|
|
Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | The other thread about 1st year models has really peaked my interest. Now that we know of a couple of Rune/Vision owners, I'd like to know about the Rune experience. It was probably the most controversial release by a major manufacturer in my adult lifetime. I thought Honda had a ton of guts and I really liked how they pushed the design envelope with it. I personally loved the looks of it but it was just not practical enough for me to even consider justifying. I rode a buddy's Valkyrie on a 1,000 mile trip and just couldn't get my feet where I wanted them. The Rune would be the same. $25,000 seemed like an insane amount of money at the time but the custom/limited edition look of it could not be denied. Rune owners, tell us what it was like when you first got it. Everyone else, did you like it or hate it? It's like the Vision. Not a lot of ho-hum opinions.
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 177
NW Illinois | I loved it, but did not think it would suit my riding style and AI thought I saw prices more up around 30,000 when they first came out.
Still looks like it would be fun to ride |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 64
Ma. | I picked up my Vision in the fall. Although I did not fall in love with the looks I positively loved the the ride. I traded in my "06" Goldwing. I have always wanted a Rune and ordered my new "05" Chrome, Black Cherry last November. I am picking the bike up this saturday. Unlike the Vision I positively loved the looks. I have ridden the Rune about a dozen times over the years and have always enjoyed the ride. Unlike the Goldwing the seat is low so even my 5'8" size is comfortable with my feet on the ground. I traded in my Victory Kingpin for the Rune. The Rune which was selling for $26,000 in "05" is now available, new while supplies last, for $16,000 - $18,000. I could just not pass up the chance to own a bike that was claimed to have cost $40,000 to build, sold for $26,000 and now available for only $16,000 - $18,000 new. There are very few left because Honda auctioned off the balance of their inventory about 60 days ago. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | When I first saw the Rune, I said what the heck is it and who makes it.........kinda like the questions we get with the Vision. I ride some times in a group that has a gal that rides one, she likes it, it is a large motorcycle, but low slung, cool looking. Last time I was at my Victory dealer, that had a used one, purple in color, looked good. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | If I had a place to keep it, I'd buy the one I saw for sale @ a Suzuki dealer here in Jax. I've never ridden one but would have it just becuz of the styling. It was almost a match for Midnight Cherry. Having a Rune AND a Vision - now that's what I'm talkin' about!  |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 97
Brighton, Colorado | I think the first year was 2004. Waited over a year to get one. Put my deposit down and waited and waited and waited. I had a Honda VTX (was single at the time). By the time the Rune showed up, I was married again (did it right this time). She was worried about me coming home after rides, saying I was doing 130 MPH and realized I had another gear. She wanted to go with me and since the Rune was a SOLO, I traded it for a Goldwing. Now back to the Rune. As everyone, I was very intrigued by the styling. Honda kept saying only one year, blah blah blah. Paid about $30K for it. Had the version with the handle bars pulled back about 2 inches. I'm 6'1" and about 210. It fit me perfectly. The way the headlight was situated, the wind was barely a factor. It moved it away from me very nicely. Performance? It's the same engine as the Goldwing, except there was a seperate throttle body for each cylinder. Power and torque were about the same. Pretty heavy bike, but a VERY low center of gravity and it was very light on it's feet at slow speeds. Cornering was average, but the powerband was smooth through all the gears. Had a couple of kids pull up next to me on crotch rockets and ask me if I built the bike myself. Got lots of looks and comments. Kind of like what I'm getting with the Vision. The only reason I don't have it now is because it isn't built for 2-up riding. Certainly there were some after market things that could have been done with it, but it ruined the lines of the bike. Fuel mileage was about 40-45, depending on how I rode it. Smooth and quiet.. Back then, the styling was pretty radical. Probably like today's Vision. Between the two, I'd keep the Vision. Completely different rides. The Vision feels more like a motorcycle. The Goldwing felt like a Buick and the Rune felt like a sports car. First year production seems better on the Rune than on the Vision. Though the Vision is certainly a VERY good first year model. The Rune had an issue with the throttle bodies at some point. Smoke coming out the exhausts. Not sure how or if that was ever resolved. Like all Honda bikes, they didn't put out HP or torque figures. Comfort wise, I'd take the Vision over the Rune. Each bike was/is pretty radical for it's time. Wouldn't pay $30K for a Rune again though. |
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
Temecula, California | My Rune is the "Double Clear Coat Black" with the pull back bars and the chrome wheels, awesome combo. I use the Rune as my afternoon ride and the Vision for everything else.
The quality of virtually every component on the Rune is first rate, no mistakes. I enjoy having a machine that is not the run of the mill type, thats one reason I also enjoy the Vision. People always want to know about the Rune, who makes it and how much extra money I put in to customizing it. They can hardley believe that it is stock from Honda. Two years ago I trailered it and my buddies Rune to the Laughlin River Run. I'm told about 70,000 bikes showed up but only 4 Runes. Saturday evening while looking for a cool parking spot I noticed that the "Rockstar" people had left for the night so I parked under their tent right on the main Blvd. Talk about my on show WOW. There was a crowd around that bike the rest of the night. I especially like the Harley guy's they look at it for a couple of moments and then proclaim it a Boss Hoss and proceed to tell their buddies all about the small block V8 it has. The Vision and Rune weight about the same , weird huh. The Vision has more ground clearance than the Rune but the torque and instant throttle responce of the Rune make up for that in spades. One more cool thing in 2004 Vin000001 was put in the Honda museum in Japan, 2005 Vin000001 is in my garage. What a surprise that was, I didn't know until the ins. co. needed it. Well I could go on and on about my two favorite machines but I won't. Thanks for reading. Danny |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Danny, please post some pictures of your two rides, that would be impressive with both in a nice pic. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 550
Tacoma, WA | Looks like I am the only one here who is gonna say I wouldn't park the Rune even near my house, for fear someone might think it was mine. I just don't like it. Now, the Valkyrie had it going on! In my own opinion, the Valk was a much classier, better looking bike. I rode my Dad's 98 Valk to Sturgis in '05, and it left my Harley buddies in the dust. Smoooooth, and powerful. I was looking for a low-miles Interstate Valk before I saw the Vision, and after that....well, I just had to have the Vision! -----Metalguy |
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
Temecula, California | Vision Tex I'm hoping that these photos come out as I have not attached any files on this Site before. I hope everybody enjoy's these photos except of course metalguy.
Danny |
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
Temecula, California | I hope I have this fiqured out now.
I did post some photos in the gallery. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 50
| I took a long look at the Rune also, but at the time $26,000.00 was just to much.
I did have a 99 black Valkyrie interstate, that bike was soooo smooth and sneaky fast but in the corners sometimes it had a mind of it's own.
Thats where the Vision lives.
Now what to do with the KP? Sometimes I think of selling it and others like today compared to Vision this KP hauls a*&.
And that damn Lloyd is kicking out new stuff for the Vision now!
Glock  |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 82
Northwest of you | Thank you for the pictures, I had not been aware of the Rune until this thread. I think those two bikes look fabulous, side by side. Maybe I should have one of those, I am down to three Victory's now and I have some room left in the garage................. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 82
Northwest of you | I checked out some "Runes" on ebay, some of them are listed as "Valkyrie Rune", yet here they are refered to as different bikes, would someone fill me in? |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Glock - 2008-04-19 8:59 PM
Now what to do with the KP? Sometimes I think of selling it and others like today compared to Vision this KP hauls a*&.
And that damn Lloyd is kicking out new stuff for the Vision now!
Glock
Glock, got rid of my KP. But prior to taking delivery of the Vision, I thought long and hard about putting a chopper frontend on it and lowering, painting it something special, etc........Then I came to my senses and knew I wouldn't have time to support both bikes. I've already got a '68 Mustang in the garage, that I hardly ever sniff.........! |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | CmyVision - 2008-04-19 7:31 PM
Vision Tex I'm hoping that these photos come out as I have not attached any files on this Site before. I hope everybody enjoy's these photos except of course metalguy.
Danny
CV, those are some very nice bikes. Oh and it looks like you're a chrome person, put on the shades.  |
|
| |
The Vision and the Rune