These days the variety of motorcycles is so vast with models varying in style, performance, comfort, speed, and flashiness, that the selection process can be a little more time-consuming for first-time buyers. But for many longtime riders, the one model that hold a special place in their hearts is the Honda Shadow 750. For the last 40 years, this motorcycle has been the stepping stone for many beginners. It has that old-school, muscular cruiser look that drew many of us into motorcycling in the first place, as well as comfortable, very generous in its handling, and best of all... affordable.
The Honda Shadow 750's reputation as one of the most reliable entry-level cruisers on the market is an understatement. While most affordable motorcycles for beginners tend to fall under the sport bike & dirt bike categories, the Honda Shadow provided a solid cruiser option for those looking to saddle up and relax around town. There is no desire to impress anyone with reckless wheelies and Akira-style braking maneuvers. All you need is a helmet, keys, and an open road to take it easy. That's it.
So for a motorcycle to stay a consistent staple in Honda's diverse lineup of bikes for 40 years is an already impressive feat. So let's take a closer look at why this bike's reputation has remained unshaken as one of the most respected beginner cruisers on the market.
It's The Perfect Starter Bike
As previously stated, the biggest reason why the Honda Shadow comes so well-recommended among experienced riders is its reputation of being a reliable bike for a first-time rider. Anyone that started out on a Honda Shadow could teach a class on why this bike is the ideal cruiser for those starting out, but not all of us have that kind of time. To put it simply, this bike has successfully managed to excel in style, comfort, handling, affordability, power, and performance. It basically provides the groundwork for anyone starting out on their motorcycling journey to learn and understand the basics before upgrading to something a little more serious. Best of all, it isn't that expensive to begin with either. So first-time riders can relax knowing that the first bike in their driveway isn't going to be burning a hole in their wallet.
Although there are few more suitable entry-level cruisers on the market like the Kawasaki Vulcan, Yamaha V Star, Honda Rebel 500, and the Harley-Davidson Iron 883, many will continue to gravitate towards the Honda Shadow 750 for its user-friendly responsiveness, easy handling, size, 745cc engine, and a 3.9-gallon fuel tank to have everything they could need before starting out on their exciting motorcycling adventure.
It's An Affordable Cruiser
When it comes to choosing your first motorcycle, it's customary to look at different makes, models, and designs before settling on "the one." But if we're being honest here, the biggest determining factor in any big purchase is the price. Some new motorcycles have MSRPs ranging from $12k all the way up to $43k. Unless your bank account is trailing behind Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffet, the average American buyer is usually scrolling Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and their local dealerships for something under $10k. This is where the Honda Shadow 750 wins big, as the 2024 model comes with a starting MSRP of only $8,399. That means that if this is the asking price for a new Shadow, the cost to pay for a pre-owned one is going to be a huge steal.
Sure, you could still get your hands on a pre-owned Honda CB500, Yamaha YZF-R3, or a Suzuki SV650 for under $10k as well. However, none of them nail the classic old-school cruiser look that so many first-time riders look for in a bike. And for the ones they do find that look like a chromed-out hot rod, it is usually way outside their price range. Thankfully, the Honda Shadow is able to nail this classic cruiser look without having to break the bank.
Easy Handling
Everyone's first bike is like their first car. There's a reason why you got your dad's old Ford Crown Victoria instead of a brand-new 2024 Ford Mustang. It's because it's meant for you to get your bearings and build your confidence on the road before upgrading to something more to your personal liking. The same can be said for the Honda Shadow 750. This motorcycle is perfect for A-to-B commutes, and for casual cruises around town. Maybe after once you've mastered the basics, you could test your confidence on the highway for a few miles. But generally, most people whose first bike was a Honda Shadow didn't go much beyond the third gear. Not that they have to anyway. Rather than speed, most of their attention was directed towards getting better at taking turns, braking, stopping, entering neutral, and finding the friction zone.
All the hairpin turns and weaving in-and-out of traffic cones would come at a much later point. Right now, you're on this bike to learn, and the Honda Shadow 750 is designed to be so responsive that rider feels like they are in complete control of the bike. Having 41mm front forks and a wide enough turning radius makes those 90-degree turns at every 4-day intersection perfect practice. It is also this amount of control that makes the Honda Shadow 750 a popular bike is urban areas as well, allowing it to navigate tight and busy streets with ease.
Approachable And Reliable Power
Just like when you got your driver's license, getting your first motorcycle brings back those same excited and anxious feelings from when you were sixteen. And because you're probably not looking to do anything crazy like haul off on the throttle and do 120 mph down the highway, you'd very much rather take it easy and build your confidence before turning into Evel Knievel. That is why the Honda Shadow's 745cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin four-stroke engine is the perfect size for an entry-level cruiser. Able to produce 44.9 horsepower and 47.9 lb-ft of torque, it has just the right amount of power to learn on, as well as some extra speed in storage for when you are feeling adventurous. Not underpowered to hit that ceiling too early on, but also not overpowered to the point where you feel so overwhelmed that the bike is going to leave without you. This bike's purpose is to help you build up your skill set before moving on to your next bike, so you might as well learn correctly.
After all, the Honda Shadow 750's biggest asset is its reputation as a confidence-building cruiser. No seasoned, ultimate badass biker was riding like an expert since birth. They all started out green and rough around the edges. But after a lot of practice, and lots of mistakes, that confidence continued to build and build to the point where they don't even think about it anymore. Their body and natural instincts take over. That's the kind of ripple-effect the Honda Shadow 750 has.
The Honda Shadow Spirit is available with a 1,100cc engine
It Has Been In Production for 40 Years
If you look at the different types of motorcycle models on the market today, they tend of have a short life expectancy. Some last a year, three years, five years, or ten years being built in the factory before a brand discontinues production. While the decisions to retire certain models can be based around corporate-level decision-making, a huge chunk of it depends on how well they fare in the public marketplace. If people keep buying up certain models, they are going to stay in production. But if a certain model isn't selling, some brands will drop its MSRP to become more attractive to customers before ultimately getting pulled from the lineup. So for the Honda Shadow's case, it is one of the exceptional few in the industry as it has been on a consistent 40-year winning streak, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
The reason behind keeping the Shadow 750 in the lineup isn't just out of pure luck. This motorcycle maintained its reputation as one of the best foundation-building cruisers ever developed, and the fact that it looks like your classic old-school cruiser is just a big bonus. So if this bike manages to live up to 100, it could be a possible feat.