The Valkyrie's Native Habitat

[desertrefugee]

Temperatures in Southern Arizona have given us a "hint" of what's to come. A few days in the valley under 100F (37C) starts to bring out a few adventurous souls for longer excursions. A Valk buddy and I headed "up the hill" on Saturday and had a great ride. I'm enjoying my Standard/Tourer, but still am having issues with the right pipe wanting to ride lower. I might have to modify the bracket, but it's a small thing. The Viking pipes are a joy - I'm glad to be rid of the Cobras.

Anyway, I could post a shot of two Valkyries perched by an overlook - which would be cool, but it struck me that these beasts spend a lot of time in places like those below ... so I thought I'd post that instead.

220 mile round trip. Two of these stops were made.

 

[Ansimp]

And I thought it was just my re jetted carbies that gave me the least range of all my rides. :smilie_happy:
The Rats Nest and the CBRs give me a range of 300 klms usually ( except the Pig which a mate convinced me to do performance mods on the carbies, now only 250 klms range). Val looks for reserve at 180 klms and I suspect would make it to 225 klms but I haven't been brave enough to have to push her if she runs out of fuel. :smilie_happy:
I would like to rejet her as she does smell rich but that won't happen for awhile as atm apart from the range she runs well.
I love your new hard panniers and exhaust. :clapping: :good: :salute:
I am sure the Valkyries enjoyed a drink more than the view. :yes:

 

[desertrefugee]

You're hitting reserve pretty much exactly where I normally do. It's the nature of the beast. 5.25 gallons, roughly 30-35 MPG, goes onto reserve with about a gallon left.

The Interstate has a larger tank, but in my opinion the more "bulbous" profile is not as attractive. Some folks opt for an EXPENSIVE "belly tank" setup. I will just keep stopping when I need to...

...although out here in the American West, there have been several "pucker moments" where I wasn't sure I was going to make it. In some places, stations are spaced out pretty good. (I'm certain Oz has much the same problem..."outback") There was a time in rural SW New Mexico late one afternoon (a Saturday) when I thought I'd be camping with the cacti on the side of the road when I ran out. I lucked into the ONLY open station in Animas, NM that evening. Back over to Portal, AZ and some of the best camping I'd had in a while at the time.

Adventures on the road. It's "why we ride!" (well, one of the reasons, anyway).

 

[Ansimp]

:good: :moped:

 

[Ansimp]

I rode Val today up the Northside of Brisbane to pick up a Forester stereo and to head past the radiator repairer to get a firm quote to fix the radiator. I noticed that I currently have 176 klms on the clock so I will hopefully go for a quick run tomorrow and see what number I get when it is time to switch to reserve.