Honda VT750 Shadow Review

Overall Rating

*****


REVIEW UPDATE

Well here we are March 12, 2009 and the VT750 Honda Shadow is still running as good as ever! I wrote my first review after owning the Shadow Aero for just one year, now its 4 years old going on to 5 year very soon, and I have clocked onto the Shadow some 60,000 Km's. ( about 38,000 miles ).

REPAIRS TO DATE: None really only a new set of tires one set of front brake pads tune ups 3 sets of head light bulbs .valve adjustments spark plugs new air filter oil and lube and filters all the normal stuff you have to do. Break downs or any other problems ZERO!

If you think this bike is some city use bike, your dead wrong! Have been to Alberta and back 3 times on it, up north not to far away from crossing over into the north west territories and Yukon and so on. Have taken this street bike off roading and just like as if it was a dirty bike a very big and heavy dirty bike mind you. However it handled it very well and even went to the top of a mountain, to a lake where a number of dirt bikers were up there to watch them picking there jaws up out of the dirt as I pulled in with the shadow. One of them even commented to me what you make it all the way up here on .that..? PLEASE keep in mind that I have 30+ years of riding experience under my belt, and know my limits as well as the bike and what I can expect it to do and will NOT do! Don't push you limits ( AKA you luck ) it could turn around and bite you big time!

The Honda Shadow Aero has a low C of G ( center of gravity ) that makes this bike a joy to ride and is very forgiving of mistakes that would dump most any other bike right on its side in very short order. This makes it a very good bike for someone that does not have all that much riding experience. It is by NO means a bike for beginner ! Make no mistake about that! It is however a good bike for someone that wants to get into a bigger bike and would like to take some long haul trips.

I have found from my experience with the VT750 Shadow Aero that the best all around performance in the way of comfort and handling as well as getting the most Km's to a tank of gas all happens at a speeds ranging from 70 to 100 Km/h ( about 40 to 60 MPH ).
Best mileage per tank seems to take place at between 80 to 100 Km/H ( 50~60 MPH ).

Oil I use AMSOIL 10W40, but if I am going in land and know that I will be riding a lot in high temps of 28C and up, then I tend to favor Amsoil 20W50. With this oil I have found the gear box shifts smoother and the clutch likes it, making it smooth without grabbing as it does with other oils I have tried. Next best to Amsoil I would have to say is Chevron DELO 15W40. This oil is good in that it has higher levels of detergents then standard oils. This helps clean the engine, and keep it clean inside more so then other oils. Amsoil also seems to have higher levels of detergents then everyday run of the mill oils, not all the sure on that. But the engine seems to love the Amsoil the best and stays clean longer, not the oil but the engine inside stays cleaner.


P.S. Future plans with luck this year. Is to replace the VT750 with the Honda GoldWing GL1800. I am finding that my riding is now going more into serious long haul touring, and after taking a test ride on a GL1800 GoldWing well I did not want to take it back to the dealership. You could say I am just a little impressed and know what my next move will be. What is going to become of my VT750 ? Not sure might keep it as a fun bike for easy riding and for bombing around on in the city or shorter trips and so on. The truth is I will have a very hard time giving up my shadow as I have spent much time on it, and gone to many places and I have very fond memories with it and I can not seem to bring myself to getting rid of it. But if I do get rid of it it will be to someone that will look after it and care for it as I have. It still looks like new it looks like it just rolled off the show room floor to this very day, and ride like it too!

P.S.S When I get the GoldWing of my dreams I will do a write up on it as well once I get to know it some like in 10,000Km's or so which should be in like 6 months or so LOL.