Honda VT 750C Shadow Phantom

If you want to stand out in a world full of chrome and bright colors, maybe more chrome isn’t the answer. Maybe less is. Take one look at the Honda Shadow Phantom and you’re going to know that’s true. The Phantom is for riders who want a great bike, who love to ride and who want to make a powerful statement. Its blacked-out 745cc V-twin engine, black rims with matte silver highlights, bobbed fenders, spoked wheels and beefy front fork all set it apart from most of the other customs on the road. The V-twin engine’s throaty exhaust sounds just right. And the Phantom’s slightly more upright seating position is just right for both longer rides and boulevard cruising. Best of all? That has to be the Phantom’s low price tag. It’s time to go over to the dark side—in style, on a Honda Phantom.

There’s No Substitute for V-Twin Power
The Shadow Phantom’s 745cc V-twin engine features Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), ensuring easy cold-weather starting and seamless, all-condition fuel delivery.

The Phantom Look
Black engine, frame, rims and handlebar—all ever-so-perfectly accented with matte silver highlights—that’s the Phantom’s trademark look. It’s a machine everyone is going to take seriously.

Engineered for the Long Run
The Phantom’s durable and virtually maintenance-free shaft final drive ensures smooth, dependable power delivery to the asphalt. No hassles, no grease flying everywhere. Just smooth, quiet power transfer.
 

2-into-2 Exhaust System
Sleek pipes feature bullet-style mufflers for that classic cruiser style of yesteryear. Large-diameter head pipes and 2-into-2 system design combine to put out true, V-twin cruiser sound.

Shorty Front Fender
Minimalist front fender gives the Shadow Phantom a lighter, cleaner, more progressive look.

Spoked Wheels
Spoked black wheels and hubs feature a 120/90-17 front tire and 160/80-15 rear tire to complete the overall custom look.

Stylish Finish
Bobber-inspired styling with extensive blacked-out and matte finishes.

Gunfighter Saddle
Sleek, one-piece gunfighter-type seat is comfortable and looks great too.
 

Cycle World Review

It's a nice enough little cruiser, it really is, and it runs great, too, thanks to it being the first small Shadow to benefit from fuel injection: Hit the button in the morning and you're ready to roll pronto and hiccup-free, with a reasonably rumbly accompaniment.

It's even pretty cool-looking, with blacked-out components and fat tires riding wire-spoked wheels at both ends. Why, you could almost mistake this metric for a real... Wait, don't say "a real Harley;" the metric guys hate that. But in this case, since Honda wants a $1K premium for the "all-new" 2010 Shadow Phantom, you can't not compare it to a Sportster 883 Iron. MSRP of each is $7999, and while Honda's known for technological innovation, Harley injected the Sportsters way back in aught-seven (and did an excellent job of it).

The Phantom does have a lower seat, which is a thing cruiser builders trip all over themselves to achieve, maybe because it looks cool, or maybe because in this case, "low seat" is code for "chick bike." Every manufacturer wants to court the ladies, and if you're new to motorcycling or a small person, it's really easy to stay in ground contact on the Phantom. In fact, it's just a friendly little all-around puppy of a motorcycle that goes, turns and stops perfectly fine—better than most of its breed, even.

While 745cc aren't quite enough to really light up the back tire or anything, the Phantom rumbles nicely along at 65, feels a little busy at 80 and buzzy beyond there—though it will pull itself up past the ton given room. The littlest Shadow's three-valve-per-cylinder, 52-degree, liquid-cooled Twin revs nice and smooth in the lower gears and beats the pants off cars. There's not a lot of acceleration, but Honda seems to have figured out how to sneak what sounds like more than the legal amount of noise past the gatekeepers, and maybe that's more important? Anyway, slightly slow is the way to go since, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Governator now wants to install speed sensors in 500 of SoCal's red-light cameras to write an estimated 2.4 million speeding tickets per annum and help make up the budget shortfall. Maybe decibel meters will be next?

The seat feels nice enough and the bolster's in the right place if you're around 5-foot-8 or so, though tall riders might feel cramped. The passenger seat's good for skinny asses and short hops. Those with bladder-control problems should consult their physicians before riding on back of the Phantom; big bumps deliver solid blows to the hindquarters. If you just don't want a Harley—and a lot of people don't—then the Phantom's a great choice. It does reign supreme in fuel capacity: 3.9 gallons and around 47 observed mpg means you shouldn't get stuck in the middle of nowhere.