Getting back into a Magna

[JLeather]

Hi all,
  First time joining your site.  I had a 2000 Magna I bough back in 2004 with about 25000 miles on it.  Cobra turnouts, windshield, lightbar, saddlebags, etc.  I rode that bike for 10,000 miles and in about '06 I sold it to fund a chopper I was building (70's CB750).  My daily ride since then has been a 1970 stock CB750, and a couple choppers have come and gone.  My fiance wanted to do some more riding 2-up and the old CB's just weren't cutting it so I started looking recently for a newer ride.  Happened across a '94 Maggie with only 11,000 miles.  V&H pipes, jetted, Corbin Gunfighter seat, H4 headlight, etc.  Black, just like my old one had been, and spotlessly clean.  A deal was struck and for only $2400 she came back home.  Haven't gotten it inspected yet, but in the short test rides I've taken it brings back a lot of memories.  Looking forward to hanging on to this one and doing some mods myself.

Anyway, got a few Q's.  For starters, this is a '94 and it has not had the cam-modification done.  I'm not afraid of tackling it myself.  I mean, I do full engine rebuilds on my other bikes.  I'd like to know if I need gaskets for the valve-covers though and where to get them.  I read the guides from here and a few other sites on how to do it, but I didn't see gaskets mentioned anywhere.

Also, I was wondering if anyone has tried the Saddlemen gel seat for the Magna.  The gunfighter is ok for me alone, but I plan on lots of 2-up riding and I need something with more passenger padding.  The Saddlemen is about the same price as the Mustang classic seat.  Anyone got a comment on one versus the other?  I still have the stock seat, but I hated the stock seat back when i had my 2000 because my but went numb after about an hour.  I'm also tempted by the mustang with the backrest.  Looks very nice for those extra long rides.

I also definitely need the progressive springs for the front, and possibly the rear.  I'm a pretty big guy (6'3" 250#) and especially with the extra weight of my fiance the front always used to nose down bad on my 2000.  Anyone ever tried adding air to the stock front forks?  Used to do that on my CB750's when i had extra weight.

Lastly, the bike came with a good (1500 miles old) ME880 tire on the back so that'll be good for a season or two.  After that I'm definitely considering darksiding it.  I read the thread here about it and it sounds pretty good.

Looking forward to riding a magna again and hanging around for a bit.

Thanks,
John

[hootmon]

Welcome from Safety Harbor, Florida

Go mustang over the Saddleman if you live where it gets hot.. The gel pad tends to absorb heat in the sun and release it slowly into it's available heat sink (your behind) once you sit down..
Or have your stock seat re-done.. There is someone on the site that does that work... Ask about memory foam..

Also if you are going two up.. Consider purchasing the rear peg extenders, your passenger will highly appreciate this from you!!!
http://www.cycle-istic.com/PegExtenders.html

I have a 94 with between 60-70K on it and the cam work was never done.. No problems yet..
Are you sure the work was not done?? Look near the serial number on the neck.. If there is a Punch mark, then the work was done by Honda..

Fill in your profile a little to let us know where you are located (add to your avatar info or signature info)

Again Welcome!!!

[JLeather]

Added a little to the profile.  Thanks for the tip on the gel absorbing heat.  It's a black bike, a black seat, and Maryland is fairly hot so that might be an issue.  Who on the forum does seat mods?  I do have a stock seat that is basically useless to me at the moment.

Planning on the peg extenders.  My fiance is 5'8" and while she didn't complain when she rode on the Magna before I'm sure she'd appreciate the room.

There's no punch mark under the VIN.  The guy I got it from was the second owner, and his uncle was the first, and he said it'd never been done.I figured this winter or something when I'm not riding I'd do it.  Didn't seem that hard from the writeups I read.

[Magnum Magna]

Peg extenders: My wife did not complain either but got them anyway.  She did appreciate the difference.

Custom seats: I was very happy with Charles S Otwell in Texarkana, Texas

PS: I need to take a new picture of the bike with the new seat.

[hootmon]

Added a little to the profile.  Thanks for the tip on the gel absorbing heat. 

Thanx for updating your profile.
The gel aslo absorbs cold..

Please contact "Dan" - He has been dying for someone from Maryland to join in the Moot Fun...

[MarylandMagnav45]

Added a little to the profile.  Thanks for the tip on the gel absorbing heat. 

Thanx for updating your profile.
The gel aslo absorbs cold..

Please contact "Dan" - He has been dying for someone from Maryland to join in the Moot Fun...

Yes. What part of Maryland are you from?  I private messaged you so check your inbox.  Sometime next week we can meetup for a ride, and maybe even post pictures.

MOOTsters far and AWAY from TEXAS! Hahaha.

[roboto65]

The old saying goes here " If it ain't broke don't fix it "  unless you want to if you do not here any knocking or such then you maybe OK it is not mandatory to do unless you here the knocking alot 94s were fine and never needed it 

[TLRam1]

My 94 I didn't do it, never had it, never needed it, had 60K when I sold the bike and you would never know.