Chose 2014 Valkyrie over 2018 Triumph Speedmastsr

Welcome to the club!!!

The tranny does have a clunk going into second, but nothing to really worry about. There are posts regarding that on this and the Valkyrie riders site.

Great choice. I too am fairly new to the bike and 1-2 is clunky but you do soon adjust to it, I shift into 2nd really early now and its hardly there at all. The rest is super slick up or down. Loadsa oomph! People who have had their bike a good while may be able to tell us but having recently joined this forum it seems to me quite a few new old stock are being snapped up this summer/Autumn. Not sure why because its so off the radar. I found mine by pure chance like you and upto about a week before never knew it even existed! I have just sold my old 1100 Pan European, never thought I would sell it but my F6 is just so **** awesome that the Pan no longer was top dog (for me).

Very similar story for me this summer. Went in to dealership with wife just to sit on a few bikes. Was thinking I would end up on a used Boulevard/Shadow/Star...etc. Saw the brand new 2014 Valkyrie and the wife said "why don't we sit on that one". I said "no, it's too much bike" and we left. I'd never even seen or heard of it before. Out of curiousity, I started researching it at home and then we ended up going back and buying it.

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Picked up my 2014 Valkyrie two days ago and have put 200 miles on her already. Originally went into the dealership to purchase a 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster after a ton of research and saw this on the showroom floor. Left the dealership and did more research and came back three days later and bought it. Haven't looked back since, really enjoy the riding position and the smoothness of the engine. Came from a 600cc Ninja so it's nice not hearing the engine scream at 80mph. I think the transmission is kind of clunky but it's probably due to my shifting. Really happy to be part if the Honda Valkyrie community.

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That's funny because my first impression was, "man that's too much bike!" But after sitting on this and then the Bonneville which is 1200cc, the Bonneville felt too small. I've had people ask me what bike I was riding and the reply I get is that's badass. I opened it up on the highway and man I was grinning from ear to ear.

You'll like it. The Valk is much more bike than the Speedy. The Valk compares more to the Rocket 3 or Thunderbird 1600 than the Speedy.
Only issue with the Valk I find is riding fast. The areodynamics wants to rip you off the bike at 90-100... lol However that's why they make windshields.. And please don't ask why I do 100 on a Valk..

I originally wanted a CTX1300, but the cheap saddlebags and low HP turned me off. We stopped by my dealer to pick up my wife's Can Am Spyder and Honda had their ride day on. I wanted to try the CTX, but it was already booked, so I decided to try the Valkyrie. It was so light that I almost threw it on the ground. My last bike was a 1999 Valkyrie Interstate. One ride on the new Valk was all it took. I looked at the CTX and decided that it wasn't for me. My dealer offered me a smoking deal on a new 2014 that they had on the showroom floor and I jumped on it. Best bike out there, bar none. I had to do a few changes to make it mine, but it was well worth it.

The M109 is a cool looking bike, but I hate V-twins. Doesn't matter if it is a Harley, or a VTX. I like a smoooooth ride. Also, coming from the previous Valkyrie generation, it had spoiled me on engine quality.

I've decided to keep my CTX. Perfect for riding in December January and beer runs.