Advice please {1983 Sabre/Magna} (merged)

[Loki_ca]

Looking at picking up a starter bike for my wife and some day kids and I found a steal of a deal on an 83 V45 Sabre 750(early Magna)

65,000 km
New Battery, tires, carb kit, aluminum fuel lines, fork seals
Looks like this one
BikePics - 1983 Honda VF 750 (V45 Sabre)

$1000

I've owned a few 80's Shadows and CBs but never a Magna.

Any wisdom out there?

[Motorcycle Forum]

[Clint]

My buddy had one, though it was actually a Magna. Maybe it was an '84? He had the thing completely apart in his garage to paint and restore it, and never took it all the way. Put it all back together and rode it for years more. Bulletproof.

I found it squishy and sluggish in the handling department, but the engine was nice. Honestly, I'd look for something much newer. Handling and braking ability are paramount to safety.

[tanddrew]

Don,

I will not even pretend to know what the market for used bikes is like there.
But Dude, this is a 1983 model. Are bikes that old really selling for that much there? I wish I had known...I sold a 1985 knighthawk 750 for $350 about three years ago...

What I'm getting at is that I think that this is still alot of money for this old a bike no matter how good it looks. It is not a collector's item nor are you looking for one.

I found this CB650 on E-bay for only $599

Honda : CB:eBay Motors (item 330352169045 end time Aug-20-09 17:46:06 PDT)

Ultimately it is certainly your choice, my opinion is that the price is too high even for that bike. Remember opinions are like a&^%holes and everybody has one.

[Clint]

I'd watch Craigslist and plan on spending $2-500 more. You'll get a bike half as old.

[omegajim]

had one (an 84 specifically) and too late I learned that you can't rev these bikes up as they have insufficient oiling of the valve cams at high speeds.

otherwise, they are pretty tough bikes.

[frostbitevinnie]

Did not know that Honda was sharing in the Boulevard line. Hummmm, interesting.

[BigInjun]

I have had two sabres over the years, both from '82. absolutely loved them. The oiling can be an issue, but there are some relatively easy fixes for that. As for being a starter bike, it is okay if she is tall, and if she doesn't plan on really hard riding. Has plenty of power, possibly too much for a beginner. Sadly, the age is going to start being a factor... but then again, my age is becoming a factor too... Anyway, my two cents worth is they are a great bike, but I would likely suggest something newer and more suitable for a new rider.... And... since this IS a boulevard forum.... i love my M50....

[Loki_ca]

I love the M and C50s too, and the only reason I looked at an older bike was that parts are very abundant and cheap for the most part and if you drop a 20 year old bike, you're not worrying as much about a scratch in the paint, a broken mirror, etc.
She's not sure IF she wants to ride full time, so it's something to learn on around town and on short jaunts. IF she was to decide to want to ride full time, the plan was for us to find her a newer bike and still keep the older one for the kids to learn on when their time has come.
The old 80s bikes have impeccable track records and are nearly bulletproof.

I had heard about the oiling issue on the V65s (1100cc), not the V45s. I'll have to look further.

**This is also posted on the Honda forum as well, but since I've come to trust the opinions of many of the Boulevard riders, I posted here as well. We didn't all start on Boulevards**

[Water Warrior]

That is a lot of bike for a newbie to learn on. Try to find a Rebel, GZ or A baby Virago. They are in the 250 range and a lot less intimidating. Better to grow out of a bike than to start out with a big handful and be turned off of riding by it's size and weight. There is a reason riding schools use these bikes as their primary tool. And they are a lot easier to pick up too.

[tricker]

Honda VF 750 S 1983: technical specifications

I think it all depends on the person and how much they'll respect the bike and what it can do. But most will disagree with me in that regard. I also scoff at the idea that everyone who is new will drop their bike. But that conversation is for another thread.

[Clint]

Threads merged.

Please do not cross-post. Please do not post in the wrong forum for your benefit. Please use descriptive thread titles.

[Loki_ca]

Honda VF 750 S 1983: technical specifications

I also scoff at the idea that everyone who is new will drop their bike. But that conversation is for another thread.

I agree 100%.
Not everyone does

[omegajim]

some of us drop our bikes after we've been driving awhile.

or when we hit fresh asphalt on a warm day and find out it's slippery when we brake.

[Clint]

I also scoff at the idea that everyone who is new will drop their bike.

Only because you've been lucky. It's easy to be cocky until you aren't.

Very few actually say that. What they mean is that you should plan for the worst regarding bike selection and protective apparel.

[tricker]

Only because you've been lucky. It's easy to be cocky until you aren't.

Very few actually say that. What they mean is that you should plan for the worst regarding bike selection and protective apparel.

I myself just get a little irked when people ask me if i've dropped my cycle yet. Just like the same that ask me if i wear my gear cause i'm expecting to be sliding across the pavement soon. Yes people have asked me that.