10 sec 1/4 mile....

[chuck peterson]

Not really what I think of when drag racing comes to mind, but then again it was Mr. Honda’s favorite motor design..

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/mcy/d/hyde-park-1985-honda-magna/6952667264.html

[yogidozer]

I had an 83 V-65 Magna. Fast? Sure, but boring as heck. 

[Two Checks]

My research shows they ran the quarter in 11.66 seconds.


Funny, you never hear about the cam wear problems on the early models.

[PilotJet]

I still have my 84 that I bought new off the showroom floor. Its more in the Back of the garage now..... Put 125,000 on it and its still in really good shape. I found it to be Far From Boring!

[guzzimatic]

That 10 second quarter mile was done by a hired gun,Pee Wee Gleason! The manufacturers were in a performance race,the VMax settled it...

[Wayne Orwig]

My research shows they ran the quarter in 11.66 seconds.


Funny, you never hear about the cam wear problems on the early models.

I had an 83 V65. Never had a cam issue.
I have an 83 XL600. That turd ate the cams and followers. It was just outside warranty and I had to foot the entire bill. As frustrating as the Guzzi cam issues were, at least they made some effort to be helpful even outside of warranty.

[yogidozer]

Found this,    I think the best 1/4 mile time on a stock V65 was 10.65 by Pee Wee
Gleason.  I'm not a fact magnet, but just read this on the Sabre/Magna
newsgroup.
And this, 1983
Honda V65 Magna
11.07
And 10.75@126 from motorcycle specs.
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_vf1100c_magna_v65%2083.htm
In any case, more than fast enough, but not real interesting enough for me.

[oldbike54]

 Those bikes were capable of 10 second 1/4 mile times ...if the rider could keep the front end anywhere near the pavement 

 Dusty

[yogidozer]

And if speed were so important, you wouldn't be riding Guzzi's. Character is what makes you keep a bike so long.

[Ncdan]

And if speed were so important, you wouldn't be riding Guzzi's. Character is what makes you keep a bike so long.

True, and may I add that  character is in the eyes of the beholder 👍

[PilotJet]

Its my bad habit of never getting rid of any of my machines. The GRiSO I now have is pretty quick ... not Japanese quick but it handles very nicely and is quite fast. I still have race bikes for satisfying the speed urge that I get ..... quite often.

[Two Checks]

Quote from: Wayne Orwig on Today at 09:23:46 AM

I had an 83 V65. Never had a cam issue.
I have an 83 XL600. That turd ate the cams and followers. It was just outside warranty and I had to foot the entire bill. As frustrating as the Guzzi cam issues were, at least they made some effort to be helpful even outside of warranty.

My brother had an 82....started making noise, he dumped it. A friend had a VFR 750. Ate the cams in Morehead, KY. Rented a uhaul and took it to our friend's shop in mid MO. Honda paid to fix it properly and to make the oiling mod.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I believe there's currently about 25 new bike models capable of running in the 10's at around 135 mph...  with about 6 of those capable of high 9's at 150 mph. Yes it takes a rider like  the late  Gleason to turn those times...

[yogidozer]

Yes he was a heck of a rider. But to be fair, he did ride all the fastest bikes in the era.
So all bikes he rode had an equal chance to post their potential.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Honda paid to fix it properly and to make the oiling mod.

I did the oiling mod on mine. Drill and tap the main gallery, and steel brake lines to the top end.  Plugged the original feed to the top end from what was left after going through the clutch.  What a fine piece of engineering..

[Ratcrazy]

Loved my v65 Magna..... have always regretted selling it .......

[Litre1000]

Still have my 84 Interceptor 1000 that I bought new. Cams went flat first summer of ownership. Honda replaced them and never had a problem since. Reliable as hell! It still feels like new when I ride it.

[Rough Edge racing]

Yes he was a heck of a rider. But to be fair, he did ride all the fastest bikes in the era.
So all bikes he rode had an equal chance to post their potential.

\ Yes, I was thinking more of  the skill needed to launch high power bikes...I used to drag races  bikes , mostly a 73 750 Triumph Trident that was just a high 12's bike, and one launch was clean with just enough wheelspin, and the next time it gripped and pulled a straight up wheelie...
 At the drag strip many riders were disappointed their bikes couldn't get close to the ET's reported in the magazines..The bikes loaned to the magazines were more often than not better tuned that the bikes on the showroom floor..And the average riders were reluntant to pull 7000 rpm clutch dumps off the line

[chuck peterson]

Is it true that the peak torque value is the correct rpm to dump a clutch for the fastest exit?  Not peak horsepower..?

[Rough Edge racing]

Is it true that the peak torque value is the correct rpm to dump a clutch for the fastest exit?  Not peak horsepower..?

 The best way was enough rpm to spin the rear tire to avoid a wheelie and not bog the engine, but not so much to cause excessive wheel spin..Of course some bikes won't spin the rear tire and are wheelie....
  The Trident peak power was arounf 7500 rpm, peak torque was around 6000. At the line I was leaned over the tank, engine held at a steady 5000 rpm..When the orange light came the tree, I wacked the throttle full open and snapped out the clutch as the last yellow blinked...most of the time the rear wheel spun for 25 feet and the front end stayed down. If it wheelies I would fan the clutch to control it.

[yogidozer]

Is it true that the peak torque value is the correct rpm to dump a clutch for the fastest exit?  Not peak horsepower..?

Did you say clutch? Didn't think you knew what that was, Mr. Convert 🤣
Hope all is well with you.

[PJPR01]

Still have my 84 Interceptor 1000 that I bought new. Cams went flat first summer of ownership. Honda replaced them and never had a problem since. Reliable as hell! It still feels like new when I ride it.

This 1000 Interceptor has always been the most exciting bike I have ever ridden.  A friend at the university in La Jolla had one and let me ride it a fair amount around San Diego during my years there.  Absolutely screaming fast and wicked fun!  I've looked for years for a good one, but never found one in decent condition to buy. 

Found an old pic of the bike from back then...what a blast!