Dear bidders, We are excited to announce the upcoming auction of a rare and powerful Valkyrie rune. This extraordinary artifact possesses immense magical capabilities and is highly sought after by collectors, historians, and practitioners of magic alike. The Valkyrie rune, also known as the Rune of Valhalla, is said to channel the energy of the Valkyries, the legendary female warriors of Norse mythology. It is believed to bestow great strength, courage, and protection upon its wearer. The significance of this particular Valkyrie rune cannot be overstated. Its intricate design and flawless craftsmanship make it a true masterpiece.
At its debut, many motorcyclists reckoned the bike, which was designed by Honda’s American division and manufactured in Ohio, had been built to compete with Harley-Davidson’s CVO series. It followed a series of concept bikes Honda displayed on the show circuit, displaying inspiration from the American custom bike scene (Read The Bear’s write-up here for some more info on that). Some of these machines were so wild that nobody figured Honda could ever mass-produce anything similar—but in 2003, the Rune hit dealerships.
Along with the added power, Honda went all-out on styling, including its first-ever seamless gas tank, and bold touches everywhere, from the exhaust to the fender to the headlight. At its debut, many motorcyclists reckoned the bike, which was designed by Honda s American division and manufactured in Ohio, had been built to compete with Harley-Davidson s CVO series.
Its intricate design and flawless craftsmanship make it a true masterpiece. Crafted from pure silver and adorned with delicately carved symbols, it radiates an aura of ancient power. This rune has been meticulously preserved and authenticated by experts, ensuring its authenticity and enhancing its appeal.
Adventure Rider
The Honda Rune: Is it cartoonish, or a classic? The answer is… yes?
Honda is a pretty conservative motorcycle manufacturer these days, but 20 years ago, things were different. In the years running up to the 2008 global financial meltdown, the public was in love with cruiser-based custom motorcycles, and Honda saw an opportunity to appeal to the whims of that market while also showcasing their company’s technical capability. The result was the Rune, a bike that people are still impressed with, or repulsed by, almost 20 years later.
An unlikely origin
The Rune was a wild-looking bike, which is pretty funny when you realize it’s a cousin to the Gold Wing. It’s much more than a gussied-up tourer though, with a stretched-out wheelbase (68.9 inches, the longest Honda motorcycle ever) and weirdo trailing-link front end. But at its heart, the 1832cc six-cylinder engine was very similar to the one used in the Gold Wing. Even here, though, Honda’s hot rod builders managed to spice things up, installing more aggressive camshafts and re-tuning the fuel injection system for more snap. To slow down all that muscle, and the 888-lb wet weight, Honda added dual 330mm front brake discs and a single 336mm rear brake disc, the largest ever used on a Honda bike at that point.
Along with the added power, Honda went all-out on styling, including its first-ever seamless gas tank, and bold touches everywhere, from the exhaust to the fender to the headlight. The materials were all high-quality, not cheap, insta-rusting garbage plasti-metal.
Unlike any motorcycle Honda has made before or since. They sold like mad, but the wild-looking Rune was still a sales disaster in a weird way, as it cost Honda a lot of money. Photo: Mecum Auctions
The end result was a motorcycle unlike anything Honda had built before. In many ways, nobody had built anything like it before. They couldn’t build it because some parts were so radical that Honda had to invent new production process just to mass-produce them.
At its debut, many motorcyclists reckoned the bike, which was designed by Honda’s American division and manufactured in Ohio, had been built to compete with Harley-Davidson’s CVO series. It followed a series of concept bikes Honda displayed on the show circuit, displaying inspiration from the American custom bike scene (Read The Bear’s write-up here for some more info on that). Some of these machines were so wild that nobody figured Honda could ever mass-produce anything similar—but in 2003, the Rune hit dealerships.
A sales paradox
The Rune was priced around $27,000 US when it appeared. It was a lot of money in 2003—but Honda had little trouble generating interest. The marketing campaign was pretty wild, inspired by Frank Frazetta’s art. See below:
Honda wasn’t messing around with this advertisement. It’s one of very few moto adverts that I can remember 20 years after I first saw it in a magazine. Image: Honda
Contrast that to the current “friendly hipsters on Hondas” advertising for the CL500 scrambler, and it’s a big difference! But, really, both are just reflections of their times. In 2003, anti-social chopper builders with walrus mustaches and cartoonishly inflated biceps were the heroes of television, so a bit of dark fantasy art wasn’t likely to scare off potential buyers.
In fact, these days, when you mention the Rune, you often hear people say they’ve been looking for one for years, because they don’t come up for sale often. Honda didn’t make many of them, for good reason. Reportedly, each Rune cost about $100,000 to manufacture, so Honda lost almost $75,000 on each sale. No wonder demand often exceeded supply.
These luxo-barges were supposedly allotted on the basis of one per dealership. Photo: Mecum Auctions
So, in a weird way, despite an eager market, the Rune was a sales disaster, costing Honda a lot of money over its 2003-2005 production run. But as a marketing ploy? The fact that we’re still talking about it today shows Honda knew what it was doing. Whether or not you like the polarizing styling, there’s no question the Rune sticks in your brain after you’ve seen it.
Want to buy one?
If you’re interested in buying one and want to learn more about the than a raw spec sheet, there are many contemporary ride reviews of the Rune still archived online. Perhaps the best ride review from a modern perspective is Ryan from FortNine’s take on the machine.
Still convinced you want one? Good news: Mecum has one coming for sale at the July 6-8 Kissimmee Summer Special. It’s an ’04 model. The advert says it’s a one-owner machine, but that’s about all the info we get.
What will it cost you? A 2004 model just sold for $20,500 on Bring a Trailer, and a few days before that, another went for $25,250.
For more details, check out the auction listing here.
The Rune was priced around $27,000 US when it appeared. It was a lot of money in 2003—but Honda had little trouble generating interest. The marketing campaign was pretty wild, inspired by Frank Frazetta’s art. See below:
It has a fascinating provenance, having been passed down through generations of skilled rune masters and scholars. The auction will take place on [date] at [time]. Interested bidders are invited to attend in person or participate online. We anticipate fierce competition for this precious artifact, so early registration is suggested to secure your spot. **Do not miss this unprecedented opportunity to acquire the Valkyrie rune and unlock its mythical powers.** Whether you are a collector, a connoisseur of esoteric artifacts, or simply in search of a unique and powerful talisman, the Valkyrie rune will undoubtedly surpass your expectations. Register today to receive updates and ensure that you don't miss out on this rare chance to own a piece of ancient legend. Sincerely, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Delve into Mythology: The Valkyrie Rune Auction"
1. Katie - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Valkyrie rune for auction". The plot was predictable and the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. I wasn't able to form any emotional connection with them, and as a result, I found it hard to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, the pacing was all over the place, with some parts dragging on for too long and others rushed through. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-developed story.
2. John - 1/5 stars - This book was a complete waste of my time. The writing was mundane and lacked any originality. The author failed to create an immersive world, and the fantasy elements felt forced and out of place. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, and it felt like the characters were just reciting lines rather than having genuine conversations. The plot was filled with cliché twists and turns, and I found myself predicting every outcome. Save yourself the trouble and skip this book.
3. Laura - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Valkyrie rune for auction", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The romance felt forced and unconvincing, and I didn't feel any chemistry between the main characters. The author also missed opportunities to explore fascinating side characters, leaving them underdeveloped and forgettable. While the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, making it a forgettable read for me.