Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey Ya'll,

I hit 45 and decided that I was in a mid-life crisis, and told the wife that my Dr. said a motorcycle was the cure! I'm sure she really didn't buy that (I'm relatively stable most of the time), but she just smiled and went along with it. A friend was selling his 2002 Honda Shadow ACE w/ 2400 miles for $2500 (he is the original owner, I was there when he bought it), so I jumped on it.

I rode years ago, but when I was on my 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 and the "O Ring"-end started 'floating' at 75mph on a sweeping freeway turn, I got scared, parked it and sold it. I have done some dirt & desert riding since then, but alas ... the freeway beckons, so here I am!

I figured that since it has been so long since I was on the street that I should take a MSF course to re-familiarize myself with street riding (we DO get more responsible as we get older!) so i am signed up, and promised my wife & daughter that i won't pick up the bike until I do this.

I have heard a lot of people say that the Shadow 750 doesn't have a lot of power on the freeway, but I have passed the stage of 90mph with my hair on fire, actually, most of the hair is gone now!

I would be interested to hear about any mods that people have done to these bikes, and how the performance improved (or declined).

Hello and welcome to the forum...and welcome back to riding.

My '04 Shadow is doing fine. All stock, and 65k miles later (with regular maintenance), she's still eagerly breaking the speed limit. There's a bit of back-off and run-up I have to do to pass cars that are already doing 70, but she'll do it.

Hi and welcome!

The Shadow is a great bike! Congratulations on coming back to the fun and good luck on your MSF.

MmeMagpie wrote:My '04 Shadow is doing fine. All stock, and 65k miles later (with regular maintenance), she's still eagerly breaking the speed limit. There's a bit of back-off and run-up I have to do to pass cars that are already doing 70, but she'll do it.

If you dont mind me asking, what is your height/weight? I'm 6'0 and 245, people have told me that this won't have enough power to carry me around, or that i'm too tall to be comfortable on a long ride, but I find that hard to believe.

P-Bare wrote:

MmeMagpie wrote:My '04 Shadow is doing fine. All stock, and 65k miles later (with regular maintenance), she's still eagerly breaking the speed limit. There's a bit of back-off and run-up I have to do to pass cars that are already doing 70, but she'll do it.

If you dont mind me asking, what is your height/weight? I'm 6'0 and 245, people have told me that this won't have enough power to carry me around, or that i'm too tall to be comfortable on a long ride, but I find that hard to believe.

For what it's worth, the ACE will be fine for you. I know it hauled me around when I was 60 lbs heavier at 340 without a problem, and would pass cars on the highway at that speed, so 245 wouldn't be a problem. It was a bit cramped for my personal preference, but I'm 6'2" and like to be spread out on cruisers.

Wrider wrote:

P-Bare wrote:

MmeMagpie wrote:My '04 Shadow is doing fine. All stock, and 65k miles later (with regular maintenance), she's still eagerly breaking the speed limit. There's a bit of back-off and run-up I have to do to pass cars that are already doing 70, but she'll do it.

If you dont mind me asking, what is your height/weight? I'm 6'0 and 245, people have told me that this won't have enough power to carry me around, or that i'm too tall to be comfortable on a long ride, but I find that hard to believe.

For what it's worth, the ACE will be fine for you. I know it hauled me around when I was 60 lbs heavier at 340 without a problem, and would pass cars on the highway at that speed, so 245 wouldn't be a problem. It was a bit cramped for my personal preference, but I'm 6'2" and like to be spread out on cruisers.

Thanks for the input, I have sat on the bike, (I know it's not the same as riding), and I am comfortable as far as reach for bars & pegs, I was just concerned about the weight v power issue. The guy I am buying it from goes about 340, and he said it was enough to haul him around, but I guess I just needed an unbiased opinion. Did you stay with a stock seat or upgrade?

sunshine229 wrote:Hi and welcome!

The Shadow is a great bike! Congratulations on coming back to the fun and good luck on your MSF.

Thanks! I am looking forward to the class (this Sunday), it is one-on one, and the instructor is a retired CHP Motor Officer, so I am pretty confident that it will be comprehensive.

Just gonna drop my two cents as well...

Power wont be an issue for you, especially if your speed demon days really are over. My wife and I bought a 2003 ACE 750 as our first bike, and we rode 2Up on several ocassions. I'm 6' and 220, and she weighs whatever she weighs, and we still managed to get up to 70 on the freeway with both of us on it. Either of us alone could easily earn a $500.00 ticket on the freeway (-;

For what it's worth, though, I will say I always felt a bit cramped at 6'. Not enough to consider forward controls or anything major, but you may want to move up to some 'swithblade' foot pegs or even floor boards. One other thing, if the guy you're buying it from was that big, he probably had/has the rear suspension adjusted to compensate for his weight. If you decide the ride isn't very comfortable, address the suspension before you sink a buncha money into an AM saddle.

Welcome to TMW



Kudos to you for signing up for some training.