First of all I'd like to say hi. I just got my 1995 yellow magna with under 3k on the clock. I love the way the bike looks and handles, and unlike all the other V motorcycles I've driven, power actually increases as rpm's increase. :lol:
So after putting 150 miles in the first two days I drove it I've got a few questions.
1.) I need a windshield. Does anyone have a suggestion for a bolt on that keeps the "sportier" look. I'm just looking for something small to keep the wind off my chest at 80mph. I've looked at a few from memphis, but I really don't know how they look on the magna.
2.) Is there a way to adjust the low beam headlight? With the brights on the head light is adjusted perfectly but the low beams only show me about 40 feet infront of me.
Thanks for the help guys and gals,
I don't like a windshield on a cruiser, and don't do a lot of high speed riding so I have the National flyscreen (see pic below). It deflects the wind off you chest so you don't feel like you are being pulled off the bike. Some complain that it causes buffeting when the wind hits the helmet, but I don't notice it that much. I like the wind in my face, that's why I am on a MC.
As for the headlight, I have noticed the same thing. Not much fun at 60 when all you can see is 40 feet. I don't ride much at night so that is not a problem for me either. Many have added a VTX headlight with good results.
Welcome, and have fun with the funest bike there is.
There's not much hope for the stock headlight. The most common headlight mod is the VTX headlight. I think there's a write up somwhere, accessible from the MOOT home page. In the mean time I would adjust it up for good low beam since you use that mode the most often and let the high beam fall where it may. It won't blind people in the day time no matter where it is aimed and you won't be using high beams at night unless there is clear road ahead.
Like DC, I also had the NC flyscreen. It doesn't do much except take some pressure off your chest, but since I only used my Magna for short trips, that was ok.
Curtis
i got a screen they sell at cycle gear seems like perfect size to me paid 79 for it and its universal i really like it(http://i16.tinypic.com/4t6f52a.jpg)
Welcome to the MOOT.
I believe I have Honda Line. My wife would like me to take it off for around town but I have my little bags attached to it.
I need to drill out the slots to get a better slope for it.
The Magna is my daily ride.
Lights: Almost half my saddle time is at night. I went with cheap driving light attached to the engine guard.
If your going for looks the silver bullet is popular for driving lights.
My wife would like me eventually change the main head light out but that is much farther down the road for me.
Dwight, my cousin has that same kind of sheild on his Wide Glide and loves it.
Curtis
you know speaking of harleys just about every harley owner i talk too loves my radiator and tells me never buy harley.Its just 10000 dollars more to ride the same streets lol
I'm not real positive of the cause and effect but I have heard something that the EPA will be making Harley start using a radiator for some reason.
Other then the vibration the none radiator is the main reason that keep me from considering a Harley. I like the V-Rod but they are not cheap.
Maybe I'm being an inconsiderate jerk, but I keep my brights on all the time. I think I've only ridden with my low beam on once or twice. I might be mistaken, but I believe my MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) instructor recommended leaving the high beam on all the time so people will notice you on the road more.
I only remember one person adjusting their mirror when I pulled up behind them at a stop light, and I just turned my handlebars a little so I wasn't shining right in their mirrors. Plus the high beams on the magna can't be any worse than the low beams on some of these raised trucks out there and the newer ultra bright headlights. Also, I've never had anyone say anything to me about my headlight when I'm riding with other people at night.
And I figure I'd rather have a few people annoyed at my bright light than one person not see me and pull into me or in front of me.
I use my high beam during the day and low at night. I figure at night if they don't see the low beam there not going to see a high beam either
and there is no need to make people mad at me. I have my driving light adjusted a little above the low beam and under the high beam.
So they fill in the dead area between high and low beam.
Quote from: Luke 22I use my high beam during the day and low at night. I figure at night if they don't see the low beam there not going to see a high beam either
and there is no need to make people mad at me. I have my driving light adjusted a little above the low beam and under the high beam.
So they fill in the dead area between high and low beam.
Robert,
Would you mind posting a couple of closeups of your driving light installation? That's my next planned modification for my bike, and I'd like to see how you implemented yours.
Thanks very much,
Mike
I will take a picture by Saturday.
They are attached to the top of the engin guard. You can see a black spot below the reflector on the radiator.
Thanks for the replies guys.
I guess I'll just use the high beam for now until I figure out what to do about the lights.
IBDWIGHT, thanks for the info on the windshield. That seems to be what I need and doesn't seem to detract from the bike all that much. And at about half the price of the hondaline ones I think that's the way I'm going to go.
Probably 95% of my ridding is during the day, so the headlight is not a big deal. However, I did change it out for the other 5% of the time. The reason being is that I keep a tinted shield on my helmet, so it makes it too dark at night. I either have to flip it up or use my brights. I usually do both. Congrats on the bike and welcome to the forum. dc
The mounting bracket came from a cheap pair of highway pegs that did not work out.
The lights where cheap and very functional. I got them from Pep Boys they had smaller ones but they all said for off road only.
(http://www.geocities.com/bible101a/magnalight1.jpg)
(http://www.geocities.com/bible101a/magnalight2.jpg)
I'm going to a bike junkyard north of Detroit to see if I can score a VTX1800
headlamp ("We've got a whole bin full of headlights, just sort through 'em until you find what you need." Have to wonder what kind of shape they're in.)
Otherwise, I like Robert's idea....I'm just too chicken to fool around with the wiring :?
Quote from: Luke 22The mounting bracket came from a cheap pair of highway pegs that did not work out.
The lights where cheap and very functional. I got them from Pep Boys they had smaller ones but they all said for off road only.
Robert,
Thank you very much for taking the photos and posting them. I just got the Hondaline guards on a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking about mounting lights in a similar location. That looks like it ought to do the trick!
Best regards,
Well, I ordered the windshield. I found the same one as the National Cycle universal fit one mentioned earlier, except this one has a quick release system. It was the same price from JCWhittney. I'll have to let you know how it works out.
On a side note, I saw my exact same bike pulling out of a gas station yesterday as I was driving by. Very weird. I thought these bikes were kind of on the rare side as far as motorcycles go. Perhaps not rare, but uncommon. It was kind of cool.
I think you had a "Rare Experience"
3 most common color of 3rd gen Magna's are Red, Black, and Yellow it seems LoL.
Quote from: TLRam1I think you had a "Rare Experience"
That's good to know. Well, I have another random question for you guys. With my bike I recieved two small covers and I really have no clue what they are for. They are about 2'x2' with a big honda logo on it. Made of tarp like material with a drawstring. There are two of them, but I have no clue what they could possibly cover. Did anyone else get covers like these with there magna?
Can you share a PIC of them??
Helmet bags, maybe?? Oops, i was thinking about the draw strings and missed the part about them beings covers.. :oops:
Quote from: Greg CothernCan you share a PIC of them??
I can email you the pics tonight. Actually now that I look at them the way the logo is they appear to be bags of some sort. However the logo is mirrored on the two bags indicating a front/back left/right bag?
I also got that wind shield put on last night. I had it installed kind of high and found out what you guys mean by the paint stiring head. I lowered it and got a wind full of face but the wind was off my chest. If my shoulders weren't as broad as they are it would be perfect, but they stick into the windstream a bit.
ok, I finally got around to finding a place to upload pic to. Here's the covers, and a pic of the bike while I'm at it. :D
(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/mn_vette/Cover1.jpg)
(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/mn_vette/cover2.jpg)
(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/mn_vette/bike.jpg)
Those sort of look like rain suit or bike cover bags....
Quote from: mn_vette
If my shoulders weren't as broad as they are it would be perfect, but they stick into the windstream a bit.
Nice looking bike. I like the yellow Magna. I can see what you are talking about the wind on your shoulders. I want to fix the lean of my wind screen hopefully to lower it about 4 inches.
Quote from: Greg CothernThose sort of look like rain suit or bike cover bags....
What is a bike cover bag?
Are they big enough to put a helmet in? If they are I would say they could be a helmet bag.
I'm thinking helmet bags.
Curtis
On the '82 V45 that I had until last Fall, I had the Hondaline soft-saddlebags. They come with a left & right side raincover that looks exactly like those- silver, Honda logo, and a draw string. FWIW.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
1996 VF750C
OK Region
where does the ipod come in? was that just for a size compairson? since I got my bike used I didn't get any fancy stuff, but I would say they look like helmet bags. nice lookin' bike. 8)
I think we have a winner. I like Brad's informed guess better than my uninformed guess!! :wink:
Curtis
Quote from: Brad BadgettOn the '82 V45 that I had until last Fall, I had the Hondaline soft-saddlebags. They come with a left & right side raincover that looks exactly like those- silver, Honda logo, and a draw string. FWIW.
Brad, I think you are right. I got a set of fabric saddle bags with the bike. If you look at the back of the bike I split the saddle bags and put one on the luggage rack. I didn't have anything to keep the bags from hitting the back wheel.
The weird thing is that the bags have water proof liners so I'm not sure what the bags would be used for. Atleast the mistery is solved. Thanks.
I need to post a picture but I added supports under my saddle bags to insure they stay up off the pipes.