question for the mechanics- V65 Magna

[barberad]

Anybody have any inputs on the 1983 V65 Magna. A friend of mine has been looking and has found a few to look at, so I was wondering if any knew about the major issues that those bikes had? (like our 1st/2nd gear).

I read some were that they sometimes had trouble getting oil to the top of the engine and that Honda denied the whole thing for years and blamed the riders. I guess the riders came up with an oil line mod.
They do not have a group like ours (that I have been able to find), so if any has any inputs I would appriciate it.
Dan

[Ivan]

Biggest problem I have seen with them is that our beloved XS11s will blow them away.

[barberad]

Ivan,
That's all fine and good, but when I am looking at this bike with my friend, I was hoping I would have some sort of wear and tear concepts to check for. Sights and sounds type of thing. I tried a couple of forums, but I believe we may have a real good one here that not many can come real close to.

[jjwaller]

Ivan,
That's all fine and good, but when I am looking at this bike with my friend, I was hoping I would have some sort of wear and tear concepts to check for. Sights and sounds type of thing. I tried a couple of forums, but I believe we may have a real good one here that not many can come real close to.

Check out this link for Sabre/Magna stuff
http://www.sabmag.org/

Had one for many years in the 80's. (Sabre not Magna) No problems in approx 30K miles. However there is an issue with some of the cam shaft bearing castings not being drilled as a unit in the head. Doesn't seem to effect all engines. But to be on the safe side, should do the oi mod.
BTW on handling. Bike is a bit top heavy. Put some some decent modern tires on it and the squirrly handling goes away.

OH Yeah. XS1100 beating it? ROFL LOL

[barberad]

JJwaller,
Thanks for the link. Turns out my friend and I (who used to work in japan together) went and looked at the bike. Third owner and looked garage kept, the guy looked vagly familiar and after talking for a couple of minutes realized we worked together in japan like 15 years ago as well.
Bikes got 30k miles and new tread, extra pipes, winshields, 2 extra seats, saddlebags and some other stuff to go with it. After my buddy rode it, I could tell from the smile on his face as he came back he was buying it.
He will pick up the bike monday. i will pass the link on to him.
Thanks

[fredintoon]

Hi Barberad,
both my sons had '83 VF750F bikes. Same V4 engine in a sports chassis. They are OK when they are new and any still running have presumably been fixed under Honda's secret warranty or were OK to begin with. But they are a right swine to work on. What works good on a racebike with a horde of factory mechanics to keep it running for four hours practice and four hours in a race before a teardown is not necessarily the same as what will keep the bike running a 1/4-century later.
Dodge Racing Products
http://www.drp123.com/
are the go-to guys for parts, upgrades and service work on these machines.

[ccogswel]

Yes the carbs are a PITA! They are sandwiched between the heads. And I don't know about all but one I seen had a 5th gear issue. Acts alot like our 2-3 gear on our 11's. And yes the bike is top heavy. But sits really nice. But I still like my 11. Nothing like it.

Oh and on the carbs. If you ever have to tear into them, do one at a time as the jets are different from 2 to 2. As one set of 2 is a downdraft type and the other is a updraft type. Something like that. And the fuel pump relay has some issues if the wires get dirty or corroded. If that model is set up like that it will be behind the rear wheel inner fender mud flap. I believe thats about it.

[Shuriken]

Fast bikes. My XS11 would have lost to a V65.

They have a really cool exhaust note.

Very good power.

Top end oiling issues.

+1 on carbs being a royal PITA to work on. You have to pry them out of the manifolds in a strange fashion after removing a bunch of stuff, including coolant hoses.

Top heavy. Wheelie prone.

I would own one, though. I looked at some before getting my '85 V-Max.