A Valkyrie sails with a new Gear Box

After 2 years of research & development and road testing, MarioMoto of Treviolo (Bergamo)-Italy, has designed a Gearbox modification for the F6-Valkyrie and Gold Wing, which allows for both high performance of riding and fuel economy.  It seems absurd but this is possible with careful optimisation of the transmission ratios that, thanks to the generous torque of the 6-cylinder engine, allows for exciting performance with a secure and smooth drive progression.

In all practicality, it is a replacement of some gears with newly designed ones that gives the Valk a new transmission ratio, particularly in fourth and fifth gears.  The fifth gear becomes a true overdrive while fourth gear is much longer.  All professionally made with and guarantee for the materials.  It is a very scrupulous engine set-up, which guarantees performance and long life to the gearbox.

And now for my road test.  I will try to describe the performances and my feelings, even if it is difficult to find the right words.  Friday 8-March, 2002 is the Woman’s Day in Italy, so the Valkyrie is nicknamed Lady.  The temperature is fine, about 14°C, and the day is splendid.  I collect my Valk, fill up the tank and leave the small town of Treviolo.  I arrive at the motorway and check my directions to Brescia.  Once on the superhighway, I race the Valk, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear, the engine seems to have more HP and, without realizing it, I quickly get up to 160 Km/h (100 mph)…sorry for the speed.  I watch the tachometer and it is less than 4000 rpm.  Incredible!  The Valk makes me feel the enormous reserve of power it exhibits, and the fourth gear seems infinite.  I decide to slow down and than to speed up, just for a moment, and the Valk leaves again quickly and without hesitation.  A few days later I tested the fourth gear around the circuit of Monza and I got approximately 220 Km/h (135 mph and less than 6000 rpm!).  Believe me, it is an incredible feeling!  The Valk always handled safely and without any mechanical vibrations.

Coming back to the highway, I slow down to 160Km/h (100 mph) and I push the fifth gear.  I watch the speed and the tachometer but I don’t believe it... It is only 3000 rpm!  Ahead, I see a slight incline.  I ‘m worried that the 5th gear will fade on me.  Not at all, the engine continues to speed-up.  There is an unexpected overtaking, I push fourth gear and the Valk darts away, then I shift to 5th gear.  The Valk seems to sail, without any vibration or noise, and the handling becomes very relaxing.  I decide to keep within the speed limit of 130 km/h (80 mph), and with a slight acceleration, I maintain this speed watching the tachometer that indicates approximately 2300 rpm!  Now I can only sit back and relax on the Valk.  From Brescia I continue on by freeway to Piacenza, then I follow the road to Trebbia Valley.

I think many Italian bikers well know the Trebbia Valley as a classic route for motorcyclists.  Curves to the left, curves to the right, totally absorbed in nature.  I intend to reach the Town of Bobbio without stopping.  I get to the first set of curves, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear; I continue sailing on through the curves.  I slow down and then speed-up in third gear and the Valk always answers without hesitations.  But what happens?  Without using them, I wonder, where did the other gears go?   I have practically covered all the distance to Bobbio in third gear without losing the pleasure of the performance.  Also, third gear is quite long but allows an excellent acceleration even with low rpm.   Regarding rpm from 1000 to 4000 with max speed of …never mind!  I arrive at Bobbio and I stop a moment in order to check the fuel.  I shake the tank and feel that I still have fuel.  Then I decide to continue the tour.  But it is lunchtime!  It doesn’t matter.  The riding sensation is indescribable.  The sandwich can wait for a while.  More right bends, S-turns and left bends, and I have no appropriate words to describe my satisfaction.   Before I knew it, I had arrived at Chiavari, a small town on the Tirreno Sea, and the Valk ran empty after approximately 230 km (143 miles)!  I say to myself that this is not possible because, with the combination of road and speed I would have normally only travelled 180 Km max(113 miles)!

I fill up the tank and start out again.  The sandwich?  Next time, by now I ‘m intoxicated from the experience.  So I continue on and take the highway to Genoa and then the mythical Serravalle (It is a fast and twisting way) to Milan.  What can I say about the Serravalle highway?  All Italian bikers know it well.  And so, I will leave it to your imagination and interpretation.

At last I get home.  I park the Valkyrie in the garage with great care.  I can see that I have covered 450 Km (280 miles).  I check the time ….It is still early and perhaps there would be time for…no never mind.  I will try another day.  I have not been able to verify with certainty of what the highway fuel consumption actually was at 130km/h (80 mph), but I am sure that it was much less!!!

I I don’t have any other words to express my full satisfaction.  Ciao

Sil

VRCC-Italy  #811 & GWCI #369 - www.bikeriders.it

Info Mario