Progressive 440s - not quite a Rocket3 question

This isnt quite a Rocket3 question ...

I know some of you guys have Honda Valkyries as well as the Triumph Rocket3s. In an attempt to move 100% away from the chrome and to the black, I have got myself some 13" Progressive 440s in Black (HD ones). I currently got 12.5" Progressive 440 HDs in chrome on the Rocket3 and I have been told that the rocket3 440s are the same model as the ones for the Honda Valk.

That sound right to you lot? Any problems I might run in to by putting them on the Valk?

Leigh, how is the Valk and would you recommend one?

I keep looking at them with an almost over whelming urge to buy :twisted:

Billy - aint the Rune enough bike for you? :wink:

The Valk is a consumate touring bike - very smooth power, excellent 2 up (with one of the 2 being me), tows the trailer like billy-o, and its a bike which suits chrome (hence me buying every chrome do-dah not nailed down at present). For me its a perfect touring bike. Its a mile away from the Rocket3 (or at least my Rocket3) in the power stakes - when I first got on it, I wondered if (a) the thing was on - compared to my Rocket3 with its Predator, and (b) where the f&ck was the power. When I got used to the Valks power layout and understood that although you couldnt hear it with stock pipes it was still on, and that the bike werent designed for "asshangingout" thrashes, then I was satisfied. Plus it would have been rude not to buy it for the peanuts the guy was selling it for (and I got it checked over by the RAC bike mechanic). I see it as a Goldwing without all the plastic crap over it - so it still looks like a bike




I got a set of nearly-new Corbin seats just over from the USofA, I got a set of 6 in to 2 Jardine pipes coming over from the USofA, going to put the chrome HD Progressive 440s on it from the Rocket3 once I have the black 13" ones in my mitts.

The Rune mate is a great bike and I love it but don't intend to put big miles on it each year. I have always liked the original Valk and intend to buy at least one sometime in the future either a bog standard or and Interstate (import) if one is available when I have the cash to buy :cry:

But I have decided that a Valk will be the bike that I keep in the States at the in-laws and that hopefully will be an unmolested Interstate as I intend to do a lot of touring on it on an annual basis to get my monies worth out of it 8)

Look forward to seeing you bike up close some day... Do you do any of the VRCCUK meets?

http://www.vrccuk.co.uk/

:wink:

Car tyres are insurance invalidators here in the UK so I wont be doing that - but thanks for the info.

I havent been to any VRCCUK do's - they seem to be predominantly based around the Welsh Valk riders. One of the guy who lives near me with a Valk say that the European Valk do's are the best and well worth attending - which I plan to do.

Good news that the Progressive 440s will go on the Valk - saves me having to punt them to a UK guy. Thanks for the tips.

I think the Valk was one of the most beautiful cruisers/tourers ever made. Honda made a big mistake by discontinuing the bike and should have put a 2500 cc flat four in it. The torque just didn't quite do the trick. If you are used to a Rocket, it'll feel slow.

jrhorton said:

You will need to have the proper metal bushing to fit the bottom pumpkin side bolt on the Valk. The set of bushings that came with your R3 440s should include the correct size. You want the bolt to fit snugly inside the bushing, otherwise it's a straight fitment.

Click to expand...

Umm, what are pumpkin bolts? and for that matter, what are bushings?

you'd think that wouldnt you - but no, never heard the term pumpkin bolts before. I guess the "bushings" are the "bushes"/plastic or rubber inserts in the eyes on each end of the shocks. As you might have guessed, im not very technical. You want a IT network laid around the world - im your man, you want a bolt removed from an engine and its "pass the manual" you'll hear from me.

Thanks for the explanation. Given that these chrome 440s HDs were ordered and installed on the Rocket3, it looks [from your write-up] that I will need to get hold of [from somewhere] those bushings to "to take up the difference in diameters".

Do these bushings have to come from Progressive? Will my dealer have em? Generally, how do I get the right bushings?

Please mate- me and the local progressive dealer dont get on when I dared to complain about the 440s rusting after 4 months use!

I will drop you a pm with an address to send to (if you find em).

cheers