Honda V 30 Magna

[Camp21178]

I know that this may not be the right spot to post this but here goes. My friend is looking at a 1985 V30 Magna with 23k miles on it. It seems like a nice bike, and he talked him down to $600.00. It has new tires, chain and sprocket. I was wondering if there were any inherent problems or issues with this model. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Motorcycle Forum]

[DrBob]

Good power for a 500cc machine and fun to ride, but not very comfortable. There were problems with the V30 Magna involving inadaquate oil flow to the cams (a problem not found on the V30 Interceptor due to a modified engine design) that led to longevity concerns. However, aftermarket kits were available to correct this problem, so if the bike was fitted with one then 23K should leave plenty of life left in it. Hell, for $600 how ca you go wrong? I paid significantly more than $600 just for a SEAT for my Electra Glide LOL!

[Camp21178]

As always, thanks DrBob!

[Y2K]

Hell, for $600 how ca you go wrong? I paid significantly more than $600 just for a SEAT for my Electra Glide LOL!

Hell yeah,$600 for a bike that runs good is about as cheap as it gets.
It doesn't take long to get $600 worth out of a bike and anything after that is a pretty much a free ride.

Hey Dr,you riding on a Road Zeppelin?

[omegajim]

seen bikes go for well north of $1 k and they didn't even run.

[Camp21178]

Thanks for the replies guys. He bought it two days ago and he's rode it quite a bit already. I ordered him to get over to my house soon because he has no idea when it was last serviced or when the oil was changed. Now he needs a manual. He has no idea what the oil capacity is.

[TNM50]

Probably some good Honda forums out there for that kind of bike.

[Clint]

I know that this may not be the right spot to post this but here goes.

[DrBob]

3.7 quarts with filter change.

[Camp21178]

Thanks!

[BuffaloChips]

Since we are on a v30 Magna in here, I'll throw something at you guys. I have an '84 model v30 that doesn't run at this point. My questions are...
1. can the v45 or v65 engines go on this frame?
2. If so, can the larger engines be converted to utilize the chain drive?
3. If the chain can't be used with a larger engine, can the shaft system be easily adapted? ie. the shaft rear swing arm and wheel assembly?

I was just thinking I might be able to find a v65 that had been wrecked and has a running engine on the cheap and just swap out necessary parts.

[BuffaloChips]

WOW! Thought someone might have something to say.

[BuffaloChips]

Well, thanks for nothing people. someone could have had some kind of advice or comment that could be helpful. you sure had something to say to the guy that started the thread.

[omegajim]

I was asleep at the wheel - and from what little I know as pertaining to your questions, I do not believe the v30 engine is interchangeable with the v45 (750 cc I think) or the v65 (1100 cc).

The v30 is a good smaller bike, (535 cc?) and the idea of chain / shaft drive switcheroo is just not feasible.

If you have a bike that doesn't run, the best/easiest/most feasible way to is work on getting the bike running.

Starting with what the bike does and does not do
a) turn over
b) turns over, does not fire
c) a + b, but only runs briefly and and dies.

many, many more specifics and info need to be added before a good (not great nor comprehensive) answer can be provided.

[BuffaloChips]

So what you're saying is that the base frame isn't the same between bikes? I just don't see how one couldn't swap out the swing arm and wheel assembly to convert it to shaft drive if the frame is the same. I just thought it might be a cheaper alternative to tearing this thing down to the frame and reworking everything. Parts are definitely NOT cheap.

As for what it will or won't do.....
I don't really plan to try to start it before tearing it down. I have no clue when the last time was that it has been run. Likely years and a dry start like that is not a good idea. This thing has barely been ridden since the '90's. I need a cheap repair manual for it so I will have torque specs and related info for putting the motor back together.