Topic: Someone tried to sell me their Sabre today.

[BomberMann650]

Regular customer at the gas station pitched me a $500 on a non running 80-sumthin 1100cc sabre.

Hasn't run since his "friend" put it in the ditch.  Guy says a crack in the fuse box is keeping the bike from lighting up.

Thought I'd pick brains here before deciding to spend my hard earned money on another project. 

Kev - you're the local vfourfreak.  Whaddya think?

[Terry in Australia]

I don't think Kev would give a Sabre a second look mate, he's an RC30 fan, which is an entirely different beast. While I don't like them at all, any bike that's been well maintained should be a good buy for 500 bucks, but if yours was "put in a ditch" (some years ago, I presume, and what other damage does it have?) and not regularly run since, you might be buying yourself a problem. Save your money for something better. Cheers, Terry.

[BomberMann650]

I don't think Kev would give a Sabre a second look mate, he's an RC30 fan, which is an entirely different beast. While I don't like them at all, any bike that's been well maintained should be a good buy for 500 bucks, but if yours was "put in a ditch" (some years ago, I presume, and what other damage does it have?) and not regularly run since, you might be buying yourself a problem. Save your money for something better. Cheers, Terry.

It's been 18 months since it was ditched.  Guys too busy to fix it hisself.  But he sees all the work I've done to bloo thought I could give his wrecker a home.

It is poor timing, as I'm looking at buying ANOTHER 550 motor, in very rebuildable condition.  And that could cost me more than $500 by the time I'm ready to put it in the frame.

[754]

I would run from it never been a fan of any metric V...Way better off with a sohc IMO..
Simple, easy,  reliable, and you can hop it up and still be cool.. Thanks

PLUS they look like they ran into a wall..ugly bike.. Japanese. Had some much trouble building nice proportioned. Choppers..when they finally got it Honda..twas too late..
 
Avoid eye contact with that dude..  And if he talks to you,  tell him your wife said no more bikes..

[seanbarney41]

Frank, Sabre is not a chopper, more of a muscle bike.  You are probly thinking of the Magna.  And its a V4, not v-twin...I hear ya on the jap cruisers though.

...these are not easy to work on, extremely complex bikes...we're talkin water cooled, electric fuel pumps,mysterious untestable black ignition boxes, a bank of four carbs that consists of 2 downdraft and 2 side draft alternating cv's with jetting that is different for each cylinder...

Sabre 1100 was the king of the 1/4 mile for two years upon its release until the Yamaha Vmax came out.

Here's the TV ad for the Magna which used the same engine...

[BomberMann650]

I kinda figured those v4's were a technicians nightmare.

Oh well.  My pops isn't interested in a d.o.a. bike.

If the seller decides to have me fix it for him, maybe that'll help me afford more sohc4 hoarding!

[74cb750]

Frank, Sabre is not a chopper, more of a muscle bike.  You are probly thinking of the Magna.  And its a V4, not v-twin...I hear ya on the jap cruisers though.

...these are not easy to work on, extremely complex bikes...we're talkin water cooled, electric fuel pumps,mysterious untestable black ignition boxes, a bank of four carbs that consists of 2 downdraft and 2 side draft alternating cv's with jetting that is different for each cylinder...

Sabre 1100 was the king of the 1/4 mile for two years upon its release until the Yamaha Vmax came out.

Exactly what he said. Way to complex to work on, unless you are charging an hourly rate to restore it for someone, you'll never get the hours you put into it paid back by reselling it.

[grcamna2]

The V65 Sabre is a fast,comfortable long haul machine and will get you there and back,you can tell i like the Honda V4's 

[scrapvalue]

I have had couple V65 Sabre's. May be a bit complicated, but chances are you won't have to get into the carbs if it was running 18 months ago.
Besides, the instrument clusters on those bikes in good working order will bring about $350 on ebay.
Look at it and see what it needs, offer less.

[ekpent]

  That would be a lot of bike for $500.00 or less if it did not have major crash damage. I'd be checking it out. Make sure it still has a second gear if you do 

[Duke McDukiedook]

The V65 Sabre is a fast,comfortable long haul machine and will get you there and back,you can tell i like the Honda V4's 

Sabres are not that far away from my VFRs so I guess I have a little bias.
May be worth a look for $500. That's what I picked up both of my VFRs for each.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

For what it's worth, Dino has a Hack-a-week rebuild of a Sabre that you might be able to use for reference.

[BomberMann650]

I figured anything with a 1.1L engine would be able to out-gun Bloo.

Dead electrics always concern me.  Eapecially post-wipeout-dead-electrics.

[74cb750]

I would rather have a V-Max, but then again you won't find one for $500.00