The origin of the Honda Shadow can be traced back to the 1980s, with the 750 making an entrance only after the 700-cc import restriction was lifted by the US government. Before that, the 750VT had a trimmed-down 700cc V-twin motor, and once the 750 was allowed for import, it was renamed to Honda Shadow.
Other engine displacements of the Shadow soon followed suit with 125, 500, and 600 offerings coming in as younger siblings and a 1,100-cc elder also made available later. But it was the 750cc mid-sized Honda offering that made a lasting mark as a perfect cruiser motorcycle.
The size, the ease of handling, the price, and much more go into making the Honda Shadow 750 one of the best motorcycles out there, especially for someone who has just opened up to the magical world of motorcycling. Another reason for the Shadow 750 being so lovable is the plethora of accessories to suit every style and preference.
All the good bits make this Honda one of the most affordable cruiser motorcycles sugar-coated with Japanese superiority. The OG Honda Shadow 750 was offered from 2004 to 2007 and was aimed directed at the popular Harley-Davidson Iron 883. Currently, Honda has evolved the Shadow 750 into the 2022 Shadow Phantom and Shadow Aero which have fresher skins on experienced underpinnings.
Updated July 2022: We have updated this article with the latest pricing of a new as well as used Honda Shadow 750 so that things get easier for you to hop on this gem of a machine, and enjoy this motorcycle to the fullest.
The Honda Shadow 750 was aimed at being an affordable alternative to the Harley-Davidson Iron 883 to take on the American cruiser culture, but it ended up being a lot more.
Honda Shadow 750 Makes For A Great Beginner Motorcycle
The perfect first bike is a hard thing to find, mostly because for an inexperienced rider, choosing the right bike becomes a holy grail, complicated because of the many, many options out there. What do you go with? A sport, cruiser, or a café racer?
Does the bike have too little power, or too much? The thing about buying your first motorcycle is that you as a newbie should easily be able to connect with it. And do not go by the “lightweight” and “middleweight” descriptions of a motorcycle, even lightweight motorcycles are still a handful. The Honda Shadow 750 ticks all the boxes of being the perfect beginner machine.
The Shadow 750 Is Surprisingly Nimble For A Laid-Back Cruiser
The good thing about the Honda Shadow 750 is that it is still light enough for even a new rider to manage easily and what helps, even more, is that low center of gravity, which makes it very well-balanced for anyone who hasn't handled a bike all that much.
The wheelbase of the Shadow is perfect for maneuvering as well because it’s a cruiser. So it's not awkwardly unwieldy like choppers are and neither does it need split-second timing as you do in dirt bikes. Much like Goldilocks and the three bears, this bike is just perfect!
Experienced Riders Will Also Love The Shadow 750's Power, Comfort, And Styling
The Honda Shadow 750 is no great shakes when it comes to power, making 45 horses that may sound very low but are enough to make this motorcycle a zippy drive and keep it faster than most of the traffic around. Remember that this is a cruiser, so there will be no excessive bursts of power or widow-making rides on it.
For an experienced rider, the Honda Shadow 750 would fit in perfectly as well. In case more thrills are needed, Honda also introduced later variants of the Shadow 750 like the Aero, Phantom, Sabre, and the Spirit for better power. The 750 V-Twin makes decent power and while its idling sound isn’t something to crow about, rev it, and it can be heard a distance away, with an engine thump that could make Harley-Davidson riders turn around for a better look.
Many would prefer it over a Harley. The low seat height makes it a perfect beginner’s bike but also adds a lot of comfort for any experienced rider planning to spend a lot of time on it on long rides because even for someone below average height, flat-footing is a breeze. Plus, the riding position is akin to sitting in a comfortable lounge chair, with the music of the engine and breeze blowing past you.
Honda Shadow 750s Are Affordable And Start From As Low As $2,000
A 2022 Honda Shadow Phantom starts with an MSRP of $7,899 which is on the lower side for any cruiser. This makes the Honda Shadow an affordable cruiser in the market, along with being a good one. A used one can go as low as $1,000 and since this is Honda, which relies on its reliability rating as its bread and butter, used motorcycles will run pretty well and not give you many maintenance issues.
Do note that Honda along with NHTSA issued a recall for the Shadow 750 for the 2010-2016 models of the VT750C/CA/CS, VT750C2/ C2F/C2S, and VT750C2B because of engine vibrations. If these are the models you are looking at in the used market, make sure that the issues were fixed by Honda and are mentioned in the paperwork.
The pillion seat on the Honda Shadow is pretty comfortable as well and while we’d advise a new rider not to take on a passenger, the seating supports a two-rider set up easily. Plus the motorcycle comes with saddlebags, making it as convenient a motorcycle as it's good to look at, comfortable to ride, and utter perfection in a cruiser for beginners as well as experienced riders.
Sources: Honda, NHTSA