History of our Valkyrie

A little HISTORY about our Valkyrie

we call "LAZARETH."

Our 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate Serial # IHFSC4103XA0000073 came from the factory BLACK in color, and was first registered in the state of Arizona in March of 1999.

Our bike was originally purchased by someone (name unknown). While this first owner had the bike he added several things to it: Pro-Dyno Pipes, had it rejetted, added a leather Iron Horse Tank panel with pouches, and installed rear stereo speakers. Then the bike was traded into Rick Hatches dealership, Hacienda Honda in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Sometime in August of 2000, a swell fella by the name of Mr. Jim Mandigo, who lives in Phoenix, purchased it from Hacienda Honda and purchased a 3 year extended Warranty on it. Jim didn't do much to the bike except maintain it and ride it. He did add a taller tinted windshield made by Tulsa Enterprises. But also kept the stock one as well. He ran synthetic Amsoil in it during the time he owned it.

Sometime in March or April of 2001 (sorry I don't know the exact date), Jim and his wife Susan went for a ride to pay some bills, as he tells it. On the way home, he was riding in front and Susan was riding her own bike (a Suzuki Intruder I think) and she was behind Jim. They were cruising in the right lane and another vehicle was in the lane to their left. Jim was kinda beside and to the rear of the car along side him as they were about to pass an adjoining side street. A lady was ready to cross the entire street after the vehicle next to Jim went by. Unfortunately, her visibility was blocked by the vehicle beside Jim, with Jim on the other side of it, which she couldn't see.

Meanwhile, Susan, Jim's wife, riding her bike behind him, saw what was about to happen as the lady started to pull out. Susan YELLED at Jim "NO NO NO"! Jim turned around to see what Susan was yelling about (not knowing what was about to happen), when he turned his head back forward....there was the lady in her Yukon, crossing his path.

He knew there was no way to avoid what was about to happen so he tried to pick a soft spot. He clamped on the binders! Clamped his knees hard around the tank and headed for the right front fender. He struck hard! Jim launched over the windshield of the Valkyrie (taking the entire front fairing and pushing it FLAT-horizontal as he departed). He said he was high enough, that as he sailed over the Yukon he could see down inside the sunroof. Even though he actually went over the hood.

(click for enlargements)

The Valkyrie SLAMMED into the front fender of the Yukon, then the left side of the bike came around and SLAMMED into the side of the Yukon as well, but it was HOOKED! The lady was braking hard but still the Valkyrie was hooked and being dragged on its right side.

Meanwhile, Jim is about to land on the other side. Unfortunately, one of the first things to hit was his left hand, which shattered. Then he began to roll and finally came to a stop, facing-up, but unconscious.

Susan, his terrified wife, quickly stops her bike and runs towards Jim, but notices that the Valkyrie is still running. She runs to the bike, which has finally come to a stop under the Yukon and hits the kill button, since the ignition switch was under the bike now.

Today, August 10th, 2001, several months later, Jim is still recovering. His hand is healing fine, he can use it and eventually will get most of the full use of it back. BUT...when he SLAMMED into the Yukon, it drove his body forward along with his feet. His right foot got wedged under the right valve cover and didn't want to leave that position when he launched over the front of the bike. Needless to say, his right shin done took a beating and shattered in several places. He still has a very complicated looking framework wrapped around his right leg with numerous shiny steel pins sticking into his lower leg. I must say it looked very painful and MOST uncomfortable. Jim has a hospital bed in his living room in front of the TV and shall we say he's "taking it easy".

The scrapes on Jim's left chest area have all healed now. The windshield didn't break when he smashed it flat forward with his chest, it just scraped off a lot of hide as he flew over it. Jim's spirits are good and he will heal. He doesn't even blame the lady in the Yukon for the accident, she simply couldn't see him. He was hidden. He is already planning on getting another bike when it's time! I hope all who read this will wish Jim the best in his recovery.

Needless to say the Valkyrie was totaled. The insurance company wouldn't fix it. Too much damage they said. So to the salvage auction it went in July of 2001.

My friend and neighbor, Rusty, buys wrecked bikes and repairs them to like new condition. On the day the Valkyrie came up for auction Rusty saw some potential in what was left and bought the Valkyrie. He put it in his pick and brought it home. KNOWING I might be a potential buyer!

Rusty called my cell phone and left this message. "DOC I have a wrecked Honda Valkyrie in the back of my pickup, if you're interested come take a look. If it's not in the pickup I have already put it in the garage."

Unfortunately, I am in Mazatlan, Mexico for a few days and don't get the message off my cell phone until I get close to the boarder near Nogales, Mexico. Naturally I'm excited at the possibilities, so I call Rusty. He tells me that he had already sold it, about a week earlier! The same day he called me on it. A guy that owns the frame straightening shop that Rusty took the Valkyrie too, to get it checked out, decided to buy it for himself. His name is Dave and owns Fast Track in Mesa.

Rusty tells me that he might sell it anyway, his daughter's birthday is coming up and Dave needs money to buy her a new vehicle. Would I like to go take a look. Of course, you fool! So we go!

I walk into Fast Track and there the Valk sits. All the front hardware and framework is completely off. No headlight. No fairing. No instruments. No side pods. But it had everything else on it and appeared to run. I asked him if it ran and he started it up! THAT WAS IT! I had bought the bike right there! But they didn't know it yet.

I asked. Is it ok to ride? He said yes and that he had ridden it around the block a few times but not far because it didn't have any plates or lights. SO....I jump on a Valkyrie for the first time in my life and fire it up. Backed it out and gently maneuvered it to the street. Needless to say, I'm in love already and this thing is only half together! I take it for a VERY short ride and return to the shop.

After checking with the LOVE of MY LIFE, my beautiful an very understanding wife JoLeen, I arrange to buy it.

Replacement USED parts had been bought by Dave at Fast Track to put it somewhat back together, so I let him finish what he had already started. About a week later I go to get the bike, now that its almost back together. At least it kinda looks like a Valkyrie now and has the fairing, lights and pods back on it. The damage to the right side of the bike was extensive and many things were replaced. The fairing and brace for it. The headlight ring. The windshield and front fender. Mirrors, clutch and brake handles, and the right side crash bar, to name a few. The rear right side bag was heavily scrapped and gouged but can be repaired I'm sure, along with the top box which has some slight damage as well. What's amazing is the back bag didn't break or split or crack anywhere.

YES, I made a good buy on it! Just in case you're wondering. BUT by the time I get done, it will still be a LOT of money invested. So far, I have bought NEW: radio antenna, had the front forks rebuilt (after Dave straightened them). Put new brakes on it front and rear, since they were in need of it anyway. A new set of Avon's. PLUS a ton of LITTLE stuff, you know what I mean. Air horns, cigarette lighter. Sheep skin seat cover. CB Radio and CB antenna and bracket. Modulating front and rear lights for added safety. Oh we can't forget the new helmets and J & M Headsets for the stereo and CB. Cup holder for the drinks. Spots lights and Underwhere bracket. Utopia backrest. Shall I go on. Oh I can't forget the tune-up, needle adjustments, carb synchronizing and new speedometer sending unit since the speedometer wasn't working.

The Valkyrie RUNS GREAT now and everything is working fine. It tracks straight as an arrow and not a problem at well over the triple digit marks. What a dream to ride and the power is awesome! I LOVE IT! But it's kinda ugly! With all the scrapes and bruises on it! But not for long!

I call it "Lazareth" because it is being "RESURRECTED" from a TOTAL! Therefore...my HANDLE on the CB shall be "Lazareth", if that's OK with you all.

YES...it's getting a COMPLETE new paint job. Bright Amber Metallic (a metallic burnt orange actually) with white, yellow and purple flames on the tank and front fender. It goes in the shop the first of September and will get new color while I'm on vacation in Mexico. I have other bikes to ride down there, since we own Rent-A-Ride Motorcycles of Mazatlan.

See PHOTOS -Going to the paint shop-all stripped down!

See PHOTOS of how our Valkyrie "LAZARETH" looked when I first bought it.

Stories of "Doc's" ghostly bikes of the past. Lot's of PHOTOS! All my old bikes!

See more PHOTOS of just some of my OLD bikes- I used to own. (no stories)

What does "Valkyrie" really mean?

My Favorite Valkyrie motorcycle photos

NEW Just ADDED!

My "CARS" from day one! Lot's of PHOTOS and more stories. INDEX of Cars I've owned.

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