The Honda Valkyrie Rune: A rare and almost unique used motorcycle.

By John Vincent

I've just seen what may possibly be the most individual, and maybe a little scary, motorcycle ever built. And it's a Honda! The Valkyrie Rune looks like something that leapt out of the pages of a 1980's sci-fi comic. Or a Sylvester Stallone film based on it. Wide tyres, wide tank, wide bars, wide everything! It's a beast which begs you to break the law. So it can judge you.

This bike doesn't try and steal your admiration. It forces you to pay attention. The chrome leaps off almost 50% of the surface of the machine and most of that is engine! Even Harley's don't have this much chrome. Nor do they have so much elegance either.

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 why doesn't everyone have one then? Because Honda designed and built them for Americans, who as we know only ride Harleys (or mopeds), and didn't think there was market for them in the UK or Europe. So we have to either import one by ourselves - if we can find one - or hope that they come up for sale and then catch them before they are gone again.

However sometimes, only sometimes, one of the few of these bikes which were privately imported come up for sale. In fact, right at this very minute, one is sitting in a used motorcycle showroom in Leicester. Sitting and waiting for her next gleeful owner to arrive, to drool and to buy.

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.

There you go then. I'm presenting you with a once in a lifetime opportunity here. Go take a trip to Leicester and have a look at a Honda Rune and see what I mean. And then if you have thirteen grand ready to spend I wouldn't think you mad if you did. I certainly would if I had it. - 21392

About the Author:

John Vincent, author of the moped spot and www.fasttrackmotorcycles.co.uk is a part time motorcycle instructor, father of twin boys and husband to the internet. Or so his wife says.