VTX Headlight on my 1987 Magna

[sharpmagna]

So I went ahead and installed a VTX headlight on my 1987 Honda Magna. The stock headlight looked like it had taken some damage and was somewhat skewed. I figured it was an opportunity to give my bike an updated look. So, $230 later it looks like this:





This is what it looked like the day I bought it:







I also ordered the rectangular muffler protectors. When I bought the bike it had none of them and when I investigated further I found that the mounting points were broken off. Well try to find something like that for a 20 year old bike and you get creative. I bought one piece to test with and I attached it to the muffler directly with aluminized epoxy (You can see it in the secon picture on the bottom pipe versus the top pipe). It had been holding on for a few days of riding without any problems so I ordered the other three. I'll put those on this weekend.

As you can see the front fender has a small ding and rust on the corner. I'm planning to either buy a used fender off 83-85 Magna and paint to match or just repaint the stock fender.

This bike is a work in progress... Next up is the 24,000 mile mainteance items: new oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs and wires, coolant and adjust valve clearances. Also will need a new front tire by the end of the riding season but probably sooner.

[mydlyfkryzis]

That really looks well on your bike. I though it would look out of place, but if they made the MAgna today, that would be a great look for it.

Good Mod for the bike.

[Ninja Geoff]

that's noice! I like the exhaust too.

[sharpmagna]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I don't want to take credit for this mod, I found that other Super owners had done this too and I liked the look.

This is also a performance upgrade because the old headlight optics were not that great. Riding at night was very hairy because the beam pattern didn't light up the road as much as I'd like. I guess you can't expect much from a 20 year old headlight design. I haven't taken the bike on the road yet because it is suppose to rain today and I haven't had time to aim the light. I expect the VTX headlight to be much brighter though.

Also the exhaust setup is stock

[skypix]

Hi guys:

Quick question (I think! )

I've decided a 700 or 750 Magna is for me. I want the 6th gear. I want the shaft drive. Not sure about the supermagna.

My goals: twistie fun but ability to cruise comfortably. I understand I may have to get an aftermarket seat and other mods.

thoughts and questions:
1. I love the styling of the supers but will those pipes kill chances for decent trip bags? Would a set of newer pipes be worth the investment or would it kill the "cool" of the bike?
2. Are the 80s versions giving much away to the newer 90s and
00s versions in terms of reliability or performance?
3. what's the best year of the 80s magna for reliability/performance with goal of combo twisties/light to medium touring? (I'll probably start a separate thread on this)
4. I'm 5'11", 170 lbs., I think from what i've read the fit should be good.
5. what windshield do you recommend for touring? I have a GS650G shaftie now, love the sportiness and power but it's a but killer and too buzzie at over 65 (has 18K miles, but pretty rusty, I bought it used for $400, put $300 at a great mechanic and it runs like a top but looks kinda crappy.)
6. Should I get over my disdain for chains and losing overdrive with the 90s and 00s models and just get a newer bike, or will a cherry 80s really fill the bill (or be a better choice from the get-go?)
7. Almost forgot: with overdrive, will I miss the 50ccs on the 700cc models? Thinking more of touring than whupping "O Ring" on the streets, since I live in the country.

thanks for helping make my next move - finding and buying the right Magna - easier!

[sharpmagna]

If you want the 6th gear and the shaft, you have no other choice but the Super

1) Yeah the pipes make it very hard to mount saddle bags. Some of the members of SuperMagna.com have done it but it was custom work. No one makes aftermarket pipes for the Super anymore so anything you'll do will have to be custom made.

2) The Supers are actually a bit faster in the 1/4" than the 3rd gen Magnas even though they are more than 10 years older Some of the members of the supermagna forums have 40k+ miles on their Supers so I'd call that reliable. Also with the shaft drive on the Supers it is one less thing to give you problems on.

3) I can't comment on this as this is my first magna/motorcycle but I've heard the earlier V45 engines were pretty solid

4) Super should fit you well but you may want to look into forward controls. The normal controls have a "standard" seating posture so you may want to stretch out some. I feel I have better control with the stock controls so I'll leave it that way. I have highway bars on my engine guards so I use them when I'm on the highway.

5) National Cycle has the Deflector and Heavy Duty models that should fit the bill for you. I'm not a fan of windshields, but the Fly Screen looks pretty kewl that doesn't offer nearly as much protection as the ones I described earlier.

6 Be warned that parts for the Supers are getting harder to come by so sometimes they come with a higher price tag. I got my Super for $1850 so I couldn't pass it up. Most Supers are going for 2500-3500 and I've seen them go higher on Ebay but those are usually low mileage pristine bikes.

7) The 88 Super is 750cc and it is like .1 second faster in the 1/4 mile than the 87 700cc. Not a deal breaker if you ask me.

I think you may have found this link already, but in case you haven't: http://www.supermagna.com/html/chronology.htm

Good luck on your search!

[skypix]

Supermagna, thanks, lots of great info there for me to noodle over.

One question: the 700 isn't obviously giving away speed, but does it make a difference crusing in your opinion, in terms of going two up, or climbing the mountain twisties?

thanks again