in 1966 I was a Honda Super 90 rider. A well known friend of mine rode a regular 90. Since about 1970, we went in different directions due to personal events. I lost my wife and child in child birth. In about 1982 I returned to Texas with my new family and eventually found my old friend and began to return to what I loved. It was no longer about the newest and the fastest, but about the call of the Magna again. I bought a black v45 and it was so fun and impressive. Then I went through 2 Red V65s, both of which I would love to have back to this day, as a collector. The last I rebuilt, with my Honda mechanic friend, and made just gorgeous bikes. I sold the first one for $4300 and about 6 months later the guy I sold it to in Wichita, Texas was now selling it for $4800. I have no idea the fair price of these bikes now, but then I wanted it back. I had made a mistake.
After that I went through a Sportster (no way!) and a VFR (Fantastic, but Too much! because I'm too old now) and finally bought the to 2004 ST1300 on a trip to Colorado with my kids. After that I was called back to the field, and no bike would have been used for years, so I sold it. I am 65 now, and I still LOVE the Magna. My friend and I have take apart and reassembled the engines from the 80s many times. Years ago I had a friend names Reviere. He was still riding at 84 and doing just great. I had to return to Europe and I lost touch with him. The point is, only God knows when your time to quit is, and you will never know until you keep trying, and hopefully we don't get hurt. He rode safely until his children put him in a nursing home. That's the last I heard.
So, as the way of life may go, I went through a divorce recently that I did not want. I challenged the divorce and the female judge gave me the call too 50/50 to my 180 acre working farm in Central Texas. I could not take my ex wife losing all and simply took enough of our savings to move on. So I now live in Duncanville, Texas where my family and friend is from.
I purchased a 1998 750C Magna. I LOVE it! I am 65 and it does all I need, and I will resolve the miles per tank issue, because I have done it before, and I can only imagine, that there are more options now,
Lastly, say about 10 years ago, we were building our own helmet to helmet communications, as there were no market devices. We are both engineers, abd Bluetooth was not available. So first I just wanna say "Good to be home guys" and secondly I have 2 questions, which I must admit I have not yet researched.
One is the mileage per tank issue for a trip to the Grande Canyons and secondly is what is suggested for gearing the 750C down for lower highway mileage. Now I know this may be irritating for those who have been over and probably over this, but I beg for grace if you van only give a link to what has already been discussed. I am disabled and a part of my disability if searching thru pages and pages of typed information. Before I became this way, I was a network security engineer working in the military servers. The point being it may take me days to rifle through searches. So all I need is a link.
Thank you all for still being here and still riding. I know the weaknesses and the strengths of all Honda V4s, but I would rather have such bikes as of all others, disregarding HP or sizes of new engines, simply because of all of the fun and pleasure I have had in the past.
I thank you all,
OldFaithful
1st of all , Welcome...
I'm one of the odd ones, I'm in Florida..
As for the small Fuel tank... Many people have converted a Valk tank by welding in a Magna bottom piece. Do a search on that or it may be on the Tips and Tricks page.
For the gearing.. The Magna came stock with a 16/40 sprocket set up. The easiest is to just go to a 17 tooth front sprocket.. This will drop your revs between 400 and 500 RPM.. I ran one for a while and several on here have been running this set up for a long time..
I found that the bike didn't have any Umph above 80 and had to down shift to get any more real speed out of her... The nice thing about swapping the front sprocket instead of the back is you don't need to get a longer/shorter chain.. I have a 17, 16 & 15 front sprocket...
17 for long trips, 16 for regular use (Honda got the ratio right) and a 15 if I feel like hot rodding around..
Go thru the tips and tricks page for other common mods.. The Progressive springs up front are great.. I would put a volt meter on the bike as the regulators are prone to fail and many have moved it from the bottom of the battery box to behind the right side cover.
There are carb tweeks to smooth out the mid range flat spot, etc, etc..
Welcome
Hootmon
Welcome aboard. I have a few friends in there 80's who are still riding. Check out tour tanks you can Google it just one option. Enjoy the ride.
Welcome! I am 76, still riding, have two (long story) well maintained '96 Magnas.
Someone posted, and I agree, that you don't quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.
Ride on. Ever down Austin way, send me a private message (PM) on this site, and if I can, I will meet you for lunch...
Welcome aboard. And I think you left off the most important information... What color is your Magna? he he.
For a long trip Hoot covered the sprocket change. You might also want to get a windshield because riding straight up in the wind is tiring. I have a Memphis shades pop top which easily comes on and off the bike by simply loosening four bolts. It's actually not a big enough windshield for my height of 5'7". I can't get a clean air stream off of it and it buffets my head a bit. My girlfriend is going to use it on her Magna. So you might want to ask around about other windshields before purchasing one.
Also if you're going to do the Valkyrie tank modification be sure to check out the write up on the MOOT website.
If your current tank isn't dented I'd hate to see it cut up. I have a parts bike with a dented Magna tank on it. The top is messed up but you just need the bottom. If you want to eventually swap tanks, I'd be willing to drop my dented one off so you can cut it up and play around with tank options and keep riding in the mean time. Then when you get your new tank the way you want it I'll just take your old stock one.
Had a '96 until this past summer, had a tour tank on it. 3 gal. Doubled the range to same as a Valkrie. Go to 'Tour Tank.com' for info. Also had the 17 tooth front sprocket. Allowed me to windout the gears longer. And welcome to MOOT.
Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
2003 ST1300
Quote from: lragan on December 06, 2016, 10:35:05 AM
Someone posted, and I agree, that you don't quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.
Yes, it was me.
Since you are in Duncanville and I am in Ovilla, TX. You should come out and group ride with me.
http://www.meetup.com/Dedicated-Riders-of-North-Texas/
Well, I hate to admit that, of all things I have not really used the "forum" format before, and I am not sure that if I reply I am reply to the subject I posted or to someone privately. There were several suggestions and all welcomed IF I ever get this thing running again. It went from bad ass perfect, the parked outside under a bike cover, and now in a garage thank God. I have ran the 9 yards on the fuel, except to clean or replace the jets, which I had read somewhere there's a trick way to do that without removing the carbs. I have an idea, but I am also replacing some parts to my compressor at the moment.
Anyway, yes, I have a Memphis Wind Shield, which is above my have and also has the lower buffers. It was on the bike when I bought it.
Yep, Smoked U, I'll be interested to meet you and ride any time WHEN this thing is running. The way the choke had to be pulled out a little more and more each time I started it until now it just wont start, I was sure it was Fuel System related. The only thing left is to clean the jets or put a kit on the carbs.
However, I don't remember the "color" of the spark, so I'm starting on electrical tests, because I can do that pretty fast. If everything comes out good, then it's a call to Dave Dodge and see what he has.
Well, ok. I'm wasting BEAUTIFUL riding time and I hate that!
OldFaithful
Pulling carbs is not all that bad, just a little patience and instructions needed..
Sounds like your idle jets are clogged.. Get those clean up and I bet it will roar back to life.
I have the carb pull instructions if you need me to e-mail them to you..