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I started riding in the '60's and have owned a LOT of motorcycles. Here's the ones I can remember, not in order. There are probably 5-10 others but I don't remember them all. I traded a lot back in the day...
1966 Honda Hawk 305
1967 Honda CT90
1968 BSA Lightning
1971 Honda CL175 (had two of those)
1968 305 Yamaha
1970 Honda 350
1971 Yamaha R5 350
1971 Honda CL350
1974 Honda CB750
1976 Honda CB750
1974 Suzuki GT380
1975 Suzuki GT750
1975 Kawasaki 400
1977 HD Sportster
1981 Yamaha 650
1975 Honda CB 500
1972 Honda CB125
1981 Suzuki GL650
1981 Honda CB900F
1982 Honda Nighthawk 650
1983 Honda Goldwing 1100 Standard (the one without all the stuff on it)
1985 HD Electraglide
1999 Sportster Custom
2005 Suzuki Boulevard 800
2007 Suzuki Boulevard 1500
2007 HD Fxd
2007 HD Road King Classic
2011 HD FXDC
2010 HD Heritage Softail Deluxe (I HATED that bike)
2008 HD Street Glide
2014 HD Low Rider
2007 HD Street Glide (current bike)
....and a few assorted dirt bikes along the way.... Suzuki RM 125, Hodaka 100cc Dirt Squirt, Ossa 250 Phantom, Harley 350 Sprint in Champion frame and Honda Elsinore in Champion frame (flat track race bikes), Rokon 340 (look it up ) a few others I can't remember now.
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Dec 29, 2018 at 08:16 AM.
....
Then 2 of these, an 84 (stolen) and an 85 I still have. Needs carbs rebuilt as its sat since 2013 (house fire) Love this bike.
Carbs on those V4s are a misery to do anything with, just buried in there. Have a V45 Sabre in the shed I put at the bottom of my bike to-do list. Before the carbs went wonky, did re-bush the pro-link suspension, seemed like something an engineer on acid dreamed up. Did handle really good, though.
Spot on Imold. I did the carbs in my Magna after I got it. I've ridden a dozen or so of these old V4's, and this one ran like the proverbial raped ape. Just flat out screamed. Then, it sat and now they need cleaned again. AARRRGGGHHHH!!!
I've never done a V45, but the saged wrench at the local shop told me the smaller the displacement on those 80's V4's, the harder it is to get the carb rack in and out. Knowing now hard the 1100's are, I wouldn't want to tackle a 700/750. I gave a 500 Interceptor to my cousin, but I had already pulled the engine out to they were easy peasy.
In all honesty, I don't mind them once they are out. Four carbs and some linkage that isn't rocket science. Takes a bit of tuning to get them right, but damn these V65's are fun. Especially the Sabre's. Not many know what they are, don't have the memories or reputation as the Magna which was the flagship. Same engine, UJM styling, handled much better and wheelies easier. I've given my forks the full Race Tech upgrade. Still need to do the monoshock.
I've had one grey bearded Harley guy know what it was because he used to have one, we talked at length. Nice guy. About 10 years ago some other HD riders were talking smack. One berated me because its was only a 650 twin (he assumed V65 meant 650cc, not cubes and failed to count plug wires). I smiled and told him my 650 would smoke his big Harley, asked him if he wanted to bet a few dollars on it and pay to be educated. Bearded buy stepped in and told him to keep his wallet in his pocket. Hell, I'd have given the guy a head start and started in second too.
V65 Sabres are still dirt cheap and plentiful. One of the best kept secrets in muscle bikes. I like it that way.
If you haven't found it, check out v4musclebike.com Its the most trafficked V4 bbs online right now. Good folks, calm board and 99% are eager to help. A few guys there you can send your carbs out to once you have them out.
Last edited by 2wheelwanderer; Dec 31, 2018 at 01:16 PM.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
) a few others I can't remember now.
