40k milestone on a Shadow Aero | 2018 Honda Shadow Aero 750 | Pros & Cons after 4 years & 40K miles
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- After putting nearly 40K miles on this bike from .01 miles, I want to share my thoughts on this bike both good and bad for new and returning riders who might be looking for their first bike or riders looking to scale down.
Pros
5:40 User Friendly
11:18 Forgiving Throttle Response
14:51 ABS
21:15 Shaft Drive
25:02 Engine Reliability
33:04 Low Center Of Gravity
37:25 Liquid Cooled Engine
39:29 Cons
39:44 No Fuel Gauge
42:48 Slower Acceleration
45:04 Stock Saddle
48:28 No Tach
51:00 High RPM Vibrations
56:07 Bonus ASMR
Have questions?
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/ vtwinrtx
I have a 2009 Aero VT750, & a lot of people seem to think you can't tour on them, but I've ridden mine across 10 different states so far, longest solo single day was 700 miles, 400 2up, & in all kinds of weather...& on a stock seat too...I'd call that touring...Lol! Good looking setup! These are fun bikes to ride! Mine's had minimal maintenance done past wearing out tires & changing the oil, she's pretty bullet proof...🖖🏿😎👍🏿
They are very easy to cruise and tour. When I began riding I wanted a bike that could handle highway speeds without getting from me. I’d love to do more touring. Did two long-distance trips within a month of each. One solo and one two up. Both times it performed beautifully. I didn’t have the pleasure of doing multi-day or multi-hour trips on the stock seat. Definitely would’ve had to take more breaks lol. the poem tires did run down faster but switched up to the Michelin Commander 2. Awesome tire for touring and long distances. I did invest a little more in modifications for comfort and storage. Looking to do signal relocation and saddlebag upgrade in the near future. Enjoy your ride!
Agreed. I ride my Aero everywhere (the wife drives the car and i ride the bike) runs like a dream. Most reliable set of wheels I've ever owned . I wouldn't hesitate to ride it across the country. 👍
Just saw your 1hr. video on your Shadow Aero ABS and appreciated all your comments on it. Just bought a 24 model identical to yours. After 45 years not riding a bike (my last bike was a 78 Harley Superglide 1200cc) I decided to enjoy riding again. I'M 80 years old in decent shape physically and mentally and wanted to ride again and like you said I didn't need a powerful bike again, 750cc is powerful enough for me. Just bought it 2 weeks ago in Las Cruces NM and I just love it! Thks for your detailed narrative in your video. Octavio
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it and it was helpful! That's great you're getting back into riding after such a long time! That Superglide looks very similar to the Shadow Spirit. I've only been riding for a few years, but it's an addictive outlet and very enjoyable. You can take advantage of some of the advancements made on these mid size bikes with EFI, and ABS. Also since the Aero hasn't changed much since they first came out, a lot of older mods will fit across older to present years (saddlebags, crash bars, fairings, etc). Have fun and ride safe! Welcome back to two wheels!
I’m currently a 75 year old Goldwing rider and am thinking a Shadow Aero might be good for me next year. The GW is getting to be a chore to push around in my garage though I do like it if I have to spend all day on the bike. I’ve never had an abs system on anything I’ve owned. I will ask if it can be had but I will be buying new.
Your fairing appeals as I haven’t had a bike without wind and rain protection since ‘78. That transition backwards isn’t something I want to even try.
Like you, my motorcycle is my preferred way to get around though I no longer leave the house or motel if it’s raining and if I have far to go and it starts raining I will hole up until the weather improves. I don’t mind the cold at all. Gearing up isn’t that hard. As to gear I will be needing substantial hard bags to haul that around. Obviously, with the GW It’s been some time since I worried about the load I’m carrying.
I find it hard to understand why you aren’t wearing gloves. If you have to slide down the road gloves can be a godsend. Also, I rode for years through the 60s and 70s without and my hands have had multiple spots of cancer frozen or cut off due to sun damage. Ride your ride but it’s just a thought.
I haven’t had anyone on my rear seat since back in the 70’s when I was single. My wife never rode with me during our 33 year marriage. If I find I need more storage I can always find some biker luggage for the back seat.
As to replacement saddles, I had a Corbin on one of my ST1300s and found it very hard. Honda saddles had very soft foam. I’ve always fixed that with a bead rider seat cover. Much less cost ($40) and good for year round.
I totally agree with you foam grip covers. I’ve had Grip Puppies brand slip ons on my two ST1300s, a BMW R90/6 and this 2015 GW. Much more tricky throttle response but easier on the hands on a long day.
Thank you for your very detailed comments! I always enjoy hearing about other riders' experiences and learning from them both good and bad. Typically, I will always wear gloves, and would have especially that day as it was cold (hence the bonus ASMR clip at the end lol) but I kept having to click my phone screen to track the pros and cons. As to your points, I know the GW, especially the older models were considerably heavier than they are now, but still touring bikes are heavy nonetheless. Even most of the newer touring bikes have ABS as standard, and more baggers and smaller street bikes are adopting it as well, so before long most bikes will have ABS if not ALL eventually. The first long-distance trip I took was after I had gotten the Memphis shades faring. I wanted to paint it to match the rest of the bike so it was a few months before I got it installed. It’s been amazing during the cold months and also in rain. I have it mounted to a quick connect bracket so if I want to remove it I can, especially if I take it in for service. The nice thing even with a 750 is that it can be made into a bagger. I'm actually going to be covering turn signal relocation and Viking XL hard bag installation in the near future with a quick connect as well. I currently had medium-sized bags and a trunk, so except for engine size, it can make long trips pretty well. I did get my bike new and specifically sought out the ABS model. I had gone down on the wet pavement during my MSF course and that experience was the biggest selling point for me. Still passed, but that lesson stuck with me. I always ride with tall boots, a leather upper, and gloves along with a full face, and of course, my passenger always had the same gear as myself. My wife loves riding so luggage and storage were definitely a concern. we both traveled about 4-600 miles on a week-long trip with two medium bags, a trunk, and a trunk bag on top, so riding solo with luggage won’t be a problem. I’ve heard Corbin makes really nice saddles, but I couldn’t find one that had the rider and passenger seat separate, but Mustang did. The OEM saddle, was incredibly soft and gave out after an hour or so, and was harder on the passenger. I think they also make cargo fender racks for the shadows for extra cargo carrying if you have a separate rider/passenger seat. I looked for something like the grip puppies after some of my longer trips where I noticed the vibration. I wasn’t sure if I would keep them on after my first long trip but I love those things! the grip density does feel different but feels normal after a while. Thanks again for your comments and concern! Keep it shiny side up!
Back in the day, I rode a XS650 Yamaha all over the place and it was a big enough cruiser back then. I've owned the 750 and 1100 Shadows and now I'm riding a 1300 VTX! I think that will be my biggest bike, but I'm still looking into getting a smaller bike for short trips just because. I miss my old XS650 and kinda looking for something that size again!
Thanks for the review. I just bought the 2024 version of this bike.
I'm glad it was helpful! it's been a great bike. Definetly plan on keeping it as long i can. It's has been very reliable as a daily commuter.
@@vtwinrtx5670 I've been happy with it so far, I rode it home last Saturday and I've put 150 miles on it so far. I do definitely need to get myself a windshield and some saddlebags if I'm going to be going on any longer trips, though.
Picking up my 2020 Aero tomorrow - finished the MSF course a few weeks ago and got my license last week. Looking forward to what's ahead. Enjoyed watching your videos to get a good owners perspective!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my content! You’ll really enjoy that bike! If you haven’t ridden before, which since you’ve taken the MSF course, I’m guessing at least not street bikes prior to it, then this is a really great bike to not only keep you from losing control but challenging enough that you enough room to grow your skill When I first started riding I would go out in the evening and practice shifting, braking, starting, turning from a stop around in housing complexes close by. Very low traffic and enough variety to practice without being too overwhelmed or having to deal with other traffic starting out. The first time you reach that 60mph on the highway or interstate, it’s a feeling like nothing else. One thing I will suggest is to get some crash bars. I wish I would’ve done that when I first got mine because you will drop it and bars will help to protect the paint and the chrome and save you from having to buy new levers or mirrors. Ride Safe and Enjoy!
@@vtwinrtx5670 Thank you - was considering that (crash bars). I'll look into it. My path looks similar...I live in a quiet suburb with my kids elementary school about 200 yards from my house with a great open parking lot that goes all the way around the school. I'll spend most of my time in there and on the subdivision roads for the foreseeable future until I'm comfortable to venture out. Look forward to it - thanks for the response and kind words! Subscribed! :)
I have bought 1986 Shadow TV750C few days ago. Now I'm repairing it :)
Congrats! These Hondas last a time with regular maintenance. It's amazing the Shadow line has been around as long as it has. When you getting running, Ride Safe!
Thank you for this. I'm only just now starting to look for an abs model as my first bike. First one in almost 20 years, anyway. I barely rode a dr350 for a couple of years, lol.
20 years is quite a stretch! When I took the MSF course there were a few getting back into riding since their kids were finally out on their own and they could "take the risk" again. If it's the Suzuki dr350 you're talking about, going to an ABS cruiser will certainly be a new experience. I've loved the ABS. I ride in all types of weather and never feel like I'm going to lose control, especially in wet conditions. The back tire might catch roadside sand every now and then but it recovers quickly. More and more bikes are having ABS added as a standard feature now compared to 2018.
Not to be the safety police here but wear gloves year around if you can, its the first natural instinct in a spill to put your hands out infront of you to catch the ground before your face does. Plus helps a ton with vibration.
Agreed: Was going to make the same comment, until I saw yours.
i bought a beautiful 04 shadow aero last summer, i put on 20 000 kms. (Not sure what that is in miles) in 3months, ill be doing alot more this summer
That’s roughly around 12,427mi. I think my first year I put on about 10,000 miles. And was averaging that till Covid. That’s awesome to hear! Every trip good or bad is certainly more memorable on a bike! Be safe!
My favorite part of Honda Shadows is the relatively unchanged nature. My 2011 Aero (except for the ABS) is essentially the same as the new bikes. Mine came with a small windshield, heated grips and some pannier bags which is exactly what I was looking for. I like that it is fuel injected ( See any Shadow forums about all the carb related challenges), it just starts any time I need it. These are great bikes and the maintenance is easy! The wire wheels do give me some anxiety about flats, because I can't plug them. I don't think the Aero is for sale in New Zealand anymore and I have not seen any Phantom here at all. Stil a popular model.
That’s what has been very helpful is the consistency across the shadow models throughout the years. It makes it a little easier to find aftermarket parts. Thankfully, the 750 Aero is still in production. I do wish they would bring back the 1100 Aero Tourer. That’s nice you picked up some accessories already installed. . .especially the panniers. The spoke wheels are something that I always worry about aside from a dead battery, or running out of gas. If I get a flat, I have, you’re pretty much stuck to get a tow. You’re lucky to be able to pull into a fuel station nearby if possible before it goes completely flat. I’ve heard it’s hard to find some of the newer models especially in AU and NZ being more remote. The ABS Aero was hard to find even in the States. Apparently, Honda doesn’t make very many of those even for US distribution. Cheers and ride safe!
That's where honda messed up against there competitors,No fuel injection, no fuel gage,and no rpm gage.
Though I will grant you it would be nice if they had a fuel gauge as the mileage can change quite a bit depending on the weight of either another passenger or additional cargo on a long trip by about 10-20miles less per fill up, the shadows post 2011 were fuel injected. And though without a tachometer, it does have a rev limiter to prevent those new to riding from blowing up their engine before shifting to the next gear.
ABS is mandatory on new motorcycles on this side of the Atlantic. So all Honda Shadows sold in Europe will have it. As I understand it, ABS is only optional in the US.
At the time I was looking for a first bike, there weren't many that had ABS, Honda or otherwise. the Phantom didn't even come with ABS as an option at the time. I do remember hearing that a lot of older riders didn't like losing the control over their traction in a hard emergency brake like what they teach in the MSF course, but I'm glad ABS is becoming more prevalent, it won't protect against a skid on gravel or sand, but it's done well in Texas commuter traffic.
seems like a good distance to not need ABS anyways. clutch in, Rear brake, rev match *or not*, downshift, clutch out, front brake, gauge distance, adjust form, this shit happens in like 1-2 seconds.
I have 2006 Honda shadow 750
Talk about valve adjustments. When? How much? How often?
2004 Shadow 750vt Aero w 14k.miles. I have put 2k on it and don't know history.
I'll put that on my topics list to do soon. The service for those is fairly simple as far as intervals, but the mechanics of it if you do it yourself is a little more complex.
Did you find out. I’m in the same boat. Don’t know if anyone did valves. 10k on mine.
@@paulsilva6543 im going to do it at 16k
How do you capture the bike sound without all the wind noise? I have been trying to figure that out on my bikes.
It's all in the placement. I actually use a Purple Panda microphone and plug in directly to the camera itself. I use the most simplistic solution if possible, but still care about quality.
Hey brother, is that a batwing fairing on there? Also do you get alot of buffeting from under the fairing? Ive got a 9in shield on my batwing fairing and its killing my neck with all of the wind.
Yes it is! it's a memphis shades batwing fairing with a quick connect lock system for easy removal. With this particular fairing it's not just throw it on and go. You kind of have loosely mount the brackets on the back and then adjust the horizontal level of the fairing so it's balanced left to right, then adjust the forward and backward angle on the mounting brackets installed on the forks. That is where the buffeting is really sorted out. I'm about 5'10 and the windshield comes up just under my line of sight. I have a 6.5" spoiler windshield installed that does a pretty decent job of buffeting. I don't get the head bob at higher speeds, but I also rode and readjusted, and rode again and readjusted till I got the forward angle just right. I get a nice little slipstream that swirls around me like a breeze when riding. Once that's done I can take it off or put it on and never have to readjust it again unless you have to replace the mounting brackets for some reason. I thought I would only use it during the winter time but it's been very nice in the summer as well. Ride safe!
Thanks for the info, I'm going to make some adjustments and see if I can find my happy place. Ride safe
Can you see over the top of that windscreen? Or do you have to look straight through it?
No, I have a clear view over the tinted windshield. The camera on my helmet is down around the chin so it sits a few inches lower where it looks like i'm directly behind the tinted portion. Typically I'll remove the fairing when Doing ASMR videos since it takes up so much of the viewing area. The windshield portion is only about 6.5 inches tall. I would say the break in line of site is maybe about 10 feet out in front of me.
What windshield mid is that ? Size part # . thanks
Memphis Shades Batwing Fairing - MEM7031
Quick Connect brackets - Batwing Polished Trigger Lock Hardware - MEK1908
Spoiler Windshield 6.5" Smoke - MEP8541
Very easy on and off for cold or warm weather. Takes a little adjusting for buffeting reduction for wind when first installed, but very pleased with it. Comes in gloss black, but is ready to paint. I Did mine in my OEM color (Pearl Stallion Brown).
Ride Safe!
@@vtwinrtx5670 thank you for response. Beautiful bike. Glad I found your videos
@@arpalmer09 Thank you! Glad you enjoy it! I'll be posting some new videos in the coming weeks.
What exhaust is that
@@arpalmer09 You'd be surprised, it's actually the stock exhaust. Baffles are still in. The bike is still in stock condition mechanically speaking. The only modifications made have been aesthetic for comfort or storage.
Dress for the slide not for the ride. Always wear gloves!
Agreed: Hands will be the first things to hit the pavement.
ABS will stop you faster than a skid would. 🤙🏻
you really ride this bike a lot, 10k mile per year
Yes, just wish I could take longer trips. My first full year of commuting was right before covid. 2hr round trip, every day rain or shine, and then riding on the weekends. You learn a lot about traffic, the way the bike handles in different conditions, and it really hones your skills. Never realized how passive driving a car was compared to how active you have to be on a motorcycle. Every excuse I can take the bike I do lol.
Last thing I would want would be ABS on a bike. Simply try pivoting on your rear brake in a Uturn and see what happens with ABS enabled -
I know when ABS was first coming out there were a lot of more experienced riders that didn't care for the auto ABS that they couldn't turn off since they had learned to ride with the skidding that came with hard braking and actually using the brakes to affect the bike's performance aside from just stopping power. Even now the 2024 Phantom has come out with an ABS version and a lot more current bikes now come with it. Even some of the larger cruisers are becoming more common with ABS as opposed to the options of standard or ABS. I really don't think it helps to affect insurance rates though it's considered more of a safety feature. However, I haven't noticed very many issues with braking at slow speeds. This bike has a linked braking system anyway so even if I apply the rear it also applies a portion of the front, but since the ABS doesn't activate till you're over 6mph you still have slow control for trail braking in short turns or with close obstacles. Ride Safe!
ABS is objectively safer and will keep you from panic breaking
You made this long drawn out video and never showed your bike!
Rather you would shut up and listen to the bike 😂😂
I'm terribly sorry that my comments on this REVIEW video are disturbing your ASMR experience. . .lucky for you there are about 10 other videos that actually have nothing but motorcycle sounds you can find on this same channel!! Enjoy and have a good day!🏍😉
@@vtwinrtx5670 That reply earns a subscribe from me lol
This guy is sharing information that a prospective rider might find educational.
As a veteran rider I enjoy hearing other people's point of view especially since I have the 08 version of the same machine .
I have a 2019 standard aero in the same color as yours, other than my blacked out engine(kind of metallic root beer) and I agree with ALL you mentioned. I love it. Bought it 4 years old with 5k on it and in great condition. Came with Mustang seat and passenger seat both with back rest and man is this thing comfortable. I could go on but I’ll stop. Thanks for the review. 👍🏍️