Arguably one of the most practical motorcycles out there. 55mpg, long lasting tires, shaft drive, easy for wind protection and luggage upgrades, and stupid simple to work on. I appreciate you giving this bike some attention!
It's a heavy underpowered lead sled, no thanks. Honda makes must better bikes than the Shadow like the new Rebel1100 BASE MSRP: $9,499 or the DCT version MSRP: $10,099
@@johnpaulgarzaniti5065 yea i agree although i got thr 500 cuz its just for weekend errands if i was looking for somthing quieck it definitely would’ve been the 1100
@@SpenserVieira Not sure you understood the post. Zach isn't going to rave about it, but he's clearly not bashing it either. He's reviewed it in an objective manner and gave it some charitable statements.
@@clayman1980 Exactly! I wish more people were like that. I have my preferences about, well everything, but I can still respect and acknowledge the qualities of things that aren't my thing.
As the owner of a 2014 Phantom. I love that you're covering this bike! It's a great motorcycle that not enough people consider especially for a beginner bike
The sad thing is here, in France, Honda stopped selling thoses bikes a long time ago. Now we only have the Rebel and that's it. This Shadow Phantom looks amazing and would be a perfect bike for beginners, especially since HD stopped selling the 883 Iron.
I had a 2012 for my first bike and it's the only full sized bike I regret selling. It's not powerful or fast, but it's a perfect city cruiser which is all it's trying to be. Things to note, it is shaft and got EFI in 2010.
I own a Shadow Phantom 23, bought it last October, it is my first bike ever.... And I'm not going to lie, I love it! 😊. It's a great bike for the price and it's a great beginner's bike. Also, I haven't got one bad comment on the streets about it, everyone says it's a nice looking bike. I haven't experienced any malfunctions on it nor wobbles of death. It's a crusier so I use it for what it's meant for "cruising". The only con I have experienced is the wind, the bike doesn't have a wind shield so it can get a bit windy especially on windy days, so drive carefully. Always be aware of your surroundings, keep a space cushion and remember people are dumb always expect the unexpected. Safe riding everyone!
Zack, Please… Continue reviewing motorcycles FOREVER! You understand so much and communicate it all in an entertaining manner! Your work vitalizes the community through high caliber content without presenting arrogance or putting the viewer into a comma…. GREAT WORK!!! Thank You-
I love my shadow. I bought it brand new back in 2016 and with it being my first motorcycle, I figured out that the shadows are incredibly forgiving and I learned to ride very quickly thanks to it. Can't say I would buy another one, but I would easily recommend it to anybody wanting to learn how to ride.
I’ve been riding HD’s for decades, my Harley CVO Road King for a long time. I would never take it down a gravel road. I tried a gravel road…one time. I have not and would never try to do a wheelie. I’m an old man, now, looking for a lighter weight bike. This Honda Shadow 750, shaft drive, water cooled, quiet bike, just might do the trick.
It's easy to review a bike you know you'll love. Conversely, it's VERY DIFFICULT to review one that you personally would never in a million years buy for your own garage. Yet you managed a very fair, very informative, and fun review that allowed it to be judged in the appropriate context(s) both on the road and on the board, which is the mark of a great reviewer. Ride on!
I had a 94. 600cc. Shadow. Rode it to Sturgis in 2009. From N Idaho. about 900 miles from here. I sold it in 2020 with 85 thousand miles on it. Never touched it other than new chains, sprockets and changed oil. It still had to original clutch and brake pads. It`s a great bike for a new rider that doesn`t know how to work on a bike.
I've got a '99 that's done over 150k miles (in km it's about to roll back to 00000) and it only now needs new clutch plates and springs. Phenomenal motor.
I see so many HondaShadow 750cc cruisers modified heavily to be bobbers or other customs. Apparently it's a great platform for those changes. I often see cruiser manufacturers ensure their bikes are compatible with some of the plentiful Harley-Davidson aftermarket foot pegs, handlebars, windshields, and so on. See also, Yamaha Bolt which is all set to nearly become a Sportster 950.
In 1990 in my early 40s I decided to to buy a motorcycle even though I had never been on one and bought a used Honda Shadow and I believe it was a 750 and drove it home. I rode it for a couple of days and hated it, it felt like a tank, so I took it back. The salesman put me on a brand-new Yamaha Virago 1100, and I tested it for about 30 minutes, and fell in love with it. It was comfortable, light, fast and easy to maneuver so I bought it. A week later took a Motorcycle training course and got my license and to this day, I wish I still had it.
I bought a 2009 Shadow Aero, 20,000 miles for 1.5K. Love it! Huge recommend for these bikes, especially the shaft drive models! Basically 0 maintenance lol
I like the fact how much you can learn about kitchen stuff when you watch Daily Rider and the Shop Manual. I think Zack found the perfect descriptor of kitchen appliance equivalent for the Shadow.
This bike is OK. I looked at the 2023 model when I was shopping and I really liked it. But I ended up buying a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT. Bigger gas tank, more power and torque. Stock saddle bags, heel toe shifter, pillion seat and backrest, and a large shield as well. Just a bit bigger bike over all. All for the same price. PS: And I get a pretty good lean out of mine, with high footboards, (not pegs) and over 5 inches of ground clearance.
Honda changed a lot with this model year. Mirrors, single passenger seat, rear disc brakes and paint combos. Previous phantoms were mostly blacked out with some grey accents. Making some improvements but most Honda cruiser riders would prefer changes like bigger displacement, gear indicator/ tachometer, one more gear in the trans and cruise control
Honda used to have a few bigger displacement bikes. There even used to be a Shadow 1100. They dropped all their bigger bikes, with the exception of the Fury. That was a mistake. Should've kept the VTX line or worked on the Shadow line... instead they chose to keep making the chopper styled Fury, which has never sold well. I digress. I agreed Honda should've made some changes other than just cosmetic. One glaring thing I see, that they should have absolutely done, is advance the timing by 4 degrees. That's been a mod that Shadow 750 owners have been doing since the 90's for a significant power boost with no harm done. They could have even changed the pistons out for a slight compression increase. They sit a 9.6:1 which is very low by today's liquid cooled standards. 10:1 or even 10.3:1 would be more ideal, and again, would result in a huge power output increase. With 4 degrees advanced timing and 10.3:1 compression, these 750's could be making 65hp instead of the 45 they make. Honda had a golden opportunity to do that with this refresh of the bike.
I was coming back from work this afternoon on my Street Triple hunkered down out of the wind blast with full waterproofs on and accelerated hard onto the off ramp only to look up and notice stationary traffic. Thank heavens for ABS is all I'm going to say...
My coworker and I rode from OC to Seattle and back along the coast mostly a while back and my coworker had the shadow phantom while I was on a gs500f. Both bikes worked ok for touring but the shadow actually got a little better MPG. The shadow averaged around 56 mpg while my gs500 averaged around 52 mpg.
I’m a little old but still working and active and I have had a lot of motorcycles and been a lot of places and fixed a lot of broken crap and still am riding (not one of these but I would happily own one) and wanting motorcycles. I just want to say that, looking back, my favorites have not been the most sophisticated or fastest or most adventure butch bikes that I have lusted over, bought, brought to heel and then thought, well, nah. The favorites by objective experimental observation have turned out to have been 50-75 (+/-) horsepower standard style bikes. This is not senility, it is perspective. And this is a great and not at all boring motorcycle. Little g (it *not a GREAT motorcycle). But definitely great. Boring depends on where you are and why you are there. This bike would be potentially excellent for almost any noncompetitive on-road adventure or commute or coffee shop. IMO, etc etc. Everybody gets to have an opinion as long as they ride motorcycles. Otherwise, no.
This one my first purchase in 2022. Very approachable as a first motorcycle. I used it for work commuting, and it had plenty of power to get me from work and home and back. Plus there are a bunch of aftermarket parts which was good to know. The 2024 model with ABS is the one thing I wish had. But I always will recommend the Shadow. Side note, 2023 I then purchased a HD Fatboy and the feeling between the two bikes felt very similar....I picked it up really quick.
Came for the bike; didn't expect to get a few minutes of poetry on the meditative qualities of motorcycling. Thanks for being all of us Zack. The purity and joy you express is such a gift.
The leader board is very much subjective... around my area, that Shadow would beat every single bike on there because of the ease of riding, cruiser biased roads, and just relaxed fun. The Shadow has been a gold standard of cruisers for a long time because of its looks, reliability, and pedigree. It's been around for 40 years for a reason. I understand everyone has their own taste in bikes, but the Shadow has never been a bike I looked at and said, "not my cup of tea." I've always loved and respected the Shadow because they're so reliable, approachable, and cost efficient in comparison to what they are designed to compete with. Yet another great video, be safe and have fun.
I've got a 2009 Shadow Aero and it is basic; rear drum brake, carburated, very simple gauge, and so on, but it's dead simple to ride and never gives me an ounce of trouble. I could spend more on the "corn-fed" H-D, but is it worth the higher cost when all I want out of a cruiser is to cruise? Thanks for covering the Shadow, Zach. You gave it a fair shake.
Reality is you can get 1200 Sportsters to someone's beloved tourer for under $5k used today and they will hold value unless you try to sell it when snow is on the ground. Money only comes into to play when you have to buy new. Most Shadow 750s sell for $2-3k up in the NE. I love all bikes and my next will hopefully be a 70s CL175 that I could mount to a RV bumper.
@@anthonysilvestri4946 It will last longer because most Shadows never see 30k miles and you would never rebuild one anyway. Different tools for different jobs. There is a reason almost no one does serious miles on a 750 Shadow. I've owned imports and HDs and they all have their place. It's not like it's the 70s anymore even though you can rebuild a Shovel or Evo indefinitely.
I bought a 2015 Shadow Aero as my first bike 2 years ago. Still own it, and love it, really couldn't have asked for a better first bike, and can back up everything Zack said in the vid.
I bought the same bike a couple years ago. I live in an area that has about five months of riding weather. Still, I have put twice as many miles on the bike as I have on my car.
Thank you for review! I did get this bike last month and I really like it! Negative is It's a little vibrate and wobbly. Positive is for cruising around it feels comfy! I mostly like it is light to roll back and forth out of garage and cruise on short adventures. I rode from Chicago to Michigan on the highway a few times and my booty not uncomfortable. It's good on the highway even in 5th gear at 90mph I feel the engine not stressed just not powerful to go faster. I wish the bars were more back for comfort, a nice feature of new shadow phantom this year is the bars can be changed!! I was impressed you noticed many small details about the riding experience like the handlebars leaning over, wobble on turns when hitting bumps, and that it could be considered too much vibration!
Had an older 1100 that was not well loved in it's earlier years, subsequently I could never get it running quite right. I abandoned it at the dealership for a low mileage VTX 1800. Absolutely loved that bike.
My first bike was a 2016 Honda Shadow Aero in red with a windshield. I currently have a '23 XSR900 but I still miss the Shadow quite a bit. Lovely review that brought back memories
I bought my Shadow brand new 20 years ago and still ride it all the time. I must say it was aptly named because it is really hard to throw shade at a shadow.
This was my first cruiser coming from sport bikes and I liked it. I liked that it was easy and low maintenance. No chain to keep clean or belt to worry about breaking. Even though that's rare. But ultimately it just wasn't powerful enough to keep up with everyone on cross country trips. I upgraded to the Fury after that and it was better. Even though it ruined aesthetics of it, a small windshield, a mustang seat, and removable saddle bags made it WAY more bearable for week long road trips. I also sent the ECU in to get it tuned and it ran way better. He richened up the fuel map and advanced the timing a bit to help with aftermarket intake & exhaust, that really woke the bike up. It was like a 15HP increase, which is a lot.
Took motorcycle safety class and rode my first cruiser during it and it was a phantom.loved it and made me get a Yamaha bolt instead of a r6 or naked bike
Awesome as usual Zack. Thank you for touching on the imperative of combined braking and the "taking the time to smell the flowers" aspect of a cruiser. I own a 5th Gen VFR (sorry Spurg. Not Yellow.) but when I go Sunday riding with the wife I take the cruiser (V-Star 1100) every time!
Honda most definitely has copy the Street Bob which is not a bad thing, it dose look pretty damn good and i'm loving that Honda still offers a proper V-Twin engine. To bad they are not selling it here in Sweden.
I am not a cruiser guy. Since 1980 I have been riding lightweight naked bikes, dual purpose bikes, and sports bikes. And loving them! But my wife got tired of riding long distances on the back with her legs cramped up and her knees hurting. So I bought a metric cruiser. I don’t love it, but I have learned to appreciate it. As I get older the ability to stretch out my legs becomes more important. The geometry of the bike forces me to slow down and appreciate my surroundings. The stability makes highway riding less tiring. And, most importantly, my wife loves it. None of those things are considerations for reviewers, but they still matter for a lot of riders. So if I wasn’t retired would I commute on my metric cruiser? No. The 50,000 miles on my old commuter Suzuki Tu250x, which is nimble, easy to maintain, gets 80 mpg, and can handle dirt back roads when the highways are jammed, was my ultimate commuter, and is still my first choice when I want to go out and play.
Everyone, Remember one thing. Almost all reviewers review cruisers through the lens of a sport bike bias. What isn't great to a sport bike rider may be great to a cruiser rider. I always take with a big grain of salt any criticisms or faint praise leveled a cruiser by a sport bike reviewer.
Used Shadows are certainly an amazing value but keep in mind which model years employ important upgrades - shaft drive is much better than chain, fuel injection is a must have (FI came along in 2010) and the rear disc brake is also a great addition👍
Got a 2010 Rs. My neighbors are Harley guys, and tried their hardest to get me on one. Just wasn't in my budget, all the decent Harleys were 6-8k and all the shadows were 2-4k.
@@anthonysilvestri4946 mids and chain drive. It has EFI but from what I can tell its basically an electronic carburetor. There's no O2 sensor for feed back and the efi controller I bought has adjustments similar to a carburetor, I have an idle adjustment, an adjustment that effects AFR when you twist the throttle and a WOT adjustment.
I got an 86 vt1100c and it's pretty much stock except for the dual straight side pipes that where there when I got it. It's an absolute time capsule. Buckhorn bars, speedometer, and tachometer dials on the handle bars, big square very 80s looking warning lights (look up a dash pic on Google), 2 step seat with factory sissy bar (also a glove box with tool kit), horns mounted on the forks right out on the front and the list goes on... 31k miles and going up. I'll have a hard time selling it off
Used to ride dirt bikes as a kid, I always loved the Shadow and wanted something for the road, now I'm in a place in life that I could finally get one and check that dream off the list. As someone on the shorter side, the low height and pegs fit me like a glove, amazing first bike and I can't wait to get some more miles under the belt and cruise some beautiful mountain highway scenery in the coming months.
I had a 2011 Aero 750 and I really enjoyed it. It was such a well put together bike - shaft drive, EFI, mine had a windscreen and heated grips. I did struggle a bit with the brakes and the suspension, as it felt underbraked with a rear drum and the roads where I live didn’t give me a great time with the suspension. (NZ roads are a bit of mess) Touching down the pegs here and there was just something to get used to. I think Zac showed this well. I did want a Tacho/Speedo on the bars, but I’m sure I could have done it, if I kept it. The engine is magic with its OHC, 3 valve head, seems to rev surprisingly freely. Sounds amazing as a stock exhausts too Thoroughly enjoyable ownership experience and very easy bike to ride, so reliable and simple to upkeep too. I’d never discourage anyone from a Shadow. It is a special bike for all the right reasons and has 40 years of pedigree for all the right reasons. I once saw the best description for a Shadow 750 for sale - condition: VERY COOL. I totally agree.
I had a Shadow 125, a werid little bike, same size engine and frame as it's bigger 750cc brother, but 13hp and 12,500rpm screaming. Was a fun, albeit slow first "proper" bike, and since then I have moved over to the naked segment, although it was a good experience.
Thanks for the review. Your review really helped me decide on a good way to get back into riding. This is my first bike since I was 20 years old and I'm 48 now. Made the purchase yesterday and I'm gonna pick it up today. Super stoked about it.
Zac, I had a V65 Sabre (wife had a V65 Magna). I was in a “gang” (a gang of engineers) called SABMAG. We were shocked and disappointed when Honda went with the two cylinder engine for the Shadow, which was meant in part to be a substitute for the Magna. That V-4 was an amazing engine and am still amazed that Honda let it die. So sad. Sad is also what we called the Shadow.
@@MotoDash1100 The Fury is the opposite of the Shadow in a number of ways, so it would be fun to see a Daily Ride on it. It says "Look at ME!" and "I'm not practical at all!"
The shadow phantom looks so good. My coworker told me to get one as my first motorcycle and after seeing the 2024 model, I might get one. Definitely a toss up between phantom and rebel 1100. It’ll be my second motorcycle as I already have one motorcycle.
Zach as usual I love the video, good commentary and quality content as usual. And wile I feel you were fair and unbiased, it is obvious you are not a cruiser guy. That's not a bad thing! I just think you need more exposure. Maybe you and Ari should do a CTXP episode participating in something like the Motorcycle Cannonball? That would be a challenge! You would just have to find someone to loan you a bike over 90 years old.
I got an 07 Spirit last year, the shaft drive 750. It looks like a lot of design elements remain in the newer Shadows. All I could ask for an upgrade, is one day to trade up to a model like this Phantom. Looks like they made some good improvements along with the style changes. Overall, why change too much on what is a proven platform. Thanks for the review!
@@johnbelculf5441 I felt like it lost a bit of top end after the short shots. Passing on the highway above 70mph was sluggish. Also, I was a bit nervous about burning a valve. People put them on all the time and never tune for it though. Tuning it was great! It is so fun to ride, cruises 85mph all day long.
Watch it with the "40 years of aging", do I look good, or, does the Shadow? I turn 59 in November, and, I got into riding 30 years ago! It's helped me to stay young at heart! Doug🏍️🎉🧸🐻👍
Zach , love your channel .What do you think of adding another category to the daily rider board , and classic ? The bike you ride that puts a smile on your face , has the “in the middle feel “ …not quite pedestrian commuter , something that has an edge but is also not bad to just take a for a 2-4 hr Sunday morning ride ? But if you know there is a nice bunch of curves coming you will enjoy choosing the right lines …
The Honda shadow is the best cruiser that Honda made hands down. Plenty of power, not too over powering like a VTX 1300 or 1800. The shadow is actually the most perfect cruiser all around, it is light enough for beginners to learn how to ride, and it has the perfect midrange power. I used to have a Honda shadow, I still kick my self in the behind for selling it. I have ridden Harleys and I wasn't impressed, the Honda shadow impressed the hell outta me.
Happy 40th birthday Zack🎉. I feel that the daily Rider board is very subjective. where I can see This motorcycle shine over the triumph, Number one, reliability, and number two the lack of a Display up front. Imagine winter time and being able to put a nice big windshield on this bike.
Also I would like to see some more benelli's. Maybe start with the TNT 135 on dailyRider. If you would like to see that as well. Please feel free to give this comment a thumbs up.
My first street bike was a 2002 Honda Shadow 750 ACE Deluxe. Absolutely loved that bike and it was quite a looker with the metallic silver paint and plum pinstripes. EFI, great fuel mileage, etc. Never once gave me any issues and was reliable as could be. Only issue I had with it is I wish it had an extra gear because on the freeway I always found myself wanting to shift up around 70mph when you could feel it losing steam and power delivery was dropping off. Looks like on the new Shadows they have shaft (mine still had chain) and it has that extra gear I wish mine had. This current 2024 bike in the video would be a perfect bike to own for all around riding
I bought a 2004 shadow and love it slow heavy in tight turns but it taught me how to really enjoy the ride take it easy enjoy the exhaust note I end up smiling a lot of the time just cruising around
This was a fair shake and a well done review. The problems that were illustrated in this vid are pretty wide across-the-board cruiser problems. 5 speed trans with no indicator, simple dash w/ no tach (it's 2023, no really no fuel gauge?) minimal ground clearance with minimal suspension travel. That said, if your commute was an hour of highway, this would be a great bike. I could see a CRF300L, XR650L or even a Ruckus being a better city commuter.
My dad traded in his CB600 somewhere around '89 -'91 for a Shadow. It was definitely an interesting change for me as a kid riding on the back of it, That has always put the Shadow into a sort of soft spot for me. I sat one the phantom at a dealership a couple weeks ago and decided that it probably wasn't for me. I don't know if I will end up on a Rebel 1100, but for me the Rebel was significantly more comfortable to sit on.
I had a Honda Shadow and I tell you what - they make bikes that work. Mine was very close to passing 100,000 miles when I sold it. I think mine was a 1997 model and I see... after all those years the engine looks the same. Hell, basically everything looks the same except - yeah - the rear disc brake. It all works well. I did hate those plastic covers on the engine. You probably don't notice them in the video (unless I've skipped Zack pointing them out). I was working on the bike quite a bit - just long-term parts wear, no actual failures, so I was taking them off and putting them on often. Sometimes I'd just ride the bike for a while without them on
Now that Harley dumped the traditional Sportster one would think Honda could sell a bunch of these but it will need a bigger motor, say an 1100 or 1200cc.
My #1 suggestion for new riders for a firs bike is a 1980's Shadow 500. I could list amillion reasons (ok, likely only a dozen) but the fact you will not "grow out of it" in a year while still having all the advantages the venerable Rebel 250 has with NO CHAIN todeal with is huge. Once you sort the carbs it is just 3500 mile oil changes and check the gear lube once a year. Exception can be made for the R/R and Stator. Buy it for $1500, ride it for three years, sell it for $1500.
Currently have an 07 shadow aero that i bought for $1900. Eventually going to trade in for a sport bike but this is definitely a solid all around bike that will never let you down
zack iv never even thought of the shadow before,, im tall and thought id look silly on it, but if you fit then maybe worth thinking about, but for now il stick to my triumph tiger
Arguably one of the most practical motorcycles out there. 55mpg, long lasting tires, shaft drive, easy for wind protection and luggage upgrades, and stupid simple to work on. I appreciate you giving this bike some attention!
I would beg to differ the rebel has that sport now
@@gigi9467 Huh?
It's a heavy underpowered lead sled, no thanks. Honda makes must better bikes than the Shadow like the new Rebel1100 BASE MSRP: $9,499 or the DCT version MSRP: $10,099
@@johnpaulgarzaniti5065 yea i agree although i got thr 500 cuz its just for weekend errands if i was looking for somthing quieck it definitely would’ve been the 1100
Honda's biggest cruiser sin was killing the Magna 20 years ago. That was the "quick" Shadow. That little 750cc V4 could run with the VTX1800.
I love how hard Zack tries to be charitable and fair about bikes that clearly aren't his thing.
He is not tying at all. Based on past posts Zack and his colleagues do not like cruisers
@@SpenserVieira Not sure you understood the post. Zach isn't going to rave about it, but he's clearly not bashing it either. He's reviewed it in an objective manner and gave it some charitable statements.
That's called being a professional. He may not be a fan, but can still acknowledge the general qualities of a motorbike.
@@clayman1980 Exactly! I wish more people were like that. I have my preferences about, well everything, but I can still respect and acknowledge the qualities of things that aren't my thing.
I've also heard Zack say "anything on 2 wheels is cool" he knows it takes all types of riders to make the wheels go round.
I had a 95 Shadow VLX. Rode it all over God's green earth! I rode it 600 miles to Sturgis in 1998. What a great time that was.
The "flying squirrel" riding position!🤣 I cannot unsee that now. Every time I see someone on a cruiser...
As the owner of a 2014 Phantom. I love that you're covering this bike! It's a great motorcycle that not enough people consider especially for a beginner bike
I've got a 13' and also think it's a great beginning bike. Of course I still haven't really rode anything else but, I love it.
The sad thing is here, in France, Honda stopped selling thoses bikes a long time ago. Now we only have the Rebel and that's it. This Shadow Phantom looks amazing and would be a perfect bike for beginners, especially since HD stopped selling the 883 Iron.
14 phantom owner here. Mines customized retro. I have other bike', but the shadow is a fav for quick trips. Sadly, nolonger sold in 🇨🇦
Interdasting !
I had a 2012 for my first bike and it's the only full sized bike I regret selling. It's not powerful or fast, but it's a perfect city cruiser which is all it's trying to be. Things to note, it is shaft and got EFI in 2010.
Yeah, shaft drive can be an attractive feature for folks who like minimal maintenance. Big bonus for this bike's intended demographic IMO
Which bike?
Shadow aero
I own a Shadow Phantom 23, bought it last October, it is my first bike ever.... And I'm not going to lie, I love it! 😊. It's a great bike for the price and it's a great beginner's bike. Also, I haven't got one bad comment on the streets about it, everyone says it's a nice looking bike. I haven't experienced any malfunctions on it nor wobbles of death. It's a crusier so I use it for what it's meant for "cruising". The only con I have experienced is the wind, the bike doesn't have a wind shield so it can get a bit windy especially on windy days, so drive carefully. Always be aware of your surroundings, keep a space cushion and remember people are dumb always expect the unexpected. Safe riding everyone!
Zack,
Please… Continue reviewing motorcycles FOREVER! You understand so much and communicate it all in an entertaining manner!
Your work vitalizes the community through high caliber content without presenting arrogance or putting the viewer into a comma…. GREAT WORK!!!
Thank You-
I love my shadow. I bought it brand new back in 2016 and with it being my first motorcycle, I figured out that the shadows are incredibly forgiving and I learned to ride very quickly thanks to it. Can't say I would buy another one, but I would easily recommend it to anybody wanting to learn how to ride.
The outtake is something I always look forward to. This one did NOT disappoint.
🤣🤣 scrape, scrape, scrape
Sounds like a Japanese cook touching up a nice blade on a stone. Hahaha
I’ve been riding HD’s for decades, my Harley CVO Road King for a long time. I would never take it down a gravel road. I tried a gravel road…one time. I have not and would never try to do a wheelie. I’m an old man, now, looking for a lighter weight bike. This Honda Shadow 750, shaft drive, water cooled, quiet bike, just might do the trick.
One of the few cruisers out there I truly like as a sportbike/naked bike/dirtbike rider. My dad has one years ago and loved it as well!
Have you tried a Vtx1800f3?
I'll jump on the bandwagon and tell you to take up a ride on a Yamaha Raider (1854cc) if you ever get the chance. And let it rip.
@@exothermal.sprocket Yamaha Raider looks horrible
@@Automatic313 SUBJECTIVE, your honor.
It's easy to review a bike you know you'll love. Conversely, it's VERY DIFFICULT to review one that you personally would never in a million years buy for your own garage. Yet you managed a very fair, very informative, and fun review that allowed it to be judged in the appropriate context(s) both on the road and on the board, which is the mark of a great reviewer. Ride on!
I think him and WAHEED SHOULD DO A PODCAST
I had a 94. 600cc. Shadow. Rode it to Sturgis in 2009. From N Idaho. about 900 miles from here. I sold it in 2020 with 85 thousand miles on it. Never touched it other than new chains, sprockets and changed oil. It still had to original clutch and brake pads. It`s a great bike for a new rider that doesn`t know how to work on a bike.
I've got a '99 that's done over 150k miles (in km it's about to roll back to 00000) and it only now needs new clutch plates and springs. Phenomenal motor.
14 phantom here. Lower.rear air susp. 6" fwd controls. Beach bars. Solo springer seat. Batwing.whitewalls.straightpipes. velocity stack.fuel controller.
Art on wheels.
I see so many HondaShadow 750cc cruisers modified heavily to be bobbers or other customs. Apparently it's a great platform for those changes. I often see cruiser manufacturers ensure their bikes are compatible with some of the plentiful Harley-Davidson aftermarket foot pegs, handlebars, windshields, and so on. See also, Yamaha Bolt which is all set to nearly become a Sportster 950.
photos ?
In 1990 in my early 40s I decided to to buy a motorcycle even though I had never been on one and bought a used Honda Shadow and I believe it was a 750 and drove it home. I rode it for a couple of days and hated it, it felt like a tank, so I took it back. The salesman put me on a brand-new Yamaha Virago 1100, and I tested it for about 30 minutes, and fell in love with it. It was comfortable, light, fast and easy to maneuver so I bought it. A week later took a Motorcycle training course and got my license and to this day, I wish I still had it.
I bought a 2009 Shadow Aero, 20,000 miles for 1.5K. Love it! Huge recommend for these bikes, especially the shaft drive models! Basically 0 maintenance lol
Bought a 2003 Shadow Ace 750 about 2 weeks ago as my first bike. Really fun bike and easy to learn for a beginner, I couldn't be happier.
I like the fact how much you can learn about kitchen stuff when you watch Daily Rider and the Shop Manual. I think Zack found the perfect descriptor of kitchen appliance equivalent for the Shadow.
This bike is OK. I looked at the 2023 model when I was shopping and I really liked it.
But I ended up buying a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT. Bigger gas tank, more power and torque. Stock saddle bags, heel toe shifter, pillion seat and backrest, and a large shield as well. Just a bit bigger bike over all. All for the same price.
PS: And I get a pretty good lean out of mine, with high footboards, (not pegs) and over 5 inches of ground clearance.
Honda changed a lot with this model year. Mirrors, single passenger seat, rear disc brakes and paint combos. Previous phantoms were mostly blacked out with some grey accents. Making some improvements but most Honda cruiser riders would prefer changes like bigger displacement, gear indicator/ tachometer, one more gear in the trans and cruise control
Honda used to have a few bigger displacement bikes. There even used to be a Shadow 1100. They dropped all their bigger bikes, with the exception of the Fury. That was a mistake. Should've kept the VTX line or worked on the Shadow line... instead they chose to keep making the chopper styled Fury, which has never sold well.
I digress. I agreed Honda should've made some changes other than just cosmetic. One glaring thing I see, that they should have absolutely done, is advance the timing by 4 degrees. That's been a mod that Shadow 750 owners have been doing since the 90's for a significant power boost with no harm done. They could have even changed the pistons out for a slight compression increase. They sit a 9.6:1 which is very low by today's liquid cooled standards. 10:1 or even 10.3:1 would be more ideal, and again, would result in a huge power output increase. With 4 degrees advanced timing and 10.3:1 compression, these 750's could be making 65hp instead of the 45 they make. Honda had a golden opportunity to do that with this refresh of the bike.
gear indicators are the most useless fidget ever
I was coming back from work this afternoon on my Street Triple hunkered down out of the wind blast with full waterproofs on and accelerated hard onto the off ramp only to look up and notice stationary traffic. Thank heavens for ABS is all I'm going to say...
My coworker and I rode from OC to Seattle and back along the coast mostly a while back and my coworker had the shadow phantom while I was on a gs500f. Both bikes worked ok for touring but the shadow actually got a little better MPG. The shadow averaged around 56 mpg while my gs500 averaged around 52 mpg.
I'm a simple man, I see a new Daily Rider video I upvote.
So brave of you Zack, providing much-needed representation for the elderly.
😂
Awwwww 😢
What?! You’ll have to speak up sunny, old bikers don’t hear us good as they used to
I’m a little old but still working and active and I have had a lot of motorcycles and been a lot of places and fixed a lot of broken crap and still am riding (not one of these but I would happily own one) and wanting motorcycles. I just want to say that, looking back, my favorites have not been the most sophisticated or fastest or most adventure butch bikes that I have lusted over, bought, brought to heel and then thought, well, nah. The favorites by objective experimental observation have turned out to have been 50-75 (+/-) horsepower standard style bikes. This is not senility, it is perspective. And this is a great and not at all boring motorcycle. Little g (it *not a GREAT motorcycle). But definitely great. Boring depends on where you are and why you are there. This bike would be potentially excellent for almost any noncompetitive on-road adventure or commute or coffee shop. IMO, etc etc. Everybody gets to have an opinion as long as they ride motorcycles. Otherwise, no.
40 elderly, I'm 60, and NOT elderly! Though a Fireblade does hurt my back😅
This one my first purchase in 2022. Very approachable as a first motorcycle. I used it for work commuting, and it had plenty of power to get me from work and home and back. Plus there are a bunch of aftermarket parts which was good to know. The 2024 model with ABS is the one thing I wish had. But I always will recommend the Shadow. Side note, 2023 I then purchased a HD Fatboy and the feeling between the two bikes felt very similar....I picked it up really quick.
You ever scared that it gets stolen while you're at work? Or is that a non factor to you?
@@x1LuCkySob Thankful that it is a none factor for me. 100% recognize that not everyone can do that but where I am, I have had no issues.
This is a very good first bike. There are many used ones on the market for great prices. Get one and you will not be disappointed.
Came for the bike; didn't expect to get a few minutes of poetry on the meditative qualities of motorcycling.
Thanks for being all of us Zack. The purity and joy you express is such a gift.
I loved my 1998 750 honda shadow ace got 100000 miles on it before she gave up .
The leader board is very much subjective... around my area, that Shadow would beat every single bike on there because of the ease of riding, cruiser biased roads, and just relaxed fun. The Shadow has been a gold standard of cruisers for a long time because of its looks, reliability, and pedigree. It's been around for 40 years for a reason. I understand everyone has their own taste in bikes, but the Shadow has never been a bike I looked at and said, "not my cup of tea." I've always loved and respected the Shadow because they're so reliable, approachable, and cost efficient in comparison to what they are designed to compete with. Yet another great video, be safe and have fun.
I've got a 2009 Shadow Aero and it is basic; rear drum brake, carburated, very simple gauge, and so on, but it's dead simple to ride and never gives me an ounce of trouble. I could spend more on the "corn-fed" H-D, but is it worth the higher cost when all I want out of a cruiser is to cruise? Thanks for covering the Shadow, Zach. You gave it a fair shake.
Reality is you can get 1200 Sportsters to someone's beloved tourer for under $5k used today and they will hold value unless you try to sell it when snow is on the ground. Money only comes into to play when you have to buy new. Most Shadow 750s sell for $2-3k up in the NE. I love all bikes and my next will hopefully be a 70s CL175 that I could mount to a RV bumper.
You can't go wrong with a Shadow.
@@jonh901271 unless you are doing long distance highway touring...which this will due but there are much better options for the same or less money
@@RImotorcycles The Shadow will last twice as long as a Hardly Capable and never break down! 😂
@@anthonysilvestri4946 It will last longer because most Shadows never see 30k miles and you would never rebuild one anyway. Different tools for different jobs. There is a reason almost no one does serious miles on a 750 Shadow. I've owned imports and HDs and they all have their place. It's not like it's the 70s anymore even though you can rebuild a Shovel or Evo indefinitely.
I bought a 2015 Shadow Aero as my first bike 2 years ago. Still own it, and love it, really couldn't have asked for a better first bike, and can back up everything Zack said in the vid.
I have a 2008 Spirit C2 as my first bike and I fully agree with you! A blast of a motorcycle!
I bought the same bike a couple years ago. I live in an area that has about five months of riding weather. Still, I have put twice as many miles on the bike as I have on my car.
Thank you for review! I did get this bike last month and I really like it! Negative is It's a little vibrate and wobbly. Positive is for cruising around it feels comfy! I mostly like it is light to roll back and forth out of garage and cruise on short adventures. I rode from Chicago to Michigan on the highway a few times and my booty not uncomfortable. It's good on the highway even in 5th gear at 90mph I feel the engine not stressed just not powerful to go faster. I wish the bars were more back for comfort, a nice feature of new shadow phantom this year is the bars can be changed!!
I was impressed you noticed many small details about the riding experience like the handlebars leaning over, wobble on turns when hitting bumps, and that it could be considered too much vibration!
It's a Honda davidson.
LOL that's what I call my shadow
Had an older 1100 that was not well loved in it's earlier years, subsequently I could never get it running quite right. I abandoned it at the dealership for a low mileage VTX 1800. Absolutely loved that bike.
My first bike was a 2016 Honda Shadow Aero in red with a windshield. I currently have a '23 XSR900 but I still miss the Shadow quite a bit. Lovely review that brought back memories
I bought my Shadow new in 2012,and it still looks and goes just like new.
I bought my Shadow brand new 20 years ago and still ride it all the time. I must say it was aptly named because it is really hard to throw shade at a shadow.
This was my first cruiser coming from sport bikes and I liked it. I liked that it was easy and low maintenance. No chain to keep clean or belt to worry about breaking. Even though that's rare.
But ultimately it just wasn't powerful enough to keep up with everyone on cross country trips. I upgraded to the Fury after that and it was better. Even though it ruined aesthetics of it, a small windshield, a mustang seat, and removable saddle bags made it WAY more bearable for week long road trips.
I also sent the ECU in to get it tuned and it ran way better. He richened up the fuel map and advanced the timing a bit to help with aftermarket intake & exhaust, that really woke the bike up. It was like a 15HP increase, which is a lot.
Your videos are fantastic. Great work!
Took motorcycle safety class and rode my first cruiser during it and it was a phantom.loved it and made me get a Yamaha bolt instead of a r6 or naked bike
Just bought this bike last month, went from a grom to this and so enjoy it!
😂😂😂😂The peg dragging at the end is hilarious!!!
Awesome as usual Zack. Thank you for touching on the imperative of combined braking and the "taking the time to smell the flowers" aspect of a cruiser. I own a 5th Gen VFR (sorry Spurg. Not Yellow.) but when I go Sunday riding with the wife I take the cruiser (V-Star 1100) every time!
Owned 3 600 Shadows and 2 1100s and loved them all. If we still had the Shadows in the UK, I would be interested.
My first bike this year was a 2022 Honda Shadow and I love it. It's a really great, simple bike.
Honda most definitely has copy the Street Bob which is not a bad thing, it dose look pretty damn good and i'm loving that Honda still offers a proper V-Twin engine. To bad they are not selling it here in Sweden.
I am not a cruiser guy. Since 1980 I have been riding lightweight naked bikes, dual purpose bikes, and sports bikes. And loving them!
But my wife got tired of riding long distances on the back with her legs cramped up and her knees hurting.
So I bought a metric cruiser.
I don’t love it, but I have learned to appreciate it. As I get older the ability to stretch out my legs becomes more important. The geometry of the bike forces me to slow down and appreciate my surroundings. The stability makes highway riding less tiring. And, most importantly, my wife loves it.
None of those things are considerations for reviewers, but they still matter for a lot of riders.
So if I wasn’t retired would I commute on my metric cruiser? No. The 50,000 miles on my old commuter Suzuki Tu250x, which is nimble, easy to maintain, gets 80 mpg, and can handle dirt back roads when the highways are jammed, was my ultimate commuter, and is still my first choice when I want to go out and play.
Everyone,
Remember one thing. Almost all reviewers review cruisers through the lens of a sport bike bias. What isn't great to a sport bike rider may be great to a cruiser rider. I always take with a big grain of salt any criticisms or faint praise leveled a cruiser by a sport bike reviewer.
Used Shadows are certainly an amazing value but keep in mind which model years employ important upgrades - shaft drive is much better than chain, fuel injection is a must have (FI came along in 2010) and the rear disc brake is also a great addition👍
Got a 2010 Rs. My neighbors are Harley guys, and tried their hardest to get me on one. Just wasn't in my budget, all the decent Harleys were 6-8k and all the shadows were 2-4k.
@@MrMuertoloco the RS has the mid controls, right? Much more sporty 👍
@@anthonysilvestri4946 mids and chain drive. It has EFI but from what I can tell its basically an electronic carburetor. There's no O2 sensor for feed back and the efi controller I bought has adjustments similar to a carburetor, I have an idle adjustment, an adjustment that effects AFR when you twist the throttle and a WOT adjustment.
I got an 86 vt1100c and it's pretty much stock except for the dual straight side pipes that where there when I got it. It's an absolute time capsule. Buckhorn bars, speedometer, and tachometer dials on the handle bars, big square very 80s looking warning lights (look up a dash pic on Google), 2 step seat with factory sissy bar (also a glove box with tool kit), horns mounted on the forks right out on the front and the list goes on... 31k miles and going up. I'll have a hard time selling it off
@@cyberrednec Sounds like an awesome bike and a real lucky find 👍
You're really good at answering the "if it was an x, which one would it be" question.
Thanks for answering my question! And kudos for the pronunciation of my last name “Naranjo” which means orange tree in Spanish
Used to ride dirt bikes as a kid, I always loved the Shadow and wanted something for the road, now I'm in a place in life that I could finally get one and check that dream off the list. As someone on the shorter side, the low height and pegs fit me like a glove, amazing first bike and I can't wait to get some more miles under the belt and cruise some beautiful mountain highway scenery in the coming months.
had mine for about a week and i already have 500 miles so far and i am loving it!
I had a 2011 Aero 750 and I really enjoyed it. It was such a well put together bike - shaft drive, EFI, mine had a windscreen and heated grips.
I did struggle a bit with the brakes and the suspension, as it felt underbraked with a rear drum and the roads where I live didn’t give me a great time with the suspension. (NZ roads are a bit of mess)
Touching down the pegs here and there was just something to get used to. I think Zac showed this well.
I did want a Tacho/Speedo on the bars, but I’m sure I could have done it, if I kept it.
The engine is magic with its OHC, 3 valve head, seems to rev surprisingly freely. Sounds amazing as a stock exhausts too
Thoroughly enjoyable ownership experience and very easy bike to ride, so reliable and simple to upkeep too.
I’d never discourage anyone from a Shadow. It is a special bike for all the right reasons and has 40 years of pedigree for all the right reasons.
I once saw the best description for a Shadow 750 for sale - condition: VERY COOL. I totally agree.
I had a Shadow 125, a werid little bike, same size engine and frame as it's bigger 750cc brother, but 13hp and 12,500rpm screaming.
Was a fun, albeit slow first "proper" bike, and since then I have moved over to the naked segment, although it was a good experience.
@@peteleivo2247 I actually still have a 250 single for this reason. Feels fun to wail on it.
Bought this bike a month ago - my first bike. I love it!
I been considering this for my next bike... hype for the video!
I ended up getting a used 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 with 48 miles...... couldn't afford the dealer tax on a new shadow....
if youre wondering the answer to who has aged better, its you Zack. friggin stud.
@Teamzilla when are you reviewing the HD nightster?
Thanks for the review. Your review really helped me decide on a good way to get back into riding. This is my first bike since I was 20 years old and I'm 48 now. Made the purchase yesterday and I'm gonna pick it up today. Super stoked about it.
wish this was for sale in the uk!
Zack just casually locking the front tire at 18:20, sometimes I remember just what a great rider he is
What"s his background? He surely knows what he is doing, and has a fun approach. I like him
I like the way you talk Dude it sounds like you’re enjoying your ride .
Zac, I had a V65 Sabre (wife had a V65 Magna). I was in a “gang” (a gang of engineers) called SABMAG. We were shocked and disappointed when Honda went with the two cylinder engine for the Shadow, which was meant in part to be a substitute for the Magna. That V-4 was an amazing engine and am still amazed that Honda let it die. So sad. Sad is also what we called the Shadow.
Since we have the Rebel a honda magna shadow sounds pretty good right now.
My first bike was a 96 Magna 750. That V4 is something special
I had a V45 sabre. Best engine there is.
Looks pretty good. I just wish it wasn't so low and had at least another half inch of suspension travel.
Zack face in this screen shot represents my feeling towards most of Hondas cheap but still expensive line up.
I love these reviews because it just shows there’s no good and bad a lot of times with bikes. It’s just down to personal preference
Too many compromises for me to consider it for my needs. Love to see @Zach test the Honda Fury...
Would a Honda Fury better fit your needs?
@@MotoDash1100 The Fury is the opposite of the Shadow in a number of ways, so it would be fun to see a Daily Ride on it. It says "Look at ME!" and "I'm not practical at all!"
The shadow phantom looks so good. My coworker told me to get one as my first motorcycle and after seeing the 2024 model, I might get one. Definitely a toss up between phantom and rebel 1100. It’ll be my second motorcycle as I already have one motorcycle.
Happy 40th Zach. Keep making these videos. They're top notch
Zach as usual I love the video, good commentary and quality content as usual. And wile I feel you were fair and unbiased, it is obvious you are not a cruiser guy. That's not a bad thing! I just think you need more exposure. Maybe you and Ari should do a CTXP episode participating in something like the Motorcycle Cannonball? That would be a challenge! You would just have to find someone to loan you a bike over 90 years old.
I got an 07 Spirit last year, the shaft drive 750. It looks like a lot of design elements remain in the newer Shadows. All I could ask for an upgrade, is one day to trade up to a model like this Phantom. Looks like they made some good improvements along with the style changes. Overall, why change too much on what is a proven platform. Thanks for the review!
I put 25,000 miles on my 2022 Shadow Aero in the first year. No trouble, have Vance Hines Short Shot exhaust and DynoJet custom tune
was the dynojet needed because of the shorts?
@@johnbelculf5441 I felt like it lost a bit of top end after the short shots. Passing on the highway above 70mph was sluggish. Also, I was a bit nervous about burning a valve. People put them on all the time and never tune for it though. Tuning it was great! It is so fun to ride, cruises 85mph all day long.
That is a lot of riding man!
Watch it with the "40 years of aging", do I look good, or, does the Shadow? I turn 59 in November, and, I got into riding 30 years ago! It's helped me to stay young at heart! Doug🏍️🎉🧸🐻👍
Zach , love your channel .What do you think of adding another category to the daily rider board , and classic ? The bike you ride that puts a smile on your face , has the “in the middle feel “ …not quite pedestrian commuter , something that has an edge but is also not bad to just take a for a 2-4 hr Sunday morning ride ? But if you know there is a nice bunch of curves coming you will enjoy choosing the right lines …
It's not a "flying squirrel" seating position... it the "freedom eagle" seating position.
2019 shadow phantom was my first bike ❤️
The Honda shadow is the best cruiser that Honda made hands down. Plenty of power, not too over powering like a VTX 1300 or 1800. The shadow is actually the most perfect cruiser all around, it is light enough for beginners to learn how to ride, and it has the perfect midrange power. I used to have a Honda shadow, I still kick my self in the behind for selling it. I have ridden Harleys and I wasn't impressed, the Honda shadow impressed the hell outta me.
Happy 40th birthday Zack🎉. I feel that the daily Rider board is very subjective. where I can see This motorcycle shine over the triumph, Number one, reliability, and number two the lack of a Display up front. Imagine winter time and being able to put a nice big windshield on this bike.
I see what you're saying
But an adv will always be a better package as an all rounder than anything else
A naked woul be second
Considering an Honda Aero! Would love a video on it.
Also I would like to see some more benelli's. Maybe start with the TNT 135 on dailyRider. If you would like to see that as well. Please feel free to give this comment a thumbs up.
With every one of these excellent videos, I am convinced that Zack has the best job in the world.
I had 1986 VT700 for a year or so, it was my second motorcycle, and I absolutely loved it!
My first street bike was a 2002 Honda Shadow 750 ACE Deluxe. Absolutely loved that bike and it was quite a looker with the metallic silver paint and plum pinstripes. EFI, great fuel mileage, etc. Never once gave me any issues and was reliable as could be. Only issue I had with it is I wish it had an extra gear because on the freeway I always found myself wanting to shift up around 70mph when you could feel it losing steam and power delivery was dropping off. Looks like on the new Shadows they have shaft (mine still had chain) and it has that extra gear I wish mine had. This current 2024 bike in the video would be a perfect bike to own for all around riding
I bought a 2004 shadow and love it slow heavy in tight turns but it taught me how to really enjoy the ride take it easy enjoy the exhaust note I end up smiling a lot of the time just cruising around
The look on Zack's face in the thumbnail says it all, lol.
This was a fair shake and a well done review. The problems that were illustrated in this vid are pretty wide across-the-board cruiser problems. 5 speed trans with no indicator, simple dash w/ no tach (it's 2023, no really no fuel gauge?) minimal ground clearance with minimal suspension travel.
That said, if your commute was an hour of highway, this would be a great bike. I could see a CRF300L, XR650L or even a Ruckus being a better city commuter.
Happy birthday and thanks for your great character❤
My dad traded in his CB600 somewhere around '89 -'91 for a Shadow. It was definitely an interesting change for me as a kid riding on the back of it, That has always put the Shadow into a sort of soft spot for me. I sat one the phantom at a dealership a couple weeks ago and decided that it probably wasn't for me. I don't know if I will end up on a Rebel 1100, but for me the Rebel was significantly more comfortable to sit on.
I had the opposite experience. The shadow was more comfortable seat wise to me. I ended up getting a rebel anyway
I had a Honda Shadow and I tell you what - they make bikes that work. Mine was very close to passing 100,000 miles when I sold it. I think mine was a 1997 model and I see... after all those years the engine looks the same. Hell, basically everything looks the same except - yeah - the rear disc brake. It all works well. I did hate those plastic covers on the engine. You probably don't notice them in the video (unless I've skipped Zack pointing them out). I was working on the bike quite a bit - just long-term parts wear, no actual failures, so I was taking them off and putting them on often. Sometimes I'd just ride the bike for a while without them on
Thanks for another great review Zack. Time to do the next 40 years with coffee added. Keep the rsd
Happy 40! It’s not that bad - but mid-40s? Watch out - that shit sneaks up on you and random things start hurting all over.
Love my 2018 Shadow Phantom! Has high risers… love the sound it makes going up hills!
Now that Harley dumped the traditional Sportster one would think Honda could sell a bunch of these but it will need a bigger motor, say an 1100 or 1200cc.
Looks like Honda does it again, a nice affordable cruiser. Good review 👍
Definitely captured the vibe of shadow phantoms. Well done!
My #1 suggestion for new riders for a firs bike is a 1980's Shadow 500. I could list amillion reasons (ok, likely only a dozen) but the fact you will not "grow out of it" in a year while still having all the advantages the venerable Rebel 250 has with NO CHAIN todeal with is huge. Once you sort the carbs it is just 3500 mile oil changes and check the gear lube once a year. Exception can be made for the R/R and Stator. Buy it for $1500, ride it for three years, sell it for $1500.
Currently have an 07 shadow aero that i bought for $1900. Eventually going to trade in for a sport bike but this is definitely a solid all around bike that will never let you down
zack iv never even thought of the shadow before,, im tall and thought id look silly on it, but if you fit then maybe worth thinking about, but for now il stick to my triumph tiger
Killing it at 40 man, you got more pep in your step than most 20 year olds!