The mid-sized cruiser Honda Shadow 1100 is a true road veteran. This model was first introduced to the general public in the mid-80s, and since then it has undergone many changes, becoming better from generation to generation. All over the world there are numerous clubs for fans of this model, the popularity of which has not faded to this day, despite the fact that the famous Japanese “Shadow” has not been produced for a long time, and there are many reasons for this.
For whom
The version has the following features:
- wheel rims have a special shape;
- the engine is the same as that of the Spirit modification;
- high power.
The motorcycle is not very suitable for beginners. However, in the hands of a professional, the Honda VT 1100 Shadow Saber will become a real ship, smoothly and majestically plowing the road.
Reasons for popularity
These days, this bike is still very widely represented on the secondary market in Russia and other countries. The most often found on sale is the Honda Shadow 1100 Spirit, probably because there were so many of these motorcycles produced. Honda Shadow 1100 Saber is also often found, but old first-generation Shadows in a “living” state are problematic to find - age, alas, does not spare anyone. However, there is no point in chasing this modification specifically - the more recent Spirit, ACE and Saber easily outperform their ancestor in all respects - the Honda Shadow 1100 has very good technical characteristics even by modern standards.
The reliability of Honda motorcycles has already become a proverb, and absolutely deservedly so. Even 20-year-old Honda Shadow 1100s often feel great and look no less good, if, of course, they were in caring hands. But if the Honda did not spend the winter in a snowdrift under the window, and its previous owner did not reduce all maintenance to changing the engine oil, you won’t have to worry about its technical condition.
Engine
The engine of this model is V-shaped. This is a two-cylinder and four-stroke unit. Its effective volume is 1099 cm³. The motor is cooled with liquid. There are three valves for each cylinder. At 2700 rpm, the maximum torque is 88 Nm, and its maximum power at 5500 rpm reaches 53 hp. The bike accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, and its top speed is 172 km/h.
Not luxury =(
Due to the fact that the image set by Harley has acquired “cruising” capabilities, many such useful things are missing in such motorcycles. I don’t want to chase luxury tourers and their equipment, but a banal cigarette lighter and heated grips in the factory equipment for a “cruiser” would be a very reasonable solution. However, this is not only nitpicking, but I also have plans, and some of them have already been implemented - for example, the same cigarette lighter. Although it would certainly be nice to have another key position where some electrics would be turned on, the key can be removed. Or ABS.. Oh, dreams.
Actually, there are a minimum of basic equipment. Consider for yourself what I have:
- speedometer (in miles and kilometers)
- odometer (miles)
- odometer – “current trip” (in miles)
And indicators:
- high temperature
- little oil
- neutral (at the base of the steering wheel)
- turn signals (at the base of the steering wheel, not visible in the photo)
- high beam (at the base of the steering wheel, not visible in the photo)
And that is all. Although there is a lot of useful equipment for traveling, the same pressure (puncture) sensors in tires.
Thus, a cruiser, which is not a luxury tourer, is more of a motorcycle for “just riding” rather than a device for serious troubles. All this is very conditional, it would be stupid not to drive it somewhere far since, as you can see, it doesn’t have puncture sensors. People don't even drive like that. But this is the concept, and if you want to have this technique, you will have to accept it.
Dimensions and weight
The motorcycle reaches 1160 mm in height, 965 mm in width and 2435 mm in length. These are impressive dimensions even for a cruiser. The seat height is quite high for the class - 730 mm, which will be appreciated by taller cruisers. Wheelbase – 1650 mm. Weight without fuel is 260 kg, which is the average weight for this type of motorcycle. The tank is large and reaches 15.8 liters. Gasoline consumption per 100 km of road is 5.17 liters, which is very good considering the size.
Modifications
It was from version 1100 that 3-5 modifications began to be launched in the line. The liter engine had:
- VT1100C Shadow - basic version. Production began with it. 4-speed, 13 liter tank, 2 exhaust pipes along the right side of the motorcycle. Assembly completed in 1996.
- VT1100C2 ACE — the abbreviation at the end indicates that the model is for the American market. Elongated fenders, wide wheels, the appearance of a disc brake on the rear wheel, and, curiously, 1 connecting rod rack on the crankshaft to increase vibrations. Starts in 1995, ends in 1999.
Honda VT1100C2 ACE – stands for American Classic Edition.
- VT1100C Spirit - in 1997 it took the place of the previous one on the assembly line. They are similar in appearance, but there are also differences. The fuel tank has been increased to 15.8, as well as a 5-speed gearbox. Production of the modification ends with the closure of the model.
- VT1100T ACE Tourer is an unusual touring development, an offshoot from the main one. Branded plastic panniers, windshield, exhaust cans are moved to both sides, and the wheels are also changed. Started in 1998, closed in 2001.
- VT1100C3 Aero - the ACE modification taken as a basis has enlarged wings, changed the headlight and exhaust. Production began in 1998, closed in 2002.
- VT1100C2 Saber - the same reworking of the ACE version, but with a different engine - a slightly updated version from Spirit. The tank and gearbox also come from it. New alloy wheels. Assembly began in 2000 and ended when the model was closed.
The Tourer version appeared only once, in the VT1100. In other models of the Shadow line, this option was no longer available.
VT1100T ACE Tourer – stock windshield and spacious panniers.
and competitors
The model was not left without competitors.
- Yamaha offered two at once - the XV 1100 Virago and the XVS 1100 Drag Star. It’s interesting that the developers themselves call the second a logical continuation of the first.
- Kawasaki has introduced the VN1500. Aka Vulcan 88, aka VN-15. It is interesting that his model has a one and a half liter engine.
- Suzuki did not participate, but its development includes the Intruder 1500, which is often compared to the models presented by competitors above.
Chassis and brakes
The steel frame has a classic look for such a machine. The VT 1100 Shadow Saber features a stunning black paint job that highlights the bike's understated power. The wheels are alloy, which goes well with the modern look of the model. The steering wheel has standard dimensions.
The pendulum suspension at the rear is equipped with two shock absorbers. The stroke is 100 mm. At the front, there is a telescopic fork with dimensions of 41 mm and a stroke of 150 mm. The rear brake is a single-piston caliper and a 276 mm disc. There is also one disc at the front, but its size is 316 mm, and the caliper is two-piston.
Reviews about VT 1100
Most owners of the Honda Shadow 1100 agree on one thing - this is a really good motorcycle, reliable and certainly worth the money. We collected reviews from real owners of this model on the Internet.
I bought a slightly battered Shadovka two years ago, it had a slight slip after an accident, mainly cosmetics were damaged, plus there were dents on the gas tank. But I got the motorcycle for cheap, and after repainting and restoring its appearance, it still rides, and hasn’t given me any surprises yet, although I’ve personally had almost 20,000 miles on it. The motorcycle is excellent; anyone who doesn’t believe it can read reviews from other owners of the Honda Shadow 1100. Vladimir, Moscow, Honda Shadow 1100 Aero '1999.
When I sold the old Steed 400, the question arose about a new moped, more powerful, but money was tight. In the end, I took the old VT1100C, with gearbox 4, put my hands on it in the off-season, then drove for three years until I sold it and bought a VTX 1800. In general, The Honda Shadow 1100 has pleasant technical characteristics, but I wanted more adrenaline. Sergey, Vladivostok, VT1100C '1988.
I am a happy and satisfied owner of an Aero from the last year of production. In six years, the motor ran almost fifty thousand kilometers, there were no serious incidents. Once I over-braked before a traffic light and lay down on my side, eventually hitting the tank and breaking the right footrest bracket. The tank was pulled out with a reverse hammer, the bracket was welded. In general, the front brakes are good, but the rear brakes are a C at best, still a drum. Consumption is from 5 liters if you use 95-grade gasoline, but I only use it on long-distance trips so that I have more range, otherwise I use 92-grade gasoline. During all this time, I changed the oil seals with anthers on the fork, the carburetor pipes (they dried out along the way and cracked), the steering column bearings (iron also does not last forever) and the rear gearbox assembly along with the cardan. The gearbox was ruined by itself, through its own fault - it did not tighten the drain bolt tightly, as a result the oil was gone and it ran dry, the cardan licked the splines on the shaft, the wheel began to slip idle. Everything else is normal, the total mileage is already under 100 thousand, the flight is normal. Sergey, They vibrate noticeably less, Honda Shadow 1100 Aero '2002.
I purposefully searched for a Honda Shadow 1100 Aero, ended up buying an ACE, and I don’t regret anything. I don’t know who says that his engine is strangled, as for me it’s normal, and there are also sane brakes at the rear instead of a stupid drum. Marat, Saratov, Honda Shadow 1100 Aero '2000.
All the best is for the Yankees!
Reinterpreting the famous statement of the classic of Marxism-Leninism, Japanese managers can rightfully claim: “The most important of all markets for us is the American one!” Vestimo: this glutton swallows the lion's share of large-capacity motorcycles produced all over the world, and it is these mastodons that bring the largest profits to concerns (“making a bigger hole is a simple matter... Well, okay, okay, I’m exaggerating this...). Therefore, the tastes and even the whims of the American consumer are satisfied immediately and unquestioningly. Knowing the Americans' passion for V-shaped engines, Honda engineers designed a family of V4 engines, which appeared in the fall of 1981 in the chassis of the classic Saber motorcycles and the choppered Magna. But here’s the problem: there were picky people in USA who, when they saw the new products, roared: “I want a V-Twin!” The confused Japanese wiped the fools' snot, but did not argue: just a year later they rolled out a family of Shadow cruisers (translated from English as “shadow”) with the coveted 2-cylinder engine. True, they did not immediately understand the mysterious American soul, and the new products turned out to be simply “high-tech” by the standards of that time: with liquid cooling (disguised by the abundant fins of the cylinders), 3-valve heads, 6-speed gearboxes, cast wheels and a cardan main transmission.
At first, the Japanese produced “twos” only in 500 and 750 cm3 formats, believing that lovers of large cubic capacity would be quite satisfied with the 4-cylinder 1100 cc Magna. No matter how it is! The Americans considered its 120-horsepower engine more suitable for sports bikes and demanded: “Give me something Harley-like!” The specialists from Honda again did not object. The VT1100C Shadow version was launched in 1985, and its assembly was organized at a plant in the USA: at that time, draconian duties were in effect on the import of motorcycles with engines with a displacement of more than 700 cm3 (adopted to save Harley-Davidson, which was losing its position in the market). Technically, the car retained the features of its younger sisters: liquid cooling, 3-valve cylinder heads, cardan transmission.
And only much later the time came for small cubic capacity V-Twins, which were no longer supplied to America (well, they don’t respect small things in the country!). In 1993, the 250 cc V25 Magna, intended only for the Japanese market, debuted (its copy, by the way, is produced by several Chinese and Taiwanese factories), and in 1998, the 125 cc version of the Shadow, which instantly became a bestseller on the European market. But technically, these machines are very different from motorcycles of medium and large capacity, and we will not touch on them in this review.
Purchase on favorable terms
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