Honda VT125C Shadow

[Technician]

Guys,
Any impressions of this bike? Bearing in mind how fiercely contested the 125cc class, and particularly in the custom/cruiser market, is these days I think Honda have put out an excellent machine (although you pay for the privilige!!).

Comparing it to the Yammie VX125 Dragstar & the Suzuki VL125 Intruder, it looks like a nice package. Power is ahead of the other two - right on 15hp compared to 12 & 13hp. Dry weight is the same. Honda UK claim a top end of 140kmh, probably more like 125kmh in reality but seems more than adequate to make navigating traffic and longer trips a reality.

Anyone got any comments on "small" bikes like this. Are some a good deal better than others?

Tech

[Eirik]

The XV is a dog, very slow. The Suzuki goes a little better, but lacks midrange and is very heavy at 154kg. The Honda is the clear winner in the tiny cruiser class. Real top speed prone is 120kph - you'd have to drop it off a cliff to reach 140. I have seen it tested in a German magazine, and that particular specimen made just over 15hp at the dyno and it topped out at 121kph. Acceleration was not stunning, though, due to high weight, and roll-on power was only good next to the other two V-twin cruisers. Light and nimpble singles like the boring GS125 will trounce them in roll-ons, but won't generally make it past 110kph.

If you want to go fast on a 125, buy a NSR125 or Aprilia RS125 and derestrict it to its original 34hp or so and go well past the ton (until you gain too much weight or face a hill or headwind, that is).

Personally, I can only see two reasons to ride 125s; age (under 18 have no option) or license (many are allowed to ride 125s with nothing but a drivers license for cars). Apart from that, a 125 s u c k s. It barely has enough power to keep up with normal traffic on the open road. For in-town riding only, they do OK, though.

As for reliability, neither of the three have any real flaws.

[Technician]

I take your point all right, not too much power to throw around but depends largely on the intended use of the bike, no? The NSR & RS125 are quite quick but do they not cheat a bit? I mean they are designed to look like serious race replicas yet spit out a nasty 2 stroke exhaust note, have ALL their power concentrated in a 500rpm band WAY up the range, require higher maintenance intervals, and are much more prone to theft.

Anyway, my point related more to the choice of a suitable bike for learning the craft. Something to get by on for the first 6-12 months. The 125 Shadow weighs in at 145kg, seems a reasonable weight to have to handle as a learner. By comparison the 750 Shadow (the bike I really want) weighs in at 230kg, seems like a big difference, unless you reckon that bike weight actually has very little to concern a new rider? What's your opinion? Can a novice (not a small novice by any means) confidently handle a (physically) large bike such as the Black Widow, as opposed to a large capacity bike (some of which can actually be quite small - Voxan 1000cc for example).

Your opinions appreciated anyone,
Tech

[Eirik]

The 125s will most definitely annoy you to the extreme every time you try to pass a car, for instance. The weight is one thing to control, power another. The 750 Shadow you want is very easy to control, despite its weight. That's because the CG is very low and so is the seating position, making it rediculously easy to place both feet flat on the ground. Power is less than 50hp, so that's not enough to scare you, either.

The only reason not to go directly to something like the 750 Shadow, is dropping cost. Most riders will drop their bike once or twice during their first year, be it a 125 or a 1250. If you ride an old beater, the cost will limit itself to a new mirror, perhaps, whil you would like to replace every parts scraped, no matter how minor, if the bike is new and shiny. For that reason alone you may want to consider an old CX500 or 400 Superdream or something similar to practice on.

Modern sport bikes are not easy to handle in general, despite their low weight. Their chassis geometry is poited towards instant steering response and require much more attention than a slow-steering bike like the Shadow. Strangely, the Shadow doesn't take more effort to turn than a sportbike, it will only happen at a much slower rate. The sedate power of a cruiser further aids control.

If you can afford both the bike and the cost of some repair should a tip-over occur, by all means buy the big Shadow right away. Should you want to learn a bit more first, buy an old beater for a song and ride the crap out of it and sell it without any serious loss after 6-12 months. BTW, this is a good time to buy, prices are low now.