Another motorcycle question

[XD in SC]

Ok guys and gals, I have decided to buy a motorcycle.

Before anyone starts, mid 30's male, and yes I have signed up for the Basics course locally to the tune of $225.00, June 14th. SO yes I am serious. Yes, all the correct 'gear' is also on the list. I am checking various insurance quotes this week.

I don't want anything huge, nor can I ride a crotch-rocket (back surgery last year), so I am leaning towards:

A) mid 90's Honda Magna 750
B) 2005-2007 Honda 750 series(not sure which exact model yet)
C) unknown (open to suggestions) No Harley's, I just don't fit into that style. Like the looks of some, but just won't do it.

I have found a few '95-'97 Magnas for around $3400-$4k, and have found some 2005-2007 750's for around $4500-$6k.....

Which is the better bike? Daily cruisin, mostly local, occasional 2+ hour cruise. Don't need speed, the Cadillac will handle all of that for me real soon.

Are the newer ones worth the extra dollars for 'technology'? V-twin vs. V4

My GF has a 1995 Magna 750 and she loves it. I don't have to do the "male" thing and buy an 1100, so give your ideas, opinions, critiques.

[SgtWKPII]

Sounds like you are on the right track, Japanese bikes are far more reliable than hardlys, and you cant go wrong with any you mentioned, just sit on them and see what feels best to you. Personally I am a Suzuki man, I have 2 Suzuki street bikes, I used to have a Honda Shadow, another great bike.

[XD in SC]

Please don't just say "I like bike x"

Details! Why? Compare the 2. I want the good and bad.

[UncleBuck]

Honda bikes are excellent and will last a long time. The Magna is a great bike. IMHO it depends on your ability as a home mechanic. Depending upon how a 13 year old bike was treated will rule how much it is worth. If an extra $1-2k is not a big deal and you plan on keeping the bike for awhile I would spend the extra money on the newer one. If ou want accessories (chrome) the older ones will be much harder to find decent pieces for where the newer ones will have tons to choose from. If you are comfortable with working on bikes and do not mind putting some time into it then the older one may be as good if not better. It is hard to say without actually being there to see the bike in question.

I have a 1999 Valkyrie and she runs like a raped ape.

[Pugs]

Originally Posted by XD in SC

Ok guys and gals, I have decided to buy a motorcycle.

Before anyone starts, mid 30's male, and yes I have signed up for the Basics course locally to the tune of $225.00, June 14th. SO yes I am serious. Yes, all the correct 'gear' is also on the list. I am checking various insurance quotes this week.

I don't want anything huge, nor can I ride a crotch-rocket (back surgery last year), so I am leaning towards:

A) mid 90's Honda Magna 750
B) 2005-2007 Honda 750 series(not sure which exact model yet)
C) unknown (open to suggestions) No Harley's, I just don't fit into that style. Like the looks of some, but just won't do it.

I have found a few '95-'97 Magnas for around $3400-$4k, and have found some 2005-2007 750's for around $4500-$6k.....

Which is the better bike? Daily cruisin, mostly local, occasional 2+ hour cruise. Don't need speed, the Cadillac will handle all of that for me real soon.

Are the newer ones worth the extra dollars for 'technology'?

My GF has a 1995 Magna 750 and she loves it. I don't have to do the "male" thing and buy an 1100, so give your ideas, opinions, critiques.

Personally, I ride a mid-80's Magna (VF1100C), but that doesn't address your question.

My take is that the mid-90's 750 is fine for you. Given that they didn't make an 1100 Magna from '86 on, your choice really is limited to the mid-90's through 2003 for the Magnas. They were discontinued in '03 so what bikes have you found from 2005 on? There are sport bikes in that size and date range and some VT750's, the Shadow Aero and Shadow Spirit, I think, but not much else in the cruiser/standard style.

Given all that. I'd heartily recommend the mid-90's VF750C Magna. Unless you want a sport bike, you're comparing it to the VT750C Shadow Aero and the VT750DC Shadow Spirit, and there's really no comparison. The V4 engine of the Magna is a better powerplant with a smoother powerband and is near bullet-proof from a maintenance point of view. The VF750C Magna has a shaft drive which is SO much lower maintenance than the chain driven VT75DC Shadow Spirit (I believe that the VT750C Aero is a shaft drive as well, but then again, you're looking at a V-Twin instead of the V4 of the Magna).

Personally, if you're looking for a metric Harley, go with one of the VT750s. If you're looking for a better performing and easier maintenance machine go with the VF750.

My opinion only, and my memory sucks so any and all of the details above are possibly wrong since I'm too lazy to bust out some Google-fu right now.

ETA: Okay, it was nigglin' at me and I had to utilize some Google-fu. I completely and totally lied to you. The mid-90's VF750C Magnas are not shaft driven. They're a chain drive bike. Even so, I say that it is the "better" bike in my opinion due to the impressive powerband and maintenance history of the bike. It also doesn't sound like a V-Twin so it's less "Harley-ish."

[XD in SC]

Thanks guys, keep'em coming.

And yes I am comparing the V4 Magna to the V twin Shadow/Aero/Sprirt series.

I lilke the looks of the Aero, so that would be my main contender vs. Magna.

Problem 1.... my GF says she gets about 100 miles to the tank on that Magna. That ain't greatly impressive to me, but I guess that's 33 mpg approximately.

The only reviews I can find on motorcycles, are all praises for everything. Everyone doesn't like them.... so where's the bad stuff?

I am "familiar" (take that very lightly) with the Magna since the GF has one. I like the quiet tone of that bike alot. I am not into loud pipes. They just tick me off!

[JLHOG]

"Japanese bikes are far more reliable than hardlys"
I really dont want to start a pissin contest, but how can you prove this statement. My 2000 HD has almost 50,000 miles and with the exception of regular maintance it has no reliablity issues. Do some research. You can get bad Fords, Chevys, Hondas, Dells, or any other market brand of any type item.

[devildog12210]

Originally Posted by JLHOG

"Japanese bikes are far more reliable than hardlys"
I really dont want to start a pissin contest, but how can you prove this statement. My 2000 HD has almost 50,000 miles and with the exception of regular maintance it has no reliablity issues. Do some research. You can get bad Fords, Chevys, Hondas, Dells, or any other market brand of any type item.

I had a 99 SV650 with over 150000 miles on it, if you want to play that game. He was speaking in general terms. Side by side comparison a jap bike will out last an american made one. My R1 has 40000 miles on it and I ride it like I stole it. I bet a Harley wouldnt last 15000 miles with me on it. The pegs sure wouldn't at least. Hahaha. Just my 2cents though. Feel free to chime in Sgt.

[JLHOG]

It is a shame when people have to disgrace what they cannot afford.

[devildog12210]

Originally Posted by JLHOG

It is a shame when people have to disgrace what they cannot afford.

You dont know who I am or how much I make. This is the part where you keep your mouth shut and keep the discussion on the thread and topic at hand. If you want me to go of and name bikes I've owned I can. They don't have to be a HD to be expensive. That is why in the greater biking community the phrase "over priced and under powered" is used quite a lot. I'm done talking to you JLHOG until you can grow up and act your age and not your shoe size. You took a discussion and tried to take it personally. Leave that sh*t at home.