Today I pushed this machine. I passed cars/trucks and honked the Big horn in one day more than all the previous bikes combined. I exceeded the speed limits almost all afternoon.
This Valkyrie is not perfect and IT is not for everyone. Honda took a big gamble in thinking there would be a lot more buyers like me. Time has proven this to not be true.
Honda messed up and their mistake is my greatest investment.
Yeah I like mine so much I have actually tossed around the idea of buying another one and storing it but unless something bad happens I think this thing will be going for quite a long time.
All they had to do was get people to have a test ride and the bike would have sold. Simple as that. Every one I know thinks the bike must be a handful to ride and just refuse to believe me when I say it's not. If that's the perception then obviously people 'aint gonna buy 'em! One test ride, that's all it would have taken. But they didn't see the need. Complaceny? Arrogance? Perhaps a bit of both. But also probably a bit of over-estimating how discerning the market actually is.
In my experience talking to people and when I was researching the bike online before I bought it, the two biggest complaints I saw were "its ugly, it doesn't look like the old valkyrie" and "it's too expensive".
Motorcycle sales are down all over the world. The reason being that the older generation that is really into motorcycles is dying off. Younger generations have a lot more choices in the 4 wheel department, some of which offer many of the benefits that motorcycles used to have a monopoly on.
So honda made this bike to appeal to a younger crowd. They took a chance and gave it modern styling. They made it sound quite and refined. All the things a younger buyer would want. But then they priced it right out of their range.
Older buyers didn't want it because it didn't look like every other cruiser ever made since 1965. They say things like "it looks like a spaceship! It's ugly! Get off my lawn!" (I've been told several times in the last 5 weeks since I've owned the bike, that it is one of the most beautiful bikes they've seen, but they only saw it in pictures up to that point and thought it was ugly) Younger buyers couldn't afford it. Or they looked at other bikes in the price range and said "but this one has navigation, a port to charge my iPhone, and an adjustable seat, for $3500 less."
The mistake honda made was assuming that people buy motorcycle based on how well they function and the joy of riding them. The sad fact is that most people don't buy them for those reasons. Old people buy motorcycles based on how they look. They want to project an image. Young people buy motorcycles based on price, available options, fuel economy, and how fast the speedometer says the bike will go.
Hopefully Honda has learned their lesson and will plan their advertising campaign better for the new valkyrie coming in 2020.
Older buyers didn't want it because it didn't look like every other cruiser ever made since 1965. They say things like "it looks like a spaceship! It's ugly! Get off my lawn!"
Do you know how much I love not seeing another one?
I was about to fill it up yesterday and the pump had an error so proceeded to step inside the store. A black guy with a grin from one ear to the other opened the door for me. That don't happen too much here in the south. I was back putting gas in it and he was walking toward his car next to me and told him how much his small gesture meant to me. He said part of the reason was the valk. He wants one badly!
He left and I needed to clean some of the bugs off due to the warmer temps and every paper towel dispenser was screwed up because the towels were hung from everyone trying to pull out too many. So, tore off a small section. Next thing I know, a white guy is handing me a bunch he had in his truck. I said thanks man!
I mention this because the valk is an attention grabber...
I think the market is there, I think the approach was misguided. Perhaps something a little smaller, with a V4 or some other engine other than a V twin. That came in at 13k or less would have done better in the market. The ONLY drawback I see to this bike is the lack of aftermarket support. I take that back. There are 2 things, lack of accessible storage is a problem as well. Looking forward to getting some bags.
Has anyone seen a negative review from someone who has actually ridden this bike? I haven't seen one.
I’ve searched the net from top to bottom. There aren’t any. And that’s my point. All Honda had to
do was get people to ride one. I think everyone on this forum says one ride and they had to have it. Such a simple sales strategy overlooked.
But how? I haven't seen a commercial or an ad for a motorcycle in decades. The only time motorcycles get advertised is in motorcycle specific magazines and websites. But the people watching/reading those are the people already into bikes. The old farts that think it looks too much like a spaceship, and the younger crowd that can't afford it. They didn't bring any new customers into the dealerships, which is what they needed to sell this bike at the price it was listed.
honestly I never even knew the new valkyrie existed until about a year ago. And that was only because I rode my cousins goldwing, loved it, wanted one but without all the fairing and luggage, did a google search to see if such a thing existed, and found a valkyrie for sale 1500 miles away. Did some research for the next year, and found my bike for sale.
Like i was literally looking to see if people bought a goldwing and stripped it down. I had no idea because I never saw one, never heard of them, never saw an ad, never saw one on display outside a dealership, nothing.
I’ve searched the net from top to bottom. There aren’t any. And that’s my point. All Honda had to
do was get people to ride one. I think everyone on this forum says one ride and they had to have it. Such a simple sales strategy overlooked.
I saw an ad in a magazine here for a Ford ute (pickup) here in Australia. It said "we're so confident that once you've driven our new ute you'll buy it, we'll give you $500 cash if you in fact buy another brand of ute"
What bike would all us guys who have a Valkyrie have bought if the Valkyrie didn't exist? We would have bought something, right? An M109R for example. A bunch of people who recently bought 109's might very well have bought Valkyries if they had only ridden one first. I think there are a number of people on this forum who have said the 109 was the bike they were thinking of at first. In other words, Honda didn't necessarily need to get new riders, it's entirely possible it could have swayed existing riders to make a different purchasing choice if they'd only got them to actually ride the thing first. Ford thought so anyway...
This is bike #7 for me. Every single one that I purchased was used. Motorcycle brands depend on NEW sales and this is why Harley Davidson is in big trouble.
I bought all of mine from previous owners. The makers of the bikes made nothing off of me. Honda is a super BIG company with so many various products and can afford the hits and misses.
HD cannot!
If not for the Valkyrie existing, I would have bought a ____________ .
Almost most of my bikes have been new from Honda. But a great reduction in price.
Back in 1984 I bought a 82 CX500 about half price $1500, then a used Shadow, 97 PC800 $3500 savings, 98 Valkyrie $4000 savings, 2013 F6B $4000 savings, 2015 NC700X $2500 savings, and the Valkyrie $8000+ savings. And a few used cycles in between like another Valkyrie Interstate and a ST1300.
I bought mostly new but I didn't think they made too much from me, except in parts and accessories.
Everyone is clamoring to build an electric bike that will revolutionize the industry by being affordable, have a decent long range, and will have super fast charging system. The tech is not there yet!
So, folks like me are destined to ride the machines that create small explosions which turn a shaft driving a wheel. It has around a 200 mile range and will recharge in a couple of minutes.
Bottom line is making IT affordable due to high battery costs. I want a hand sized batt that can simply be changed out at a convenience store for a few bucks and get me 200 miles. I have a feeling the tech will eventually be there but by that time, I may not be around.
Maybe there could be something like this already out there but the BIG gas guys are using $$ to keep it unavailable to everyone. Food for thought!
I believe Honda did make a mistake in the manner with which they marketed this bike. The gentleman who stated that we never see motorcycle commercials is dead on. What are these motorcycle companies spending their advertising bucks on?
I have not owned a motorcycle in 35 years. I've only ridden occasionally on a HD Road King a hand full of times in all those years. Back in the 80's I had a Sportster but sold it when my first son was born. Now at 63 I decided to get back into riding. I always loved the Valkyrie of the late 1990's. That bike was and is a work of art. I thought seriously about buying one of those bikes now as my intro back into riding. The truth is I thought it might be to much bike for me right now. So I read every article online and in print that spoke of the new Valkyrie. The other gentleman was also dead on. Every article I read loved the new Valk. What kind of spooked me a bit was the listed wet weight of 750 pounds. The reviews spoke to the low center of gravity and the easy handling so I thought I'd look for a test ride. When I found a 2014 near my home in New Jersey I asked to ride it. That's all it took. The bike handled like a dream. It cornered well, had good ground clearance, the weight gave it real balance, it's ride was smooth and like the other gentleman said every head turned to ask "What is that?" So I bought it on the spot.
How could Honda have gotten younger riders to buy it? The first obvious answer is speed. The new Valk is in the top 4 on every list for fast cruisers. Only the VMAX, Ducati Diavel and the Triumph Rocket 3 were faster. That means our Valk crushed allot of other fast bikes. So the speed factor might have sold a few more bikes. The other market I was thinking about strongly was the female market. I'd be willing to bet any female who read the bike was 750 pounds just turned the page. Honda should have done a few commercials with women riders bragging about this bikes handling. This bike is a dream to ride and handle. Women riders could have turned the tide for sales.
Before I go south I'm going to own a 1999 Valk tourer. With my 2014 Valk and that bike in my garage I'll be a happy man.
I have only ever seen ONE Valkyrie on the road here in central New Hampshire; it was a couple of years ago.
It was a blue one, which would have been a 2014, seeing as the 2015 only came in red.
Valkyries are pretty unmistakable, don't you think?.
There are not many motorcycles that can be confused with them.
Unique.
I have always thought the Valkyrie was about the sharpest looking motorcycle out there.
And...now...I'm gonna own one!
Share my JOY!!!
I absolutely do. I know exactly how you feel. During the weeks after I placed my order and waited for my bike to arrive I kept pinching myself that I was actually a Valkyrie owner, "the Porsche of Motorcycles". Congratulations on joining a pretty exclusive club!
from research I had done this has horrible suspension and not much of a motor, detuned st1300... and of course all the noise about no after market parts and accessories. well its not like they sold 20 million of them for the last 40 years.
So I guess I'm slightly of a different opinion in that I was sitting at my Honda dealer one day waiting for the parts guy to bring me my parts for my '78 GL1000 when the Valk caught the corner of my eye. I looked at the salesman and said what in the heck is that. Right away I got up and sat on it and was sold. The test ride was just the icing on the cake. I for one, think this Valk looks awesome. Wish it has a bit of storage though!
It was my dream come true...as a almost 66 year old state employee, I never image having or being able to afford a big machine. One that was dependable, eye catching and faster than greased lightening. I have four years before I can retire before then I hope to have panniers, a trunk big enough for my helmet and a sissy bar large enough for a tent, sleeping bag and nap sack to be tied to it. Texas to Alaska here comes double O seven.
Dillpickle311 was that bike a prototype? Was that actually planned for the mass production line? That bike is sharp. Do you know what the story behind it was and why they decided not to make it? One other thing. A member in an earlier post speculated about a 2020 Valkyrie. Was that just spec or has someone actually heard there might be a new Valk on the board?
I do notice that the 2020 valk has a different front fender and it has the same fork/shock configuration that the 2019 goldwing has. I did read that while this is more comfortable, it will possibly require more maintenance than standard front end setups like ours.
I'm curious about overall price IF the 2020 valk becomes a reality. I can venture to say that it won't be cheap. Shoot, we can slap a little more chrome on ours once it is in production, and then sell ours for possibly more than we paid. Just thinking out loud y'all...
the Valk. yes it is a cult of Neanderthal sized Norsemen rowing their warships to rape, pillage and plunder. That is the image projected, at least that is how they tell it in the movies and books. Mostly now it is just a group of old guys with beer bellies wearing buffalo hides and moose hats like Fred Flintstone at royal order of the moose lodge.
I rode a demo wing back in 06 and kick myself for not buying it, while going thru a half dozen hardley ablesons. So when I stumbled across this blow out deal for a new Valk w/warranty at used bike price, I jumped at putting this MOTOR, chassis and spiffy set of wheels in my barn.
As for all the new age edgy trim packaging, it didn't push any buttons for me, but didn't slow me down either. I can shitcan all that crap. I got the motor bike. Squeaky, Squeaky, Squeaky.. I know you know what that is. its all that annoying plastic squeaking everytime you sit on it and turn the wheel or shift your weight. My 14 guzzi California was the same. annoying as ****. with just that front headlamp removed, most of the squeaks are gone. the side covers will let out a squeak sometimes.
this bike like ALL bikes is all about the MOTOR. style, fit, form, function. either you choose what some goof ball designer puts out the door.. or you do your own thing, because you can. most of you say you appreciate being different.. well then do it. poncho
Mate rode my Valk on the weekend for the first time. In the last 10 or so years, he has had everything form the BMW K1600GTL, Harleys, Ducatis to now owning a Triumph 1050 Speed triple. Was cautious about the size of the bike and started off fairly gingerly. An hour later after a few hills and highway sections, rated it hands down the best bike he had ridden. Smoothest and most comfortable bike he had been on, loads of power and easy to handle.
My wife also regularly rides it and has no issues, even with me on the back.
I initially took this out for a test ride for shits and giggles when out tyre kicking one day with no intention of buying a bike at the time. Made the deal there and then, rode the bike home an hour later and have since put 50000kms on the clock.
As the first post stated, Honda should have done all they could to offer test rides. If they had, there wouldn't be half as many wanna be numpties riding around on Harleys only doing 2000km a year!
Waiting to see what the Rocket 3 comes out like at the end of year. Not convinced Honda will do another Valk yet. Pics I have seen so far are not impressive.
Mate rode my Valk on the weekend for the first time. In the last 10 or so years, he has had everything form the BMW K1600GTL, Harleys, Ducatis to now owning a Triumph 1050 Speed triple. ... An hour later after a few hills and highway sections, rated it hands down the best bike he had ridden. ...As the first post stated, Honda should have done all they could to offer test rides.
clearly this is nothing more than a photo shopped Rune with new front suspension and f6c side radiators AND rune rad and exhaust, fenders and turn sigs. The motor heads are too high in the frame just to script in those header pipes. this is just a poor patch job photo shop.
Since I put 200 on rear, it tops out at 110mph which could mean speedo is off now. Don't need to go that fast but playing catch up since having to wait til an old fart before getting 1st bike.
I doubt it. Why would they, they just got rid of the 2015's. Wouldn't make much business sense. Hope Im wrong though (Ill pick up a new leftover in 2025 for half price)
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