1982 Honda VF750S V45 Sabre from United States of America

Summary:

Nice Honda from the past... save these bikes, ride... on

Faults:

The bike was last registered in 1995. Calipers frozen, carbs dirty, air filters... dust, forks leaked, all attributed to sitting in a barn/garage/shop for 25 years.

General Comments:

Rebuilt carbs, forks, replaced filters, new tires, rebuilt calipers; runs like a top (I have not experienced rear shock problems)…

Handles like a bike from 1982, lots of lookers, lots of Honda history. Thanks for letting me post.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2020

1983 Honda VF750S V45 Sabre from United States of America

Summary:

If not for the unfortunate 80's styling of this bike, it would be a legend

Faults:

Fork seals leaked.

Head gaskets leaked.

Rear brake seized.

Carbs gunked up.

CDI's failed.

(all but CDI's can be attributed to letting it sit)

General Comments:

If you don't mind the looks of this bike, don't hesitate to get it. It pulls hard at low RPM (like a V-twin) and then takes off at high RPM (like an inline 4).

If you have one and it starts occasionally losing power - possibly backfiring - it's almost certainly one of the 2 CDI's. They can't be bench tested, and the biggest smoking gun indicator is that your tachometer jumps around when the loss of power occurs. There's a guy at v4 Muscle Bikes (with whom I am totally unaffiliated) who will replace the solid state guts of the CDI's with digital stuff (Sorry, I can't get more technical than that). Otherwise, don't leave it sitting for too long, it's a very reliable machine.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 26th June, 2019

1982 Honda VF750S V45 Sabre from Australia

Summary:

Have not seen a later model that I would swap

Faults:

Fusible link blew.

Stator failed, shorted out.

Front fork oil seal failed, leaked oil.

Drive spline in rear wheel chewed out.

Ignition switch had to be replaced.

General Comments:

I had a sheepskin seat cover made to fit, and long distant comfort is very good.

Highway pegs on the engine bar make a real difference.

The engine seems to like to cruise around 130kph when loaded with camping gear.

I have fitted new cam chains and tensioners, along with normal oil and filter changes every 5000k.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th July, 2011

16th May 2015, 20:24

Hi, I am looking at a Sabre with 46xxx miles on it, which seems like a lot for a bike, and I noticed you have high mileage on yours. I was wondering if you ever had to rebuild the motor or anything?

1982 Honda VF750S V45 Sabre from Canada

Summary:

I would buy another one!

Faults:

Bought the bike at in August 2008 at 32kkm with funky carbs; the bike wouldn't idle down properly. Brought it home and didn't touch it for a month. Surprise, it wouldn't start.

Tore the carbs apart and cleaned them that winter. Installed new float valves and O-rings and bench set up (balanced). In the spring, the bike started easily and ran like a dream. Still haven't used the gauges to balance because it runs that nice. Hey, old carbs need regular maintenance. It's not hard to do.

The 30 year old OEM suspension, rear mono shock and front springs, are crap. Advancements in bike suspensions have been amazing in the last 30 years. Rear end would rapidly bounce at ~70 kph. Some claim it seizes solid. Shops in the US can rebuild recent Honda CBR600 shock to fit ($250). Bought one and still need to install it. Monoshock linkage can squeak. Easily disassembled and lubed when installing new shock. Front springs are moosh and bottom out easily when braking. Bought Progressive springs for the front. Again, waiting on install.

The (30 yar old) ignitor boxes may (stress may) be problematic. THEY ARE FIXABLE!! Most times it's just weakened solder joints on the circuit board. Look for corrosion, resolder and you're in business. Bought a set from a wrecker that were sitting outside, for decades, and full of water. Dried them out and they work like a charm. Go figure.

Don't even worry about the cam oil issue. Many people have ridden these bikes to 125000 MILES without a problem. I bought a Dave Dodge oil mod and probably wasted my money.

The transmission occasionally jumps out of second gear into neutral. Because it is just occasional, it is not a concern. Who drives in second gear anyway? Just don't be too hard on the throttle and up near redline, in second gear. This can get worse as the bikes get more miles on them (>100kkm).

Neutral on the rear drum brake. It does its job for the 30% it actually does.

General Comments:

Contrary to the brutally honest faults with the bike, as you can tell by the rating numbers, I absolutely love it! Having owned a Honda VT1100C Shadow twenty years prior, this was my first foray back into biking.

Rode only one summer (2009) and put 8000km on it. Smooth as silk. The 90 degree V4 is perfectly balanced and has virtually zero vibration. If anything, it just whines like a sewing machine, and only the sound tells you how fast the engine is revving.

This thing is scary fast! The V45 (750cc) engine pulls hard. As the revs increase, it just keeps pulling harder. Don't blink above 8000 rpm because you're at red line (10500). Some on the SABMAG website claim the V65 (1100 cc) version will peel the skin from your eye balls. I believe it!

Took one round trip of 1100km in 36 hours. Had no issues at all (even with the old suspension and front tire). Very comfortable sport touring riding position. Not sore at all. Excellent upright ergonomics.

A real concern is that the bike likes to cruise at 140kph, at ~5500rpm. This can cause issues with the local constabulary.

Buy good tires (tyres). Consider radials. Apparently, the bike will feel like a modern sport tourer with radials on it. That will be my next set of rubber.

Big plus is that the insurance is cheaper for the older smaller bike. In 3 years the savings in insurance, over a >1000cc bike, will completely pay for the bike! (Minus upgrades of course.)

Twin front disk brakes are good.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th February, 2010

21st Mar 2015, 21:10

Hi, just read your review on the Honda VF 750 Sabre. I feel a lot happier now as I am buying one very soon. Thanx.

20th Jul 2015, 21:02

Just bought my first V45. 1982. Pretty rough as it has been in pole barn for 10 years. Looking to revamp this year thru winter and get me some miles on it next year. 36000 miles for an initial price of purchase for 125$. Couldn't turn her down. Hopefully will have some sideline help as it's my first ever project bike. Wish me luck.

24th Jul 2021, 13:39

Hey mate,

Great review and I feel much better on taking a punt on my VF750S. A mate had it sitting in his garage a long time, barely touched it so he gifted it me. Have put a lot of work into it, from an electrical perspective, and paint and general restoration. Almost there, just need to get a fuel petcock that fits the thread on the tank. Can't wait to hear it purrrrr.

You have given me the inspiration to complete the restoration. Cheers mate!