The 2014 Valkyrie has been more
than updated. It’s been reworked from the ground up. Gone are the retro cues
that make the old, beloved, Valkyrie look as dated as the open collars on the
polyester shirts of the disco era. Instead, Honda’s designers clearly wanted to
make the new Valkyrie look like a modern tarmac-consuming beast.
While the style may be
futuristic, the equation Honda used to create the new Valkyrie is the same as
with the original. Starting with the Gold Wing, they stripped the chassis down
to the bare essentials then grafted on a low, 28.8 in. seat height. Next, layer
on only the most necessary components to achieve the muscular style and
performance associated with the name. Oh, and update it by blacking out as much
of the hardware as possible.The Gold Wing’s fuel-injected 1832cc engine is
known for its torque delivery.
The shortened dual exhausts are
designed to deliver a deeper exhaust note, while the airbox has additional
intake holes to allow the rider to hear more of the resonant, throaty intake
growl.Add 10-spoke cast aluminum 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels and
ladle on 130/60-19 and 180/55-17 radial tires, respectively. Make sure the
brakes match the rubber by making them dual 310mm front discs with four-piston
calipers and a single 316mm rear disc with a three-piston caliper. Give the
customer a non-linked ABS option.
By lessening the mass of the Gold
Wing, the Valkyrie will be able to do more with the power with which it was
graced. The new Valkyrie weighs in at 750 lb. ready to ride. That’s 154 lb.
less than the Wing! That’s the same as an instant horsepower bump.
Just sitting on the Valkyrie and
lifting it off its side stand reveals not only the reduction in weight, but
also the lowering of the CG. Speaking of low, the seat’s measured height is
pretty low, but the width of the chassis may make the perceived seat height
feel slightly higher than 28.8 inches listed.
The upper body and arms fall into
a slightly forward bend which will help handle the acceleration that the engine
is sure to generate.Honda says that the Valkyrie will be available in the
spring of 2014 in black, dark red metallic, and blue metallic. Price has not
been set, but it will surely retail for less than the $19,999 F6B.
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