Honda V65 problems
The Honda Magna is a cruiser motorcycle made from 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 2003 and was the second Honda to use their new V4 engine shared with the VF750S Sabre and a few years later a related engine was fitted to the VF750F 'Interceptor', the later models used a retuned engine from the VFR750F with fins added to the outside of the engine. The engine technology and layout was a descendant of Honda's racing V4 machines, such as the NS750 and NR750. The introduction of this engine on the Magna and the Sabre in 1982, was a milestone in the evolution of motorcycles that would culminate in 1983 with the introduction of the Interceptor V4. The V45's performance is comparable to that of Valkyries and Honda's 1800 cc V-twin cruisers. However, its mix of performance, reliability, and refinement was overshadowed by the more powerful 1,098 cc "V65" Magna in 1983.
Though criticized for its long-distance comfort and lauded mainly for its raw acceleration, the Magna was the bike of choice for Doris Maron, a Canadian grandmother and accountant-turned-traveler who toured the world solo by motorcycle. She made the trek without the benefit of the support crew that usually accompanies riders in adventures depicted in such films as Long Way Round.
The Honda Magna of years 1982–1988 incorporated a number of unique features into a cruiser market dominated by V-twin engines. The V4 engine configuration provided a balance between torque for good acceleration and high horsepower. The 90-degree layout produced less primary vibration, and the four cylinders provided a much smoother delivery of power than a V-twin. Good engine balance, plus short stroke and large piston diameter allowed for a high redline and potential top speed.
Besides the engine configuration, the bike had water-cooling, a six-speed transmission for good economy at highway speed, and common on other middleweight bikes for Honda in the early 1980s, shaft drive. While the shaft drive is very convenient with virtually no maintenance required (and no oil getting slung around), it also robbed some power from where it was more evidently lacking on in town or lower speed riding. It also had features like twin horns, hydraulic clutch, and an engine temperature gauge. A coil sprung, oil bath, air preload front fork with anti-dive valving was an improvement, although the Magna did not benefit from the linkage based single shock that was on the Sabre and Interceptor.
The V-65 Magna and other large-displacement Hondas were assembled in the Marysville Motorcycle Plant in Ohio for US delivery and in Japan for other markets. 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.
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Common Honda V65 problems
The Honda V65 Magna is a powerful and fast cruiser, but it has some common problems that owners have reported.
Another issue that owners have reported is related to the engine's cams. Some users have mentioned that the cams are the weakest point in the engine and tend to wear out quickly. However, this may not be a universal issue, as some owners have reported that their bikes have not experienced this problem. If the bike is making a rattling noise, it could be due to the clutch, and it's recommended to check the clutch and the cams to ensure that they are in good condition.
The bike's carburetors can also cause problems. Some owners have reported that the bike's carburetors can get clogged, which can prevent the bike from starting. This can be especially problematic if the bike has been sitting for a long time. It's recommended to check the carburetors and clean them if necessary to ensure that they are functioning properly.
Finally, some owners have reported that the bike's forks can flex when pushed hard in fast sweepers, which can make the ride unstable. This can be a significant safety issue, and it's recommended to check the forks and ensure that they are in good condition to prevent any accidents.
In summary, the Honda V65 Magna is a powerful and fast cruiser, but it has some common problems that owners have reported. These include issues with the timing chain or belt, the engine's cams, the carburetors, and the forks. It's recommended to check these components regularly to ensure that they are in good condition and to prevent any potential issues.
What year is the fastest V65 Magna?
1983–1986 V65 (VF1100C) Magna
The 1983 V65 Magna was tested at a top speed of 224 km/h (139 mph). In a 1983 Popular Mechanics achieved a top speed of 225.49 km/h (140.11 mph), ranking it third of four motorcycles tested, less than 3.2 km/h (2 mph) slower than the Kawasaki GPZ1100 and Suzuki GS1100s.
How many miles per gallon does a V65 Magna get?
Based on data from 8 vehicles, 233 fuel-ups and 23,678 miles of driving, the 1984 Honda VF1100C V65 Magna gets a combined Avg MPG of 35.58 with a 0.93 MPG margin of error.
How fast is a 1983 V65 Magna?
The V65 Magna never made a pass slower than 11.33 and never registered a terminal below 122 mph.
How much horsepower does a 1984 Honda Magna V65 have?
The 1100cc engine didn't have the same bad rep, though—it was one of the most powerful motors of the 1980s, with a claimed 116 horsepower. In a straight line, the Magna V65 was basically as fast as any superbike on the market for several years.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Honda V65 years
We have researched Honda problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Honda V65 cars and compiled the top 2 most problematic Honda V65 model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Honda V65 model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Honda V65 years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Honda V65 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Honda V65 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Suspension problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Honda V65 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by V65 model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Honda V65 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Honda V65 vehicles.
List of Honda V65 complaints
Honda V65 1985
- Date Of Incident: 1998-08-20
- Date Complaint: 1998-08-27
- VIN: 1HFSC1719FA
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: WHEN THE FORK BRACE FAILS THE FORKS FLEX CAUSING THE STEERING TO WEAVE AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE CRACKS IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING ARE BARELY VISIBLE UNTIL IT COMPLETELY BREAKS IN TWO.
Honda V65 1984
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-14
- Date Complaint: 1996-07-11
- Fire: 1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: MOTORCYCLE FIRE.
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