2024 Honda Shadow Phantom First Look

It's been a while since we've last talked about the Honda Shadow. The V-Twin cruisers keep returning year after year, but in the last few years, they sort of overshadowed (pardon the pun) by Honda's Parallel-Twin Rebel models.

And with good reason, considering the cruisers haven't had an update since replacing its carbs with fuel injection in 2010. Okay, that's not entirely true. In 2022, Honda added an ABS version of the Shadow Aero, but the Shadow Phantom bobber remained unchanged, not only going without ABS, but like the non-ABS Aero, hanging on to a rear drum brake.

With the introduction of the Rebel in 300, 500 and 1100 displacements, you'd be excused if you thought Honda might replace the 745cc Shadows with a new Rebel equipped with the 755cc Parallel-Twin powering the Hornet and the soon-to-be-US-bound Transalp. That may yet still happen, but the V-Twin Shadow line lives on for 2024, with the Shadow Phantom getting an update in the process.

For 2024, the Honda Shadow Phantom finally gets option ABS, as well as a rear disc brake. In fact, even the non-ABS versions of the Shadow Phantom and the Shadow Aero are finally making the switch, replacing the rear drum brake with a 276 mm rotor and twin-piston caliper.

The Shadow Phantom also gets a styling makeover, with flashier paint, gaitered forks, a new headlight cover, and new LED front and rear turn signals. The front and rear fenders are both new, with the rear fender substantially shorter, though that does come at the expense of a passenger seat (that said, the mounting points for the rear pegs are still there, as a pillion seat and footrests are available as accessories.) Honda says the single seat is more comfortable, and its 25.6-inch height is 0.2 inches closer to the ground than the previous two-up seat.

Losing the seat and trimming the fender do contribute to a six-pound weight reduction, with Honda claiming a 543-pound curb weight for the non-ABS 2024 Shadow Phantom, however the ABS version ends up negating that weight loss with a claimed curb weight of 553 pounds.

The 2024 Shadow Phantom also gets a new handlebar and handlebar clamp that positions the grips higher and further forward compared to the previous model. The 3.7-gallon fuel capacity remains unchanged, but the tank-mounted instrumentation has been updated.

The engine remains the same 745cc liquid-cooled V-Twin, with power passing through a five-speed transmission and a shaft drive on its way to the rear wheel. The engine does get new machined cylinder-head fins to stand out against the matte black engine and exhausts and give the illusion of an air-cooled engine.

The 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom arrives in dealerships this month, with a choice of Deep Pearl Gray Metallic or Orange Metallic. The non-ABS model is priced at $8,399, which is a $400 increase over the 2023 Shadow Phantom. The ABS-equipped model is listed for $8,699, and it's important to note customers in California will only be offered the ABS model.

2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Specifications

Model

Shadow Phantom ABS (VT750CBS)

Shadow Phantom (VT750C2B)

Engine Type

Transverse-mounted 745cc liquid-cooled 52º V-twin four-stroke

Valve Train

SOHC; three valves per cylinder

Bore x Stroke

79.0mm x 76.0mm

Compression Ratio

9.6:1

Induction

PGM-FI w/ automatic enrichment, one 34mm throttle body

Ignition

Full transistorized

Starter

Electric

Transmission

5-speed

Clutch

Multiplate wet

Final Drive

Shaft

Front Suspension

41mm telescopic fork; 5.5 in. travel

Rear Suspension

Dual shocks w/ five-position spring preload adjustability; 3.6 in. travel

Front Brake

Single twin-piston hydraulic caliper w/ 296mm disc

Rear Brake

Single twin-piston hydraulic caliper w/ 276mm disc

Front Tire

120/90-17

Rear Tire

160/80-15

Rake (Caster Angle)

34°

Trail

161mm (6.3 in.)

Length

93.0 in.

Width

32.6 in.

Height

42.1 in.

Seat Height

25.6 in.

Ground Clearance

5.0 in.

Wheelbase

64.5 in.

Fuel Capacity

3.9 gal.

Curb Weight

553 lbs. (claimed)

543 lbs. (claimed)

Color

Deep Pearl Gray; Orange Metallic

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Might not be much, but it does look better than the old version at least. Glad to see shafts drive models sticking around

I think it's good that Honda is keeping an entry level v-Twin cruiser in its lineup, and not going to all p-twin all the time (yet).