The Honda Magna is a cruiser motorcycle made from 1982 to 1988 and from 1994 to 2003. It was the second Honda to use the company’s new V4 engine, shared with the VF750S Sabre; a few years later a related engine went into the VF750F Interceptor, and the later Magnas used a retuned VFR750F engine with fins added to the outside.
Honda Magna at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Production | 1982–1988 and 1994–2003 |
| Engine | 90-degree V4 |
| Shared with | VF750S Sabre |
| Racing ancestry | NS750 and NR750 |
| Cooling | water |
| Gearbox | six speeds |
| Final drive | shaft |
| V45 | first-generation 750 cc model |
| V65 | 1,098 cc Magna of 1983 |
| Later engine | retuned VFR750F unit with fins |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Magna.
History of the Honda Magna
Racing technology on a cruiser
The engine technology and layout descended from Honda’s racing V4 machines such as the NS750 and NR750. Fitting this engine to the Magna and Sabre in 1982 was a milestone in the evolution of motorcycles that culminated in 1983 with the Interceptor V4. The V45’s performance was comparable to that of Valkyries and Honda’s 1,800 cc V-twins, though its mix of performance, reliability and refinement was overshadowed by the more powerful 1,098 cc V65 Magna in 1983.
What made it different
The Magna of 1982–1988 brought several unusual features to a cruiser market dominated by V-twins. The V4 offered a balance of torque and power, the 90-degree layout produced less primary vibration, and four cylinders gave much smoother delivery than a V-twin. Good engine balance with a short stroke and large pistons allowed a high redline and a high potential top speed. The bike also had water cooling, a six-speed transmission for economy at highway speed and shaft drive, both common on Honda middleweights of the early 1980s.
Reputation
The Magna was criticised for long-distance comfort and praised mainly for raw acceleration. It was the bike of choice for Doris Maron, a Canadian grandmother and accountant-turned-traveller who toured the world solo by motorcycle without the support crew that accompanies riders in films such as Long Way Round.
Design and features
- 90-degree V4: smoother and less vibratory than a V-twin.
- Water cooling: unusual for a cruiser of the period.
- Shaft drive: low maintenance and clean running.
- Six-speed gearbox: tall top gear for relaxed highway cruising.
Honda Magna versions
- V45 Magna (1982): the first 750 cc generation.
- V65 Magna (1983): the 1,098 cc version.
- Second series (1994–2003): the later Magna with a retuned VFR750F engine.
The Magna shares its V4 ancestry with the Honda CX and its big-cruiser role with the Valkyrie. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda Magna, English Wikipedia: production, V4 engine, features, reputation
