Voted most helpful review
Reviewed on January 13, 2005
I bought my Valk in August '04 and was able to get a good two months of riding in before winterizing. The upcoming season will only be my fourth, and the Valk is my 3rd machine (following a 600cc Kawasaki Eliminator, then trading up to a BMW R1150R before moving up to the big Honda). I thought my...
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I bought my Valk in August '04 and was able to get a good two months of riding in before winterizing. The upcoming season will only be my fourth, and the Valk is my 3rd machine (following a 600cc Kawasaki Eliminator, then trading up to a BMW R1150R before moving up to the big Honda). I thought my Boxer Twin BMW engine was smooth, and it is. HOWEVER, it doesn't compare to the Flat Six. Admittedly, the Beemer is quicker, being over 220 pounds lighter, but when you get to 80-90 mph it starts to feel a little bit uneasy. Conversely, the Valk lives for high-speed cruising. 90 mph feels like 60 on a smaller bike. Another comparison: The BMW is better in slow-moving traffic and in the parking lot. The Valk can handle the slow traffic okay, but isn't its natural habitat. Once you get moving to at least 15 mph it feels just fine. The one thing I absolutely love is how authoritative this machine is on the road (seems to say "Here I come; get out of my way"). It's one of those bikes that people tend to gawk at--primarily because of that engine. It has a definite PRESENCE. Another cool thing is how a lot of diehard Harley owners admit that they admire the Valk, as opposed to other non-Harleys. I couldn't think of a more appropriate name for my bike than "Bruiser." There are bigger machines, but you won't catch me on a Boss Hoss anytime soon. Bruiser and I are compatible with each other and it should be a long relationship. Never say never, though. Should Honda bring back the 1520cc Valk with fuel injection, or better yet, a redesigned V-65 Magna, I may be tempted to make another switch.
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