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Author Topic: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . . (Update:It fell through . . .)  (Read 7311 times)

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Offline Treeguy

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Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . . (Update:It fell through . . .)
« on: March 04, 2008, 02:27:09 PM »
I will be getting a Sabre in the next month or so . . . don't know too much about'em. Any quirks or things that were prone to failure on these bikes? Just checking . . . Thanks !  Shane
« Last Edit: August 29, 2009, 02:24:50 PM by Treeguy »
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2008, 03:26:35 PM »
The early (or was it all) sabres were prone to oil starvation of the camshafts, which led to galling. If you look around there are oil kits to supply extra oil to the cams.
I don't think I would buy one without checkng the cams.

They are kind of a #$%* to work on, being so compact.

Cheers,
« Last Edit: March 05, 2008, 11:48:32 AM by TwoTired »
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Offline DarkRider

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2008, 08:10:31 PM »
he needs to be a lil more clear as to which sabre hes getting...the V45/V65 V4 bike or an early shadow sabre
« Last Edit: March 05, 2008, 10:53:32 AM by DarkRider »
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Offline Treeguy

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2008, 10:46:16 PM »
Sorry,
       It is one of the early 80's Sabre's, not sure if it is a V-45 or 65, depends if the deal goes through . . . Thanks for the input.
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possum2082

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2008, 05:09:48 AM »
don't get a v45.  i had an 82 with a oil starvation issues for the cam.  the cams literally ate the inside of my engine (broken bits, etc.)  also, there's no cam chain adjuster and you need to pry on and off the chain.  horrible design. 

don't get an 82-83 v45!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!
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Offline crazypj

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2008, 06:28:15 AM »
All the chain driven (cam chain not drive chain) v-fours have tensioner issues.
 The smaller ones are not as bad as the bigger ones but they all suck
PJ
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Offline hahnda

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2008, 07:15:27 AM »
I have an '85 Sabre. Been a workhorse for me. No major issues so far in the last 3 years. Has about 55k on it.

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Offline ekim98

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2008, 08:28:24 AM »
I had the 85 V65 Sabre. It was a big(top heavy bike with shaft drive) Really ran strong, even two up. But like I said it was a big bike. A tall seat height too. Don't know what it weighted, but thank god I never put it down. Probably would have taken 3 people to pick it up. Had plenty of power - could pick the front wheel up in third without to much trouble. I was always leary about the shaft drive tho. Heard horrible stories about breaking the housing if you tried to many hole shots. Easy 105/110 mph in third gear. Never did see what it would do top end, it just didn't inspire me with great stability, the windshield was part of that problem tho. But I never had any trouble for the 3 years I had it.
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Offline hahnda

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2008, 08:36:43 AM »
I dont know about that rear end being weak. I like making lots of tire smoke with mine. Turn left, hit the gas, and I'm doing nice donuts on the pavement. Wish I had video. Mine also does not have any oiling mods. Only problem I have had was a fried harness at the starter solenoid. Oh and was I accidentally cut the wires to my spark boxes when I pinched them under the seat. It is a heavy bike but I really don't have to worry about that with the third wheel and all.



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Offline DarkRider

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2008, 10:55:13 AM »
The oil starvation thing is easy to fix..the main issues with the V4s were their softly hardened cams and oil starvation. Look into getting new Oem cams from megacycle and a Dave Dodge oil mod kit and enjoy your V4.
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'84 Chevy C10
'73 MGB Roadster
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Quote from: heffay
so, you say just tie myself on with this... and steer w/ this?   ;D ;D  ok.  where's my goggles?   8)

Offline kirkn

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2008, 06:33:35 PM »
And for some reason, I always thought that it was the first-gen INTERCEPTORS that had the oil starvation issues and/or pooly heat-treated cams issues, not necessarily the Sabres & Magnas.

Didn't the early Interceptors have their cylinder banks rotated back 30 or 45 degrees or so from the first-gen Sabres & Magnas? 

Good luck with it, anyway.  Do the oil supply mod, and enjoy!

Kirk
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Offline DarkRider

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2008, 09:50:43 AM »
Thats the first i heard of the heads being rotated back from the location of the heads on a Sab/mag engine. The main difference between the Interceptor engine and the Saber/Mag engine is the fact it has a reverse rotation crank.  But the Cam heat treating issues and the oil starvation is a V4 engine problem all the way across the board.
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'84 Chevy C10
'73 MGB Roadster
'69 Ford F250

Currently a rider without a bike

Quote from: heffay
so, you say just tie myself on with this... and steer w/ this?   ;D ;D  ok.  where's my goggles?   8)

Offline kirkn

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2008, 10:21:43 AM »
Yeah, they were.  Had to do a little digging, but here's a look at the 82 Sabre, 82 Magna and 83 Interceptor.  Still, if the oiling / heat treating were issues across the board...

Good luck with your purchase, Treeguy.








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keithert

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2008, 10:38:36 AM »
I had read that in the 87 year engine the issue was fixed.  But I haven't seen an 87 for sale nearly as much as the earlier years.
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Offline bert96

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2008, 11:10:34 AM »


 Check this site,a lot of good info.

http://www.daughertymotorsports.com/
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Offline Treeguy

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #15 on: March 09, 2008, 11:20:29 PM »
Thanks for the input folks, I will keep you posted as to whether it happens or not . . . who know could fall through !  ;)
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Offline Treeguy

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Re: Seeking input on early honda sabre's . . .
« Reply #16 on: August 29, 2009, 02:23:18 PM »
Yeah it fell through . . . after over a year of pestering, the PO didn't want to part with it . . . prolly better off !
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