Two-wheeled America: the experience of owning a Honda Shadow Phantom

Honda Shadow 750 Cruiser Series

begins its history in 1983 and the appearance of the
Honda NV750 Custom
, which was available in the markets of North America and Japan.
In 1986, the motorcycle changed its name to Shadow 750
, being updated technically and visually. The model of that time was quite heavily boosted (which is typical for all Japanese cruisers of those years), producing up to 66 hp. power. These versions are present at Japanese auctions, but due to their age, there are not many of them.

In 1997, the first version with the name Honda VT750 Shadow

in the American Classic Edition (ACE) modification, which began the rapid growth of the model’s popularity. The modification featured classic American features with deep fenders, wide spoked wheels and chain drive. At the same time, an internal Japanese modification was released - the Honda Shadow 400.

In 2000, the Shadow 750 line was replenished with a new modification - Honda VT750DC Shadow Spirit

.
In Japan it was sold under the name Slasher
, and in Europe -
Black Widow
. The model featured short fenders, a thin 19′ front wheel and a smaller fuel tank (13 liters instead of 14 liters in the ACE). Otherwise, the motorcycle was equipped with the same engine, chain drive and two carburetors.

In 2003, the Honda VT750C Shadow ACE modification finally left the market, giving way to the new Honda VT750C Aero

. The new model received many technical changes regarding ergonomics, overall dimensions, front suspension, engine, intake system (using one carburetor instead of two) and drive (instead of a chain, the model received a cardan and changed gearbox ratios).

In 2007, the Honda VT750DC Shadow Spirit (Slasher, Black Widow) modification left the market, giving way to the new Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit

. The model visually resembles the previous modification, but is equipped with a 21′ front wheel, electronic fuel injection (since 2008, 1 carburetor in 2007), cardan drive and a 14-liter tank. The Aero modification gets an injector.

In 2009, another modification appeared - Honda VT750C2B Phantom

.
In some countries it was sold under the name Black Spirit
. Despite the similarity of the name with the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit, the Phantom modification is not related to it, but is a version of the Aero in black, straight handlebars and short fenders. The Aero modification includes versions with ABS.

In 2010, another modification was introduced - Honda VT750RS Shadow

.
In the Japanese market it was sold as the Honda VT750S
. Visually reminiscent of the classic Honda VRX400. The Shadow 750 differs from the entire line in its shortened wheelbase, increased seat height, increased ground clearance, practically the lowest curb weight (second only to the NV750 Custom), a 10-liter fuel tank and a chain drive.

In 2013, the RS modification leaves the market, and the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit receives a version with ABS (designated VT750C2S). 2015 was the last year of production of the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit modification.

Currently, only the Aero and Phantom versions are present in the production line.

The main competitors of the Honda Shadow 750 in the class:

• Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan / Kawasaki VN 800 / Kawasaki VN 900
• Suzuki Boulevard C50 / Suzuki VZ 800 Marauder (Desperado) / Suzuki VS750 Intruder
• Yamaha XV 750 Virago / Yamaha XVS 650 Drag Star

Brief history of the model

• 1983 - start of production and sales of the Honda NV750 Custom model.

Model

: Honda NV750 Custom (Japan, North America).
Frame number
: RC14-XXXXXXXX.

• 1986 - The Honda NV750 Custom model is updated and changes its name to the Honda Shadow 750.

Model

: Honda NV750 Shadow (Japan).
Frame number
: RC25-XXXXXXX.

• 1997 - appearance of the Honda VT750C Shadow ACE modification

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 ACE (Japan, Europe, North America).
Factory designation
: VT750CV, VT750C2V.

• 1998 - no significant changes. The appearance of the Honda Shadow 750 ACE Deluxe version.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 ACE;
Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe (Japan, Europe, North America). Factory designation
: VT750CW, VT750C2W; VT750CD.

• 1999 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 ACE;
Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe (Japan, Europe, North America). Factory designation
: VT750CX, VT750C2X; VT750CD.

• 2000 - the Honda Shadow 750 ACE modification receives different suspension settings, a seat height lowered by 2 cm and wiring for installing an immobilizer (purchased separately). Japanese versions receive an exhaust afterburning system that meets new internal toxicity standards. The appearance of the Slasher modification.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 ACE;
Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe; Honda Shadow 750 Slasher (Japan, Europe, North America). Frame
: RC44-XXXXXXX (ACE, Deluxe);
RC48-XXXXXXX (Slasher) Factory designation
: VT750CY, VT750C2Y, VT750C3Y; VT750CD.

• 2001 - Spirit (Black Widow) version available in foreign markets.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 ACE;
Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe; Honda Shadow 750 Slasher (Black Widow, Spirit) (Japan, Europe, North America). Frame
: RC48-XXXXXXX (Black Widow, Slasher), RC44- (Spirit).
Factory designation
: VT750C21, VT750C31, VT750C1; VT750CD, VT750CD2, VT750CD31; VT750DC1, VT750DC.

• 2002 - no significant changes. The ACE version is no longer offered (ACE Deluxe is still available).

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe;
Honda Shadow 750 Slasher (Black Widow, Spirit) (Japan, Europe, North America). Factory designation
: VT750CDA, VT750CDB, VT750CDC, VT750CDD; VT750DC, VT750DC2.

• 2003 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Deluxe;
Honda Shadow 750 Slasher (Spirit) (Japan, North America). Factory designation
: VT750CDA, VT750CDB, VT750CDC, VT750CDD; VT750DCA, VT750DCB.

• 2004 - The ACE Deluxe modification is no longer offered, replaced by the Aero version.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750;
Honda Shadow 750 Aero (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Frame
: RC50-XXXXXXX.
Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750C4.

• 2005 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750C5; VT750DCA, VT750DCB.

• 2006 - Honda Shadow 750 series models receive a HISS immobilizer.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750C6; VT750DCA, VT750DCB.

• 2007 - appearance of the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit modification.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750C7; VT750C2, VT750C2F, VT750DCA, VT750DCB.

• 2008 - The Honda VT750DC Shadow Spirit modification is no longer offered. The new modification of the Honda VT750C2 Shadow Spirit receives an injector. The Aero modification receives an injector, a catalyst, dual independent exhaust (instead of 2-in-1) and a front brake disc located on the right side (instead of the left, to improve weight distribution).

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750CA8, VT750C8; VT750C28, VT750C2F.

• 2009 - appearance of the Honda VT750C2B Phantom modification. The Aero version gets a modification with ABS (with rear disc brake).

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit, Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Frame
: RC53-XXXXXXX (Phantom);
RC56- (Aero ABS). Factory designation
: VT750C9, VT750CA9, VT750CA, VT750C; VT750C29, VT750C2F9, VT750C2, VT750C2F.

• 2010 - appearance of the Honda VT750RS Shadow RS modification. In Japan - VT750S.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black);
Honda Shadow 750 RS (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Frame
: RC58-XXXXXXX (RS).
Factory designation
: VT750C2B; VT750RS, VT750S (Japan).

• 2011 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750, Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black); Honda Shadow 750 RS (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C; VT750C2B; VT750RS, VT750S (Japan).

• 2012 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit; Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black); Honda Shadow 750 RS (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750CA; VT750C2, VT750C2F; VT750C2B; VT750RS.

• 2013 - no significant changes. The Spirit version receives a modification with ABS (VT750C2S).

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit; Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black); Honda Shadow 750 RS (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750CA, VT750CS; VT750C2, VT750C2F, VT750C2S (ABS); VT750C2B; VT750RS.

• 2014 - RS modification is no longer offered.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit; Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black) (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750C, VT750CA, VT750CS; VT750C2, VT750C2F, VT750C2S (ABS); VT750C2B.

• 2015 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Spirit; Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (Spirit Black) (Japan, Europe, Australia, North America). Factory designation
: VT750CF + VT750CSF (C-ABS); VT750C2BF

• 2016 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (North America). Factory designation
: VT750CG + VT750CSG (C-ABS); VT750C2BG

• 2017 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (North America). Factory designation
: VT750CH + VT750CSH (C-ABS); VT750C2BH

• 2018 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (North America). Factory designation
: VT750CJ + VT750CSJ (C-ABS); VT750C2BJ

• 2019 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (North America). Factory designation
: VT750CK + VT750CSK (C-ABS); VT750C2BK

• 2020 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda Shadow 750 Aero;
Honda Shadow 750 Phantom (North America). Factory designation
: VT750CL + VT750CSL (C-ABS);
VT750C2BL

Photos

Dimensions and weight

The geometric parameters of the Honda Shadow 750 have changed many times.

Because Shadow 750 is not the only model, but a whole series of modifications, and their external parameters also differ.

• Dry weight started from 211 (in 1983) to 246 (2018) kg.
• Equipped, with fully filled tanks - 225 (1983) to 263 (2018) kg.

And the dimensions also changed;

• The length changed 8 times from 2191 (NV750 Custom) to 2511 (Aero).
• Width - 10 times from 860 (NV750 Custom) to 940 (Aero).
• Height - 10 times from 1199 (NV750 Custom) to 1091 (Aero).
• Seat height - 760 (NV750 Custom) to 660 (Aero).

It is worth noting that Aero was developed in 2003; subsequent models had smaller dimensions. The exception is seat height. All earlier and later developments were larger.

For whom is it intended?

The motorcycle can be comfortable for people of different heights, depending on the modification.

Despite such variations in size, the engineers did not forget about the user.

Both a short Japanese and a giant European could find a model suitable for themselves.

The bike cannot be called universal, since they chose different modifications, but the developers managed to please everyone.

Reviews

Reviews about Honda Shadow 750:

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I have owned this motorcycle for two seasons. I took it as the first spendthrift from Japan at auction. The impressions are the most positive. For a beginner this is what you need. 400 is still a bit weak, but 750 is just right. But in two seasons you “grow out of it.” That’s why I recommend it as a first motorcycle, or for driving around the city, because on the highway after 100 km/h the acceleration dynamics are not the same. Now I want something more powerful. I am pleased with the vaunted reliability of Honda - and it’s true - the moto has never failed. I am glad that there is a lot of tuning for this model - because you always want to put something on it, it’s like a disease :), it is probably inherent in all motorcyclists :) In a word, the bike is very good. It forgives many mistakes for beginners, since it steers well, has a relatively light weight (about 250 kg), low seating, and a wide steering wheel. Well, just for me personally, it’s very beautiful - a lot of chrome, thick wheels (well, I don’t like the thin front wheel, IMHO). In short, I recommend it. In the meantime, I’ll be puzzled about buying a VTX1800. Also a Honda, but much more powerful and for me at the moment more interesting. Have a smooth road and good luck everyone!

This is my first motorcycle, not even the one I own, but the one I actually sat on, not counting temporary “trials” in Minsk and Izh..

I decided to immediately buy something serious, unrelated to Soviet motorcycles and conveniently meeting the requirements of a modern person. I just wanted a chopper, you know, the sport is too unsafe for a beginner, and I don’t want to leave my wife as a widow. The eye was cast in the direction of the great chop chops - Harley, but the price for them does not look attractive. In general, the answer to this decision was found in the bosom of Japanese manufacturers - Honda Shadow VT750CA6 Aero, 2006. The MOT came from an American user with a mileage of 10,000 km, in perfect condition and with all body kits (trunks, bars, backrest, etc.). A battle has been declared against traffic jams! The MOT behaves ideally in traffic jams; read, the handling is excellent, despite its impressive size and decent weight. Gasoline consumes 6-6.5 liters per 100 km. The maximum speed according to the documents is 150, but I didn’t push it more than 120, due to the persistent “grumble” of the engine, well, choppers don’t want to drive fast.

From a standstill, the spendthrift takes all its 45 horses, well, again, the chopper character forces it. The suspension is quite stiff. The brakes are quite adequate in power, especially the front disc ones. At speed the bike turns quite easily. An impressive sound, because of which everyone notices you, helps a lot in driving safety.

My model comes with a cardan drive, which takes some of the worry out of the equation.

The ideal bike for beginners and tall bikers!

I bought Shadov by accident, I was looking for a Motz with a V-twin and all the bells and whistles; type chrome, cardan, chopper landing, cubic capacity about a liter. For myself, I immediately decided on a loaded weight of up to 300. At the beginning of the season, the choice is often limited. There were no intruders at all, the dragstar 1100 had to wait two months, which is doubtful before the season, and the pair of 1100 Shadiks with a cardan were very tired. The fresh motz attracted attention immediately, the apartment was from Germany, where it had traveled a couple of thousand, it was already stuffed in Russia by the second owner. There were doubts about the price tag; 300 rubles for 750 seems like too much, a good one and a half liters cost the same. Everything was decided by the appearance, there is absolutely nothing to complain about, as it should be with a chopper with a 21 front wheel. After the purchase, I never regretted my choice, I can admire my V-twin endlessly...... Well, the injector and immobilizer were rather pleasant additions. By the way, over the past year I have attended several gatherings along the coast, I was unpleasantly surprised at the rarity of choppers, well, they are simply an endangered class. It's nice to see Harleys increasing their population exponentially. Finally I met my relative Shadik 2008 from America. Differences from the European; carburetor, plus 10 horses, almost complete absence of a balance shaft (for an American ass), and an immobilizer. The exhaust is certainly louder.

Model competitors

This Japanese cruiser had two main competitors in its class. This includes the Japanese Yamaha XV 1100 Virago (Yamaha XVS 1100 Drag Star) and the Japanese Kawasaki VN1500 (Vulcan 88, VN-15). The fight was purely Japanese. But it was the Honda that became the main “samurai” in the class, although the struggle for leadership sometimes became serious, if you rely on the sales ratings of these motorcycles in different years of production. There were other competitors, but we named the main ones that made the manufacturer of this motorcycle nervous and worried about leadership in its class.