2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Overview [9 Fast Facts]

Though the Insurgent lineup will get many of the Honda cruiser consideration as of late, the 41-year-old Shadow V-twins are nonetheless round, and folks proceed to purchase the most recent iterations—the Phantom and the Aero. Each are powered by a liquid-cooled 745cc engine and are priced between the Insurgent 500 and 1100. The Shadows had change into one thing of a retro traditional, sporting a vestigial drum brake within the rear and wire-spoke wheels. Each Shadows get up to date for the approaching mannequin 12 months, and we hopped on the better-selling mannequin to learn the way a lot totally different the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom is.

1. The ergonomics are essentially the most substantial useful change for the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom. There’s a brand new flatter-bend handlebar and a extra conventional handlebar mount, transferring the grips up and ahead a tad. Moreover, the brand new solo seat is 0.2 inches shorter, which raises the grips relative to the seat. With the footpegs remaining within the forward-mounted location, the brand new Phantom has a barely extra aggressive, upright seating posture that doesn’t threaten its signature cruiser consolation—it’s simply not fairly as relaxed. Passenger lodging—seat and pegs—will be added for $100.
2. The brand new ergonomics current the rider as a extra dominant persona—not a nasty factor on a smaller-displacement cruiser. Fortuitously, operate shouldn’t be sacrificed for type. It’s nonetheless a pleasure to journey the Phantom within the metropolis and out within the twisties. Round city, you’ll be getting extra constructive consideration, although you continue to must curb your enthusiasm within the canyon, city or rural, even with the brand new rear disc brake.
3. The pictures don’t do the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom’s new styling justice. We will begin with the gas tank, which will get an attractive new two-tone paint job that appears prefer it belongs on one thing that prices excess of $8399. We examined it with the brash Orange Metallic paint, and it’s putting. The Deep Pearl Grey is for somebody who desires to journey below the radar, whereas nonetheless wanting stylish. The opposite styling touches are better than the sum of their components. The newly blacked-out exhaust, bobbed rear fender and its prolonged helps, new entrance fender, fork boots changing metal covers, redesigned air-cleaner cowl, machining-highlighted cylinder and cylinder head fins, headlight nacelle, flip indicators, and up to date tank-mounted speedo amplify the brand new paint with delicate effectiveness. You actually should see it in individual.
4. The Phantom retains its credibility as an efficient and economical city motorbike. Positive, it doesn’t have any form of pavement-rippling energy. Whereas that may be disappointing when the stoplight turns inexperienced, it does make the Phantom extremely straightforward to journey. There’s loads of energy to outrun all however essentially the most aggressive four-wheelers, and that’s all you want for a useful city cruiser. The laconic throttle response and mushy low-end energy won’t ever intimidate a brand new rider, and that’s the concept. Rev up the marginally oversquare motor, and you may transfer about city with some authority. Nonetheless, that’s a number of work—simply purchase a motorbike with extra displacement. Dealing with is easy, due to the low seat top and light-weight weight, with the fats Dunlop 401 tires serving to the suspension handle poorly maintained metropolis streets. The brand new, extra upright seating place incrementally improves your view of the proceedings.
   
5. The returning chassis exhibits its age within the canyons. For those who’re in search of a sport-cruiser, this isn’t it. The 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom is nice for informal rides by way of the twisties relatively than dicing with wannabe sport riders. Riders with any cornering expertise can be touching their bootheels down shortly at something apart from a sedate tempo. Subsequent to hit the pavement are the peg feelers—heed their warning. The billowy tires, mushy suspension, and delicate throttle response collectively remind you to take it straightforward—odor the flowers and take within the surroundings. For those who’re transferring up the Honda cruiser ladder, the Insurgent 1100 can be a subsequent step that may impress you. 
6. The Phantom holds its personal on the freeway. With a agency twist of the throttle and a few upshifting of the slick five-speed gearbox, you could find 80 mph or so pretty shortly. Take note, although, that throttle response at excessive speeds is proscribed. As an city freeway motorbike, it’s fairly good. Lane-splitting is straightforward, although the getting older clutch might use an help operate. Actually, many individuals commute to work on Phantoms, and the 2024 is pretty much as good as ever in that function.
   
7. Braking energy is proscribed, with most deceleration within the arms of the 296mm entrance disc and a modest Nissin four-piston caliper. Simply because the motor is mild with the rider, so are the brakes. It’s a part of the forgiving philosophy of the Phantom. The bike is aware of loads of much less skilled riders can be on it, and it doesn’t make you pay for a mistake or any ham-fisted actions on the controls. The brand new rear disc brake is underwhelming, and a bit awkward to actuate. We rode a non-ABS model, and it’s not straightforward to really feel such as you want ABS (a $300 choice) if you happen to solely journey in dry circumstances—the brakes are naturally reluctant to skid the fats Dunlops. The only real sensible benefit of the brand new rear disc is that the ABS now works on each wheels
8. You’ll discover that digital aids haven’t been talked about, and that’s for a superb cause—there aren’t any. Until you take into account electrical beginning and EFI digital rider aids (okay, they’re), you’re by yourself on the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom. You gained’t discover energy modes, ABS (on the usual model examined), or controls (traction, cruise, wheelie, or launch). That each one works to simplify issues for a brand new rider and hold the worth at $8399.
9. Riders will come on the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom from a number of instructions, and all can be totally happy. For those who’re in search of fashionable, cheap transportation with all types of flexibility, this can be a sensible choice. New riders who wish to safely be taught the ropes will recognize the forgiving nature of the Phantom, and really feel cool whereas doing it. Older riders who’re downsizing can keep within the sport with a motorbike that’s succesful, and its styling requires no apologies. Because of its versatility, reliability, and affordability, the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom is the type of bike that retains motorcycling viable and enjoyable.

Pictures by Kevin Wing

RIDING STYLE

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Specs

ENGINE

• Kind: 52-degree V-twin
• Displacement: 745cc liquid-cooled
• Bore x stroke: 79 x 76mm
• Compression ratio: 9.6:1
• Valvetrain: SOHC; 3vpc
• Fueling: EFI w/ 34mm throttle physique
• Ignition: Two spark plugs per cylinder
• Transmission: 5-speed
• Clutch: Moist multiplate
• Remaining drive: Shaft 

CHASSIS

• Entrance suspension; journey: Non-adjustable 41mm fork; 5.5 inches
• Rear suspension; journey: Spring-preload adjustable shocks; 3.6 inches
• Wheels: Wire spoke
• Tires: Dunlop D401
• Entrance tire: 120/90 x 17
• Rear tire: 160/80 x 15
• Entrance brake: 296mm disc w/ 2-piston Nissin caliper
• Rear brake: 276mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
• ABS: Optionally available (+$300)

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

• Wheelbase: 64.5 inches
• Rake: 34 levels
• Path: 6.3 inches
• Seat top: 25.6 inches
• Gasoline capability: 3.9 gallons
• Curb weight: 543 kilos (ABS: 553 kilos)
• Colours: Deep Pearl Grey; Orange Metallic

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Value: $8399 MSRP

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Overview Picture Gallery