Honda GLX 1500 / F6C Valkyrie

The Honda Valkyrie is a motorcycle that was manufactured by Honda from 1996 to 2003. It was designated GL1500C in the US market and F6C "Flat Six Custom" in other markets.

The Valkyrie engine is a 1,520 cubic centimetres (93 cu in) liquid-cooled, horizontally opposed flat-six engine transplanted from Honda's Gold Wing model, unlike the V-twin engine commonly found on "cruiser" style motorcycles. In its transplant from the Goldwing, the most notable engine changes were the camshaft and the change to six individual 28 mm carburetors, one for each cylinder, changes which increased power and torque.

The Valkyrie was offered with a reverse gear in Japan. The Valkyrie was made in the United States at the Honda motorcycle plant in Marysville, Ohio.

The Honda F6C Valkyrie is one of those traffic-stopping motorcycles that non-bikers are simply fascinated by. Basically a stripped down Honda GL1500 Gold Wing, with lower gearing and six carbs, the Honda F6C Valkyrie is actually reasonably good fun to ride and some might say it's best made motorcycle in America. The Honda Rune 1800 looks like some kind of Dan Dare spacecraft - mental.

The Honda F6C Valkyrie's big problem for many cruiser riders is that it just isn't a V-twin. Instead a burbling flat six Honda GL1500 Gold Wing motor seems to sanitised for most, too damn quiet. Sure, the Honda F6C Valkyrie's 100bhp motor is enough to send the thing whizzing along an unfeasible speeds, but it's easily out accelerated by the Triumph Rocket III, any old Yamaha V-Max and a whole boatload of rival power cruiser motorcycles these days. The Rune 1800 isn't really any faster.

Here, the Honda F6C Valkyrie surprises many riders. So long as there's plenty of advance planning, the motorcycle can be made to go around a corner fairly fast ( for a cruiser) and still offers a luxurious ride on motorways. The Honda Rune 1800 is more ponderous, but then you'd want to travel slowly so people could stare for longer.

Huge brakes, beefy forks and a proper two person saddle are some of the useful features on the Honda F6C Valkyrie. It could use the reverse gear of the Gold Wing and there's no screen as standard on the Honda F6C Valkyrie. Naturally there's a whole phone book of accessories to be had, from both Honda and US aftermarket motorcycle accessory suppliers. Sci-fi bodywork on the Rune looks stunning.

The Honda F6C Valkyrie rarely goes wrong, ever. It is a beautifully made motorcycle, with lavish chrome, thick paintwork and an engine that can cover 100,000 miles with basic oil/filter changes. The main problem with the motorcycle is keeping its hundreds of nooks and crannies clean. Double that cleaning time on the Honda Rune 1800.