Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 1997 Honda Valkyrie with NHTSA between 1997 and 2008.
The largest single group is the equipment & accessories.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 Honda Valkyrie
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Equipment & Accessories
533.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
426.7%
Median failure at 87,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
213.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
16.7%
Lights
16.7%
Suspension
16.7%
Median failure at 87,000 miles
Brakes
16.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 1997peak 6Aug 2008
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Everett, WACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A WET STREET. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE (REAR BRAKE) HARD. I DID NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AT ALL. THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND THE MOTORCYCLE IMEDIATELY WENT DOWN. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR A FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK-UP WHEN A RIDER DOES NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE. A MOTORCYCLE CAN BE HANDLED WITH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED, BUT A MOTORCYCLE WILL GO DOWN IF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKS. IN MY OPINION, THE LINKED BRAKE SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #700691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 87,000 milesAudobun, MN
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA VALKYRIE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND STATED THAT THE REAR SPLINE WAS DETERIORATING ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM RETAINING LUBE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE AT 60,000 MILES. AT 87,000 MILES, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR END ONCE AGAIN AT 98,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 104,000 MILES AND IS BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST AND STATED THAT ALL THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE FINAL DRIVE DOESN'T HOLD A LUBE. UPDATED 09/26/08.
NHTSA complaint #10239920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesAudobun, MN
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA VALKYRIE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND STATED THAT THE REAR SPLINE WAS DETERIORATING ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM RETAINING LUBE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE AT 60,000 MILES. AT 87,000 MILES, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR END ONCE AGAIN AT 98,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 104,000 MILES AND IS BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST AND STATED THAT ALL THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE FINAL DRIVE DOESN'T HOLD A LUBE. UPDATED 09/26/08.
NHTSA complaint #10239920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sandston, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECT IN TANK. DT
NHTSA complaint #769564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WA
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MOTORCYCLE DISPLAYS (GAUGES) ARE POORLY LIT. BACKLIGHT ILLUMINATION IS VISIBLE IN NEAR OR TOTAL DARKNESS, BUT AT TIMES OF DIM LIGHT, SUCH AS FOUND DURING DAWN OR DUSK, THE TACHOMETER/ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BACK LIGHT AND REFLECTED LIGHT ON THE METER ARE EQUAL.
NHTSA complaint #523372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Everett, WACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A WET STREET. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE (REAR BRAKE) HARD. I DID NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AT ALL. THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND THE MOTORCYCLE IMEDIATELY WENT DOWN. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR A FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK-UP WHEN A RIDER DOES NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE. A MOTORCYCLE CAN BE HANDLED WITH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED, BUT A MOTORCYCLE WILL GO DOWN IF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKS. IN MY OPINION, THE LINKED BRAKE SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #700691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, WA
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER POORLY DESIGNED; AT DUSK/DAWN FACE IS NOT READABLE.
NHTSA complaint #523366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Powhatan, VA
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER GAUGES ON THE HONDA F6 VALKYRIE ARE HARD TO READ EVEN IN DAYLIGHT DUE TO THE COLOR AND THE STYLE OF THE LETTERING ON THEM. AT NIGHT, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THEM. THIS CONDITION PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, IN THAT IF THE RIDER ATTEMPTS TO READ THE GAUGES, HIS ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE ROADWAY.
NHTSA complaint #523303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Osprey, FL
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE INSTRUMENTS ARE UNREADABLE DURING DUSK/DAWN CONDITIONS DUE TO A FAULTY LIGHTING CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #523304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Panora, IA
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CANNOT SEE INSTRUMENTS AT DUSK OR EARLY MORNING. IT WAS THIS WAY FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #523305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN AT DUSK OR ERLY DOWN DUE TO POOR LIGHTING OF INSTRUMENT.
NHTSA complaint #523313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reno, NV
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER CHANGE COLORS WHEN BACKLIT. AT DAWN AND DUSK WHEN AMBIENT LIGHT IS EQUAL TO THE BACK LIGHT, THE NUMBER CHANGE FROM BLACK TO A FLOURESCENT GREEN.
NHTSA complaint #523329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annapolis, MD
POWER TRAIN
THE FACES OF THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT DAWN AND DUSK.
NHTSA complaint #523323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Freehold, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AT TIMES OF LOW LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #523949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, KY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER'S FOOT PEG NOT THREADED PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #601611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bonney Lake, WA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT LIGHTING IS TOO DIM/UNEVEN. AS A RESULT, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE UNREADABLE IN LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS TWIGHLIGHT AT DAWN/DUSK AND RAINY WEATHER. RIDER NEEDS TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TO READ HIS SPEED AND ENGINE RPMS INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO ROADWAY AND ENVIRONMENT.
NHTSA complaint #514150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.