Hey everyone I have never ridden before and I am looking to get a early 80's honda shadow as a project bike.  I am a mechanic by trade and would like something that I can get in the fall and restore over the winter and be ready to ride a new bike for the spring.  any suggestions as to what would be best?  

I am currently restoring an 85 VT700C Shadow. I love this bike. Most people who try the newer Shadows, and most any cruisers for that matter, think they are slow and loud and shiny, and that's all there is to a cruiser.

Mine is an absolute rocket. I've yet to see another cruiser that can keep up, and the sport bike guys are always surprised to see how well I keep up with them. Obviously the performance isn't the same as a 600cc featherweight, but it's incredible nonetheless.

My brother went and bought an 84 after he saw how much fun mine has been. But he's thinking about selling it because it's so hard to find accessories. For instance, he had to get a universal textile saddlebag set because it's nearly impossible to get leather on Japanese bikes this old. So if you're looking for a restoration project the original Shadows are great. If you're looking for something to customize then it's a bit more work as you have to fabricate your parts in most cases.

I am doing a timelapse photography project as I do the restoration project. Right now I have a very shiny array of parts on the garage floor. Once I finish painting in a couple days I'll be reassembling. Should be gorgeous. I've found that it's fairly easy to get original parts for these (the 84 and 85 are virtually identical, and most of the 83 parts are the same) and fairly easy to work on.

My only complaints are that I don't like the sissy bar and will have to design a completely new rear seat and fender support if I get rid of it, and there isn't enough body panel coverage so really interesting colors look dumb because the panels are so small.

Otherwise I love it and expect to continue to ride it for many years.


- Jon  

If you want a One of a kind bike, try latching on to a Hondamatic from the late 70's/early '80s.
http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_CB400A


I worked at National Grid, and one showed up in the motorcycle lot. It got attention like you wouldn't believe. They guy basically found it while riding around, old couple, their kid bought it, and then left it for 30 years. All the gaskets were shot, carb was encased in varnish, but all the problems were in the peripherals. He spent a couple of months restoring, and ended up with a very rare collectible.