Anyone know about the Honda V65 Sabre?

Just like the title says, does anyone have any experience with these bikes? I'm going to look at one this week that's being offered for what seems like a killer price, and if it's in decent shape I'll probably snag it. Supposedly it needs a little work but runs. From the way it was described by the relative who pointed me its way, it sounds like it's in better condition than my XJ was when I bought it, for about half the price.

I know how to check the general stuff now (Thanks XJBikes!), so I'm just wondering what specific info the gurus here might have...

And no, I'm not getting rid of the Max, either.

 

if its the bike i'm thinking it is its wicked fast and you need to inspect the frame closely for cracks they had a hard time holding together with all the hp.
Good Luck,
James

 

I've heard that they're pretty rare. It's the sport version of the V65 Magna. Think like the difference between a Maxim and a Seca. Same V4 engine. The 65 means 65 cubic inches, which comes out to 1065 cc's. I know a few V45 owners and know that they are pretty reliable engines but are a serious pain to work on when they do need something. The carbs are complicated and almost impossible to reach. That said, the Sabre is much better looking and more desirable than the Magna so I'd go for it if I was you.

 

No personal experience but I've also heard that the carbs are very tricky to get off/on and the earlier V4s experienced cam bearing failures (supposedly because the owners did not let the oil come up to pressure - just took off after starting)... Huge Web presence and the MSTA group started with a guy on an '80s Magna - Honda V4 Sport Touring Association; name later changed to just Honda Sport Touring Association and now it is for all bikes (always has been, really).

 

If the motor is ticking, walk away, no matter what the price.

 

i had one .they are a big bike tall and long you have to re learn corners on it its not going to flip thru corners like the xj does . compared to the xj they are fast but not yank your arms out of the socket fast. they have a nice smooth powerband and run down the highway good if i recall i think it turns 3300 rpm at 60. i liked the bike but im 5 ft 10 and it was just to big for me height wise i think the seat height is about 33 inches or so. a magna fit me better i bought mine used in the late 80s sold it a few years later with 35k still ran like new . they do have cam oiling problems so make sure there is no valve noise they have hydrolic lifters so listen closely. in my personal opinion it was a good all round bike very dependable just didnt stand out in any catagory but i would definately have another if the price was right

 

Wrong. it means the angle of the V=65 degrees...V45=45 degrees...the V45's were 500's or 700's

 

Nope it means cubic inches (it's 1100 cc). V45 were 750cc (about 45 ci). Just look at the engine, they both look like 90 degree v-4s.

 

your correct v65 1100 v45 750 v30 is 500 cc have no idea why honda went to cucic inches when the rest of the world went cc even on cars

 

I always thought they only did this for the American market. Are they known as something different throughout the rest of the world?

 

well, then I guess I stand corrected. Very sorry sirs.

 

As far as I can tell, they were also known as the VF series - VF750, VF1100, etc. Presumably that's what they called them in the rest of the world...

 

The carbs are a major pain to remove and clean. Not to mention hard to tune. My friend has one and I don't like to work on it.

 

Actually, an 1100 is 67 cubic inches, but the marketing types thought that V67 didn't have the right sound to it, considering that the V30 and V45 were all multiples of 5, so they changed the number to 65 for marketing purposes. The motor also does not have hydraulic lifters, these were on the 750 Nighthawk motor. The V4 uses a forked rocker arm to actuate two valves with one cam lobe. Improper adjustment of the valves could edge-load these cams (as can all forked rockers) which combined with 0psi of oil pressure to the heads at idle and poor metallurgy, lead to early cam failure and galled cam bearing surfaces which ruined the heads. There are various ways to correct this oil pressure problem, but you would need to know if you are starting out with a good head and cams, and take preventive measures from there. Be warned that these motors also suffered from poor cam-chain guides as well. A generally all-round under-developed design on Honda's part, but they did have an excellent, flat torque curve and a unique sound. Just don't pay very much for any of them.

 

How does $400 sound?

Thanks all for the help. I've got a much better idea what to watch for when I check the bike out now.

Mac, is there any way to judge the condition of the cams externally, or is it strictly a pull-the-valve-covers operation?

Thanks again XJBikes!

 

Its worth a look for 400$ . If it runs and has a title its well worth it.

 

It's never a bad deal to buy a bike that you can part out for more money than you paid for it, as long as you have the patience.

I'd buy it for that price. As far as I know, the only real way to know the condition of the cams is a visual inspection, although they will tell you themselves if they are really bad just by the sound. Really though, for $400, buy it, run the hell out of it, and sell off the bits, or the whole bike, if it goes all clackety clack on you. You might just end up with a gem of a bike there, and you don't see them everyday. If the bike did more highway miles than city miles, has low(ish) miles, or is a later model (85-86), you have a better chance of getting lucky. Later models had better material in the cams, and highway miles at least let the motor build up oil pressure to the heads, unlike idling at the lights.