Honda Magna мотоциклінің тарихы мен ерекшеліктері

The Honda Magna is a cruiser motorcycle made from 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 2003 and was the second Honda to use their new V4 engine shared with the VF750S Sabre and a few years later a related engine was fitted to the VF750F 'Interceptor', the later models used a retuned engine from the VFR750F with fins added to the outside of the engine. The engine technology and layout was a descendant of Honda's racing V4 machines, such as the NS750 and NR750. The introduction of this engine on the Magna and the Sabre in 1982, was a milestone in the evolution of motorcycles that would culminate in 1983 with the introduction of the Interceptor V4. The V45's performance is comparable to that of Valkyries and Honda's 1800 cc V twin cruisers. However, its mix of performance, reliability, and refinement was overshadowed by the more powerful 1,098 cc "V65" Magna in 1983. Though criticized for its long distance comfort and lauded mainly for its raw acceleration,

The Honda Magna of years 1982–1988 incorporated a number of unique features into a cruiser market dominated by V twin engines. The V4 engine configuration provided a balance between torque for good acceleration and high horsepower. The 90 degree layout produced less primary vibration, and the four cylinders provided a much smoother delivery of power than a V twin. Good engine balance, plus short stroke and large piston diameter allowed for a high redline and potential top speed. Besides the engine configuration, the bike had water cooling, a six speed transmission for good economy at highway speed, and common on other middleweight bikes for Honda in the early 1980s, shaft drive. While the shaft drive is very convenient with virtually no maintenance required (and no oil getting slung around), it also robbed some power from where it was more evidently lacking on in town or lower speed riding. It also had features like twin horns, hydraulic clutch, and an engine temperature gauge. A coil sprung, oil bath, air preload front fork with anti dive valving was an improvement, although the Magna did not benefit from the linkage based single shock that was on the Sabre and Interceptor. The V 65 Magna and other large displacement Hondas were assembled in the Marysville Motorcycle Plant in Ohio for US delivery and in Japan for other markets. In 2008, Honda announced plans to close the plant, their oldest in North America, in 2009, which had been still making Gold Wings and VTX cruisers.

The 1982 V45 Magna has a round chrome headlight and fenders. The headlight is a sealed beam type. The front disc brakes have straight grooves, dual piston calipers, and TRAC anti dive. The speedometer reads 80 mph and the tachometer indicates a 10,000 rpm redline. The engine is a DOHC 16 valve liquid cooled 90 degree V 4 linked to a six speed transmission with a hydraulically actuated wet plate clutch and shaft drive. The compression is 10.5:1. The 1982 V45 covered 1/4 mile in 12.08 seconds at 108.82 MPH. The 1983 V45 Magna is the same as the 1982 model with few differences. Early in the model year, the headlight was changed to a non sealed beam unit with a replaceable halogen bulb. The front disc brake grooves are curved. The speedometer reads to but the redline on the tachometer is unchanged. (1983 starting SN JH2RC071*DM100011)

The US government imposed tariff rate hikes for foreign built motorcycles over 700 cc in order to combat their rise in sales in North America, and to aid the domestic motorcycle manufacturers, namely Harley Davidson. So for 1984 Honda responded by reducing the engine size for the VF750s to 698 cc by decreasing stroke on all of their 750cc engines, so the Magna became the VF700C in the USA. A side effect of this change was a higher revving engine (redline now 10,500rpm) with similar power figures as the 750s. In 1984 rev limiters within the CDI units were added as well to help prevent over revving that was fairly common with the earlier 750 models. The headlight changed from round chrome to a rectangular chrome housing. The seats were changed to a wider & lower 2 piece design in an attempt to improve rider comfort. The rear shocks also changed to eliminate the extra fluid reservoir. The wheels were different as well now being an "open" 5 spoke wheel like Honda's VT500s but with chrome the way around the rim's lip but were the same size. Honda only made the VF700 for 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987, then back to the VF750 after that. In the first part of 1984, some Magnas were still VF750s though 1984 750s were more common with Interceptors (VF750F). Models from 1982 to 1984 were unique in their use of a larger primary fuel tank and smaller sub tank. The sub tank is located directly behind the left side cover, well below the level of the carburetor banks and has a low fuel sensor incorporated into the body. Owing to the low seat height (much lower than in a standard street bike) and cruiser styling of the bike, the main tank is relatively small. Because the bottom end of the sub tank is so low, all bikes in this family have a fuel pump to get the fuel up into the carburetors. In practice, the fuel pump adds more complexity to a carbureted bike which otherwise doesn't need pressure fed fuel.

For the 1985 and 1986 models, the sub tank was dropped in favor of a slightly larger and wider main tank. Again because the reserve level of the tank was below the carburetors, the requisite fuel pump and series of fuel lines – although changed – were kept. Also for 1985 and 1986 the previously chrome, round rear fender became a painted single piece unit much wider and taller like more classic cruisers which allowed for a wider rear tire. 1985 and 1986 saw new wheels too. Some of the trim around the Magna was changed as well, like the addition of a passenger back rest, smaller side covers, slightly lower seat and footpeg positions, brighter instrument cluster, slightly larger airbox covers, lighter front brake rotors, an improved radiator (now with a shut off valve to greatly ease servicing), new exhaust, and the engine had silver case covers instead of the black prior years had. These engines also had silver aluminum covers over the engine's shaft drive output while prior years used black plastic covers, the engines were otherwise the same VF700 as 1984 with identical gear ratios and all. In 1986 some of the parts around the Magna now had the "Magna Bird" emblem present on the airbox covers, the driver seat, and the passenger backrest. For only 1986 the engines had unique cylinder heads, the rear heads now featured a new cosmetic bolt on piece and while all previous VF700s/VF750s used head bolts and more square valve covers 1986s were revised with line bored camshaft journals thus taking different camshafts and valve covers. The new valve covers allowed for easier valve rocker adjustment which would normally be a difficult procedure, but because of the shape head bolts had to be replaced with head studs so 1986 models have chrome acorn nuts where zinc plated headbolts once were. These were the only changes from 1985 to 1986, the following years of Magnas would be quite different.