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The metric cruiser (or Japanese-made cruiser) has survived the check of time, offering distinctive worth and wonderful high quality for many years. Like its Japanese rivals, Honda has been attempting to money in on the recognition of American-style cruisers for a very long time, particularly with its Shadow bikes. All the best way again in 1983, Honda launched the 45-degree V-twin-powered Shadow 750, adopted by the Shadow ACE 750 in 1998, then the Shadow Phantom with its then-new 52-degree V-twin in 2010. Honda’s present cruiser lineup consists of seven fashions together with the revised Shadow Phantom, which obtained some key updates for 2024 to maintain it within the scrum for years to return.
Cruising is as a lot about styling as it’s efficiency, and the Japanese firms haven’t all the time performed an amazing job of hitting that nail on the pinnacle, usually so shut, however simply missing the nuances that make bikes from Harley-Davidson those that each one others are judged in opposition to. Nonetheless, there are different areas that Honda has executed very nicely.
Honda’s up to date Shadow Phantom capitalizes on the expansion of the midsize cruiser market, which actually acquired some legs through the pandemic as folks took benefit of downtime to leap again into motorcycling or buy bikes for the primary time. However the place Honda has carved out a distinct segment for itself is by providing wonderful bang for the buck. Updates to the $8,399 Shadow Phantom embody recent styling, a revised using place, the supply of ABS ($399 possibility), and a brand new disc rear brake changing the drum unit of the earlier mannequin. And the basic bobber styling is, in our opinion, proper on the mark.
Energy comes from a liquid-cooled 745cc 52-degree V-twin with 79.0 x 76mm bore and stroke dimensions. The valve prepare options three valves (two consumption, one exhaust) per cylinder with a single overhead cam in every. Air-fuel combination is fed by way of a 34mm throttle physique managed by the Programmed Gas Injection (PGM-FI) system. Energy is shipped to the rear wheel by way of a five-speed transmission after which to a low-maintenance shaft remaining drive.
Chassis highlights embody a 41mm normal fork with 5.1 inches of journey and a pair of preload-adjustable shocks that present 3.5 inches of rear-wheel journey. Braking is dealt with by a single 296mm entrance disc with a single twin-piston caliper, whereas the brand new rear disc measures 276mm and has a single-piston caliper. Up entrance is a 17-inch spoked rim mounted with a 120/90-17 tire, whereas on the rear is a 15-incher and 160/80-15 tire.
The Shadow Phantom’s wheelbase measures 64.6 inches with front-end geometry measuring 34 levels of rake and 6.3 inches of path. However maybe a very powerful dimension is the ultralow 25.6-inch seat top. The rider triangle has been altered with the handlebar now moved ahead 3.4 inches with the width elevated by slightly below three-quarters of an inch, whereas the seat and footpeg relationship stays the identical.
Areas which have been refreshed when it comes to styling embody a brand new entrance fender, rear fender and seat rail, new seat form, LED flip indicators throughout, a brand new air-cleaner cowl, headlight nacelle, rubber boots on the fork legs, machine-cut cylinder-head fins, and most blatant is the two-tone fuel-tank paint. Two colours can be found: Deep Pearl Grey or Metallic Orange.
A fast stroll across the Phantom in a parking zone reveals a motorbike with wonderful match and high-quality finishes from the tank and fender paint to the blacked-out (grayed out?) covers and brackets. Probably the most interesting options of the bike for potential consumers must be that ultralow seat, which makes getting on and off the bike and managing its light-by-cruiser-standards 543-pound fueled weight very easy. Attain as much as the bars and you might be greeted by fashionable switches and controls. On high of the gas tank is the bike’s lone gauge with an analog speedometer and inset LED display screen for primary data just like the tripmeter, clock, and so forth.
Hearth up the engine and it settles into a nice V-twin rumble. Snicking the transmission into gear and pulling away from a cease is helped by mild motion from the cable-actuated clutch, whereas shifting by means of the gears is clean and optimistic with none clunkiness. Round city in city environments, the Phantom is mild steering with wonderful and balanced low-speed dealing with. The seating place pulls this 5-foot, 11-inch rider’s higher physique simply ahead with a straightforward attain to the bars and a relaxed bend of the legs to the forward-mounted foot controls. The seat is agency sufficient to offer good help for the decrease again, however comfy sufficient for longer stints. The low seat top ought to present stable footing at stops for all however probably the most height-challenged riders.
Heading out into the mountains above Azusa, California, the Phantom offers predictable and secure dealing with and flicks into corners with mild and impartial steering. Choose up the tempo by means of tighter hairpin bends and the ahead foot controls’ peg feelers will drag (as will the heel of your boots). The suspension is plush and presents a comfortable journey, consuming up dangerous asphalt with no points, however will are inclined to bounce a bit after hitting G-outs within the highway with lower than excellent rebound damping. The one adjustment to suspension is preload for the dual shocks, so fine-tuning the journey is aimed extra at firming up the rear if you happen to add a passenger with the optionally available fender-mounted seat and passenger pegs.
Efficiency from the 745cc V-twin is sweet, with first rate low-end to midrange torque on faucet. Round city and exiting tight corners, the engine offers good drive, however the energy undoubtedly falls off within the higher rpm vary. Making a fast cross of one other automobile often requires a downshift if you happen to’re hanging out within the higher two gears. However total, the engine is clean, with wonderful fueling and unfold of energy for a middleweight cruiser.
At a traditional using tempo the entrance brake offers first rate energy, but when you could get slowed down in a rush for an upcoming hairpin, it’s a must to seize a giant handful on the entrance lever. The brake by no means offers a super-crisp chunk however is progressive and predictable. Fortunately Honda has added that large rear disc which may complement the entrance and assist get the bike stopped with out challenge. The bike we rode for the day didn’t have ABS, however we will’t think about why you’d wish to forego that possibility contemplating it solely provides $399 to the worth.
The underside line right here is that there are only a few choices on the market for consumers in search of a midsize cruiser, particularly one that appears this good in particular person. Maybe the most well-liked bike of all time on this class, the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster was dropped after the 2022 mannequin yr (having been in manufacturing since 1957), leaving some large sneakers to fill. At the moment there are only a handful of bikes remaining to provide the Honda Shadow Phantom any critical competitors, just like the $10,359 Suzuki Boulevard C50T and $8,999 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Basic.
Clearly recognizing the chance, Honda has thrown some sensible updates at this bike and delivers a great-looking bike that isn’t intimidating for newer riders with its low curb weight, good low-speed dealing with, and mellow energy supply. On the flip aspect, it delivers sufficient engine efficiency for seasoned riders in search of a very nice bike at a really affordable value and presents all of the hallmarks of a Honda, like wonderful match and end, high quality parts, and a big seller community. The Shadow Phantom is out there in sellers now.
2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Specs
| MSRP: | $8,399/$8,699 (ABS) |
|---|---|
| Engine: | SOHC, liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin; 3 valves/cyl. |
| Displacement: | 745cc |
| Bore x Stroke: | 79.0 x 76.0mm |
| Compression Ratio: | 9.6:1 |
| Transmission/Remaining Drive: | 5-speed/shaft |
| Gas System: | Programmed Gas Injection w/ 34mm throttle our bodies |
| Clutch: | Moist, multiplate |
| Engine Administration/Ignition: Digital | |
| Body: | Metal |
| Entrance Suspension: | 41mm fork; 5.1 in. journey |
| Rear Suspension: | Twin shocks, preload adjustable; 3.5 in. journey |
| Entrance Brake: | 2-piston caliper, 296mm disc, accessible ABS |
| Rear Brake: | 1-piston caliper, 276mm disc, accessible ABS |
| Wheels, Entrance/Rear: | Wire-spoked; 17 in./15 in. |
| Tires, Entrance/Rear: | 120/90-17 / 160/80-15 |
| Rake/Path: | 34.0°/6.3 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 64.6 in. |
| Floor Clearance: | N/A |
| Seat Top: | 25.6 in. |
| Gas Capability: | 3.9 gal. |
| Claimed Moist Weight: | 543 lb. |
| Contact: | powersports.honda.com |
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