Valk vs R3 ?

New guy here...at least to R3's. I came out of Valkdome and rode one for several years, both single and doubled up all across the country. The nice thing about the Valk was dependability...in the three years I owned one...gas, oil, breakpads, and tires was it! (Well except for low milage and premium gas)...Milage was about 25mpg. I never worried though about wherever I wanted to go....high mountains or bleak desert...it always got me there and back without any hassle. I am now getting ready to do the same thing...with an around the country two year jaunt.

So, my question is...what is the concenses here about this bike and dependability? Some of you have owned a Valk and the difference in price seems to be about $2000 to $5000 for a used one...so far I've come up with getting a Valk for $6500 to $8000 verses an R3 for $8500 to $10,000 for the Touring model). I know that the R3 is more powerful but do I have to sacrifice dependability for power? Any help with this would be appreciated.
Ray in PNW

Have a 2009 R3T, owned a 2000 Valk, was a lifelong Honda guy before the R3T caught my eye.

I bought the Valk in Ohio, hopped on it and ran it back to Mass. without a thought. It's a Honda, it will simply just run.

I don't have that confidence in the R3T, at least yet. No problems, but the spectre of reliability problems (or character building events if you prefer) is "out there."

For example, neutral sometimes takes a vacation and I'm always looking more closely at the R3T for signs of oil leak (none yet) than I would ever look at the Valk.

Some of this is "reputation" more than real data, but it still in my head.

I considered buying another Valk (I was coming off my 3rd VFR when I bought the R3T, but in the end I wanted FI and the Valk's are getting a little old since they stopped production in 2003.

I hope to learn to trust the R3T as much as I've trusted my Hondas.

I bet Triumph hopes so as well.

We'll see.

At this point in my life I'm lucky enough to realize that I can pretty much solve any on the road problem with a two-piece tool kit.

Cell phone + credit card = problem solved

I've got over 16k on my '08 standard .... besides the fact that I have to replace the tire every year, the dependability is better than anything I've ever owned. Now, I have replaced the battery with an upgraded Odyssey PC625 and use the charger designed for it. I had some trouble starting the bike in cold weather and after it sat a few weeks with the stock battery. But if you look at it from engine size, a little bitty battery used to start lawn mowers and mopeds just won't reliably crank a car motor when the temp drops.
I had a small problem with the ignition switch as well, it's a weak spot but I think I killed it.
All the old heads here will tell you that the first two things you need to do is replace the battery and bypass the ignition switch with a headlight relay kit. Taking the headlights off the ignition circuit will save the switch as well as give you bright white headlights. The resistance created by the switch causes the solder joints to become loose and fail. It more importantly caused the headlights to take on a yellowish hue and are not nearly as bright as they could be. Even upgrading the bulbs gives you no more light unless you pull power directly from the battery via relays and bypass wiring.

Thats all I can tell you, those two items were the only things that gave me any trouble and they were easily fixed/improved. Anyone in the know would tell you to do those even if you never had a problem anyway, just to improve the bike.

Get one ... you won't regret it.

50000 trouble free miles a lot more reliable than the VTX1300 I used to own.

I have put 40000 on my 07 Tourer and have put nothing but oil and gas in it and would trust it to go anywhere I want. I was always a Honda man myself, been riding them since 82 and always loved thier reliability and so far I would trust my Rocket just as much as a Honda.

Currently own both, a '99 Valk I've had since new with zero problems, and a 2007 Rocket that has had nothing but problems, even after the so-called upgrade kit.

Stick with the Valk...you'll be much better off.

jrhorton said:

Currently own both, a '99 Valk I've had since new with zero problems, and a 2007 Rocket that has had nothing but problems, even after the so-called upgrade kit.

Stick with the Valk...you'll be much better off.

Click to expand...

Did you ever think that maybe you just got a lemon? Happens to even the best of vehicle manufacturers, car/bike built late Friday afternoon/first thing Monday .... that sort of thing.
Maybe you should get rid of that one and try again, 99% of us got good ones, spin the wheel and try again.

thanks for your concern and advice....

It's hard to sell a bike that won't stay in first gear...maybe you'd like to buy it from me.

It's like brand new and only 2000 miles....haven't been able to ride it for the past two summers as it's been out of commission getting all the upgrades, clutches pulled, etc..

You think I got a lemon?

[FONT=&quot]http://www.statelawyers.com/Practice/Practice_Detail.cfm/PracticeTypeID:62http://www.statelawyers.com/Practice/Practice_Detail.cfm/PracticeTypeID:62

Here is the legal take on the law.
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Just came back from a 900+ mile round trip to Lake O' The Pines and would hop on and ride her back today. I have had my Rocket all over the country. Like any bike, I make sure my tires are good, fresh oil, look her over for loose bits, etc.. before hitting the road, but 58,500+ miles later.. and she actually shifts better than new.. and OH MAN was she running good yesterday.. blasting down I-35! Oh.. and mine is an early (July 2004) model..