Honda Shadow

The Honda Shadow refers to a family of cruiser-type motorcycles made by Honda since 1983. The Shadow line features motorcycles with a liquid-cooled 45 or 52-degree V-twin engine ranging from 125 to 1,100 cc engine displacement. The 250 cc Honda Rebel is associated with the Shadow line in certain markets.

History

In 1983, Honda introduced the VT500c and VT750c Shadow series of motorcycles to enter the American cruiser market. However, due to tariff restrictions in the United States on imported Japanese bikes over 701 cc, the VT750c was reduced to 700 cc and sold as the Vt700c from 1984. The tariff was lifted in 1985 and the line soon expanded to an 1,100 cc bike the VT1100c. The VT750c was replaced by an 800 cc version the VT800c in 1988.
The VT600c was launched in 1988 as Honda's new entry level Shadow though still slotted above the Honda Rebel. The line changed little until the introduction of the 750 cc Honda Shadow Ace in 1997. From 2000 to 2007, the Honda Shadow Sabre replaced the VT1100 until the 1,100 cc class was discontinued in favor of the new VTX line, specifically the 1,300 cc offering known as the VTX1300. As of 2011, the Shadow brand has been limited to a single 750 cc cruiser available in Spirit, Aero, Phantom, and RS trims. All other offers are known under the VTX or Rebel brands.
The RS and Phantom are the 2 latest additions to the 750 cc line-up from year 2010. Both are Fuel injected. Shadow RS recalls a flat track racing bike with chain drive, a 'peanut' style gas tank and a slightly higher seat height with foot pegs less forward than conventional cruisers. Phantom is more like a conventional cruiser in ergonomics.

Models

125 cc Class

The Honda 125 is mainly for the UK and Europe market, as it fits within the restrictions placed on learner drivers in the UK and the light motorcycle license in Europe. It also has a chain drive instead of a shaft drive seen on the larger engined bikes. Sales ended in 2009.

500 cc VT Class

The 500cc "VT500C" introduced in 1983 featured chrome side covers and black engine covers. The headlight was chrome and rectangular and had a single horn. The engine was the Honda VT500, a OHC three-valve, liquid cooled V-Twin that averaged around 51.7MPG and put out 54HP@9,000RPM and 31 ft-Ib of torque @7,000RPM and mated to a six-speed, shaft drive transmission.
In 1984, The "VT500C' was featured include the fuel tank and rear fenders painted the same. The front fender is chrome and this year the side covers and engine covers were painted black. The headlight was chrome and rectangular and there was a single horn. The engine is virtually the same as the 1983 model.
The 1985 "VT500C" had round and chromed headlamps. This model continued with the dual horns. A two-piece seat with an integrated backrest was incorporated. Starting this year, the engine covers were polished chrome and the fins enlarged. The "Honda" tank decal was curved instead of straight.
For the 1986 model year, the "VT500C" model was virtually the same as the 1985 model.

600 cc VT Class

The "VLX" "Shadow 600" was introduced as a new model in 1988. It has a single shock rear suspension, a low seat height and a long wheelbase with a fuel tank. The engine is a SOHC three-valve liquid cooled 52-degree V-Twin that averaged 49.5MPG while generating a low 39HP @6,500rpm and 36 ft-Ib of torque @3,500RPM connected to a four-speed transmission and chain drive. In 1999 the dual Keihin CV carburetors were replaced by a single vertical Keihin CV carburetor more like the single carbs found on Harley Davidsons via different heads and a special intake manifold again like many Harley Davidsons, this further reduced horsepower from 39 hp down to 35 hp.
All years of the VT600C wheels are spoked.
In 1989, The VLX VT600C remained largely the same. The VT600C was not made in 1990 but did make a comeback in 1991 offered only in black. The engine and body style was retained from the 1991 model year.
A new deluxe version "VT600CD" introduced in 1993 added more chrome on the engine cases and valve covers. The seat on the deluxe version is soft and tucked. By 1994 the Deluxe model was a standard offering for every year the VLX was made.

700-800 cc VT class

A 1983 model year 750cc V-twin motorcycle is the senior member in the large family of Honda cruisers named Shadow. As of 2018 the once-extensive Shadow line has been reduced to two successors of that original model, the Shadow Aero 750 and the Shadow Phantom 750. Even after multiple engine redesigns the current Shadow 750 still uses the same general layout as the 1983 motor: 4-stroke liquid-cooled narrow-angle V-twin, SOHC three-valve cylinder heads with dual spark plugs.

VT750C 45° V-twin

The VT750C Shadow debuted in late 1982 for North American markets, and a nearly identical NV750 Custom launched in Japan for Honda's domestic market. Both were propelled by a new 750 cc liquid-cooled four-stroke dual-carburetor SOHC three-valve 45-degree V-twin engine with a six-speed transmission and shaft final drive. The Honda identification code for this type of engine is RC14E.
In a January 1983 road test, Cycle said: "This 750 twin is built around what is arguably the most technologically sophisticated Vee ever designed." Advanced technology included three-valve two-plug combustion chambers and a vibration-canceling offset dual-pin crankshaft, as well as hydraulic valve adjusters to keep the valvetrain running at effectively zero-clearance while also eliminating routine adjustments. Each cylinder head had a single chain-driven camshaft and an individual downdraft CV carburetor. Engineering innovations appeared in the transmission as well. The clutch was actuated hydraulically rather than through a mechanical cable; a diaphragm clutch spring was used instead of more common coil springs and a slipper clutch eliminated rear-wheel hop during engine braking or quick downshifting.
In addition to the V-engine, the Shadow's frame and body incorporated classic American cruiser styling cues: a teardrop fuel tank, a low height two-piece seat with sissy bar and backrest, cruiser handlebar, cast wheels, chrome front fender, a round head lamp and instrument casings, large rake angle and angle-cut mufflers. In the US market 1983 was the only model year for the VT750C Shadow, which was available in two colors, Black and Candy Wineberry Red. The VT750C remained available in Canada for the 1984 and 1985 model years nearly unchanged, apart from color, from the 1983 model.
For the 1986 model year, Japan's NV750C was renamed Honda Shadow as part of appearance and frame updates, including a lower seat, longer wheelbase, increased rake and trail as well as a rod linkage for the rear brake. Cast wheels were changed from ten spokes to five. Gold color was added to wheels, crankcase cover and headlight trim. The NV750C Shadow continued to use the RC14E motor. Canadian VT750C models for 1986 were updated in the same manner as the NV750C. The Shadow 750 was exported to Germany in 1987, the last VT750C model year.

VT700C

The VT700C Shadow is among a class of motorcycles known as "tariff-busters." Honda introduced the Shadow 700cc model in 1984 exclusively for the US market in response to tariffs on Japanese motorcycles with engines over 700cc. Honda took the RC14E 45-degree V-twin and reduced its bore size by to create the smaller displacement RC19E engine which was not subject to the import tariff.
The VT700C for 1984 was available in either Black or Candy Scorpio Red; for 1985 the color choices were Black or Candy Glory Red. Both years had painted side covers with a Shadow 700 decal.
For 1986 Honda altered the frame and appearance of the VT700C which included lowering the seat, stretching the wheelbase, increasing rake and trail, switching the front brake from dual disks to a single disk and replacing ten-spoke with five-spoke cast wheels. The new frame was designed to suppress engine vibrations, and a new camshaft improved low-rpm performance with a slight reduction in peak power. The engine was no longer painted black, the front fender was painted instead of chrome plated, and side covers were chrome instead of paint. Side covers displayed the single word Shadow and Honda's wing logotype was showcased on the tank. The passenger backrest was eliminated. Color schemes for 1986 were either Black or Candy Brilliant Red and then Black or Candy Glory for 1987, last model year for the VT700C.

VT800C

Honda introduced the VT800C Shadow for 1988, the sixth year of the Shadow series. The 800cc engine had the same bore diameter as the original Shadow 750 engine, and a longer stroke, but was otherwise the same SOHC, three valves per cylinder, 45-degree V-twin engine. Besides having a larger displacement, this new RC32E engine did have another significant difference – it had a four-speed transmission. The VT800c ran on spoke-and-rim wheels that required tube-type tires instead of the tubeless tires used on the earlier models with cast wheels.
The 1988 Shadow 800 had a new look, with more chrome plating along with two-toned paint on the fuel tank and fenders. Color combinations were Black and Candy Glory Red, or Candy Wineberry Red and Dry Silver Metallic. The tank also wore a simple Shadow decal, rather than the Honda wing. The VT800C was produced only for the North American market, and only for the 1988 model year.

VT750C 52° V-twin, chain drive

Honda brought out a new engine for the VT750C Shadow ACE in 1997. The RC44E engine had its origin in the 600cc Shadow VLX 52-degree V-twin, enlarged to 750cc by means of a wider bore and a longer stroke. This new engine was similar to the old Shadow 750 in that it had liquid cooling and SOHC three-valve dual-plug combustion chambers, conversely, it lacked hydraulically adjusted valves, offset crankpins and a slipper clutch. The shared crankpin limited these engines to 43 hp @ 5500rpm and 44ftlb @ 3000rpm. Further changes to the drivetrain included a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox and a chain final drive instead of shaft. Engine intake was through dual CV carburetors, with Secondary air injection on the exhaust side for emissions control.
The VT750C Shadow ACE had full fenders and retro style features similar to the VT1100C Shadow ACE released two years earlier. A chrome plated exhaust had the look of a two-into-one system, but each header pipe had separate channel inside the large muffler, exiting through two tailpipes. North American models had an electronic speedometer and idiot lights mounted on the handlebar, while models for the European and other market had them mounted on the fuel tank. The Shadow 750 was available as a standard or Deluxe model with more chrome and optional two-tone paint. The 750cc Shadow was also available in Japan as the NV750C continuing through 2001. The NV750C was also available in South Korea from 1999 to 2001.
1998 through 2000 models of the VT750C continued with annual color changes. From 2001, North American models had the speedometer mounted on the tank. The 750cc Shadow ACE was the best-selling model in Honda's 2002 street motorcycle lineup. For 2002 and 2003, rather than the standard VT750C standard model, Honda manufactured only VT750CD or VT750DC models.