2024 Honda Shadow | TopSpeed (2024)

Honda takes steps to ensure its venerable Shadow platform remains current and viable with the new-for-2024 Shadow Phantom and Shadow Phantom ABS models. The new build carries a little less in the way of visual weight up front making Honda's famous cruiser family look a tad sportier than its predecessor. Classic cruiser proportions, and the comfort that comes along with it, still reign supreme with a low seat height, wide new handlebar, and mid-mount controls.

Honda added a new rear disc brake, which is superior to the old drum-style anchors. This also enables all-around ABS for front-and-rear protection, extra control, and greater confidence in emergency braking situations. The American-style look benefits greatly from the mid-size V-twin engine that has ever been a favorite configuration in the U.S. Two new colorways grace the sheet metal with distinctive graphics to further set it apart from its forebears and lend it an edgy new mien.

What's New For 2024

The 2024 model-year rolls with a number of changes and updates, plus a new look that veers sharply away from its dated custom style into Bobber territory. Gone are the beercan fork skirts that made the front end so beefy, in favor of naked upper fork tubes and bellow gaiters. A new headlight housing rides in front of a new handlebar and riser setup for a redefined co*ckpit while removing the pillion pad gives it that solo-rider look. Dumping the old rear drum brake and new LED lighting completes the updates with a little extra safety due to the effective, two-way visibility.

2024 Highlights

New Bobber-style look, New rear brake disc, Front and rear ABS is now available, New LED lighting, Redesigned front end

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Performance And Capability

Power for the Shadow Phantom comes from a 52-degree V-twin engine that pulls double duty as part of the overall aesthetic, because we do love big “V” engines in our cruisers on our side of the pond, almost to the exclusion of everything else. Bore and stroke measure 79 mm and 76 mm respectively, for a total displacement of 745 cc.

Compression its relatively low at 9.6-to-1, so the Shadow will tolerate fuels down to 90 octane with no preignition/detonation/dieseling risk, and the con-rods aren't beating the daylights out of the bearings in the bottom end. A single over-head cam times the three-valve head with two intake poppets and a single valve on the exhaust side for efficient aspiration with a dual spark-plug setup that delivers positive flame-front propagation to the benefit of both fuel economy and emissions control.

Performance Specifications

Power flows through a standard clutch and a wide-ratio, five-speed transmission before heading to the rear wheel via a quiet and low-maintenance shaft-type final drive. Induction control falls to a 34 mm throttle body that feeds both jugs. The Honda Shadow Phantom produces 44.6 horsepower and 47.9 pound-feet of torque. Due to its relatively long stroke, much of this torque is available lower in the rev range, which is just the thing for pulling the Phantom off the line and up range with a definite sense of urgency.

Overall performance is adequate but not impressive. For all the updates for 2024, none of them really address performance so that aspect is carried forward in an updated look and some modern tech tweaks. For the price, though, that's not really a big deal.

Design And Styling

Honda's Shadow has always been a bike that's all about that U.S. image, that slice of straight Americana. This served the marque well as the Shadow has engendered almost a cultish following over the years, not entirely unlike Honda's Rebel, Grom, and Super Cub C125 model-families. The MY24 Phantom keeps much of the blackout treatment that graced its predecessor for that crucial connection to the custom world. The connection, deepened by the bobber-style fenders and rubber bellow gaiters, replaces the black beercan fork skirts from the outgoing model. This slims down the front end and leaves room for a new headlight housing matching the monochromatic finish that dominates the non sheet-metal areas. Laced wheels add a bit of a vintage look that goes quite well with the rest of the design.

The 3.9-gallon fuel tank sports a nice teardrop profile with a small console that's dominated by the large round gauge that handles all the instrumentation. This is also an old-school American feature that deepens the Phantom's roots and lends it an air of authenticity to boot. The factory dropped the stock pillion pad ahead of MY24, so you'll have to go out of pocket for a pad and pegs if you want to share the fun with a friend. Out back, a chopped-down rear fender mounts the taillight while the rest of the gear in the rear hangs off the short mudguard assembly.

Specifications And Dimensions

Chassis And Handling

Tubular-steel members make up the double-downtube/dual-cradle frame on the Shadow Phantom with a full-yoke swingarm to articulate for the rear suspension. The blackout coil-over shocks come with the only adjustment in the form of the obligatory spring-preload settings while the front end rides on fixed values. Suspension travel measures 5.1 inches and 3.5 inches at the front and rear, respectively. You won't be jumping any railroad tracks with that, but it should be comfortable enough on civilized roads.

Honda finally got with the program and retired the drum brake in favor of a modern hydraulic-disc setup with a 296 mm disc and twin-piston caliper ahead of a 276 mm disc and single-pot stopper. ABS is available, but it's an option, so you can get the new Shadow Phantom without it if you prefer. Laced wheels round out the rolling chassis with a 120/90-17 ahead of a 160/80-15.

The steering geometry tells the tale of an easy to control bike with laid-back handling due to the 34-degree rake angle and impressive, 6.3 inches of trail that make it handle in a crosswind like it is on rails. Seat height is low and accommodating at only 25.6 inches off the deck, so shorter riders can feel confident at stops and during parking-lot maneuvers.

Chassis And Suspension

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Price And Availability

MSRP on the 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom starts at $8,399. If you want that ABS protection, you'll have to fork over another $300. No matter where you land on the brakes, you have a choice between the Deep Pearl Gray and Orange Metallic colorways. Considering how the price remains steady over the last decade, the Shadow Phantom is a bargain for an American-styled cruiser.

Pricing And Features

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Versus Its Competitors

American-style metric cruisers, as a genre, are not exactly plentiful in this day and age, so I had to cross design lines to get my competitors. With that said, I went with the Moto Guzzi V7 Stone and the Vulcan S from Kawasaki.

How The Honda Shadow Phantom Compares To The Moto Guzzi V7 Stone

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  See Also

  Honda Shadow Phantom: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews

  2024 Honda Shadow Phantom

  Expert Opinion:The Phantom is classic in its American-cruiser design. It's comfortable with a low seat height and relaxed rider's triangle. It is muscular while still approachable, with an engine that is both powerful enough for Interstate cruising and manageable enough to make it unintimidating. Affordably priced, the 2024 updates on the Shadow Phantom improve styling and add modern tech features.

  Power Output

  44.6 HP

  Torque

  47.9 LB-FT

  Transmission

  5-Speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  Pros

  • Affordable
  • Optional ABS
  • New rear disc brake

  Cons

  • Laid-back performance
  • No stock pillion gear
  • Lack of cornering clearance

• 

  2023 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone

  Expert Opinion: With agile handling and positive throttle response, the V7 Stone is well-behaved both in and out of the curves. Ergonomics are comfortable and torque is ample nearly everywhere in the rev range especially in midrange where you'll spend most of your time.

  Power Output

  65 HP @ 6,800 RPM

  Torque

  53.8 LB-FT @ 5,000 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  Pros

  • Sized for a majority of riders
  • Budget-friendly price tag
  • Respectable electronics

  Cons

  • Heads and jugs are vulnerable
  • Could use rider modes
  • Small pillion

The Italian hits the road with a Standard cruiser build, not entirely unlike the UJMs of old. Moto Guzzi sets the V7 Stone up like an old-school custom Bobber in that the cut-down fenders at both ends have ample blackout coverage and black rubber bellow gaiters above the fork sliders. A V-twin engine drives the Stone, but it's mounted transversely in the frame and doesn't contribute any “American-ness” to the equation. It's a tad larger than our Phantom at 850 cc, so it's no surprise that it claims more power with 65 ponies and 53.8 pound-feet of torque for a difference that will definitely register on the old heinie-dyno.

As for electronics, the MG comes with ABS as standard equipment, plus it comes with a traction control feature for which Honda has no answer. You'll pay for those advantages to the tune of $9,190 with a choice between four separate colorways. That may be a worthwhile trade-off I think, unless you are up against a hard budget.

How The Honda Shadow Phantom Compares To The Kawasaki Vulcan S

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  2024 Honda Shadow Phantom

  Expert Opinion:The Phantom is classic in its American-cruiser design. It's comfortable with a low seat height and relaxed rider's triangle. It is muscular while still approachable, with an engine that is both powerful enough for Interstate cruising and manageable enough to make it unintimidating. Affordably priced, the 2024 updates on the Shadow Phantom improve styling and add modern tech features.

  Power Output

  44.6 HP

  Torque

  47.9 LB-FT

  Transmission

  5-Speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  Pros

  • Affordable
  • Optional ABS
  • New rear disc brake

  Cons

  • Laid-back performance
  • No stock pillion gear
  • Lack of cornering clearance

• 

  2024 Kawasaki Vulcan S

  Expert Opinion: Aggressive performance and classic styling, the Kawasaki Vulcan S shares DNA with the Ninja 650 engine, though tuned for more torque low in the rev ranch in keeping with the cruiser-tastic demeanor. Available with or without ABS, the Vulcan S delivers modern performance for a sporty ride.

  Power Output

  54 HP @ 7,200 RPM

  Torque

  46.3 LB-FT

  Transmission

  6-Speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  Pros

  • Ergo-Fit system
  • Available ABS
  • Sporty ride

  Cons

  • Less new-rider friendly
  • Not comfortable at high speed
  • Built to price

The Vulcan S model from Kawasaki is a sporty cruiser that rolls with more of an Asian bent with graceful curves and a parallel-twin engine falls shy of the Shadow's cubeage at only 649 cc. In spite of the size difference, the Kawi gets close in the grunt figures with 46.3 pound-feet of torque on tap. A chain-type final drive and six-speed transmission completes the drivetrain, so you have a little more flexibility with that extra gear.

Like its opponents, the Vulcan S carries quite a bit of blackout with just a few highlights here and there to break up the darkness. The Vulcan is more akin to the Shadow in electronics as it comes only with an optional ABS. The Dual Throttle Valve feature ensures stumble-free roll-ons as a nice secondary system. It also rolls with the Kawi Ergo-Fit system that lets you tune and massage the rider's triangle to suit your preferences. The Vulcan S may be better for someone on a lower budget with its $7,349 non-ABS starting price.

He Said/She Said

He Said

My husband and fellow motorcycle writer, TJ Hinton, says,

She Said