Has anybody ever ridden a Honda Magna?

I look at various motorcycles with the thought in the back of my head that maybe I would get a "real" bike.

I have found that most cruisers are generally too heavy and too slow to interest me - from what I have observed, I would need at least 1100cc of V twin (too heavy!) to keep up with the Silverwing, and I don't want to be slower. Sport bikes and Sport/Tourers make my knees ache just looking at them; same goes for Standards. I have come across the Honda Magna and it has piqued my interest.

The last model ran from 1993 with minor changes until they stopped making them in 2003/4. It has a 750cc V-4 that started life in a sport bike, placed in a cruiser frame. It tips the scales close to what a Silverwing weighs, so its not dreadful. It does have about 75 hp and 50-55 ft-lb torque, so it tends to outrun most cruisers.

I've never seen one in person (that I remember), nor sat on one, so all my impressions are based on internet information. Before I start running around looking at used bikes, can anybody give me their impressions based on their ownership or riding experience?

Thanks for any and all responses.

Philip

hi buddy i have owned a v45 magna smooth as silk really torquey nice low seat height i only have 27 inside leg .the sound from the 4 into 2 is nice and different mine was a 1983 model in blue all totally original.lovely upright riding position to .just watch out for the soft cams as the vf750 had the same engine and was well known for this.ive also owned the 600 eliminator by kawasaki another loverly cruiser with the gpz600r engine in orover there you might know this as a ninga.

I was parts manager for a Honda dealer in the early '80s when the Magna first came out, so I got to sample all the new bikes when the hit the showroom. I had a '77 SOHC 750 with an 836cc big-bore kit at the time and the Magna was a much quicker. Didn't have any better cornering clearance though, due to the footpeg placement (the contemporary V-4 Sabre was much better in this regard). One thing I did not like about either was the heat from the radiator. The SWing protects the rider from the hot air much better.

The 1100 version that came out was the baddest cruiser on the market until Yamaha dropped the V-Max. Mr.Max wasn't that much faster, though; just enough to slow the 1100 Magna's sales below what Honda expected. The point being, the 1100 Manga can be a real beast -- nearly 600 pounds and was capable of 0-55 in 2 seconds. Keep that in mind...

If I were in the market for a Magna, I'd look for a low-mileage early '90s model with the four individual upswept "zoomies" pipes, just because I think it looked the coolest.

Also, the 750 shrunk to 700cc for several years and if power is your object that missing 50cc feels like a hundred.

All of the V-4 Hondas (except the ST) made a fabulous sound, as Ducati and Aprillia fans are just discovering.

Hi Philip,

My husband Bob's first bike is a 1986 Honda Magna. He still has it. Doesn't want to sell it. He has to many good memories riding it. He has not ridden it for about 4 or 5 years needs work on it. Our daughter wants him to fix it so she can start riding it. She and I got our licenses last summer. She passed the first time. I took a scooter class and got my license that way. Bob has nothing but good things to say about that bike.

He has been riding a BMW 2004 R1150R for the last several years which he enjoys alot. He has almost 60,000 miles on it. He had a 2001 BMW RT for awhile but traded it in for the R1150R. Lighter and cheaper.

Good luck in your search.

Cathy

Thanks for the replies. Any others? In particular, I'd love to hear about the third generation bikes.

Philip