I bought this bike because it was with in my budgetary constraints and it was one of the few bikes out there that a 6ֶ” individual can ride comfortably. As an added bonus, this beast has an engine that will outperform all but the fastest bikes out there. And with an aftermarket modification, it will match any bike out there.

Why I Bought This Bike.
Before I bought this bike I was riding a 1995 ZX-6. It was a fast and fun bike to ride, but it was killing my back when I had to ride a significant distance. My wife on the other hand was quite comfortable on her Yamaha V-Star 750. So my wife and I really only took short rides because I couldn’t handle anything else.
Well she started teasing me about getting a bike. I told her to stop or let me get a new bike. So she said, “Lets go.”
From the research I did online I found that this had several things I wanted. First it was a comfortable ride with a smooth engine that did not cause excessive vibration. The second was it is a tall bike designed for a taller individual(my wife can’t ride it.) And finally this bike is FAST!!!!!! I still feel young, and hence stupid, so I needed something that could cure that.

The Ride.
The ride is very smooth. Once I was on the freeway coming home from Sequoia National Park and I was cruising at 85 mph without realizing it. I thought I was going 70. I have even taken it to 100mph and felt very comfortable riding it (I was just very uncomfortable mentally because I knew what asphalt can do at that speed.) If you value comfort over other factors then this style of bike is for you.
The shocks and body contribute to the lack of vibrations but the real key is the engine. The cylinders are opposing so it’s not creating excessive force on the frame. I am unsure of the drawback to this, but it does make for a smoother ride.

The Handling.
The handling and balance are superb for such a large bike. This is true with all the Honda’s in this line. If you wanted to, you could lean in so much the engine guard scrapes along the asphalt with out sliding out of control. I frequently turn corners with only 1 inch of clearance and I feel very confident in the bike’s abilities.
The handling is easier that most big bikes, but still not as good as a sport bike. It does take for effort to turn and you do need to plan you path accordingly. If you just want handling, then get a sport bike.

The Engine.
The engine is a 1500cc, 6 opposing cylinder engine. It is very smooth and fairly quiet for it’s size. The engine is rated at 98.5 horsepower even though it feels like more. If the sissy bar was not there, you could easily lose a passenger from the acceleration. You can increase horsepower through some engine modification.
The sound is fairly quiet. This is partially because of the engine design and because I still have stock mufflers. I see no reason to change them, but noise can be increased as much as you like if you want to change out the mufflers.

The Tank
The tank only holds around 5 gallons. The interstate tank holds little more. This is not much and you will need to stop frequently to get gas. But this is nothing new and all bikes have small gas tanks. I average 130 miles on one tank before I have to go to reserve. When I was in Sequoia National Park I was able to go 160 miles before I refueled. This was because I rarely went above 30mph and I stayed at a consistent speed for long periods.

The Seat.
The seat is ok for short distances. But if you plan on riding for long periods of time, your butt will get sore. This is not a very good seat. If you decide on taking this baby on roadtrips then you need to go out and buy another seat. Try a Corbin or Mustang.
On my trip to Sequoia I needed to stop and walk around every 2 hours. Even then my butt was still sore for a couple of days. Granted, the jeans I was wearing were not the best.
Due to my second surgery I have not taken it out on a long road trip (beyond 3 hours) so I have not needed to buy a new seat yet. But by next summer I will head up to the Corbin plant and have them make me a custom one to fit my dimensions.

Passengers Comments.
My passengers love this bike. The backseat has enough room for them to sit comfortably without them feeling like they’re straddling me. The sissy bar provides a lot of comfort and in my opinion is a necessity on this bike. My brother will not ride on the back of my other bikes again if he has a choice, and I don’t blame him.
The high end model (Interstate) is more like the Goldwing in the seat arrangement. The back passenger can have their own CB mike set up as well.

Accessories.
The accessories are countless. If you can think of it, they have it. I will only address items I have on my bike or standard options that come with the other two models.
I bought the bike in its barebones state. I immediately ordered a windshield. If you only ride this bike around town then you don’t need a windshield. But the windshield is necessary if you travel long distances at high speeds. The wind will constantly push you back and tire you out quicker then you think. The installation was simple and took me about ˝ an hour. This was a genuine Honda Part.
I also bought LykeLeather saddle bags. This is a product I would love to give a review on (hope someone is listening.) These also too about ˝ hour to install and were very simple. They do not interfere with the pipe or any other part of the bike. They have become a necessity in my trips to Joshua Tree.
As I mentioned, I will be installing a Corbin seat shortly.
The higher end bikes have their own radio, CD player options, cruise control, CB radio with antenna mounts on the back, as well as a ton more chrome.


Modifications.
I have not modified my bike but I met two people that did. I thought it was neat so I addressed it here.
The first modification was a supercharger type device one individual put on his Valkyrie. He said it modified his horse power to about 135 horsepower. From the questions I asked him I believe it to be accurate. His wife was not happy the first time her husband went full throttle with her on the back. He had a problem with some of the gas on the trip. This was in Utah. He said that he had to keep the engine speed above 50 mph or the engine didn’t operate right. California gas didn’t cause this problem for some reason. But whatever the case, I knew this wasn’t a modification I wanted.
These two riders also modified their gas tanks. One ordered the 7 gallon Valkyrie interstate tank and installed it on his basic Valkyrie. The other rider (the non-supercharged one) installed a third-party, 9 gallon gas tank. After one modification with a nut, it worked just fine. The only issue some might have is the tank is larger than normal and doesn’t look quite right on the bike. If you want to show off your bike, then I can’t recommend getting the 9 gallon, but it effectively doubles the range of your bike (which is useless if you ride with other riders.)


What I Don’t Like
-The seat is my biggest peeve. I really wish manufactures spent the extra money on a good seat.
-The gas mileage sucks. I know we wouldn’t get the power if it was better, but it is still an issue I have at times. Gas mileage will be a factor in my next bike.
-No gas gage.
-Difficult to ride at slow speeds.
-No floorboards or easy place to install highway pegs.

My Accident.
I got into a slight accident when a van slammed its brakes in front of me. The bike fell over and slid on the freeway a short distance. I was amazed that the only damage to the bike was scratch marks on the engine guard, part of the exhaust pipe, the windshield, and the seat. It appears designed to handle situations like this by lying on the engine guards and wheels when if falls. I, on the other hand, did not fare as well.

Why I Recommend This Beast.
This bike is fast and fun. It is a blast to ride through the mountains, or those wonderful twisty roads you find in many National Parks. It will not handle well in the city like a smaller bike (but I have very little trouble manuvering it), you just need to look ahead to where you are going. And it is one of the few bikes that my long legs feel comfortable in.

Overall I love this bike and I don’t ride it enough. I’m pleased with the overall construction and feel. I highly recommend this bike unless you are short, a novice, split lanes in rush hour traffic a lot, or only ride it around town. But if you love taking trips, or your wife/girlfriend doesn’t ride and needs a comfortable backseat, then this is the bike for you.

My other vehicle reviews
Chevy avalanche
Saturn SL2

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 12500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000