Honda Valkyrie: technical specifications, reviews, photos. Honda Valkyrie Rune

For whom

Here are the main features of the model:

• 167 Nm and 118 hp;
• almost the entire exterior of the motorcycle is chrome-plated;
• The panel backlight adjusts its brightness itself.

These and many other interesting properties make the bike a real discovery for connoisseurs of large, spectacular motorcycles. It’s hard not to notice such a car on the road, which will be a plus in terms of safety.

Photo gallery

The Honda Valkyrie motorcycle is one of the most discussed in motorcyclist circles. And not surprisingly, you don’t often see a super cruiser designed by a Japanese concern. In terms of characteristics, it is slightly less powerful than a machine from the Triumph Rocet III motorcycle range. But what is there is quite enough for connoisseurs.

Engine

The engine of the model is four-stroke, six-cylinder and opposed. Its effective volume is 1832 cm³. The unit is cooled by liquid. The motorcycle is equipped with a fuel injection system and transistor digital ignition.

Maximum performance: at 4400 rpm the torque is 167 Nm, and at 5600 rpm the power is 118 hp. The bike accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.77 seconds, and its top speed is 198 km/h. This in itself speaks about the performance of the motorcycle, given its impressive dimensions.

Honda F6C Valkyrie – ASGARD

2014 onwards, 1832 cm3, 117 l. s., 342 kg (curb weight), 200 km/h, RUB 1,229,000 (2017)

text: Anton Vlasov photo: Roman Romanishin

In the photo: Anton Vlasov

»In 2009, Honda discontinued the only power cruiser in its model line—that’s when the iconic VTX1800 in all its many modifications was discontinued. The competitors were happy!

After all, for five long years, “concern No. 1” left this prestigious sector of the market, and such image devices for manufacturers as the Suzuki M109R Boulevard (aka Intruder M1800R), Yamaha Raider, Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle and Victory Hammer, began to sell a little better. But the agonizing wait for a new model from Honda was worth it: at the beginning of the year, the Japanese concern presented not just a new power cruiser, but a revival of the legend - the F6C Valkyrie!

The first cruiser of the Valkyrie series debuted in 1996 - and it was just a classic cruiser without the power prefix in the class name. The model was built on the basis of the flagship line of Honda touring vehicles, based on the then 1520 cc GL1500 Gold Wing, and was quite different from the “Golden Wing” both in the tuning of the flat-six and in the configuration of the chassis.

The Valkyrie cruiser existed until 2003, but the motorcycle is still very popular today - already on the secondary market. Equipped with a productive boxer 6-cylinder engine, which not only gives the model impressive acceleration dynamics, but also sounds original, and made in a classic design, this is a completely unique device, which has no analogues.

And the new power cruiser is conceptually completely different from the original first-generation F6C Valkyrie. The new product from Honda is, rather, closer to another motorcycle of the Japanese brand, which flashed like a shooting star in the concern’s model line and has almost disappeared into history. We are talking about the fantastic and semi-mythical NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune, which was released in a limited edition of only 1,500 copies between 2004 and 2005.

This amazing vehicle was created from scratch and is completely different from the F6C Valkyrie cruiser. The NRX1800 was a stunning combination of a multimillion-dollar yacht, a classic Cadillac Eldorado and the motorcycle of the protagonist of the science-fiction film Judge Dredd...

Rumors about the revival of the glorious Valkyrie series and the appearance of a new generation F6C model have been circulating for a long time. Moreover, they were dismissed, of course, from the Honda company itself, presenting the imminent debut of the motorcycle as nothing less than a “revolution in the cruiser market” and “you will all just fall when you see it!”

However, even without “accidental” information leaks, one could guess that the Japanese concern is preparing a new model based on the latest generation GL1800 Gold Wing tourer. This became especially clear after the manufacturer presented the F6B bagger, built on the same platform: as it turned out, to create a new model, Japanese engineers did not even have to completely redo anything! With F6C it turned out about the same.

Dimensions and weight

This motorcycle is quite big. Its width is 920 mm, its height is 1090 mm, and its length is 2560 mm. As befits cruisers, the seat height of the NRX1800 is low - 690 mm. Wheelbase – 1750 mm. The ground clearance is insignificant - only 135 mm.

The curb weight of the bike and its dry weight are very different. The model weighs 398 kg with fuel, and 368 kg without it. This is due to the impressive size of the fuel tank - as much as 23 liters. On average, in practice, the consumption per 100 km of road is usually about 10 liters of gasoline.

Squats

The chassis from the Gold Wing, “transplanted” into the F6C model virtually unchanged, gives the power cruiser truly excellent handling for such a large and long motorcycle. Considering that the chassis of the GL1800 tourer is designed for a completely different weight and provides for the transportation of heavy luggage, without which the harsh conquerors of space and time today do not even go to the bakery, the new Valkyrie feels like a moderately rigid and assembled device.

And even when passing long turns at high speed, where in Russia there are usually potholes, cracks in the asphalt, garbage and sometimes dead animals, the Honda F6C surprises with the absence of swing and reluctance to squirm and bend, as most motorcycles in this class usually do! But you shouldn’t expect much comfort from a power cruiser—in terms of convenience, it’s certainly not a Gold Wing or even an F6B. One of the few systems in the new model that has been improved compared to that of the GL1800 is the braking system.

Honda's power cruiser received front brake discs with a diameter increased from 296 to 310 mm, coupled with the use of 4-piston (rather than 3-piston, like the Gold Wing) Nissin calipers and a huge rear 316 mm disc mated to a 3-piston bracket, gives the motorcycle truly outstanding braking dynamics. The device slows down so much that it takes a lot of effort to stay in the seat and not “drive” onto the metal surface of the gas tank!

It’s interesting that when you sharply press the front and rear brake levers, the F6C does not nosedive like most motorcycles, but seems to squat with its entire “body,” as if pressing against the asphalt. I have only seen something like this on the German K1300R roadster, the efficiency of which is practically a standard braking system. Of course, the Honda Valkyrie is equipped with combined ABS, which has become a signature feature of all recent Honda motorcycles.

Chassis and brakes

The NRX1800 is equipped with an aluminum frame that is almost entirely chrome-plated, which looks very impressive. The alloy wheels are nothing particularly remarkable. The steering wheel is typical and comfortable. The model has an electronic immobilizer capable of electrically locking the steering wheel.

At the rear, the bike has a progressive swingarm suspension with a monoshock absorber. The device stroke is 100 mm. The front suspension has 100 mm of travel and is not adjustable in any way. It is lever type. A 336 mm disc along with a two-piston caliper acts as the rear brakes, while the front brakes are two 330 mm discs and three-piston calipers.

Norse mythology

The motorcycle debuted in early 2014 and was first introduced in the United States, for which market it was primarily intended. The latest generation Honda F6C is radically different from the classic cruiser that bore the formidable name Valkyrie in the 90s of the last century - here the device is of a fundamentally different type, and with some reservations, the new Honda product can be classified as a power cruiser.

The concept of the car is simple and clear: the same magnificent 1832 cc 6-cylinder boxer engine as the Gold Wing, the same chassis almost unchanged, but no sybaritism in the form of sweeping trunks, a music system, GPS navigation and soporific comfortable seats . This means the weight of the motorcycle is significantly less: the new F6C weighs almost 70 kg less than the GL1800 tourer!

Which, with the same power plant, radically changes the power-to-weight ratio and ultimately affects the driving performance of the vehicle. Simple arithmetic! However, motorcycle design is definitely not an exact science. To my taste, the Honda F6C Valkyrie has some kind of irrationally attractive appearance: wrong (so to speak), largely disproportionate and disharmonious, but attractive.

The thin 19-inch front wheel looks rather strange, which does not at all match the massive front part of the motorcycle and its “muscular body”. The huge “ears” of the side plastic covering the radiators of the engine liquid cooling system located on the right and left of the F6C also do not add to the charm of the model...

In general, it is not at all as beautiful as the NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune. Although there is much more from the “Rune” than from the classic “Valkyries”: a cantilevered pendulum of the rear suspension, a deep rear wing, a low and elongated silhouette, a large headlight with triangular “motifs” in the design... It’s interesting that in reality the new F6C Valkyrie looks better than in the photographs.

And it feels even better when you sit behind the huge steering wheel of this amazing machine! The first impression is how big and wide the front part of the motorcycle is. At first, it seems that as soon as you take your feet off the asphalt and move away, all these “scenery” concentrated in the area of ​​the engine and gas tank of the F6C will begin to inexorably pull the vehicle towards the ground, tipping it over in turns...

But this, of course, is a false sensation and an optical illusion: the Valkyrie is controlled so simply, intuitively and stable that if the model were not equipped with a 118-horsepower engine and if it did not have a curb weight of 341 kg, I would confidently recommend the new Honda product as a first motorcycle to anyone neophyte!

Cruiser or street racer

After some time, the Honda concern presented a conceptual design of the Honda Valkyrie F6C, ready for serial production. The motorcycle was immediately put into production. The new model was created on the basis of the Honda GL1800. The frame, suspension and engine were included in the assembly process unchanged, and the entire cladding was radically revised. The low stance made the new motorcycle look like a classic cruiser, but the cartridge-type front suspension and cantilever-type rear suspension indicated that the bike should be perceived as a street racer. Huge brake discs also supported this version.

Super heavyweight motorcycle review

The basis for the motorcycle was the Honda GL1800 - from it the “Valkyrie” took a powerful frame along with the engine and suspension. The trim panel elements have been removed except for the decorative molding located on the engine. This heavyweight gives the impression of a strong and well-knit stallion, which, by the way, instantly reacts to the rider, reciprocating his feelings and giving him confidence on the roads. The low stance of the bike speaks volumes about the fact that this is a true cruiser in its truest form. In turn, the cartridge-type front suspension, as well as brake discs and a rear cantilever swingarm indicate clear signs of a street bike.

Interesting fact: the Honda Valkyrie is a whopping 70 kilograms lighter than its ancestor, the Honda GL1800. The modified design of the heavyweight has led to a new trend - young bikers have a desire to ride imposingly along endless deserted roads, enjoying the flow of headwinds.

Stopping the conveyor

Before the appearance of the Honda Valkyrie model, the photo of which is posted on the page, there was another development - the GL1500, which became the predecessor of the Valkyrie. Strictly speaking, the “one thousand five hundredth” motorcycle began to be called that because it was equipped with a GL1500 engine. The next model, the Honda Valkyrie, was successfully produced until 2003, then production of the heavy cruiser was discontinued. For six months the conveyor stood idle, while work was underway to create a new model. In Japanese industry, it is not customary to mothball any production; plants and factories must operate continuously. But in this case, the engineers of the Honda concern decided to create a super motorcycle that would not have to be modified later.

“Honda Valkyrie”: technical characteristics

The bike's features are impressive. If only because it adopted a significant part of the technical characteristics from its predecessors. Nevertheless, the driving performance, as well as the engine capacity and its power, combined with an unsurpassed appearance, win the hearts of even novice motorcyclists.

The horizontal engine with a liquid cooling system has a power of 119 horsepower. The engine capacity is 1832 cubic centimeters. The five-speed transmission provides rapid acceleration and smooth gear shifting. The motorcycle accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds - this is an amazing performance, especially for such a heavyweight. The fuel tank capacity is 23 liters.

In general, riding a Honda Valkyrie motorcycle, the photo of which eloquently demonstrates its unsurpassed power and dynamism, is a lot of fun: the gears shift very smoothly, and the brakes, if necessary, prove their reliability every time. “Honda Valkyrie Rune” is the heaviest and longest road-type motorcycle.

Introduction

According to Scandinavian-German mythology, Valkyries are quite lively and powerful warrior maidens who, during battles, fly over the battlefield on winged horses and pick up fallen warriors.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, names are not thrown around just like that - the “winged” motorcycle being considered today with the inexorability of a missile cruiser will take anyone anywhere... Engineering experiments in the motorcycle industry are a categorically interesting thing. At a certain point, all Japanese manufacturers decided to play gigantomania. Honda's attempt turned out to be one of the most unusual, but at the same time effective.

I would venture to suggest that Honda decided to make the most productive use of their wonderful boxer engine, on which they spent so much effort and energy, and build another line around it, different from the Goldwings. This is how one of the most anti-canonical cruisers, Honda Valkyrie, was born.

Consumer caution

In this case, the production of new super-powerful motorcycles was also hampered by the inertia of buyers. Consumers remained true to themselves and long looked closely at an unprecedented bike with a six-cylinder engine that developed the thrust of an average executive car. Many were stopped by the high price

However, after the first “Valkyries” appeared on the tracks, skeptics quickly changed their minds, lost their caution and began to purchase an elegant superbike. It was impossible to resist the luxurious, discreetly growling car

The motorcycle, oddly enough, did not need advertising; all its data instantly became known to a wide range of consumers, people shared their impressions with each other.

What is a Honda Valkyrie?

The Honda Valkyrie is the easiest super-heavy cruiser to ride. This bike impresses with its performance and dynamic design. First appearing in 1996, “Valkyrie” has never ceased to be a symbol of unrivaled power and easily controlled charisma.

Professionals from the California studio did a good job on the stylish and dynamic design of the motorcycle, who paid attention to the character of the bike and immediately decided to embody the engine power in the appearance of this motorcycle.

This is the best cruiser of all time. It is with this phrase that, as a rule, any information about this bike begins. Honda Valkyrie is the flagship of the Honda motorcycle industry.

History of creation

The Honda Valkyrie, whose characteristics will not leave any motorist indifferent, first appeared in 1996. The North American market has almost always positioned heavyweight motorcycles as the most important part of the industry, so the appearance of the Valkyrie created a real sensation. The harmonious combination of a chopper and a power unit from the GL1500 cruiser - the motorcycle community has never seen such an ensemble.

The Honda Valkyrie motorcycle retained its original appearance almost until 2003, after which the production of this heavyweight was discontinued for some reason. After some time, Valkyrie reappeared, and in almost unchanged form. This happened at one of the exhibitions. It is worth noting that Honda has repeatedly tried to present various conceptual motorcycle models to the world community, but things did not go beyond presentations. And now, six years later, the company is releasing a completely new project called the Honda F6C Valkyrie.

Buyers' opinion

There are not many super-heavy motorcycles in the world, and the Valkyrie model has been in a dominant position since its introduction. The owners of the bike note the popularity of the magnificent machine; as soon as you go out onto the track and stop before the start, a crowd gathers around.

It is characteristic that the motorcycle’s passport data does not indicate the maximum speed. This concept is too vague, the “Valkyrie” does not demean itself to high speeds, it is not appropriate for it to rush along the highway or “fly” along the autobahn - a superbike has other tasks. 160 km/h - a motorcycle lives in this relatively calm mode, although it can easily double this figure.

The Honda Valkyrie, which receives extremely rave reviews, is the dream of millions of bikers, but buying a motorcycle is not so easy. The fact is that the already established owner is unable to part with the luxury car, realizing that he will never see the Valkyrie in his garage again. There is a special psychological moment here, which is in no way unrelated to the commercial component of the transaction. Therefore, a motorcycle often becomes the cause of the so-called “eternal owner” syndrome, when it is not sold in principle and under any pretext.

Competition

The Honda F6C Valkyrie is without a doubt a wonderful motorcycle, the only thing that can dissuade you from buying it is its considerable price... Or not only? In my opinion, the new Honda power cruiser has several, let’s say, “dubious” features, which can probably even be considered shortcomings of the model.

What is most confusing is that the device is not only built on the same platform as the GL1800 and F6B, but is also almost identical to these motorcycles both in engine and chassis. The F6C Valkyrie can be called... simply a special configuration of the GL1800, a naked version of the touring model - these devices are so similar in design! Yes, the new Honda product has very few competitors... And the greatest threat to F6C sales is, paradoxically, relatives on the assembly line!

The reason for internal competition among Honda models is not only their “identity”, but also the company’s pricing policy: the new power cruiser did not take the most advantageous position between the F6B Bagger and the GL1800 Gold Wing. And this is practically a death sentence... For 1,229,000 rubles, the buyer will receive a successful, stylish, charismatic device in almost everything, but... completely empty! And the Russian client is used to getting the maximum motorcycle for his price - so that every ruble sparkles like a bright neon lamp on the plastic, illuminating the motorcycle owner’s wide smile.

Victor Kryukov specialist of the AES-Moto technical center

> The engine of the Honda F6C motorcycle is completely identical to that installed on the GL1800 Gold Wing - with some differences in the “attachments” and control system. The Honda tourer shows 118.5 hp on the dyno. With. and 166.5 Nm with the declared 118/167, which is quite consistent with the error in engine assembly and the methodology for measuring power characteristics. In the case of the Valkyrie, the manufacturer promises 117 hp. With. and 167 Nm. Let's compare some parameters we measured on the GL1800 and F6C:

In this sense, the F6C is the worst purchase imaginable: no panniers, no music system, no GPS navigation, no sybaritic comfort... not even heated steering wheel grips! The same F6B Bagger, which is not much different from the Valkyrie in terms of driving performance, is already “charged” with numerous “goodies” in the basic configuration - and at the same time costs less. Yes, these are devices of different classes (albeit built on the same platform), and it is not entirely correct to compare them... but a buyer who is ready to say goodbye to an amount of more than a million rubles will be the last to worry about all these theoretical calculations and far-fetched rules. And what do you think the moneybag would prefer, standing with a purse full of money in front of the GL1800 tourist liner, which has almost everything that VIP passengers of executive class cars are used to, and the F6C Valkyrie, brutal, but “empty” and with a disharmonious and strange design?.. So it turns out that the new “Valkyrie” is, rather, a motorcycle for a discerning connoisseur, for whom style is more important than comfort and status.

Modifications

In 2004, the Rune motorcycle appeared in the Honda Valkyrie lineup, an improved concept development based on the base model. The latest achievements of high technology were used in the design. The Honda Valkyrie Rune was considered a masterpiece of its time. The motorcycle is equipped with a flat-six engine with the following characteristics:

• total cylinder volume – 1520 cc/cm;
• cylinder diameter – 74 mm;
• compression – 9.4;
• piston stroke – 71 mm;
• maximum power – 132 hp. With.;
• food - six PGM-FI carburetors;
• gas distribution - timing with timing adjustment of valve opening;
• mufflers - three on each side, combined into one chamber;
• ignition – electronic;
• starting – electric starter;
• transmission – five-speed gearbox with lever shift.

Chassis of the Honda Valkyrie Rune model:

• front suspension – reverse telescopic fork with hydraulic recoil and travel amplitude of 130 millimeters;
• rear suspension – articulated pendulum with two hydraulic shock absorbers on the sides, free swing 120 mm;
• front brake – paired perforated discs with two-piston calipers;
• rear brake - single, non-ventilated disc with two-piston caliper;
• wheels – light alloy, polished.

Approximate price for a motorcycle

New Honda Valkyrie models have only recently appeared on the Russian market. Before this, used copies of this motorcycle were quite rare and were resold without wide publicity among lovers and admirers of this model.

More recently, the Honda Valkyrie began to be officially sold in Russia. The recommended price for it is 1,050,000 rubles.

The new Valkyrie, with its redesigned design, has caused a lot of speculation among fans. Many fans of this model do not like the new design of the motorcycle, which sharply reduces the number of possible buyers. And now Honda is faced with the task of attracting a younger contingent of motorcyclists who love the sporty riding style and appropriate character of motorcycles.

The heavy Honda Valkyrie, which is trying to move away from the cruiser class, but has not yet entered the sportbike class, stands as if at a crossroads, and the success of the model will only be shown by its future sales.