Valkyrie advice

[JimEd]

Picking up my 2000 Valkyrie trike next week,,
Riding from NY state to my home in Florida.
What kind of gas mileage can I expect,,mostly interstate riding.

First time riding a trike,,any pointers on handling.
I have lots of experience on two wheels.

 

[Nana]

Jim, Before you get out on the road with the trike in traffic, find a quiet parking lot and get the feel of the handling---very important, because the steering is quite different from being on 2 wheels! Then find a quiet road. Keep the speed low and only increase it as you are comfortable. If you take it slow, you will quickly love it! If you don't, you will scare yourself to death!<br />
<br />
Look for the thread on advice from experienced riders and read it in detail. <a href="http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-forum/242-experianced-trike-riders-please-post-here.html" target="_blank">http://www.triketalk.com/forum/gener...post-here.html</a>

 

[JimEd]

Thanks I was planing on doing some neighborhood riding first.

I have lots of time on four wheel ATV's also,I have been told the steering
is similar..

 

[Yellow Trike]

My husband's 1999 Valkyrie Interstate Motortrike gets 27 miles to the gallon on the highway.<br />
<br />
Ride safe. Have fun.

 

[Okie]

One thing you will notice right off the bat is when you make a turn, even a street corner turn, you feel like it is leaning to the outside and you will have a feeling of not wanting to pull the handlebars far enough to make the turn as tight as you will want to, so you end up drifting to the outside to overcome the feeling of tipping.
You will not tip (Assuming you are at a reasonable speed). Go ahead and pull the bars as far as you need to, and you will make the turn.
Next time you are in your car and made a turn, notice that your body leans to the outside of that turn! It's the same thing with the trike. It takes a while to overcome that feeling but it will go away in time and miles.
Good luck and have a good ride home. You will like it. Ride at your speed, not someone elses.
Okie
Tulsa, OK

 

[BobBiker]

I have a 99 Valk Tourer that was converted to a M/T 3 years ago. Easy riding I will see 32 to 35 MPG. On trip to GA from DE in the first year along rt 81 in Tenn. the worst was 22 MPG going + 80 MPH hauling a trailer, riding 2 up. 70-75 MPH I would see 28-29 MPG. The only kicker is to be consistent on fueling up and watch the trip meter or you GPS and don't leave it on reserve. My wife has commented that that the bike runs real sweet when you cruise at + 75MPH, but that wasn't your point.

 

[BLACK DRAGON]

Hi Jim, Is your Valk a std or an Interstate model?
The Interstate has a heavier frame and body than std.
I have a 2001 Valkyrie Interstate with approx 6.5 gallon tank, KN filter kit and when I triked her I had 2.73 gear ratio installed.
I get about 35 miles to gallon if I run nice at legal highway speed.
I also had my steering raked 6.5 degrees and now drives real smooth.

Keep her right side up and enjoy!

Terry.

 

[JimEd]

My Valkyrie is an interstate model.
Rides even better than I expected.
I just steered it like I was on a ATV,,it tracks like its on rails.
I was surprised at how natural it felt after about ten miles on a country road.
The first couple of hundred miles I only got about 25 MPG.
The seller had a full tank of gas that had set over winter, with stabil added.
I put fresh gas in after 100 miles, ran another 150 miles then filled the tank
with high octane. The rest of the trip I averaged 28/32 MPG.

Love the bike very smooth,,

 

[Nana]

Very cool, JimEd! Sounds like you got a gem <img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

 

[Ozarkryder]

One thing you will notice right off the bat is when you make a turn, even a street corner turn, you feel like it is leaning to the outside and you will have a feeling of not wanting to pull the handlebars far enough to make the turn as tight as you will want to, so you end up drifting to the outside to overcome the feeling of tipping.
You will not tip (Assuming you are at a reasonable speed). Go ahead and pull the bars as far as you need to, and you will make the turn.
Next time you are in your car and made a turn, notice that your body leans to the outside of that turn! It's the same thing with the trike. It takes a while to overcome that feeling but it will go away in time and miles.
Good luck and have a good ride home. You will like it. Ride at your speed, not someone elses.
Okie
Tulsa, OK

Okie- that is great advice to a new triker from a relatively new triker. If you would, please copy and paste it to the advice from experienced trikers thread. Here is the link:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-forum/242-experianced-trike-riders-please-post-here.html

JimEd: Good on you for getting the Valk and your ride. What a fun way to get used to the new trike. That interstate makes a great looking trike.:yes: