New 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate Motor Trike Owner (Almost)
I pick up my trike next week and I’m excited as heck. I have been reading Trike Talk posts back 20 pages learning as much as I can and planning for all the necessary maintenance and upgrades desired.
The trike is a dream come true, original owner, always garaged, well maintained, not hard ridden, mint condition, and affordable. The only negative is it is 400 miles away. I am torn between trailering it home (using a friends trailer) requiring 800 miles of driving, or flying into a nearby city and riding it home.
Having not seen it yet, I am concerned that there could be a mechanical problem during the ride home. The owner had the local Honda shop rebuild the carbs, change all the fluids, and do the preventative maintenance. That being said, I hate the thought of a 800 mile drive in a one day trip. I’m hoping for some Devine inspiration to help me with this decision. Any thoughts or inspiration?
ONE QUESTION FOR THE GROUP: It does have the original tires but only 10,000 miles. No cracking and always garaged but I am going to replace the front tire at a minimum. I will probably replace them all as I do not want to chance a problem and will probably own it forever. I have read as many posts as I could find and still have not been able to make a decision on the front tire or mounting configuration.
I love the idea of the Avon Cobra Chrome Trike tire but they do not make it in the size I need. The Valkyrie Interstate front rim takes a 150/80r/17 and Avon only offers two sizes 130/70r/18 and a mt/90b/16. It would be great to put a front tire engineered for a trike. Also, I’m concerned using a front motorcycle tire because, as you all know, a trike front tire needs are different than a motorcycle. THERFORE I’m leaning to using a rear motorcycle tire, mounted reverse (I do understand the forces involved and the way tires are manufactured), but what size.
Should I stay with the same size 150/80/17 or change to something more appropriate? Wider would make sense but I would like to keep the diameter the same for speedometer. Radial or biased ply? Also, should I have it balanced or use the beads. Beads seem to be a new technology or at least new to me. Thoughts and suggestions desired please.
I was planning to spend the winter replacing seals, rebuilding carbs, changing fluids, and checking everything, bringing things up to spec but the owner laughed because everything has been maintained or recently repaired. I’m kind of disappointed that the trike has no immediate mechanical issues but I will get over it. I will replace the timing belts just to know that I will not have a problem in the future.
I am really excited to complete this delivery process so I can start learning how to ride a trike and start turning this into a high mileage adventure trike. I will post pictures as soon as I can and share more with the group.
Thanks in advance. Please chime in with suggestions. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experience.
Tazman
Thanks for the suggestion
Did you have any problem getting the tire shop to mount it in reverse. I fear their reluctance to go against the arrow on the tire fearing some imaginary liability. I noticed that the inventory on some of the tires was poor. Seems like tires and toilet paper have something in common.
Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it greatly.
Tire size difference question
My 1999 Valkyrie Interstate front tire size is 150/80/17. When shopping for a rear tire to mount on the front (backwards) no tire manufacturer makes this size in a rear which leads me to believe it is a size used for front tires. I assume that those of you that are mounting a similar/close rear tire size. For example, the closest 17” tire manufactured Michelin Comander II is a 160/70/17. Tacoma world has a nice size comparator [URL]https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=150-80r17-160-70r17[/URL] showing the dimension differences. It seems close enough to work.
IS THIS HOW YOU GUYS APPROACH SIZING A REAR TIRE FOR THE FRONT? Do you see any problems using this size rear?
1 Attachment(s)
Made it home. Parts ordered.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101674[/ATTACH]
616 miles and made it home safely. 103 degrees for most of the ride home and I felt like human jerky when complete. Bike performed perfectly and was in perfect shape when I picked it up. 10,100 miles on a 1999 bike. Highway 80 through Nevada is a 80 MPH highway and the bike just purred. I was disappointed in the gas mileage at that speed and stopped at every town in the rural areas through Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada to make sure that I did not run out, despite the 7 gallon tank. Averaged about 25 MPG at that speed.
Now the projects begins. I ordered new tires this morning, staying with the BF GoodrichTA radials on the rear and Michelin Commander II Rear for the front that I will Mount in reverse. Proven tires that I have used throughout my life and should work well for my needs. Ordered all the fluids, filters, front bearings, gaskets, timing belts, break pads, and a Jack. Working on a Rake kit for the Valkyrie and may go with the Motor Trike unit since Papa Zook is not carrying the Valkyrie anymore (message sent to confirm.) The twisty mountain roads over the Sierras South of Tahoe showed me a great upper body workout that could do without. Looking forward to the power steering effect that the 4-4.5 rake should provide.
I won’t start the project until winter weather arrives, hoping to put a few local miles on until then. Building a big pile of parts in the meantime. More to come as the project progresses.