New Bike

Third times a charm. My first effort to purchase a second-generation Valkyrie was when the new old stock was selling for about $8k a few years ago. I paid a down payment and had a plane ticket to fly to Milwaukee, Wisc to pick up a brand new black model and ride it back to the west coast. With bags packed, when it came time to go to the airport my wife said she would not drive me to the airport and wanted nothing to do with me getting another motorcycle. So I thought in the interest of marital peace I would cancel this. Two years later my wife of 43 years and I decided to split the sheets. Unencumbered by a controlling spouse, I located a lightly used black ABS model in Portland, OR and was on my way to purchase it when I got cold feet and decided to not go through with the purchase. So now on my third attempt, I will be picking up a lightly used 2014 black Valkyrie on Tuesday. This time it is a go.

Poncho said:

OK, so this is what I want to know. How do you like your New Valk as compared to your old Valk? what makes it better? what do you miss? be gentle, this crowd is a sensitive bunch.

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I like the gas gauge and the "welcome" message is nice on the second generation (2G).

The riding positions are different. I had a footpeg lower kit and handlebar risers on the first generation (1G) Valkyrie. I'm still warming to the new riding position but then I have been off my 1G for five years and my 70-year-old body is adjusting to a lot of things. I'm glad I don't have to re-qualify for my motorcycle driver's license. The learning curve is steep and the weather is cold.

The comfort is different. The G1 does a "better" job of heat management but the downside is that it's colder riding the G2 than the G1. It should make for a better hot weather riding experience. There may be some heated riding gear in my future. Fortunately, I find both stock seats comfortable. I don't think there would be any aftermarket option to improve seating comfort for me.

The performance & handling is very similar between the two and the transmission clunk is familiar. If memory serves me I think that switching to Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 helped with shifting smoothness on my 1G. There seem to be more brake dive with the 2G and the front brake is a little grabby but the 2G has new pads and probably not beded yet.

I raised both the brake pedal and shifter pedal on my 1G and I'm finding it annoying getting my toe under the shifter on the 2G. Also, the rear brake pedal on my 2G seems too low.

Visually, I really like the lines of the 2G Valkyrie and the 2G really makes the 1G look dated. But the 1G appearance will always be a favorite. I think the 1G lent itself more to "chroming out" but then there were far more chrome options for the 1G than the 2G.

I'm not a mechanic. I think that maintenance will be more of a challenge on the 2G as opposed to the 1G. I no longer have a shop to do maintenance on my bike as a result of divorce. I don't welcome all the plastic stuff. Time will tell if I will start to do my own fluid changes again.

I find the factory sissybar and cargo rack a far better design on the 1G than on the 2G. I had LeatherWorks saddlebags and EZ Bracket on my 1G Valkyrie. EZ Brackets are not an option on the 2G. I wasn't going to get saddlebags for the 2G but OEM 24 liter leather saddlebags are on order and if available will be on their way. If OEM leather saddlebags are not available I will get LeatherWorks bags again and mount them on OEM brackets & stays.

That's all the comes to mind now.