Honda VF750C Magna De LUX
Honda VF750C Magna De LUX | |
Manufacturer | |
---|---|
Production | 1995 |
Class | Power Cruiser |
Engine | Four stroke, 90°V-four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder |
Compression ratio | 10.8:1 |
Ignition | CDI |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: 41mm Air assisted forks, 4-way anti-dive adjustable Rear: Dual shocks, spring preload adjustable |
Brakes | Front: Single 315mm disc Rear: 180mm Drum |
Front Tire | 120/80-17 Dunlop K555F, tubeless |
Rear Tire | 150/80-17 Dunlop K555, tubeless |
Wheelbase | 1651 mm / 65 in |
Length | 2514 mm / 93 in |
Seat Height | 710 mm / 28 in |
Weight | 228 kg / 504 lbs (dry), |
Recommended Oil | Honda GN4 10W-40 |
Fuel Capacity | 13 Liters 3.5 US gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Liquid cooled cooled Four stroke, 90°V-four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder. The engine featured a 10.8:1 compression ratio.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Wet, multiplate.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 120/80-17 Dunlop K555F, tubeless front tire and a 150/80-17 Dunlop K555, tubeless rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 315mm disc in the front and a 180mm Drum in the rear. The front suspension was a 41mm Air assisted forks, 4-way anti-dive adjustable while the rear was equipped with a Dual shocks, spring preload adjustable. The VF750C Magna De LUX was fitted with a 13 Liters 3.5 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 228 kg / 504 lbs. The wheelbase was 1651 mm / 65 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Honda VF 750C Magna
De LUX
In the late 1940's and '50s, customized motorcycles-rolling expressions of
individuality-were popping up like suburbs. The only rule? No rules.
Harley-Davidsons, Indians, BSAs, Triumphs, Nortons and the like acquired fresh
looks and pumped-up performance. For years, these styling marks were exclusive
to backyard enthusiasts. Then, in the early '70s, Harley began to embrace this
"outlaw" imagery, creating the first factory customs. Later in the decade, the
Japanese bike-makers followed, and the cruiser boom was on. Today, as witnessed
by any current Harley-Davidson, by Honda's Shadow American Classic Edition and
by Kawasaki's new Vulcan 800, torquey, low-slung, "American-style" rides are
hotter than Elvis 45s at a 1956 high-school sock-hop.
Unfortunately, the mainstream has placed constraints on what
began as individual expression. These days, if the look's not what
has come to be thought of as Milwaukee-generated, it ain't diddly.
V-Twin powerplants are the calling card for most any kicked-out low
rider. H-D's are air-cooled, of course, and the Big Four Japanese
manufacturers speak pridefully of their ability to conceal radiators
and related hardware for an air-cooled look.
Honda's Magna Deluxe is a different kind of cruiser. At a
glance, it appears to be V-Twin powered, but there's a pair of
slash-cut mufflers on either side, indicating V-Four propulsion. Few
factory cruisers are faired, but the Deluxe gets a small,
handlebar-mounted unit. Understated tones have become more popular
colors for production cruisers, but Honda-which introduced the
third-generation Magna as an early-release '94 model-thumbed its
nose at convention. It decked the Deluxe in a two-tone pearl purple
and pearl white scheme (for those needing something less audacious,
there is a black model with pearl mint replacing the splash of white
on the tank).
In designing this motorcycle, Honda didn't entirely cast off
convention. The 748cc V-Four is borrowed from the VFR750F sportbike
and adorned with faux cooling fins and oversized valve covers. These
make the engine appear to displace at least 1000cc (nowhere on the
bike is there anything stating that it is a 750). There were
internal changes, as well. Honda swapped the VFR's pricey
gear-driven cam arrangement for a quieter chain-driven setup. A
360-degree crankshaft was substituted for the VFR's 180-degree unit,
compression dipped from 11.0:1 to 10.8:1, and 34mm Keihin carbs-2mm
smaller than those worn by the VFR-were fitted. Bore and stroke,
70.0 x 48.6mm, remain unchanged, as does the shim-under-bucket
valvetrain assembly.
Although Honda says the dohc engine is tuned for midrange
torque, the V-Four makes its peak power where few cruisers dare to
rev. There are 81 horses at 9000 rpm-a whopping 27 more than
Kawasaki's Vulcan 750, the next best performer in the class. Torque
peaks at 47 foot-pounds at 8500, 3 less than the Vulcan.
Fortunately, the power curve itself is nearly pancake-flat; there's
42 foot-pounds at 3500 rpm, 46 at 6500 rpm and 43 at the 9500-rpm
redline.
As the numbers suggest, the engine alone makes the Magna
uncommon among cruisers. Good luck finding another cruiser
powerplant that continues to pull as engine revs approach five
digits. There is, however, a trade off: Although top-end punch gives
the Deluxe class-leading acceleration, top-gear roll-ons are merely
average. With its 12.3-second quarter-mile performance, the Magna is
1.3 seconds quicker than the Vulcan 800 and nine-tenths quicker than
the Intruder 800. From 40-60 and 60-80 mph in top gear, though, the
bottom-end-heavy Suzuki, at 3.45 and 4.3 seconds, is a half-second
quicker than the Honda.
Honda's five-speed transmission, operated by an easy-pull,
cable-operated clutch, makes experiencing this performance a breeze.
Shifts are precise, an easy snick-snick from one ratio to the next.
Due to cost concerns, power makes its way to the rear wheel via an
O-ring chain instead of a driveshaft.
Conventional elements include the suspension, which provides a cushy
ride. Up front, there's a non-adjustable 41mm Showa fork sourced
from the CB750 (with altered spring and rebound damping rates suited
to cruiser duty) that soaked up practically everything we threw its
way-only Los Angeles' nastiest potholes bottomed the assembly.
Preload-adjustable twin shocks, also from the Nighthawk and
similarly revised, are softly sprung but effective. Steering-there's
32 degrees of rake and 5.2-inch-es of trail-is neutral and slow, and
the wide handlebar offers plenty of leverage. By cruiser standards,
ground clearance and cornering stability are excellent.
Also straight from the cruiser bible is the bike's 65-inch
wheelbase, which gives the requisite stretched-out look and helps to
make the rear drum brake an effective stopping tool. Up front,
there's a single 12.2-inch disc and twin-piston caliper. Both setups
are smooth and progressive in action.
The Magna has a low look, too. A mere 28 inches off the ground,
the tractor-style seat is as plush as the suspension. The chrome
handlebar requires a moderate reach and the folding footpegs are
comfortably forward. Most riders will find themselves more reclined
than on a standard, but not as stretched-out as on a Harley Softail.
Passenger accommodations-there's a removable rectangular pad that
measures 12x10 inches-are, at best, sparse.
Looking ahead, you see a speedometer and tachometer, an array of
idiot lights and the bolt-on fairing and its low, low windscreen,
which serves better as an ornament than a shelter from the elements.
It's fine for a moderate highway pace, but if you're hanging in the
fast lane, the windblast becomes fatiguing after 50 miles or so.
That's okay, since the fuel tank holds just 3.6 gallons.
If fuel capacity is a bit on the meager side, the Deluxe's
suggested retail price isn't, unless you compare it to even the
least-expensive Harley-Davidson Big Twin. At $7499 (the monotone,
unfaired Magna costs $7099) the Magna costs $1600 more than an
Intruder 800, $1500 more than Yamaha's Virago 750 and $800 more than
a Vulcan 800.
Is it worth it? If a traditional V-Twin is what lights your
fire, then you'll likely find satisfaction-and a good chunk of cash
left in your pocket-by choosing from one of the Ameri-style cruisers
available. But if you're enamored with the hot-rod look, if you feel
the need for superior engine performance, you'll love the Magna
Deluxe.
Like the original customs, it dares to be different.
Source Cycle World
Make Model | Honda VF 750C Magna De Lux |
---|---|
Year | 1995 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, 90°V-four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder |
Displacement | 748 cc / 45.6 cu-in |
Cooling System | Liquid cooled |
Bore X Stroke | 70 x 48.6 mm |
Compression | 10.8:1 |
Lubrication | Wet sump |
Induction | 4x 32mm Keihin CV |
Ignition | CDI |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 87 hp / 64.9 kW @ 9000 rpm |
Max Torque | 69.6 Nm / 51.3 ft. lbs @ 7250 rpm |
Clutch | Wet, multiplate |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Final Drive | 530 chain, 40/16 |
Front Suspension | 41mm Air assisted forks, 4-way anti-dive adjustable |
Front Wheel Travel | 120 mm / 4.7 in |
Rear Suspension | Dual shocks, spring preload adjustable |
Rear Wheel Travel | 100 mm / 3.9 in |
Front Brakes | Single 315mm disc |
Rear Brakes | 180mm Drum |
Front Wheel | Cast-alloy, 17 x 3.0 in |
Rear Wheel | Cast-alloy, 15 x 3.5 in |
Front Tire | 120/80-17 Dunlop K555F, tubeless |
Rear Tire | 150/80-17 Dunlop K555, tubeless |
Rake | 32° |
Trail | 129 mm / 5.1 in |
Length | 2514 mm / 93 in |
Wheelbase | 1651 mm / 65 in |
Seat Height | 710 mm / 28 in |
Dry Weight | 228 kg / 504 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 13 Liters 3.5 US gal |