/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/octane/DR6I2K4CZFFNTMASL74PS5FRQQ.jpg "2024 Honda Shadow Phantom First Experience")
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The metric cruiser (or Japanese-made cruiser) has survived the take a look at 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, specifically with its Shadow bikes. All the way in which 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 acquired some key updates for 2024 to maintain it within the scrum for years to come back.
Cruising is as a lot about styling as it’s efficiency, and the Japanese corporations haven’t at all times achieved an important job of hitting that nail on the pinnacle, typically so shut, however simply missing the nuances that make bikes from Harley-Davidson those that each one others are judged towards. Nevertheless, there are different areas that Honda has executed very effectively.
Honda’s up to date Shadow Phantom capitalizes on the expansion of the midsize cruiser market, which actually acquired some legs in the course of the pandemic as individuals 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 embrace contemporary 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 traditional 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 through a 34mm throttle physique managed by the Programmed Gas Injection (PGM-FI) system. Energy is distributed to the rear wheel through a five-speed transmission after which to a low-maintenance shaft remaining drive.
Chassis highlights embrace a 41mm customary 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 an important 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 just 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 embrace 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 car 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. Some of the 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’re greeted by trendy switches and controls. On prime of the gas tank is the bike’s lone gauge with an analog speedometer and inset LED display screen for primary information 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 via 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 supply good help for the decrease again, however snug sufficient for longer stints. The low seat top ought to present stable footing at stops for all however essentially the most height-challenged riders.
Heading out into the mountains above Azusa, California, the Phantom gives predictable and secure dealing with and flicks into corners with mild and impartial steering. Choose up the tempo via 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 trip, consuming up unhealthy asphalt with no points, however will are likely to bounce a bit after hitting G-outs within the highway with lower than splendid rebound damping. The one adjustment to suspension is preload for the dual shocks, so fine-tuning the trip is aimed extra at firming up the rear for those who add a passenger with the non-obligatory fender-mounted seat and passenger pegs.
Efficiency from the 745cc V-twin is nice, with first rate low-end to midrange torque on faucet. Round city and exiting tight corners, the engine gives good drive, however the energy positively falls off within the higher rpm vary. Making a fast cross of one other car often requires a downshift for those who’re hanging out within the higher two gears. However total, the engine is clean, with wonderful fueling and a great unfold of energy for a middleweight cruiser.
At a standard using tempo the entrance brake gives first rate energy, but when you might want to get slowed down in a rush for an upcoming hairpin, it’s important to seize an enormous handful on the entrance lever. The brake by no means gives a super-crisp chunk however is progressive and predictable. Fortunately Honda has added that huge rear disc which might complement the entrance and assist get the bike stopped with out concern. 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 value.
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 12 months (having been in manufacturing since 1957), leaving some huge footwear to fill. Presently there are only a handful of bikes remaining to offer the Honda Shadow Phantom any severe 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 motorbike that isn’t intimidating for newer riders with its low curb weight, good low-speed dealing with, and mellow energy supply. On the flip facet, 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 elements, and a big seller community. The Shadow Phantom is on the market 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/Last 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, out there ABS |
| Rear Brake: | 1-piston caliper, 276mm disc, out there 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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