I bought a new one in 1984. Most powerful bike I ever owned. The only bike that almost ran out from under me. If you open that throttle up from a standing start, or from any slow speed, you really have to hang on for dear life. Frankly, it's too aggressive for me at my age. I'm 75, and riding a Triumph T120, and that's more than enough bike for me. But, you younger guys really should try one of those V65 Sabres out. There isn't anything like it.
It truly is a beast! Before I bought my 85' V65 Sabre there was an older gentleman at the gym I'd talk with about motorcycles. When I told him I was going to get that Sabre, he said - Just wait until you ride it. They're ferocious!... He was right.
My older brother‘s first motorcycle was a new V45 saber I taught him how to ride in a parking lot wow I didn’t think he would live. Two years later he traded it in on the brand new out of the crate v65 with the Honda line fairing 40 years later he still riding it today.
I bought mine in 1986 as a crated 1985 model. The dealer built it and it was absolutely the finest bike I've ever seen. I added the HondaLine fairing and it was nearly the perfect ride. My only complaint was that is was a bit thirsty at around 40 mpg. With a 5 gallon tank it had a 200 mile range. But I never toured with it so the 200 mile range was fine. I loved that bike. I sold it when I moved out of state. Incredible bike.
Before deciding to buy a Goldwing, I looked around for a Hondaline fairing for my V65 Sabre because I love that look and we wanted something better suited for weekend touring. If I had found a fairing, I might still have that V65 because it was a powerful, fun, reliable machine. Like you, gas mileage was not a concern for us on the V65 because we too only went on shorter rides. I get 39 miles per US gallon with my '08 Goldwing, which I guess is pretty good considering its engine size and the weight of the bike. Cheers!
2 words for this bike. Maybe 4. Holy Sh*t Badass BEAST. Been riding 45 years, ridden all kinds. This is the perfect marriage between Sports and touring. Had 3x V45F's and then 2 V65F's ( Sabres ) The 65's have incredible torque & power after 3K rpm. 1st ride home on the 1100, I was going up the steep Altamonte pass in CA at 65 in 6th. Just to test it, I kicked it down to 5th and twisted the throttle. It damn close to flew out from under me. A buddy with one could pull wheelies on this long heavy bike at 65 on flat freeway. Finally had to give it up @60 after a bad C-7 fracture last year. I layed one down before and drivers just keep getting worse. Not worth the risk of ending up a parapalegic. This is NOT a beginners bike any more than a F16 is a beginners airplane. Good Video 👍 🏍️
Thanks for the video. I had the privilege lol of owning one of these beasts in the early 90s. Bought from my gfs Dad he bought it and literally got thrown off the back and parked it. I bought it from him and absolutely loved it. My best friend had a V-max and we had a blast with those bikes. The VF1100 is a handful and that is a understatement! I was 6' 235 lbs and it would bury the spedo at l65 I believe but it started skipping about 155 so a lot dicey without a damper but it was raw power and a lot of fun. O-50 2.2 seconds because you were still in first gear and shift and hit 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and 1/4 miles under 11. The top end wasn't listed for many years because it got ligt and skipped over the pavement but it is somewhat close to 175 if you wound out 6th gear... Now I'm old and try to make it through the txt and drive crowded roads on a Harley Road King. Thank you again and be safe.
The V65 Sabre is definitely not for the faint of heart. Sounds like it was perfect for you though! Fastest I've gone on it was 135mph and I was shocked how quickly and easily it got up to that speed. I do ride it nicely for the most part. Especially because of the traffic and people that have no idea you're there. Thank you and you ride safe out there too!
I also put one of these motors in a magna frame. The bike weighed in at 515 lbs. The bike couldn't keep the front end down. Crazy fun to ride. We called it the S magna.
I have a 84 V65 Sabre too.. Fully restored by myself. I'm a older guy and I remember as a teenager everyone loved the Magna ! But it did nothing for me I had the Sabre poster on my wall !!
I’m riding my beloved 80’ XS1100, which is getting a rebuild / makeover soon, and at some point I want one of these. Watching this video REALLY makes me want one now, haha! My xs has a few upgrades and is quick, but hearing you talk about this thing…I HAVE TO HAVE ONE NOW!!
Ah, I envy you for having an 80' XS11. That's exactly what mine was and boy do I miss that bike... I sold it to get that V65 Sabre. I love the Sabre but I miss my XS11 a lot. If you ever do get a V65 Sabre the first thing you'll notice is how smooth it is compared to the Yamaha. Also the power delivery is different. The XS is a torquey brute that delivers linear power throughout the rev range. The V65 has loads of torque at low rpm but once you cross into 7,000 and above... It's just screams. It's absolutely ferocious. You better hold on tight because it starts pulling unbelievably hard at high rpm.
Thanks so much for sharing - they look like incredible bikes and I actually have two of them (both VF1100 V65 however one is the Sabre and the other the Magna). I also have the VF700 V45 version Magna as well! Unfortunately I acquired all of them in non-running condition and I'm still going through and fixing them up. I absolutely cannot WAIT to take the Sabre for a test ride the second it's fixed and running! It's so painful looking at my Sabre sitting in the garage and not being able to ride it - but I plan to finally have it in commission by the end of this summer! I just have several other projects going on at the same time so it's all about finding the time to finish it. I pulled the carbs out to go through them and rebuild them however it's also got no brakes and clutch as well so I have to completely go through brakes, clutch, and front forks before I can even ride it. Enjoy your Sabre - everyone I've ever talked to that's owned one has nothing but great things to say about them!
You're going to love both the V65 Sabre and Magna. They're ferocious machines! Since you're building these bikes back up to running condition, I assume you already know about the problems they had with the head design and cams. If you don't - be sure to look into it. There are ways to avoid the heads and cams issues! I'm actually working on a video right now of my V65 Sabre and I'll be going over that issue and ways to solve it. Thanks for checking out my video and hopefully the next one will be useful for you as well!
Lol yeah I can attest to the fact it is not a beginner bike for sure. It is a beast and that is no hype. It will throw you off if you don't hold on extremely well and the intent in the tank is for your knees to clamp to. At least I did.
I put 98,000 miles on one with no major problems. Had a kill switch issue and boil the clutch fluid sometimes when I was riding hard. I did do the required maintenance including valve adjusts but I rode it hard and asked it for all it had it never disappointed. If I didn't want you near me you weren't near me😉
I have a 1983 V45 Magna and I love her especially like you said when you hit the powerband nobody expects that old by to get up and jump and jump it does enjoy your nice bike😅
At a moto garage near me the dude has one these brand new with 500 miles on it. Along with some KZ1000’s and other cool late 70’s and 80’s bikes. His father was a dealer long ago. Man I feel like a kid in a candy store in there! My dream bike is a V65 or a 1985 V-Max! Nice bike sir!
Wow, that's a gem. They're hard enough to find but one with only 500 miles is unheard of. I'd love to check out garage - sounds like a place made of dreams! One of my older friends has a first gen V-MAX. I think it might be an 85'... Anyway, I'm trying to convince him to allow me to do a review of that bike.
I had just started my first job, on the parts counter at a Honda dealer when the V-four engined range of bikes started being sold, and remember the complete sh*t show with the camshaft issue, it mainly affected the 750cc bikes, but the way Honda handled it wasn't the best, some bikes were getting new cams put in at their first service, Honda at first denied there was an issue, but finally had to admit they had screwed up. They issued service bulletins with various "fixes", special tools to set the tappets, and suggested that owners use a special additive in the oil, but it was finally fixed when they line bored the head and camshaft cap together, (they weren't doing this at the beginning) but by then the damage was done, and the whole fiasco nearly sunk Hondas V-four completely. The later VFR750 showed they could get it right, but then they quietly dropped the engine in the bigger sports bikes and brought out the CBR1000, 750 and 600, with inline fours. If that first V-four hadn't been such a fizzle, we might have had a V-four Fireblade in 92 instead of the inline four we got.😀
I'm glad that little disaster didn't destroy Honda, though it did hurt their reputation for a while. One of my other favorite bikes is the VFR750. I'd love one of those - a 93' in white. That is interesting that after their debacle with the cams they overcorrected and built those bullet proof gear driven 750's.
I bought mine in late 84..$3,300 and they threw in s Bell helmet fullface...I wrote the check on the spot..still have it...3700 original miles...only thing that went bad was the instrument bezel went cloudy bad...the hardest part of the bike to get is that...you'll want to get the seat lowered in front..keep the same frame of the seat...you don't want to sit on this bike you want to sit in this bike..also get a Stiletto fairing if they still make it...forget the Honda one..too heavy. I also heard that Porche designed this bike for Honda..not sure. I talked to a guy that worked at Honda and was a test rider and said this bike would easily go 100,000 without engine work..he said something about a camshaft chain winning only and the would fix it no problem. This bike is still badass..
I loved all the big Honda naked bikes. Late 70's had the CBX1100, but it didn't sell well. I wanted the V65 Sabre, but didn't have the money when I was in high school. I got the CB1000 in 94, but was disappointed with it's performance. It just didn't have the power I was expecting from a 1000cc bike.
I had one of those back in the late 80s. Bought is as a basket case. Resurrected it... Wow! Could not agree more about the raw power! However, slow speed maneuverability (not what was made for) was a real downer, especially non-highway. Truly a fun ride otherwise. Had to sell it... ☹️
Recently I've been working on slow maneuvers with it. Definitely not the bikes strong point, but I'm improving. I'm sorry you had to sell it. It really is a special bike.
Never start and leave on side stand as it does have some friction when cold and will walk of the side stand and.. Well........ Plop!! And it is heavy. Since you are uphill, it looks like you are ok. But on level ground. It will walk off. That is a side stand.. Not a Jiffy stand. To be safe. Use center stand, start the bike, and watch what the rear wheel does. IT creeps.
It seems to be of no issue when I start it on it's side stand. I don't let it idle for long or I hop on it so it's idling upright usually. This bike is in excellent mechanical shape so I don't see or feel any vibrations with it. I'm impressed with how smooth it operates. Also, I have put it on it's center stand and started it various times. There was no movement of the bike or rear wheel.
Just got one on ebay auction. Seat has no bolts in it and not sure how its supposed to come off if they were in it. Trying to find factory bolts but no luck yet.Got the owner's manual but it doesn't show how seat comes off. Seems strange i would possibly need tools to get seat off to get bike tool kit. Video on this would be awesome.
I think I can help! On each side of the bike the two plastic side fenders (with the V65 Sabre emblem) those fenders pop off. Be careful since the plastic prongs might be brittle. Those fenders are held on by three prongs that fit into rubber slots. (One prong in each corner of that triangular shaped fender.) If you pull straight back at the base of each prong, they'll pop out without issue. Once you get those fenders off, you'll see the bolts that hold the seat in place.
@@da_garage383 thank you very much! So these bolts remove with a wrench ? First bike ive had where the seat is bolted down. Cant find bolts and not sure what they look like. Exploded view difficult to tell.
Sweet I had an 83 V65 as well as an 83 Nighthawk 650. Good luck though taking the V65 to 153mph as that was the fastest verified top end, you have no aerodynamics at all!! The rear end jump up due to shaft was a bit much thats for sure. I am surprised these have no risen much in value but then again tough to find mint ones and those should get a decent deal. Check out my 96 ZX11! Great video, ride safe!
The fastest I've gone on it was 140mph twice. Once was quite terrifying because the road surface wasn't the best, the other time felt pretty good but it was on a nice, smooth road. Your ZX11 looks fantastic. You've done a lot too it also so I imagine it runs beautifully. Very nice bike.
Yes, a new rider could learn to ride on a bike like this. One of the reasons it's recommended for beginner riders to start on lighter, less powerful bike is because it's common for them to have accidents and when they do, they're less severe on a smaller bike. So anyone could start on a powerful bike but should do so with more caution and respect to the machine.
@@da_garage383 i cant say mine is the best example but it was terribly stiff so made shoulders ache on turns but the power band is simular to the v65 just not as in your face , a little more nimble but higher center of gravity imo.
Thanks for this review! You're spot on about the power and torque. The V65 Sabre was a brilliant bike. I bought a 1984 version in 2015 and restored it, then drove it for five years with 100% reliability. It was still working like new when I sold it in 2021. Here's a video on that restoration project: ua-cam.com/video/lopifOUzVaY/v-deo.html
I'm looking at a super clean one in my area now. What's your thoughts on purchasing? I'm concerned with parts availability and it honestly being too much bike for me but it's super clean and well maintained looking.
@@nicholasbaker2904 I'd recommend it if the price is reasonable. From what I can tell, these bikes have excellent reliability. After restoration, I had zero problems with mine over five years and more than 10000 km (it had about 48000 km when I sold it in 2021). I doubt it's too much bike for you because although it's very powerful and torquey, it's also very drivable. Cheers!
@@nicholasbaker2904 I think that's a fair asking price, based on your description. I sold mine for $2500 Canadian in 2021. That would be almost $1900 USD today. But mine had more miles, plus the tank/side cover paint had some scratches and it was faded in places. Mine was restored and of course a minty original will usually fetch more. Good luck!
"Only produced for 2 years; 1984 to 1985". I don't believe that's true. I had a 1986 Honda Sabre V65. I guess mine could have been a late production '85 and Honda called it a '86 model.
Bought a used one as my first bike ever. Kept it for a couple years and then for some damn reason decided I needed a Harley… I wish I’d kept the Sabre and taken a pass on the Harley.
Agree 100% Trying to find replacement clutch levers is a brutal undertaking. Never had a bike walk off a side stand like this one would... I won't be doing that ever again.. good thing this beast is easy to get on the center stand..
I bought a new one in 1984. Most powerful bike I ever owned. The only bike that almost ran out from under me. If you open that throttle up from a standing start, or from any slow speed, you really have to hang on for dear life. Frankly, it's too aggressive for me at my age. I'm 75, and riding a Triumph T120, and that's more than enough bike for me. But, you younger guys really should try one of those V65 Sabres out. There isn't anything like it.
It truly is a beast! Before I bought my 85' V65 Sabre there was an older gentleman at the gym I'd talk with about motorcycles. When I told him I was going to get that Sabre, he said - Just wait until you ride it. They're ferocious!... He was right.
Just bought an 82 sabre, gonna keep up the tradition of hanging on for dear life as soon as she run again :D
Im 62 and i just picked one up, i hope it dont scare me off of it
My older brother‘s first motorcycle was a new V45 saber I taught him how to ride in a parking lot wow I didn’t think he would live.
Two years later he traded it in on the brand new out of the crate v65 with the Honda line fairing 40 years later he still riding it today.
I think he's in a facebook group im in, same bike after 40 years. Great accomplishment
I bought mine in 1986 as a crated 1985 model. The dealer built it and it was absolutely the finest bike I've ever seen. I added the HondaLine fairing and it was nearly the perfect ride. My only complaint was that is was a bit thirsty at around 40 mpg. With a 5 gallon tank it had a 200 mile range. But I never toured with it so the 200 mile range was fine. I loved that bike. I sold it when I moved out of state. Incredible bike.
Before deciding to buy a Goldwing, I looked around for a Hondaline fairing for my V65 Sabre because I love that look and we wanted something better suited for weekend touring. If I had found a fairing, I might still have that V65 because it was a powerful, fun, reliable machine.
Like you, gas mileage was not a concern for us on the V65 because we too only went on shorter rides. I get 39 miles per US gallon with my '08 Goldwing, which I guess is pretty good considering its engine size and the weight of the bike. Cheers!
2 words for this bike. Maybe 4. Holy Sh*t Badass BEAST. Been riding 45 years, ridden all kinds. This is the perfect marriage between Sports and touring. Had 3x V45F's and then 2 V65F's ( Sabres ) The 65's have incredible torque & power after 3K rpm. 1st ride home on the 1100, I was going up the steep Altamonte pass in CA at 65 in 6th. Just to test it, I kicked it down to 5th and twisted the throttle. It damn close to flew out from under me. A buddy with one could pull wheelies on this long heavy bike at 65 on flat freeway. Finally had to give it up @60 after a bad C-7 fracture last year. I layed one down before and drivers just keep getting worse. Not worth the risk of ending up a parapalegic. This is NOT a beginners bike any more than a F16 is a beginners airplane. Good Video 👍 🏍️
I bought mine 5 years ago and STILL LOVE RIDING IT !!! Mines the Blue and black version.
1985 year model then. I had one of those. Now my brother in law is enjoying it. Stupid fast bike. I ride a Harley now. I’m old.
Thanks for the video.
I had the privilege lol of owning one of these beasts in the early 90s.
Bought from my gfs Dad he bought it and literally got thrown off the back and parked it.
I bought it from him and absolutely loved it.
My best friend had a V-max and we had a blast with those bikes.
The VF1100 is a handful and that is a understatement!
I was 6' 235 lbs and it would bury the spedo at l65 I believe but it started skipping about 155 so a lot dicey without a damper but it was raw power and a lot of fun. O-50 2.2 seconds because you were still in first gear and shift and hit 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and 1/4 miles under 11.
The top end wasn't listed for many years because it got ligt and skipped over the pavement but it is somewhat close to 175 if you wound out 6th gear...
Now I'm old and try to make it through the txt and drive crowded roads on a Harley Road King.
Thank you again and be safe.
The V65 Sabre is definitely not for the faint of heart. Sounds like it was perfect for you though! Fastest I've gone on it was 135mph and I was shocked how quickly and easily it got up to that speed. I do ride it nicely for the most part. Especially because of the traffic and people that have no idea you're there. Thank you and you ride safe out there too!
I also put one of these motors in a magna frame. The bike weighed in at 515 lbs. The bike couldn't keep the front end down. Crazy fun to ride. We called it the S magna.
I had a 1983 v-45 Sabre in black. Got it brand new. Best bike I ever had.😎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I have a 84 V65 Sabre too.. Fully restored by myself. I'm a older guy and I remember as a teenager everyone loved the Magna ! But it did nothing for me I had the Sabre poster on my wall !!
I have a 1984 v 45 750 sabre. With 900 km on it. Original
Nice review. Fellow Sabre lover here. Thank you for making this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m riding my beloved 80’ XS1100, which is getting a rebuild / makeover soon, and at some point I want one of these. Watching this video REALLY makes me want one now, haha! My xs has a few upgrades and is quick, but hearing you talk about this thing…I HAVE TO HAVE ONE NOW!!
Ah, I envy you for having an 80' XS11. That's exactly what mine was and boy do I miss that bike... I sold it to get that V65 Sabre. I love the Sabre but I miss my XS11 a lot. If you ever do get a V65 Sabre the first thing you'll notice is how smooth it is compared to the Yamaha. Also the power delivery is different. The XS is a torquey brute that delivers linear power throughout the rev range. The V65 has loads of torque at low rpm but once you cross into 7,000 and above... It's just screams. It's absolutely ferocious. You better hold on tight because it starts pulling unbelievably hard at high rpm.
Thanks so much for sharing - they look like incredible bikes and I actually have two of them (both VF1100 V65 however one is the Sabre and the other the Magna). I also have the VF700 V45 version Magna as well! Unfortunately I acquired all of them in non-running condition and I'm still going through and fixing them up. I absolutely cannot WAIT to take the Sabre for a test ride the second it's fixed and running! It's so painful looking at my Sabre sitting in the garage and not being able to ride it - but I plan to finally have it in commission by the end of this summer! I just have several other projects going on at the same time so it's all about finding the time to finish it. I pulled the carbs out to go through them and rebuild them however it's also got no brakes and clutch as well so I have to completely go through brakes, clutch, and front forks before I can even ride it. Enjoy your Sabre - everyone I've ever talked to that's owned one has nothing but great things to say about them!
You're going to love both the V65 Sabre and Magna. They're ferocious machines! Since you're building these bikes back up to running condition, I assume you already know about the problems they had with the head design and cams. If you don't - be sure to look into it. There are ways to avoid the heads and cams issues! I'm actually working on a video right now of my V65 Sabre and I'll be going over that issue and ways to solve it. Thanks for checking out my video and hopefully the next one will be useful for you as well!
@@da_garage383 Have you heard anything about the cams giving problems? I’m looking to buy a Sabre but on the fence. Great video by the way.
@@da_garage383 nevermind, I just saw your other video… Thanks 👍👍
@@banzairunner7860 Glad I could help!
I had one these and they are blazingly fast and I would also add not for the faint of heart.
Yes, I agree. I'm working on another video about the V65 and that'll be a point I mention in more detail.
Lol yeah I can attest to the fact it is not a beginner bike for sure. It is a beast and that is no hype. It will throw you off if you don't hold on extremely well and the intent in the tank is for your knees to clamp to.
At least I did.
Love honda motorcycle. I have super magna vfour . After 34 years function magnifique. 😀
Wow! That’s impressive! Can’t wait to come check it out.
My favorite bike EVER! Had 2 at the same time.
I'm definitely enjoying the Sabre. What a machine! Do you still have yours?
I have a Honda CBX750P and is very similar to this one (Sabre). Really enjoy this video. I would love to have one Sabre too.
Thank you! Honda bikes are great.
I put 98,000 miles on one with no major problems. Had a kill switch issue and boil the clutch fluid sometimes when I was riding hard. I did do the required maintenance including valve adjusts but I rode it hard and asked it for all it had it never disappointed. If I didn't want you near me you weren't near me😉
Got one! A very very fun bike. Love it!
I have a 1983 V45 Magna and I love her especially like you said when you hit the powerband nobody expects that old by to get up and jump and jump it does enjoy your nice bike😅
Oh yeah, the powerband is no joke! She rips hard!
At a moto garage near me the dude has one these brand new with 500 miles on it. Along with some KZ1000’s and other cool late 70’s and 80’s bikes. His father was a dealer long ago. Man I feel like a kid in a candy store in there!
My dream bike is a V65 or a 1985 V-Max! Nice bike sir!
Wow, that's a gem. They're hard enough to find but one with only 500 miles is unheard of. I'd love to check out garage - sounds like a place made of dreams! One of my older friends has a first gen V-MAX. I think it might be an 85'... Anyway, I'm trying to convince him to allow me to do a review of that bike.
I had just started my first job, on the parts counter at a Honda dealer when the V-four engined range of bikes started being sold, and remember the complete sh*t show with the camshaft issue, it mainly affected the 750cc bikes, but the way Honda handled it wasn't the best, some bikes were getting new cams put in at their first service, Honda at first denied there was an issue, but finally had to admit they had screwed up. They issued service bulletins with various "fixes", special tools to set the tappets, and suggested that owners use a special additive in the oil, but it was finally fixed when they line bored the head and camshaft cap together, (they weren't doing this at the beginning) but by then the damage was done, and the whole fiasco nearly sunk Hondas V-four completely.
The later VFR750 showed they could get it right, but then they quietly dropped the engine in the bigger sports bikes and brought out the CBR1000, 750 and 600, with inline fours. If that first V-four hadn't been such a fizzle, we might have had a V-four Fireblade in 92 instead of the inline four we got.😀
I'm glad that little disaster didn't destroy Honda, though it did hurt their reputation for a while. One of my other favorite bikes is the VFR750. I'd love one of those - a 93' in white. That is interesting that after their debacle with the cams they overcorrected and built those bullet proof gear driven 750's.
I bought mine in late 84..$3,300 and they threw in s Bell helmet fullface...I wrote the check on the spot..still have it...3700 original miles...only thing that went bad was the instrument bezel went cloudy bad...the hardest part of the bike to get is that...you'll want to get the seat lowered in front..keep the same frame of the seat...you don't want to sit on this bike you want to sit in this bike..also get a Stiletto fairing if they still make it...forget the Honda one..too heavy. I also heard that Porche designed this bike for Honda..not sure. I talked to a guy that worked at Honda and was a test rider and said this bike would easily go 100,000 without engine work..he said something about a camshaft chain winning only and the would fix it no problem. This bike is still badass..
That's awesome. Only 3,700 miles? It's brand new! It's an amazing bike even in today's standards.
I had an 83 V65 Magna. It was awesome!
I loved all the big Honda naked bikes. Late 70's had the CBX1100, but it didn't sell well. I wanted the V65 Sabre, but didn't have the money when I was in high school. I got the CB1000 in 94, but was disappointed with it's performance. It just didn't have the power I was expecting from a 1000cc bike.
In 2006 we did a dyno run on 110 octane, 118.6 at the wheel.
There is a burnout video on UA-cam. Under Mrs Bonecrusher.
I have the same bike under restoration and also a 82 Honda V45 Sabre being restored.
They're fantastic machines, definitely worth putting some money into.
I had one of those back in the late 80s. Bought is as a basket case. Resurrected it... Wow! Could not agree more about the raw power! However, slow speed maneuverability (not what was made for) was a real downer, especially non-highway. Truly a fun ride otherwise. Had to sell it... ☹️
Recently I've been working on slow maneuvers with it. Definitely not the bikes strong point, but I'm improving. I'm sorry you had to sell it. It really is a special bike.
I bought a new 1984 leftover back in 1985 for $3800.00 bucks ,things run good ..
I had an 84' as well, great bike, but felt top heavy
Beautiful running V-65....fyi that is not correct headlight assemby. Probably could still find one , be patient. 😎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Yes, the previous owner changed it. At some point I'd like to change it back to original because I like the original look more.
Such a great engine! I wish they made a bigger one and put it in a car...
Seriously, it made a ton of power! I had a 97' Honda Civic that made around 105hp. The V65 made 120hp 12 years earlier. Pretty impressive.
Nice bike. King until 1985. When the Yamaha Vmax showed up.
Как я мечтаю о таком мотоцикле!!! И понимаю, что никогда у меня такого не будет :( это мой идеал!!!
Never start and leave on side stand as it does have some friction when cold and will walk of the side stand and.. Well........ Plop!! And it is heavy. Since you are uphill, it looks like you are ok. But on level ground. It will walk off. That is a side stand.. Not a Jiffy stand. To be safe. Use center stand, start the bike, and watch what the rear wheel does. IT creeps.
It seems to be of no issue when I start it on it's side stand. I don't let it idle for long or I hop on it so it's idling upright usually. This bike is in excellent mechanical shape so I don't see or feel any vibrations with it. I'm impressed with how smooth it operates. Also, I have put it on it's center stand and started it various times. There was no movement of the bike or rear wheel.
hi
got two of them ❤
can you help me with manuals for v65?
Greetings from Poland 🇵🇱
I’m looking to purchase one of these. If it’s for sale please reach out
7-8k rpm on a V65 engine is indeed warp speed. Miss my Magna, but the maintenance wasn't worth it. Sat and was abused for many years before I got it.
Just got one on ebay auction. Seat has no bolts in it and not sure how its supposed to come off if they were in it. Trying to find factory bolts but no luck yet.Got the owner's manual but it doesn't show how seat comes off. Seems strange i would possibly need tools to get seat off to get bike tool kit. Video on this would be awesome.
I think I can help! On each side of the bike the two plastic side fenders (with the V65 Sabre emblem) those fenders pop off. Be careful since the plastic prongs might be brittle. Those fenders are held on by three prongs that fit into rubber slots. (One prong in each corner of that triangular shaped fender.) If you pull straight back at the base of each prong, they'll pop out without issue. Once you get those fenders off, you'll see the bolts that hold the seat in place.
@@da_garage383 thank you very much! So these bolts remove with a wrench ? First bike ive had where the seat is bolted down. Cant find bolts and not sure what they look like. Exploded view difficult to tell.
@@jeffcarpenter8000 I'm uploading a video right now of the seat removal process. It should be up on my channel within the next hour.
I owned an '85 Honda Sabre for 10 years, then i sold it. Never do that, Keep it , forever !
I plan to keep it, I love this bike!
Anybody know a shop in Northern California that works on these? Need my carbs synced and balanced.
Sweet I had an 83 V65 as well as an 83 Nighthawk 650. Good luck though taking the V65 to 153mph as that was the fastest verified top end, you have no aerodynamics at all!! The rear end jump up due to shaft was a bit much thats for sure. I am surprised these have no risen much in value but then again tough to find mint ones and those should get a decent deal. Check out my 96 ZX11! Great video, ride safe!
The fastest I've gone on it was 140mph twice. Once was quite terrifying because the road surface wasn't the best, the other time felt pretty good but it was on a nice, smooth road. Your ZX11 looks fantastic. You've done a lot too it also so I imagine it runs beautifully. Very nice bike.
Top speed is 177. Top speed for the V65 Magna was 172
That's calculated top speed not measured.
@@esv5182 Tue. Highest top speed measure GPS that I can find is 153mph.
I still have mine
Keep it! They're special bikes and I think they'll become more rare and sought after.
Thanks for the video. In your opinion, Could a new rider with a responsible mindset learn to ride on this "monster"?
Yes, a new rider could learn to ride on a bike like this. One of the reasons it's recommended for beginner riders to start on lighter, less powerful bike is because it's common for them to have accidents and when they do, they're less severe on a smaller bike. So anyone could start on a powerful bike but should do so with more caution and respect to the machine.
I have a 84 v65 sabre and a 85 vf700s !
How is riding the vf700s? I've never ridden one.
@@da_garage383 i cant say mine is the best example but it was terribly stiff so made shoulders ache on turns but the power band is simular to the v65 just not as in your face , a little more nimble but higher center of gravity imo.
Very good video
Thank you!
Thanks for this review! You're spot on about the power and torque. The V65 Sabre was a brilliant bike. I bought a 1984 version in 2015 and restored it, then drove it for five years with 100% reliability. It was still working like new when I sold it in 2021. Here's a video on that restoration project: ua-cam.com/video/lopifOUzVaY/v-deo.html
Awesome, I'll check out that video now.
I'm looking at a super clean one in my area now. What's your thoughts on purchasing? I'm concerned with parts availability and it honestly being too much bike for me but it's super clean and well maintained looking.
@@nicholasbaker2904 I'd recommend it if the price is reasonable. From what I can tell, these bikes have excellent reliability. After restoration, I had zero problems with mine over five years and more than 10000 km (it had about 48000 km when I sold it in 2021). I doubt it's too much bike for you because although it's very powerful and torquey, it's also very drivable. Cheers!
Damnit. That's tempting. It looks mint for $2200. 22k mi.
@@nicholasbaker2904 I think that's a fair asking price, based on your description. I sold mine for $2500 Canadian in 2021. That would be almost $1900 USD today. But mine had more miles, plus the tank/side cover paint had some scratches and it was faded in places. Mine was restored and of course a minty original will usually fetch more. Good luck!
Hello sir,know of any for sale?
I don't know of any for sale currently.
That’s a nice bike 🏍
Thank you, it's been a joy to own and ride.
"Only produced for 2 years; 1984 to 1985". I don't believe that's true. I had a 1986 Honda Sabre V65. I guess mine could have been a late production '85 and Honda called it a '86 model.
I love ❤️😍
Thanks! I love it too.
Bought a used one as my first bike ever. Kept it for a couple years and then for some damn reason decided I needed a Harley… I wish I’d kept the Sabre and taken a pass on the Harley.
NIIICE!!!
Put on the oil pressure modification on these before it’s too late
You do not idle this bike only supported by the side-stand, ever!
Agree 100% Trying to find replacement clutch levers is a brutal undertaking. Never had a bike walk off a side stand like this one would... I won't be doing that ever again.. good thing this beast is easy to get on the center stand..
I have one..... Awesome machines !!! Stupid amount of power !!
Ross Geller? Is that you? lol
Just his long, lost brother. Haha
Love this bike, but it's just too much bike for me lol.
It is a bit of a handful!