Key performance
Technical specifications
- Rear brakes
- Single 180 mm drum → Single276mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
Engine
- Displacement
- 745 cc
- Power
- 33.5 ch @ 5500 tr/min (33.5 kW)
- Torque
- 65.0 Nm @ 3500 tr/min
- Engine type
- Four stroke, 52° V-twin, SOHC, 6 valve
- Compression ratio
- 9.6:1
- Bore × stroke
- 79 x 76 mm
- Fuel system
- PGM-FI electronic fuel injection with automatic choke, 34mm throttle body
- Ignition
- Digital 3-D mapping, two spark plugs per cylinder
- Starter
- Electric
Chassis
- Gearbox
- Wide ratio 5 speed
- Clutch
- Wet, multiplate with coil springs
- Front suspension
- 41mm telescopic fork
- Rear suspension
- Dual conventional dampers with 5-step adjustable spring preload, 90mm wheel travel
Brakes
- Front brakes
- Single 296 mm disc, 2 piston caliper
- Rear brakes
- Single276mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
- Front tyre
- 120/90-17
- Rear tyre
- 160/80-15
Dimensions
- Seat height
- 655.00 mm
- Wheelbase
- 1641.00 mm
- Fuel capacity
- 14.00 L
Overview
In 2024, while the motorcycle world seems obsessed with horsepower and electronics, Honda reissues the Shadow Phantom without changing a single comma. It's an almost subversive gesture, a quiet statement in a noisy market. The engine is still that 52° 745cc V-twin, a block that turns slowly and breathes sparingly, delivering only 33.5 horsepower at 5500 rpm. The torque, however, arrives early and smoothly with 65 Nm from just 3500 rpm, a delivery that speaks more of a purr than a roar. With a compression ratio of 9.6:1, we are in the realm of tolerance, capable of swallowing regular unleaded without flinching, an engine designed to last and consume little.

The chassis follows the same philosophy of serenity. The 65.5 cm seat height is an open invitation, an accessible footing that anchors the machine to the ground. The 1641 mm wheelbase promises locomotive-like stability, while the 41 mm telescopic fork and conventional five-position dual shocks handle imperfections without drama. The brakes, a single 296 mm disc at the front and a 276 mm disc at the rear, are there to stop the mass, not for track performance. ABS remains a paid option, a choice that seems to come from another era.
On paper, the Phantom is not going to shake the world. Its transmission is a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox, built for cruising and long hauls, not for quick acceleration. The 14-liter tank, coupled with modest consumption, offers respectable range for relaxed rides. The tires, 120/90-17 at the front and 160/80-15 at the rear, emphasize the cruiser DNA with their wide-rim rear size, made for straight lines and gentle curves.
This motorcycle is not aimed at the hurried track rider nor the demanding tourer. It targets the novice rider looking for a first large displacement bike without nasty surprises, the veteran who wants a simple and reliable machine for Sunday rides, or the urban dweller desiring retro style without the mechanical hassles of a true classic. The Shadow Phantom is an antidote to complexity, a vehicle that reminds us that pleasure can reside in simplicity and a slow rhythm. In a universe where everything is accelerating, Honda retains the right to offer a machine that breathes.
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