There aren’t too many middleweight cruisers on the market these days. Most V-twin cruisers are more than 1,000cc, but Honda’s revised-for-2024 Shadow Phantom has a midsized engine that delivers nice power without being intimidating.
That engine is a 745cc liquid-cooled V-twin with a single overhead cam, three valves per cylinder, and dual spark plugs in each head. The long-stroke design is optimized to produce excellent bottom-end torque. The cylinder head features contrast-cut fins on the black engine to give it a more finished and stylish look. The engine is fed by Honda’s PGM-FI fuel-injection system. Power is sent through a five-speed transmission to a low-maintenance shaft final drive.
Chassis highlights include a 41mm fork mounted in a billet-aluminum triple clamp, while the twin rear shocks have provisions for preload adjustability. The seat height is an ultralow 25.6 inches, making the bike accessible for a large range of rider’s heights.
Other updates for 2024 include new styling, mainly minimalist front and rear fenders, revised headlight cover, a new handlebar, spoked black wheels in 17-inch front and 15-inch rear mounted with 120/90-17 and 160/80-15 tires, respectively.
The 2024 Shadow Phantom is available in two colors, Deep Pearl Gray or Orange Metallic. The standard version (without ABS) retails for $8,399. The ABS-equipped version is $8,699. California customers can only purchase the ABS version.
