Honda VT 750C Shadow Phantom

The Shadow Phantom has got to be the most unique Shadow we’ve ever made. It’s an utterly stunning head-turner, and one look will tell you why: Blacked-out 745cc V-twin engine and black rims sporting matte silver highlights, bobbed fenders, spoke wheels, and beefy front fork. Then the exhaust note hits you, a deep, throaty pulse rumbling from dual exhausts. It’s hard to resist, we know. And downright impossible once you’ve seen its price tag. And best of all, the Shadow Phantom gets an estimated 56 miles per gallon*!

Sometimes a whisper is way louder than a shout. And that’s most definitely the case with the Shadow Phantom.

The Honda Shadow Phantom® celebrates the joy of back-to-basics motorcycling by delivering a V-twin ride packing a uniquely clean and uncluttered appearance. Check out the minimalist look and extensive blackout treatment that bring your eyeballs back to that very cool 745cc V-twin engine featuring the convenience and sophistication of Programmed Fuel Injection. By staking out the low-profile approach to cool, the Shadow Phantom reinforces the idea that bling ain't everything in a bike.

Honda Shadow Phantom (VT750C2B) Features and Benefits

•745cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin
•Fuel-injected, blacked out engine and components

- New Matte Black Metallic color.

The power that lurks in the Shadows.

The Shadow Phantom rocks a 745cc V-twin engine with Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI). The result? You get plenty of power, the kind of torque only a V-twin can offer, easy cold-weather starting and seamless, any-condition fuel delivery.

Send a message without saying a word.

Black is the color of confident power, and the Shadow Phantom has plenty of that. All-black engine, frame, rims, and handlebar—all ever so perfectly accented with matte silver highlights—makes this a machine everyone is going to take seriously.

Strong, silent type.

The Phantom’s durable and virtually maintenance-free shaft final drive ensures smooth, dependable power delivery to the asphalt. No hassles, no grease flying everywhere. Just smooth, quiet power transfer.

Best of all, it’s a Honda.

The Shadow Phantom embodies the minimalist, stripped-down ideal of custom cruisers past, delivering a uniquely clean and uncluttered look accented with extensive use of blacked-out features—the frame, engine, rims, and handlebars—bringing motorcyclists back to what it means to be cool. With its torque-rich 745cc V-twin engine featuring the sophisticated ease of Programmed Fuel Injection and three-valve/dual-plug combustion chamber construction serving up heaps of low-, mid-, and top-end muscle, the very affordably priced Shadow Phantom puts the thrill of saddling up one of the wickedest customs on pavement within reach of just about every rider.

Honda Genuine Accessories

- Boulevard Screen (smoke), Custom Rider Seat, Solo Rider Rear Carrier, Backrest (tall/low), Rear Carrier, Backrest/Rear Carrier Mounting Brackets, Tank Belt (plain/studded), Saddlebags, Saddlebag Supports, Saddlebag Liner Set, Touring Bag (plain/studded/fringed), Front Pouch (plain/studded), Cycle Cover

Cycle World Review

It's a nice enough little cruiser, it really is, and it runs great, too, thanks to it being the first small Shadow to benefit from fuel injection: Hit the button in the morning and you're ready to roll pronto and hiccup-free, with a reasonably rumbly accompaniment.

It's even pretty cool-looking, with blacked-out components and fat tires riding wire-spoked wheels at both ends. Why, you could almost mistake this metric for a real... Wait, don't say "a real Harley;" the metric guys hate that. But in this case, since Honda wants a $1K premium for the "all-new" 2010 Shadow Phantom, you can't not compare it to a Sportster 883 Iron. MSRP of each is $7999, and while Honda's known for technological innovation, Harley injected the Sportsters way back in aught-seven (and did an excellent job of it).

The Phantom does have a lower seat, which is a thing cruiser builders trip all over themselves to achieve, maybe because it looks cool, or maybe because in this case, "low seat" is code for "chick bike." Every manufacturer wants to court the ladies, and if you're new to motorcycling or a small person, it's really easy to stay in ground contact on the Phantom. In fact, it's just a friendly little all-around puppy of a motorcycle that goes, turns and stops perfectly fine—better than most of its breed, even.

While 745cc aren't quite enough to really light up the back tire or anything, the Phantom rumbles nicely along at 65, feels a little busy at 80 and buzzy beyond there—though it will pull itself up past the ton given room. The littlest Shadow's three-valve-per-cylinder, 52-degree, liquid-cooled Twin revs nice and smooth in the lower gears and beats the pants off cars. There's not a lot of acceleration, but Honda seems to have figured out how to sneak what sounds like more than the legal amount of noise past the gatekeepers, and maybe that's more important? Anyway, slightly slow is the way to go since, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Governator now wants to install speed sensors in 500 of SoCal's red-light cameras to write an estimated 2.4 million speeding tickets per annum and help make up the budget shortfall. Maybe decibel meters will be next?

The seat feels nice enough and the bolster's in the right place if you're around 5-foot-8 or so, though tall riders might feel cramped. The passenger seat's good for skinny asses and short hops. Those with bladder-control problems should consult their physicians before riding on back of the Phantom; big bumps deliver solid blows to the hindquarters. If you just don't want a Harley—and a lot of people don't—then the Phantom's a great choice. It does reign supreme in fuel capacity: 3.9 gallons and around 47 observed mpg means you shouldn't get stuck in the middle of nowhere.