Anyone any experience of the Honda VT 1100 Shadow?

arybvtcw0eolkf

I'm thinking of finally acting my age and getting a cruiser :eek:

So anyone here have any experience of ownership of one, or similar and how was it on fuel economy, torque & two up touring with luggage (comfort wise both two up and single).

blade1

Zavier Rapid Tumbleweed wrote: »

I'm thinking of finally acting my age and getting a cruiser :eek:

So anyone here have any experience of ownership of one, or similar and how was it on fuel economy, torque & two up touring with luggage (comfort wise both two up and single).

I had a suzuki intruder 1400 for a while.
Had a sports bike at the same time though.

Wouldn't bother with one again to be honest.
Got bored of it very quick.
Dual purpose is what u want...;)

arybvtcw0eolkf

blade1 wrote: »

Wouldn't bother with one again to be honest.
Got bored of it very quick.
Dual purpose is what u want...;)

Yea a few people said I'd get bored with it quickly.. Dual purpose?.

blade1

Zavier Rapid Tumbleweed wrote: »

Yea a few people said I'd get bored with it quickly.. Dual purpose?.

V-strom, multistrada, tdm,Aprilia Caponord etc.

I'm telling you won't look back.
Try a few out.;)
Back roads,motorways,on road, off road,tour,commute.
All rolled into one bike.
What more could you ask for?

arybvtcw0eolkf

blade1 wrote: »

V-strom, multistrada, tdm,Aprilia Caponord etc.

I'm telling you won't look back.
Try a few out.;)
Back roads,motorways,on road, off road,tour,commute.
All rolled into one bike.
What more could you ask for?

I get you now, tbh I'm looking at slowing down ~ cutting out the wheelies, dicing down the M50 through rush hour etc.

I just feel my biking taking on a new phase now

blade1

Zavier Rapid Tumbleweed wrote: »

I get you now, tbh I'm looking at slowing down ~ cutting out the wheelies, dicing down the M50 through rush hour etc.

I just feel my biking taking on a new phase now

My brother and his missus went touring a few weeks ago on a Valkyrie.
They found it grand and comfortable enough two up an fully loaded.

DLMA23

Comes to us all eventually

Personally if I had the €'s, I'm partial to the Triumph Speedmaster, middleweight cruiser with a great heritage & plenty of customizable options without being a points accumulator

arybvtcw0eolkf

^^^ Cool, but with a son just graduated college and a daughter just starting her first year I haven't a pot to piss in for the next few years

DLMA23

Zavier Rapid Tumbleweed wrote: »

^^^ Cool, but with a son just graduated college and a daughter just starting her first year I haven't a pot to piss in for the next few years

Tell me about it

galwaytt

Zavier Rapid Tumbleweed wrote: »

I'm thinking of finally acting my age and getting a cruiser :eek:

So anyone here have any experience of ownership of one, or similar and how was it on fuel economy, torque & two up touring with luggage (comfort wise both two up and single).

I've a cruiser, but not a VT. Mot even a Honda. After years of tourers GS's etc I've found it to be the perfect antidote to everything. Cheap to run (55mpg), cheap to service, easy to ride. Std saddle on mine is so - so, but custom saddle is easy to find. Panniers and top boxes abound.

ACE1100 is a lovely bike. Spent some time on the 750 this year and it was lovely.

Suzuki 1800 is nice too. Our a Kwak 1500.

A friend had a Valkyrie which was a behemoth. Odd handling and fond of juice.

cantdecide

The brother has an 1100 Aero and he's put something like 20k on it in the last few years. It just keeps on truckin' and the paint and finish keeps holding up. Just keep it fed with the usual stuff and it'll keep doing the business for you. The big question is whether it will keep you interested. In my brother's case he loves it and has no plans to part with it any time soon and he's the kind of fella that if you gave him an R1, he'd quickly find a tree to get it stuck up.

arybvtcw0eolkf

cantdecide wrote: »

The brother has an 1100 Aero and he's put something like 20k on it in the last few years. It just keeps on truckin' and the paint and finish keeps holding up. Just keep it fed with the usual stuff and it'll keep doing the business for you. The big question is whether it will keep you interested. In my brother's case he loves it and has no plans to part with it any time soon and he's the kind of fella that if you gave him an R1, he'd quickly find a tree to get it stuck up.

Cheers thats the kind of stuff I need to read.

I've been asking around and most lads I know riding cruisers are on HD's but realistically I can't afford one, and I need a bike which is up to commuting up to 20k annually.

The boredom factor is what concerns me, I've always loved fast bikes and playing around with a little stunting.. That said I feel its time to slow down and keep both wheels on the ground!.

I might put my bike up for sale/swap and see how it goes ~ tbh I love my present bike and won't be too disappointed if it didn't shift too soon.

Cienciano

My da has a yamaha xv1700 at the moment. If I was getting a cruiser style bike I'd look for one. Bag loads of torque, wheels take proper tyres, even has upside down forks. Standard exhaust is a bit manky though, most people change them.
Not many for sale in Ireland though.

Faing

Feet forwards (as I call them) are a completely different kettle of fish to anyone that has owned and ridden conventional bikes (of whatever ilk). I bought an 1100 Yamaha a few years back with the intention of slowing down and enjoying the scenery etc. That was when the Homer Simpson syndrome hit me. There you are, riding down your favourite bit of road at a relaxed pace, shooting the breeze etc, when another bike comes past you and its kinda like the little Homer in your head says "Why You little *##*" and you're off in pursuit only to find that the pegs are sparking far too early and the wallow though corners at speed feels like a puncture.
My feet forward experience/love affair ended after about 6 weeks and I went back to a Pan. The wife also used to complain that although they may look comfortable, they ain't. I found that sitting bolt upright or laid back a bit put tremendous strain on my lower back as well.
This is only my personal opinion, I'll never own another. I realise some people find them the best thing sin' sliced bread but if I was you I'd see if I could get a loan of one for a month or so before spending the kids inheritance.
Horses for courses as they say and at the end of the day a bike is a bike is a bike... all said and done, you won't go far wrong with a Honda Shadow.

galwaytt

Faing wrote: »

Feet forwards (as I call them) are a completely different kettle of fish to anyone that has owned and ridden conventional bikes (of whatever ilk). I bought an 1100 Yamaha a few years back with the intention of slowing down and enjoying the scenery etc. That was when the Homer Simpson syndrome hit me. There you are, riding down your favourite bit of road at a relaxed pace, shooting the breeze etc, when another bike comes past you and its kinda like the little Homer in your head says "Why You little *##*" and you're off in pursuit only to find that the pegs are sparking far too early and the wallow though corners at speed feels like a puncture.
My feet forward experience/love affair ended after about 6 weeks and I went back to a Pan. The wife also used to complain that although they may look comfortable, they ain't. I found that sitting bolt upright or laid back a bit put tremendous strain on my lower back as well.
This is only my personal opinion, I'll never own another. I realise some people find them the best thing sin' sliced bread but if I was you I'd see if I could get a loan of one for a month or so before spending the kids inheritance.
Horses for courses as they say and at the end of the day a bike is a bike is a bike... all said and done, you won't go far wrong with a Honda Shadow.

Meh: you're doing it wrong; just buy a sports bike etc and.........park it BESIDE the cruiser for when you have that itch to scratch......


Win-Win


Btw my H-D isn't feet-forwards (which I agree is an awful position to ride in). It depends on the model.