HONDA SHADOW 500

esspee51 · 06-20-2008, 12:28 PM

What are your thoughts on a Honda Shadow 500 for a commuter bike? I am 6'1" and weigh about 250lbs and commute 8-10 miles a day.

Ride Safe and Have Fun

Steve

Schneiderman · 06-20-2008, 01:10 PM

What year? I like the VT500. It will have enough power to move you around. It should make a good commuter.

WAR600 · 06-20-2008, 01:33 PM

esspee51, I would sit on the bike before buying it if I were you. I hear they are for smaller people. Other than that it is a great bike for a beginner. I usually suggest the 250cc bikes for beginners, but taller folks have trouble with the 250cc bikes and a 500cc cruiser motor is a lot like the 250cc motor. They are both very forgiving motors.

esspee51 · 06-20-2008, 03:39 PM

WACB, I agree with you about size for a beginner. However, I have been riding for 40+ years, but I haven't ridden that small of a bike before. I'm wondering about power and if I would fit on the bike. The guy I'm buying from is taller than me so that shouldn't be a problem.

Ride Safe and Have Fun

Steve

TigerHijinks · 06-20-2008, 04:50 PM

I'm 6'1" 230. On my two hour ride yesterday my knees started hurting towards the end, but I have bad knees anyway. It's a little smaller than I would like for longer distances, but around town it's great. I've had it up to 80 on the freeway so the power should be sufficient.

Wrangler212 · 06-20-2008, 05:11 PM

I'm over six feet tall and I'm three hundred pounds. I ride a 500cc bike on an hour commute (two hour round trip) every day without a problem. Power is not an issue. I'm now going between seventy five and eighty miles per hour. If I don't go that fast, I'll get run over by the cagers.

06-20-2008, 05:48 PM

My husband's first bike was a 1983 Honda Shadow. He was 6'2" and around 190 lbs and did real well with it. And the new Shadows are a lot lighter than that beast was! They've come a long way, baby!

lol. And it was tall as well. I'm 5'7" (I'm not short), but I was too short for that bike. Couldn't put both my feet on the ground with that one.

06-20-2008, 12:28 PM	#1
esspee51 Master At Arms Join Date: May 2007 Location: TWIN CITIES Posts: 182	HONDA SHADOW 500 What are your thoughts on a Honda Shadow 500 for a commuter bike? I am 6'1" and weigh about 250lbs and commute 8-10 miles a day. Ride Safe and Have Fun Steve

06-20-2008, 04:50 PM	#5
TigerHijinks Verified Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 28	I'm 6'1" 230. On my two hour ride yesterday my knees started hurting towards the end, but I have bad knees anyway. It's a little smaller than I would like for longer distances, but around town it's great. I've had it up to 80 on the freeway so the power should be sufficient. Last edited by TigerHijinks; 06-20-2008 at 04:53 PM..

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06-20-2008, 01:10 PM	#2
Schneiderman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,160	What year? I like the VT500. It will have enough power to move you around. It should make a good commuter.

06-20-2008, 01:33 PM	#3
WAR600 Motorcyclist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,598	esspee51, I would sit on the bike before buying it if I were you. I hear they are for smaller people. Other than that it is a great bike for a beginner. I usually suggest the 250cc bikes for beginners, but taller folks have trouble with the 250cc bikes and a 500cc cruiser motor is a lot like the 250cc motor. They are both very forgiving motors.

06-20-2008, 03:39 PM	#4
esspee51 Master At Arms Join Date: May 2007 Location: TWIN CITIES Posts: 182	WACB, I agree with you about size for a beginner. However, I have been riding for 40+ years, but I haven't ridden that small of a bike before. I'm wondering about power and if I would fit on the bike. The guy I'm buying from is taller than me so that shouldn't be a problem. Ride Safe and Have Fun Steve

06-20-2008, 05:11 PM	#6
Wrangler212 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeatern Connecticut Posts: 224	I'm over six feet tall and I'm three hundred pounds. I ride a 500cc bike on an hour commute (two hour round trip) every day without a problem. Power is not an issue. I'm now going between seventy five and eighty miles per hour. If I don't go that fast, I'll get run over by the cagers.

06-20-2008, 05:48 PM	#7
RebelWithACause Guest Posts: n/a	My husband's first bike was a 1983 Honda Shadow. He was 6'2" and around 190 lbs and did real well with it. And the new Shadows are a lot lighter than that beast was! They've come a long way, baby! lol. And it was tall as well. I'm 5'7" (I'm not short), but I was too short for that bike. Couldn't put both my feet on the ground with that one.