Review of the Honda Valkyrie 1800 motorcycle (Honda GL1800C F6C Valkyrie)

Cruiser model Honda GL1800 F6C Valkyrie

was first presented in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show, and official sales began in the spring of 2014. The model is a reincarnation of the old version of the Honda GL1500C F6C Valkyrie in a new, more modern design. And if the old Honda Valkyrie 1500 had quite a lot of differences from the original Gold Wing 1500 (new frame, engine settings, gearbox ratios, cylinder head), then the new generation Honda GL1800 F6C Valkyrie differs from the Gold Wing 1800 not so much - engine, frame and pendulum remained unchanged. The main differences are in appearance, wheels, brake system, seat, handlebars and some parameters - such as the angle of the front fork, exhaust settings, etc.

The engine of the Honda GL1800 F6C Valkyrie is a 6-cylinder opposed block with a volume of 1832 cc. see, producing 117 hp. power and 167 Nm of torque. Maximum motor performance is at 4000-5000 rpm. Cooling is liquid. Power supply system - injector.

The frame is an aluminum diamond design with a Pro-Arm cantilever rear swingarm. This unit is borrowed unchanged from the Gold Wing 1800.

The wheels are cast, measuring 19′ and 17′. The brake system is combined, ABS is available. At the front there are 2 discs of 310 mm with 4-piston calipers, at the rear there is 1 disc, 316 mm with a 3-piston caliper.

The fuel tank, compared to the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing, has been reduced to 23 liters.

All of the above changes made it possible to create a motorcycle that is as close as possible to the cruiser class, having a classic low seating position, a lower center of gravity, more stable in a straight line and with a lower (70 kg less than the original GL1800 Gold Wing) curb weight without introducing radical alterations to the base design versions. In fact, the slight differences between the Honda GL1800 F6C Valkyrie and the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing allow us to consider the modern Valkyrie F6C as one of the Gold Wing 1800 trims, and not as a separate motorcycle.

Brief history of the model

• 2014 - start of production and sales.

Model

: Honda Valkyrie 1800 F6C (Europe, North America, Australia, Japan).
Factory designation
: GL1800CE.

• 2015 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Valkyrie 1800 F6C (Europe, North America, Australia, Japan).
Factory designation
: GL1800CF.

• 2016 - model available only in the Asian market and some countries in the Middle East.

Model

: Honda Valkyrie 1800 F6C (Asia, etc.).
Factory designation
: GL1800CG.

• 2017 is the last year of production. The model is only available in the Japanese market.

Model

: Honda Valkyrie 1800 F6C (Japan).
Factory designation
: GL1800CF_J.

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.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Honda GL1800 F6C Valkyrie:

Dirt-Tracker

Alas, the times have come for ready-made solutions, budget savings and cross-platform development. And if for the first cruiser of the Valkyrie series, Honda engineers completely reconfigured the Gold Wing engine, including replacing the camshafts and reworking the intake and exhaust systems, then when preparing the power plant of the tourer for implantation into the chassis of the new F6C, the Japanese did not bother so much. This is completely the same engine, which migrated to the Valkyrie frame without any changes at all! And comparing the technical characteristics of the engines of the GL1800 and F6C models turns into a meaningless and merciless game of “Find at least one difference”...

The same parameters, the same performance, and even the gear ratios of all five stages of the transmission remain the same. To a greater extent, the same applies to the chassis, which also has not undergone major changes: a diagonal aluminum frame in which the engine is part of the power structure, a cartridge fork with feathers with a diameter of 45 mm and a rear pendulum suspension with a cantilever wheel mount and a monoshock absorber installed in the linkage Pro-Link system. The angle and reach of the fork have changed a little, but not radically.

In shape, design and content, the instrument panel of the F6C Valkyrie is very similar to the similar element of the Valkyrie Rune! With the difference that the Runa had a display located on the gas tank, while the new Val Kiriya had a display on the steering wheel, like normal motorcycles. The headlight of the new Honda product and its “tail” are made in the style of transformer robots, popular in Japan.

Although the engine of the new F6C is no different from that of the GL1800, the characters of the motorcycles are indeed different! The trick is in the significantly different mass of the devices: after all, 70 kg of difference is a noticeable “error” even for such a high-torque engine as the Honda flat-six. The acceleration dynamics of the new power cruiser will impress even a very experienced rider - I’m sure that from the start the Valkyrie will easily leave behind any serial 600 cc sportbike!..

The F6C Valkyrie's front brakes are even more powerful than those of the GL1800 Gold Wing or F6B Bagger, with dual larger diameter discs and Nissin 4-piston calipers with C-ABS. The F6C features the same superb flat-6 engine found in the F6B Bagger and GL1800 Gold Wing. The motor is implanted into the Valkyrie “body” almost unchanged!

While I was getting used to the test motorcycle on the way from the Honda representative office to the garage, several times I carelessly caused the rear wheel of the F6C to slip... simply by being overly optimistic when I opened the gas at a traffic light! This, by the way, is an insidious feature of the new model: given that the F6C is devoid of almost all electronic assistance systems (including, of course, no traction control), and the 1832 cc engine has bottomless torque, “starting” from the very bottom ", on wet asphalt (and sometimes on dry asphalt too...) Valkyrie turns into such a rather weighty dirt-tracker that starts moving exclusively with a 100-meter drift...

It’s impressive, but unsafe, and therefore the function of the missing traction control has to be taken on by the rider himself, who, while driving a Honda F6C, is forced to precisely control the angle of rotation of the gas handle.

What features does the new Honda Valkyrie F6C have?

What makes the new motorcycle unique and different from similar ones is its special, laconic design. The bike is the proud owner of a skeleton (frame) made of aluminum, radial tires (small size). This bike has powerful front disc brakes (plus 4-piston calipers). In addition, the Valkyrie has a powerful engine that is capable of producing 113 horses.

If the presented model is compared with the base one, the first one has a significantly different saddle, as well as an optimized mass that divides the weight of the motorcycle between two wheels. The passenger seat, as well as the handles, are removable. Therefore, the motorcycle acquires an even greater degree of brutality. The radiators on the motorcycle are also placed in an original way.

Additional advantages of the Honda bike include the presence of LED optics and a liquid crystal instrument panel. Massive plastic, high engine torque - this is what distinguishes the Valkyrie from similar models.

The company also presented one of the most modern control systems - ABS.

For whom

Here are the main features of the Honda F6S Valkyrie:

• single-arm pendulum;
• motor borrowed from the GL 1800;
• 113 hp and 167 Nm.

The bike is primarily suitable for those who are connoisseurs of the Gold Wing series, but would like to ride a cruiser rather than a touring bike. However, other cruiser connoisseurs may find the model attractive, albeit specific.

Forward to the future

The Honda Valkyrie 1500 motorcycle was originally intended for sales in North America - it was this area that supported the fashion for heavy motorcycles. Some models were exported. Valkyrie was bought by Europeans, Australians and Japanese. The American representative office of Honda, where the legend was born in 1996, was located in the American state of Ohio. This cruiser is one of the first high-volume modifications, equipped with a six-cylinder boxer engine. The experiment turned out to be very successful and the motorcycle almost immediately began its triumphal march.

Silencers

Stylish.
They are shorter than those of the F6B, and the ends are cut at an angle. The ergonomics have also been improved. Compared to the F6B, the seat and footpegs were raised (by 33 mm), and a larger “cruise” handlebar was installed - in fact, this should improve the control of the motorcycle. The bike also has different wheels and tires - atypical for cars of this class.

And when you meet in person, Valkyrie amazes with its design. The designers managed to somehow visually reduce the hefty dimensions of the 6-cylinder boxer engine, which makes the regular GoldWing look like a burgher with a beer belly. And the Valkyrie looks like a harmonious and well-built car: the “cheeks” of the side air intakes are especially good.

In the ever-expanding GoldWing family, the new Valkyrie is the most powerful

When you sit behind the wheel, you feel like the driver of a real dragbike. The slight vibration of the entire motorcycle at idle awakens some ancient fighting instincts in the soul. You want to turn the gas and throw the clutch lever... And the very first start is accompanied by a good smoky axle box and a black mark on the asphalt. It was worth flying to test the Valkyrie just for these sensations!

Yes, the acceleration when twisting the right handle is pleasantly surprising. The driver is literally torn from the saddle, and you have to hold on tightly to the steering wheel. Thrust is the sea: at four thousand it has 167 Nm, and 135 Nm is available already from one and a half thousand. In general, the Valkyrie quickly conveys to the driver a simple principle: “moment is the head of everything.”

But a satisfied, almost idiotic smile does not leave your face, even when you begin to fit this device into serpentine turns. At first you do this with caution and play it safe when braking, but after a couple of turns you realize that the Valkyrie steers as easily as an ordinary classic. Moreover, she is not afraid of even a strong side wind: the motorcycle stands on the trajectory like a train on rails!

Honda Valkyrie Review

The model appeared on the market in America, where the style of cruisers with powerful engines originated. Since 1996, the Honda Valkyrie has become one of the most popular, hundreds of people bought it. The novelty had its own important feature - it was a chopper (appearance) connected to a cruiser (engine). Thus, the motorcycle has become truly unique and correspondingly popular.

Honda Valkyrie Concept

Until today, several updates have taken place, but the original appearance remained until 2003. Since that time, the plant announced the closure of production of the Valkyrie motorcycle, but a couple of years later several concepts were released. Unfortunately, the matter did not reach a serial launch, and only in 2009 the first production version of the Valkyrie line was presented. The new product is called Honda f6c Valkyrie. Today, this option can be seen on the street; only a few drive models of previous years.

The Honda Valkyrie motorcycle combines the features of two types: the city bike has huge brakes and a rear swingarm, and the similarity with a chopper is indicated by the low suspension and appropriate design. The new design of the bike is quite modern, it is perfect for young people who love to ride fast. In contrast to the parts donor Honda GL 1800, the design received a weight reduction of 70 kg.

Price Honda Valkyrie

Since the motorcycle has several modifications, the price of the Honda Valkyrie will vary. In Russia, new versions appeared recently; before that, you could only find an aged, used bike. Old models from 2004 can be purchased for about 650 thousand rubles.

More recently, this model has been sold in Russia by an official representative of the company. The new motorcycle has an average price tag of 1,050,000 rubles. The latest price can be found on the official website of the Honda company.

Other characteristics of Honda Valkyrie

As standard, such an engine should have a carburetor fuel supply (6 carburetors), but the Japanese decided to replace it with an electronically controlled injection system with 6 injectors. Electronic control was made to ensure that gasoline burns as efficiently and economically as possible. Also, from the base motorcycle, the new product received lighter weight, and with an improved engine, speed and acceleration increased significantly.

In America and most countries, it is customary to make bikes that are as environmentally friendly as possible, and in order for the Honda Valkyrie to meet this standard, a closed gas emission system with 2 probes was installed.

The gearbox is worth special mention; it copes with its duties more than adequately, and the switching process takes a minimum of time. To ensure that gears shift faster when driving fast, the manufacturer installed a clutchless system. In the characteristics you can see the weight of the motorcycle as much as 340 kg. Many will think this is too high an indicator, but the company took this into account. The engine's location and its high power reduce the feeling of massiveness.

In the photo of the Honda Valkyrie you can see the differences in the wheels. That’s right, the front has an 18-inch diameter wheel with a wider tire, and the rear size is 17 inches. Other changes also affected the bike, such as redesigned handlebars, rims and braking system for a more comfortable and reclined riding position. Thus, the driver will be quite comfortable when driving fast and in strong winds.

Honda Valkyrie Rune

At maximum speed, some kind of protection from headwinds is necessary, this is available in older models. The new motorcycles do not have a windshield, but to ensure comfort, side air intakes have been installed near the gas tank. Newer Valkyrie models feature a modern design, which has caused a negative reaction among many. In order for the bike to be better bought in its current form, it will be necessary to attract young people, who for the most part are accustomed to such forms and characteristics.