If I can offer a tip - you need to stay wider longer in the corners, trail brake while staying wide until you can see your exit, then turn in, and go! To me it looked like you were carrying a little too much entry speed and turning in a bit too early causing you to have to lean more and for a longer period of time….canyon chasers has a good video talking about this.
I just traded in and got the grey one a couple months ago and I’m really enjoying it. I had 2 older shadows in the past. They aren’t perfect but have always thought they were good all-round bikes that are affordable and reliable.
Look at all those Rebel 500 parts! Turn signals, side mirrors, handlebar controls, brake and clutch levers. This one looks more "classic" though. I own a Rebel 500 but I'd love to try one of those!
I'm hoping this will be my first bike. Got a chance to sit on it, pretty comfortable. Just wish, they kept the 2023 handle bars, the bars came back more, making it a bit more comfortable.
Other than cosmetics, really the only significant difference between the Aero and the Phantom is the handlebars. Those big beach handlebars on the Aero provide a more comfortable, laid-back ride, and IMHO they make the bike easier to control. The Phantom is trying to be more of a brawler than a cruiser...and that's fine. All a matter of personal preference. I have an Aero but would be just as happy on a Phantom.
I'd love to see them just poke that motor out to an 850 or 900. I love my 750 ACE. But a peppy little cruiser with a little more gunt in the same chassis would be great!
I love the looks of this bike and the engine sound, Im just someone who wants to putt around backroads and enjoy the scenery...Im down to the rebel 500/1100, shadow phantom, royal enfield 650
Take that bike,add a 6th gear and a sight window for the oil (dipsticks suck), swap the stock exhaust for blacked out Vance & Haynes Short shots, and you have near perfection. The Honda Shadow is the must under-appreciated bike ever.
Thanks for the vid. Well done. I think if Honda Wana be a serious player they need to bring back the 1100cc, ABS standard and maybe some Japanese tech with ride modes and a 6th gear. Personally reckon it's way better than their other "cruisers" but to me they are way way behind atm.
It’s a bit of a cruiser problem. They aren’t meant to lean too far. It could also be a slight skill issue on his part, but cruisers won’t ever go knee deep like a sports bike can.
I'm a 340 lb rider, I ride a 2009 Shadow, the stock suspension works very well for me with a higher preload. Of course when I come across train tracks or a big dip it really helps to lift myself up briefly on the pegs. No complaints.
It's a really pretty bike but it desperately needs a new engine. I'm amazed Honda can still sell them. If someone wanted a cheaper starter bike, they're dirt cheap on the used market.
it would be cool if Honda would bring the Shadow line up back to Canada. We haven't had a new shadow here for quite a while. would look at one of these before the rebel
Well I bought a gear indicator soo know that the bike does have a aftermarket ability too just plug in a gear indicator it’s pretty easy and helpful I bought it because I don’t like too keep track of what gear I am in so that’s why for those who are wondering were the cable is too plug it in is on the left side right under the plastic side cover no thanks ride safe bye ✌🏻
I have the Honda Aero and its the shits in the corners as well. I find the suspension poor. I had a Yamaha Virago 1100 , and it road a lot smoother and you could cut corners with ease.
You got it all backwards. If you are on a bike like this, you NEED to be traveling through such a majestic landscape. Inside a car, you might as well just look at videos... because you're not going to feel or hear and sense anything. But on a bike, in such a gorgeous & winding road... that's what bikes are made for. Southern California (I think this was it) and up and down California's Highway 101... if you're going to ride a motorcycle, you might as well ride it, at least once, up and down the California's twisting, scenic 101. And, then, go inland, into the Yosemite park routes.... into the Nevada/Reno terrains, too. Very few things --- scenic route wise --- beat these few places in California...
that is a great looking bike. i really don't like the all black engine, exhaust. a little bit of chrome is good. i ride a 2019 honda rebel 500. i absolutely love it. fast enough, looks good, easy to work on. my next Honda is going to be the Fury though. don't want a Harley look a like. great review, i would hate scraping pegs though, scare the crap out of me.
I bought a Spirit... most of the bike is plastic, and though the bike looks very pretty, there is actually a lot to find fault with the bike. The key hangs off the side. There's a lot of bizarre secret kill switches which if you don't know how they work will leave you mystified at first. The fenders are too short, so mud gets everywhere0. No 5th gear indicator, which leaves me always trying to shift up from 5th. No bell on the turn signal, so you drive for miles with the turn signal on. It's very heavy, so you're not going to be ever push starting it with a dead battery. No place to plug anything in like a radar detector or phone charger... in 2024. Still no gas gauge... even though your fuel cap is right there, that one could be mounted in with a float on a stick and a dial. No center stand, for tire changes. In the end, it's just... heavy but... okay. I guess. You want to drive it because it's pretty and it's interstatable. But not as fun to drive as a much lighter bike, of course, but also no creature comforts at all like a Goldwing. I feel like I'm sitting on top of a lead freight train in the wind, rather than a highly flicable motorbike responding like a P-51 Mustang.
There's also a lot of clutching on the shadow, which always ends up locking up my left hand. Which is another reason why I wouldn't ride it for hours. Every ride I've taken on mine, ends with my left hand hurting. This bike is definitely meant for a specific height, size and "type" of rider. If you are Tall, long, lanky, arthritic, coming from the SportBike community, have a bad back, etc..I don't recommend this bike. Lol
try a dct honda. odd at first, then dial in user mode and paddle shift. no left hand or left foot hurting issues. just your butt because it is fun and youll be riding all day
The Shadow is not made for windy roads in my opinion. There's too much "stop n go" that the bike forces you to do. It is definitely more of a city bike than it is a long distance, curvy roads, type of bike. Imo.
It's a CRUISER. Got $8500 and want a new bike for attacking the curves? Get an SV650. Better still, buy a nicely used Shadow AND a nicely used SV650 and have the best of both worlds (what I did).
I bought one. I like the bike because it's pretty, and that's pretty much the only reason I like it... but I don't love it. It's big, it's heavy, it's difficult to work on, some design decisions about it you're just banging your head against a brick wall wondering why... for example, the vacuum operated fuel petcock that can fail, the keys danging off the side, the kickstand safety switch, the rear foot pegs way up high where your back feet cant shift to them to dissipate a leg cramp, you have to constantly be cleaning up the bike and polishing it, the lack of included luggage carrying cargo capacity, the lack of an overdrive 5th gear indicator, the lack of a fuel gauge even though the gas cap is right there one could sit into, the fact the fenders are made out of plastic which scratches easy, the fact that it's absolutely no frills at all, the fact your right leg gets warm in winter right over both pipes, but your left leg freezes, the fact that tires for it... are expensive (compared to my Rebel), the fact that you can't push start it without risking your neck.
@gothops 154 i ride a 500 cc Honda Rebel, and a neon yellow motorcycle jacket with armor. i want these morons in cars to see me, and say they didn't, is BS!!
This kind of dishonest reviews is what has allowed Honda to sell such a grossly inferior bike like the Honda Shadow for over 20 years. These guys don't want to risk their relationship with manufacturers by being honest and admitting that the bike is a gutless pig. Instead, they come up with clever lines like "the Burly V-Twin offers a wide range of power" which basically means it needs the whole rev range to try and harvest what little power the bike has. the perfect example is at the 5:29 mark in the video where he's having to push the bike to almost redline at full throttle just to trying and look like he's casually accelerating which is when he comes up with the clever line "you can see there we weren't even up quite to rev cut". It's interesting to note that everyone reviewing the honda shadow always brings up the Honda Rebel 500. The reason is simple - the Rebel 500 has the same horsepower as the Shadow 750 but weighs almost 150 lbs less. Even the Kawasaki 500 Eliminator has more horsepower and weighs almost 200lbs less than the Shadow 750. Both the Rebel and Eliminator also have proper 6-speed transmissions and engines that can rev over 9k rpm, unlike the Shadow's measly 5500 rpm redline which is an estimate since the Shadow doesn't even have a tachometer. Bottom line, the Honda shadow 750 is truly what it means to put lipstick on a pig and unfortunately as most shadow owners eventually figure out, a pig is a pig……..
The shadow is a low powered, light, cheap, beginner cruiser. It does exactly what its supposed to do. If you want something quick buy a 1200 sportster.
I mean sure on paper a vulcan s would be an even better option than the rebel, but those parallel twins have no personality and you'll be moving on in a couple seasons either way. None of the bikes mentioned are going to impress anyone, so you may as well start off with what you like.
Honda are dumb. The HD Street Bob is 1753cc. They should offer at least a 1200cc option on this bike. It's too bad because it has a nice look...but it's a chick bike.
No offense but it can absolutely be a canyon, corner carver. 100% after acclimating to the bike I could rip those canyons. You need to not be afraid to lean and scrape.
you forgot to mention that it's a shaft drive motorcycle. And at that price point!
If I can offer a tip - you need to stay wider longer in the corners, trail brake while staying wide until you can see your exit, then turn in, and go! To me it looked like you were carrying a little too much entry speed and turning in a bit too early causing you to have to lean more and for a longer period of time….canyon chasers has a good video talking about this.
It is painful to watch, like damn.
These will run forever, love them
I just traded in and got the grey one a couple months ago and I’m really enjoying it. I had 2 older shadows in the past. They aren’t perfect but have always thought they were good all-round bikes that are affordable and reliable.
Really like the grey color you bought, but can the shadow emblem on the tank be removed or is it painted on?
@@georgeharsin6292 it's painted on.
Look at all those Rebel 500 parts! Turn signals, side mirrors, handlebar controls, brake and clutch levers. This one looks more "classic" though. I own a Rebel 500 but I'd love to try one of those!
I currently own a Rebel 300, but am looking to upgrade to the Phantom or possibly the Shadow Aero. I love the Phantom in the orange color scheme.
I'm hoping this will be my first bike. Got a chance to sit on it, pretty comfortable. Just wish, they kept the 2023 handle bars, the bars came back more, making it a bit more comfortable.
New bars are more easily adjustable.
Other than cosmetics, really the only significant difference between the Aero and the Phantom is the handlebars. Those big beach handlebars on the Aero provide a more comfortable, laid-back ride, and IMHO they make the bike easier to control. The Phantom is trying to be more of a brawler than a cruiser...and that's fine. All a matter of personal preference. I have an Aero but would be just as happy on a Phantom.
Wow ! Can’t wait to try it in France 🇫🇷 🙋🏻♂️✌🏻🔥
This is my next bike. Or the Aero, gotta try both. Still wish it had a sixth gear.
I'd love to see them just poke that motor out to an 850 or 900. I love my 750 ACE. But a peppy little cruiser with a little more gunt in the same chassis would be great!
I wonder if we flipped the mirrors to be under the handlebars?
I love the looks of this bike and the engine sound, Im just someone who wants to putt around backroads and enjoy the scenery...Im down to the rebel 500/1100, shadow phantom, royal enfield 650
Kawasaki Vulcan S?
Gr8 video thanks n that bike looks good i definitely would like to have. Bet that 500 would keep up or beat it as far as speed anyway..
Take that bike,add a 6th gear and a sight window for the oil (dipsticks suck), swap the stock exhaust for blacked out Vance & Haynes Short shots, and you have near perfection. The Honda Shadow is the must under-appreciated bike ever.
Guess one advantage the Rebel 500 might have is the fact that it has 2 - 3 more hp and like 140 lbs less weight.
True!
Too bad those 180* twins sound rancid
has the rake been kicked out more? it looks like the front tire is further away from the front down-tubes .
Thanks for the vid. Well done.
I think if Honda Wana be a serious player they need to bring back the 1100cc, ABS standard and maybe some Japanese tech with ride modes and a 6th gear.
Personally reckon it's way better than their other "cruisers" but to me they are way way behind atm.
Forgot to mention your Hight - weight and comfortability. Overall Great beginner bike.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Hey bud a 750cc large cruiser isn't exactly a beginner bike..
Does the Rebel 500 have the same scraping problems on turns and curves as the Shadow Phantom?
It’s a bit of a cruiser problem. They aren’t meant to lean too far. It could also be a slight skill issue on his part, but cruisers won’t ever go knee deep like a sports bike can.
Regular Brakes are just as safe as ABS, if you are an experienced rider.
Not a bike person but I honestly kinda dig that.
A great bike!
Does anyone know if the word "shadow" is a decal or painted on?
I'm a 340 lb rider, I ride a 2009 Shadow, the stock suspension works very well for me with a higher preload. Of course when I come across train tracks or a big dip it really helps to lift myself up briefly on the pegs. No complaints.
Damn that must be a sight
It's a really pretty bike but it desperately needs a new engine. I'm amazed Honda can still sell them. If someone wanted a cheaper starter bike, they're dirt cheap on the used market.
New engine? Why? It works great
I'd like to see em bring back the 1100
@@michaelramirez5969or the 1300 using the fury engine. I think it was the Honda stateline
@@alexandercoll4863 It does work. Lacks power. Revs high on the interstate and vibrates your hands numb. Same issue I had on the Vulcan 900
I'd love to see them just poke that motor out to an 850 or 900. I love my 750 ACE. But a peppy little cruiser would be great!
Still no fuel gauge 😅, love the get off bike to fill fuel cap position. Not released in Australia 😢....
I don't trust the fuel gauge on any motorcycle. Trip odometer is much more reliable.
it would be cool if Honda would bring the Shadow line up back to Canada. We haven't had a new shadow here for quite a while. would look at one of these before the rebel
Trudeau wont let them.
does the phantom have abs?
Thanks
Is this in SoCal.?
Yes, CA39
I love this bike, but this is my starter bike, I got the gray. I got it with 1 mile on it and now I have about 80.
What's nice is that the Shadow can be a starter bike, but it can also be a forever bike if you want it to.
@edwardkeeter762 I've seen people on the market place selling 1984 honda rebels so I believe that!
Well I bought a gear indicator soo know that the bike does have a aftermarket ability too just plug in a gear indicator it’s pretty easy and helpful I bought it because I don’t like too keep track of what gear I am in so that’s why for those who are wondering were the cable is too plug it in is on the left side right under the plastic side cover no thanks ride safe bye ✌🏻
The best moto. In the world
I have the Honda Aero and its the shits in the corners as well. I find the suspension poor. I had a Yamaha Virago 1100 , and it road a lot smoother and you could cut corners with ease.
The bike looks good. That ride through the mountains/hills did not look fun though
You got it all backwards. If you are on a bike like this, you NEED to be traveling through such a majestic landscape. Inside a car, you might as well just look at videos... because you're not going to feel or hear and sense anything. But on a bike, in such a gorgeous & winding road... that's what bikes are made for.
Southern California (I think this was it) and up and down California's Highway 101... if you're going to ride a motorcycle, you might as well ride it, at least once, up and down the California's twisting, scenic 101.
And, then, go inland, into the Yosemite park routes.... into the Nevada/Reno terrains, too. Very few things --- scenic route wise --- beat these few places in California...
I think he meant the rider was not riding well.@@kiabtoomlauj6249
my vstar 1100 can lean way more. I haven't been able to scrape pavement yet.
that is a great looking bike. i really don't like the all black engine, exhaust. a little bit of chrome is good. i ride a 2019 honda rebel 500. i absolutely love it. fast enough, looks good, easy to work on. my next Honda is going to be the Fury though. don't want a Harley look a like. great review, i would hate scraping pegs though, scare the crap out of me.
Black is stealthy and mean looking but to each is own
Cool ! Needs symmetrical exhaust😎Like Moto Guzzi🇺🇸
Were you all driving the same motorcycle?
Surprised they don’t have LED headlight
Yeah. They could've fitted the Rebel 500/1100 headlights on there - like what they did with the turn signal lights.
I bought a Spirit... most of the bike is plastic, and though the bike looks very pretty, there is actually a lot to find fault with the bike. The key hangs off the side. There's a lot of bizarre secret kill switches which if you don't know how they work will leave you mystified at first. The fenders are too short, so mud gets everywhere0. No 5th gear indicator, which leaves me always trying to shift up from 5th. No bell on the turn signal, so you drive for miles with the turn signal on. It's very heavy, so you're not going to be ever push starting it with a dead battery. No place to plug anything in like a radar detector or phone charger... in 2024. Still no gas gauge... even though your fuel cap is right there, that one could be mounted in with a float on a stick and a dial. No center stand, for tire changes. In the end, it's just... heavy but... okay. I guess. You want to drive it because it's pretty and it's interstatable. But not as fun to drive as a much lighter bike, of course, but also no creature comforts at all like a Goldwing. I feel like I'm sitting on top of a lead freight train in the wind, rather than a highly flicable motorbike responding like a P-51 Mustang.
27 degrees lean angle? ffs...
There's also a lot of clutching on the shadow, which always ends up locking up my left hand. Which is another reason why I wouldn't ride it for hours. Every ride I've taken on mine, ends with my left hand hurting. This bike is definitely meant for a specific height, size and "type" of rider. If you are Tall, long, lanky, arthritic, coming from the SportBike community, have a bad back, etc..I don't recommend this bike. Lol
try a dct honda. odd at first, then dial in user mode and paddle shift. no left hand or left foot hurting issues. just your butt because it is fun and youll be riding all day
The Shadow is not made for windy roads in my opinion. There's too much "stop n go" that the bike forces you to do. It is definitely more of a city bike than it is a long distance, curvy roads, type of bike. Imo.
It's a CRUISER. Got $8500 and want a new bike for attacking the curves? Get an SV650. Better still, buy a nicely used Shadow AND a nicely used SV650 and have the best of both worlds (what I did).
How many cylinders is this bike?
Two
I bought one. I like the bike because it's pretty, and that's pretty much the only reason I like it... but I don't love it.
It's big, it's heavy, it's difficult to work on, some design decisions about it you're just banging your head against a brick wall wondering why... for example, the vacuum operated fuel petcock that can fail, the keys danging off the side, the kickstand safety switch, the rear foot pegs way up high where your back feet cant shift to them to dissipate a leg cramp, you have to constantly be cleaning up the bike and polishing it, the lack of included luggage carrying cargo capacity, the lack of an overdrive 5th gear indicator, the lack of a fuel gauge even though the gas cap is right there one could sit into, the fact the fenders are made out of plastic which scratches easy, the fact that it's absolutely no frills at all, the fact your right leg gets warm in winter right over both pipes, but your left leg freezes, the fact that tires for it... are expensive (compared to my Rebel), the fact that you can't push start it without risking your neck.
You can get the Rebel 1100 for $9,500. Why on earth would someone get this over that?
It’s ok, I think learning with totally manual is much better, not depending on sleeper clutch, ABS, or some mechanical advancement,
It’s a cruiser. You should be cruising.
And that's why I'm not into cruisers. 😙
eh. They all have their pros and cons. The correct answer is to just own several bikes
What is it about cruisers do you not like?
@@lambertj.2892 Three main things: the riding position, the handling, and the engine types most commonly used.
Sorry to rag on you but wearing a high viz on a Honda cruiser is big Weenie Hut Jr energy
Hey, if it keeps me out of Weenie Hut General, I'm about it
@gothops 154 i ride a 500 cc Honda Rebel, and a neon yellow motorcycle jacket with armor. i want these morons in cars to see me, and say they didn't, is BS!!
Wear a white beater while you ride instead and look like you're headed to the Salty Spatoon.
the older you get the less you give a shit about what other people think of you, or at least that's the normal progression.
To be honest, not really an interesting cruiser. Looks really good! Doesn't preform very well.
This is not sport bike 👍
This kind of dishonest reviews is what has allowed Honda to sell such a grossly inferior bike like the Honda Shadow for over 20 years. These guys don't want to risk their relationship with manufacturers by being honest and admitting that the bike is a gutless pig. Instead, they come up with clever lines like "the Burly V-Twin offers a wide range of power" which basically means it needs the whole rev range to try and harvest what little power the bike has. the perfect example is at the 5:29 mark in the video where he's having to push the bike to almost redline at full throttle just to trying and look like he's casually accelerating which is when he comes up with the clever line "you can see there we weren't even up quite to rev cut". It's interesting to note that everyone reviewing the honda shadow always brings up the Honda Rebel 500. The reason is simple - the Rebel 500 has the same horsepower as the Shadow 750 but weighs almost 150 lbs less. Even the Kawasaki 500 Eliminator has more horsepower and weighs almost 200lbs less than the Shadow 750. Both the Rebel and Eliminator also have proper 6-speed transmissions and engines that can rev over 9k rpm, unlike the Shadow's measly 5500 rpm redline which is an estimate since the Shadow doesn't even have a tachometer. Bottom line, the Honda shadow 750 is truly what it means to put lipstick on a pig and unfortunately as most shadow owners eventually figure out, a pig is a pig……..
The shadow is a low powered, light, cheap, beginner cruiser. It does exactly what its supposed to do. If you want something quick buy a 1200 sportster.
totally agree. It's all subscribers and beer money.
I mean sure on paper a vulcan s would be an even better option than the rebel, but those parallel twins have no personality and you'll be moving on in a couple seasons either way. None of the bikes mentioned are going to impress anyone, so you may as well start off with what you like.
Why buy a honda when you have a Harley Davidson?
watching the struggle to take corners has convinced me not to buy one.
No thanks. Scrapes and the forward contrlols. Not for me.
This Honda is weaker than the Harley Davidson sportster 883 and Harley Davidson street
Honda are dumb. The HD Street Bob is 1753cc. They should offer at least a 1200cc option on this bike. It's too bad because it has a nice look...but it's a chick bike.
Not sure I like the idea of watching a guy that can't ride review a bike....
No offense but it can absolutely be a canyon, corner carver. 100% after acclimating to the bike I could rip those canyons. You need to not be afraid to lean and scrape.