2024 Honda Shadow Phantom First Ride

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Honda has revised its Shadow Phantom for 2024 with key updates to the chassis and styling. (Kevin Wing/)

The metric cruiser (or Japanese-made cruiser) has survived the test of time, providing exceptional value and excellent quality for decades. Like its Eastern rivals, Honda has been trying to cash in on the popularity of American-style cruisers for a long time, in particular with its Shadow motorcycles. All the way back in 1983, Honda released the 45-degree V-twin-powered Shadow 750, followed by the Shadow ACE 750 in 1998, then the Shadow Phantom with its then-new 52-degree V-twin in 2010. Honda’s current cruiser lineup consists of seven models including the revised Shadow Phantom, which received some key updates for 2024 to keep it in the scrum for years to come.

Cruising is as much about styling as it is performance, and the Japanese companies haven’t always done a great job of hitting that nail on the head, often so close, but just lacking the nuances that make bikes from Harley-Davidson the ones that all others are judged against. However, there are other areas that Honda has executed very well.

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom in Deep Pearl Gray. (Kevin Wing/)

Honda’s updated Shadow Phantom capitalizes on the growth of the midsize cruiser market, which really got some legs during the pandemic as people took advantage of downtime to jump back into motorcycling or purchase bikes for the first time. But where Honda has carved out a niche for itself is by offering excellent bang for the buck. Updates to the $8,399 Shadow Phantom include fresh styling, a revised riding position, the availability of ABS ($399 option), and a new disc rear brake replacing the drum unit of the previous model. And the classic bobber styling is, in our opinion, right on the mark.

The Phantom’s 745cc V-twin remains unchanged for 2024. (Kevin Wing/)

Power comes from a liquid-cooled 745cc 52-degree V-twin with 79.0 x 76mm bore and stroke dimensions. The valve train features three valves (two intake, one exhaust) per cylinder with a single overhead cam in each. Air-fuel mixture is fed via a 34mm throttle body controlled by the Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a five-speed transmission and then to a low-maintenance shaft final drive.

The standard fork provides 5.1 inches of travel, while a single 296mm disc is pinched by a twin-piston caliper. (Kevin Wing/)

Chassis highlights include a 41mm standard fork with 5.1 inches of travel and a pair of preload-adjustable shocks that provide 3.5 inches of rear-wheel travel. Braking is handled by a single 296mm front disc with a single twin-piston caliper, while the new rear disc measures 276mm and has a single-piston caliper. Up front is a 17-inch spoked rim mounted with a 120/90-17 tire, while at the rear is a 15-incher and 160/80-15 tire.

A pair of preload-adjustable shocks provide 3.5 inches of rear-wheel travel. (Kevin Wing/)

The Shadow Phantom’s wheelbase measures 64.6 inches with front-end geometry measuring 34 degrees of rake and 6.3 inches of trail. But perhaps the most important dimension is the ultralow 25.6-inch seat height. The rider triangle has been altered with the handlebar now moved forward 3.4 inches with the width increased by just under three-quarters of an inch, while the seat and footpeg relationship remains the same.

The 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom is available in Metallic Orange or Deep Pearl Gray. (Kevin Wing/)

Areas that have been refreshed in terms of styling include a new front fender, rear fender and seat rail, new seat shape, LED turn signals all around, a new air-cleaner cover, headlight nacelle, rubber boots on the fork legs, machine-cut cylinder-head fins, and most obvious is the two-tone fuel-tank paint. Two colors are available: Deep Pearl Gray or Metallic Orange.

The Shadow Phantom gets LED turn signals at each corner. (Kevin Wing/)

A quick walk around the Phantom in a parking lot reveals a bike with excellent fit and high-quality finishes from the tank and fender paint to the blacked-out (grayed out?) covers and brackets. One of the most appealing features of the bike for potential buyers has to be that ultralow seat, which makes getting on and off the bike and managing its light-by-cruiser-standards 543-pound fueled weight really easy. Reach up to the bars and you are greeted by modern switches and controls. On top of the fuel tank is the bike’s lone gauge with an analog speedometer and inset LED screen for basic info like the tripmeter, clock, and so on.

A simple and classic single gauge provides all the basic info. (Kevin Wing/)

Fire up the engine and it settles into a pleasant V-twin rumble. Snicking the transmission into gear and pulling away from a stop is helped by light action from the cable-actuated clutch, while shifting through the gears is smooth and positive without any clunkiness. Around town in urban environments, the Phantom is light steering with excellent and balanced low-speed handling. The seating position pulls this 5-foot, 11-inch rider’s upper body just forward with an easy reach to the bars and a relaxed bend of the legs to the forward-mounted foot controls. The seat is firm enough to provide good support for the lower back, but comfortable enough for longer stints. The low seat height should provide solid footing at stops for all but the most height-challenged riders.

The Shadow Phantom’s riding position has been altered to pull the rider forward with a new bar position. (Kevin Wing/)

Heading out into the mountains above Azusa, California, the Phantom provides predictable and stable handling and flicks into corners with light and neutral steering. Pick up the pace through tighter hairpin bends and the forward foot controls’ peg feelers will drag (as will the heel of your boots). The suspension is plush and offers a cushy ride, eating up bad asphalt with no issues, but will tend to bounce a bit after hitting G-outs in the road with less than ideal rebound damping. The only adjustment to suspension is preload for the twin shocks, so fine-tuning the ride is aimed more at firming up the rear if you add a passenger with the optional fender-mounted seat and passenger pegs.

Performance from the 745cc V-twin is good, with decent low-end to midrange torque on tap. Around town and exiting tight corners, the engine provides good drive, but the power definitely falls off in the upper rpm range. Making a quick pass of another vehicle usually requires a downshift if you’re hanging out in the upper two gears. But overall, the engine is smooth, with excellent fueling and a good spread of power for a middleweight cruiser.

Paint and finishes appear to be top quality. (Kevin Wing/)

At a normal riding pace the front brake provides decent power, but if you need to get slowed down in a hurry for an upcoming hairpin, you have to grab a big handful at the front lever. The brake never provides a super-crisp bite but is progressive and predictable. Thankfully Honda has added that big rear disc which can supplement the front and help get the bike stopped without issue. The bike we rode for the day didn’t have ABS, but we can’t imagine why you’d want to forego that option considering it only adds $399 to the price.

Honda’s Shadow Phantom provides a plush ride, and good handling, from its lightweight package. (Kevin Wing/)

The bottom line here is that there are very few options out there for buyers looking for a midsize cruiser, especially one that looks this good in person. Perhaps the most popular bike of all time in this category, the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster was dropped after the 2022 model year (having been in production since 1957), leaving some big shoes to fill. Currently there are just a handful of bikes remaining to give the Honda Shadow Phantom any serious competition, like the $10,359 Suzuki Boulevard C50T and $8,999 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic.

Clearly recognizing the opportunity, Honda has thrown some smart updates at this bike and delivers a great-looking motorcycle that isn’t intimidating for newer riders with its low curb weight, nice low-speed handling, and mellow power delivery. On the flip side, it delivers enough engine performance for seasoned riders looking for a really nice bike at a very reasonable price and offers all the hallmarks of a Honda, like excellent fit and finish, quality components, and a large dealer network. The Shadow Phantom is available in dealers now.

The blacked-out headlight bezel is bookended by new LED turn signals. (Kevin Wing/)
The 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom in Orange Metallic. (Kevin Wing/)
The 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom in Deep Pearl Gray. (Kevin Wing/)
Don’t be afraid to hit the curves on the Shadow Phantom. (Kevin Wing/)

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Specs

MSRP:	$8,399/$8,699 (ABS)
Engine:	SOHC, liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin; 3 valves/cyl.
Displacement:	745cc
Bore x Stroke:	79.0 x 76.0mm
Compression Ratio:	9.6:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	5-speed/shaft
Fuel System:	Programmed Fuel Injection w/ 34mm throttle bodies
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate
Engine Management/Ignition: Electronic
Frame:	Steel
Front Suspension:	41mm fork; 5.1 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Twin shocks, preload adjustable; 3.5 in. travel
Front Brake:	2-piston caliper, 296mm disc, available ABS
Rear Brake:	1-piston caliper, 276mm disc, available ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Wire-spoked; 17 in./15 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	120/90-17 / 160/80-15
Rake/Trail:	34.0°/6.3 in.
Wheelbase:	64.6 in.
Ground Clearance:	N/A
Seat Height:	25.6 in.
Fuel Capacity:	3.9 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	543 lb.
Contact:	powersports.honda.com

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