Honda Shadow — a good choice for beginners

Summertime in Iowa means spending time outside, soaking up the sunshine and experiencing the great outdoors. For some, cranking open the windows on their vehicles or opening the sunroof on their SUVs is just enough breeze. For others, an open-air ride on a speedy two-wheeler is an ideal way to spend the summer.

This month’s Cars in the City column does not feature a car but rather a two-wheeled ride on a 2025 Honda Shadow. I’m not a motorcycle driver, so this was a test ride — not a test drive. I recruited Gary Bland as my driver.

We chose the Honda Shadow 750 cc. It is considered a cruiser with an old-style classic look and is described as ideal for a beginning rider. The price is $8,249. The Honda brand is currently the best-selling motorcycle brand in the world. 

The motorcycle we drove was black with lots of chrome. Of course, it was black — the most common color of motorcycles across all brands. 

Examining the Honda seat, I wondered how I would fit on the pint-sized passenger’s seat. It wasn’t equipped with a backrest but did have a foot rest. Why not try it out? I could clutch Gary’s skinny waist to brace myself.

As we hopped on, it was easy to maneuver, just like motorcycles from decades ago. As Gary is average height, he liked the low seat and stand-over height for his leg size.

The Shadow weighs in at 543 pounds, as opposed to a Goldwing, which tops out at 845 pounds. Weight matters, as a driver requires strength to maneuver and keep the bike upright. I was hoping Gary’s gym workouts kept not only him, but also the added weight of the passenger, upright at all times.

The acceleration was decent for a small engine; shifting and braking was easy. As we took off on the highway, I glanced over at the speedometer, which inched up to around 65 mph. Admittedly, I’m not a motorcycle fanatic or frequent rider, and my heart raced a bit as we sped down the road.

For the beginning motorcyclist, the salesman at Van Wall Powersports explained that the Honda is a good choice. They are mostly used for commuter driving, as they are nimble and quiet. It is a practical bike, as it gets up to 56 mpg. You can’t say that about those 16 mpg monster trucks on the road.

As a beginner rider, I’m aware of cornering and staying balanced when getting off and on the bike, and I wore closed-toed shoes. But the second time I got off, a rookie mistake happened. My less-than-flexible hips, coupled with my short legs, meant my calf grazed the exhaust pipe.

Yep, the exhaust pipe with temperatures of 500 to 900 degrees. As choice words spilled from my mouth, the ride suddenly didn’t seem as scary as the seared skin. 

So, aside from rider discomfort (actually intense pain), the ride was a good one. It’s similar to the Harley Fat Boy but costs $10,000 less — a practical price point for motorcyclists.

If you’re a motorcycle rider or passenger who loves a sense of adventure, consider the best-selling Honda — and don’t forget to wear your long pants on the ride.