Author Topic: Newest member of the family (Read 2085 times)

eigenvector · « **on:** July 16, 2016, 03:53:14 PM »

Congratulations on a new dad - I bought a Sabre finally! Yahh!!!!

Don't know why I love these bikes so - but I do. Picked one up from a guy who lives down the road from me. Nicest guy you'd meet. Sold me his Sabre that wasn't a basket case, wasn't abused shamelessly, was just not something he could maintain anymore. Has an electrical short somewhere - that's the problem child.

I haven't unloaded it from the trailer yet - I'm working 60's for the next few weeks so I don't have time to fiddle with it.

ekpent · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2016, 07:29:40 PM »

Is it a 750 or a 1100 ?

eigenvector · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2016, 08:49:22 PM »

That, is an '83 v45 - 750cc.

I've spoken to a few owners of v65's and all of them indicated that the 1100 is almost TOO powerful for a bike.

Love to get my hands on a v65, but I actually like the 750s It's about the right power range for a street bike. Too little and they do badly on the freeways, too much more than 1000cc and they get difficult to ride in the city.

It's a cool bike. Did you know that this bike has a factory theft alarm? Trip meter controls on the grips? For a bike that was made in 1983, it's pretty advanced.

MoMo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2016, 08:59:22 PM »

I had one and an Interceptor-awesome bikes with one of the coolest sounds ever...Larry

eigenvector · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2016, 09:06:29 PM »

We'll see how this one does. Factory exhaust. The guy I bought it from was the kind of person who rode the bikes, not played with them.

But before that I have to track down the short. The leads from the regulator and the ignition leads to the starter solenoid were melted - although the fuses were intact. I'll have to graft on new connectors before I can see if it still turns over.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2016, 10:30:37 PM »

I have a buddy that had one in the 80's. I rode it a couple of times but don't really recall anything special about it. I remember it had a big LED readout on the gauges that told you what gear it was in. I've read that they are a beatch to do carb work on but I never worked on one personally. He also had an AMF Sportster that I used to always work on. You couldn't even stare at that bike without bolts loosening up on it!! He sold both of those bikes back in the late 80's and practically gave them away.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2016, 10:41:54 PM »

I have loved the V45 Sabre since I first saw one on the cover of Cycle World in 1982. If I add a supplemental bike to my 550 I think a Sabre is a good possibility, preferably with the Hondaline Fairing that is also common on the CBX.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2016, 11:30:48 PM »

But beware...you will fall in love...and then...

ekpent · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2016, 06:03:31 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on July 16, 2016, 11:30:48 PM

But beware...you will fall in love...and then...

Did you blow the 500 up Sean ??

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2016, 06:28:08 AM »

Quote from: ekpent on July 17, 2016, 06:03:31 AM

Quote from: seanbarney41 on July 16, 2016, 11:30:48 PM
But beware...you will fall in love...and then...
Did you blow the 500 up Sean ??

unfortunately yes...have not torn down yet, but I am assuming I dropped a valve. Apparently a not unheard of thing with the 500's.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2016, 09:35:15 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on July 16, 2016, 11:30:48 PM

But beware...you will fall in love...and then...

OUCH!

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2016, 10:59:41 AM »

I knew about the cam wear issue on the original 750's and 700's, but I don't know much about the 500's

jtb · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2016, 06:57:58 PM »

I've spoken to a few owners of v65's and all of them indicated that the 1100 is almost TOO powerful for a bike.

Absolutely UNTRUE!

jtb · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2016, 07:13:50 PM »

Eigenvector, one of the Old Fart's members has a set of V45 side covers and a manual he keeps trying to sell me. (but they won't be right on my overpowered V65). If they're of any interest, I'll try to get them at a decent price. (Close to free as possible)
John

eigenvector · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2016, 07:43:03 PM »

Not necessary. The previous owner gave me the shop manual and the bike was totally complete.

I appreciate the offer. Previous owner was a good guy - real stand up.

jtb · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2016, 06:38:37 PM »

Enjoy the bike, I love my V65

eigenvector · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2016, 01:21:09 PM »

Well it's up and running. Did some hack wiring, will have to fix that before I totally button it up, for now I just want to get some juice flowing through the carbs and get the radiator flowing. Needs tires, so it's not like I'm going to put any miles on it in the near future (cracked sidewalls do not make for good canyon carving).

Only thing remaining is to fix the petcock - it's dripping gas from the diaphragm and refusing to fully shut off.

eigenvector · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2016, 05:00:47 PM »

I have the bike up and running finally.

The carbs are still pretty shaky, but the bike starts (more on that later...), and after some coaxing it will idle. Took it off the center stand shifted into gear, and took it for it's first spin. Just a short loop around the backyard.

Bogs down horribly at 4k, but it got better as the bike warmed up. Managed to slip the clutch at around 4k and get her moving - then the carbs caught up to the fuel supply RPMs jumped to 8k and I almost launched it into the bushes

. Dang near crashed it on takeoff - pulled the clutch and saved the takeoff. That v4 has a ton of torque, but it's also incredibly smooth. I can see why people love these v4 bikes. A few spins around the grass and I stabled it - 5 years of sitting idle was beginning to burn off the pipes and it smoked like a fiend. Plus the start up concerns me.

About that start up.
Key on, clutch in, choke on, turned the key. <Thunk> "hmmm" try again <Thunk> I opened it WOT on a lark, starter turns once, twice, <BANG!>. Very loud metallic bang. <Thunk> <Thunk> starter still not turning, WOT <Rrrrrrr ROAR!!> fires up and runs like nothing happened.

All signs point to a hydrolock I my mind. Except I don't know why that would be. Gas seeping from the tank into the cylinder? Fuel supply is off, but those vacuum petcocks aren't as tight as gravity feed petcocks are. When it cools down I'm going to do a compression check in the off-chance I just bent a valve or God forbid holed a cylinder. If nothing is amiss, then perhaps that was just the starter clutch releasing? Scared the heck out of me - but it doesn't appear to have affected the running of the bike.

MoMo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2016, 06:50:41 PM »

If it ain't broke, don' fix it, as Confus-us would have said

eigenvector · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2016, 07:40:34 PM »

Not in my nature to leave well enough alone.

That said, let it idle around some more this afternoon and it is improving. As the carbs get used they will improve - gas is a pretty good solvent in of itself, plus it lubricates the slides.

It is ready to roll now.

I have to get new tires before I do any serious miles, but the engine is running acceptably the headlight works, the turn signals work, tail light works, it's licensed. All ready to go. Get me some new skins and she'll be right as rain.

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Author Topic: Newest member of the family (Read 2085 times)