Honda's the Shadow VLX and the Interstate (U.S.)

[flw]

I stopped by a Honda dealer since I was at a suzuki anyway and there was nothing else to do on a winter day.

I really liked the feel of the Honda Shadow VLX 2007 as compared to other bikes of similar size but am concerned over its ability to hold highway speeds for a couple/few hours and then repeat. Most of my riding is country but about 10% is in city interstates where you must speed to stay alive. 75 mph is the min. It also only has 4 gears.

So can the 583 cc engine due a couple hours at 80 mph, stop for a few hours them repeat without reducing the lift of the bike?

Also is there a aftermarket enlarged gas market or a additional gas tank that can be added? It only comes with a 2.9 U.S Gal tank. The reserve is about 0.9 U.S. gallons. I'd like to make a 300 mile trip without having to worry over the tank till I get home or to my destination.

[intotherain]

well the only thing i can answer here is the 80mph part. Today, I rode from monterey to cupertino california. I have to go to an SAT class from 8 AM to 6 PM. I woke up today at 6:00 and left the house at 6:20 AM.

i have a 200cc, 17hp motorcycle. The california highways are always at least 80MPH. My motorcycle held up pretty good for the 1 hour and 45 minutes it took me to get there. it was at the highest gear and about 500 RPM away from Redline the entire time. Once i got there, the bike didnt seem too bad, it was steaming but i think thats normal.

anyways it sat at the SAT place from 8 till 6 PM, and after getting some fuel I rode back home. It got pretty dark at about 6 30 and I had almost a completely dark, 80MPH ride home.. it wasnt too fun.

but anyways, if my 1000 dollar NEW chinese bike can handle it, yours can surely handle it, no problem.

[ofblong]

uhh the bike does just fine. I own the 1996 version and it does just fine. I can do 110 miles on a tank before switching to reserve (2 gallons is tank and then .9 is reserve) I have saddle bags on mine so adding an extra gas tank is good (meaning just put a gas can in your bags and away you go). Either way if you ride like I do (80-90mph highway) you wont make it 2 hours before you have to fill up since at 80mph that would be 160 miles in 2 hours. If you use reserve you wont even make that... close but not quite. I will say it is quite loud after about 60mph but pft as long as your having fun . BTW this bike will do excess of 110mph. Dont know how fast it goes after that cause my speedo only hits 110 lol.

as for dohuns experience I dont know what its like to ride during the day since I work 3rd shift and I ride my bike to work during 3rd shift. on the rare occasion I do ride during day course thast what I got a tinted visor for .

[intotherain]

what ?? your bikes dont even go over 200 miles?

wow my bike gets around 110 MPG and I got something like a 3.5 gallon tank or something but on average I get about 380 miles of regular city riding on a tank, and on the highway i get way more 400+ miles to the tank

I guess having a 17hp engine is good for one thing...

you know if its normal for my bike to steam after a ride like mine?


2 hours @ 80 MPH @ 500 RPM less than redline

[The549]

I've been filling my tank like mad...I need to check the mpg but I have a feeling it's pretty low. Then again this is my first reguar riding bike.

[ofblong]

what ?? your bikes dont even go over 200 miles?

wow my bike gets around 110 MPG and I got something like a 3.5 gallon tank or something but on average I get about 380 miles of regular city riding on a tank, and on the highway i get way more 400+ miles to the tank

I guess having a 17hp engine is good for one thing...

you know if its normal for my bike to steam after a ride like mine?


2 hours @ 80 MPH @ 500 RPM less than redline

no because a 600CC bike gets less mpg than a 200cc bike. even a honda rebel (250cc) only gets 80mpg. Now you have to take into consideration my bike is 11 years old. It doesnt get the gas mileage it most likely got when it was brand new. I figure I rode about 20 miles for every $1 spent on gas. which is about right considering last summer it was $3/gallon for gas which would give me 60 mpg avg. you also have to realize a 4 speed doesnt get as good gas mileage as a 5 speed at highway speeds. as for steam that depends. was it cold? was it wet? is there any fluids leaking anywhere? You may be pushing that 200cc bike to its limits.

[Scott58]

Tank size is an issue with the VLX/Rebel, so if distance per tank is important you need to look elsewhere. Having said that however, it's an issue with alot of small to midsize cruisers. My S50 will only do about 150 miles per tank.

Highway shouldn't be to bad. My Rebel spends alot of it's time on the highway at 75mph and will do so all day long. I would imagine the VLX will do the same and kicking it up to 80mph has to be easier then the Rebel. I liked the VLX when I was looking for a larger bike (then the Rebel) and it fit me well, but I had issues with the price ($5600 at the time). It just wasn't worth $2600 more then a Rebel and the dealer wouldn't budge on the price and when I saw the S50 at the suzuki dealer for $5800 I bought it instead and glad i did. The S50 for a long time was the fastest midsize cruiser you could get and can assault any traffic situation. High speed roll'ons when passing is excellent and this thing goes from 55mph to 100mph in a little bit of no time. I've got 10,000 miles on it now with no issues. Performance wise the VLX is seriously out classed by the suzuki in every way. Had the VLX been about $4500 (which is what I think it's worth comparing it to the Rebel and S50) I would have thought great, but for what they are asking you can find alot more bike.

edit: the suzuki gets 55 mpg at a constant 75mph (vista-cruise)

[ofblong]

if I was going brand new I dont think I would have gone vlx either but I was going used and for the price I paid I got one hell of a deal considering blue book on my bike was about $700 more than I paid.

[flynrider]

you know if its normal for my bike to steam after a ride like mine?


2 hours @ 80 MPH @ 500 RPM less than redline

Only if it's been raining. Is your bike water cooled or air cooled.