[westgl]

The GL1800 had a anti-dive mechanism on one of the fork legs.

That would after some miles on the bike cause a VERY harsh front suspension.

I wanted to know if the New Valk has the same anti dive front suspension as the GL1800 does/did?

They used to be a alum. spacer plate that did away with it, or some guys would cut off the protruding plunger.

This Plunger would start to freeze up and not move, this would cause only one fork to provide all the suspenion work and the other side would go very still causing a very harsh front suspension.

Anyone know if that problem was fixed.

I know the new forks are cartridge forks, but not sure if that same problem was carried across to the new bikes front suspension.

 

[westgl]

Just found the info.

Suspension upgrade was in 2012' with the new body panel, saddle bags and Trunk change.

 

[Xyzzy]

From: http://www.hondanews.com/channels/p...yrie/releases/2014-valkyrie-development-story

That 154-pound advantage over the full-dress Gold Wing reaps some truly amazing rewards: excellent maneuverability, light and agile manners. The stout 45mm fork has been lengthened to raise the front end, and it incorporates a cartridge damper for plush yet well-controlled response. Fork damping settings are unique to this model, given its lighter curb weight of 750 pounds and a new weight distribution that is now effectively a 50/50 split.

I have attached a picture showing the left fork internals for both the 2014 Valkyrie and the 2012 Gold Wing. Note that the Gold Wing has an oil valve and spring that the Valkyrie does not have. I am pretty sure this part is the anti-dive valve.

The Honda web site and specification sheet say that the Valkyrie has an anti-dive valve but I do not think it does.

1) The fork internals on the Valkyrie are much simpler.
2) There is no brake slave cylinder attached to the left fork. (I visually inspected both bikes. The brake slave cylinder is very obvious on the Gold Wing. There is nothing remotely like that on the Valkyrie.)

But, I have been wrong before and if anyone knows for sure please let me know.

I have also attached a picture that shows the difference between the Gold Wing and the Valkyrie service manuals:

The Valkyrie manual weighs 2lb 7 1/4oz.
The Gold Wing manual weighs 7lb 11 5/8oz.

That is a huge difference when it comes to maintenance! All of that plastic and wiring and extra features that the Gold Wing has really bites you when it comes time to work on it!

For the record, I use the term "Valkyrie" when it really is a "Gold Wing Valkyrie". I do this to make things simple.

Pictures:

 

[westgl]

That 2014 fork looks identical to a damper fork unless there is a cartridge that drops into the fork before the fork cap is screwed on.

The anti dive mechanism, I believe was on the left fork, about mid way easy to see it, it was part of a Brake line union that the rear to front brake hard line went into, and above it there was a mechanical push valve, that would shut off one of the forks and make the suspension much stiffer, but the problem was the mechanical push valve switch would get dirty inside, it was hard to clean, and would get dirty again fairly quickly.

The result was a very harsh ride, when the valve switch got dirty then stuck in the one position.

Most guys just put a spacer in between them to bypass the push button so it would never activate, then go to a progressive fork spring and add spacers to the spring top to remove front fork sag.

That is what I did and it was great, much better.

I just want to know if it was still a part on the new Valk fork
it was on the outside of the left fork I believe.

Mine acted up around 40k miles so you have plenty of time, if it does still have it.

So No brake slave cylinder, Hey thanks for checking on that, it was connected to the slave cyl.

Yes that link you provided was the fix for the antidive problem

 

[westgl]

Air filter replacement is probably same as they used to be.

I m in for for a the Dark Red Flavor

 

[Xyzzy]

Air filter replacement is probably same as they used to be.

The air filter will be a lot easier because the fuel tank is really a fuel tank and the air filter is right below it. On a GL1800 you have to disassemble half the bike. (Or at least it seems like it!)

 

[westgl]

Yes, I wish they had the New Valkyrie, Owners manual on PDF too.

I did a lot of searching, i could not find it.

I would love to see a youtube of the air filter change on the Valk.

and how the New Gas Tank Mounts front and rear, I would think the Gas tank is Now Steel since it is NOT a faux tank anymore, and is a more conventional gas tank.

I changed the Rear shock on my 01 Goldwing, as it was worn at 40K miles and the new one made a Big difference, it was off of a 2012 Goldwing that someone had done a Trike conversion to and no longer needed it.

That Rear shock is a real PITA to change out.

I like the idea of the goldwings being very close and having a lot of used spare parts going forward, as quite a few of the parts will interchange, but body parts will not.

I would love to see a picture of both engines out of their frames side by side for a comparison

No Reverse is a change but it was the electric starter, so i doubt they did anything to the engine, maybe different starter, but I doubt it.
cheaper to leave as is than a change.

 

[Xyzzy]

and how the New Gas Tank Mounts front and rear, I would think the Gas tank is Now Steel since it is NOT a faux tank anymore, and is a more conventional gas tank.

The tank is steel.

Removing it is simple. There is even a quick-disconnect for the fuel line. (On my VTX1800 I once dumped almost two gallons of gas on the garage floor because there was just a rubber line from the fuel tank to wherever the fuel goes, and once that line came off when I tilted the tank up I couldn't get it back on.)

The air filter housing is right below the tank.

(I haven't done this but the service manual shows the steps and they look very easy.)

WRT the engine/drivetrain, my understanding is the "power units" are nearly identical. They even kept the same final drive ratio even though the bike is 150# lighter. (I literally have never used first gear due to the low gearing.)

The ECM supposedly has a slightly different program.

 

[westgl]

I wonder if all years of GL1800 Goldwings had the same final drive ratio shaft drives.

2001 to 2014, 13 years in production, I wonder if they had a more of a freeway gearing in one or more of those years?

 

[Xyzzy]

All of the GL1800 line has the same final drive ratio.

In the VTX line, you could swap in a (higher) 1300 final drive to replace the (lower) one on the 1800.

 

[Xyzzy]

2001 to 2014, 13 years in production, I wonder if they had a more of a freeway gearing in one or more of those years?

Technically, you have to subtract a year because no Gold Wings were made in 2011. (That is when they switched production from Ohio to Japan.)

 

[blacki]

I have the Valkyrie workshop manual too. The right fork has a cartridge, as previously noted. The left fork has a piston bolted to the fork lower, sliding inside the fork leg. A very rudimentary damper rod-like arrangement. Why would Honda do this, instead of having two cartridges? I think it may be that the piston arrangement allowed the anti-dive mechanism to operate to stiffen the compression by closing a valve in response to braking. Not easily done with a cartridge. The anti-dive is not installed on the Valk, and Honda made a very curious decision not to install the second cartridge. The resulting front suspension action is very damper rod-like, choppy when rapid fork movement is required to absorb small high frequency bumps. I am very disappointed that Honda unnecessarily compromised their flagship bike to save a few dollars by doing this. Now I need to figure out how to fix it. Maybe it's even possible to install a cartridge in the left fork? Otherwise, a new pair of after market cartridges.
IanB

 

[145236]

Quote:
Originally Posted by westgl
2001 to 2014, 13 years in production, I wonder if they had a more of a freeway gearing in one or more of those years?

Technically, you have to subtract a year because no Gold Wings were made in 2011. (That is when they switched production from Ohio to Japan.)

Check your math again, a production run from 2001 to 2014 is 14 model years. You don't subtract the first model year from the total of production years. So if we do subtract the nonexistent 2011 model from the production run that makes 13 years total. westgl is correct! Well, 16 years now
Any one want to buy a 1983 corvette?