Accessory Reports

MORE INFORMATION on these accessories can be found on the VOA (Valkyrie Owners Association) message board or by doing a search at the GWRRA Valkyrie site. This can be found at: GWRRA Valkyrie Message Board
J.C.WHITNEY RUNNING LIGHTS: This is Buddy Pettits Valk with the JCW running lights.

Buddy says, "They cost $149 and have 55 watt bulbs. They mount to the windscreen with chromed L brackets. Coupled with a Kriss wiring harness @ $90, they are isolated electronically from the rest of the bike and work from the regular bike's headlight switch. They run about 7 1/2 watts on low and a full 55 watts on hight. Easy installation - no bar to fuss with, turn signals to replace or move etc. They are VERY effective and look good too."
I ordered a set of these (ShowChrome) from D&K. If you have the Hondaline windshield they are an excellent light. They are much brighter than the stock headlight. Easy installation. I recommend them. I do not have the Kriss harness. Just the ShowChrome lights. Bob
VALKYRIE LEATHER SADDLEBAGS:
I took a ride with some of the guys from work and ended up in Litchfield, Illinois at Niehaus Honda. While we were browsing around in their accessory showroom I found a set of Valkyrie bags. When I bought my bike they did not have any available so I bought these at the discounted price of ONLY $500.00. Ridiculous isn't it. I justify it in my mind by thinking that some poor cow gave her life so I could have the bags. I strapped them on the passenger seat and we rode into St Louis to a friends house. He was working on a 1981 Goldwing he just bought and since he had his tools out I decided to go ahead and put the bags on. For each side it is as simple as removing two bolts installing the bag brackets with two longer bolts supplied with the bags and then securing the bags to the brackets with four small bolts also supplied. The whole job was about 30 minutes and I think the bike looks great with the bags. I am also going to regain some of the storage I lost when I went from a Goldwing to the Valkyrie. The brackets are very solid and the bags seem to be of good quality (especially for ONLY $500). In case you have not noticed I think that if you buy a motorcycle for $13,000 you should not be charged an arm an leg for factory accessories. I guess as long as I keep buying them they will keep selling them to me...All said I like the bags and the installation was a no brainer..
On the other hand I have read messages containing quite a bit of dis-satisfaction with the Valkyrie bags. These include reports of rusty buckles, dulling of finish on the shiny parts, loss of shape (stretching and shrinking), and not secure (no way to lock). I think most of these problems can be addressed by realizing that these are leather bags and leather does have its limits. Leather bags also require more care than fiberglass bags.
UPDATE: I have had these bags for almost two summers now. They have stretched and sagged a little but I guess that adds character. I recently completed a 3500 mile trip and just kept stuffing junk in those bags. It is a good thing that they stretch. If you like things nice and neat, maybe, the leather bags are not for you. Me, I likem!!!
BACKREST: I have the Utopia backrest and the stock seats. I cannot say enough good about this backrest. The stock seat has been a sore point with a lot of riders, but I found if I can keep my rear from sweating the seat is not all that bad. I took the back off of a seatpad made for a car and put it on my seat. It had one elastic strap and I added another. It was exactly the right size for the seat. I used this on my recent trip. I had two 700 mile days and one 800 mile day and only started getting butt bytes on the very end of the days. I am going to get a sheepskin and try it on a couple long rides. I think with the air circulation this will make the stock seat more than adequate.
WINDSHIELDS: Bill Seeley reports that his windshield from Rifle looks and works great. This might be a good alternative to the $500+ windshield from Honda. Another choice that you might want to check out is the National Cycle windshield. (webpage did not load properly last time I tried.)
UPDATE: After 20,000+ miles on my Hondaline windshield I am glad I have it. I don't know if others would have held up to the three different times I have been hit with a gravel thrown up from the road. Along with the Baker air wings they offer as much (maybe more) protection from the wind as my 84 Goldwing.
DASH PANELS: From Robert Sandstrom. I've recently purchased a dash panel for my blk/yellow valkyrie. It looks great. The company is Timber Wolf Leather, a small home based business here in Seattle. Tim Wolf is the owner and has been making these panels for Harleys for many years and has marketed them at all the major rallies. He does high quality work and uses high quality materials. There are two pockets, one about cell phone size and the other is for change, etc. Cost is about $55.00, extra for fancy silver brads, beads and whatever. The address is P.O. Box 461, Seattle, WA 98111, TELE: (206)241-2820. Robert Sandstrom
BAKER AIR WINGS: If you are bothered by the wind coming up from around your tank and the hot air it brings with it in the warm weather then you need to check these out. Lot of good reports. As always beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
UPDATE: I put a set of these on my Fat Lady and after making the last 3500 mile trip with them, it would be after the fist fight if you tried to get them from me. They were a life saver going across West Texas. The temp was 105°+ and running the lowers wide open kept a lot of air on my legs and with the uppers closed it kept the 135° heat coming from the pavement off of my face. They also felt good in the high altitudes when the temp dropped into the 40s. Just close em up and all that big six heat comes right back over your legs.
EXHAUST: Lots of opinions here. Two Bros Racing has a set of 6 into 6 that a lot of the guys like. Some complaints are that they are a little too loud and they are hard to clean. Cobra and Jardine are both promising exhaust for the Valkyrie. Another favorite is the "Shrimplin cut". This is a modification of the stock exhaust. While I have not heard this myself it is said to be a good sound. You California riders may want to get a little more info on this. It is possible that the combination of the California polution controls and the exhaust mod may not work out that well.
UPDATE: Cobra's 6 x 6 has been out for quite a while. They are louder than the 2bros if you take the baffles out, with them in they are quieter. Some say it is best to rejet and others have said they did not and are not having problems. ProDyno has an exhaust system out now that uses a glass pack. It is said to add horsepower without rejetting (maybe they do and maybe they don't). I have opted to gut my stock cannisters and insert 15 inch glasspacks. It sounds good and did not cost the five to nine hundred bucks some of the aftermarket systems cost.