08-03-2016, 12:08 PM
Hey, either you are following me or I'm following you! My last bike was a 1999 Nighthawk and I now own a 2013 CB1100 and a 2014 Valkyrie. I believe the red-line on the Valkyrie is 6500 rpm not 6000, but my rev limiter actually kicks in at something like 7000.
The reason the Valk could use a back rest is because the lean angle of the rider is 0 degrees so you can't rest on your arms. Your back will eventually want to sag backward in the middle and a backrest would push against that.
Perhaps 1st is needed on the heavier 1800a, but yeah, not on the 1800c. I get out of it as quickly as I can and could probably do like you do and start in 2nd. The 5th gear is an overdrive. At 70 mph, the rpms are 3000.
I don't think a windshield is necessary and no one likes the one Honda offers because of the aesthetics -- it's too upright -- so I doubt I'll ever put one on it. The way the front end is angled up and back, there's little wind pressure up to 75 mph.
The reason the Valk could use a back rest is because the lean angle of the rider is 0 degrees so you can't rest on your arms. Your back will eventually want to sag backward in the middle and a backrest would push against that.
Perhaps 1st is needed on the heavier 1800a, but yeah, not on the 1800c. I get out of it as quickly as I can and could probably do like you do and start in 2nd. The 5th gear is an overdrive. At 70 mph, the rpms are 3000.
I don't think a windshield is necessary and no one likes the one Honda offers because of the aesthetics -- it's too upright -- so I doubt I'll ever put one on it. The way the front end is angled up and back, there's little wind pressure up to 75 mph.