Honda Magna

Manufacturer	Honda
Model year	1982-2003
Class	cruiser
Engine	DOHC 4-valve 90° V-4
Related	Honda Sabre V4, Honda Interceptor

The Honda Magna was a cruiser motorcycle made from 1982 to 2003 powered by Honda's VF/VFR V-4 engine. The introduction of this engine on the Magna and the Sabre in 1982 was milestone in the evolution of motorcycles that would culminate in 1983 with the introduction of the Interceptor V-4.The V45's performance is comparable to that of Valkyries and Honda's 1800cc V-twin cruisers. However, its mix of performance, reliability, and refinement was overshadowed by the more powerful 1098cc "V65" Magna in 1983.

Honda notoriously emphasized the speed of this bike in an era that produced the very fast Yamaha V-Max and Suzuki Madura. Though criticized for its long-distance comfort, and lauded mainly for its raw acceleration, the Magna was the bike of choice for a Canada grandmother who toured the world solo by motorcycle, without benefit of the support crew that usually accompanies riders in adventures depicted in such films as Long Way Round.

The Magna and other large-displacement Hondas were assembled in the Marysville Motorcycle Plant in Ohio. In 2008 Honda announced plans to close the plant, their oldest in North America, in 2009, which had been still making Gold Wings and VTX cruisers.

1982-1984 V45 (VF750C)

1982-1984 V45

Also called	VF750C
Model year	1982-1984
Successor	V30
Engine	748cc, bore x stroke 70 x 48.6mm, 10.5 to 1 compression
Top speed	122 mph
Power	80.3 bhp @ 9500rpm
Torque	46.2 lb ft @ 8000rpm
Transmission	6 speed, straight-cut Gears, Multi-plate wet clutch, shaft drive.
Suspension	Front: Telescopic anti-dive Travel: 5.5in, Rear: Swing Arm, Travel: 3.9in
Brakes	Front: Dual 10.8in disc, Rear: 6.25in Drum
Tires	Front: 110/90-18 Rear: 130/90-16
Rake, Trail	30° / 4.1 in
Wheelbase	60.6 in
Dimensions	W 29 in
Seat height	30 in
Weight	(dry), 518lb (wet)
Fuel capacity	3.7 gal.
Oil capacity	3.7 qts
Fuel consumption	46 mpg

The first generation 1982 Honda V45 Magna was available in either Candy Maroon or Candy Imperial Blue. The headlight and fenders are chrome. The front disc brakes have straight grooves, dual piston calipers, and TRAC anti-dive. The speedometer reads 80 mph. The redline is 10K rpm. The engine is a 748 cc DOHC 16-valve liquid-cooled 90 degree V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission with a hydraulically actuated wet-plate clutch and shaft drive. Compression is high, and the stroke is short.

The 1983 V45 Magna was available in one of two colors and the headlight, instruments, and fenders were chrome. The gas tank and side covers were the basic color (maroon or black). The front disc brake grooves were curved. The speedometer had a 150 mph (240 km/h) limit. The engine was a 748 cc DOHC 4-valve liquid-cooled V-4 linked to a 6-speed transmission and a shaft drive. (1983 starting SN JH2RC071*DM100011)

The US government imposed tariff rate hikes for foreign-built motorcycles over 700 cc in order to combat their rise in sales in North America, and to aid the domestic motorcycle manufacturers, namely Harley-Davidson. So for 1984 Honda responded by reducing the engine size for the VF750s to 698 cc, and the Magna became the VF700C in the USA. Colors available for 1984 were either black or Candy Andromeda red. The headlight changed from round chrome to a rectangular chrome housing. The seats were changed to a wider 2 piece design in an attempt to improve rider comfort. The rear shocks also changed to eliminate the extra fluid resivoir. The wheels were different as well. Honda only made the vf700 for the late part of 84', 85', 86', and 87', then back to the vf750 after that. The 85' was black and scorpio red. The 86' was black and glory red. The 87' was black and Candy Bourgogne Red. The first part of 84' the magnas were vf750.

1983-1986 V65 (VF1100C)

1983-1986 V65

Also called	VF1100C
Model year	1983-1986
Engine	1,099 cc (67.1 cu in)
Power	116 bhp (87 kW)
Transmission	6-speed, shaft drive
Wheelbase	62.8 in (1,600 mm)
Weight	(dry), 590 lb (270 kg) (wet)

The large displacement 1,099 cc (67.1 cu in) V65 Magna created buzz as Honda's entry in the 1/4 mile wars between manufacturers at the time, causing Suzuki to respond with the 1200 Madura (1/4 mile time 11.66s at 115.7 mph), and going up against such competition as the Suzuki GS1150E (10.47s at 128 mph).The V65 landed somewhere between these two, posting a quarter mile time of 11.29 s @ 119.2 mph (191.8 km/h).

1984-1985 V30 (VF500C)

1984-1985 V30

1984 Honda Magna V30
Also called	VF500C
Model year	1984-1985
Predecessor	V45
Engine	bore x stroke 60x44 mm compression ratio 11.0:1
Power	Honda specified 64 horsepower
Torque	31.7 at 10,500 rpm
Transmission	Six-speed transmission, wet clutch, automatic cam-chain tensioners, self-adjusting hydraulic clutch
Suspension	Front: leading axle, air adjustable fork, 37mm tubes, 6.3 in. travel. Rear: dual shock absorbers, 4.3 in travel
Brakes	Front hydraulic, single disc, twin piston caliper
Rake, Trail	35.1° / 4.4 in.
Wheelbase	59 in
Weight	439 lbs
Fuel capacity	2.5/0.9 gallons
Fuel consumption	45.3 mpg

The Honda VF500 is one of Honda's second generation V4 motorcycle engines produced in a series of motorcycles designated with VF and VFR initials. For 1984-1986, Honda produced the 498 cm3, V4 DOHC VF500 for the VF500C Magna V30 and its sister bike, the VF500F. This engine is an evolution of Honda's original domestic market 400cc engine, originally deemed too small and underpowered for certain markets - notably the United States and Europe. Focusing on adding power and versatility to its motorcycle offerings, Honda bored the original 400cc motor and improved its power and performance. The engine is almost entirely identical to the version in the Interceptor VF500F sport bike, and while Honda sold the VF500C Magna in the United States, it advertised it as the "most powerful midsize custom in the world".

This standard motorcycle was introduced as a balanced bike that was just as enjoyable yet easier to ride in town than its larger Magna siblings, with good power and a broad torque band. Thanks to its V4 design, power in the 500 engine is not peaky and ample torque can be found throughout the rev band, and the six speed transmission ratio was unique to this bike versus the ratio on the VF500F. The engine produced between 64-68 horsepower, and combined with its low weight and low center of gravity, the bike was lauded by critics as an easy to ride and entertaining motorcycle.

The Magna had no shaft drive like its larger siblings, but a traditional chain drive.As well, unlike the larger displacement V-four motors, the VF500 did not suffer from the oil cooling issues of the larger V-four motors (the larger displacement engines would not send sufficient oil to the cam lobes under 3,000 rpm, causing premature wear), yet the VF500 was still phased out as Honda reworked its technical designs for all its VF motors and cut down on its number of competing models in the market to keep from cannibalizing its sales. Today the bikes have a small but loyal following for their great handling and reliability.

Specifications:

• 1984 retail MSRP: $2,598 (USA Dollars)
• Standing-start quarter mile - 12.9 sec at 103 mph
• 0-60 in 3.9 seconds
• 60-0 in 120.6 feet

• Available colors were black and dark red

Changes by year

• Two colors were available each year: Candy Andromeda Red and Black in 1984, and Candy Wineberry Red and Black in 1985
• The "HONDA" fuel tank logo was straight in 1984, and curved up in 1985

Facts from Cycle Magazine, July 1984

1987-1988 V45 (VF750C)

1987-1988 V45

1987 Honda Super Magna, Canadian-export model
Also called	VF750C, "Super Magna"?
Predecessor	V30
Engine	748 cc
Power	88 PS @ 9000 rpm
Torque	6.6 kg-m / 7000 rpm
Transmission	6 speed, shaft drive
Brakes	Single disc front, drum rear
Tires	Front: 100/90-19 tubeless, Rear: 150/80-15 tubeless
Wheelbase	1660 mm
Dimensions	L 2385 mm W 810 mm H 1155 mm
Seat height	27.8 in (706 mm)
Weight	(dry), 529 lb (240 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity	13 L

Various mechanical and cosmetic changes were introduced over the years, but the basic core of the Magna remained the same. However, for the two years the 2G Magna was produced, it was dubbed the Super Magna. In 1987, the 700 cc engine produced 80 bhp (60 kW) @ 9500 rpm, with torque being 46 ft·lbf (62 N·m) @ 7500 rpm. In 1988, the Magna grew back to its original size of 748 cc.

On similar fashion the Magna V-four has done the old 750-700-750 two-step. 1982: the 70 x 48.6mm Magna 750 debuts. Quick cuts, 1984: the 70 x 45.4mm 700 (699) arrives. Revival, 1988: back to the original stroke and 748cc displacement. The Magna V-four has endured through the first and second generations of the VF and VFR Interceptors - both come and gone by 1988. Like the original 750 Sabre and VF 750, this 750 Magna engine uses a 360-degree crankshaft and chain-driven double-overhead camshafts. Thus, the VF750C unit is technologically quite different from Honda’s last V-four sport bike engine, the VFR750 Interceptor, which had gear-driven overhead cams and a 180-degree crankshaft.

The Super's cams are also line-bored (a feature first seen in the Euro 1985 VF1000F & F-II, and 85/86 VF1000R, 1986 VF500F, 1986 VF700C Magna), which greatly reduced the premature cam wear that plagued the earlier models, together with changed oil ducts.

The 1987 V45 Magna was available in either Candy Wave Blue or Candy Bourgogne Red (1988 dropped Blue in favor of Black). For 1987, the fake airbox covers were wrinkle black with a "Magna" emblem. The fake airbox emblem changes to "V45" for the 1988 model.

The 1987 Super Magna had a silver, grey & black Honda "wing" tank decal, while the 1988 model had a silver "MAGNA" tank decal.

The exhaust system was now an upswept 4-into-4 set of pipes, truly unique in the cruiser world. Although the exhaust pipes were a beautiful sight, they were not friendly to the use of saddlebags as they were too high. The rear wheel was a solid aluminum disc. The chin fairing was unfinished black plastic for the 87, and color-matched for the 88. The second generation was also the first to have the lower seat height of a mere 27.8 inches (706 mm), more than 4 inches (102 mm) lower than its predecessor. A total of 16,000 units were built for the 1987 model year, while only 3500 were built for 1988. (1987 starting SN JH2RC280*JA100001)

1994-2003 V45 (VF750C)

1994-2003 V45

1999 Honda Magna with aftermarket saddle and exhaust
Also called	VF750C
Model year	1994-2003
Engine	748.8 cc liquid-cooled 90° V-4, Bore x Stroke: 70 by 48.6 mm, 10.8:1 compression
Top speed	120 miles per hour (190 km/h)
Power	76.3 bhp (56.9 kW) (at rear wheel)
Torque	46.5 lb-ft (at rear wheel)
Transmission	5-speed, Final Drive: O-ring-sealed chain
Suspension	Front: 41 mm cartridge fork; 150 mm travel, Rear: Dual shocks with 5-way spring preload adjustability; 3.9 inches (100 mm) travel
Brakes	Front: 2-piston caliper, 12.4 in (315 mm) disc. Rear: Single-leading-shoe drum
Tires	tubless, Front: 120/80-17, Rear: 150/80-15
Rake, Trail	32°/5.2 in (132 mm)
Wheelbase	65.0 inches (1.65 m)
Seat height	28.0 inches (711 mm)
Weight	505 pounds (229 kg) (dry), 550 lb (250 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity	13.9 litres

The 'Power Cruisers' category that had been occupied by the Kawasaki Eliminator and the Yamaha V-Max, (as well as the 1980s Magnas), was bolstered in 1993 with the Magna 750. As an early release 1994 model, Honda sought to capture the market for powerful cruisers by lifting the engine from the VFR750 and slotting it in a cruiser chassis. The engine itself was beautified by the addition of chrome and some extra fins, and by the chromed 4 into 4 exhaust. The seat was kept very low, at 28 inches, with the passenger seat being detachable. The all new frame was complemented by 41 mm forks, dual shocks, and a single disc on the front. A drum brake was used on the rear. A few internal changes were made to the VFR engine for use in the Magna, including a different crankshaft, a 5 speed transmission and chain driven cams. Smaller carbs were also utilized. The changes resulted in a stronger mid-range pull, and a very broad band of power.

The design of the 3rd generation Magna remained relatively unchanged over its lifetime. The tank decal was changed in 1995, and a miniature fairing was available on 1995 and 1996 Deluxe models. The only practical way to tell the year of a Magna from a distance is by its paint scheme, but even that is not a given since only a few colours were rotated through use. The most distinctive paint scheme was a "scalloped" design found on mid-late 1990s models.

2004 saw the demise of the Magna, along with other Honda stablemates such as the V-Twin Shadow ACE and Shadow Spirit, as well as the 6-cylinder Valkyrie.