Honda Shadow 750

My step-daughter bought a new one. After about ten years it had all of 30 miles on it (and I had put 11 of them on it). I cleaned the tank and carbs and she sold it. Having riden a GL1800 for years, it seemed very under-powered to me.
 
Yeah they cleaned up okay, it was just gross. With a little B12 and air both throttles completely blew out.

More work on the 2006 Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (I've been calling it an Ace but I learned this morning this is allegedly a Spirit).

Got my exhaust set up, ground down, re-welded in places, and painted. It's painted with a generic epoxy so it'll burn off the first thing the thing is heated up, but it gives me a good idea of how it'll look redone in stainless. I will probably sell my CX500 once this bike is done, and then I'll have a new exhaust made in stainless...probably with some slightly shorter mufflers.

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I also finalized how where I'm sticking the coils. I've been switching back and forth between the stock coils and some stick coils but fitment has been crazy with both. I sorted out I can fit them in the area that the fins would be on the #1. That spot looks funky anyway since it's normally occupied by an airbox so the coils fill that void. I'm thinking of running with yellow wires lol.

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I LOVE how skinny this thing is!

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And a money shot just to help with size perspective. I'm 6' even these days for reference...I use to be 6'2" and not sure what happened...

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HOLY COW, that thing is coming out looking so cool! It would drive someone nuts trying to figure out what it used to be! I swear, if Motorcycle product-planners were smart, they'd have sites like DO THE TON bookmarked and check in here daily for ideas on what people really want on two wheels.
 
First start on the Shadow 750 project!
Punchlist:
1. Speedometer
2. Headlight
3. Tail light
4. Paint
5. Chain guard and bracket for holding the rear line off the chain.
6. Fork seals
7. Probably a bunch of stuff I'm forgetting....

 
My step-daughter bought a new one. After about ten years it had all of 30 miles on it (and I had put 11 of them on it). I cleaned the tank and carbs and she sold it. Having riden a GL1800 for years, it seemed very under-powered to me.
well...it would, wouldn't it? It's a bike that in stock trim weighs about 3/4 of what a GL1800 weighs and has 1/3 the horsepower and half the torque.
 
Alrighty...I don't particularly "like" this but it works and clears everything is easy to secure and it's mostly hidden. Unfortunately my 4-cell 26650 LiFe battery didn't have quite enough amps. I could have made an eight cell battery but then I'd have had to have built a solid BMS and it would have been nearly as expensive as just going and buying a Firepower battery (if you're looking at lithium batteries look at Firepower before Antigravity). This little AGM battery works just fine as was only $80 at walmart.

It does look tight against the swingarm but it's outside of the radius so shouldn't be a problem.

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I did figure out that my swingarm has to move to the left about 5mm. It's going to throw off my alignment a little I think but that's life sometimes. I'm going to have to notch the frame after all.

Also got a set of UNI filters. Left side fits with lots and lots of room, right side...not so much...but UNI filters are pretty squishy so it works all the same.

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Headlight is sorted out. Swapped the Shadow bucket out for a generic steel Sportster bucket. I wish I had gotten a chrome one, though. I'm going to have to remake the mount, though, because this bucket has no lateral adjustment. I need a single post to make my side to side swing.

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And one of my favorite bits so far...the coolant neck on this bike is horizontal. How do you fill this up? Such a silly arrangement.

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Alrighty...I don't particularly "like" this but it works and clears everything is easy to secure and it's mostly hidden. Unfortunately my 4-cell 26650 LiFe battery didn't have quite enough amps. I could have made an eight cell battery but then I'd have had to have built a solid BMS and it would have been nearly as expensive as just going and buying a Firepower battery (if you're looking at lithium batteries look at Firepower before Antigravity). This little AGM battery works just fine as was only $80 at walmart.

It does look tight against the swingarm but it's outside of the radius so shouldn't be a problem.

skfnRgX.jpg


ssHpNmy.jpg


I did figure out that my swingarm has to move to the left about 5mm. It's going to throw off my alignment a little I think but that's life sometimes. I'm going to have to notch the frame after all.

Also got a set of UNI filters. Left side fits with lots and lots of room, right side...not so much...but UNI filters are pretty squishy so it works all the same.

MVjcQXE.jpg


Headlight is sorted out. Swapped the Shadow bucket out for a generic steel Sportster bucket. I wish I had gotten a chrome one, though. I'm going to have to remake the mount, though, because this bucket has no lateral adjustment. I need a single post to make my side to side swing.

x2nAwoy.jpg


hNnr8pC.jpg


jzu6Wgd.jpg


And one of my favorite bits so far...the coolant neck on this bike is horizontal. How do you fill this up? Such a silly arrangement.

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Looking good! I kinda messed up and got the 7" bulb for the ugly plastic SR250 bucket, when I could've gone to the 5"/ and a new bucket. That Sporty bucket looks good on there!
 
I wanted a simple speedometer with basic functions and didn't require a lot fiddling about with calibrating and sensors and stuff...so I got this cheap Chinese model. Don't know how well it'll work, but it's the right size. I made the bezel out of some aluminum I had on hand but I think I'm going to make another...that one ended up too large around the clock and I hate that hole in it (it was scrap). I might shoot it black first, though, as I'm a little concerned that if I make it too small it'll be too flimsy.

I think I'm going to running a small fly screen...that'll help with the wire clutter.

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And I'll have it known that old road signs are among my favorite things! https://i.imgur.com/i11ZHac.jpg]I've been using them for years for other projects.[/url] I needed a chain guard to lift the brake line up. This was a simple job and I think once all the sign goo is scrubbed off and it's brushed it'll look pretty slick...or I got a nice yellow sign without too many bullet holes in it I might make another one and leave the sign stuff on it. I might drill some speed holes in it haha

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I remade the bezel. Took my time and did less with the grinder and more with the die cutter. Still not perfect but it looks a LOT better I think. Got it wired up as well. Going to play around with making a little flyscreen this weekend mostly to cover the cable clutter and the white backside of the clock, but it'll also give me a neat little place to mount the GPS antenna. I'm hoping the GPS actually works...won't find out until I'm moving, though.

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Decided to strip and brush the chain guard. All my signs are too big, not enough variation in them to tell that it's actually part of a road sign. I think it looks good, though.

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I was going to stick with the rough rebar shifter but I REALLY wanted the rearset to work...just couldn't sort it out when last tackled. I sat and looked at it today until I was able to find some kind of inspiration...and I was able to. I had to chop up the shift links and shifters from four other bikes to make it work but I made it work. It does have a little more "flop" than I like but it shifts and that's the most important bit. I can put a guide on it to keep it from flopping around but I'm worried it might bind the link. I'll see how much of a problem it is once I'm riding it.

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It was a beautiful day so I rolled both bikes out of the shop (plus I expected to have some company that it pays to have something interesting to talk about or else we talk about politics).

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The CX500 is a skinny little thing but it still makes the Shadow look like a toothpick.

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I even took her out for a little ride to go through the gears and to make sure it all felt "right". Video ends abruptly because my GoPro is acting up...I use to love this little Hero 3+ but the last several times I've used it the video and sound quality were poor and it kept shutting off. I need a mount that'll work with my phone.


I also broke it! I was trying to keep from burning through the rod and in the end it screwed up my weld...oh well. I rewelded it but got it a hell of a lot hotter so it should be good now.

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...and discovered a coolant leak! Not sure where it's coming from yet.

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You get an oil change! And you get an oil change! And you get an oil change! And you get an oil change! And you get an oil change (and a tire fill with slime)!

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Also sorted out my coolant leak...couldn't get a decent picture but it was a hose clamp not quite tight enough on the forward water port. Once clamped and refilled it was mostly solid...I sorted out that I was also leaking what I thought was coolant but what turned out to be condensation being forced through a seam...as well as oil dripping from numerous points. I expected to have to do lots of gaskets. Went to check my oil, though, right after shut down and there was a very audible hiss of pressure...my crankcase was not venting. Turns out my valve covers were swapped and the PCV doesn't work on the front cylinder. I'm like 90% I got it off that cylinder but possible I botched it. Works now and that's what's important!
 
I've always hated the whole "look at my Jim Beam coolant reservoir" type stuff but my reservoir is busted (the leak) and I had to improvise. I have a proper aluminum one coming lol

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I also went shopping last week! Some meth addict was selling a Predator 7kw generator for $50 and as it turned out he had a set of ZX6R forks and wheel sitting there...so I bought those for $20, too! The wheel has a little bend in it but the forks and rotors are straight. A friend of mine who deals with classic bikes picked up a ton of wheels at a swap meet and he had a K5/6 GSXR600 wheel in the mix...doesn't help him none but it'll be a little profit for me. Not much all told, but it'll fetch most of what's left in finishing out the shadow!

Best bit, though, was a found that wheel on the bottom there at a hole in the wall shop in Odessa (BTS motorworks, they sell on eBay, fun guys)...RC46 5.5" wheel in good shape for $100.

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I'm looking at wrapping the tank in vinyl, but not sure yet. I like crazy abstract stuff, rust/patina finishes, but also clean solid colors. Makes it hard to pick. I keep shifting from a glossy silver, flat black, and then off to something weird. I've sent a seller on eBay a request for this print but without the skull...I like the background but the skull is silly.

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I also got the horn hooked up but didn't take a picture...sorry...
 
I've always hated the whole "look at my Jim Beam coolant reservoir" type stuff but my reservoir is busted (the leak) and I had to improvise. I have a proper aluminum one coming lol

0Ww5qnt.jpeg


I also went shopping last week! Some meth addict was selling a Predator 7kw generator for $50 and as it turned out he had a set of ZX6R forks and wheel sitting there...so I bought those for $20, too! The wheel has a little bend in it but the forks and rotors are straight. A friend of mine who deals with classic bikes picked up a ton of wheels at a swap meet and he had a K5/6 GSXR600 wheel in the mix...doesn't help him none but it'll be a little profit for me. Not much all told, but it'll fetch most of what's left in finishing out the shadow!

Best bit, though, was a found that wheel on the bottom there at a hole in the wall shop in Odessa (BTS motorworks, they sell on eBay, fun guys)...RC46 5.5" wheel in good shape for $100.

XLQ9Gu0.jpg


rq7Pt6J.jpeg


I'm looking at wrapping the tank in vinyl, but not sure yet. I like crazy abstract stuff, rust/patina finishes, but also clean solid colors. Makes it hard to pick. I keep shifting from a glossy silver, flat black, and then off to something weird. I've sent a seller on eBay a request for this print but without the skull...I like the background but the skull is silly.

woy9OcB.jpeg


I also got the horn hooked up but didn't take a picture...sorry...
...Maverick Grabber Blue?
 
Finally got to spend half an hour on it.

It actually handles pretty well. I expected some quirkiness but it's fine. Turn in is obviously not like a sportbike but it's not muted like a cruiser...which, really, when the geometry it's about how I expected it to be. I'm sure there's a technical term for it that I just don't know, but the back seems "heavy"...like every turn is on the rear wheel. Rear tire is old, hard, and absolute rubbish...and it rubs on the swingarm lol...I'm thinking it'll be a bit better with a fresh tire (on the way).

I will have to invest in some heat shielding for the header pipes, and probably ceramic coating as well. If you're moving at all there's a big enough air gap that it draws the heat away easily, but if you stop for more than thirty seconds you can feel it. I sat on it idling and it took five minutes to get to a "I can't do it anymore" point lol. Luckily I will not ever have to deal with traffic.

Vinyl should be here this week for the tank and fender. It's going to be that punisher skull graphic but the print is big enough that I don't think it'll show. I'll go back this winter or something and do something else.

Lots left to do but it's at a point where it's all the little things.

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Looks good man, I like both of your builds. The back tire heavy/rubbing thing is strange.. could it be the rear wheel is out of alignment ?
 
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