Ok, so maybe I don't know anyone at Honda, but the April Fools hoax allowed me to verbalize my dream bike. So what about you? Granted, this is a Magna forum and we are all partial to our 1st - 3rd Generation Magnas, but what changes would you make to it if you had the chance?
The seemingly apparent deficiencies are brakes, tank capacity, lack of a 6th gear, and chain drive. Is that the order that you would put them in? And are there others that you would classify as major changes. While the rear tire might not be classified as a deficiency, a beefier tire sure would add style points.
I certainly would update the all the lights (to LEDs) and the headlight to something that does not remind me of a '68 VW bug. The wheels would probably need an update too.
Most importantly, what would you do with the power plant? Is 750cc/90hp sufficient? What is a good number, and can you stray from a V4 and still call it a Magna?
I know this thread serves no real purpose, but I have spent some time thinking about what changes I would make, and I am curious of yours. Lastly, if we could configure the "best bike" would it be a big seller on the market?
Chain drive is not a problem in my opinion. I prefer the maximum HP transfer and no shaft jacking in the corners.
I think they should make two Magnas, a 750 cc version and one based on the ST1300 V4.
I would go with (in no particular order):
1. Cartridge suspension in the front forks and better rear suspension with adjustable or auto damping.
2. Hydraulic slipper clutch.
3. Fuel injection mapping that can be changed from the handlebars while riding.
4. Chain drive.
5. Larger fuel capacity.
6. 4 in 4 exhaust.
7. Disc brakes all around with an ABS option
8. Better looking fake air cleaners or real air cleaners on the side to give us some tank capacity.
9. More ground clearance/lean angle.
10. Some place to attach frame sliders. :twisted:
11. No VTEC unless they can get it working correctly.
12. Better trim/styling on the radiator.
13. More common tire sizes for high performance options.
I would be happy with the 83 model V-65 drive train , updated, including fuel injection and chromed out (more like the third gen) and all this shoved into the ACE Touring chassis! Avaliable in all Honda colors. And, if I ever hit the lottery I'm going to just do it myself! :D
I was a member of a truck "club" for 5 years (www.mysporttrac.com), and Ford reps read ideas from the forum on our website for their 2nd generation Sport Trac. Mysporttrac.com had members in every state, and we had a yearly meet in Louisville, where they built the Sport Trac, which Ford would sponsor. (There was a meet once in Texas at their state fair, but it wasn't as well-attended as the Louisville meet.) They listened to many of our ideas, and the 2nd generation Sport Trac was born. They even featured the website in their employee newsletter.
I'd liken the popularity of the Sport Trac to the Magna. It was no F-150, as the Magna is no VTX, but the owners loved them.
I wonder if Honda reads enthusiasts websites like Ford did...
In any case, I don't have any ideas to add other than what has been suggested in this thread. I'm happy with the chain too - that's all I had even ridden, except when I test drove a Kawasaki ZL600. I downshifted a bit hard and it scared the holy crap out of me with how unforgiving it was. :shock: (I thought I broke something..)
A V-4 1000cc+ 120-135 rear wheel hp
Dual front discs, rear disc.
Hydraulic clutch
Shaft drive
6th gear
Slightly larger frame
5 gallon fuel tank +/-
Fuel injection
all in a 600lb +/- weight range
Priced in at under $10K
I've got the 1st gen V45 and I like it fine. Bigger tank would be better for sure. That tank is so small. The thing I like least about the bike is the placement of the foot pegs. They are not under my center of gravity and if I have to or want to shift my weight, I have to PULL myself up with the handle bars. Not good I believe. Don't know if the other generations are different, but it bugs me on mine. Rear disc brakes, better suspension, more horsepower and as long this is just wishing, give one to all current Magna owners. Ya, and if not free, at a huge discount! :P
I'm not sure that is my 2 cents worth, maybe 1/2 or 1.
Suspension and tires! You've got to have better suspension and tires if you're going to control all that power in the corners. Otherwise you've got a V-MAX and all you can do is just point it straight.
Shaft-smaft. I'm not an old man on an ST1300! Give me chain drive, baby! :lol: :twisted:
Jesse, while your adjusting and puting lube on your chain, I am zooooom gone! LoL.
Til we get on it hard in the corners and your back end goes wobbly. Oh wait. I can also adjust my gear ratio by changing sprockets. Zoom!
Gotta say as an old guy I like Greg's specs.
Also I like the placement of the footpegs on my 1st Gen V45.
So for me,
bigger engine
Larger frame and load capacity
Keep the shaft
Fuel Injection
But keep it nimble like my 700
You said wish list right :roll:
Put a chain oiler on it if you absolutely must have it easy, otherwise quit turning the Magna into a Valk! LOL
For the Magna to stay viable it needs to out-perform all cruisers as a muscle-bike in every sense of the word, both in the straights and in the corners. Unless they can work out the performance problems in the shaft drive, it needs to stay a chain.
There's also the issue of weight. If the bike is to be light and handle nimbly then the chain will let you shed weight and not hinder your cornering clearance like a shaft drive will.
Most of the "old" guys in riding are moving to either the Harley's, Wings, or ST1300s, or the bulkier bikes. This is not the Magna's place. It needs to be positioned to blow away the V-Rod, V-Max, M109, Mean Streak, etc. Not take on the Gold Wings, and touring bikes.
Jesse, I must say I know you have ridden behind Curtis on his mighty Valk. I also must say that he is not slowing ANYONE down LoL.
Seriously though I agree that the Magna needs to blow all these other bikes away, but I think a shaft drive unit would be a good addition.
Have you raced a 1800 Gold Wing? I am not ready for one yet but as my friends move into them (3 so far) I am totally amazed at how fast they are and how well they handle.
That said... on my Magna wish list would be the current Interceptor motor with fuel injection, a larger tank (I'd be happy with just 1 gallon more), and since I didn't mind the shaft performance on my previous Magna, I'd go with shaft drive. An option for more chrome in such places as the fork lowers, radiator cover and rims would be nice. And finally.... a tour option like the Yamaha Tour Deluxe with the quick removing windshield and backrest.
David
MOOT #362
This is almost as bad as an oil thread. :roll:
LOL
Quote from: drkngasHave you raced a 1800 Gold Wing? I am not ready for one yet but as my friends move into them (3 so far) I am totally amazed at how fast they are and how well they handle.
I raced a guy with an '05 Goldwing(whichever year the 30th anniversary is) on my V65 Magna and bet him twice. Once from a stand still and once from 40 mph. I know the guy very well, ridden many a mile with him, and he wasn't afraid to open it up. I didn't walk off and leave him til the roll on start. The Goldwings do handle very well(even heard them compared to a sportbike) and do have plenty of power. One of these days we are going to get one.
My thoughts on the subject and the various replies:
- Make the engine a fuel injected 800-900cc high reving V4 (It IS a Magna after all right?)
- BIGGER TANK.....PLEASE!!!!!!!!
- Front and rear dics brakes
- Adjustable levers (or the ability to put some aftermarket adjustable ones on)
- Optional quarter fairing like the CD version but with better wind coverage
- Better suspension (inverted cartridge front forks, well sprung and damped rear springs)
- A decent seat
- Analog guages inset with digital functions (timer, trip, clock, etc.)
- Hidden auxilary outlet
- Chain drive never has bothered me but shaft would be nice for those that do a lot of highway riding. Have the VF850C version with shaft drive, slighty more forward pegs and softer suspension and the VF850R version with chain, mid controls, stiffer suspension and the fairing :wink:
Well I would like to see....
200+ Hp...Even if they had to move into the V6 range. They can do it with outboard motors why not motorcycles....
Fuel Injection....
Large tank.....6+ gal would be nice....
Comfortable seat.....
Shaft Drive.....
Full touring package aviable with fairing hard bags and trunk.....somthing like the Valk IS....
Plenty of aftermarket suport....
Cup holders....
I like Jimmy's idea of two versions. I was thinking of that too but figured we'd be lucky just to get one Magna out of Honda. They seem to stuck in the rut of multiple versions of the VTX and that's about it.
Kerry, you just turned the bike into a Valk or something else. LOL :)
Styling similar to a V65,
how about a V5 from a RC211V,
6 gears,
5+ gal. fuel tank(s),
fuel injection,
Pro-link rear suspension (chain drive, R version) or a single sided swingarm with shaft drive(C version), Two versions are a great idea Jimmy,
Ram-air intake,
high output ignition,
programmable ECU,
inverted cartridge front forks,
electronic steering damper,
high volume oil pump,
high volume water pump,
hydraulic lifters,
hydraulic clutch,
front and rear dics brakes with floating rotors, Brembo maybe?,
digital gauges,
wider rear wheel,
All parts chromed or powdercoated except for painted body parts
something like this maybe? Somewhere I have a pic with the bike in red, looks sharp.
Yea I know, still dreamin'
I like it. I'd like a red one more. :)
OK, so I'm an old fart, but that version looks a little to crotch-rockety for me.. I must admit I like my old-fashioned cruiser :roll:
None the less, it looks like a really fun ride!!!!
Actually I was going to say that it looked a lot like the 1st gens (maybe too much) and much less like the cruiser style of the 3rd gens.
The crotch-rockety look comes from a little bit of streamlining of the 1st gen lines. But if you look at it, the seat, tank, pipes, rear wheel are all reminiscent of the 1st gen and the Super. Then engine even looks like the first gen.
The front fender is more like the 3rd gens. The rear fender and front/rear suspension is more sport bike-ish. The air cleaners are reminiscent of the V-Max.
So there you have it. That looks much more like a 1st gen than anything else. he he. But it does look mean and sporty.
Well I can't find the red one anywhere except for a printed copy I have at work, when I get my scanner back I'll upload it.
It does have a lot of 1st gen likeness, guess that is why I like it so much. Now if Honda can add all the stuff that we want in one that would be amazing. :)
I don't mean to sound negative but it looks like the frame broke on a crotch rocket. :?
I think my favorite characteristic of the Magna is that it looks like a cruiser but runs like a rocket. I don't know how long the "trend" will last, but the hot look on the street is the cruiser/chopper style. You can thank American Choppers, Biker Build-off, etc. for bringing that to the masses. Lots of younger folks (like myself) have caught on to the two wheel craze. Having said that, I think a cruiser design would be more marketable.
Again, that begs the question . . . if Honda were to re-release the Magna, could it be marketed to draw a big group?
I'd think a lot of young guys would really go for a fast cruiser. These teens watching the Discover Channel are coming up in the ranks, and it won't be long until they will hit their 20's and want a bike of their own. And not to sound disrespectful in any way, but they are gonna want a bike w/o saddlebags, windsheild, floorboards, etc. In the minds of kids, those accesories do to a motorcycle what a camper shell does to a truck.
At any rate, maybe Honda will capitalize on this market and we can get a 4th gen after all. dc
It is hard to say. When I was young in body, every maker had many enduros (now dual purpose). Now the makers only make one or two and that is all.
What I mean by that is the taste and desires of all ages will change. Will the desire of the young in age desire for sport bikes or could it shift back to a dual purpose. I know if I was that age I would want a dual purpose but I had a place in the country to go off road all the time. When this generation of young riders maturing will they want a cruiser with the acceleration of a sports bike or just stay with sports bike? That could depend on what the back rider could desires. :lol: But I had an unending list of girls wanting to ride with me on my enduro. :D
There is a market for a kick ass cruiser, the fact that the cc's keep getting bigger proves that. Unfortunately for the few of us that like the Magna, we know it was a head of it's time. To many of our generation are trying to hang on to the old school V-twin that started the chopper era. When this new generation of sport bike riders get tired of laying down to ride and start slowing down to enjoy the comfort of cruisers they will be prime targets for the a power of a V-four engine in a cruiser style bike. Their gen is not tuned in to the sound of a V-twin. I think then we'll see more of a Magna style bike come back. I don't think I can hold my breath that long, but I can hope. In the meantime I keep thinking some of us older guys need to start building our own version of a new Magna :idea: !! Waiting on Honda ain't workin! :x
Quote from: Charles S OtwellIn the meantime I keep thinking some of us older guys need to start building our own version of a new Magna :idea: !! Waiting on Honda ain't workin! :x
When the V65 (project which is going good) and the VF1000R project bikes are done we can use the V65 parts bike I have to get it started.
Works for me! 8) I think I may have found an outlet for later model salvage bikes I'm already looking for a larger frame and tank.. Hurry up and get that V-65 finished I'm getting older by the minute.. :lol:
I would like to see fuel injection. Seriously the think I like most about the this bike is the cost. The price is low and it goes under the radar for insurance.
I am looking forward to see what Yamaha does with the V-Max in 2008. The V-Max is very close to the V65.
If this is the direction that the Vmax is headed it looks like they going all out sport bike, not what I was hoping for!
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/10/20/new-yamaha-vmax-from-tokyo-motor-show/