Look what followed me home.....

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Jim McCulloch, Mar 8, 2026 at 2:48 PM.

  1. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Well not exactly a VFR, but it sort of has a VFR engine, right? 1997 VF750 C

    I could not turn it down, got a really good deal on it. Need some love and it was something I kind of always wanted to try.

    Not sure about the whitewall tires but they must have been expensive as they are Continentals and almost brand new.

    This is a Cali model so it has all sorts of crazy emissions gear the 49 state models does not have.

    IMG_0385.JPG
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #1
    bmart and jstehman like this.
  2. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2018
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    150
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Nice find! Loved my Magna.

    Did you get the rest of the exhaust?

    Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #2
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  3. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Yes sir I did, but it had the exhaust outlet plates removed, Probably going to be loud, but I guess some people like that. Not me.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #3
    jstehman likes this.
  4. jstehman

    jstehman New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2018
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    150
    Trophy Points:
    43
    V4musclebike.com

    Plenty of info over there. Maybe find some stock exhaust as well

    Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #4
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  5. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Thanks, I am a member there also!
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #5
    jstehman likes this.
  6. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    3,028
    Likes Received:
    865
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    A thermostat location that VFR800 owners can only dream about...

    Should be a fun project. Is that gear drive cams and a 180 degree crank? Sure looks like the same cases as my 86 VFR750.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #6
  7. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,266
    Likes Received:
    483
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Millgrove, ON
    Map
    Looks cool and in decent shape. Loved my '83 V65, but I woulda loved a V45....... or a Sabre
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #7
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  8. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    No gear drive, they had to cut costs somewhere , not sure about the 180 crank. you are probably right about the engine cases. Looks very similar.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #8
  9. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Yeah the V65's were just too big for me, V45's were much better for my small frame. I briefly had a 1984 700 Sabre but it had bad cams and I never got to ride it.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #9
  10. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2006
    Messages:
    4,528
    Likes Received:
    521
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Southwest Ohio
    Map
    The "84s must have been notorious for bad cams, I had one and it ate the cams twice... in frustration on the 2nd time, I bailed on the bike for a low ball amount...
    Loved the damn thing but it acted more like a high maintenance women and I have no patience for those....
    https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i...GXhdmgK5McGcbmQxH7qG6fqRfgG/M/i-JvhLD4r-M.jpg
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #10
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  11. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Dude....I worked at a Honda Dealer from 83-88 or so and you would not believe how many cam warranties we did on especially the 82-83 V-4's.

    We would get them in and then wait and wait for Honda send updated cams and followers. I think there were several updates. That is how I ended up with a 84 700 Sabre, the owner basically gave it to me for nothing and I never got around to fixing it. And it was only 5 years old when I got it but I knew the cams would likely fail again so I shelved it. And yet, some of the V-4's never had ANY issues. It was really crazy.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #11
    mello dude likes this.
  12. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2009
    Messages:
    8,092
    Likes Received:
    4,084
    Trophy Points:
    158
    *pretty damn sure on this, but not 100%*

    That era Magna engine is based on the 1990 VFR (which is VERY good thing), and converted to chain cam drive. And screw tappets? It's been A LONG TIME since I've been in one.

    They did it for noise, not costs, if I remember correctly. Engine is exposed and the overall db rating would suffer with gears. They could spend the noise points elsewhere. That's why Honda would put foam on the inside of lowers and rubber-damped inserts inside crankcase covers on some bikes. Same reason for down-pointing intake "snorkels".

    One of the few "cruisers" I enjoyed riding. The engine is awesome (of course) and the smaller front wheel lets it actually kinda handle for the wheelbase.

    Cobra slip-ons sound SICK on that bike. I installed a fucking bazillion of them. And the National Cycle fly screen. Dope.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2026 at 3:21 PM


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #12
  13. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map
    Glad you chimed in Cap'n, I have been reading the Honda manual and it has shim adjusters under the tappet buckets. Totally agree it is a 1990 VFR engine platform. And Yes, the cam chains are for sure quieter than the gear drives.

    Should be fun, I am over at https://v4musclebike.com/ trying to find a few parts.

    Anyone need any Cali spec emission control parts LOL????
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #13
  14. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    3,028
    Likes Received:
    865
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    Have you seen this site? https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/v4_cams_what.html
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #14
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
  15. Jim McCulloch

    Jim McCulloch Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1,063
    Likes Received:
    309
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Houston TEXAS
    Map


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #15
  16. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,266
    Likes Received:
    483
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Millgrove, ON
    Map
    I heard about the chocolate cams, and porosity..... the problem seemed more of a lack of lubrication. A gent named Dave Dodge sold a kit that consisted of an oil filter adapter with two fittings for stainless steel lines that bolted up to the top end. You could then use a standard spin-on oil filter (Bosch 3300 if memory serves). My cams were ok at 35k miles, some porosity yes, but ok. I installed the kit and never gave it another thought.
     


    This site may contain affiliate links for which VFRworld may be compensated
    #16
    Jim McCulloch likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page