Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Is the Honda Shadow Phantom the New Sportster?
Motorcyclist
Follow
11/15/2023
Motorcyclist Magazine publishes Episode 2 of its official review of the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom cruiser ($8,399).
Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn
Helmet: Shoei RF-SR
Jacket: Alpinestars SMX Air Jacket
Gloves: Megawatt Gloves
Pant: Alpinestars-Diesel Shiro
Boots: Alpinestars Faster-3 Rideknit
Read the best motorcycle news and reviews: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motorcyclistonline/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcyclistmag/
Category
🥇
Sports
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Hey folks, this is Honda's 2024 Shadow Phantom Cruiser.
00:04
Is this the new Sportster?
00:06
It's $8,400, it's got a 745cc liquid-cooled engine, and it sounds awesome!
00:12
Now this is a middleweight, bobber-style cruiser from Honda Motor Japan.
00:23
If you can even believe it, American Honda's been importing these Shadow-style cruisers
00:30
into America since 1983.
00:32
This is the 41st year of Shadow.
00:36
Now the Shadow Phantom fits into the V-Twin Cruiser segment in its affordability.
00:42
This motorcycle retails for $8,400, it's another $300 if you want ABS.
00:49
And for that price, you get a lot of bike for your money.
00:52
Let's start with the engine.
00:54
This motorcycle is powered by Honda's 745cc water-cooled V-Twin engine.
01:01
This engine has three valve cylinder heads, so two intake valves, one exhaust, powered
01:06
by an overhead cam.
01:08
This engine is good for right around 40 horsepower at the 15-inch rear wheel.
01:14
It also makes right around 40 pound-feet of torque.
01:17
You'd be surprised how much get-up-and-go this bike has at lower speeds.
01:22
Now you're certainly not going to win any drag races in terms of top speed, but around
01:27
town this thing gets up and goes to 50, 60 miles per hour very well.
01:32
Now a five-speed transmission puts power back to the tire.
01:35
It has a nice, clean shaft vinyl drive.
01:38
If you're not familiar with shaft vinyl drive, it's nice because it makes for a real clean
01:43
appearance.
01:44
There's no lubricant or chain splash that gets on the rear end of the bike, and it just
01:49
adds for a real clean look.
01:51
It also boosts maintenance intervals.
01:54
Barely ever have to change the oil in the rear differential in these things.
01:58
That's really American Honda's secret sauce with its V-Twin motorcycle.
02:04
These motorcycles are built really well.
02:06
For an $8,400 bike, you'd be blown away.
02:09
You'd be hard-pressed to find another motorcycle in the V-Twin category that is priced less
02:15
than $10,000 with this type of build quality.
02:18
This is a very well-built motorcycle.
02:21
It's worth mentioning that Honda imports a lot of its motorcycles into America that are
02:27
built from the Honda Thailand factory.
02:29
This motorcycle's not built from Honda Thailand.
02:31
This thing's built in Kumamoto, Japan, where Honda builds its Gold Wings and other top-of-the-line
02:39
bikes that cost well over $25,000.
02:41
So you know when you purchase this $8,400 Shadow Phantom, you're getting a really quality
02:47
motorcycle.
02:48
Now, the handling on this thing.
02:50
This bike weighs right around 540 pounds, and it's a very easy bike to ride.
02:54
Of course, 540 pounds is a lot of weight for a new rider, but because this motorcycle has
03:01
such a low seat height, if you were a new rider, you'd probably get along with this
03:04
bike pretty well.
03:05
The clutch has a good feel.
03:07
The brakes are responsive without it being overly so.
03:11
The throttle response also, it's nice.
03:14
You really feel the power pulses of the engine and that exhaust note.
03:18
The exhaust note and the engine note on this vehicle, they sound awesome.
03:22
You're literally going to be thinking, "I'm riding a Harley-Davidson right now, and the
03:26
bike sounds that good."
03:28
Good job, Honda.
03:29
We're really happy that you're paying attention to the details, like engine and exhaust sound,
03:33
which is so important in a V-Twin bike.
03:37
Now, styling on this bike.
03:38
I like the styling.
03:40
I think Honda used a little bit too much logos on the motorcycle.
03:43
There's logos all over the engine on the side.
03:46
Really for these bikes, V-Twin people aren't going to want to say they're riding a Honda.
03:50
They're just not.
03:51
So I think if Honda could remove some of these logos and just have this bike be more brand
03:56
agnostic, that would do really good for them in the sales department.
04:00
You've got to remember, younger people these days, they're all brand agnostic.
04:04
They don't care what brand stuff they have.
04:05
They just want it to be plain with no logos.
04:08
I think that's one area where Honda could really improve, is just don't logo the bikes,
04:12
kind of like how they do with Honda Rebel.
04:15
The rear license plate hugger is a little bit big, but with removing these three 12
04:20
or 14 millimeter Allen bolts on either side of the bike, you actually remove that whole
04:24
hugger and replace it with something aftermarket that's a lot cleaner looking, if you want.
04:30
$8,400 for this Shadow Phantom.
04:33
This bike's really a great value in the middleweight V-Twin bobber segment.
04:39
It looks cool.
04:40
It rides awesome.
04:41
The engine and exhaust note are literally splendid.
04:45
And if you're looking for an affordable, easy riding V-Twin cruiser to cruise around town
04:50
on, have some fun with your friends on the weekend, nothing too long distance, but for
04:54
shorter rides, this bike will be a good fit for you.
04:58
Well, folks, that wraps up our official review of Honda's 2024 Phantom Shadow Cruiser.
05:04
As always, make sure to surf on over to MotorcyclistOnline.com.
05:08
That's where all of our written content comes to life.
05:10
Give this video a thumbs up if you liked it, thumbs it down if you dinked.
05:13
We'd love to hear from the naysayers.
05:15
Everyone's opinion counts here.
05:16
And sound off in the comment section, what do you think of this Shadow Phantom Cruiser?
05:22
Thanks for riding with us, and we'll see you in the next episode.
05:24
[00:05:00] [END OF AUDIO]
Recommended
33:29
|
Up next
2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Review - Best Affordable V-Twin Cruiser?
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
11:43
Is Honda’s CRF250RX The Best All Around Dirt Bike?
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
28:53
Honda SCL500 Scrambler Review - Episode 1
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
4:37
Honda SCL500 Scrambler Review - Episode 2
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
26:45
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ MC Commute Review
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
1:14:08
Can we push the Kawasaki KLR650 to its limits in Mexico?
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
26:47
2022 Honda Navi Scooter Review | MC Commute
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
1:19
2024 Honda CRF250R Dyno Test
Dirt Rider
1/31/2024
5:09
2022 Honda Grom ABS Review | Motorcyclist
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
26:29
Alpinestars Racing Absolute V2 One-Piece Suit Review
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
4:11
Get A Rundown Of The Honda CB650R
Motorcyclist
11/6/2024
11:14
2023 Suzuki SV650 Review - Final Ride?
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
6:00
2022 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R Review | Motorcyclist
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
53:03
2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide CVO Review - Worth $49,000?
Motorcyclist
8/8/2023
5:05
Get A Rundown Of The All New Suzuki GSX-8R!
Motorcyclist
2/26/2024
15:16
Riding The All New Suzuki GSX-8R
Motorcyclist
3/7/2024
55:12
2023 Suzuki Hayabusa Review - Riding to Laguna Seca
Motorcyclist
8/8/2023
0:53
Best New Motorcycles Under $8K
Motorcycle Cruiser
5/14/2020
2:45
2019 Honda CB500X First Ride Review
Motorcyclist
8/8/2019
32:22
2022 Honda CRF250F Review
Dirt Rider
6/17/2023
1:25
Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Motorcycles
Motorcyclist
9/18/2020
55:49
2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally Bike Review
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
18:14
Mini Moto Madness: Honda Grom vs Kawasaki Z125 Pro vs Honda Monkey - On Two Wheels
Motorcyclist
1/23/2020
1:11:42
2023 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Review
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023
39:34
2023 Yamaha MT-10 SP Review MC Commute
Motorcyclist
11/15/2023