Test riding the Honda VT750C Phantom (aka blacked out Shadow) - Got questions? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Test riding the Honda VT750C Phantom (aka blacked out Shadow) - Got questions?

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autoKsS

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So I'm test riding the 2013 Honda Phantom this week. It's basically a Shadow 750 that's been blacked out.

This bike reminds me a lot of the Harley Davidson Breakout that I tested a few months ago, just smaller, easier to handle, and not nearly as much of a stunner on the finishing touches... the Harley is $20k+ the Honda is $8k. So no comparison there.

Put on 160 km on it yesterday alone, and I'll have it till next Tuesday (August 6th). Feel free to ask any questions or let me know anything in particular you might want me to try/find out.

If you're wondering, this is what the bike looks like: http://motorcycle.honda.ca/cruiser/VT750C_Phantom/specifications
 
I love my 2012. Small, low and mean. Not a lot in terms of acceleration or high speed, but she's surprisingly nimble at low/medium speed. Riding position is comfortable for day trips, can't wait for a new seat though.

Are you joining the club, or just visiting?
 
I'm borderline on these. I'm in my 3rd season now and want something a little more comfortable and with a little more umpff than my Kawi Vulcan 500. It's either the Phantom 750 or the new Yamaha Bolt. All feedback, pros and cons would be appreciated.
 
The Bolt is the closest Japanese Harley lookalike. Yamaha is the only one of the big 4 that builds air-cooled V-Twins. Radiators look lame on cruisers.
 
Corsair said:
Are you joining the club, or just visiting?
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Perhaps this is a newbie question, but club? As in GTAM? If so, then I was here many years ago, just fell off for awhile. Back now seeing as some of my day-to-day work is very much involved with motorcycles/scooters. It's a great place to chat about the related with like minded people.


Stevo said:
I'm borderline on these. I'm in my 3rd season now and want something a little more comfortable and with a little more umpff than my Kawi Vulcan 500. It's either the Phantom 750 or the new Yamaha Bolt. All feedback, pros and cons would be appreciated.
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Like RetroGrouch said, the Bolt is a closer Harley imitator than the Phantom. However, as mentioned earlier the Phantom's styling reminds me a great deal of Harley's Fat Boy Lo. It also sounds great stock (I'll post a walkaround video soon.) So far I've only got two complaints about the Phantom:

(1) is it's lack of simple storage; there's a small underseat section that can only be accessed by removing THREE screws! Making it virtually useless
(2) a pillion rider will likely hate your guts after about 15 minutes on that small uncomfortable quarter seat. My fiancee was in tears after we had ridden just 30 minutes through highway and city roads

On the plus side:

- It rides really smooth including a well sorted 1st, N, and 2nd gears
- Despite not having any aerodynamic elements, it pulls surprisingly well even at 110km/h + speeds
- All the controls feel really well put together, typical Honda
- Has a nice low seating position (not so great for taller riders though; I'm 6'1" and was not enjoying it at low speed with a passenger)
 
Appreciate the feedback. The wife is not too keen on the back of the bike anyway so thats not a major flaw. Also, being a medium 5'9" the seat height sounds perfect.

Bit of a newbee question, but is there a major difference between the 950cc on the Bolt and the 750cc on the Shadow? My one concern woud be jumping from a 500cc to a 950cc.
 
Stevo said:
Bit of a newbee question, but is there a major difference between the 950cc on the Bolt and the 750cc on the Shadow? My one concern woud be jumping from a 500cc to a 950cc.
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There is a 20percent gain in HP, but a gain in weight and insurance premiums. I really see no point in anything bigger than 650-750 unless "the old lady" likes KFC and looks like Rob Ford.
 
The under-seat storage is completely useless. The left-side tool-storage space is also really small. I use an old magazine pouch on the handlebar.

autoKsS, are you buying the Phantom or test-riding a bunch of bikes for work. If so, where do I apply? :)

I wanted to get a mustang touring seat with a backrest, but I'm afraid the passenger seat would look unnaturally big on the small fender. Any stores around the GTA that keep mustang/corbin seats in stock? Or any Phantom owners here with aftermarket seats who will let me try it? I'll pay with timbits!
 
Corsair said:
The under-seat storage is completely useless. The left-side tool-storage space is also really small. I use an old magazine pouch on the handlebar.

autoKsS, are you buying the Phantom or test-riding a bunch of bikes for work. If so, where do I apply? :)

I wanted to get a mustang touring seat with a backrest, but I'm afraid the passenger seat would look unnaturally big on the small fender. Any stores around the GTA that keep mustang/corbin seats in stock? Or any Phantom owners here with aftermarket seats who will let me try it? I'll pay with timbits!
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Ive got the Mustang seat with driver backrest on my 2005 Aero, not sure if that helps you or not but you are welcome to try it out. It'll cost you a Timmy's steeped tea though. :p
 
CafeRay said:
There is a 20percent gain in HP, but a gain in weight and insurance premiums. I really see no point in anything bigger than 650-750 unless "the old lady" likes KFC and looks like Rob Ford.
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That response actually did make me laugh out loud. Thank you! And no, she thankfully looks nothing like our esteemed Mayor, or is partial to too many KFC's
 
Corsair said:
autoKsS, are you buying the Phantom or test-riding a bunch of bikes for work. If so, where do I apply? :)
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Me buying something? Not likely. I was test riding it for a review. I like to call it my job, but my fiancee will tell you that it's really a hobby that sometimes makes a little money. Riding/driving new bikes/cars every week, getting flown out to distant locations for launch events, being generally pampered by auto/moto OEMs sounds fun... but like everything else, at the end of the day it's still work. In my case, poorly paid work at that :(
 
The_Marl said:
I totally forgot to charge you for the tea! Nice meeting you though.
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Thanks again for the meet. The phantom is small enough, I think the mustang pushed me too far ahead. Bought a sheepskin from Doc's for the rest of the season until I can figure out what to do. Maybe saddlemen.
 
Stevo said:
I'm borderline on these. I'm in my 3rd season now and want something a little more comfortable and with a little more umpff than my Kawi Vulcan 500. It's either the Phantom 750 or the new Yamaha Bolt. All feedback, pros and cons would be appreciated.
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Consider the Vulcan 900 Classic / Custom. I have a classic, and it's my first cruiser, so I am biased but people who own them seem to love them. They are good all around bikes.
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