Honda Shadow 125 2007 — Specifications

Who are you targeting when you buy a 125cc motorcycle costing over €4,500 new, a sum that borders on the price of a used 500cc machine? The customer for the Honda Shadow 125 is someone who absolutely wants the style of a large custom, with its low-slung stance and 14.5-liter teardrop-shaped fuel tank, but whose license or budget dictates a reduced displacement. For this audience, the chassis is custom-made: a seat height of 68 cm makes the machine accessible, even if its wet weight of 162 kg commands a certain respect. On paper, the technical specifications of this Honda Shadow 125 list the figures of a small touring bike, with its 124.7cc V-twin engine developing 15 horsepower at 11,000 rpm. But let's be honest, it's far from a lightning bolt, with a top speed that peaks around 120 km/h. The idea isn't to play missile, but to ride cool while sporting a bobber silhouette.

Speaking of that silhouette. That’s where the problem lies for a model displaying such a new price. You buy a custom for the chrome, the metal, the refined detail. Yet, upon closer inspection, you discover too many brushed aluminum elements and plastics that sound hollow. For a machine that aspires to be the archetype of a customizable motorcycle, that’s a poor starting point. Customizing your Honda Shadow 125 almost becomes a necessity to give it the look that justifies its entry price. Fortunately, the used market on the Bon Coin is full of examples and parts, from bobber kits to aftermarket exhausts, for those who want to increase the power or simply the style.

In everyday use, some technical choices are surprising. The imposing fuel tank has no gauge, a recurring defect on customs but still annoying. The brakes, with a single disc at the front and a drum at the rear, do a correct job, but the wheels, 110 at the front and 130 at the rear, seem a little tight to stabilize the 162 kg of the whole during heavy braking. And then there’s that famous side stand, unique and irreplaceable, which turns any attempt to park in a dedicated space into a balancing act. Details that weigh heavily in the city.

So, is the Honda Shadow 125 worth its price? Certainly, on the used market, because it offers a solid platform, a reliable twin-carburetor engine, and a unique look in the 125 world. New, its price puts it in competition with much more powerful machines. But it has no real rival in terms of image. It’s the only one to give you the posture of an experienced rider on an A1 license. It doesn’t go fast, but it rides with a certain class, and for many novice bikers, that is priceless.