Go to around minute 4:26 ( ) and listen to the sound of an unsilenced 305 SCRAMBLER. Then moparx you should go to the 7:00 minute and I'll post a bit of Jim Morrison trivia and why he was really cool.
Nothing wrong with riding a three wheel motorcycle. Since I lost my right leg in "92" that's all I have ridden. I'm 78yo and still in the wind and the wife feels safer and more comfortable. Latest trike is a home built 2003 Kawasaki 1600 Vulcan fuel injected, liquid cooled, shaft drive.Rides super smooth at freeway (plus ) speeds.
I had 2 750 H-2 triples over the years. You really had to pay attention to throttle control and rpm. It was really easy to have the front wheel a foot off the ground and not even realize it.
I had a neighbor who built up a Mach IV and would get the parts he outgrew. Denco chambers sounded otherworldly. Cops were not fond of me.
The 85 Sabre, Magna and Interceptor Hondas with the V4 engine were known to have camshaft problems. The cam lobe were not hardened properly and suffered cam wear issues. If this bike has the Honda updated cams in it, its a typical reliable Honda engine. But it is also a complicated bike to work on, and if you do the work yourself its just time consuming. If you need work done that you can't do yourself, better find yourself a very good independent shop. Most Honda dealers won't even touch a vintage complicated bike over ten years old. These days labor rates at cycle shops are in the $125/hour. If that bike requires carb work, it can take an hour just to get the carbs out and ready for service. A complete carb cleaning/tuning could cost you nearly $500. Regardless of low miles, a near perfect 1985 Magna is at most a $1500 motorcycle, I wouldn't offer a dime more.
Don't get me wrong, I always thought the Honda V4 engines were fascinating. I've been involved in cycles since the early 70s, and I recall when the Honda V4s came out, like WOW! But just be ready for what you may be getting into. Also, a bike with low miles for its age is not always the best. Average yearly miles nationwide is about 2,500, so a bike 37 years old if ridden normally would have something well over 50,000 miles. If a bike sits for many years and is not regularly ridden and maintained the internal rubber parts dry out, fuel pumps get gummed up and rusty. Hondas require specific coolant to make sure the water pump seals don't fail, so the bike should be checked for the cooling system. Don't be too certain that buying it and parting it out is a money gain. There just is very little market for the mid 80's V4 Hondas other than the very desireable 500 Interceptor, maybe the 750 Interceptor (not the 700).
I have always done all my own work on my bikes. If I buy a bike I fully expect to get deep into it to make sure everything is right, and I'll buy a non-runner with the intent to make it run again. I bought a 64 Honda 305 Superhawk about eight years ago, engine rusted stuck, but near complete, for $250. It’s a project in waiting for my shop, cylinders soaked in 50/50 Acetone/ATF. Along with the 72 CB350F (had one in hig schol back in 74) that I bought, running, near complete, with title for $300. My rough guide price wise is $1 per CC.
If you were closer I’d give you a 305 engine, can’t remember the name but something was added to make it bigger? Don’t know its condition, been in a car trunk for over 40 years. Why I hang on to this stuff I’ll never know! Also some extra parts, speedo cluster, coils, starter. I got mine up to 100 mph around 10,000 rpm chest laying on tank, never did tha again very unstable (no helmet either) young and dumb.
Re: vintage motorcycle value?
[Re: Andyvh1959]
#3206144 01/19/2410:51 AM01/19/2410:51 AM
The 85 Sabre, Magna and Interceptor Hondas with the V4 engine were known to have camshaft problems. The cam lobe were not hardened properly and suffered cam wear issues. If this bike has the Honda updated cams in it, its a typical reliable Honda engine. But it is also a complicated bike to work on, and if you do the work yourself its just time consuming. If you need work done that you can't do yourself, better find yourself a very good independent shop. Most Honda dealers won't even touch a vintage complicated bike over ten years old. These days labor rates at cycle shops are in the $125/hour. If that bike requires carb work, it can take an hour just to get the carbs out and ready for service. A complete carb cleaning/tuning could cost you nearly $500. Regardless of low miles, a near perfect 1985 Magna is at most a $1500 motorcycle, I wouldn't offer a dime more.
Don't get me wrong, I always thought the Honda V4 engines were fascinating. I've been involved in cycles since the early 70s, and I recall when the Honda V4s came out, like WOW! But just be ready for what you may be getting into. Also, a bike with low miles for its age is not always the best. Average yearly miles nationwide is about 2,500, so a bike 37 years old if ridden normally would have something well over 50,000 miles. If a bike sits for many years and is not regularly ridden and maintained the internal rubber parts dry out, fuel pumps get gummed up and rusty. Hondas require specific coolant to make sure the water pump seals don't fail, so the bike should be checked for the cooling system. Don't be too certain that buying it and parting it out is a money gain. There just is very little market for the mid 80's V4 Hondas other than the very desireable 500 Interceptor, maybe the 750 Interceptor (not the 700).
I have always done all my own work on my bikes. If I buy a bike I fully expect to get deep into it to make sure everything is right, and I'll buy a non-runner with the intent to make it run again. I bought a 64 Honda 305 Superhawk about eight years ago, engine rusted stuck, but near complete, for $250. Its a project in waiting for my shop, cylinders soaked in 50/50 Acetone/ATF. Along with the 72 CB350F (had one in hig schol back in 74) that I bought, running, near complete, with title for $300. My rough guide price wise is $1 per CC.
I have a good friend that is a chemical engineer and has worked with Honda, KTM, Yamaha etc. that reminded me a week ago that one of the best things to soak the cylinders in is a 50/50 blend of diesel and ATF. I thought I remembered him telling me years ago (for my '68 RR) to use a 50/50 of Techron and diesel and when I asked a week ago he said that Techron is not so good for old gaskets. Don't know how good acetone might be but if you're going to tear it done I guess it doesn;t much matter. Hey when you do tear it down how about posting a few photos on how it worked? Thanks. Oh and he said the mixture of diesel and ATF will soften rust too and to try it on my exhaust.
Re: vintage motorcycle value?
[Re: A12]
#3206146 01/19/2410:56 AM01/19/2410:56 AM
My other 305 Scrambler I bought a few years ago out of Arizona for $500 bucks. Note the typical vinyl (car interior) rot from the Southwest I have since taken it apart and done some pieces, parts paint work but got a surprise when I went looking for some manuals and info from a guy that calls himself "Mr Vintage Honda" out on the west coast. He asked me what color it was and I of course said silver tank and silver side panels, along with front and rear CHROME fenders. To which he said the only Scramblers that had CHROME fenders were the candy color bikes. So I grabbed one of the side panels and sure enough under the red primer oxide was CANDY ORANGE paint They did the final run of 305 Scramblers in late '67 in candy orange and candy blue that I know of. One of my best friends Frankie bought the local dealers last one in candy orange. I think I still have a photo of it back in the day. Really sharp looking.
Re: vintage motorcycle value?
[Re: A12]
#3206156 01/19/2411:23 AM01/19/2411:23 AM
My other 305 Scrambler I bought a few years ago out of Arizona for $500 bucks. Note the typical vinyl (car interior) rot from the Southwest I have since taken it apart and done some pieces, parts paint work but got a surprise when I went looking for some manuals and info from a guy that calls himself "Mr Vintage Honda" out on the west coast. He asked me what color it was and I of course said silver tank and silver side panels, along with front and rear CHROME fenders. To which he said the only Scramblers that had CHROME fenders were the candy color bikes. So I grabbed one of the side panels and sure enough under the red primer oxide was CANDY ORANGE paint They did the final run of 305 Scramblers in late '67 in candy orange and candy blue that I know of. One of my best friends Frankie bought the local dealers last one in candy orange. I think I still have a photo of it back in the day. Really sharp looking.
The buddies scrambler I mentioned was candy blue and I thought it was kustom painted?! It had chrome fenders too!
i don't have a clue ! i haven't ridden a bike for over 25 years because of my MS, but i still have the MC rider on my license. if i was on one, when i came to a stop i would fall over and couldn't get up.
There's a few nice 3-wheeler Harleys and Honda Gold Wings, just saying
and to include stumpy as well................
i have a couple of caravans in my buddy's junkyard with good running drivetrains, [the body's are rusted off 'em], and i have thought many times about building a trike. however, i have too many projects already that need completed, and my "shopping days" are fast running out, [did you notice it's friday AGAIN already ? ], i really can't justify building [or buying for that matter] a trike. if i did build one, it would HAVE to be MOPAR powered !
My other 305 Scrambler I bought a few years ago out of Arizona for $500 bucks. Note the typical vinyl (car interior) rot from the Southwest I have since taken it apart and done some pieces, parts paint work but got a surprise when I went looking for some manuals and info from a guy that calls himself "Mr Vintage Honda" out on the west coast. He asked me what color it was and I of course said silver tank and silver side panels, along with front and rear CHROME fenders. To which he said the only Scramblers that had CHROME fenders were the candy color bikes. So I grabbed one of the side panels and sure enough under the red primer oxide was CANDY ORANGE paint They did the final run of 305 Scramblers in late '67 in candy orange and candy blue that I know of. One of my best friends Frankie bought the local dealers last one in candy orange. I think I still have a photo of it back in the day. Really sharp looking.
The buddies scrambler I mentioned was candy blue and I thought it was kustom painted?! It had chrome fenders too!
There's one more "telltale" that was part of the candy color 305 Scrambler (before restoration) and this one is missing it, as many restored ones do too. The seat cover should have chrome pipping around the top of the seat. This one is missing it as I say many use the silver gas tank non-pipping seat cover. I found the only place that reproduces the chrome pipping covers in Florida after months and months of searching. Here's a blue 305 Scrambler with the correct chrome seat pipping. The candy orange 305 also has the correct seat pipping. I'll dig up the seat cover vendor's info if anyone wants or needs a source of a correct cover for your project? What is really nice about this M/C seat cover company and I forgot until I just opened the box is they included everything to do it correctly. Included is the chrome for around the bottom of the seat and it's preformed, along with the chrome pipping on the cover and even the passenger's strap hand hold.
Speaking of the correct seat pipping and chrome front and rear fenders so you can spot an original "candy paint" 305 Scramble, here's a little trivia. Who was the famous painter back in the day and who owned this bike back then?
i guess this thread was for nothing. i got up this am and read a email from the seller telling me the bike is sold. seller said he was digging the bike out of the snow bank. someone was driving by. they stopped, looked at it. he told him someone was going to buy it on Saturday. he made him a offer he couldn't refuse so he sold it.
i was supposed to look at it last weekend. needless to say driving 200 miles 1 way in sub zero weather. then digging the bike out of a snow bank in sub zero weather. then trying to get it started wasn't on the top of my list of things i wanted to do. like a rational person i rescheduled to today. OH well i guess it wasn't meant to be.
Looking back IMO it may have been for the better. Especially if that seller didn't have the courtesy to let you know well in advance that someone else made him an offer and didn't let you maybe make a counter offer knowing you were willing to drive 400 miles to pick it up and bring it home. Hmmmmm I wonder how second gear is in it, I bet that seller knows
No it wasn't for nothing, shoot I hi-jacked it early on and having a great time with my VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES and their VALUES and I think maybe a few other members?
Hey we'll all keep an eye and ear out for another one for you.