'85 Magna Nubie

[fuji]

Hello everyone, I am from Michigan so I hope this forum tolerates us mid westerners

I have had my eye on the early 80's style magna for some time now and just found and purchased myself an 85 V65 with 25 thousand miles.  The bike has been well cared for and this guy was actually the original owner, how cool is that.

I have heard the warnings about Honda's early liquid cooled V4's but they still couldn't keep me away from these beauties.

First thing I noticed is that most people recommend the oil flow is improved.  Can anyone advise on an oil mod method and or kit of choice for a below average wrencher?  Preferably just adding or replacing parts and not drilling holes.  

Can you recommend for me a good manual(s) and or online tech pages for the 85 models?  

Thanks all!

[fuji]

Hey thanks John I found the post with a service manual download.

John Luttrell   
Here is the site I have listed on my site..........
http://thepit.shacknet.nu/honda/

[Greg Cothern]

Fuji, welcome to the MOOT forum, we turn away no Magna owner!  Congrats on your V65 acquisition..

[roboto65]

Yes Welcome to the forum and there are a lot of people on here that will guide you thru any V65 question you have !!!!

[MagnaDaddy]

Welcome to another 1st gen owner !!!!!!!
You just got one of the greatest bikes in the world.    I'm a little biased..   But so is everyone else here  

[ThomasMagna]

Fuji,

I too am a Michigander and MOOT has been very, very good to me. You won't find a forum with nicer people. If you do, please let me know.

Welcome to the forum and Magnas. You won't be disappointed.

[fuji]

And so it begins lol.

Well I picked it up and I have to say I love the bike.  I managed to overheat it on the way home.  I called the original owner back and asked him if he could offer any info and he thinks I had the bike at too high RPM.  I think he might be right.

I was doing 50 in 4th gear.  The bike has so much power it seemed like it liked it there, but I read in the owners manual to shift into 5th or 6th by 37 miles per hour!!  This is the first bike I've ridden with that much torque.  You see my last bike was a Ducati 900cr and it never really minded the high rev.

I feel like a dope, but I am happy to think the problem could be that simple.  I am going to keep a close eye on the temp and I found lots of posts here about overheating and what to check, thermostat, fan, add a manual fan switch, check water pump and radiator, etc...  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

[ThomasMagna]

I bought, or am paying for, my brother's Shadow Aero 1100 last month and didn't read the manual fully. Just how to check the fluids and such. I had several hundred miles on it before I sat down to read it.

I was certainly surpised to find out that, according to the owner's manual, that I should be shifting into 5th, the high gear on the Shadow, at 31 miles per hour. The engine performs fine at 55 in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear. I don't worry too much about the shift recommendations in the manual. Don't recall off hand what the V45 says about it but I am sure it is nowhere near the speeds I shift at.

The Shadow doesn't have a tach on it and I miss it. Betty, my V45, of course, has one and I use that more than the speedo but mostly shift by ear and feel. I am not shy on the take off either, and maybe I am beating Betty to death, but I wind her out really good in 1st and 2nd, closing in on the red line. I am not saying that's what you should do, that's just what I do on both bikes because I love the feel of the acceleration.

Some one with real information will be of more help, just my 2 cents.

As far as feeling like a dope, try not to. I try not to. I just figure that I am need of information. That's where the forum comes in. I'm still pretty ignorant but learning all the time.

Many thanks to the forum.

[Curtis_Valk]

The Magna engine loves to rev.  You didn't overheat it by riding in 4th at 50.  I rode mine (3rd Gen Magna) in Texas heat all summer for three summers and under all riding styles including extended miles in stop and go traffic and it never overheated.  Look for one of the causes that has been discussed.  Of course check the obvious first, like coolant level and such.

Curtis

[Greg Cothern]

I completely agree with Curtis, the Magna engine should not overheat just by running higher RPM's, they LOVE the RPM's..
The radiator caps lately have been a culprit as well as fan thermostat switches..

[fuji]

Thanks, yeah I am going to check out some of the obvious and if I can't get it post for some help.  I road it 130 miles back home.  On the highway it stays at 4 bars on the thermostat.  When I get off the highway it goes up to 6 bars and the fluid starts boiling out the radiator cap and the overflow valve in back.   Definitely a problem.  Oh well I know it is a 25 year old bike so time to get out the wrench and get to know her.

I just hope it is the cooling system and not the engine running so hot it is overheating a working cooling system.