Buddy had a 350 Honda until he bought this bike. He wasn't a gear head. When he got home from buying it, everything on his face was wide open. He said, "this thing is insane for being a 650". He thought the V65 meant it was a 650.
My V65 was such a delight, totally docile but super powerful. No Reason to downshift at freeway speeds, Just Nail It. The Sabre had 121 hp The Magna had 116 hp
In reality it was more like 95-100 at the back wheel, the 121 figure is from the typically optimistic marketing guys, they get their figures "at the crank" so no gearbox, shaftdrive or tyres, all of which sap power. Usually, at the crank power figures manufactures claim are around 20% higher than the real power at the rear wheel.
@@uhtred7860No it’s not. I just got one last month almost in mint condition. It made 120 on the dyno 115 to the back wheel. Please stop spreading misinformation.
@hernandocortez6351 All the manufacturers back then supplied the press with “special” bikes for them to test, the RG500s that Suzuki provided the UK press were “carefully prepared” and got glowing reviews with press being very impressed with the power they made. They later noticed bikes straight off the showroom floor didn’t quite feel as perky😀. On U.S dyno manufacturers, Factory Pro web site there is some good reading on bikes real HP figures, and how (and why) some dyno makers numbers are inflated. Your right, they are good numbers, the bike was far from a slouch, with a grunty torquey engine.
One of my earliest memories is being maybe 3 years old and going up and down the alley sitting on the tank of this bike. Im 31 now and my dad still has it. Very underrated machine
Amen. I had it tooo, 750, bought it in 1995, seized on two con bearings, ( at one side) , and on both heads all cams , plus chopped cylinder wall at one cylinder( when one con rod escaped out ) , but, i repaired it all, with some mods ( welded camshaft holes at the (back of the) lobes , mounted another oil filter 4 the head's oil pipe ) , bought another seized engine, welded the crushed blok cast sleeve, and than also welded aluminium over the sleeve, gave the crank shaft into HardChrome coating, assembled it all, and than crash it at the first ride in accident with a car. Than i sold it 2 my friend, he repaired it a little bit, and than he was reving it up to 15.000 RPM - Every Day, and it was still perfectly runninjg 4 more than 2 years, and even after he sold it to another owner, there was Not even One problem with the engine Ever after that !!! Whaaat a times those were ... Aaahh, whaaat a memoryes .... on one of the very Best years of my incarnation on this God's small planet ... 😀 Peace with you 🙂
I have the same bike here in Canada and love it. I’m 66 and started riding again 2 years ago after a 39 year break. I like it in the city and on the highway. Just a great all around bike.
Bought a brand new 1984 V65 Sabre left over back in 1985, mine was red , silver & black for $3800.00 bucks, had mine 155 mph , rode 2nd gear wheelies all the time on it, 0-60 mph in 2.68 seconds , i remember reading that in the literature when i bought it , very smooth bike n good power 👍 Yours looks new ...
When I saw that bike being wheeled out of the trailer I was in awe. Solid 80's Honda quality and a very fast machine. The rear disc for the time looks so sharp.
Yes, except, that there were cam shafts with rocker arms and cam bearings dying , if there was no oil filter added, or the lubrication 4 the heads taken from the Main line, where there was an oil filter , 2 clean the metal particles from the gearbox which were damaging all the camshafts and rocker arms .
Yeah, I bought a brand new V65 Sabre, and I LOVED it! What a magnificent bike. Frankly, I probably didn’t realize how good it actually was. Looking back, I’m just overawed by it. I really wish I still had it. But like all good things, you don’t fully appreciate them till they’re gone. Oh well, I hope someone took good care of it, and that it’s still exciting someone's heart.
I've had many bikes and my V65 Sabre was a sweet ride. I'd pull up to rice rockets and just roll away from them. Tire chirps through the 1st three gears and wheelies were on demand. Great riding bike. Loved it. I had the black/gray model.
Hi Ken! I have a total twin to this Sabre that is just as original and clean! They are were and still very fast! I am a retired Honda Technician it has been totally maintained! That is a great find Ken.
Your channel has made me become very interested in these bikes. Stunning, gorgeous and fast. I would love it. Very sharp looking bike. I bet she is very fast. Definitely the nicest one that I have ever seen on your channel.
I almost bought one brand new in 1985. But my SilverWing that I was going to trade in on it dumped over idling on the kick stand as I went to get my checkbook out of the car. I always used the center stand and there was a slight slope in the driveway. So I got parts to repair it instead. 10 years ago or so I did buy one and restored it to a very nice condition. And it is quick still for a 1985 bike. 121 Hp and shaft drive smooth. 0-60 in 3.02. Great bike.
What a beautiful machine in mint condition and very well presented by Kaplan as usual. Thanks again for a great UA-cam channel I wish I had a bike like this here in the UK👌
I have an '84...... Smooth muscle bike that is a beast with a twist of the throttle....So comfortable to ride and cruise, BUT the beast is always ready to GO !!!
Hard to believe its almost 40. These were the big daddy torque monster of its day. Why anyone would need to go faster than this is beyond me. I like the Interceptor for looks but if I was heading out cross-country this might be my weapon of choice..
I bought this bike's twin, it was everything I hoped for and more. My brother met up with Bambi, and that was that. I rolled the throttle on in 6th, got it to 143 mph, and ran out of nerve.
thought similar the magna is not the sabre. appears honda wanted to offer a tour street bike tour version of the v65. remember the huge tall fairing and window the sabre came with.
Me thinks you’re forgetting about the ‘85 V Max. I had one, my buddy a 85 V65 Magna, the V Max was considerably quicker, unsure about top speed as we never raced beyond maybe 110 MPH. But the Magna never bested it from an engine performance stand point but was for sure better at long range comfort. I believe the Saber had the same engine as the Magna. The V Max felt like the devil himself gave you a swift boot in the ass when the V Boost kicked in, widening eyes and confirming the chassis was made of al dente pasta. A flexible flyer. The Sabre felt like a 1970 454 Corvette, can you say torque? My 2 cents for what it’s worth, those bikes were certainly entertaining. Be well.
I bought the twin to this V65 new in "85,.. loved the color. I bought it to ride my girlfriend on. I did not like how the rear end would lift under acceleration, (drive shaft), and the small gas tank had me always pulling over for gas on long rides. I sold it in '86 to get a new Honda VF1000R. Watching this video makes me wish I had one now to ride my wife on. The V65 worked really good 2 up, better than my Buell X1 Lighting I ride now.
WOW what a beautiful bike especially in that blue,black and grey color! ❤ I inherited my dads 83' V65 magna after he passed and love it but it needs some tlc. Really need to get her up and running again in his memory.👍💯
For unpainted, black plastics try gently heating them with a heat gun, practise on a scrap piece as its a fine line between getting them looking like new, and screwing it up. If they are not too faded try using silicone spray.
Back in 2001 my former brother in-laws dad had one an 84 he got it for next to nothing at the time now it's a super classic it had 46k miles on it and it was damn scary 😮
121 according to the sales brochure and marketing boys, But in the real world more like 95-100 at the back wheel, but they made a good spread of torque to go with it.
I remember the nightmare with the cams failing on the first 750 V-fours, we were changing cams out on the first service, the quickest i saw a set self destruct was 650 Km, Honda really screwed the pooch with that first V-Four.
very nice she's a winner I'm fixing to wake mine up for riding season she looks about as good as this one same color scheme I think it's the prettiest one mine has got a crack lens on the speedometer I need to fix
I remember Honda having a dude named PeeWee Gleason running 1/4 on the new bikes back when the v65 was new. I think the v65 was 1st in the 10's? Super cool time capsule!
He got the GPz1100 into the 10s before the Honda, the guy could get the best times out of any bike, Cycle magazine used him for 1/4 mile times all the time.
Sharp mfer ken…our local shop got a 650L in and it’s broke my heart I’m not in the position to buy 1 right now…my old 93 xr250 still rests n my old trailer in pieces..always wanted the 650 and when y’all built yours that is my dream bike…buddie had the klx 650 we trail rode but couldn’t get outta 2nd gear…easy 100mph wheelies…
I had 2 different v65 magna over the years and they are a blast to drive great burn outs and wheelie. I passed my buddy on the back tire he was doing 65mph lol
Bike is still bad ass and its 38 years old
Buddy had a 350 Honda until he bought this bike. He wasn't a gear head. When he got home from buying it, everything on his face was wide open. He said, "this thing is insane for being a 650". He thought the V65 meant it was a 650.
Loooll, ;-) I was thinking the same, until i realised 🙂 🙂 🙂
My V65 was such a delight, totally docile but super powerful. No Reason to downshift at freeway speeds, Just Nail It.
The Sabre had 121 hp
The Magna had 116 hp
I rode a Magna V65 a 1/2 mile down the road and back.Was krazy fast ! It was maroon,sharp looking.
In reality it was more like 95-100 at the back wheel, the 121 figure is from the typically optimistic marketing guys, they get their figures "at the crank" so no gearbox, shaftdrive or tyres, all of which sap power. Usually, at the crank power figures manufactures claim are around 20% higher than the real power at the rear wheel.
@@uhtred7860No it’s not. I just got one last month almost in mint condition. It made 120 on the dyno 115 to the back wheel. Please stop spreading misinformation.
@hernandocortez6351 I believe this, yes . Thank you. Pwy.
@hernandocortez6351 All the manufacturers back then supplied the press with “special” bikes for them to test, the RG500s that Suzuki provided the UK press were “carefully prepared” and got glowing reviews with press being very impressed with the power they made. They later noticed bikes straight off the showroom floor didn’t quite feel as perky😀. On U.S dyno manufacturers, Factory Pro web site there is some good reading on bikes real HP figures, and how (and why) some dyno makers numbers are inflated. Your right, they are good numbers, the bike was far from a slouch, with a grunty torquey engine.
One of my earliest memories is being maybe 3 years old and going up and down the alley sitting on the tank of this bike. Im 31 now and my dad still has it. Very underrated machine
Amen. I had it tooo, 750, bought it in 1995, seized on two con bearings, ( at one side) , and on both heads all cams , plus chopped cylinder wall at one cylinder( when one con rod escaped out ) , but, i repaired it all, with some mods ( welded camshaft holes at the (back of the) lobes , mounted another oil filter 4 the head's oil pipe ) , bought another seized engine, welded the crushed blok cast sleeve, and than also welded aluminium over the sleeve, gave the crank shaft into HardChrome coating, assembled it all, and than crash it at the first ride in accident with a car. Than i sold it 2 my friend, he repaired it a little bit, and than he was reving it up to 15.000 RPM - Every Day, and it was still perfectly runninjg 4 more than 2 years, and even after he sold it to another owner, there was Not even One problem with the engine Ever after that !!! Whaaat a times those were ... Aaahh, whaaat a memoryes .... on one of the very Best years of my incarnation on this God's small planet ... 😀 Peace with you 🙂
Sick bike. Waiting for my 82 CB900C to come back from inspection. Back on a bike after 15 years!
I have the same bike here in Canada and love it. I’m 66 and started riding again 2 years ago after a 39 year break. I like it in the city and on the highway. Just a great all around bike.
Bought a brand new 1984 V65 Sabre left over back in 1985, mine was red , silver & black for $3800.00 bucks, had mine 155 mph , rode 2nd gear wheelies all the time on it, 0-60 mph in 2.68 seconds , i remember reading that in the literature when i bought it , very smooth bike n good power 👍 Yours looks new ...
When I saw that bike being wheeled out of the trailer I was in awe. Solid 80's Honda quality and a very fast machine. The rear disc for the time looks so sharp.
Yes, except, that there were cam shafts with rocker arms and cam bearings dying , if there was no oil filter added, or the lubrication 4 the heads taken from the Main line, where there was an oil filter , 2 clean the metal particles from the gearbox which were damaging all the camshafts and rocker arms .
What a beautiful bike. Designers in those days understood what looked good.
Amen. Today we have Only Idiots . Especially at the Honda
When tuned right, absolute beast of a bike.
Exactly !!! ! !!! 😀
beautiful classic. those honda v4's were so smooth.
Yeah, I bought a brand new V65 Sabre, and I LOVED it! What a magnificent bike. Frankly, I probably didn’t realize how good it actually was. Looking back, I’m just overawed by it. I really wish I still had it. But like all good things, you don’t fully appreciate them till they’re gone. Oh well, I hope someone took good care of it, and that it’s still exciting someone's heart.
Man did I lust after one of those back in the day … then the VMax came out then and all hell broke loose …..!
Finally- someone dressed sensibly for this bike. I had mine with the sport fairing for 17 years, 154k mi. and used for touring all over North America.
I've had many bikes and my V65 Sabre was a sweet ride. I'd pull up to rice rockets and just roll away from them. Tire chirps through the 1st three gears and wheelies were on demand. Great riding bike. Loved it. I had the black/gray model.
Hi Ken! I have a total twin to this Sabre that is just as original and clean! They are were and still very fast! I am a retired Honda Technician it has been totally maintained! That is a great find Ken.
Your channel has made me become very interested in these bikes. Stunning, gorgeous and fast. I would love it. Very sharp looking bike. I bet she is very fast. Definitely the nicest one that I have ever seen on your channel.
That bike is a sleeper
I almost bought one brand new in 1985. But my SilverWing that I was going to trade in on it dumped over idling on the kick stand as I went to get my checkbook out of the car. I always used the center stand and there was a slight slope in the driveway. So I got parts to repair it instead. 10 years ago or so I did buy one and restored it to a very nice condition. And it is quick still for a 1985 bike. 121 Hp and shaft drive smooth. 0-60 in 3.02. Great bike.
Had a 1000 interceptor…before a 750!
But this color is so cool!
Definitely the Nicest V65 Sabre left on earth! 👍🏻🙏🏻😀
The color combination looks awesome!
Never had to pop the clutch to wheely mine, just roll on the throttle in first gear and yer lookn' at the sky!!😁
Love the square light of the 80’s 😊
Had a 500 night hawk,but this is priceless.
Love the retro body plastics about it.😊
Double horns are way cool 😎
I had a 650 nighthawk, then got an '84 sabre v65..... The nighthawks are such good bikes.... This thing is a monster !!
Camped n Fished all over the Tahoe area with my 500 😊
You're so taking me back to my teenage years.
Wow such a nice bike and again the 80s Honda colors were awesome
Mid 80 v4 muscle bikes, were the bikes, that changed the game!!!
Awesome!!
Amazing bike!!
God bless America!!
God bless Kaplan!
I had an 83 V65 Magna, Great Bike.
Super nice !! Really like the color. I didn't know they were wheelie prone
had an all black 84 - this and the VMAX were the stuff back then - still awesome. Sabre was 121 HP and the Magna was 116 roommate had the Magna.
I have had two V65 Magna and these are amazing motors.
Do you only do auctions? I'm looking for a V65 Sabre
I prefer the stock exhaust on these antiques.
I subbed when i bought a decent 1985(?) V45 Sabre. That bike is beautiful . Awesome.
When will you do a review on a dr650se?
What a beautiful machine in mint condition and very well presented by Kaplan as usual. Thanks again for a great UA-cam channel I wish I had a bike like this here in the UK👌
I have an '84...... Smooth muscle bike that is a beast with a twist of the throttle....So comfortable to ride and cruise, BUT the beast is always ready to GO !!!
Beautiful Bike, and it would have to have some monster torque to be able to wheelie with shaft drive...
Hard to believe its almost 40. These were the big daddy torque monster of its day. Why anyone would need to go faster than this is beyond me. I like the Interceptor for looks but if I was heading out cross-country this might be my weapon of choice..
I bought this bike's twin, it was everything I hoped for and more.
My brother met up with Bambi, and that was that.
I rolled the throttle on in 6th, got it to 143 mph, and ran out of nerve.
The blue (or red) stripe complements the design so well
thought similar the magna is not the sabre. appears honda wanted to offer a tour street bike tour version of the v65. remember the huge tall fairing and window the sabre came with.
Me thinks you’re forgetting about the ‘85 V Max. I had one, my buddy a 85 V65 Magna, the V Max was considerably quicker, unsure about top speed as we never raced beyond maybe 110 MPH. But the Magna never bested it from an engine performance stand point but was for sure better at long range comfort. I believe the Saber had the same engine as the Magna. The V Max felt like the devil himself gave you a swift boot in the ass when the V Boost kicked in, widening eyes and confirming the chassis was made of al dente pasta. A flexible flyer. The Sabre felt like a 1970 454 Corvette, can you say torque? My 2 cents for what it’s worth, those bikes were certainly entertaining. Be well.
Cool bikes but those carbs are a pain to remove
Annnnnnnd BAM...... then came the V-Max!!!! Gorgeous bike!!!!
owned an '85 v65 Magna, it was fast. not vmax fast but fast. great bike, wish I still had it.
I'm proud Ken brother wonderful job. Your team did a great great job.
Kaplan for president!
I bought the twin to this V65 new in "85,.. loved the color. I bought it to ride my girlfriend on. I did not like how the rear end would lift under acceleration, (drive shaft), and the small gas tank had me always pulling over for gas on long rides. I sold it in '86 to get a new Honda VF1000R. Watching this video makes me wish I had one now to ride my wife on. The V65 worked really good 2 up, better than my Buell X1 Lighting I ride now.
Wasn't it uncomfortable riding your GF on one? I guess if it was on its centre stand, and you both had good balance🤔...😏😏🤭
WOW what a beautiful bike especially in that blue,black and grey color! ❤ I inherited my dads 83' V65 magna after he passed and love it but it needs some tlc. Really need to get her up and running again in his memory.👍💯
Beautiful machine!
Sweetie of a bike. My most similar equivalent is my 91 Suzuki 1100 G .
It’s beautiful and looks and operates as new. Will pull 160 mph.
Ive got one of my own im trying to restore. I need some tips on how to get all the plastics looking this good!
For unpainted, black plastics try gently heating them with a heat gun, practise on a scrap piece as its a fine line between getting them looking like new, and screwing it up. If they are not too faded try using silicone spray.
Did it have more horsepower than the V-max of the same year? Beautiful bike. I especially like this color scheme over the red and black ones.
Worked on a lot of these bikes. Valve train was made of chocolate.
Same, mainly the VF750, I had just started in a Honda Dealership in the parts dept when that sh*t show happened.
Back in 2001 my former brother in-laws dad had one an 84 he got it for next to nothing at the time now it's a super classic it had 46k miles on it and it was damn scary 😮
Another awesome old school bike ken,💯💪💪💪💪💪
My favorite Honda 😍
I’ll bet it’s a smooth fast ride. Sounds like fun
I am in awe. What a Beauty..
You can't let these sit, those carbs are a bear to clean... But what a beast!
Love the V-65 Saber!!!!
SABRE
Is this early version of v-max???
Looks like brand new. 👍
Paint is beautiful
got two of them❤
guys can you help me with manuals in pdf for it?
Greetings from Poland 🇵🇱
BadAss! I love it!!
Desperately want one of these
I got one exactly like it in my garage right now…!
The SABRE has 121 HP & 69 lb-ft
How much did this bike sell for? I own one and would like to know what the selling value is?
Yes sir you truly get a lot of Great bike's . 💯👍
She's a beaut, Clark! 😎
Amazingly dime all day runner 💪
Love it!
120hp of Honda Power 👍
121 according to the sales brochure and marketing boys, But in the real world more like 95-100 at the back wheel, but they made a good spread of torque to go with it.
How many km on it. I am 58 too man.
Remember when those came out, along with the Interceptor.
I remember the nightmare with the cams failing on the first 750 V-fours, we were changing cams out on the first service, the quickest i saw a set self destruct was 650 Km, Honda really screwed the pooch with that first V-Four.
nice clean bike 👌
very nice she's a winner I'm fixing to wake mine up for riding season she looks about as good as this one same color scheme I think it's the prettiest one mine has got a crack lens on the speedometer I need to fix
It's like a dream
I remember Honda having a dude named PeeWee Gleason running 1/4 on the new bikes back when the v65 was new. I think the v65 was 1st in the 10's? Super cool time capsule!
He got the GPz1100 into the 10s before the Honda, the guy could get the best times out of any bike, Cycle magazine used him for 1/4 mile times all the time.
I recently purchased the exact bike howbmuchbare they worth
I believe v65 Sabre/magna set fastest 1/4 mile when released.
As soon as Yamaha made the FJ 1100 and FJ 1200 the Sabre and Magna were done ------- For roll on power Yamaha was King
Badass bike!!
Sharp mfer ken…our local shop got a 650L in and it’s broke my heart I’m not in the position to buy 1 right now…my old 93 xr250 still rests n my old trailer in pieces..always wanted the 650 and when y’all built yours that is my dream bike…buddie had the klx 650 we trail rode but couldn’t get outta 2nd gear…easy 100mph wheelies…
beautiful
I have this bike. it has 8k miles on it.
I had 2 different v65 magna over the years and they are a blast to drive great burn outs and wheelie. I passed my buddy on the back tire he was doing 65mph lol
Let me know when you have Anouther one for sale a V45 too
Mint
Why didn't you open it up? That is WAY faster than a CR 500.
Sabre’s & Magna’s are cool. But the Yamaha V-Max is the Real Mad Max. I know because that’s exactly what I call my Vmax. Lol.
It looks new
No Honda’s in Mad Max , all Kwakas. But this looks good.
1985...Yamaha V-Max came out and claimed the title.
nice muscle bike, highly unstable on the highway due to rake and tires, you could not pay me to ride this death trap.
Ya had to put a spin on the mic then you tossed it ? wft
I owned a v65 sabre and I can attest these bikes are not for the feint of heart