These riders even take a step further, its just not bragging rights! These guys are buying performance machines. And they take them out and wring them out to test not only the machine but there own skills. Skills that take these riders to the edge of their abilities. These guys and gals for the most part are enthusiasts and are into their sports. Just like any other contest type sport they require the finest equipment obtainable to improve their own god given talents. So Honda with their "Performance First" commitment will do well in these markets…

At the dealer show they had all these celebrity racers. Riders who work for Honda and are famous for their accomplishments in their given specialties. What I didn’t see were famous riders for Cruisers! Now that’s funny. Honda marketing guys even had some big racing celebrity (forgot his name) ride the new Wing out, as if it we’re important to introduce this new model by putting this accomplished racer on it. This guy wouldn’t ride a Goldwing, its not what he’s about, he is about speed and cornering and winning races, what the heck has that got to do with the Goldwing?

So where am I going with this. These Honda management types don’t see the Valkyrie out there winning awards or gathering honor and glory for Honda. And don’t let anyone kid you, the Valkyrie is profitable for Honda. But it’s a numbers game. According to pass sales performance their marketing people say, "hey we sold bunches of Goldwings in the past, that’s where we should invest. But I am not upset that Honda chose not to mess with the Valkyrie this year. I think I know something they haven’t wrapped their minds around, not yet at least.

And that is culture. The Valkyrie is quickly becoming an icon, with an image all its own. That image is still evolving but the Valkyrie is the bike an image and culture can be built around and it is the only bike in Honda’s stable capable of doing this. The growth and power of the VRCC is an enigma to Honda. Other clubs have formed around other Honda products. These clubs lacked the drive and success experienced by the VRCC. If I had to guess I would say it is lack of character (not quality, Honda builds quality into all it’s products) in those products that was the problem.

The Valkyrie drips with character, whether it’s the awesome size, unique look, stunning performance for a cruiser the Valkyrie is the stuff that legends are made of. This bike is unique, like the Brough Superior or the Ariel Four Square, or the Triumph 650. The Valkyrie has already made its mark. Years from now when people go back and read the initial reviews, doing so will just reinforce what a spectacular and unique machine the Valkyrie is.

Now what is Honda going to do? I own a Valkyrie so I’m in good shape… They stop making the Valkyrie and I’m sitting on a collectable, (collectable or not I’m still going to ride the heck out of it and not make it a museum piece). Or they continue the line and let nature take its course.

This collection of maniacs we call the Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club is doing what Honda is incapable of. And that is appreciating the machine we call the Valkyrie. Building a culture and a community around this amazing machine. We’re discovering each other through our common interest and the good sense that made us all Valkyrie Riders.

We’re nearly 7000 strong and experiencing increasing growth. And as our organization matures we’ll be reaching beyond the Internet, reaching thousands more Valkyrie enthusiasts and educating the uninformed who are unaware of the Valkyrie and what a superior cruiser really is all about.

The Valkyrie is a legend already, pull into any gaggle of people especially motorcycle types and watch the responses. We’re just the ones that discovered this bike early on. And if Honda just does their part, continue to build this amazing machine we’ll do the rest. Rome wasn’t built in a day but as far as the Valkyrie goes we’re way ahead of schedule, now if we can only get the corporate types to realize this…oZ