New project: 1983 Honda V45 Sabre

I've been half-heartedly looking for a motorcycle project for a while, have contacted sellers a few times recently, but nothing has panned out. After missing a mid-70s CB750 a week or so ago, I saw this posting and replied immediately:

(Note: "Sold" was added later. 🤘🏻)

Dammit, second in line! Fortunately, seller got tired of waiting on the first guy to get his E36 M3 together, and said "when can you be here with cash and a trailer?" So I threw the 2" ball on the Ody and picked up a trailer at U-haul:

and I'm now the second owner of this 1983 Honda V45 Sabre:

She's sitting patiently in whiskey_business's garage while I work on making MonZora start reliably. Eventual plan is to putz around with her this winter, clean carbs and replace tires and rebuild brake and clutch hydraulics, etc. Good excuse to buy a big ultrasonic cleaner. 🤘🏻😎

I don't know that I've seen a fairing on these before. Really like the look and should make it a nicer place to spend time.  Good luck with the project.

Well congratulations!  I had a V-45 Magna once, V4s have a special sound but can't be killed.  You'll enjoy it.

I've had a beater v45 saber, and really liked it. Never cared for the Magnas. Like the interceptors, but never rode one. 
Had my sister on a v30 magna for a bit. Rode it about as much as her! Quick little bike, and a ton of fun. 
Great score, and congrats on the faring. Never seen one in person, but love it on the bike. 

The Hondaline fairing really prettys up the Sabre, IMO.


Here's my V65-

You could'nt have found a better cared for bike if you wanted to at that price.  Looks excellent!

Russian Warship, Go Berkeley Yourself said:

The Hondaline fairing really prettys up the Sabre, IMO.


Here's my V65-

Mine is missing the leg pieces. And dang a V65 in silver with red is a dream bike for me. Fastest OEM bike in the world for many years, wasn't it?

Nice looking bike and fantastic price, best of luck getting it back on the road again!

Make it regal. Pronounce it Sah-Bray. Preferably in Derek Bieri/Vice Grip Garage voice.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

...and I'm now the second owner of this 1983 Honda V45 Sabre:

As the second owner of a 1982 Honda V45 Magna. I sincerely hope you don't have to pull the carbs.

That's a very pretty and well bought Sabre. Looking forward to your progress.

Impressively clean for a $400 bike, well bought! 

Very nice that you have enablers willing to store your purchases!  

Nice bike dude!

Congratulations! The Sabre was pretty advanced for its time. One of the first motorcycles with self-cancelling turn signals based on steering-head angle, anti-dive valving on the fork, and a security cable / alarm with a fiber optic cable embedded internally.

I bought a 1982 Sabre brand new, then bought the V45 Interceptor the next year. Don't skimp on oil and oil changes. This motor is well known to have oil delivery issues to the top end, and less than stellar hardening on the cams and followers exacerbates the issue.  After seeing the Honda racebikes plumbed with external oil delivery (higher pressure) to the heads, I paid a shop to do the same to mine. They also use one cam follower for 2 valves. This can cause added wear of the follower and cam due to uneven pressure due to individual adjusters on each valve. The threaded adjusters were also known to back out and fall into the deepest recesses of the motor. Torque them well.

The beautiful bodywork traps heat behind the motor and quickly overheats the rear shock. The longer the ride, the less damping you experience. The regulator rectifiers are also not getting enough cooling air. Many people install a tiny cpu fan in an attempt to make them last longer.

Angry, If you're just getting back into this and needed things like chaps or leather jacket shoot me a message I may be able to help.

I didn't know you could wear chaps outside the house until I bought a bike!😂

I sold the R-90 to finance the Caddy engine build.

Dan

In reply to 914Driver :

Maybe to leather jacket, no to chaps outside the house. 🤘🏻😎

In reply to myf16n :

Good info, thanks! Yeah, the PO told me about the anti-dive and the self-cancelling turn signals.

Brother has a V65. Awesome bikes. Just about the only Honda I would consider owning. 

That's a great find! 

I had a V65 Sabre for many years and basically learned high performance riding with the SabMag internet group.  There is a very active online community for these bikes.  I worked on the GF's V45  Magna among many others.  Many years later I flew to CA and borrowed a 750 Super Magna, my partner and I had an absolutely magical two-up trip through northern California on it.

The Honda V4 had a certain character that caused many of us to call modern inline fours soul-less appliances. 

I did a lot of wrenching on these bikes, ask me if you need help.  Pulling carbs can be frustrating.  Back in the day I mentioned the V65 Sabre to a race shop customer, he said "yeah we used to have a guy who was expert on those V4's... but then he committed suicide."

Anyway, it's a great bike.  Worth some effort.  Ask if you need help.

ekauppi7 said:

I had a V65 Sabre for many years...

The Honda V4 had a certain character that caused many of us to call modern inline fours soul-less appliances...

I did a lot of wrenching on these bikes, ask me if you need help.  Pulling carbs can be frustrating.  Back in the day I mentioned the V65 Sabre to a race shop customer, he said "yeah we used to have a guy who was expert on those V4's... but then he committed suicide."

Anyway, it's a great bike.  Worth some effort.  Ask if you need help.

 

Will do, thanks! I may bring it home and work on it a bit this winter. 

Wrenching party at whiskeys house of enabling?  We'll invite Adrian but won't let him near a reciprocating saw!

That bike, that price, that owner history...

Congratz!

Nice score! I always think of Purple Rain when I see one of those..