How many bought a Shadow because you couldn't afford a ???

[onewholovesrock]

Gotta say. There is a bunch of good looking Honda's on these post. I just don't see to many in real life. Most people I know and ride with wouldn't even consider looking at a bike that wasn't HD unfortunatly. Their lose I guess! Yeah, I'm not sure I could ever in a million years put on some leather chaps, I'm sure they are nice but I can't stand the Village People's YMCA.

[MikeAstringer]

My answer is yes and no. I've been a boater my entire life and that is the hobby that I spend the most on for storage, docking, maintaining, operating, etc. My 32' boat had dual 350 motors and when when gas prices are "normal" costs about $100 per hour to operate. I budget $10k per year for my boat - and that doesn't include the purchase price. I shudder to think what gas prices will be on the water this year. My wife and I also travel quite a bit. Point being my yearly recreation budget is pretty high. I also have two kids in college.

When I decided to get a bike after not riding for 15 years I knew up front I wasn't going to spend a lot. I'm by no means cheap but it just didn't make sense to spend a ton of cash on another hobby.

I had also owned Hondas in the past and they were good bikes. I went out specifically looking for a Honda. I first bought a VLX thinking that since I hadn't ridden in so many years I should start small. A month in I knew I had bought a bike that was too small for me and two months after I bought the VLX I traded it at my local Honda dealer for my current VT1100. I've spent some money making it "mine" but I'm still in this bike way less than I might have spent on something else.

I have a friend who spent well over $30k on a Wide Glide with custom paint, extra chrome, custom wheels, all of the screaming eagle options, etc. I'd never throw down that kind of cash on a bike. He rides it MAYBE 5 times a year.

I'll put another few thousand into my bike. I want more chrome and I'm going to put custom wheels on it. Some think I'm insane for spending the money I have on my bike but the way I look at it I'm into my bike a small percentage of what guys like my friend are and I've got a good looking reliable bike. I'll ride this bike for another 3 to 5 years but chances are when I'm finished with it I'll buy another Honda (maybe a Goldwing next time). I just can't see spending $30k or more on another hobby when boating is my first love and very expensive.

One a side note I rode the bike down to the marina yesterday and stopped at the pizza shop we frequent in the summer when we are spending time at the boat. The owner came outside to compliment me on the changes we made to the bike. He started telling me about the $40k he spent building a custom chopper, didn't like it and could only get $20k for it. INSANE!

But speaking of custom choppers that is the one place where I would lay down some cash. Some day I'd like to have a custom chopper (OCC/PJD style) built for my business. We are attending more and more events and shows and I think bringing a bike like that with us would attract attention. Still though that wouldn't be a hobby or even a bike to ride.

[Floyd Dolin]

Originally Posted by onewholovesrock

Yeah, I'm not sure I could ever in a million years put on some leather chaps, I'm sure they are nice but I can't stand the Village People's YMCA.

Holy cr@p! Some of you have mentioned the Village People song YMCA and now I have that tune floating around in my head. Weather is a little cool this morning, so I'll be putting on my leather chaps ("not that there's anything wrong with it") before heading down the road.
"Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so tight ..."
Holy cr@p! There it goes again.

[1stHonda]

After a little financial ruin, thanks to the economic downturn, I was forced to part company with my 06 Ultra and 07 Triumph Bonneville. Once I was back on my feet, I started looking again. I wanted another Bonneville but didn't want to spend 10k. After more looking I came across the Shadow RS. It was the style of bike I was looking for and most importantly, I could pay it off quick. I bought a 2010 for 6200 OTD. It rides and handles great. I have to admit, I wasn't much of a Honda fan until this bike. I've rode many and they all seemed to lack character to me. This one has a little character and plenty fun to ride. My only gripe is it's down on power compared to the other bikes I've owned. Other than power output, it's been a great bike and Hondas reliability is undeniable. Even when I do pull the trigger on another Harley or Triumph, I can't see the Honda leaving. I have to say I'm very happy with this bike and it has led me to give the rest of Honda's lineup a serious look.

[falcon1234]

i got mine because i couldnt afford a car...
I dont regret it one bit! LOVE MY SHADOW

[stitch]

I got a Honda Shadow because I couldn't afford a Honda Fury. Still, happy with the Shadow though

[dakotagun]

i wanted a new bike. we went into the HD dealer intending to buy my first in more than 20 years. they ignored us completely. store wasn't busy, but the salespeople avoided us completely; wandered up and down, with no clue about what we should try. left there, went across the street to the honda dealer. they let me take a spin with a few off the showroom floor; drove off with the Spirit that day.
maybe some day i'll venture back into a HD store, but for now, i'm perfectly happy with my Shadow.

[93gc40]

I bought my Shadow on the way Home from Ordering a Sportster at the HD dealer. Saw it in a driveway, and stopped. Guy had upgraded so he let me test ride it. Me and him to a short cruise around town. We rode over to the HD dealer where I canceled my order. We then rode to my Bank so I could get him the cash for the Shadow. Wen't from a 2001 Sporty ordered with lots of extras OTD $12500, to a 1993 VT1100 for $3400. The only regret I have ever had, is the daul pins SOUND. 40+ years of Bikes and Guns has made the sound not so important. Better Performance and Minimal Maintenance more than make up for the missing Potatoes.

[williewonka]

I was very happy with my previous Shadows, but I'm even happier with my Magna.

[Hondaguy]

The idea is be 100% happy with what you do buy. If not wait and save for what you will enjoy for years. but too many people rush to something because they have the money now even though its not what they really want.

Out of reach for me means its over valued by someone else. Some things are just out of financial reach and that's fine because we CAN be satisfied with what we can afford and not pine for a Ferrari or $35k Custom ass jewelry. It's a great feeling to know there isn't another bike out there I would want to own when riding home from the dealership or another's garage. That could change after a few years....

I wanted a Yamaha V Star. Chose the only water cooled base cruiser version I could turn into my OWN "touring bagged and shield version" Not Yamaha's "idea" of a "Tourer version" I knew it would cost more in the end but I made it mine. I ended up spending $11K on exactly what I wanted at the time. $8K for the bike and $3k to make it mine. Could have bought a LOT of bike with that cash and a lot more with a few thousand more. But I bought what I wanted to ride for the next few years, I decided a long time ago not to settle when what I want is within 30%-40% of what I can afford. Save for what you want and you never look back. I already decided to spend $11k Another $5K would have bought any bike but even $11k is a lot of money to blow and not to be completely satisfied. Its like cars and guitars for some.

Why spend $600 when the guitar of your dreams is $1000. Wait and get the one you want. The $600 guitar will never be completely satisfying even though $600 is a lot of money. Same with cars. I like a lot of cool cars I would personally not buy but can appreciate in ANOTHER'S garage just as much as if it were in my own. Can always rent one for the day.

We did the same with boats being so close to the waterway. We thought we wanted a boat and found a Marina and shopped. Buying a boat was the "easy" part. The real costs are in OWNING. Then we decided we were better off RENTING a boat and whatever kind we wanted for the outing when we wanted, prak it and walk away, and saved a pile of money and upkeep and still enjoy the same exact experience. The math of owning and the actual time we would use it even if every weekend simply did not work out on paper. The bike is transportation though and not purely recreation for me 90% of the year. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the 08 truck with 27K miles. LOL.

Going to Home Depot to pick up a PVC elbow for the Irrigation pump is a lot more fun and more economical on the bike.