Total and utter insanity! That's the Honda Valkyrie Rune summed up in a nutshell. Seeing one for the first time makes you question your sanity, or Honda's. It's like the deepest, darkest parts of your nightmare psyche have manifested in the flesh. Or in this case, chrome.
Oddly enough for a bike which is more than knee-deep in chrome, it's not the shine that catches your attention first. It's the sheer size of the beast. This thing is huge! It's like a Honda Goldwing after a visit from Gok Wan. It really *does* look good naked though. It has beautiful lines, amazing swoops and incredible curves.
Let's be direct about this. This bike is insane. In fact I'm not so sure it's a bike at all. It's just a huge 1800cc flat 6 engine crafted into a solid 50's, retro styled frame. And I *mean* solid! The whole bike weighs in at 350kg but you really would never know it. All the weight is so well balanced and so low in the frame that when you sit on this colossus she feel more like a racehorse.
The engine purrs and then kicks like a donkey. Turn into a bend and she digs and growls, shooting out of the apex and leaping down the road for more. I'm not saying she's a road racer you understand, but this is a cruiser through and through. The engine is so smooth and the saddle so comfortable you could stay sitting on this dream of a bike for hour after hour. And enjoy every minute.
So what's the down-side I hear people cry. Unfortunately Honda never imported them to the UK, or indeed Europe I believe, so if you're a Brit you either have to be lucky enough to spot a decent one on Ebay and trusting enough to have it delivered or be willing to travel across the Pond to source one for yourself. This is a rather lengthy process and a bit unpractical for most of us.
However, a bit like waiting for 'Nessie' on the shores of Loch Ness they do from time to time show their faces and at the time of writing there's one up for sale in the Midlands based showroom of Fasttrack Motorcycles. She's patiently sitting in the window waiting to be bought. Or maybe she's waiting for her next victim.
Actually seeing a Honda Rune in reality was what shocked me into writing this mini review. I have honestly never seen anything like it in my life. You really wouldn't be surprised to see a blaster-touting Dredd come walking by and fly off on her at any moment believe me.
So if you have a spare 13k and fancy something a *lot* different, or just fancy going and seeing one of these rare beasts somewhere other than in a photo, take a trip to Leicester and visit Fasttrack Motorcycles. But be reasonably quick as I don't expect her to be there for long. Believe me though, if you do make the trip you will not be disappointed.
Oddly enough for a bike which is more than knee-deep in chrome, it's not the shine that catches your attention first. It's the sheer size of the beast. This thing is huge! It's like a Honda Goldwing after a visit from Gok Wan. It really *does* look good naked though. It has beautiful lines, amazing swoops and incredible curves.
Let's be direct about this. This bike is insane. In fact I'm not so sure it's a bike at all. It's just a huge 1800cc flat 6 engine crafted into a solid 50's, retro styled frame. And I *mean* solid! The whole bike weighs in at 350kg but you really would never know it. All the weight is so well balanced and so low in the frame that when you sit on this colossus she feel more like a racehorse.
The engine purrs and then kicks like a donkey. Turn into a bend and she digs and growls, shooting out of the apex and leaping down the road for more. I'm not saying she's a road racer you understand, but this is a cruiser through and through. The engine is so smooth and the saddle so comfortable you could stay sitting on this dream of a bike for hour after hour. And enjoy every minute.
So what's the down-side I hear people cry. Unfortunately Honda never imported them to the UK, or indeed Europe I believe, so if you're a Brit you either have to be lucky enough to spot a decent one on Ebay and trusting enough to have it delivered or be willing to travel across the Pond to source one for yourself. This is a rather lengthy process and a bit unpractical for most of us.
However, a bit like waiting for 'Nessie' on the shores of Loch Ness they do from time to time show their faces and at the time of writing there's one up for sale in the Midlands based showroom of Fasttrack Motorcycles. She's patiently sitting in the window waiting to be bought. Or maybe she's waiting for her next victim.
Actually seeing a Honda Rune in reality was what shocked me into writing this mini review. I have honestly never seen anything like it in my life. You really wouldn't be surprised to see a blaster-touting Dredd come walking by and fly off on her at any moment believe me.
So if you have a spare 13k and fancy something a *lot* different, or just fancy going and seeing one of these rare beasts somewhere other than in a photo, take a trip to Leicester and visit Fasttrack Motorcycles. But be reasonably quick as I don't expect her to be there for long. Believe me though, if you do make the trip you will not be disappointed.
About the Author:
John Vincent is from Leicester, UK. He's a moped enthusiast and knows where to go for a Motorcycle MOT.
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