85 Honda Magna v30

durandurand · 02-22-2012, 08:33 AM

After getting my license a year ago and slowly wearing down my wife I am finally in the market to buy my first bike! I am looking at an 85 Honda Magna V30 on CL and I want to get a little information. The bike needs some work (which is what I am looking for) but the seller says it was running 6 months ago.

What are y'alls thoughts on these bikes? Reliable? East to work on? Framework to mod?

alalien · 02-24-2012, 03:10 PM

Due to their design, Magna's aren't the friendliest bikes to mod into bobbers or rats. They usually end up looking less like the bad@ss bike the person wanted and more like a a parts bike with blinkers.

The 500's are still reliable bikes.

You will probably need to clean the carbs. The risky part is that the diaphragms are no longer available for many of the 1st generation Magna's. ebay is your friend there. Never spray starter fluid into the intake as it can eat up the diaphragms. Carb removal is easy enough, but installation can be a trick. Search youtube for Magna Carb Installation. I put a 2 part vid up on it.

Valve clearances are easy enough as well. Just get the manual for the specs.

Unlike it's shaft driven bigger brothers, the 500 is chain driven, so chain maintenance is one addition to the list.

Too bad it isn't running. "Running 6 months ago" could mean anything from carb cleaning to a bad stator to loss of compression in any of the four cylinders to a bad spark box. The value of a bike non-running is reduced by more than half. Hopefully, you're not paying anywhere over 5 bills for it. Should be about half that in a non-running state. There's also no way you can see if it's missing any of the gears or popping out of any of them at higher RPM's.

I have two Magna's. An 86 VF700C and an 84 VF1100C.

Dodsfall · 02-24-2012, 06:29 PM

As mentioned above, be aware that buying a non-running motorcycle is a crap shoot.

Many sellers use the line "It ran perfectly a while ago" or "it just needs a cheap tune-up" knowing full well there are further issues. Many times, if it were easy and cheap to fix, they would have already gone that route and sold it for more money.

OldRelayer · 03-05-2012, 05:26 PM

The first thing I thought of was this is too much bike for a beginner. IMHO, your would be better off riding a 250 or 300 for a season. This is a powerful bike and a lot heavier than the aforementioned smaller bikes. The first time I rode my 300 after I got my license I took a slow turn too sharp and it started to go, I was able to catch it which as a miracle but I now ride a 750 Magna and there would be no way I could stop that from going over if I had to. In fact it did happen and I had no chance, I am much more careful about those kind of turns and pretty much walk it around.

Like some one mentioned buying a non running bike can be dangerous unless it might be from your best friend that would be honest with you. I actually did buy a non running bike. The guy selling it worked on bikes and assured me it would running right when I rode it off and it was, but that is kind of a special situation, I got a pretty good deal but even after it was running, I had to put fork seals in, tires and brake work which at the age of the bike your considering will probably will all need to be done, that would be $800 to $1000 if you have someone do it. I didn't mind I wanted a safe bike and I now know all that is done. My Magna after 2 days of being idle is extremely hard to start and after the winter it is a real chore, not sure this is the bike or just my bike. Everyone says if it ran good when you put it away it should do so when you take it out.

Barry

Winddrifter86 · 04-24-2012, 08:01 PM

Hrm Thread title caught my interests I may be due for a carb cleaning.

Jrossetti · 07-23-2012, 11:44 AM

I like my 85 Magna V-30

markk53 · 07-24-2012, 05:06 PM

You want to really have your wife upset, buy a bike that doesn't start and run fine. You want to disappoint yourself buy a bike that doesn't run for sure and have to work on it when your friends are out riding.

Buy a bike that runs good. Save the project bike for the second one you buy.

ralphlong · 07-24-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markk53

You want to really have your wife upset, buy a bike that doesn't start and run fine. You want to disappoint yourself buy a bike that doesn't run for sure and have to work on it when your friends are out riding.

Buy a bike that runs good. Save the project bike for the second one you buy.

^^^^ This

02-22-2012, 08:33 AM	#1
durandurand Verified Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 26	85 Honda Magna v30 After getting my license a year ago and slowly wearing down my wife I am finally in the market to buy my first bike! I am looking at an 85 Honda Magna V30 on CL and I want to get a little information. The bike needs some work (which is what I am looking for) but the seller says it was running 6 months ago. What are y'alls thoughts on these bikes? Reliable? East to work on? Framework to mod?

02-24-2012, 03:10 PM	#2
alalien Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 522	Due to their design, Magna's aren't the friendliest bikes to mod into bobbers or rats. They usually end up looking less like the bad@ss bike the person wanted and more like a a parts bike with blinkers. The 500's are still reliable bikes. You will probably need to clean the carbs. The risky part is that the diaphragms are no longer available for many of the 1st generation Magna's. ebay is your friend there. Never spray starter fluid into the intake as it can eat up the diaphragms. Carb removal is easy enough, but installation can be a trick. Search youtube for Magna Carb Installation. I put a 2 part vid up on it. Valve clearances are easy enough as well. Just get the manual for the specs. Unlike it's shaft driven bigger brothers, the 500 is chain driven, so chain maintenance is one addition to the list. Too bad it isn't running. "Running 6 months ago" could mean anything from carb cleaning to a bad stator to loss of compression in any of the four cylinders to a bad spark box. The value of a bike non-running is reduced by more than half. Hopefully, you're not paying anywhere over 5 bills for it. Should be about half that in a non-running state. There's also no way you can see if it's missing any of the gears or popping out of any of them at higher RPM's. I have two Magna's. An 86 VF700C and an 84 VF1100C. Last edited by alalien; 02-24-2012 at 03:13 PM..

02-24-2012, 06:29 PM	#3
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,955	As mentioned above, be aware that buying a non-running motorcycle is a crap shoot. Many sellers use the line "It ran perfectly a while ago" or "it just needs a cheap tune-up" knowing full well there are further issues. Many times, if it were easy and cheap to fix, they would have already gone that route and sold it for more money. __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-24-2012, 05:06 PM	#7
markk53 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 3,242	You want to really have your wife upset, buy a bike that doesn't start and run fine. You want to disappoint yourself buy a bike that doesn't run for sure and have to work on it when your friends are out riding. Buy a bike that runs good. Save the project bike for the second one you buy. __________________ KLX650C, Zephyr 550 SR500, Bultaco Sherpa T

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03-05-2012, 05:26 PM	#4
OldRelayer Verified Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 97	The first thing I thought of was this is too much bike for a beginner. IMHO, your would be better off riding a 250 or 300 for a season. This is a powerful bike and a lot heavier than the aforementioned smaller bikes. The first time I rode my 300 after I got my license I took a slow turn too sharp and it started to go, I was able to catch it which as a miracle but I now ride a 750 Magna and there would be no way I could stop that from going over if I had to. In fact it did happen and I had no chance, I am much more careful about those kind of turns and pretty much walk it around. Like some one mentioned buying a non running bike can be dangerous unless it might be from your best friend that would be honest with you. I actually did buy a non running bike. The guy selling it worked on bikes and assured me it would running right when I rode it off and it was, but that is kind of a special situation, I got a pretty good deal but even after it was running, I had to put fork seals in, tires and brake work which at the age of the bike your considering will probably will all need to be done, that would be $800 to $1000 if you have someone do it. I didn't mind I wanted a safe bike and I now know all that is done. My Magna after 2 days of being idle is extremely hard to start and after the winter it is a real chore, not sure this is the bike or just my bike. Everyone says if it ran good when you put it away it should do so when you take it out. Barry

04-24-2012, 08:01 PM	#5
Winddrifter86 Verified Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 21	Hrm Thread title caught my interests I may be due for a carb cleaning.