Look at online forums/social media, and you’ll find many motorcyclists complaining about how expensive modern cruisers have gotten. Harley-Davidson usually gets the worst brunt of it, but there’s no denying this is the general trend today. Buying a brand-new cruiser is a financial commitment, and if you’re not ready for it, it can get out of hand quickly.
Fortunately, that need not always be the case. Some manufacturers, especially Japanese ones, have been making competent metric cruisers for years that are just as good, while being much more affordable to own. Here’s one such metric cruiser that costs less to own than you’d expect.
V-Twin Cruiser Experience Is Usually Expensive
There’s something undeniable about a V-twin cruiser, whether it’s the character, style, or comfort. This feel is hard to find in other motorcycles, even if they might come with fire-breathing V4 engines or butter-smooth inline-four. But if you want something like that today, your options are quite narrow, especially if you’re low on budget. That’s especially true if you want something authentic and homegrown, like a Harley-Davidson or Indian.
Harley-Davidson rules the game here with its big twin cruisers, like the Fat Boy and the Breakout. But these bikes are quite expensive; even the cheapest big twin Harley, the Street Bob, starts at $14,999. You could also go for the Sportster models, like the Nightster at $9,999, but modern Sportsters have traded in their old-school character for modern, street-friendly performance. They are still great bikes, though.
On the other hand, Indian Motorcycles offer three cruiser lines, of which the Scout Sixty, starting at $9,999, makes the most sense. They come with decently powerful V-twin engines and old-school style, but they are still expensive. Don’t forget maintenance; Indian Motorcycles may be reliable, but can they really beat Honda when it comes to reliability? There are some other V-twin metric cruisers, too, though it seems like manufacturers have forgotten to update them for years, except one.
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Honda Shadow Phantom Costs Way Less Than You’d Expect
Think of a V-twin cruiser that’s super reliable, comes with a shaft drive, and offers plenty of style. You’d expect it to be expensive, right? The Honda Shadow Phantom is here to prove you wrong. It’s one of Honda’s two V-twin cruisers, starting at just $8,699, and it’s also one of the most affordable ways of getting a true V-twin experience. Plus, it’s an age-old platform that has proven its reliability over the years. All it demands is routine maintenance, and you never have to worry about expensive repairs.
For that price, you shouldn’t think you’re compromising, which is usually the case with some other Japanese V-twin cruisers. The Shadow Phantom is stylish, packs a V-twin engine pumping out enough power to cruise comfortably on the highway, and it’s nimble enough to handle city streets. It’s also a blank canvas, so you can turn it into what you want. It even nails the basic essentials, including a shaft drive, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and liquid-cooling.
Compare the Shadow Phantom to its rivals, and you’ll see why we picked this one. Take the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 or the Suzuki Boulevard C50. These cruisers are expensive and lack some features that are present on the Shadow Phantom. More importantly, their traditional cruiser styling translates to more weight, which may feel too much for the V-twin engines. Meanwhile, other cruisers, like the Kawasaki Vulcan S or the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, lack the V-twin feel.
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Bulletproof V-Twin Engine For An Authentic Experience
The Honda Shadow Phantom is powered by a 745cc 52-degree V-twin engine, making it one of the last surviving Japanese V-twins out there. Despite being such an old engine, it still features liquid-cooling and Honda’s PGM-FI system, which ensures hassle-free starts and a smooth ride throughout the rev range. It also uses three valve heads and dual spark combustion chambers to improve power delivery.
Adequate Power For Commuting And Cruising
The result is a power output of around 45 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 47.9 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 RPM. While these are modest numbers, it suits the Shadow Phantom’s character just right. This bike should feel quite peppy in the city and have enough oomph to get up to highway speeds when you want it to. Given its 52-degree configuration, you can also be sure it will sound good.
Undressed Engine = Excellent Reliability
Part of the reason why the engine’s power output is modest is its low compression ratio of 9.6:1, which translates to a very low-stress character. The engine is also quite old and has been in operation since 1997, when Honda introduced the Shadow VT750C. These factors, along with Honda’s inherent reliability, make the Shadow Phantom one of the most reliable V-twin cruisers you can buy today. It’s the kind of bike where, as long as you stick to routine maintenance, you don’t have to worry about any surprise repairs.
Cheapest Motorcycle With A Shaft Drive
The V-twin engine is mated to a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox, which sends the power to the rear wheel via a shaft drive. The shaft drive is said to be quite efficient and thoroughly integrated into the bike’s design, and it completely eliminates the hassle of cleaning the chain every other week. This may be a small thing in terms of time and money spent, but it quickly adds up over the years.
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Blank Canvas Design With Easy Handling And Comfort In Mind
The Shadow Phantom is underpinned by a steel double-cradle frame, sitting on a 41mm fork up front and dual shocks at the rear. Given its cruiser stance, it’s a relatively long motorcycle at nearly 97 inches, with a wheelbase of 64.5 inches. This should give the bike plenty of stability while cruising without sacrificing urban agility. At the same time, its 553-pound weight and 5.5-inch and 3.5-inch suspension travel, front and back, should make it easy to ride in various riding conditions.
Accessible, Neutral Ergonomics
This frame geometry also allows for quite an accessible, neutral seating position that promises to be comfortable for most riders. For example, the solo rider seat sits quite low at 25.6 inches; combine that with the narrow seat/tank junction, and even shorter riders should feel very confident on this motorcycle. As standard, it comes with a solo seat, but you can opt for the accessory passenger seat and pegs if you plan on taking a pillion.
Barebones Features List
The Honda Shadow Phantom offers little in terms of features. There’s a disc brake on each end, with ABS as standard, a 17/15-inch laced wheel setup, LED headlight and turn signals, and an analog cluster on the tank. That’s about it. While most riders should be okay with this, it does feel like Honda should have offered spoked wheels with this bike. That would have given it tubeless tires, which is a must to have these days.
American Cruiser-Inspired Design
The Shadow Phantom is not only affordable to buy and own, but it’s also quite stylish. Its handsome design is highlighted by round headlights, short fenders, a peanut tank, and machined cylinder fins that highlight the V-twin engine. Honda has managed to combine both old-school 1950s American cruiser-bike-inspired elements with modern touches all around, which ends up making the Shadow Phantom look a lot more expensive than it really is.
Source: Honda