Three in One Valk
Can a Valkyrie Tourer be ridden like a potent cruiser/flashy custom/lazy tourer without any effort?
Read on from here as to how I rediscovered old and new emotions on my FC6.
Recently fed up with a potent cruiser that seems to have its only suitable vocation “drifting down the local highway, or cruising the local boulevards”, I decided to look around for another motorcycle.
I wanted something that could stir in me again that ‘emotion’ that only motorcyclists understand and feel when they become one with their machine. This emotion I was losing with the Valk.
I was not looking for the Harley style vibs/sound/image nor a new grandiose machine, but just something more from a stock Valkyrie.
The Valk is a great looking bike with a solid, powerful engine but with a lousy gearbox and suspension, that make riding this potent cruiser a real pain on the beautiful mountain and lake roadways that hail Switzerland (where I live) as one of the worlds great touring countries for motorcyclists.
I remembered that with my old BMW boxer and its great torque I could ride the Gothard pass in 4rdgear (then top gear!), Lake Lausanne in 4th, and still have a hand free to” fool around a bit” with my girlfriend (now wife) riding pillion. Never a need to change gear, just ride on and on. Great ould days!
Yeah, the BMW had lots of torque. Yet, it’s NOT only the torque that counts but also how you transfer it...….and… of course with adequate gearbox ratios.
Ah ha, Yes, back to the gearbox. Maybe I didn’t care or notice too much before but changing gear with the Valkyrie sounds like a Dutchman walking in his wooden clogs on a hard floor.
The stock gearbox ratios drives the bike like a CBR 600 etc. which is great to poke out the power but try to cruise a lakeside or mountain roads at legal speeds, add lots of local traffic, or even in your local neighborhood and then - count the number of gearbox changes you are forced to make.
I did and I wasn’t happy.
Are you happy?
Ah ha, so now you are thinking just as I did before, that, this is quite normal especially for a powerful 6-cylinder engine?
Well, it doesn’t have to be - period.
You accept it, just like I did AND because neither you nor I ever had the opportunity to ride a Valkyrie with a different set up.
The problem, in my opinion, lay in that lousy gearbox that forces you to drive it up and down like a yoyo yoo. The FC6 is a heavy bike and if you are not pulling the right gear – man, it just seems heavier.
Enough is enough.
Being a member of the Valkyrie club, I had read with interest an announcement that, near Milan in Italy, a person called Mario Marinaro, had developed a ‘special’ gearbox for the GW engine.
Therefore, before tossing it the towel and selling the FC6, I decided to call around to check it out.
From Lugano, (south Switzerland) I was only a few hours away so I called and made an appointment.
Mario is a biker and his mechanical competence became very evident as we discussed the Valkyrie engine, its handling, braking, tyres, suspension, etc. but it is when we got around to discussing the gearbox - that is when I stopped talking and I began to LOOK and LISTEN very closely as he illustrated his gearbox solution to me.
When he finished, I said to myself, Kees, here is the answer to your problem!
I do admit that I was a little bit concerned at first, as there was NO BIKE immediately available that I could test ride.
It also crossed my mind that it seemed a bit weird that this “little” guy in Italy developed this important modification all on his own, without any assistance from all those JAP wiz kid engineers and of course from those “always know better than you” ass holes. (Apparently, the latter turned up later in dozens only to find out to their dismay how difficult it is to cope and compete when confronted with ability and competence!)
Remember, I said to myself, – THIS IS THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY MAKE Ducati, Aprilia, Ferrari – Lamborghini - Maserati. All World champion names and all are “little” companies.
Personal opinion: Italians must have oil lube (beside Barolo) in their DNA
Nota Bene: This Mod is definitely NOT for everyone’s pocket as 1900 Euros is quite a lot of money (installed price in Italy)
So, what makes you want to install it then?
Let’s recap: You have a powerful flashy custom cruiser that somehow, sometimes, just can’t pull the right gear at the right time.
Now if you think that your Valkyrie already has a perfect gearbox, then consider stopping reading here.
Instead, if you have identified similar problems, then read on and I well share with you
“THE VALKYRIE’S motorcyclists dream”
With hundreds already installed, I decided there and then that my bike must have this mod. It was 10.30 am.
Surprisingly, Mario told me I could come back at 5pm for a test ride.
I said, “ tomorrow”?
He said, ”NO, THIS AFTERNOON”!
I thought, as like most geniuses, this guy is also crazy.
Well, he actually took the engine out, opened the gearbox, reassembled everything and there I was test riding it at 5 pm!!!!!
Moreover, he did this all on his own.
Unbelievable!!
I suppose its amazing what a man’s hands can do when his brain has all the screws & nuts in the right place.
The Modification.
· It increases the torque flow at lower RPM
· The 1st/2nd/3rd gear ratios become very close
· A 4th gear as long as the Gothard tunnel.
· It pulls in 4th from 40Kph up AND without hesitation to +190 Kph
· It pulls in 5th gear from 60Kph to 200Kph by gently driving it up the rev counter.
· A 5th gear that rides 140Kph @ only 2900rpm. Think - 100Kph @ 2000rpm. What an overdrive!!
For all technical data PLEASE read the specs of Mario Moto Gearbox modification on the dedicated web pages. There is no point in me reproducing them again.
Now I’ll take you through my “emotions” , step by step.
Step 1.
Basically speaking, 1/2/3rd gear is for Solo riding on twisty roads. The Valk screams in and out of the bends/ hairpins. Its unbelievable how well this bike can handle when DRIVEN.
With the gearbox ratios so close, the Valk literally screams up the rev counter and without realizing it, you are actually clocking 150 Kph.
The foot pegs lose their chrome finish and the bike feels like it can corner even more. (even with the pegs scratching the ground we probably still have a 30% cornering safety level in reserve)
I asked myself, how come I ride the Valk like this now?
Easy, because, now I have an engine that picks up instantaneously with an unbelievable torque and pulls you out of that corner so fast that even the Valk forgets she’s a custom and not a streetfighter!!
(Note that the rear suspension is set up to match the front, tyres are practically new, inflated at the correct pressure and overall, the bike is excellent condition)
Riding hard on your own, the bike is NO longer an awkward heavy-duty cruiser weighing 450Kg’s+ .
Step 2.
But its 4th gear that presents the biggest surprises. It pumps out constant power from 40Kph to +190Kph. I mean from 1000 Rpm up. Now how about that for torque!!!
You can’t do that on a standard gearbox. When I need power, I just open the throttle and the bike seems to go forward forever.
Now I can tour the mountain passes, the lakesides, the hills, those twisty roads – all in 4th. Just open and close the throttle nice and easy and you can cruise all day.
If you are into Touring, the quicker you change into 4th the more comfortable your ride will be. Remember it pulls from 35Kph without any hesitation.
If you are solo riding and want to chase some bends, then you will probably never hit 4th - unless by mistake!!.
With 4th gear covering such a wide RPM – you will risk over revving it if you drop a gear too early approaching your favorite bend. Not exactly, ideal maneuvers in the wet never mind in the dry.
So, be careful by giving it proper attention and respect. Renewing your riding habits will also increase your safety level.
Step 3
As for 5th gear……… well, Mario Marinaro was right here too, it is just for highway riding.
Strictly an OVERDRIVE.
Like all overdrives, you cannot yank the throttle open from 1000 rpm up and expect to arrive to 200 Kph before your pal on a standard boxed Valk. It wasn’t designed for that. Nevertheless, it will get you there, and effortlessly.
By the way, for all those who get their kicks clocking up Km’s on the highways, this will give you +/- 200km MORE to a full gas tank. Depends on how itchy your right hand is and of course your riding style. Use cruise control and this 5th gear will repay you back part of your initial investment.
The overdrive is just pure luxury for the 6-cylinder engine –as it runs “in souplesse”
A 3 IN 1 bike and more emotions than I had ever expected.
My FC6 has become a mix of my favorite riding habits and bikes. Fast / steady / lazy.
PRO:
Overdrive
Pulls the torque monster out of the engine.
Close ratio type gearbox in 1/2/3 gears
No need for elaborate and ugly turbos/boosters
Ideal touring in 4 th gear
More Km per liter.
No need to buy a new BIG tank (the cost + painting is expensive too) plus No handling problems due to the bigger and heavier OVERSIZE tank
Honda warranty remains intact
Most Super Sports can’t compete on traffic light starts!
Takes only one day to install (at least by Mario Moto)
Contro:
Can’t find any.
It ‘s a small price to pay to have a “3 in 1 motorcycle”.
Now, thanks to Mario Moto I once more enjoy that wonderful feeling when I swing my leg over the Valk.
My wife is happy too because 2 up riding is less strenuous for me than before and more “fun of course together”!!!
Want to test ride the Mario Moto gearbox on my bike when you are in my area…..?? Just send me an e-mail, I will be happy to oblige.
Kees@bluemail.ch Valk club member # 2867
Kees Aardenburg
Member 2867