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bmadson
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 8:11 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Since 1983 Honda has sold 243,000 of its mid-sized Shadow cruiser and figures to extend that sales figure up and over the quarter-million mark with the release of its 2007 Honda Shadow Spirit 750.
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Puff's Daddy
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 10:00 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
As a happy Honda owner (my Valkyrie and my wife's Shadow Sabre 1100), I have to say that like many others I find Honda's neglect of almost every segment of the motorcycle market to be puzzling. It appears that Honda is content to be a safe player in virtually every market segment. Nothing highlights that choice more clearly than the fact that the "big news" in the cruiser segment is a tweaked safe design that's unlikely to excite anyone. Except, of course, for the legion of riders who've been clamboring for a 21" front wheel. Meanwhile, Honda is apparently content to rest on its laurels in the larger cruiser classes. The VTX was the flavor of the month for about...a month. The Rune? A lost opportunity.

Elsewhere, the big news in the sportbike classes isn't Honda. Hasn't been for awhile. Used to be that Honda would sacrifice the "race ready" title but hold onto those who wanted a rideable sportbike. Triumph's brilliant 675 Daytona effectively countered that approach in the middleweight class. In the litre class, Honda seems similarly moribund. Who can even say what has been tweaked in the lastest CBR? The Blackbird is gone with apparently no immediate plans to upgrade it to meet the competition. A few years back Honda offered a Ducati killer. Ducati killed it.

Sports Touring? The competition is between Yamaha, Kawasaki, and increasingly European manufacturers. Where is Honda? The ST1300? Another "safe" alternative. The VFR? Long past its prime. "Adventure" touring? Another no show segment for Honda in recent years.

A heritage of revolutionary engineering and brilliant marketing. What happened?

No doubt you're correct that Honda will push the sales of the Shadow line over the quarter-million mark, assuming they can sell 7,000 bikes in the forthcoming year. That's hardly a reason to celebrate.
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bkorfhage
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 12:04 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Nice work Bart. Now all we have to do is get you on the track and then you can put Duke out of a job turn

go ahead, ask me anything...

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bmadson
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 3:00 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Thanks Korf and have fun at the Vulcan intro.
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OhioSteve
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 4:19 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I have very mixed feelings about this bike. An acquaintance rides a shadow to work each day. It is 100% reliable. Plus his bike has no rust, in spite of being outdoors in Ohio ten months each year. Recently I sat on a new Spirit 1100. The ergos were wonderful, and the detail work was fantastic considering the price.

On the negative side, the bike's front brake is inadequate. I get tired of hearing moto-journalists make excuses for inadequate front brakes. The new sv650abs offers anti-lock brakes and costs only $200 more. Oh yeah, the sv also has DUAL hydraulic disks. Admittedly, the sv is in a different market segment, but they are at the same price point.

I am the foremost expert on my opinion.

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jimmihaffa
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 4:19 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I'm with you Puff.  I don't know what the heck has happened with Honda designs of late, but really, the slogan "follow the leader" just seems totally inappropriate.  I realize that this is a budget bike, but really, cmon.  It's not even up to scratch with the competition's entries.  Maybe Honda has put their best engineers on other design projects like this HondaJet thingy and relegated the junior staff to their motorcycle dept...I can think of no other reasons.
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OhioSteve
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 4:28 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I ride a GS500F with brakes as bad or worse than the shadow's. I can ride around the brakes, so that they almost always exceed my need for stopping power. But "almost always" is still inadequate in my opinion, particularly if you ride in heavy rain.

I am the foremost expert on my opinion.

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OhioSteve
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 5:36 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Oh, and DUMP the flame paint job Honda. Talk about promising more than you deliver! This bike has what, 50 hp?!?

I am the foremost expert on my opinion.

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Tros
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 7:21 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
For whatever reason, I don't care for the styling. In fact, I think the other look with the 19" wheel looks better. Either way, switching to shaft drive is a very smart idea, imo.

"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost."

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tsweimer
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 8:59 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Wow what a mixed bag of like's and dislikes about the Shadow. I bought a new one last year and I'm quite pleased with it. I put 5200 miles on it this summer and I have no complaints. I did a 2000 mile ride at one point and found the bike quite comfortable and easy going on the highway. Sure it didn't go a zillion miles an hour or have the horse power to pass 20 cars in one pass but the cruise I got in return for the price is untouchable in my opinion.
I'm not sure I agree with the statements of Honda not being exciting the last few years. I think the new 599 (Hornet) is absolutely stunning, too bad we may never see it this side of the water. And have a look at the VFR800A in the retro Honda colours, what's not to like about that. Now if Honda was a true follower (and not a leader) in the design game why don't they put out a cafe racer like everyone else seems to be? I'd love to see what they do with that.
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Kevin Duke
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  		   Posted 11/13/2006 11:29 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
bkorfhage said...
Nice work Bart. Now all we have to do is get you on the track and then you can put Duke out of a job turn
Wow, is this Stab Your Mentor In the Back Week? skull

-KD, MotorcycleUSA Editor

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Puff's Daddy
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  		   Posted 11/14/2006 4:34 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
tsweimer said...

I'm not sure I agree with the statements of Honda not being exciting the last few years. I think the new 599 (Hornet) is absolutely stunning, too bad we may never see it this side of the water. And have a look at the VFR800A in the retro Honda colours, what's not to like about that. ...
 
Wins the award for the best sarcasm on the board today. yeah BTW, the VFR surely deserves a place in history as one of the great bikes of all time. What Honda has done with it in the last few years, however, is a  prime example of what's wrong with the company.
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wildwolf
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  		   Posted 11/15/2006 11:05 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
OhioSteve said...
Oh, and DUMP the flame paint job Honda. Talk about promising more than you deliver! This bike has what, 50 hp?!?

So...only super fast bikes with greater than 50hp can have custom paint jobs that contain flames? lol..

Great first ride review. Enjoyed the reading.

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lownails
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  		   Posted 12/2/2006 7:01 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
i have a 2003 chain drive 750ACE. i planned on aquiring a larger displacement cruiser in spring on 2007. my question is...
how much more power will i actually notice with the vulcan 900 as compared to my old wheels. cause if i get the 900 i don't wanna feel underpowered again in a few years as i did with my shadow. i'm also looking at the vstar1300. i weight 145lbs and am 5'8". the main thing is i don't wanna have to have the throttle full open just to go 75mph for 20 min periods of time. i want something that is easier on the wrist than the shadow( i play guitar and tennis and need my wrist for other things).
so i'm looking for something that i can go 300 to 500 miles away from the house during the weekends with comfort and adaquate power and the vulcan 900 is my main choice if i know that the extra 150cc difference makes a real difference, if not than i will go with the 1300. it is just my sixth year of riding so i really don't know about this hp thing. matter of fact a guy who rides on my job said i can tweak my shadow to have the same hp as a vulcan 900... this i don't believe. anyway give me some input.
thanks
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Luke
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  		   Posted 12/2/2006 8:12 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
A driveshaft is a welcome addition in a category that has slim pickens in regard to shafties.

Not suprising but still disappointment in not putting better brakes up front.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
 
Yamaha 2006 FJR 1300A

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ROAD RASH
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  		   Posted 12/6/2006 2:58 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I find this very interesting because I was seriously considering purchasing a Honda Shadow 750. Not only do I fancy the look but I hear it rides well and people rarely have problems with it. I know a man with the American Classic edition, if thats what its called, I might be wrong or mixed up with the name. He claims it to a very pleasant ride and provides everything he could ever want in a bike. Now is the bike great or are his standards low? Who knows!
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bmadson
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  		   Posted 12/6/2006 3:21 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
It depends on your standards torinmcc. It's definitely not a high-performance sportbike, but it's a solid bike and easy to ride. It will be a great fit for a lot of riders and the ACE is very similar to the current Shadow Spirit (there have been a ton of bikes carrying the "Shadow" name and the ACE was one of them). After participating in the Shadow Spirit press intro I can see why many people stick with them. Sounds like what you need is a test ride.
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spirit-750-rider
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  		   Posted 12/16/2006 5:41 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
 The new shadow spirit 750 is a good looking bike I think the rear fender don't look all that good
I'am not sure about the 21" front wheel and single carb.or the shaft drive I've never owned a
shaft drive bike but I think the chain drive looks better and give's a bike more of a motorcycle
look also honda need's to build a better seat for the spirit 750 the seat may look good but it
don't ride all that good it gets hard after riding several miles.I think they should put a tach. on
the bike at the factory and maybe oil pressure and temp.gauges instead of idiot lights.also the
stock mufflers need changing I thank they are to big in size and don't hang low enought and not loud enought for the style of bike the spirit 750 is.If they would build the bike with the
front raised 2-2.5 in. and rear lowered 1.5-2 in. the bike would look and ride and handle a lot
better and with lower hanging exhaust pipes it would look a hold lot better.
 
 I own and ride a 2002 shadow spirit 750dc I've raised the front 2.5 in. and lowered rear 1.5 in.
added cobra street rod pipes 4 in. rise handle bars crash bars wind sheild saddle bags back rest
with bag and other goodies it made a lot of defference in the ride and handling of bike and also
made it look a lot better (gives it more of a harley look) I really like and enjoy my shadow spirit
I ride it every chance I get I've rode bikes off and own all my life got my first bike when I was
12 year old.This shadow is the first bike I've owned in 30 plus years.The shadow spirit is a hard
bike to beat for a dependable motorcycle for every day use or week end rides it has enought
power and tork for street riding and racing if you want and road running for long hauls.
 
Well this is my personal thought's of the shadow spirit 750
                                                                               Thanks  ShadowRider
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Jon Neet
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  		   Posted 2/26/2007 11:02 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
    My personal opinion is that I don't like the looks of the new bike. The older model, on the other hand, was a great looking bike.
 
    Jon
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iowarider
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  		   Posted 3/4/2007 4:50 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I'm right there with you Jon. I like the looks of the older spirit 750 dc. but am unhappy with the new spirit. In fact I owned a 2004 spirit 750 dc. Had to sell it for financial hard times. Ready to purchase another bike, really wanted to come back to the spirit because of the hammer like reliability and ease of riding as well as looks. Sorry Honda, you used the wrong folks for your focus group. I'm purchasing a Vulcan 900 custom.
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Wildfire
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  		   Posted 3/4/2007 7:13 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
My son has a Shadow 750 and it runs great and is dependable. It has one major problem. You must muscle it into a curve and muscle it out. It is the worst handling machine I've ever rode. When making a U-turn in the middle of the street, hang on or it will fall into the well.

Wildfire
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ahj
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  		   Posted 3/5/2007 8:53 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

HI-

When you speak of "Older Models" what year are you speaking of. I have an 02 Shadow 750 ACE. It appears to sit a bit higher than the newer ones-  I like the look and feel better. I am not sure if the look, and feel is becaause it is an 02- or because it is an ACE----------

"Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose—and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

~Abraham Lincoln

 

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cgibney
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  		   Posted 8/6/2007 2:11 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

I seem to be the target audience that Honda had in mind for the latest Shadow 750. I'm a returning rider after many years of hiatus and I purchased a new 2007 750c2 last month because I liked what I saw and because of my past experiences with Honda bikes. I love my new 750 and my only complaint is the seat. It's comfortable for the first 30 minutes but the butt starts getting sore after that, and the passenger seat is clearly intended for small riders on a short trip. I plan to get a Mustang seat in the not too distant future to remedy my only complaint. Count me as a very happy 750c2 owner.

Clay
Rocky Mount, VA
cool 

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choover73
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  		   Posted 10/21/2007 1:16 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I had a 1998 virago 1100 , loved the power didnt like the small frame. I bought the spirit 750 especially for the body style. I liked the 21in front  , wish they had put a 200 or bigger back tire on. I hate that I gave up the power though. It really is weak, compared to what I had , but to late now . I still enjoy it though, And I love that it is shaft driven.jumpin
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LouisA
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  		   Posted 6/8/2008 10:19 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

I agree with about everything you said ShadowRider & cgibney.  I rode dirt bikes as a kid, then went 30 years without ever getting on a bike.  I bought an 07 750 Spirit, mostly because I have always felt that Honda meant "reliability".  I am not a mechanic, and I don't want to spent any time working on my bike, or waiting to get it out of the shop.  Of course, any bike needs to fit your particular riding needs.  I am a computer tech, and do anywhere from 1 to 6 service calls a day.  I ride my bike to all calls that I don't have to haul hardware.  That means I put on a lot of miles, mostly intown about 45 mph, although I do have to use the loop a lot, where I can run 70.  I love this bike.  I don't see any of the problems in handling at low speeds or any other time.  It handles like a dirt bike (easy).  I only weigh 145, so I didn't want a big heavy bike.  I can handle the 750 with ease, in any situation.  I would recommend this bike to anyone who is small in size, and wants easy handling.  Even a small woman could learn to ride very easily on this bike.  Both feet touch the ground flat footed, with room to spare.  My only complaint is the seat, but even that isn't all that bad.  It's not good for a passenger though, very hard on the butt.  My wife took 1 short trip (40 miles) with me, and said "never again, unless you replace that seat".  The '07 comes in both the chain drive and the shaft drive.  I got the chain drive, because that bike was a little cheaper, and I was trying to save every penny.  The cost was one of my biggest limitations as I couldn't afford another high payment.  I can't imagine a better bike for the price, though some of the Vstar's were very impressive.  I would rate the '07 Honda 750 a 10.  I think I'll ride this bike till the wheels fall off............or, maybe not that long.

Louis

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