Tell me more about the Honda Shadow. How is it as a beginner bike?

[Echo.Park.LA.Joshy]

On the other hand for those who think that 750 Shadow drive line can't take 100 mph, virtually any Japanese motorcycle engine can be run easily within 880% of it's redline all day long. That Shadow engine and driveline can easliy tolerate 100 mph continuous. Same engineering went into it as went into all Hondas. Similar drivelines have been used in the various adventure bikes like the TransAlp and Africa twin, and that early 750 Shadow chain drive was a decendent of the Honda VLX600 Shadow AND NT650 Hawk GT, which was roadraced successfully in Battle of the Twins in 1989 or so by and started off the business for Two Brothers racing.

 

[Echo.Park.LA.Joshy]

I do agree with you though and you are right, if I had the money I would definitely get a sports bike, I don't see any reason to buy a Shadow unless you are a beginner or one is given to you like mine was. That being said, the bike still rocks and maybe mine Rocks more because I rebuilt the top end and jetted the carbs and installed performance pistons and what not so mine probably blows a stock Shadow away.

 

[JulesMaximus]

On the other hand for those who think that 750 Shadow drive line can't take 100 mph, virtually any Japanese motorcycle engine can be run easily within 880% of it's redline all day long. That Shadow engine and driveline can easliy tolerate 100 mph continuous. Same engineering went into it as went into all Hondas. Similar drivelines have been used in the various adventure bikes like the TransAlp and Africa twin, and that early 750 Shadow chain drive was a decendent of the Honda VLX600 Shadow AND NT650 Hawk GT, which was roadraced successfully in Battle of the Twins in 1989 or so by and started off the business for Two Brothers racing.

I owned a '79 Honda CB750 with the DOHC 4 cylinder air-cooled engine. That bike was heavy, antiquated and had brakes and a chassis that absolutely suck by modern standards. Still, I happily rode that bike for a couple years and put a few thousand miles on it. I replaced it with the venerable and much more reliable Suzuki SV650. It was far lighter, more powerful, more capable in every way measurable and way more fun to ride fast than that old Honda. Two completely different bikes really. Your Shadow has more in common with my old Honda. The SV has more in common with the modern sportbike.

Speaking of which, I've ridden a number of modern sport bikes and riding them always leaves me with the same feeling. And that is that I don't want one. They just don't work all that well on the street as something you would want to put any serious miles on. At least not if you're over 5'8" tall.

 

[Echo.Park.LA.Joshy]

The Shadow 750 only weighs 506 pounds. Lol, it's not a beast unless your talking about the 1100. Thanks for your comment, my Shadow is pretty light and fast for a cruiser. It's not my first choice but I do love it and it's a great reliable lasting solid bike that will last forever

 

[mindless1]

Maybe someone wrote it already, or maybe not. Take the MSF course, THEN go to some motorcycle dealers and sit on a few, take a few for a test drive. Don't try to idealize too much about what you want instead of getting on a few and going from there. Invest the time and you will find what feels right for you.

A lot of people with good intentions will tell you that you want a light, low power bike to start out with. That's fair, certainly nothing wrong with getting some 250cc to 500cc old Ninja, riding it for a few months, then selling it for about what you paid for it. However, that advice applies best to impulsive teenagers, or those wanting to start out on a liter sport bike. A reasonably mature person can start out on a liter non-sport bike. I just wouldn't make it a valuable one so you don't have much loss if you drop it.

As for danger "at highway speeds", an immature rider might go 150MPH before their skill level is high enough, but anything will do 70MPH highway speeds so that's no reason to pick a bike that is redlining in final gear to do it and gets tossed around in wind.

Test drive some different models and you'll get an idea about how quickly they can get away from your control, and decide from there.

 

[mindless1]

our life is trusted in this motorcycle. Your skills are not honed yet, and just because 50% of people are 'lucky' enough to not wreck their r6 doesn't mean it's for everyone. I personally know at least 4 guys who will spend the rest of their lives in wheelchairs from wrecking their first bike. 2 started on 600cc sportbikes, the other was a literbike, the 4th was a 250 who was t-boned.

Riding a motorcycle is no joke. Any idiot can pick up some gear, MSF, and a 600cc sportbike. It's a very very dangerous combination.

Be patient. Learn to love the ride rather than the power. I've posted about this many many times, but the person who starts on a starter bike and moves up slowly turns out to be a MUCH better and safer rider compared to someone who starts out on a 1000cc+ (even a cruiser......)

We should spit riders into two categories, those that are idiots (or to be more politically correct, those who have no good driving sense or grasp of physics) and those who aren't. Most who buy sport bikes for public roads are idiots, though some just want the look and only exceed the speed limit by 80%.

Then there those who aren't daredevils, and will most likely be in a wreck because of a cager's mistake. It didn't matter much what they were riding except a bright colored and loud bike is more easily noticed, and yet, there is a tendency of many riders to want to go faster than traffic around them which increase the hazard. Granted riding the same speed as traffic you can also get lost to a sleepy or distractred driver's view, but the point is that like anything in life, responsibility opens up a lot more choices than reckless abandon does.

I don't think that the people you know who are in wheelchairs is a fair indication of anything other than that beginner riders have more wrecks no matter what they're on, BUT personalities are predictable. If someone drives their car like they sole it then they'll ride a motorcycle the same way.

I think the emphasis should be more on riding smart, not which bike...

 

[Ns1]

I forgot this was my thread.


I ended up with a Honda NHX110 which worked for my purposes. I want to sell that and get a Vespa GTS250 or some type of Aprilia. I just can't be bothered to figure out a clutch on a bike, even though I drive a manual car.

 

[mindless1]

^ Honda NC700X DCT, might be 670cc but not something that gets out of control fast like a sport bike.

http://powersports.honda.com/2016/nc700x.aspx

 

[JulesMaximus]

I forgot this was my thread.


I ended up with a Honda NHX110 which worked for my purposes. I want to sell that and get a Vespa GTS250 or some type of Aprilia. I just can't be bothered to figure out a clutch on a bike, even though I drive a manual car.

Honestly, it is exactly the same thing. You're just using your hand to modulate the clutch and your left foot to select the gears which are sequential. 1st is down, 2nd is up, 3rd is the next gear up and so on. Neutral is between 1st and 2nd.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Shadow 750 only weighs 506 pounds. Lol, it's not a beast unless your talking about the 1100. Thanks for your comment, my Shadow is pretty light and fast for a cruiser. It's not my first choice but I do love it and it's a great reliable lasting solid bike that will last forever

Didn't mean to put your bike down. It is a solid bike and they will last forever.

My CB weighed around 560lbs and made maybe 65hp. I enjoyed riding it but it was archaic when compared to modern motorcycles. I really don't miss it at all. Of course, that was a few motorcycles ago.

 

[Ns1]

whoa, saw one of these in the wild today. didn't know BMW made scooters!

http://newatlas.com/2016-bmw-c650-sport-gt-review/43047/

holy shit guys I want one so bad - 7g's! Fuck the Vespa.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/5997009481.html

^ Honda NC700X DCT, might be 670cc but not something that gets out of control fast like a sport bike.

http://powersports.honda.com/2016/nc700x.aspx

whoa thanks for the heads up. If it weren't for that BMW this would be pretty cool - 4g's or so on CL too.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mpd/6033799428.html

 

[mindless1]

whoa thanks for the heads up. If it weren't for that BMW this would be pretty cool - 4g's or so on CL too.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mpd/6033799428.html

I could be wrong but don't think that's the version with the DCT auto transmission.

 

[Ns1]

oh you're right it's definitely not. more googling is in order!

 

[jdoggg12]

If you're looking for a badass "Scooter", you should take a look at the Yamaha T-Max
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BudYc-xJUg

 

[clok1966]

I forgot this was my thread.


I ended up with a Honda NHX110 which worked for my purposes. I want to sell that and get a Vespa GTS250 or some type of Aprilia. I just can't be bothered to figure out a clutch on a bike, even though I drive a manual car.

I noticed it now and while way to late, can say you did good. I own several motorcycles, to many. I have my H-D, had 2 Sportsters (883 and 1200 both where sold), and a Vulcan 800 (and 750), had a Shadow 750, Boulevard C50 and V-Star 650. I started out years ago on dirt bikes, YZ, Esinors, etc.. My first street bike was Kaw 750LTD-TWIN, bought Brand new, loved it, was my only transport for 4 months in the summer (ND sorta excludes full time riding but i know a couple hardcore who do). I then had a Honda 750.. Time and bikes came and went. As i aged I didnt drive for almost 10 years (Bikes) and in the last 10 have bought almost all the ones i listed above. I wanted a Crusier, but stayed away from the HD's and went Metric, Of all the Metrics I liked my Vulcan the best (keep in mind it needed one mod, sprocket change to make Highway driving better). The V-Star was nimble and best hop on and ride in town bike. I hate to say the Shadow was my least favorite of the 4 metrics, and I cant put any finger on why, all had there good and bad points but the Shadow just seemed to be the wallflower, nothing stood out either way. The Boulevard was close to the Vulcan but in the end, I kept it.. Yes I bought them all used for $3-4 grand and tried them all to decide and pretty much broke even and kept the one i liked the most. You cant judge a bike by a 15 minute ride.

But you chose wisely my son! I have a Honda ELITE 125 scooter that in town i ride way more than any of the bikes, its quick enough for town traffic no work no chokes, no nothing, start and instantly go, lots of storage and 80-90 MPG is nice too.. its just sit and go..

I wouldn't recommend the HD's for anybody starting, even the 883 sporty, the 1200 is to much to start for sure. I know the love/hate between metics and HD.. dont listen to either side, test and ride.. after you ride the scooter a bit a bigger bike might be in order (me, i wont ever be without a scooter, but they are not for the road ) I loved my metrics and the 800-900 CC bikes are pretty easy to handle, stepping up to HD 1200 sporty or bigger is something i wouldn't do unless you know its what you want, I love my SuperGlide, and my next bike will most likely be a newer copy of it but there are times I wish it weighed what my vulcan did.

Scooters are fun! am really waiting on the nice weather to get all my bikes out.