After owning my VFR750 for a year, both my girlfriend and I didn't enjoy rides 2-up as much as I thought we would. She didn't like the narrow seat and poor seating position, and I didn't like the way the bike handled with a passenger. I was in the market for a 2-up bike, preferably with hard bags. I looked at ST1100's, Concours, a BMW, and a bunch of cruisers.
I ended up buying a '98 Honda Shadow ACE Tourer (VT1100T) for $4500 about a week ago. I was extrememly concerned about the 626 dry weight (I weigh 145lbs), and having enough power to move 2 riders and gear.
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The first time I rode it, I was amazed. At low speeds, this thing is damn near nimble compared to my VFR, passenger or no passenger. Although it is a hundred lbs heavier, it is a breeze to move around, and parking lots are easy to get around in.
On the road, it is rock solid. Suspension is smooth; it handles bumps like a caddy. I can lean it all the way to the pegs - which isn't a whole lot (it's a cruiser, after all), but even so I have no problem staying way above the speed limit. The riding position is very comfortable, but the pegs-forward, leaned back position puts some strain on my lower back (history of problems). I've already bought a used driver backrest, which can be had from Pro-Tac for $120 new. The windshield is awesome - I'm so much warmer than on the VFR, and I rode in the rain the other day; the only thing that got wet was my helmet and legs from the knee down. I'm also getting windshield lowers to get the wind/rain off my legs all together.
The engine is awesome. I love the glug-glug-glug, even with the stock pipes. It's got a bit of vibration at low RPMs, but once you get up to highway speeds, it smooths out. I don't know off the top of my head how much power it has, but it definently rocks. It's not the top-end scream of a sportbike, but this thing is no slouch.
I don't know how I rode w/o hard bags. They lock, and now I have my bike cover, three pairs of gloves, jacket liner, cell phone, backpack, and whatever else I need with me at all times. I can also throw anything I need to bring to or from work in there.
Needless to say, I really love this bike. Aside from the regular "is that a Harley?", I don't have any regrets. In fact, I haven't riden my VFR in nearly a week. It's got power, looks, storage, and enough comfort for two people to really travel. Factory hard bags, factory passenger backrest. I'm already planning a weekend trip for me and my girl, which wouldn't have happened on the VFR.
I ended up buying a '98 Honda Shadow ACE Tourer (VT1100T) for $4500 about a week ago. I was extrememly concerned about the 626 dry weight (I weigh 145lbs), and having enough power to move 2 riders and gear.
The first time I rode it, I was amazed. At low speeds, this thing is damn near nimble compared to my VFR, passenger or no passenger. Although it is a hundred lbs heavier, it is a breeze to move around, and parking lots are easy to get around in.
On the road, it is rock solid. Suspension is smooth; it handles bumps like a caddy. I can lean it all the way to the pegs - which isn't a whole lot (it's a cruiser, after all), but even so I have no problem staying way above the speed limit. The riding position is very comfortable, but the pegs-forward, leaned back position puts some strain on my lower back (history of problems). I've already bought a used driver backrest, which can be had from Pro-Tac for $120 new. The windshield is awesome - I'm so much warmer than on the VFR, and I rode in the rain the other day; the only thing that got wet was my helmet and legs from the knee down. I'm also getting windshield lowers to get the wind/rain off my legs all together.
The engine is awesome. I love the glug-glug-glug, even with the stock pipes. It's got a bit of vibration at low RPMs, but once you get up to highway speeds, it smooths out. I don't know off the top of my head how much power it has, but it definently rocks. It's not the top-end scream of a sportbike, but this thing is no slouch.
I don't know how I rode w/o hard bags. They lock, and now I have my bike cover, three pairs of gloves, jacket liner, cell phone, backpack, and whatever else I need with me at all times. I can also throw anything I need to bring to or from work in there.
Needless to say, I really love this bike. Aside from the regular "is that a Harley?", I don't have any regrets. In fact, I haven't riden my VFR in nearly a week. It's got power, looks, storage, and enough comfort for two people to really travel. Factory hard bags, factory passenger backrest. I'm already planning a weekend trip for me and my girl, which wouldn't have happened on the VFR.
