Does a Honda Shadow motor really last this long?

[Bret SD]

Saw this ad and could not believe the mileage on the bike being sold. The motor has been rebuilt, not sure when or how many times etc.. I know some people here have experience with them.

https://ventura.craigslist.org/mcy/d/thousand-oaks-1998-honda-shadow/7581417293.html

[Valkorado]

I suppose it's possible...

I bought a 99 Shadow Spirit new, sold it with around 48,500 miles.  It was already starting to feel like it could use a work over, but was a reliable touring two-up touring workhorse.

[Serk]

I mean, anything's possible, but since it's an ACE (Single pin crank, like a Harley) I'd put my money that someone missed a decimal point and it's really 41915.3 miles.....

But, as I said, anything's possible I 'spose...

[carolinarider09]

When I got back into riding motorcycles, I got a 2001 Honda Shadow ACE Tourer (I think, see picture below).  

As I remember it, the bike ran ok until the engine had a bearing issue or something similar (its been a while).  I took it to a Honda dealer up the road from here (June of 2003) and he gave me some bad news.  

I don't remember what the issue was but I decided that I liked the look of the 2003 Honda Valkyrie in his showroom and I bought it and traded in the Shadow.  It had over 50,000 miles on it I believe but.....   I don't really remember.  

The Valkyrie is a much better bike.  Oh, the Valkyrie was just a bare Standard.  

[Cyclejohn]

Does a Honda Shadow motor really last this long?

No.

[sandy]

I knew an older man who had 100K on his 1100 shadow. It ran very well and looked good too.

[scooperhsd]

I've owned nothing but Hondas and every single one made 40-50 thousand miles or more. Just about all of them the engine was in no way about to die.
Running as good as new.
Hondas owned

1978 CB400A *
1976 CB750F
1981 CB750F *
1994 PC800 *
1998 Valk standard

* = I bought it brand new from the dealer. 1981 CB750F was bought in Jan 1985.

[Challenger]

I had a Shadow Sabre and a Shadow  Ace. The single pin Ace was ok, but the twin pin Sabre was was way faster and smoother. The guy who bought the Saber still has it and is over 90,000 now.
The only thing that was done to it was rejetted and dual pipes

[cookiedough]

use to work with a guy in late 1990's had around a 1986 1100 shadow.  He let me test drive it once at lunch hour and was pretty peppy had around 50K miles on it.  He said he said the 80's 1100 shadows were made much better and much faster than the 1990's shadows.  Not sure if true, but he was a shadow vtwin guy while I was a magna 4 cylinder guy.  Magna's were still faster.... LOL

[TrapperAH1G]

I own two Shadow Tourers, both black just like in Carolinarider09's picture.  One has over 50K and the other over 85K miles.  Both are in great condition and run strong.  All Aces tend to use a little oil but nothing excessive.  I've had to do carb rebuilds and drive services, just like on my Valk, but no major overhaul or rebuild.  Love the T's.

I love my Valk and ride it more than any of the others.  Will continue to do so as long as I can handle the Valk.  But when all is said and done, the T will be the last bike in my stable.

[h13man]

I agree with Serk on this. Usually a twin pin variant of the 1100, 100,000 mi. if properly taken care of but....

[Bret SD]

Thanks to all for the great feedback  , 400,000+ seemed to be way out of anything I'd heard of in any V-twin.

One of my best friends had a 2000 HD Road King he sold at 130,000 miles.. still running well to this day I believe. He's always right on top of maintenance and doesn't beat on his horses. Today he has a 2022 Road Glide with some insane HP and torque, I'm sure that one will last him for many miles as well.

TBH, I don't think there is a better overall bike than a Valkyrie, I'm very happy with my Valk standard, though I must admit.. Britman's blue F6 is the type of bike I'm eyeing for the future.

[Valkorado]

TBH, I don't think there is a better overall bike than a Valkyrie, I'm very happy with my Valk standard, though I must admit.. Britman's blue F6 is the type of bike I'm eyeing for the future.

Me too.  I like what hubcap Mike has done with his as well.  Love the flat six.  After looking at those two custom bikes, they are growing on me.  Fuel injection would sure be nice.  Should be coming down in price, maybe?

[f6gal]

Oh, the Valkyrie was just a bare Standard.  

That's all they made in 2003.

[f6gal]

Britman's blue F6 is the type of bike I'm eyeing for the future.

Britman's isn't an F6B (not sure if that's what you meant).  He has the 2014 Valkyrie with first gen bags added.

[carolinarider09]

Oh, the Valkyrie was just a bare Standard.  

That's all they made in 2003.

That is correct. 

[Bret SD]

TBH, I don't think there is a better overall bike than a Valkyrie, I'm very happy with my Valk standard, though I must admit.. Britman's blue F6 is the type of bike I'm eyeing for the future.

Me too.  I like what hubcap Mike has done with his as well.  Love the flat six.  After looking at those two custom bikes, they are growing on me.  Fuel injection would sure be nice.  Should be coming down in price, maybe?

For me it'll be a few years before I seriously consider it, I expect the price will be down quite a bit by then, but who knows.. I love the look of the older Valkyrie, nothing on the road looks like it. People comment all the time on how beautiful the bike is.

For now mine just runs really well and delivers the wind in my face, it does so with smoothness and Power.. Above all that reliability is extremely good, can't say enough good things about our beloved Valkyries.

[Bret SD]

Britman's blue F6 is the type of bike I'm eyeing for the future.

Britman's isn't an F6B (not sure if that's what you meant).  He has the 2014 Valkyrie with first gen bags added.

That's true, I tend to look at and think of the newer Valkyries more like an F6 because of the Tupperware Factor.. It's a brain association thing I guess.