RoadVitals

1997 Honda Valkyrie

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Aug 27, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Honda Valkyrie, most frequently naming the electrical, powertrain (other) and brakes categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical538.5%
  • Powertrain (other)430.8%
  • Brakes17.7%
  • Fuel system17.7%
  • Interior & seats17.7%
  • Suspension17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 14
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 27, 2008

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10239920
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
87,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 11, 2002

MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECT IN TANK. DT

NHTSA ID
769564
Incident
Oct 4, 2002
Brakes
Filed Nov 17, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
700691
Incident
Nov 13, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
523372
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 23, 1997

SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER POORLY DESIGNED; AT DUSK/DAWN FACE IS NOT READABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
523366
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 1997

THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN AT DUSK OR ERLY DOWN DUE TO POOR LIGHTING OF INSTRUMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
523313
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 1997

CANNOT SEE INSTRUMENTS AT DUSK OR EARLY MORNING. IT WAS THIS WAY FROM THE FACTORY. *AK

NHTSA ID
523305
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 1997

THE INSTRUMENTS ARE UNREADABLE DURING DUSK/DAWN CONDITIONS DUE TO A FAULTY LIGHTING CONDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
523304

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Valkyrie by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002200—
2000300—
1999400—
1998800—
1997Viewing140033.4

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.