the Harley was weak in the power and quickness categories. Comfort was also lacking on those longer rides...especially for my wife. Harley is cool looking, cool sounding and you feel cool on it. But these things only last a little while. Truth is, the Valkyrie is twice the bike any Harley is when it comes to performance. I am not one of those ex-Harley guys who has a lot of negative to say about them. They fit a nitch, and they fit it well. I satisfied that thirst and was ready to get serious about performance, and comfort. I like to take long rides through the mountains with the wife, and I would like to do it with power on demand and comfort.

 

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name: Huddy
email: dshuddy@cs.com
harley: Road King
valkyrie: Standard

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My wife and I do a lot of long distance touring carrying lots of gear and riding two up. As most of this riding is done in the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, we found that our '98 fuel injected Road King did not have enough horsepower to handle the long climbs. It always felt as though we were killing the bike, and maybe we were. The Valkyrie has enough power to handle two up riding with gear and never misses a beat. I've had the Valkyrie for two years and have it outfitted to meet our riding style. While I may purchase another Harley for around town riding, this Valkyrie will be around for a long time.

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name: LARRY E TRAMMELL
email: ltrammell@mindspring.com
harley: ultra classic
valkyrie: STD & GOLDWING

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the lack of power & comfort. And so far I have not been sorry.

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name: Gary Freeman Sr.
email: dragrace55@hotmail.com
harley: Sportster
valkyrie: Interstate

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after many years of riding, and drag racing, not bikes, just cars, sand rails. Sold the HD and stayed with racing for years. Made the call to sell out of drag racing at the young age of 59 and get back on Scooter. Well with all I had in racing equipment I had a pocket full on green, I and my Wife started looking at the new Harleys and the price at this time was not an issue due to the large sell out, I mean big CASH deal well three of the dealers told me I would need to get on a list and maybe I would be lucky and get to spend my green. After many many trips to dealers with still no one wanting to empty my FAT pocket. I was stopped out side a dealer by a fellow biker that over heard my remarks and ask if we had looked at a Honda? well being a hard nose H man I said a what? He then began telling us about this cycle with a V6 engine Now I can dig this no drag car and a scooter with this big engine. Well to cut to the bottom line we now own a Honda Interstate with all on the toys made plus for The Fat Lady. The Harley we had was a nickel dime system down too much of the time. We have in 4 months 6500 trouble free miles and the tires are still good, do show some wear. But no plans to look back, My son has a 99 Road King and after 4 months riding with him he is starting to talk with a much more respect than before. We are impressed with the roll on power and torque. One ex Harley Happy rider, Ride Em Safe Gary Joyce

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name: Garry Euler
email: eulergs@innet.com
harley: 96 FLHT STD.
valkyrie: 97 STD

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I had the hog for 2 years and did have a good time with it but something was always breaking! week old the ft. brake would leak down when stopping. after about 3mos.the saddle bag latch spring broke all in all I had 3 sets of these in the 2 years. the I installed a cam or the dealer installed it, didn't change the cam bearing 12k later the cams gone and so is #1 lifter. at 35k the piston pin clip broke and went thru the engine and junked the whole thing that was it dealer fixed it, I had to pay labor, I sold it and never rode it again...Harley is supposed to be so wonderful how come there warranty is about the worst in the industry!!! way to much money for to little fun...Oh my Valk has 25k and has NEVER been to the dealer for anything but that's what you expect from Honda right! Wife still has her FatBoy and it seems to be a good one but I rarely ride it...

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name: Mark Mathison
email: MMathison@mciworld.com
harley: 1991 FXRS-P Lowrider Sport
valkyrie: 1997

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I had a new HD flown over to Germany where I was stationed. At $10,700 delivered, I felt it was a reasonable price for the performance. My primary disappointment was it's lack of power (my Norton 850 could out perform it) and handling. After I sold it in Germany (for $12000, a good deal) and returned to the States, I could not see paying $16000 for the same basic bike, wait a year, and act like the dealer was doing me a favor. When the Valk arrived, I bought it. My only complaint w/Valk: I think HD does a far superior paint job. And yes, I am now getting a custom paint job.

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name: R J Bullard
email: rjbullard@uswest.net
harley: 1994 FLHTCU
valkyrie: 1997 Green/Cream Tourer

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I had open heart surgery on April 1, 1997, got released from the hospital 29 days later, 21 in intensive care, just about didn't make it. I had been having read to me, or I was reading later every magazine I could on motorcycles. Honda Valkyrie kept coming to the top like CREAM on milk. I took one ride on my Harley after surgery, 3 days after I got released from the hospital, my chest couldn't stand the vibration, I still have a cartilage that was broken from the rib spreader. I rode over to the Honda shop, took a test ride, came back and traded on the spot...... I'm currently on my 2nd Valkyrie. Lost first one in a garage fire...... They will have to pry my dead cold fingers from the grips when I die. Thanks for asking.

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name: Steve
email: sdadds@mciworld.com
harley: 1200 Sporster
valkyrie: Tourer (black the fastest)

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Started to ride again after a 10 years of no bikes. Wanted a bike that looked cool and sounded cool. The Sporster was just my size and in my price range. It handled well and was fun to ride in town. I added after market pipes (Bad Dog) and now it sounded great. I attended some of the ride-in and was surprised to find out I had a girls bike. These people are crule. I also noticed I ached after 80 miles and my hands were numb.I saw a commercial about the Valkyrie dirt tracking in the desert and could not believe it. Went down to the Honda dealer and sat on the Valk. It was huge, but seemed light once she's off the side stand. I'm only 5'6" but thought I could ride this monster. Asked about a trade in and was given what I paid for the Harley which was only 16 months old. Now when I go on ride-ins I don't want to stop with all the H/D guys for a rest, but you have to to get your cards. I have more miles on the Valkyrie than I did on the H/D in less time. Its a dream to ride, so if you really like to ride, you must try the Valk. If you just what to putt around town and be with the in crowd, stay with the H/D.

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name: Corey Goldthorpe
email: coreyg418@earthlink.net
harley: 84 FXRT
valkyrie: 2000 std

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I'm a good Harley wrench with 100,063 on FXRT. FXRT has had at least 6 upper-end jobs since owning. Depressing to look at pot metal internal castings and realizing that factory knows problems exist for years without doing anything about it (until a whole new engine model). Don't think 45-degree air cooled will ever totally work out. Very bad path was performance mods, especially non-reversible ones, such as head mill. S&S carb sucks except at WOT. The more done, the more problems and "character change" of overall feel, etc. Can't deal with looking at continual 10Kmile tear-downs; thought Evo would be different; hardly better than Shovelhead in the long-haul.

Regarding Valk, would not buy it if: a) it wasn't American built. Any manufacturing company selling here should give something back. b) it was another V-twin clone. Even the japanese V-twins leave a lot to be desired.

Only complaint is lack of accessories except for way-overpriced Honda.

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name: Mark Pfenning
email: MPfenn9753@AOL
harley: FXR 1989
valkyrie: Interstate 2000

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In August of 1999, I sold my FXR I purchased new in 1989 and bought a house. After a couple of months I wanted another bike! I put up with the surly attitude of the Harley dealer and the maintenance nightmare for 10 years. Even with the FXR rubber mounted motor I would be beaten up after any long ride.I started to check out other makes and read about the Valk and fell in love. The dealer was friendly and willing to please me. Because He had no Interstates in stock I put my down sight unseen. I picked it up the next week and fell in love with it on the way home. It is truly an awesome bike with a killer look and style. It is smooth and powerful with a reliable nature.I love Harleys but this bike stole my heart!

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name: Michael P. Ammel
email: Michael._P_Ammel@wanadoo.fr
harley: Road King
valkyrie: Tourer

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To make it short. Here in Europe, I live in France, good service at a reasonable price is still difficult to find for Harleys. Same is true for the insurance, which is 30% mor expansive (I still do not know why). But the main reason is power, chasis, braking system, smoothness and transmission and the overall finish of the Honda F6C. I liked my Harley but this is another class of bike. Even Harley enthusiasts say afer a short ride that the F6 is the better bike. Today it does not have the myth of the Harley, but wait this might change if Honda does a better Marketing and Produkt-Mix job with the F6 and generates a family of power cruisers.

ride safe Michael

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name: mike
email: oldmilwaukee@webtv.net
harley: 94&95 Electraglides
valkyrie: Tourer

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I bought my Valk last May after selling my last Harley in the previous October. I thought about another Harley but financial constraints forced me to buy the Valk in May of 99.After 10000 miles on the Valk I will not go back to Harleys. Harleys have features that Honda could incorporate on the Valk but I always had to spend thousands for more h.p. Not so with the Valk.90plus h.p. is hard to beat in stock form.

 

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name: Joe
email: BamaValkyrieF6
harley: 1340cc
valkyrie: 1520cc

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I just purchased my new Valkyrie 3 weeks ago. I previously was a avid Harley rider. I've had a Heritage Softail Classic, Ultra Classic, Road King, Low rider and a Dyna Wide Glide. Each time I bought a Harley I paid about $5,000 over list price! Yeah right "brainfade", then I would spend another five to six thousand chroming and trying to get it to run like a bike should adding different camshafts, high dollar ignitions, S & S carburetor's, pipes, etc. I finally came to my senses 3 weeks ago when about 20 of us were going on a ride. Well I got up and put all of my leathers on and the D**** thing wouldn't crank. I was ticked off!!! I went straight to the Honda dealer in town and bought my Valkyrie. Now, when I hit the starter button it cranks! All I've done is chrome her out and change seats, plus pipes and a K&N air filter for right at $9,000 less than a Harley, not to mention I now have POWER-HP to spare. So, I now have a bike paid for and it actually cranks every time. It has awesome power and great handling capability. So, in my opinion, buy the Valkyrie...you won't regret it.

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name: Ken "Rocketman"Miller
email: rocketman@coinet.com
harley: 1 knuckle and 2pans
valkyrie: 98 Valkyrie called "Valkzilla"

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Back in the Late 60's thru the mid 70's when Harley was a name to be proud of .I rode a Harley to be different. Now it seems Everyone rides to be the same. I don't fit the Harley mold of today. The Valkyrie in my opinion is the ultimate bike. This Change has been good to me.

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name: Tim Hale
email: mchale@cei.net
harley: 99 Road King
valkyrie: 99 Tourer

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Maintenance cost of the Harley was extremely high. I ride about 35,000 miles per year. The cost of maintaining, $350 at 600 miles, $550 at 8,000 miles,$550 at 16,000 miles, not to mention purchase,$19,000 was too high. The Valkyrie took the first 32,000 miles with 2 sets of plugs, 7 oil filters, 1 air filter and 3 tires. Damn good, and low cost of purchase also, used $8,600. By the way , I had 5 to 1 positive comments on the Valk over the Roadking along the road at filling stations and diners.. Thanks HONDA!!! Tim Hale Arkansas

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name: Walt
email: oakhill210@msn.com
harley: Ultra
valkyrie: Interstate

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I could go to length about the advantages of riding a Valkyrie, but I think the best way for anyone to understand what the differences are would be to test ride both. If you have any appreciation for ride, performance and reliability the choice should be obvious.

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name: wedge
email: jenkins3x@gateway.net
harley: fatboy and sporster
valkyrie: 00 black tourer

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cust service sucks the attitude im doing u a favor selling u this 20,000 bike take it or leave it,harleys break down hondas dont,cheaper alot,would spend alot money on harley engines to make them go quiker but the valk stk will eat 90% of them and if u modify the valk no harley will touch u trust me i raced them.The reason harley is doing good now is because its cool to be on one thats why everyone buys one they dont no nothing about the bike if it costs 20,000 to be cool well then ill be a nerd but dont try to catch this nerd if your on a harley cause u will lose dare to be different and buy a honda valk power-cruising-style its got it all ride safe and look out for each other. wedge

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name: CHUCK
email: ALLGOODSTL@AOL
harley: DYNA & ROAD KING
valkyrie: TOURER

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LIKE MOST, I NEEDED MORE POWER FOR TOURING WITH TWO UP. I ENJOY THE EXTRA SMOOTHNESS. AFTER A 700 MILE DAY I AM NOT NEARLY AS TIRED. MY HARLEYS WERE BOTH GREAT MOTORCYCLES, I MISS THE 45MPG. BUT AFTER 12,000 MILES ON MY VALKYRIE, I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO A HARLEY. AFTER 75,000 MILES ON HIS DYNA WIDE GLIDE AND ONE TRIP ON MY VALKYRIE MY BROTHER IS NOW SHOPPING FOR A HONDA.

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name: John Butler VOA472
email: JBUTLER1@PROVIDE.NET
harley: 1978 FLH 93ci S&S
valkyrie: 1998  F6Tourer

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I went to the Harley Davidson dealer to buy some parts for my Harley and to my surprise the parts were in a brown and orange box that said "genuine Harley Davidson Parts" the back of the box gave the story of "The legend of Harley Davidson" but something was wrong, how could this be, have I and the public been duped, in small print made in Taiwan. Also the dealers could give a damn if you were there to buy a new bike that has not improved in quality or performance since the Shovelhead, I know this to be true I have ridden the 1999 Heritage softail classic vibrated my feet off the floorboards at 60mph. But I will give credit to the 1999 Road King and rubber mounted engine that I have also ridden. I went to the local Honda dealer to see the Valkyrie and was greeted by a sales person that said can I help you, this is very different than spending time in a Harley Dealership like you are in there way or bothering them. The Valkyrie six cylinder is awesome I don't need all those parts books to see if I can make this bike pass a truck, Don't need a S&S carburetor, don't need to send it to Lakeshore Harley to have it built for more speed, don't need Crane single fire ignition. The power of the Valkyrie is going to save me a lot of money because it will roll from 5th gear at 30mph to 120mph with no vibration and the engine case is stamped MADE IN USA, after 30+ years of riding many different motorcycles, the Valkyrie has put a smile on my face.

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name: R C
email: rcudney@enservice.com
harley: Road Glide
valkyrie: Interstate

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I really wanted a touring bike with some cruiser attitude, and the Road Glide (and two Road Kings and an Electra Glide before it) were cruisers with touring pretensions. I wanted to feel like there were no boundaries or obstacles; jump on it and go as far as I wanted, comfortably and in style. I didn't feel that way about the Harleys; too slow, too much vibration, too much fiddling and too many bucks to get them the way I wanted. I tried out the Beemer K 1200 LT; too much plastic, too many quirks. I'm not old enough, or hungry enough, for a 'Wing. The Valkyrie fits right in the middle; quick, good handling, carry lots of stuff for a long distance without needing attention, and different enough to get some attention.

I agonized over this for quite a while; my Harley dealer is a great guy, and my friends all have Harleys. Still, what kind of friend is it that makes friendship conditional on what I ride?

I'm pleased with the Valkyrie. I've put very few dollars (at least by Harley standards) into it, it runs like a dream, and I look forward to long rides now. I know that resale won't be as good as the Harley, but then purchase wasn't especially painful, either. All in all, it has enough attitude and style to please me, and still does the basic task of a tourer, which is cover lots of miles.

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name: Pete  "Wolf" Veal
email: pete@southbroomlodge.co.za
harley: Heritage
valkyrie: IS

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Reliability. When I rode my Harley any considerable distance (300 miles or so) we had to ride in a group and take at least one trailer with. I like to ride alone over many miles: my mechanical knowledge is zip so I need something that looks good but is reliable. I have been riding many years, on all sorts of bikes and can tell stories forever. Trust me, buy a Valk

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name: Matthew Roche
email: matthew@adbruf.com
harley: 1200 Sporster
valkyrie: 1998

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The Harley did not GO . It grounded when cornering one up, when there was two up, well it was easier to stop, drag the front end around and head off in the next straight line!! - not many of those in the UK - Vibration, ddoonntt ttaallkk ttoo mmee aabboouutt vviibbrraattiioonn, anything above 50 mph. The paint came up in rust spots, the chrome blistered. Performance, my mates used to stop at junctions so that I could catch up - They had 1200 Bandits Yamaha's etc: NOW: Wow, I knew your older brother was coming for a ride on his F6C Honda, but boy does that thing GO. Did you see the way he went around that corner!. -- I went for a ride with my mates and ended up taking a pillion, but going around some fast bends the back end snaked, I pulled onto the side of the road, wound the suspension up (took about 4 minutes) and went back on the road. WOW - two up 80mph, foot scraping the road around the next set of bends and my pillion saying it was like being in an armchair. (After being a pillion on the Yamaha 1200. If the Harley is a Big Bad Boy then the Valkyrie is a Monster. Even Harley owners drop their jaws as i go by. Don't get me wrong, I had a Harley and it was great, sounded nice and it was a Harley. BUT i did not know about the F6C - exhaust will be modified. It suits my riding style and everyone and his grandfather do not have one. I love it. Ride VERY safe all.

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name: Bernie in Atlanta
email: BernieBets@aol.com
harley: Sportster
valkyrie: 97 Tourer

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I have ridden continuously for over 30 years now and have owned almost every major brand of bike. My favorite up until now was my old Sportster, it looked good, sounded great, handeled well and was reasonably fast. On top of all that I loved the attention it drew (chicks loved it). Well, last year I figured it was time for a new ride so I looked at all the cruisers out there and really did my homework. (I thought) I was about to buy a new Softail Custom when I stopped by the local Honda dealer and saw a new Valkyrie Tourer and fell in love. This is without a doubt the best dang bike I have ever ridden. I haven't felt like this since I had my Sportster but this bike is on a whole different level. It looks awesome, sounds like an old Chevy V8, handles like it weighs 400lbs, runs like a ballistic missile, and almost everyone that see's it loves it (when parked with a bunch of Harley's most people come over to check out the Valkyrie and the Harley guys almost always ask how many ponies she makes). God I love this bike!

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name: Dave Elliott
email: dvelliott@msn.com
harley: 9 years
valkyrie: since 1998

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I had a Harley Sportser, It dam near killed me slightly at lest 20 times. Twice id dam near killed me for sure twice. (one time the front fender broke off due to vibration. I was doing sixty at the time and the fender went forward, hit the road in front of the wheel, rolled itself up under the tire. All this happen in about 2 seconds, a second later I hit the asphalt and a curb took out my two front teeth. But on the positive side I loved the exhaust sound, however.

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name: NW/Bigfoot
email: pnaglee@mindspring.com
harley: 10 Years
valkyrie: Tourer

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It was not an easy decision. My wife and friends all ride HD's & I was a HOG board member of the local area club. I knew I wanted a different ride, But which one. I tried several different HD models over a 10-year period and could not find one that met any of my requirements. Reliability, Handling, Smoothness, and Power. This new bike would have to cover at least 80% of my riding needs. Well the Valkyrie won hands down. Whenever I think I might have made a mistake switching over, I ride my wife's Roadking and I remember why I switched to the Valkyrie. Keep Your Footprints Down/ NW/Bigfoot

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name: gary g
email: garyg@neo.rr.com
harley: two dressers, fxr and fat boy
valkyrie: standard (bags/shield)

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19 years experience with HDs -- many reasons I switched: Primarily raw power and torque. Had all of my HDs modified with cams, carbs, head work, and exhaust of every kind and type. Got some improvement in performance but quite costly. Also had suspension changes without much improvement in comfort and handling, again really expensive. Each of my HDs had $4,000. - $5,000. of add-on accessories, all the add-ons are very expensive to say the least. I had really good luck with all my HDs without very many serious mechanical problems (starter, rectifier, batteries up the ying-yang).

Insurance is another big reason, full coverage on the HD is outrageous! I now pay 25% of what I was paying before for three times the coverage!

Also, the market is getting flooded with HDs of all types and models, some are selling for considerably less than they were only a few years back. It's bound to get worse. Everybody and their brother are getting in to it -- its pathetic.

Also, it was hard to have $20,000.+ sitting in the garage four months out of the year here in Ohio.

There is no comparison to the Valk in terms of engineering excellence, performance, ride and reliability -- I really love it! Also, brand new model for $11,000. + tax, can't go wrong! I didn't want a HD look-alike, if I did I would have kept the one I had. The Valk is in a class of its own.

Take a test ride on one, you're gonna like it a lot!

garyg

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name: Spirit
email: Spirit@surfnetinc.com
harley: several - mostly FLH's
valkyrie: 98 Tourer

comments

Doesn't anyone find it amusing that all the la-de-da about HD stems from from the fact that they almost ran themselves out of business by putting out an amazingly inferior product and suddenly everyone had to have one before they folded because of their potential collectability as the remnants of the last American motorcycle manufacturer. You'd think that they would learn from that stroke of luck. I wrote a long article about this (see General articles on F6 cover page - "25 years then the light went on") but in summary, I made the switch because of the attitude and marketing approach of HD. When you own HD you already know you're not on the cutting edge of technology and performance, and that you're going to scrap a knuckle or two keeping it on the road. But the final straw came when I found myself being treated like I had an I.Q. less than their C.I.D. everytime I went into a HD dealership. Don't let the hype fool you, when you're spending $19K on any consumer item, it is not the seller that is doing the favors. Their attitude about the customer and the honoring of their warranty is far from the "righteous" style they attempt to portray. I have been part of, and associated with many cases of their so-called top resale value, there are a lot of posers here also. (asking and getting are two different things)- If you take into account the cost of maintenance on top of the original purchase price, the percentage of return is as nominal as any other bike, especially if you actually put mileage on it. HD dealerships amazingly always sell the new models for less than the asking prices of late models. If you don't believe me, take one around for a trade-in appraisal. I'm sorry, maybe I just can't stoop to that level anymore, especially when I'm now riding something that outclasses their machines in every category. To each their own, but if you buy to ride, do yourself a favor and look somewhere else.

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name: T. W. Willette
email: Willette@televar.com
harley: 84 softtail
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

I enjoyed my Harley for short hops around town, But at 65 or above it beat the crap out of me, and I couldn't see anything in the mirrors. My wife complained that the sissy bar made her back itch and she was real uncomfortable. I thought she was just a weenie, and really didn't like motorcycles. My Harley buds told me to put belt drive on it, and that the 84 came with a wimpy cam, and that a five speed tranny was much better, I thought about doing these things but with the high resale of a Harley decided to sell and kick in 3-4000 more dallors and get all the extras. We own a towing company, and I wear a uniform like a service station attendant, the only time I would look at bikes was when I towed something to the city. The Harley dealers salesman would just blow me off to make room for the big bucks yuppy posers standing behind me, and $22000 for a dresser and wait for 18 months seemed out of line. So I bought the valk, I crank up the rock tunes and Debbie rides with me, and enjoys it as much as I do. I havent been slapped in the face by a bug in a year, I ride without ear plugs and can hear when I get off. This bike gives me the greatest rush every time I ride it. And man can I cover some ground!

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name: Robin Vaught
email: VAUGHT@gladewaterisd.net
harley: sportster
valkyrie: tourer

comments

I went in with a magazine ad in hand showing a new sportster for $5995. The sales people laughed as they pointed to their bikes marked $9300. If I didn't have the money get out of the way was their attitude, so I went to the Honda place and found a great buy on a Magna. Went back a few months later and found a great buy on a Valkyrie. Still have both bikes and both put the HD's to shame. Praise be to HD for causing me to leave and not waste my money on inferior two wheel vibrators.

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name: Brett
email: barman@koral.com
harley: 1993 1200 Sportster
valkyrie: 2000 Standard Black

comments

I went down to the Harley dealer here in Jacksonville on Atlantic Ave. They would not sell me the bike I wanted. They would sell at MSRP but would ad 3-4 thousand dollars of accessories and labor. They would not sell me the basic bike and let me choose my own accessories and they acted like they were doing me a favor. I was a cash customer too. So I went down to Honda of Jacksonville a couple of miles further down Atlantic. I showed them an ad from a dealer down near Lauderdale for a thousand less than they were selling. So, They matched it. This was on a Saturday afternoon about 2 o'clock. They closed at 4. My bike was in the crate. I did not ask them to but they stayed late and assembled and readied it and I rode it home about 5:30. It's not like they were not busy either. My salesman alone sold 8 bikes that day. (Two of them were Valk’s) I was not the only one they stayed late for either. Another guy bought a Triumph Speed Triple from them after I bought mine. They got his bike ready too and he road home after I left. So in a word, Service, Service, Service ! That’s one of the big reasons I bought the Valkyrie. I love the bike. Smooth and powerful and handles well considering it's size. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those Harley guys for being a bunch of Butt Monkeys and keeping me from making a huge mistake by purchasing another one of their inferior products. My sporster did not leak oil when I bought it. It leaked it after the 500 mile service and continued till I sold it. I’ll see you guys at Daytona in March!

Brett

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name: DaveM
email: Redriderr3@aol.com
harley: FXRT
valkyrie: Interstate

comments

Biggest reason was peoples attitude, dealers dealt with for years didn't need your business to yuppies buying there first bike paying over list price for a HD. Plus i wanted more power better brakes improve handling not too mention increased reliability!

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name: Robert Down Under
email: flhtcu@ozemail.com.au
harley: 7 Harleys since 1949
valkyrie: Because I now know better

comments

I have been riding for 50 years mostly Harleys. The last Harley I owned was a 1995 Electra glide ultra classic. I had more problems with that machine than was normal. Harley did not honor their warranty on some major engine repairs so I went shopping. The local HD dealer was a jerk and would not come to the party so I visited the competition. At the Honda dealer I took a test ride on the Valkyrie. NO vibration, NO hesitation, tons of torque and handled like no other bike I have owned. The big surprise was the braking -- they worked and well. I had some concern about keeping 6 carbs tuned and petrol consumption. This all disappeared after the third test ride. I bought the Valkyrie (97 green and cream tourer) and never looked back. I still smile as I pass all the old Harley riders i knew. The big drawback with the bike is self canceling turn signals and the poor resell price. I hope both of these objections will be overcome with time. Ride Wisely and Safely, Robert VRCC # 192

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name: Martin (Germany) #1605
email: SaMHV@t-online.de
harley: Heritage Softail Custom
valkyrie: 97 Standard

comments

the first thing I bought after I rode the Harley for a few weeks was a cellular phone, because I always wanted to get back home.

The major reasons why I went to the valk are: 1: reliability - see above 2: torque - the valk has the torque the harley guys always talk about (even more) 3: power - no explanation needed 4: chassis - stable on high speed, fast in curves, perfect!! I can easily keep up with my friends on their lighter street bikes (Suzuki Bandit, Kawasaki ZX, Honda CB 1000...) 5: long distance riding comfort - the first time I noticed, that a Harley was not the right bike for me was, when I talk to another Harley rider and he told me: "Long distance riding? There's absolutely no problem with long distance rides! Last week, I rode almost 200 miles in 2 days and had no problems at all" (and I 've thought before - and still do - 200 miles is a nice Sunday afternoon trip)

If you want a Harley to be as performant as the valk, you have to spend a real lot of money and change almost every part of the bike (motor, chassis...), in the end it is no longer a Harley, and reliability probably is not getting better. So the decision for me was clear: I saved a lot of money, changed to the Valkyrie and enjoy every mile I ride.

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name: DGrey
email: Ciprocity@aol.com
harley: Road King
valkyrie: '00 Tourer

comments

I presently ride a 96 Honda magna 750. it's pretty enough, but it doesn't have a particularly smoothe power band and it seems i'm always reaching for another gear once i reach 65 or so. So I've been looking around. Took a 99(?) Road King for a test drive. Got to admit I was impressed. Nice looking bike. Very nice fit and finish. And actually quite smoothe (this was the new counterbalanced one) with good posture with an incredibly deep 5th gear. At 75 it wasn't even breathing hard. But the 20 or so grand they were asking was kind of steep. So I kept hunting. Royal Stars, Vulcans, and finally Valkyrie. For some reason the Honda grabbed me. Maybe because it wasn't pretending to be a V-twin. It seemed quite proud to be a six. And in the black tourer with a few tasteful extra bits of chrome it was beautiful! At 14 grand the price was right. Right now it's sitting over at the Honda dealership still in the box waiting for me to pick it up once the winter breaks a little. Needless to say I'm very excited even if i'm already making payments and it's still in the crate!

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name: GEORGE
email: georgev@dellnet.com
harley: 1996 Springer
valkyrie: standard

comments

I enjoy changing my ride there was nothing left to do on the springer. when I rode the Valkyrie I knew it would be my next ride. I have already lower it 2inches and will be having by front fender cut down and extending the rear fender may change gas tanks and will be painting it myself.

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name: Joe Sands
email: jbmgs@aol.com
harley: '97 Heritage Classic
valkyrie: 2000 Interstate

comments

I got tired of the smug attitude at every Harley Dealer I went to. I felt like they wanted me to kneel at their feet and beg for their newest model every year. I just got plain tired of that, sold my Harley and bought the biggest, fastest, and most reliable cruiser on the road today....The Honda Valkyrie!!

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name: Tigger
email: tigrmoon@airmail.net
harley: 34 years, till I found the Valk
valkyrie: Got the 4th one in Dallas - 6/4/96

comments

I got tired of the "ATTITUDE" laid on me every time I went in the HD dealership so I started lookin around. Didn't want a clone or a wannabe. Test drove the Valk and wouldn't give it back.

Best decision I ever made!

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name: speedbump  # 1272
email: 123@wpcs.net
harley: since 1966
valkyrie: 1998 standard

comments

I went from a Harley to a Valkyrie cause i liked the motorcycle i has rode since the sixties, i always had to keep a Japanese machine so I could ride when the Harleys were broke down i now has Seven Harleys and one Valkyrie I has only rode a Harley once since i ordered the new Valkyrie in May of 1988 Thanks Honda a ride I can depend on and and service and just ride I ride hard and all that is necessary is to service the Honda Valkyrie, Ride fast Ride safe Ride free

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name: Primetime
email: ryork@nothnbut.net
harley: various 45" to 80"
valkyrie: Standard

comments

I was wishing for a bike with the soul of a Harley, the smoothness of a Goldwing and the long distance reliability of a BMW. One day in 1996 I woke up and as if by some magic, Presto, there was the Valkyrie. I bought it without a test ride, in fact I wasn't too crazy about the looks at first. Something down inside me, nourished by 35 years of being a biker, told me that the Valk would be the bike that could be all things I wanted. I was right. The Valkyrie is the best all around motorcycle in the world. It is what a motorcycle and motorcycling is supposed to be. After almost 50,000 trouble free miles my belief in this motorcycle is only strengthened. Every year you don't have one is a year wasted...

Bob York

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name: Dan Kidd
email: danielhkidd@yahoo.com
harley: 1997
valkyrie: 1998-present

comments

Was very disappointed in HD quality, performance and "engineering" To much money for a unfinished inferior product. Also too much vibration for my screwed up hands.

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name: 8ball
email: heli13@csranet.com
harley: FXE, '81...customized
valkyrie: Tourer, '97...Green & Creme

comments

To make a long story short, for medical reasons... Due to calcium deposits growing in my spine, my Doctor suggested I either give up riding completely, especially on that oversized vibrator I was ridin', get a smoother running/riding bike, or end up in a wheel chair within 5 years. Well...after 'bout 35 odd years of ridin', I couldn't quite see giving it up, so I headed down to the Honda dealer to check out a Wing, and just happened to get "my doors blown off," by a bike I soon discovered was a Valkyrie. At the dealer, I asked for a test ride, and got one on a used '98 Valk... After that short ride, I was ready to deal, checked his inventory, and found him even more ready to deal on a Green and Creme "left-over" '97 Tourer showing 6 miles on the odometer... The rest is history, but Olga went home with me that same afternoon! My back still hurts, but not like before, I blow off H-D's at will, I ride more than repair, and in general just plain enjoy whatever time I have left, especially with Olga. All I can say is if they put me in a wheel chair, it'll be Flat 6 powerred!!!! kliff VRCC 1761

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name: Bill
email: billh1340@aol.com
harley: for 13 years
valkyrie: because i fell in love for the first time in my life

comments

I was tired of calling my friends to pick me up from the side of the road.

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name: Lamont
email: f6rider@home.com
harley: Custom 87 FXR
valkyrie: Custom Blown Valk

comments

...I got tired of leaking oil, parts falling off and the bad attitude that a lot of HD riders had. I bought a Custom 1987 FXR in 1996. I paid 12K for it and I was getting ready to dump another 4 or 5K into it to get it the way I wanted it. If you know what a FXR is it has a narrow glide front end and I never could get use to that look. I like the fat look so I was going to make a FXR Fat Boy. One thing that was a bummer is nobody could tell me how to make this thing so it wouldn't leak oil! I hate leaks! To make a real long story short, I test drove a Valkyrie and that was it for me. It was big and fat and had lots of power. It didn't leak oil and parts didn't fall off of it. I wound up selling the Harley and to tell you the truth, I don't miss it. If I had it to do all over again I just would have bought the Valkyrie to start with. No looking back for me. Lamont