My first "talking head" style video! I was super nervous making this and am even more nervous releasing it!! Let me know if you like this style of video and I'll try do more. Due to it being winter and having about 10 minutes of light to work with I'll be trying to integrate one indoor video a week if I can keep them interesting....so all feedback is appreciated :) Thanks for watching. Also @Kaptain Granite! You're nominated too, accidentally left you out of the video sorry :)
At our shop us mechanics tried to hide when these V65's came in for work! LOL The carbs in the valley between the "V" are an absolute bitch to work on. A Nightmare. A common job was the bike had been left sitting - and the carbs all clogged up with rotting gas. I swear there are a million jets in these carbs - all to be painstakingly cleaned out. Cleaning them out was a $1,000 job.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp haha the v45 is not fun to get the carbs out of either! I've done mine since making this video and it is pretty miserable 😂😂 1000 is a lot but honestly understandable given how not fun it is
I do not like how much of the video had just your face to look at. Alot more pictures of the motorcycles would've been so much better. I couldn't even finish this video .
I've had my 1984 V65 Magna since 2001; smooth, quiet, & strong, & will pass a semi-tractor trailer double, in two shakes of a lamb's tail. I now have 117,000 miles on it; I bought it with 44,000 miles. This is as sweet a machine as I can imagine.
I just bought an 84 v45 with 37000 miles last year for 1000$. It's already taken me from Martinsburg WV to Missoula MT last July once. Plus many other shorter trips up and down the east coast. Already up to 44k on mine and it's my first bike so I've been learning a lot! Carbs, Valve Timing, Shifting Forks, Clutch plates etc. Gonna try and give this ol girl to my kid eventually. I'm planning to buy a VFR1200X this year and make that my daily while I restore the Magna! (Luckily already have an 83 donor parts bike!!!)
I am pushing 70 years old and still have my 1996 yellow magna V4 that I bought new. Still love it, has all the power I need and I have got 53,000 miles on it. Thank you for your video
Nice!! I wish I'd been in a position to buy one new, but I was sadly -5 when the one I would have wanted came out. You're more than welcome :) Thanks for watching.
I have the 84 v65 and a parts one too . There are added on oil lines on the parts bike for the described oil problem. Took me 38 years to finally own one after first seeing them in 83. You want the 84 as they detuned them for 85. They are wicked fast and Fun and comfortable enough to ride all day long. I put 40,000 miles on mine in 2021 and I live in Minnesota! Ride safe
@@allanmcelroy9840 i think he means they reduced them to 700cc from 750cc... but interestingly enough.. they reduced the stroke or whatever to make it higher revving, so even with 50cc reduction i think it was only like 2 less horsepower or something... it made me super confused though, since mine is a canadian bike so it's 750cc, but everything i could find online was stating it's supposed to be 700cc
I own an 83 V-65 and it was the best made bike. Honda spent more time and money to ensure the highest quality part's were used In the launching of it. They started using cheaper material's after that. If you doubt this, just do your research. The only other bike I would own is the Vmax because I can't afford an H2R!!!! $56,000.
I loved pissing off Sport Bikers with my V65 Magna when they couldn't catch me in a straight line because they under estimated me. All Harleys were not even a issue.
Haha the amount of people who've owned V65s who've said the same to me is hilarious. Those who knew bikes in general would have apologized before you'd even taken off :D TO be fair they're not designed to despite what some think.....but yeah, an after thought for something like a V65!!
Oh a nice collection of bikes so!! The 1100 Shadow is a lovely bike. I'll have to add a V twin to the garage at some point, even if it's only a project to sell on.
@@TheGorillaBiker ill beat you all..... with a 1974 honda CB360...... and enough valve float to un-sink the Titanic.... 11,500 RPM YOLO runs . and a 1974 kawi G5 100cc 2 smoker (oil injected......havent fowled a spark plug in 5000 miles.....) . and a 1997 mogna 750..... which is pretty damn quick . . its the only bike where i can just shift to first and drop the clutch on a missed rev match...... like the monkey i am back end locks up..... and ya kinda poop for a second . but ya.... nice and chill below 7000 or so and then WHAM.... power band MOFO!!!!...... better be holding on!
I bought the '88 Super Magna and loved it with every fiber of my being. I graduated college in '89 and got a new leftover Magna from the previous sales year at a dealership in Queens. I would have that bike today if I could have afforded to keep a motorcycle in NYC and a car. After parting with it in '91 to pay for a car, I didn't ride again until 2018, when a beautiful Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 fell into my lap for a song. I ride that now, and it's wonderful, but if I could have that black monster (I described its looks as "a mechanical insect from outer space"), it would be heaven. There was nothing that bike couldn't do. I rode it all over Brooklyn and Manhattan, day or night, and had no problem avoiding danger due to the bike's supremely nimble balance and raw power. GREAT brakes, too.
Great video! Your passion for the Magna and especially the SuperMagna really comes through. The 1987 came out when I was a sophomore in high school. I had the poster on my wall and dreamed of it for years. About 12 years ago I found an all original 87 for sale and now the bike from my poster lives in my garage. There is so much passion around this bike. I love hearing stories from Magna owners outside of the US, it just shows that cool is universal. Keep making great videos and Ride Safe!
Thank you :) I do love my Super :) Oh man that's cool, I would have loved to see them in a showroom brand new back in the day, that'd be really cool :) That is very very cool, I genuinely wanted one since I was about 12 years old too :D Cool V4s are definitely universal! Thanks again and you too!!
As an Australian owner of an 82 V45 Magna the only complaints I have are the size of the main tank , which I'm getting increased from 10 litres to 20 litres which should get about 470 klm instead of about 270 klm ,as I've gotten sick of not having enough fuel to get me home when I go for a ride and the very uncomfortable handle bars which I changed soon after I got it to more or a touring style. It still looks the same but I've upgraded just about everything to bring it into the 21 century. Your video was great and you're a lot braver then me to do it. So far there is no oil problems with the top end yet ,mind you it's only done about 55.000 klm, . I've heard that as long as you don't thrash them, service them regularly and cruise with the revs above 3500 rpm it shouldn't be a problem.
That's fair the tank can get a little annoying at times, I get about 160km from the V45 I have max. The Gen 02s bars are pretty comfy, the seat isn't great but other than that it's good. Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! :) 55,000 is good for those issues though, if it hasn't happened yet it won't if you keep doing what you're doing :)
Nice!!! I wish I'd been around to buy a Supermagna new but I wasn't even born at that point 😂 I'll have mine to an as new condition eventually though and it's never, ever being sold :)
I have a 1983 V65 Magna that has had numerous improvements made over the years! I have drag raced it in Dallas, Texas many years ago, still runs 10 second times. The bike is still a killer, a scary killer, well design piece of history! Dodge Racing built the engine, overdrive has been cut, bike was lowered, Barnette Kevlar Clutch and many other up-grades. I found the weak spot in the drive shafts, sheared a few off. I had many buyer make offers, some really good, but I can't make myself sell her after all the years of enjoyment. I'm now too old to handle the full maximum power of this screamer, but she's a part of me, or I'm a part of her.
I honestly love stories like that where you've had a bike so long, and done so much to it, that you're just one creature now. Hopefully I'll have a few like it in 30 years :)
Late to the party, but I'm looking at an 82 V45 right now. It will be my 1st bike (rode a Kawasaki 440 LTD briefly in the 80's). I'm impressed by the almost cult following of a nearly 40 year old bike design. When I started researching I didn't expect to find much but you and many others have warmed me to the idea. Kudos to you all.
Oh nice! Get it :D Yeah it's fairly well regarded in some circles for the performance and looks :) Thanks! I absolutely love my Super still. Just before you buy make sure you're happy with the fact it is still very much an 80s bike in regards braking and other refinements :)
I bought a 1998 Honda Magna VF750C about five years ago. I have ridden many bikes in my almost 80 years and built a few custom Triumphs in the 70's. My Magna with a large windshield is the best bike I have ever ridden when it comes to touring, acceleration and overall reliability. Unfortunately it is difficult to find some parts when needed! I have already suggested to Honda that I would love to see one come out with either 800 or 850 cc displacement with fuel injection, dual front discs and disc rear brakes. Wherever I go I get a lot of admiring comments! The exhilaration when accelerating from 100 kph in 4th gear really gets the adrenaline going, ever though I reduced the rear sprocket from 40 to 36 tooth. Cruising at 4,000 rpm is so smooth and comfortable for a long ride! If I have one complaint, it would be the 14 liter tank! The upgrades I mentioned to Honda would be to increase the popularity for younger riders!
I have two '83 V65s and ride them every single day. I absolutely love these old V4s. Sure they're getting a bit long in the tooth now, approaching 4 decades old. They do have their shortcomings and require a fair bit of maintenance in their old age too. But having a "vintage" bike that can keep up with most modern supersports and absolutely dominate modern cruisers is nothing short of awesome. Plus I just love the styling and how they showcase that they're a V4.
Nice!! Ah they're so much fun, I'd imagine the V65 is another level but my V45 is my absolute favourite bike to just hop on and go :) They are moving on in age now but I think that even adds to it, like you said nothing like annihilating a modern "fast cruiser" with one of these old machines :) The styling is what drew me to the super the V4 made me stay :) Ride safe bud!
Just wanted to share with you guys , I just bought a 1987 Honda Magna 700cc for $100 dollars I have a no spark issue right now. All the light's work engine turns over I can't wait to hear it roar and ride it.. Humberto Eagle Pass,Texas USA.
My '83 V45 Magna was the first bike I ever bought new, and I loved it! Every bike since has been a step backwards, in my opinion. All my other bikes had chains, which I hated having to adjust, clean, and lube all the time. This was the only bike I've had with a hydraulic front brake and hydraulic clutch as well! The Magna never gave me a lick of trouble in nearly 30,000 miles of riding. While I love Harleys and American V-twins in general, they feel so outdated. I was looking at a Victory because I liked the hydraulic valves and liquid cooling, among other things. They were just more reliable than Harleys as well. Then Polaris killed off Victory and took over Indian. Okay, nice... My father had an old Indian Scout before I was ever thought of and he loved it! Thing is, for some reason Indian went with hydraulic lifters and went back to pushrods. Nostalgia is fine, but geeze! So... the Victory and Indian lineups all have cables for the front brake and clutch... and a #$%& belt drive. Why they refuse to get a shaft drive eludes me as I don't buy their arguments of, "It's too heavy," and all that. Wasn't too heavy on my Honda or my cousin's BMW... but companies that make 700-900 lb bikes somehow can't wrap their heads around shaft drive and it's just stupid. Sorry for the rant, but I'd rather get an old '83 V65 than buy pretty much any of the crap out there now. I'm just so blessed to have had my V45, but I'm afraid it ruined me when it comes to buying a new bike again. If I'm going to have to fiddle with clutch cables on a new bike... I may as well get an old one.
I owned a 83 v65 magna, what an awesome bike! So comfortable and strong. Dark blue, it looked awesome, rode awesome and I compare it to a hot rod Lincoln.
I had one of the first 100 1983 "Pearl Blue" V65 Magnas. Awesome machine. That color was incredible! Looked black till you saw it in the sun. I just bought a 1985 with 40,000 miles on it... for $2800.
Thanks :) Ah great :) Best of luck with it! Mine is going slow and steady just little improvements as I can do them :) Haha with people like us it will eh :)
Awesome video. I also have developed a bit of an obsession with the Magnas ever since I was bought a restored a 1985 V30 for $200. Love that bike, love the styling, and love the history that you just gave me. Thanks!
Thank you!! :) Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat that is so so so cheap. I bought my 1987 V45 for 2300 euro! Well I hope it keeps going for you for a long long time :) Thanks for watching :)
Great chalk talk on the Magna. Have an 84' VF-42 that I bought years ago, started to repair, then ran against a wall with parts. When I find the bits and bobs I'm certain I'll finish what was a joy to do. Very warm regards and best wishes.
Yes, even my 1999 having rebuilt the carbs recently, I have begun to run into problems with parts as well! Need to ride it more often and use mid-grade gas to keep carbs clean!
I now own my favorite bike 2007 st1300, I’m 60 this yea and I remember the magna,the v-max and the VFR loved the v style 4, I think at my age and time of life the ST is heaven sent, I can truly enjoy it😊 last of the V4s. Thanx for the video really enjoyed it
Well that's good to hear, always nice to hear people are happy with their bikes! :) That's also a fine history of bikes!! I'd love a ST1300 but the fairings don't suit me the last time I tried one. Thanks for watching :)
Nice job on the video, very enjoyable. The V65's hold a special place in my heart. I have had 2, an '83 and an '84. Both suffered from the idol no lube issue so 2nd gear was out of both, I bought one cheap to fix the other but it ran to good and ended up having the same issue. The problem when fixing it was Honda used a section of the frame not only for support but it also carried the coolant through the actual frame bar. The entire engine had to be dropped. To have this issue fixed it was so expensive you could actually by another bike for almost the price they wanted to fix it. long story short, fixed one, added the mod to ensure it got enough oil and enjoyed it for many years. I use to cruise around and play with CBR 600's, Which were fairly new at the time I had the Magna's. Always loved the look on their faces when you launched the V65..... what a machine.....
Thank you very much I'm glad you liked it :) it would seem that almost everyone I've ever spoken to who owned a V65 had the issue. And the 2nd gear issue. Even my gearbox feels a bit mushy but I'll rebuild it if it ever dies if I have to! Do you still have either bike or are they gone? Haha I'd love to see that in person on an unsuspecting cbr! Or even a V65 just make a pass in person!
@@TheGorillaBiker we had kids and things got tight so I ended up selling both. One was black and the really nice one was the bergandy or wine berry alot of people called it. I actually had a young guy follow me into the gas station to ask me what it was after playing around on the road. He said it surprised the heck out of him that he couldn't catch me until we hit about 120. He said he'd never heard of a V65, I said I'm not surprised it's older than you are...
@@purdyquibb ah fair enough! The black colour I've always loved in them. I might eventually make a change to that but we shall see what the story is when I decide to rebuild it. Haha nice 😂 it's such a pity there isn't more about they're such a unique bike!
@@TheGorillaBiker just as a little add on to the story, when I ran into the guy that stopped with the CBR of all people my mother in law wanted me to take her for a ride so she was on the back. She was screaming but I couldn't hear what she was saying so I let off thinking she was pretty mad at me, When we slowed down she said I was screaming he was catching us, You needed to GO FASTER!!! lol. But they got a little squirrely after about 100. Funny story though, I thought she was screaming to slow down, she was screaming because he was gaining on us......
Hahaha man thanks for sharing that that's bloody hilarious 😂😂 they do tend to get a bit unsettled at higher speeds, I'm going to work on making my one a hit more stable and squared away over the next few years! And genuinely thanks for sharing that. My own mother would definitely never get on the bike! My gfs mam might tho!
I had that exact blue 87. I have owned several bikes including two earlier model magnas, and that is still one of if not my favorite bike I have owned. I preferred only one thing in the earlier manga's, and that is that with a shorter front end rake angle those older models were wheelie machines. I tried a couple times after i first got the 87 and it just didn't like to do them at all like the others.
@@TheGorillaBiker Had to park it home before I went to Hawaii. Wound up in Micronesia after discharge from Army. Still here, 36 years now. Check out Pohnpei, FSM.
1st time on your channel. You did a great job with the video! I wanted a V65 Magna SO bad when they first came out. Loved how they looked. Thanks for the video!
Thanks! I have no idea how it looks now and I never rewatch anything once they're editing so I'll take your word for it :D Ah man I wish I'd be around when they were released, I'd have sold a kidney for one. Nothing that's released these days is something that'd pull me to a dealer to just look at it even.
Enjoyed your video. I never heard of a '93 Magna. I bought a Magna in December of '93 but it was a '94. It was also the first Gen 3 Magna the Honda shop in my area got in. That being said, I loved it...had to sell it several years later.Then I bought a '98 but it didn't have near the power my '94 had. I found an article that stated that the early '94's were the only year the engine was left as it came off the interceptor, after that they were tuned down. I later found and bought an early 94 again and it runs way better than my '98 did. I wish I'd kept that article. It also showed the rankings for '94 for fastest production cruiser...#1 V-Max...#2 Magna...#3 Valkrie. Don't remember beyond those 3.
Thanks, glad you did. There were only a very few in 93 as an early release. How many and where I don't know. But it was technically "launched" in 93 but didn't really go on general release until 94 which would explain that :) Do you still have your second 94? I'd love to get a Gen03 at some point. Ah I used to have an old magazine with all old cruisers when I was a child. One of the places I fell in love with the Magna actually. Long since gone and I also regret it. Ah sure! Thanks for sharing.
I have a V65 Magna and the 305th CB750 Nighthawk made, in 1991, plus 7 BMW "Airheads" from 1971 to '79. Only 12 K on the Nighthawk. I'm an "Airhead lover" but much respect for the Magna and "91--2003 Nighthawks. My Nighthawk was always well kept and could be pushed out on a showroom floor and passed off as brand new. Yeah, I collect bikes and all are ridden sparingly, maintained properly and then well hidden from the elements.
I love the V65 Magna. I had the 1984 version. I bought it in showroom condition for $2100. It had about 8000 miles on it. Best bike I ever had. As far as your video goes, it's informative, but I'd like more pictures and video, you standing with your bike pointing out it's qualities and what you love about it. Maybe find some other people's bikes and get your camera close to them as well. I plan to get one of these again someday and get it back into showroom condition. An endeavor near the top of my bucket list! Cheers!
I still keep my eye out for one when I'm scanning through bikes, anything I ever see is generally in very rough shape sadly. I made this video a long long time ago now, I haven't really made a video like this is a long time! But I shall keep that in mind if I ever make another.
my first bike was the magna '84 V30.. got it for $900, it was already 29 years old at the time, but ran like a dream but then i dropped it a couple years later.. to be fair it still ran like a dream after that, but it needs a bit of work moved across the country and couldn't take the project with me so i bought a suzuki gs500... but i never got over how awesome of a bike that magna was fast forward, and i'm back across the country again and just bought an '85 V45 for $1800.. bike runs like a dream, and is a total blast to ride.. and now i can fix up that V30 too.. i don't know if i have the heart to ever get rid of it, unless it's to a good friend or family
My first street bike was a used and slightly abused 83 magna V45. I really miss that bike and have been on the lookout for one close to me to add to the stable.
Ah they're all slightly abused :D Has to be done! :D I hope you find one, they very rarely come up where I am but I do keep an eye online for nice ones globally :)
I have a 1987 Honda magna motorcycle that i have inherited. It has been sitting for over 20 years. I was looking to have it restored; where can I go to find the parts to restore it? Everything has to be rebuilt. Thanks
Thank you so much for putting in the research and sharing your knowledge with us! 🙏🏼 Just got a 94 that needs some TLC. Loving the rides so far.❤️ Ride safe, Sir! 👊🏼
Ah it was more just a lifetime of absorbing it but thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Oh excellent, another one saved :D Best of luck with it, you too!!
I still own my customized ‘94 Magna which has 53,000+ smiles on it and a CTX1300 Deluxe. Both Candy red metallic. Love them both. V4s are fantastic. And yes my Magna can out run a VTX1800.
Haha that's a lot of smiles :D Two very nice bikes! V4s are brilliant, I just love the power profile of them. Haha the VTX1800 is cool and all but it's a big lump.
Luv this history of the Legend- The Honda Magna. Fell in luv with the 1987 Super Magna years back... my first bike. Upon selling it- I regretted it. Hard to find. Rare. Upon finding my neighbor was selling his 1987 Super Magna... never knew he had lol.... I bought it for a steal. I wont make the mistake of selling it again. It's a LEGEND!
Thankfully I know just how much people regret selling them so I'll hang on to mine thanks to you all for the warnings :) Also delighted you got another, I'm yet to find a bike that makes me smile as much :) It is indeed a legend :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Absolutely! I'm amazed that this bike is 33 years old. So many compliments the bike gets when people see it. And no one can believe its age. It's an instant classic and I wonder if its designer ever got his full appreciation for the 87-88 Magna
Agreed, out of all my bikes it's the one that gets attention when I take it out :) The designer almost certainly didn't at the time seeing as it only lasted 2 years, a pity really!!
@@TheGorillaBiker thank you. Fixing up old bikes is a bit of a hobby of mine. The garage is getting full! These Iowa winters definately put a damper on riding the streetbike.
I am the same, currently refurbing a 1996 GSX-R 750 :) Nearly done too!! Haha I know that feeling, I have a CB500 lined up after the GSX-R to sort :) Yeah, I can't compare here...our winters suck but I can still ride most days. But I can imagine it's not great!
Thank you for the history, just brilliant, I'm about to purchase a Honda VF750 I love this machine, are parts still available for these upto 2002 models. And are there any issues I should look out for please. Wish you as best a Christmas as you can have.
Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Ah excellent best of luck with it! You're getting a 2002 model? Gen 03s have plenty of parts support, you might just have to wait a bit longer etc but it's all still there! Not on the Gen 03 that I know of! Thank you I had a grand one, hope you did too!
I have a 1999 magna and parts are available but I suspect not for many more years. If you think parts will wear out, might be a good idea to purchase an additional set now!
Thanks! Ah yeah to be honest I made this when I barely knew how to edit, it's mad it's been watched so much! :) If I was to ever do it again I'd add a lot more clips and photos. Thanks for watching :)
Question, which year v65 would u consider to be the most reliable and what is the fix to the faulty cam issue this day? Could the '87 year and on 750 magna would u compare to the v65 in power
Any of the V65s will be very similar tbh I wouldn't worry once you could get your hands on one! A higher pressure oil line back to the top end of the engine is the fix once they're not already damaged as far as I know! No. The V45s are a good chunk slower than the V65 tbh, but are still a fantastic bike with plenty of power up to 100mph
@@TheGorillaBiker awesome thankbu so much, I'm really torn between this bike and a triumph bobber, I just love the look of the pipes on the side, I only wish there was a plug and play monoshock conversion kit and a floating, I don't want any cutting or welding done to Magna if I get it, thanx again awesome content.
@@jhjimbar You could get a floating caliper made up custom no problem, the issue is the cost! I don't know how much a monoshock would add tbh as the frame is setup up for the dual shocks, they work fine once you service them :) A bobber would also be sweet! Whatever you do go for best of luck with it :)
Great video! I know Honda V4's from the VFR, but the Magna had completely fallen off my radar - and as I now discovered, not because it would be an uninteresting bike. Seems like a rare beast where I live, too. For what it's worth, I would like to see more model history vids on the channel as well. I know the research, script-writing etc. must take a ton of work and we all have others things to do as well, but just a thought.
Thank you! Sorry for the late reply, youtube doesn't always show me older videos comments quickly! The Magna is such an underrated bike, it's a pity the V4 platform wasn't more popular through the years as I think we'll be seeing the last of that configuration in more affordable bikes due to the cost of manufacture. Well thank you! I'll definitely sit down and try make another one :)
My first bike was a '83 Magna. Had straight bars and no mufflers, just 15cm chrome pipes out of the center muffler/gatherer. That bike totally saved me from the cruiser culture. It was awesome.
@@TheGorillaBiker a '97 cbr900rr with some ratty fix gsxr1100 front, motocross bars and a slightly altered front fairing to make space for the handlebars. A ongoing project... Have a vfr mono swingarm and wheel in the shed and a hacksaw 😎🤘
I'm thinking about buying a 94 VF 750c a guy said if you go to deep into a corner they'll be scraping ya off the road . What are your views on cornering in them. That kinda put me off
I honestly think if you go too deep in to a corner with almost any cruiser you'd be in bother, or any bike really. They don't have the best of brakes but are perfectly capable for the year they were made imo. Wouldn't be put off buying one just ride to the bike :) Sorry for the slow reply, I was moving country.
I have a 85 v30 500c . I bought this to restore and yep very hard to get some of the parts I need. However it may not be as popular as the v45 of v65 but it is still in comparisons to some bikes in the 2000s with more cc just as powerfull. Besides it's a classic and has character just a beautiful design like it's sisters or brothers however you want to see it. For me more power would be great to talk about but let's be honest it's about the thrill of being exposed to the elements and the freedom from a seat belt and cage but that's my opinion . Thanks for the vid was great to learn more about the journey with the v4s and was very well done
Ah very nice! It's very very difficult, my own v45 is still a work in progress and I think I'll be making some parts myself for it at this stage :) Oh absolutely the v30 was and is still a beast in comparison to a lot of bikes of similar displacement :) Thanks for watching and I'm really glad you think so :) Thanks!
I'm a huge V4 fan. My first street bike was a V65 Magna and I later owned a VMAX. Recently addressed the issue in a video titled Sellers Remorse. Enjoyed hearing the history of the bikes I grew up riding. 👍
I’ve owned a ‘94 gen three Magna and have made it my own. I rode my brother in laws V65 years before and was amazed at the stump pulling power it had. I too have blown off a VTX 1800 and a lot of misguided Harley owners as well. A friend rode my bike and said it was the best slow speed handling bike he ever rode. I also now own the CTX1300A for longer rides. The ABS and traction control are much appreciated on our tar snake infested roads here in Ohio. I too just love the sound and feel of the V4 engine.
Thank you :) niiiice I'd love to find an interceptor at some point and add it to the collection... Bloody excellent bike. Very nice, the V65 is another one I'd love to own :) I need to do a lot of work to my super first and foremost though :) Thanks for watching!
"YOU WERE WRONG HONDA!" I agree entirely. Even as a hardcore Honda fan the Magna was such a cool and unique looking bike. I am however glad that with the dead of some of the shadow line they kept the Aero as it keeps that older Honda nostalgia factor for me in the looks at least. The gorilla is OBVIOUSLY a Paul or a Stan.
Yeah that's what gets me, the super was such a cool and different design it's such a pity they didn't stick with it! Absolutely I'm very glad they didn't kill even more off at the time. Haha I'm afraid you'll have to explain these names as I am now interested 😂
Just a quick note that I owned 2 V65 Magnas over here in Canada and BOTH had pain in the ass cam system issues with lack of oil. Rattle rattles rattle. That said, I loved to ride that model. I have a cool pic of my V65 sitting next to my new Vmax which i Loved.
No; The photo I have (one copy is on the wall in my Office) shows the second V65 just before the buyer picked it up and the Max sitting beside it brand new. I had just moved the license plate over. I would post the pic if I knew how!!
I remember when Honda's slogan was "Performance first." Then something happened in 2003 and the bean counters took over. They dumped the Magna, Valk and some Shadows and brought the VTX 1300 and 1800 in...and they failed. (Granted they brought the Valk back for 2 years.) Soichiro Honda probably wouldn't be pleased to see his motorcycle company turn into something that kinda sells motorcycles on the side now. Oh well.
Yeah I think pretty much all manufacturer's have gone the way of all big business sadly. There are not many bikes built, not for sales, but for the love of the craft anymore. It's a pity. Judging by how the man went about his business I can't imagine he'd be overly delighted! :/
My 02 vtx 1800 is a beast 100 horse power vtwin 52,000 trouble free miles so far never a problem runs better than the big Harleys stops on the dime great brakes but Honda stopped making them ...
@@TheGorillaBiker I got really lucky I was shopping for a used bike 2 years ago a guy had this one up for sale he just bought it the year before and I made him a low offer and his wife just had a baby he took my offer of $2,000 it had 42,000 miles on it then I've put ten thousand miles on it so far only things I've had to buy was a front tire and new brake pads and change oil every 4 k
Niiiiiice! I love when the stars align and you just get the right deal at the right time :) and that's nothing for that engine they'll go forever with some work :)
Hello Gorilla and Channel. I ride a 86 Honda 1100 Shadow as my daily ride. And there is a huge backstory as to my small workshop and how the Shadow came to be repaired and tuned to become a powerhouse. At the time the Shadow was delivered to my shop, a trailer arrived with a Magna. It is parked in my storage shed, and is next for repair. I liked the post as it traces the development as Honda delivered amazing power and the innovation as shaft drive to the range of displacement as 750 to 1100 and 1300 CC. As at the full throttle of my 1100 brings a smile every time. Reliable, but with quirks that simply mesh with now history as a stamp, an imprint on machine history. The 1986 Magna is approaching 40 years old. But as a project bike contains a depth of build to the history mention as well as real power at the throttle. Worth riding? I simply like these machines. And repair them to near factory condition.
I’ve got the 2003 learned a lot, love my bike, thank you for the video, think I actually love it more now lol, so thanks for an awesome video. Think I’ll subscribe :-)
I JUST bought a '95 Magna, I'm glad to see this! Also kind of funny when you tell people you have a 750 and they think it must be slow.... it makes the same hp at the wheel as a fat bob 114 (1868cc!) while being nearly 200lbs lighter and it'll just barely beat it in a quarter mile. The only thing the Magna can't pass is a gas station LOL
Thanks for the history lesson, I was in high school when those bikes came out. Always wanted to own Magna, but in 1995 ended up getting a Yamaha Maxim 700. With 5 valves per cylinder that thing was fast and could pop wheelies. Sure wish I still had it now. Can't stand the new digital speedometer on today's bike and their stealth plastic crap look. Really enjoy Caplan America's and Srk Cycles channels to see these old bikes preserved and ridden in a POV video, brings back the fun times. The nighthawk was a nice bike . Never rode a CBR or FZ750 but wished I had.
It's a pretty interesting history I think bike wise, thanks for watching :) Hey you could always still get one! :) The Maxim is a very cool bike too. The Magna's will also wheelie, it's just not very comfortable coming back down :D Yeah I'm much more a fan of analogue clocks as well, I like fairings on some bikes, but I definitely rather cruisers to be stripped down. I like SRK cycles, never seen the other channel! Nighthawk is very nice, it's never too late to try ride one :)
It really depends on your age and size, they're heavy bikes. They also have pretty poor brakes and being as old as they are generally need looking after. All of that said they're amazing bikes that I think everyone should try so why not :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Thank you for the reply, I'm a big guy, but not american big 192cm and 115kg. I have worked on a couple of Honda Preludes so I think I could figure that part out as long as I can find parts. Do you think something like a third gen Shadow750 or a CB650 Nighthawk would be better for me? I've learnd to drive on a Yamaha MT-07.
I'd have to agree :) I had mine out for a quick blast yesterday and it instantly bring a smile to my face :) It'd be very cool to add a V65 to the collection someday!! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you did :)
Great video, thanks. I just picked up a 82 V45 in December. Been going through it over the winter and finally got out on it yesterday here in Northern New England. I am impressed with the power and its quite nimble. Do you believe it's necessary to do the oil mod on these first gen Magnas? I have 23k on it and there's not a tick in the motor. Love this bike. It would have eaten up my old 79 HD Sportster. ✌
Ah nice, congrats on the purchase!! Ah nice, takes a while for the weather to let you out and about there eh! They're very nimble especially with a bit of suspension work :) It depends really, if you're always at higher revs you might be fine, for me though if I bought one of the first few years of them I think I would do it. You might not hear the cams wearing with a tick, could just be cutting them up in silence. Just keep an eye on the oil when you change it really. Ah they're a properly quick little bike, I absolutely love mine :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Yeah, we have strom blowing through today and half of the great State of Maine is getting snow. April is so unpredictable here. The oil mod sounds like good piece of mind for short money. Thanks for your feedback, I truly appreciate it. 👍
I had a blue 1987 Super Magna. I loved the look and sound, and the power was good. Comfortable highway bike, not really good at very slow speeds in crowded parking lots or busy areas. 2nd gear tended to go out on those bikes, mine did. I think they are becoming collectible now, and wish I still had one.
The power is still perfect for Irish roads now anyway, yes around town it's a bit more of a pain but still very manageable, thankfully my gearbox is all good, but I do treat it very right and don't really abuse it. I will never sell mine.
Interesting vid for me anything I can learn about the Magna is useful as I am restoring a V65 at the moment never ridden it as it was a basket case when I got it left outside to rot for years .I hope to get her running by the end of 21 aiming for September only just started rebuilding a rolling chassis so far it's a long road . Cheers : )
Thanks! Oh nice!! My own V45 wasn't in the best of nick itself but that's honestly half the fun for me :) I spent all this year bringing a GSX-R 750 back to life, it's great fun :) Best of luck with the rebuild!
Love the magnas 82 v45 83 v65 03 big blue I would definitely by a new one hope it will come out I still ride all 3 allmost every day I can but still get that feeling when I get on the v65 nothing like it 😀
1982 Honda Magna V45 here. She just recently finished 1,400km, starting that trip the day after a lady backed into it in the parking lot, knocking it over. She broke the left mirror, stripped the thread mount on the clutch cylinder in the process, bent the handlebar, broke the front left signal and gouged the windscreen. Spent my break fixing it as best I could and did that trip with one mirror. 40 years old and she was rock solid. When I got back, I settled the damages for $750 cash with the lady. Love this bike.......
I am a returning rider. Can’t decide between a 2001 Honda 750 Magna or a 2003 Honda 750 Nighthawk. Both seem to be in great shape with around 11,000 miles on each. The Magna is at a bike shop for $3999 and the Nighhawk is a private seller for $3000.
Still riding my 2nd 1987 honda super magna. This bike is amazing. Beautiful and I get accolades from my local harley Davidson bike owners. Love the style, quad pipes and over all look. Idk how this bike was only 2 years produced.
Nice!! The best year :P It is indeed an amazing bike. Honestly it's hard to find a better looking cruiser imo, not much has tried enough to look different but still ends up looking classy imo. Me neither. People didn't appreciate it at the time I suppose.
@@TheGorillaBiker ahead of it's time. Just fortunate I discovered these super magna bikes years back. I drove to Ohio from michigan just to get my first one. Than as fate had it, the one I own now I found 2 blocks away from me for sale. And I'm always looking for these rare beautiful bikes. Never see em on the road that's for sure. Love ur channel btw
It was indeed. I've loved them since I was about 12. FInally bought one back in 2019 then. It's not perfect but it is mine :) Haha brilliant, at least you've a story eh :) I've also never seen another one in the flesh myself. Thanks! :)
The more I look into the specifics of my Honda Magna 2003, it seems the Magna "Cam Problem" persists even today. My first bike is a Magna and the cam chain tensioners and cam chain is a problem and is reported to be by many online. I love it as my first bike but this is an annoying condition that owners have similar issue with, that being a rattle that never goes away. Even with new tensioners and adjustments. Despite this the 750 is enough power to love the ride and a well rounded enough machine to be a great bike for me to learn on.
Ah my gen 02 sounds like an old typewriter too but that's just the nature of the bike, I've never noticed any undue wear and I keep a very firm eye on it. The tensioners etc I think get a slightly bad rep too as all tensioners wear, Honda have had their issues with them in general but to put it this way, my bike is an 87 and still runs like a mouses heart. So ignore the noises and enjoy it :)
Another fav: the Sabre, 1st gen. I had a 1982 V45 Magna while my brother had a 1983 V45 Sabre. We took a few trips together. I loved my bike, but I really loved his. The Sabre looked really cool.
Also a very nice bike! Personally I'm a much bigger fan of the gen 02 Magna than any of the rest for obvious reasons but I like all of the V45 bikes Honda made :)
My Dad owned pretty much all of these bikes, even the V-max, one of his favs was somehow the V65 Sabre, he said the handling was so much better that it made the hard ride worth it, but he'd take the Magna on longer rides, or the Vmax. He owned a few different Interceptors but always complained about tire tech not being where it should for a bike like that yet(same with the CX650 Turbo he had owned for a few years, he hated it due to lag, grip was impossible on all but perfect surfaces and conditions). I'm about to own my first v45, a yellow 94;, and I'm already in love with it! videos soon!
He is a lucky man so, and clearly had great taste when he was buying bike!! I still love my Magna, it's my longest serving bike as of now :) Yeah it's mad to think how far tyre tech has come in the last 40 years really!! What we have now is absolutely incredible, and can completely transform an older bike by just having modern tyres on there! Ah very good!! Best of luck with the bike :)
I took my 96 from Boston to Cali and back, thing never missed a beat, Mines mostly stock but I’m thinking of upgrading the front forks with cartridge emulator, heard it’s really improves the handling
That is a looooong trip. I've heard that helps a lot another option if you had the time and patience would be just to get custom triples and more modern forks. That's something I'd love to do provided I didn't lose my big front wheel :)
My ‘04 which I gave to my brother for a debt was the best bike I ever rode and I miss it terribly. He let it sit over winter and it’s shot now. Anyway I remember riding for miles without my hands on the handle bars. Just lean a bit to adjust yourself in the lane. Handled wonderfully.
Hey man, Liked the video, was not aware of all the evolution of this bike and was certainly unaware of the super magna which looks astonishingly like my current bike. Honda is my brand, had a CT 70 at 9 yrs. old an ST 90 a few years later, a CB 350 (72) at 16 and a 1983 V65 at 33 all considered now to be classics, the Flyin' V had a 4 into 1 header which sounded like shit at idle (like somebody shaking a tomato juice can full of rocks) but when you took off it was the Sweetest Sound Ever! The only way I can describe it is pure acceleration from the floor to the red line and you better be hanging the fuck on! Due to financials it had to go when I realized I couldn't get the wife, the baby, and the groceries home on it as well as the old Lemans. Miss it to this day! BUT! I happened across a beautiful 23 year old Honda in my shop last fall that came in because of some electrical gremlins the owner wished to exercise before selling it, once my wife and I got to looking at it in the shop we had to buy it so we did. It is a 1997 Honda Shadow VT1100c2 American Classic Edition in Pearl Ivory Cream and Black, it is in mint condition and someone before me spent a ton of money on very tasteful accessories that made it a striking example of what a classic should look like, studded seats, backrest, leather bags, tank bib, and front bag, American National driving lights with all three visors, floor boards front and rear, chrome wind deflectors, and an American national wind shield. She's got 73,000 kms on it now, 69 and change when I bought her last September and runs like a sewing machine. That super magna you showed in your video looks a lot like her and the funny thing I've noticed while comparing it to my old Magna was the Magna had more horsepower by a factor of two but the Torque specs were 69 for the Magna and 64 for the Shadow! It pulls like a freight train and is an absolute joy to ride! The revs of the Magna are missed but are supplanted by the comfort and pull of the V-twin! Thanks for the vid, keep the rubber side down! Respect from Nova Scotia!
Thanks glad you liked it! I currently have a Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki so I'm not picky :D Haha I can imagine, those V65s are bloody incredible! Fair enough as reasons go to let one g that's a decent one! Ah congrats! They're a beautiful bike. I love the V Twin, I'll definitely get a V Twin next to add to the collection! I think it looks a lot more similar to the Gen 03 V45 than the Super with the more standard pipes etc, but they're all Honda from a similar era so won't ever be far away anyway :) That's the thing, everyone always focuses too much on top end horsepower but not many really use it! Thanks for watching and you too :)
Hi, thanks for all the nice vids on your bike. Which is better, the 87 super magna or a 95 magna. Would be riding on highways a lot. Your response will be greatly appreciated.
Glad you like them. In my opinion the 87 Super, but I've never owned a gen 03 Magna. The gen03 is much easier to find parts for too so keep that in mind! I personally wouldn't like either bike for highways, but I don't really ride highways anyway.
@@TheGorillaBiker thank you for your time, very much appreciated. I’m looking towards the gen 2 because of the shaft drive and sixth gear. I don’t like the buzziness of 5 gear bikes, unless the magna is different.
When I was a student in France 1986 I had one.It was called the VFC and was not sold in the UK. I remember taking my bike for modification and Honda drilling the cam to help lubrification and I never had any problem on this side. At the time it was a bike turning head. Good bike,very confortable for long distance travel
Yep they were known as the VF750/700C up until 2003 when they were axed. The 250 twin was the VT250C. I wouldn't have a clue what was sold in the UK but I know here in Ireland they weren't available new off the floor, they could be imported from Japan though as my bike was. Yes if you had one in 1986 it'd have been a Mark 1 which needed remediation. They still are turning heads :) I only have the Mark 2, and it's awful for long distance for me due to tank size and comfort overall, interesting to hear the Mark 1 was different.
I haven't had any major issues so far as far as maintenance items go.....if you want any modification parts or anything though it's impossible. No show stopping issues with parts so far though :)
I had an 83 magna 1100 loves it,looking for another now an a 85.my old man bought me the 83 as a birthday present when I was 21,hoping to find one soon🖤😎💯
@@TheGorillaBiker Thank you, im getting it transported up to Cambridgeshire from Reading within next month so buzzing ! Also thanks for the great content, learned a lot.
Great video. Sad that we are speaking about history. Love these bikes. My v65 was one of the most fun bikes I’ve ever had. It just begged to be throttled. Thx for the lesson.
It is sad I agree, maybe one day Honda will bring back the Magnanthe engines are there and we know they're capable of doing so :) all the Magna just loved a bit of throttle amazing bikes! No thank you for watching :)
A bobber us usually just a custom motorcycle that's had all unnecessary bodywork removed, rear fender and front fender. Just Google bobber motorcycle and you'll see the styling of them :)
Thank you for making that informative video I own a 1983 which I'm told was the fastest out of all the production magna v65😊 the one I have has been completely rebuilt from ground up they put $10,000 into it I bought it for $6,500 unfortunately I haven't been able to ride it yet I've only sat on it three times I have a hip that's calling bad but next month I'm fixing to get that taken care of and I'll be back in the wind I can't wait to get on this bike I've never ridden a v65 years ago I wrote a v45 and was so impressed 30 years later I'm by I bought this excuse me 40 years later good job
Sorry I somehow missed this comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) I'd love to find a clean V65 at some point in my life. I hope you have your hip sorted and can get out on it soon :)
my first two bikes were a V45 Magna then a V65 Magna, both were awesome bikes. 15 years later I now have a VT1100c Shadow. I like the Shadow but miss my Magna's
Nice bikes both, it's why I'd never sell mine seeing how many people regret not still having theirs! Big twins are nice but those V4s just have something else :)
My first "talking head" style video! I was super nervous making this and am even more nervous releasing it!! Let me know if you like this style of video and I'll try do more. Due to it being winter and having about 10 minutes of light to work with I'll be trying to integrate one indoor video a week if I can keep them interesting....so all feedback is appreciated :) Thanks for watching.
Also @Kaptain Granite! You're nominated too, accidentally left you out of the video sorry :)
Yes. From what I know it was.
At our shop us mechanics tried to hide when these V65's came in for work! LOL
The carbs in the valley between the "V" are an absolute bitch to work on. A Nightmare.
A common job was the bike had been left sitting - and the carbs all clogged up with rotting gas.
I swear there are a million jets in these carbs - all to be painstakingly cleaned out.
Cleaning them out was a $1,000 job.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp haha the v45 is not fun to get the carbs out of either! I've done mine since making this video and it is pretty miserable 😂😂
1000 is a lot but honestly understandable given how not fun it is
I do not like how much of the video had just your face to look at. Alot more pictures of the motorcycles would've been so much better. I couldn't even finish this video .
@@mrfrankbg007 This video is over 3 years old and was done for information on the bike, I used the photos I thought were necessary at the time.
I've had my 1984 V65 Magna since 2001; smooth, quiet, & strong, & will pass a semi-tractor trailer double, in two shakes of a lamb's tail. I now have 117,000 miles on it; I bought it with 44,000 miles. This is as sweet a machine as I can imagine.
117000 miles I very impressive on any bike engine without a rebuild!! Nice one man, keep enjoying it :)
I just bought an 84 v45 with 37000 miles last year for 1000$. It's already taken me from Martinsburg WV to Missoula MT last July once. Plus many other shorter trips up and down the east coast. Already up to 44k on mine and it's my first bike so I've been learning a lot! Carbs, Valve Timing, Shifting Forks, Clutch plates etc. Gonna try and give this ol girl to my kid eventually. I'm planning to buy a VFR1200X this year and make that my daily while I restore the Magna! (Luckily already have an 83 donor parts bike!!!)
Excelente motociclista, cuídala mucho
VMAX was made by Yamaha not Honda.
I am pushing 70 years old and still have my 1996 yellow magna V4 that I bought new. Still love it, has all the power I need and I have got 53,000 miles on it. Thank you for your video
Nice!! I wish I'd been in a position to buy one new, but I was sadly -5 when the one I would have wanted came out. You're more than welcome :) Thanks for watching.
I have the 84 v65 and a parts one too . There are added on oil lines on the parts bike for the described oil problem. Took me 38 years to finally own one after first seeing them in 83. You want the 84 as they detuned them for 85. They are wicked fast and Fun and comfortable enough to ride all day long. I put 40,000 miles on mine in 2021 and I live in Minnesota! Ride safe
I did not know they detuned that same bike for next following year. Rejetting a possibility?
@@allanmcelroy9840 i think he means they reduced them to 700cc from 750cc... but interestingly enough.. they reduced the stroke or whatever to make it higher revving, so even with 50cc reduction i think it was only like 2 less horsepower or something... it made me super confused though, since mine is a canadian bike so it's 750cc, but everything i could find online was stating it's supposed to be 700cc
I own an 83 V-65 and it was the best made bike. Honda spent more time and money to ensure the highest quality part's were used In the launching of it. They started using cheaper material's after that. If you doubt this, just do your research. The only other bike I would own is the Vmax because I can't afford an H2R!!!! $56,000.
Still have my 97, still love it. People are blown away when they find out it's 22 years old.
They really are a timeless bike and so well built :) hope it brings you a lot more happy miles!
my magna 88))
Nice. The Super is my favorite :)
I totally understand and agree on that, I get the same with my supermagna from 88. Esp in the state it is together with the custom paint job
I have a 1999 and keep it in great shape, get the same response from almost everybody!
I loved pissing off Sport Bikers with my V65 Magna when they couldn't catch me in a straight line because they under estimated me. All Harleys were not even a issue.
Haha the amount of people who've owned V65s who've said the same to me is hilarious. Those who knew bikes in general would have apologized before you'd even taken off :D
TO be fair they're not designed to despite what some think.....but yeah, an after thought for something like a V65!!
@@TheGorillaBiker My 1100 blackbird was faster but not as comfortable. I am loyal to my 1100 Shadow now ;)
Oh a nice collection of bikes so!! The 1100 Shadow is a lovely bike. I'll have to add a V twin to the garage at some point, even if it's only a project to sell on.
@@TheGorillaBiker ill beat you all..... with a 1974 honda CB360......
and enough valve float to un-sink the Titanic.... 11,500 RPM YOLO runs
.
and a 1974 kawi G5 100cc 2 smoker (oil injected......havent fowled a spark plug in 5000 miles.....)
.
and a 1997 mogna 750.....
which is pretty damn quick
.
.
its the only bike where i can just shift to first and drop the clutch on a missed rev match...... like the monkey i am
back end locks up..... and ya kinda poop for a second
.
but ya.... nice and chill below 7000 or so
and then WHAM.... power band MOFO!!!!...... better be holding on!
@@Bricklinsv1970i miss mine everyday but man they're slow
I bought the '88 Super Magna and loved it with every fiber of my being. I graduated college in '89 and got a new leftover Magna from the previous sales year at a dealership in Queens. I would have that bike today if I could have afforded to keep a motorcycle in NYC and a car. After parting with it in '91 to pay for a car, I didn't ride again until 2018, when a beautiful Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 fell into my lap for a song. I ride that now, and it's wonderful, but if I could have that black monster (I described its looks as "a mechanical insect from outer space"), it would be heaven. There was nothing that bike couldn't do. I rode it all over Brooklyn and Manhattan, day or night, and had no problem avoiding danger due to the bike's supremely nimble balance and raw power. GREAT brakes, too.
Great video! Your passion for the Magna and especially the SuperMagna really comes through. The 1987 came out when I was a sophomore in high school. I had the poster on my wall and dreamed of it for years. About 12 years ago I found an all original 87 for sale and now the bike from my poster lives in my garage. There is so much passion around this bike. I love hearing stories from Magna owners outside of the US, it just shows that cool is universal. Keep making great videos and Ride Safe!
Thank you :) I do love my Super :) Oh man that's cool, I would have loved to see them in a showroom brand new back in the day, that'd be really cool :) That is very very cool, I genuinely wanted one since I was about 12 years old too :D Cool V4s are definitely universal! Thanks again and you too!!
good comment, I have the same bike
As an Australian owner of an 82 V45 Magna the only complaints I have are the size of the main tank , which I'm getting increased from 10 litres to 20 litres which should get about 470 klm instead of about 270 klm ,as I've gotten sick of not having enough fuel to get me home when I go for a ride and the very uncomfortable handle bars which I changed soon after I got it to more or a touring style. It still looks the same but I've upgraded just about everything to bring it into the 21 century. Your video was great and you're a lot braver then me to do it. So far there is no oil problems with the top end yet ,mind you it's only done about 55.000 klm, . I've heard that as long as you don't thrash them, service them regularly and cruise with the revs above 3500 rpm it shouldn't be a problem.
That's fair the tank can get a little annoying at times, I get about 160km from the V45 I have max. The Gen 02s bars are pretty comfy, the seat isn't great but other than that it's good.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! :)
55,000 is good for those issues though, if it hasn't happened yet it won't if you keep doing what you're doing :)
Bought my black VF750C new in 1997, still have it and still love it .
Nice!!! I wish I'd been around to buy a Supermagna new but I wasn't even born at that point 😂 I'll have mine to an as new condition eventually though and it's never, ever being sold :)
RD. I still have the same one too. A leftover 97, I bought it new in march 98.😁
@@donaldrogers3162 Never thought a bike could get into my soul as much as my 1982 CB750c did, but my 1997 VF750c did.
I have a 1983 V65 Magna that has had numerous improvements made over the years! I have drag raced it in Dallas, Texas many years ago, still runs 10 second times. The bike is still a killer, a scary killer, well design piece of history! Dodge Racing built the engine, overdrive has been cut, bike was lowered, Barnette Kevlar Clutch and many other up-grades. I found the weak spot in the drive shafts, sheared a few off. I had many buyer make offers, some really good, but I can't make myself sell her after all the years of enjoyment. I'm now too old to handle the full maximum power of this screamer, but she's a part of me, or I'm a part of her.
I honestly love stories like that where you've had a bike so long, and done so much to it, that you're just one creature now. Hopefully I'll have a few like it in 30 years :)
Late to the party, but I'm looking at an 82 V45 right now. It will be my 1st bike (rode a Kawasaki 440 LTD briefly in the 80's). I'm impressed by the almost cult following of a nearly 40 year old bike design. When I started researching I didn't expect to find much but you and many others have warmed me to the idea. Kudos to you all.
Oh nice! Get it :D Yeah it's fairly well regarded in some circles for the performance and looks :) Thanks! I absolutely love my Super still. Just before you buy make sure you're happy with the fact it is still very much an 80s bike in regards braking and other refinements :)
I bought a 1998 Honda Magna VF750C about five years ago. I have ridden many bikes in my almost 80 years and built a few custom Triumphs in the 70's. My Magna with a large windshield is the best bike I have ever ridden when it comes to touring, acceleration and overall reliability. Unfortunately it is difficult to find some parts when needed! I have already suggested to Honda that I would love to see one come out with either 800 or 850 cc displacement with fuel injection, dual front discs and disc rear brakes. Wherever I go I get a lot of admiring comments! The exhilaration when accelerating from 100 kph in 4th gear really gets the adrenaline going, ever though I reduced the rear sprocket from 40 to 36 tooth. Cruising at 4,000 rpm is so smooth and comfortable for a long ride! If I have one complaint, it would be the 14 liter tank! The upgrades I mentioned to Honda would be to increase the popularity for younger riders!
I have two '83 V65s and ride them every single day. I absolutely love these old V4s. Sure they're getting a bit long in the tooth now, approaching 4 decades old. They do have their shortcomings and require a fair bit of maintenance in their old age too. But having a "vintage" bike that can keep up with most modern supersports and absolutely dominate modern cruisers is nothing short of awesome. Plus I just love the styling and how they showcase that they're a V4.
Nice!! Ah they're so much fun, I'd imagine the V65 is another level but my V45 is my absolute favourite bike to just hop on and go :) They are moving on in age now but I think that even adds to it, like you said nothing like annihilating a modern "fast cruiser" with one of these old machines :) The styling is what drew me to the super the V4 made me stay :) Ride safe bud!
Yes indeed I got 3 v65s working on some projects 🤫🤫
Just wanted to share with you guys , I just bought a 1987 Honda Magna 700cc for $100 dollars I have a no spark issue right now. All the light's work engine turns over I can't wait to hear it roar and ride it..
Humberto
Eagle Pass,Texas USA.
My '83 V45 Magna was the first bike I ever bought new, and I loved it! Every bike since has been a step backwards, in my opinion. All my other bikes had chains, which I hated having to adjust, clean, and lube all the time. This was the only bike I've had with a hydraulic front brake and hydraulic clutch as well! The Magna never gave me a lick of trouble in nearly 30,000 miles of riding. While I love Harleys and American V-twins in general, they feel so outdated. I was looking at a Victory because I liked the hydraulic valves and liquid cooling, among other things. They were just more reliable than Harleys as well. Then Polaris killed off Victory and took over Indian. Okay, nice... My father had an old Indian Scout before I was ever thought of and he loved it! Thing is, for some reason Indian went with hydraulic lifters and went back to pushrods. Nostalgia is fine, but geeze! So... the Victory and Indian lineups all have cables for the front brake and clutch... and a #$%& belt drive. Why they refuse to get a shaft drive eludes me as I don't buy their arguments of, "It's too heavy," and all that. Wasn't too heavy on my Honda or my cousin's BMW... but companies that make 700-900 lb bikes somehow can't wrap their heads around shaft drive and it's just stupid. Sorry for the rant, but I'd rather get an old '83 V65 than buy pretty much any of the crap out there now. I'm just so blessed to have had my V45, but I'm afraid it ruined me when it comes to buying a new bike again. If I'm going to have to fiddle with clutch cables on a new bike... I may as well get an old one.
I owned a 83 v65 magna, what an awesome bike! So comfortable and strong. Dark blue, it looked awesome, rode awesome and I compare it to a hot rod Lincoln.
I had one of the first 100 1983 "Pearl Blue" V65 Magnas. Awesome machine. That color was incredible! Looked black till you saw it in the sun. I just bought a 1985 with 40,000 miles on it... for $2800.
Owned the v45, loved I still have my 85 v65 magna awesome machine
Nice! I'd love to pick up a V65 some day!
Great video mate, I'm currently working on my 87' super project good to see other people so into this amazing motorcycle! Let the legacy survive :)!
Thanks :) Ah great :) Best of luck with it! Mine is going slow and steady just little improvements as I can do them :) Haha with people like us it will eh :)
Awesome video. I also have developed a bit of an obsession with the Magnas ever since I was bought a restored a 1985 V30 for $200. Love that bike, love the styling, and love the history that you just gave me. Thanks!
Thank you!! :) Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat that is so so so cheap. I bought my 1987 V45 for 2300 euro! Well I hope it keeps going for you for a long long time :) Thanks for watching :)
Great chalk talk on the Magna. Have an 84' VF-42 that I bought years ago, started to repair, then ran against a wall with parts. When I find the bits and bobs I'm certain I'll finish what was a joy to do. Very warm regards and best wishes.
Thanks! If you're looking for consumables I've found cmsnl.com to be very good for my own Magna! :) Best of luck with the bike however it turns out :)
Yes, even my 1999 having rebuilt the carbs recently, I have begun to run into problems with parts as well! Need to ride it more often and use mid-grade gas to keep carbs clean!
The Magna 750 I used to own, was absolutely stable at 140km/h. Alas, life barged in. Waiting for another V4. Great video.
As it often does! Hopefully it won't be too long a wait :) Thank you!
I can sell you a nice one
I now own my favorite bike 2007 st1300, I’m 60 this yea and I remember the magna,the v-max and the VFR loved the v style 4, I think at my age and time of life the ST is heaven sent, I can truly enjoy it😊 last of the V4s. Thanx for the video really enjoyed it
Well that's good to hear, always nice to hear people are happy with their bikes! :) That's also a fine history of bikes!! I'd love a ST1300 but the fairings don't suit me the last time I tried one. Thanks for watching :)
I have two 65sabres and love them... they both run great.
Colour me very jealous!! :)
Nice job on the video, very enjoyable. The V65's hold a special place in my heart. I have had 2, an '83 and an '84. Both suffered from the idol no lube issue so 2nd gear was out of both, I bought one cheap to fix the other but it ran to good and ended up having the same issue. The problem when fixing it was Honda used a section of the frame not only for support but it also carried the coolant through the actual frame bar. The entire engine had to be dropped. To have this issue fixed it was so expensive you could actually by another bike for almost the price they wanted to fix it. long story short, fixed one, added the mod to ensure it got enough oil and enjoyed it for many years. I use to cruise around and play with CBR 600's, Which were fairly new at the time I had the Magna's. Always loved the look on their faces when you launched the V65..... what a machine.....
Thank you very much I'm glad you liked it :) it would seem that almost everyone I've ever spoken to who owned a V65 had the issue. And the 2nd gear issue. Even my gearbox feels a bit mushy but I'll rebuild it if it ever dies if I have to! Do you still have either bike or are they gone? Haha I'd love to see that in person on an unsuspecting cbr! Or even a V65 just make a pass in person!
@@TheGorillaBiker we had kids and things got tight so I ended up selling both. One was black and the really nice one was the bergandy or wine berry alot of people called it. I actually had a young guy follow me into the gas station to ask me what it was after playing around on the road. He said it surprised the heck out of him that he couldn't catch me until we hit about 120. He said he'd never heard of a V65, I said I'm not surprised it's older than you are...
@@purdyquibb ah fair enough! The black colour I've always loved in them. I might eventually make a change to that but we shall see what the story is when I decide to rebuild it. Haha nice 😂 it's such a pity there isn't more about they're such a unique bike!
@@TheGorillaBiker just as a little add on to the story, when I ran into the guy that stopped with the CBR of all people my mother in law wanted me to take her for a ride so she was on the back. She was screaming but I couldn't hear what she was saying so I let off thinking she was pretty mad at me, When we slowed down she said I was screaming he was catching us, You needed to GO FASTER!!! lol. But they got a little squirrely after about 100. Funny story though, I thought she was screaming to slow down, she was screaming because he was gaining on us......
Hahaha man thanks for sharing that that's bloody hilarious 😂😂 they do tend to get a bit unsettled at higher speeds, I'm going to work on making my one a hit more stable and squared away over the next few years! And genuinely thanks for sharing that. My own mother would definitely never get on the bike! My gfs mam might tho!
Great video! I am now on my 3rd VF750 Magna and love them all!
Thanks :) And nice! I still have many plans for my one 😁
I’ve got an ‘84 that about to roll 56,000 miles. I’m the 3rd owner. It still screams and looks great. Fantastic fun on a 40 year old bike.
Nice!! Long may it continue :)
I had that exact blue 87.
I have owned several bikes including two earlier model magnas, and that is still one of if not my favorite bike I have owned.
I preferred only one thing in the earlier manga's, and that is that with a shorter front end rake angle those older models were wheelie machines.
I tried a couple times after i first got the 87 and it just didn't like to do them at all like the others.
Rode my v45 from Ft Benning to Waverly NY in 1983. 27 hours total. Loved it.
Nice! That's a serious trip :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Had to park it home before I went to Hawaii. Wound up in Micronesia after discharge from Army. Still here, 36 years now. Check out Pohnpei, FSM.
@@rickstandish6690 Oh that is a long time! I'll look it up when I get to work :)
1st time on your channel. You did a great job with the video! I wanted a V65 Magna SO bad when they first came out. Loved how they looked. Thanks for the video!
Thanks! I have no idea how it looks now and I never rewatch anything once they're editing so I'll take your word for it :D
Ah man I wish I'd be around when they were released, I'd have sold a kidney for one. Nothing that's released these days is something that'd pull me to a dealer to just look at it even.
Enjoyed your video. I never heard of a '93 Magna. I bought a Magna in December of '93 but it was a '94. It was also the first Gen 3 Magna the Honda shop in my area got in. That being said, I loved it...had to sell it several years later.Then I bought a '98 but it didn't have near the power my '94 had. I found an article that stated that the early '94's were the only year the engine was left as it came off the interceptor, after that they were tuned down. I later found and bought an early 94 again and it runs way better than my '98 did. I wish I'd kept that article. It also showed the rankings for '94 for fastest production cruiser...#1 V-Max...#2 Magna...#3 Valkrie. Don't remember beyond those 3.
Thanks, glad you did. There were only a very few in 93 as an early release. How many and where I don't know. But it was technically "launched" in 93 but didn't really go on general release until 94 which would explain that :)
Do you still have your second 94? I'd love to get a Gen03 at some point.
Ah I used to have an old magazine with all old cruisers when I was a child. One of the places I fell in love with the Magna actually. Long since gone and I also regret it. Ah sure! Thanks for sharing.
Interesting stuff. I got into motorcycles in college around '92. The magna and vmax always appealed to me but my first bike was a CB750 Nighthawk.
Nighthawk was a class bike too. I love my Magna and hope to get a Vmax at some stage too :)
I have a V65 Magna and the 305th CB750 Nighthawk made, in 1991, plus 7 BMW "Airheads" from 1971 to '79. Only 12 K on the Nighthawk. I'm an "Airhead lover" but much respect for the Magna and "91--2003 Nighthawks. My Nighthawk was always well kept and could be pushed out on a showroom floor and passed off as brand new. Yeah, I collect bikes and all are ridden sparingly, maintained properly and then well hidden from the elements.
I love the V65 Magna. I had the 1984 version. I bought it in showroom condition for $2100. It had about 8000 miles on it. Best bike I ever had. As far as your video goes, it's informative, but I'd like more pictures and video, you standing with your bike pointing out it's qualities and what you love about it. Maybe find some other people's bikes and get your camera close to them as well. I plan to get one of these again someday and get it back into showroom condition. An endeavor near the top of my bucket list! Cheers!
I still keep my eye out for one when I'm scanning through bikes, anything I ever see is generally in very rough shape sadly.
I made this video a long long time ago now, I haven't really made a video like this is a long time! But I shall keep that in mind if I ever make another.
my first bike was the magna '84 V30.. got it for $900, it was already 29 years old at the time, but ran like a dream but then i dropped it a couple years later.. to be fair it still ran like a dream after that, but it needs a bit of work
moved across the country and couldn't take the project with me so i bought a suzuki gs500... but i never got over how awesome of a bike that magna was
fast forward, and i'm back across the country again and just bought an '85 V45 for $1800.. bike runs like a dream, and is a total blast to ride.. and now i can fix up that V30 too.. i don't know if i have the heart to ever get rid of it, unless it's to a good friend or family
G-day from OZ... just bought a 1982 Magna,65,000 k's do ya know if this year had the idle oil problem thanks...???
A 1982 is likely to have the issue yes, it'd be worth doing the oil mod that's out there for it.
My first street bike was a used and slightly abused 83 magna V45. I really miss that bike and have been on the lookout for one close to me to add to the stable.
Ah they're all slightly abused :D Has to be done! :D
I hope you find one, they very rarely come up where I am but I do keep an eye online for nice ones globally :)
I have a 1987 Honda magna motorcycle that i have inherited. It has been sitting for over 20 years. I was looking to have it restored; where can I go to find the parts to restore it? Everything has to be rebuilt. Thanks
Ah nice! Best of luck with the restoration! Best place I've found is www.cmsnl.com for parts or wemoto.com
@@TheGorillaBiker Thanks and thank you for your help! I hope to have it on the road next summer.
@@rlwill26 No problem! Hope you get it all sorted :)
Thank you so much for putting in the research and sharing your knowledge with us! 🙏🏼 Just got a 94 that needs some TLC. Loving the rides so far.❤️ Ride safe, Sir! 👊🏼
Ah it was more just a lifetime of absorbing it but thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Oh excellent, another one saved :D Best of luck with it, you too!!
I still own my customized ‘94 Magna which has 53,000+ smiles on it and a CTX1300 Deluxe. Both Candy red metallic. Love them both. V4s are fantastic. And yes my Magna can out run a VTX1800.
Haha that's a lot of smiles :D Two very nice bikes! V4s are brilliant, I just love the power profile of them. Haha the VTX1800 is cool and all but it's a big lump.
Luv this history of the Legend- The Honda Magna. Fell in luv with the 1987 Super Magna years back... my first bike. Upon selling it- I regretted it. Hard to find. Rare. Upon finding my neighbor was selling his 1987 Super Magna... never knew he had lol.... I bought it for a steal. I wont make the mistake of selling it again. It's a LEGEND!
Thankfully I know just how much people regret selling them so I'll hang on to mine thanks to you all for the warnings :) Also delighted you got another, I'm yet to find a bike that makes me smile as much :) It is indeed a legend :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Absolutely! I'm amazed that this bike is 33 years old. So many compliments the bike gets when people see it. And no one can believe its age. It's an instant classic and I wonder if its designer ever got his full appreciation for the 87-88 Magna
Agreed, out of all my bikes it's the one that gets attention when I take it out :) The designer almost certainly didn't at the time seeing as it only lasted 2 years, a pity really!!
I grabbed an 87 Magna yesterday. Unfortunately I can't ride it as we have about 8" of snow on the ground here. It needs a little TLC but runs & goes.
Nice congrats! Hey gives you time to get it sorted! It'll be a rare occasion if someone gets one not needing a little love! Best of luck with it :)
@@TheGorillaBiker thank you. Fixing up old bikes is a bit of a hobby of mine. The garage is getting full! These Iowa winters definately put a damper on riding the streetbike.
I am the same, currently refurbing a 1996 GSX-R 750 :) Nearly done too!! Haha I know that feeling, I have a CB500 lined up after the GSX-R to sort :) Yeah, I can't compare here...our winters suck but I can still ride most days. But I can imagine it's not great!
My ‘94 Magna outperforms many bikes, especially HD’s. Love it...
Yeah the V4 is a brilliant engine. It'll mince most v twins :)
Try to swap the 750cc v45 with one a V65 1100cc engine
I'll be keeping my one pretty much original :) The 750 is enough for what I use it for :)
Thank you for the history, just brilliant, I'm about to purchase a Honda VF750 I love this machine, are parts still available for these upto 2002 models. And are there any issues I should look out for please. Wish you as best a Christmas as you can have.
Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it :) Ah excellent best of luck with it! You're getting a 2002 model? Gen 03s have plenty of parts support, you might just have to wait a bit longer etc but it's all still there! Not on the Gen 03 that I know of! Thank you I had a grand one, hope you did too!
I have a 1999 magna and parts are available but I suspect not for many more years. If you think parts will wear out, might be a good idea to purchase an additional set now!
Nice video. Enjoyed that. Would of been cool if u had more pics of the bikes u were talkin about but u nailed it man 👍
Thanks! Ah yeah to be honest I made this when I barely knew how to edit, it's mad it's been watched so much! :) If I was to ever do it again I'd add a lot more clips and photos. Thanks for watching :)
@@TheGorillaBiker I know u love the magna's but be cool to see ya do more videos like this about other iconic bikes too.
Well in that case I'll plan a few and get them sorted :) Thanks!
Question, which year v65 would u consider to be the most reliable and what is the fix to the faulty cam issue this day? Could the '87 year and on 750 magna would u compare to the v65 in power
Any of the V65s will be very similar tbh I wouldn't worry once you could get your hands on one! A higher pressure oil line back to the top end of the engine is the fix once they're not already damaged as far as I know!
No. The V45s are a good chunk slower than the V65 tbh, but are still a fantastic bike with plenty of power up to 100mph
@@TheGorillaBiker awesome thankbu so much, I'm really torn between this bike and a triumph bobber, I just love the look of the pipes on the side, I only wish there was a plug and play monoshock conversion kit and a floating, I don't want any cutting or welding done to Magna if I get it, thanx again awesome content.
@@jhjimbar You could get a floating caliper made up custom no problem, the issue is the cost! I don't know how much a monoshock would add tbh as the frame is setup up for the dual shocks, they work fine once you service them :) A bobber would also be sweet! Whatever you do go for best of luck with it :)
@@TheGorillaBiker floating calipers....maaaan ur awesome. Thank u so much, I'll be sure to reach out, keep it up
Great video! I know Honda V4's from the VFR, but the Magna had completely fallen off my radar - and as I now discovered, not because it would be an uninteresting bike. Seems like a rare beast where I live, too.
For what it's worth, I would like to see more model history vids on the channel as well. I know the research, script-writing etc. must take a ton of work and we all have others things to do as well, but just a thought.
Thank you! Sorry for the late reply, youtube doesn't always show me older videos comments quickly! The Magna is such an underrated bike, it's a pity the V4 platform wasn't more popular through the years as I think we'll be seeing the last of that configuration in more affordable bikes due to the cost of manufacture.
Well thank you! I'll definitely sit down and try make another one :)
Great information! Just what I wanted to know. There’s a 1984 V65 at dealership near me. I think I’ll go take a look at it.
Buy it! I'd love a V65!
My first bike was a '83 Magna.
Had straight bars and no mufflers, just 15cm chrome pipes out of the center muffler/gatherer. That bike totally saved me from the cruiser culture. It was awesome.
Haha that sounds awesome and I'd bet it sounded insane 😁 what do you ride now?
@@TheGorillaBiker a '97 cbr900rr with some ratty fix gsxr1100 front, motocross bars and a slightly altered front fairing to make space for the handlebars. A ongoing project... Have a vfr mono swingarm and wheel in the shed and a hacksaw 😎🤘
What would an 1988 super magna cost me to buy? with less than 10k miles on it. any ideas?
Not a clue tbh, it'd all depend on where you are in the world and many other things like overall condition, could be anything from 500-5000
I'm thinking about buying a 94 VF 750c a guy said if you go to deep into a corner they'll be scraping ya off the road . What are your views on cornering in them. That kinda put me off
I honestly think if you go too deep in to a corner with almost any cruiser you'd be in bother, or any bike really. They don't have the best of brakes but are perfectly capable for the year they were made imo. Wouldn't be put off buying one just ride to the bike :) Sorry for the slow reply, I was moving country.
@@TheGorillaBiker Thanks man. I think some people talk a lot of crap too.
This is an awesome video. I'm riding a 96 Magna with 32K miles and it's still tearing up the pavement.
Thank you!! Nice, keep it going! I'd love to pick up a Gen03 at some stage too to add to the collection :)
I have a 99 Magna with 10K miles and it does likewise, plenty of power for me!
I have a 85 v30 500c . I bought this to restore and yep very hard to get some of the parts I need. However it may not be as popular as the v45 of v65 but it is still in comparisons to some bikes in the 2000s with more cc just as powerfull. Besides it's a classic and has character just a beautiful design like it's sisters or brothers however you want to see it. For me more power would be great to talk about but let's be honest it's about the thrill of being exposed to the elements and the freedom from a seat belt and cage but that's my opinion . Thanks for the vid was great to learn more about the journey with the v4s and was very well done
Ah very nice! It's very very difficult, my own v45 is still a work in progress and I think I'll be making some parts myself for it at this stage :)
Oh absolutely the v30 was and is still a beast in comparison to a lot of bikes of similar displacement :)
Thanks for watching and I'm really glad you think so :) Thanks!
I'm a huge V4 fan. My first street bike was a V65 Magna and I later owned a VMAX. Recently addressed the issue in a video titled Sellers Remorse. Enjoyed hearing the history of the bikes I grew up riding. 👍
They are my favourite :D Ah I can imagine both of those are on that list!! Thanks :)
I’ve owned a ‘94 gen three Magna and have made it my own. I rode my brother in laws V65 years before and was amazed at the stump pulling power it had. I too have blown off a VTX 1800 and a lot of misguided Harley owners as well. A friend rode my bike and said it was the best slow speed handling bike he ever rode. I also now own the CTX1300A for longer rides. The ABS and traction control are much appreciated on our tar snake infested roads here in Ohio. I too just love the sound and feel of the V4 engine.
I’m going to go look at a V45 Sabre should I ask about oil problems?
I would just check the oil dip stick for sparkles and listen to it run, hard to check it really without opening it up.
Nice Vid Mate !-- Had 6 Magna's since 1988---all 65s' except 1 750---all 83-86 also 1 Interceptor 1000-----still have 1 Black V65 left today !
Thank you :) niiiice I'd love to find an interceptor at some point and add it to the collection... Bloody excellent bike. Very nice, the V65 is another one I'd love to own :) I need to do a lot of work to my super first and foremost though :) Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video! Who is The guy who Made The bobber with gen 3? Thanks a lot
Thanks! @DoitwithDan is who did that, he has a great channel!
I have a 94 Magna. Love the bike. Was great hearing some history of the magna series. Cheers 🍻
Thanks! I hope you keep enjoying it, brilliant bikes!
"YOU WERE WRONG HONDA!" I agree entirely. Even as a hardcore Honda fan the Magna was such a cool and unique looking bike. I am however glad that with the dead of some of the shadow line they kept the Aero as it keeps that older Honda nostalgia factor for me in the looks at least. The gorilla is OBVIOUSLY a Paul or a Stan.
Yeah that's what gets me, the super was such a cool and different design it's such a pity they didn't stick with it! Absolutely I'm very glad they didn't kill even more off at the time.
Haha I'm afraid you'll have to explain these names as I am now interested 😂
Just a quick note that I owned 2 V65 Magnas over here in Canada and BOTH had pain in the ass cam system issues with lack of oil. Rattle rattles rattle. That said, I loved to ride that model. I have a cool pic of my V65 sitting next to my new Vmax which i Loved.
That's a pain, did you ever get them sorted and do the oil mod? I would love a VMAX at some point as well!!
No; The photo I have (one copy is on the wall in my Office) shows the second V65 just before the buyer picked it up and the Max sitting beside it brand new. I had just moved the license plate over. I would post the pic if I knew how!!
I remember when Honda's slogan was "Performance first." Then something happened in 2003 and the bean counters took over. They dumped the Magna, Valk and some Shadows and brought the VTX 1300 and 1800 in...and they failed. (Granted they brought the Valk back for 2 years.)
Soichiro Honda probably wouldn't be pleased to see his motorcycle company turn into something that kinda sells motorcycles on the side now. Oh well.
Yeah I think pretty much all manufacturer's have gone the way of all big business sadly. There are not many bikes built, not for sales, but for the love of the craft anymore. It's a pity.
Judging by how the man went about his business I can't imagine he'd be overly delighted! :/
My 02 vtx 1800 is a beast 100 horse power vtwin 52,000 trouble free miles so far never a problem runs better than the big Harleys stops on the dime great brakes but Honda stopped making them ...
Bloody shame so it is, I'd love to get a VTX 1800 or the xv1900 Yamaha. Such cool bikes!
@@TheGorillaBiker I got really lucky I was shopping for a used bike 2 years ago a guy had this one up for sale he just bought it the year before and I made him a low offer and his wife just had a baby he took my offer of $2,000 it had 42,000 miles on it then I've put ten thousand miles on it so far only things I've had to buy was a front tire and new brake pads and change oil every 4 k
Niiiiiice! I love when the stars align and you just get the right deal at the right time :) and that's nothing for that engine they'll go forever with some work :)
Hello Gorilla and Channel. I ride a 86 Honda 1100 Shadow as my daily ride. And there is a huge backstory as to my small workshop and how the Shadow came to be repaired and tuned to become a powerhouse. At the time the Shadow was delivered to my shop, a trailer arrived with a Magna. It is parked in my storage shed, and is next for repair.
I liked the post as it traces the development as Honda delivered amazing power and the innovation as shaft drive to the range of displacement as 750 to 1100 and 1300 CC. As at the full throttle of my 1100 brings a smile every time. Reliable, but with quirks that simply mesh with now history as a stamp, an imprint on machine history.
The 1986 Magna is approaching 40 years old. But as a project bike contains a depth of build to the history mention as well as real power at the throttle. Worth riding? I simply like these machines. And repair them to near factory condition.
I’ve got the 2003 learned a lot, love my bike, thank you for the video, think I actually love it more now lol, so thanks for an awesome video. Think I’ll subscribe :-)
Glad you enjoyed the video :) Haha do if you like!
I JUST bought a '95 Magna, I'm glad to see this!
Also kind of funny when you tell people you have a 750 and they think it must be slow.... it makes the same hp at the wheel as a fat bob 114 (1868cc!) while being nearly 200lbs lighter and it'll just barely beat it in a quarter mile. The only thing the Magna can't pass is a gas station LOL
Thanks for the history lesson, I was in high school when those bikes came out. Always wanted to own Magna, but in 1995 ended up getting a Yamaha Maxim 700. With 5 valves per cylinder that thing was fast and could pop wheelies. Sure wish I still had it now. Can't stand the new digital speedometer on today's bike and their stealth plastic crap look. Really enjoy Caplan America's and Srk Cycles channels to see these old bikes preserved and ridden in a POV video, brings back the fun times. The nighthawk was a nice bike . Never rode a CBR or FZ750 but wished I had.
It's a pretty interesting history I think bike wise, thanks for watching :) Hey you could always still get one! :) The Maxim is a very cool bike too. The Magna's will also wheelie, it's just not very comfortable coming back down :D Yeah I'm much more a fan of analogue clocks as well, I like fairings on some bikes, but I definitely rather cruisers to be stripped down. I like SRK cycles, never seen the other channel! Nighthawk is very nice, it's never too late to try ride one :)
What is the key hole for on the left side middle of the bike for???
Would you recommand a magna or a super magna for a first bike?
It really depends on your age and size, they're heavy bikes. They also have pretty poor brakes and being as old as they are generally need looking after. All of that said they're amazing bikes that I think everyone should try so why not :)
@@TheGorillaBiker
Thank you for the reply,
I'm a big guy, but not american big 192cm and 115kg. I have worked on a couple of Honda Preludes so I think I could figure that part out as long as I can find parts. Do you think something like a third gen Shadow750 or a CB650 Nighthawk would be better for me?
I've learnd to drive on a Yamaha MT-07.
I have an 84 my wife an 83. Love the v45. Nothing sounds better to my ear! Still hope to add a v65 someday. Enjoyed the video!
I'd have to agree :) I had mine out for a quick blast yesterday and it instantly bring a smile to my face :) It'd be very cool to add a V65 to the collection someday!! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you did :)
Great video, thanks. I just picked up a 82 V45 in December. Been going through it over the winter and finally got out on it yesterday here in Northern New England. I am impressed with the power and its quite nimble. Do you believe it's necessary to do the oil mod on these first gen Magnas? I have 23k on it and there's not a tick in the motor. Love this bike. It would have eaten up my old 79 HD Sportster. ✌
Ah nice, congrats on the purchase!! Ah nice, takes a while for the weather to let you out and about there eh! They're very nimble especially with a bit of suspension work :) It depends really, if you're always at higher revs you might be fine, for me though if I bought one of the first few years of them I think I would do it. You might not hear the cams wearing with a tick, could just be cutting them up in silence. Just keep an eye on the oil when you change it really.
Ah they're a properly quick little bike, I absolutely love mine :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Yeah, we have strom blowing through today and half of the great State of Maine is getting snow. April is so unpredictable here. The oil mod sounds like good piece of mind for short money. Thanks for your feedback, I truly appreciate it. 👍
Oh lovely, I hate snow. Yes for the money and piece of mind it's definitely worth it 100% :) Not at all!! You're more than welcome :)
I had a blue 1987 Super Magna. I loved the look and sound, and the power was good. Comfortable highway bike, not really good at very slow speeds in crowded parking lots or busy areas. 2nd gear tended to go out on those bikes, mine did. I think they are becoming collectible now, and wish I still had one.
The power is still perfect for Irish roads now anyway, yes around town it's a bit more of a pain but still very manageable, thankfully my gearbox is all good, but I do treat it very right and don't really abuse it. I will never sell mine.
Interesting vid for me anything I can learn about the Magna is useful as I am restoring a V65 at the moment never ridden it as it was a basket case when I got it left outside to rot for years .I hope to get her running by the end of 21 aiming for September only just started rebuilding a rolling chassis so far it's a long road . Cheers : )
Thanks! Oh nice!! My own V45 wasn't in the best of nick itself but that's honestly half the fun for me :) I spent all this year bringing a GSX-R 750 back to life, it's great fun :) Best of luck with the rebuild!
@@TheGorillaBiker Cheers man have a great new . : )
You too! :)
Love the magnas 82 v45 83 v65 03 big blue I would definitely by a new one hope it will come out I still ride all 3 allmost every day I can but still get that feeling when I get on the v65 nothing like it 😀
Nice!! I'd love to get my hands on a V65 one day! Yeah, maybe.....one day maybe Honda will be sound and bring out a new one.
1982 Honda Magna V45 here. She just recently finished 1,400km, starting that trip the day after a lady backed into it in the parking lot, knocking it over. She broke the left mirror, stripped the thread mount on the clutch cylinder in the process, bent the handlebar, broke the front left signal and gouged the windscreen. Spent my break fixing it as best I could and did that trip with one mirror. 40 years old and she was rock solid. When I got back, I settled the damages for $750 cash with the lady. Love this bike.......
Nice!! Ah no sorry to hear that, glad to hear nothing vital was damaged to ruin your trip! They are bulletproof bikes man, I will never sell mine :)
I absolutely loved my 2001 750C Magna and wish Honda would make it again. I would buy one immediately.
I'd be the same, it'd be the first and only bike I'd pre order :D
I am a returning rider. Can’t decide between a 2001 Honda 750 Magna or a 2003 Honda 750 Nighthawk. Both seem to be in great shape with around 11,000 miles on each. The Magna is at a bike shop for $3999 and the Nighhawk is a private seller for $3000.
I'm biased but I'd choose the Magna 😂😂
What’s the difference between the super Magna and a regular Magna? I can’t find anything online
It's just the common name for the gen02 Magna. It's officially just the gen02 Honda Magna.
That V4 is a GREAT engine !!
It is a brilliant engine :)
Just bought my first motorcycle. A 94 Magna. Great information. Thank you for it.
Ah nice! Best of luck with it :) Glad you enjoyed it!
Still riding my 2nd 1987 honda super magna. This bike is amazing. Beautiful and I get accolades from my local harley Davidson bike owners. Love the style, quad pipes and over all look. Idk how this bike was only 2 years produced.
Nice!! The best year :P It is indeed an amazing bike. Honestly it's hard to find a better looking cruiser imo, not much has tried enough to look different but still ends up looking classy imo.
Me neither. People didn't appreciate it at the time I suppose.
@@TheGorillaBiker ahead of it's time. Just fortunate I discovered these super magna bikes years back. I drove to Ohio from michigan just to get my first one. Than as fate had it, the one I own now I found 2 blocks away from me for sale. And I'm always looking for these rare beautiful bikes. Never see em on the road that's for sure. Love ur channel btw
It was indeed. I've loved them since I was about 12. FInally bought one back in 2019 then. It's not perfect but it is mine :)
Haha brilliant, at least you've a story eh :) I've also never seen another one in the flesh myself. Thanks! :)
I still get to see a Magna once in a while. Back in the day I owned a 1981 Honda Nighthawk 👍
Good I'm glad they're out and about :) oh nice! The nighthawk was a lovely bike.
The more I look into the specifics of my Honda Magna 2003, it seems the Magna "Cam Problem" persists even today. My first bike is a Magna and the cam chain tensioners and cam chain is a problem and is reported to be by many online. I love it as my first bike but this is an annoying condition that owners have similar issue with, that being a rattle that never goes away. Even with new tensioners and adjustments. Despite this the 750 is enough power to love the ride and a well rounded enough machine to be a great bike for me to learn on.
Ah my gen 02 sounds like an old typewriter too but that's just the nature of the bike, I've never noticed any undue wear and I keep a very firm eye on it. The tensioners etc I think get a slightly bad rep too as all tensioners wear, Honda have had their issues with them in general but to put it this way, my bike is an 87 and still runs like a mouses heart. So ignore the noises and enjoy it :)
I have a 1999 magna with 10K miles and have had it for about 3 years and have had no problems with the cam chain tensioner!
Another fav: the Sabre, 1st gen. I had a 1982 V45 Magna while my brother had a 1983 V45 Sabre. We took a few trips together. I loved my bike, but I really loved his. The Sabre looked really cool.
Also a very nice bike! Personally I'm a much bigger fan of the gen 02 Magna than any of the rest for obvious reasons but I like all of the V45 bikes Honda made :)
My Dad owned pretty much all of these bikes, even the V-max, one of his favs was somehow the V65 Sabre, he said the handling was so much better that it made the hard ride worth it, but he'd take the Magna on longer rides, or the Vmax. He owned a few different Interceptors but always complained about tire tech not being where it should for a bike like that yet(same with the CX650 Turbo he had owned for a few years, he hated it due to lag, grip was impossible on all but perfect surfaces and conditions). I'm about to own my first v45, a yellow 94;, and I'm already in love with it! videos soon!
He is a lucky man so, and clearly had great taste when he was buying bike!! I still love my Magna, it's my longest serving bike as of now :) Yeah it's mad to think how far tyre tech has come in the last 40 years really!! What we have now is absolutely incredible, and can completely transform an older bike by just having modern tyres on there!
Ah very good!! Best of luck with the bike :)
Enjoy! I have a 1999 gen 3 with 10k miles and love it, plenty of power for this old guy!
I took my 96 from Boston to Cali and back, thing never missed a beat, Mines mostly stock but I’m thinking of upgrading the front forks with cartridge emulator, heard it’s really improves the handling
That is a looooong trip. I've heard that helps a lot another option if you had the time and patience would be just to get custom triples and more modern forks. That's something I'd love to do provided I didn't lose my big front wheel :)
My ‘04 which I gave to my brother for a debt was the best bike I ever rode and I miss it terribly. He let it sit over winter and it’s shot now. Anyway I remember riding for miles without my hands on the handle bars. Just lean a bit to adjust yourself in the lane. Handled wonderfully.
Still got an 86’ tuned the carbs again at 87,000mi. Makes me smile.
Glad to hear it! :)
Hey man, Liked the video, was not aware of all the evolution of this bike and was certainly unaware of the super magna which looks astonishingly like my current bike. Honda is my brand, had a CT 70 at 9 yrs. old an ST 90 a few years later, a CB 350 (72) at 16 and a 1983 V65 at 33 all considered now to be classics, the Flyin' V had a 4 into 1 header which sounded like shit at idle (like somebody shaking a tomato juice can full of rocks) but when you took off it was the Sweetest Sound Ever! The only way I can describe it is pure acceleration from the floor to the red line and you better be hanging the fuck on! Due to financials it had to go when I realized I couldn't get the wife, the baby, and the groceries home on it as well as the old Lemans. Miss it to this day! BUT! I happened across a beautiful 23 year old Honda in my shop last fall that came in because of some electrical gremlins the owner wished to exercise before selling it, once my wife and I got to looking at it in the shop we had to buy it so we did. It is a 1997 Honda Shadow VT1100c2 American Classic Edition in Pearl Ivory Cream and Black, it is in mint condition and someone before me spent a ton of money on very tasteful accessories that made it a striking example of what a classic should look like, studded seats, backrest, leather bags, tank bib, and front bag, American National driving lights with all three visors, floor boards front and rear, chrome wind deflectors, and an American national wind shield. She's got 73,000 kms on it now, 69 and change when I bought her last September and runs like a sewing machine. That super magna you showed in your video looks a lot like her and the funny thing I've noticed while comparing it to my old Magna was the Magna had more horsepower by a factor of two but the Torque specs were 69 for the Magna and 64 for the Shadow! It pulls like a freight train and is an absolute joy to ride! The revs of the Magna are missed but are supplanted by the comfort and pull of the V-twin!
Thanks for the vid, keep the rubber side down!
Respect from Nova Scotia!
Thanks glad you liked it! I currently have a Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki so I'm not picky :D Haha I can imagine, those V65s are bloody incredible! Fair enough as reasons go to let one g that's a decent one!
Ah congrats! They're a beautiful bike. I love the V Twin, I'll definitely get a V Twin next to add to the collection! I think it looks a lot more similar to the Gen 03 V45 than the Super with the more standard pipes etc, but they're all Honda from a similar era so won't ever be far away anyway :)
That's the thing, everyone always focuses too much on top end horsepower but not many really use it!
Thanks for watching and you too :)
Hi, thanks for all the nice vids on your bike. Which is better, the 87 super magna or a 95 magna. Would be riding on highways a lot. Your response will be greatly appreciated.
Glad you like them. In my opinion the 87 Super, but I've never owned a gen 03 Magna. The gen03 is much easier to find parts for too so keep that in mind! I personally wouldn't like either bike for highways, but I don't really ride highways anyway.
@@TheGorillaBiker thank you for your time, very much appreciated. I’m looking towards the gen 2 because of the shaft drive and sixth gear. I don’t like the buzziness of 5 gear bikes, unless the magna is different.
When I was a student in France 1986 I had one.It was called the VFC and was not sold in the UK. I remember taking my bike for modification and Honda drilling the cam to help lubrification and I never had any problem on this side. At the time it was a bike turning head. Good bike,very confortable for long distance travel
Yep they were known as the VF750/700C up until 2003 when they were axed. The 250 twin was the VT250C. I wouldn't have a clue what was sold in the UK but I know here in Ireland they weren't available new off the floor, they could be imported from Japan though as my bike was.
Yes if you had one in 1986 it'd have been a Mark 1 which needed remediation. They still are turning heads :)
I only have the Mark 2, and it's awful for long distance for me due to tank size and comfort overall, interesting to hear the Mark 1 was different.
Are parts easy to come by?
I haven't had any major issues so far as far as maintenance items go.....if you want any modification parts or anything though it's impossible. No show stopping issues with parts so far though :)
I had an 83 magna 1100 loves it,looking for another now an a 85.my old man bought me the 83 as a birthday present when I was 21,hoping to find one soon🖤😎💯
Ah class, I hope you find one too, it's something I'd hope to get my hands on someday too :)
@@TheGorillaBiker I found one an 83 v65 I go see tomorrow the pics look great original decals an paint 40000 miles ²⁵⁰⁰
Nice!! Hope it's as good in the flesh :)
Buying a super magna soon, already deposited for it. First bike and i cant wait to start riding it
Ah nice, bets of luck with the bike and riding :) You'll love it :)
@@TheGorillaBiker Thank you, im getting it transported up to Cambridgeshire from Reading within next month so buzzing ! Also thanks for the great content, learned a lot.
Great video. Sad that we are speaking about history. Love these bikes. My v65 was one of the most fun bikes I’ve ever had. It just begged to be throttled. Thx for the lesson.
It is sad I agree, maybe one day Honda will bring back the Magnanthe engines are there and we know they're capable of doing so :) all the Magna just loved a bit of throttle amazing bikes! No thank you for watching :)
My 1987 is beautiful ❤️❤️❤️
Sounds amazing and looks amazing 😍
They are the best bikes :P
Just bought an 83 750. Great video. Thank you
Very nice! Best of luck with it :) Thanks!
I have an 87 Honda super Magna and i absolutely love it .
They are an amazing bike :)
@@TheGorillaBiker only issue i have ever had was an high idle.
interesting stuff.. Whats a bobber?
A bobber us usually just a custom motorcycle that's had all unnecessary bodywork removed, rear fender and front fender. Just Google bobber motorcycle and you'll see the styling of them :)
Thank you for making that informative video I own a 1983 which I'm told was the fastest out of all the production magna v65😊 the one I have has been completely rebuilt from ground up they put $10,000 into it I bought it for $6,500 unfortunately I haven't been able to ride it yet I've only sat on it three times I have a hip that's calling bad but next month I'm fixing to get that taken care of and I'll be back in the wind I can't wait to get on this bike I've never ridden a v65 years ago I wrote a v45 and was so impressed 30 years later I'm by I bought this excuse me 40 years later good job
Sorry I somehow missed this comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) I'd love to find a clean V65 at some point in my life. I hope you have your hip sorted and can get out on it soon :)
So good buddy, excellent now I understand my bike better. Seems we have the right one from what you've said and the rare one.
The gen 02 is the only one I'd have for now!
I have two '88s. Debating whether I want to take them with me or not on my out of state move.
Deeeeeefinitely take them with you. Especially if you like them and they're in good nick!
was this bike faster than the inline 4's?
Apparently in 1983 the V65 Magna was the fastest production motorcycle. Now I was -9 years old then so whether it truly was or not I don't know.
@@TheGorillaBiker How come it was so fast? was it from the torque or hp, gearing?
@@TheGorillaBiker oh ok
my first two bikes were a V45 Magna then a V65 Magna, both were awesome bikes. 15 years later I now have a VT1100c Shadow. I like the Shadow but miss my Magna's
Nice bikes both, it's why I'd never sell mine seeing how many people regret not still having theirs! Big twins are nice but those V4s just have something else :)