Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

XxDarkEuphoriaxX · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

It has a few scratches, has had valve job and carb clean, reupholstered seat and gas tanks have been cleaned. 2nd owner has it and it has had premium chevron fuel put in it its whole life... might be able to get it for... $1300. Black paint, a few scratches, a little surface rust on the bottom of the exhausts... NOW onto the ?'s

a) the BAFFLES have been removed from the exhaust BUT NO engine work has been done. will this cause a problem? Will I HAVE to re-jet the carbs OR find some baffles and put them back in? Will this cause a problem with cold weather or hot weather riding?

b) I am 5 foot 3" about 105 pounds. IN GENERAL will this bike be too big for me. Don't rly want a rebel but there is a 87 one local to me for 1300 i am considering. I have rode a dirtbike before, i know how to ride. have a honda 350four i am selling because of the 4 carbs and their issues, it has a 31" seat height and I can handle it. its about 395 pounds..
thanks so much Smile

SHADOW 1100T · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

might be able to get it for... $1300.
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Seems hi to me given the year but then that's just MO
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the BAFFLES have been removed from the exhaust BUT NO engine work has been done. will this cause a problem?
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If it's been running the jetting is probably OK, a plug check will tell, if you don't know what to look for have some one that does know take a look, you don't need to buy someones problems.
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am 5 foot 3"
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The only way to tell if it's going to fit is to try it out, us people in the 30 to 32 inch inseam range have to be careful about seat heights, you can set on them OK but if the bike leans over too far for what ever reason it can be very hard to hold up because we can't get our legs out far enough to catch the weight and hold it,,BTDT.
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Ted

tubes_rock · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 4268 Location: Claremont, NH

The price is going to depend a lot on the area. In my area (New England) $1300 for a bike is "ride it home" condition, regardless of the cosmetics is going to fetch $1300 without much trouble. Motorcycle pricing varies by region drastically.

That bike weighs in around 520 I think. Don't think of it so much as the raw number of weight, but more how that weight fits you. Some bikes that have only weighed in at 400 pounds have been unwieldy for me at 5'9" and 145 pounds. Other 700 pound bikes have been nimble and comfortable in parking lots and at slow speeds. You won't know until you get on it and see what it's says to you.

If you have to manually push the bike across a lawn or other uneven surfaces, then the weight may actually be a factor. Otherwise, the engine does the work, so weight can be a misleading concern.

As for the carbs, like 1100T said, check the plugs. They will tell you the jetting story.

--Justin
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1986 Shadow 700
1986 Honda Trail 110 (Postie Bike)

XxDarkEuphoriaxX · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

without baffles would the bike be running more rich or lean?

What color should they be? the owner said there are 4 of them... is this correct?

tubes_rock · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 4268 Location: Claremont, NH

Without baffles, you'll be running lean. That bike came from Honda insanely lean anyway, so you're probably very, very, very lean now unless it's be rejetted without anyone passing that info along.

Your plugs should be anywhere from a "medium toast" brown to a "chocolate milk" brown. A light tan, light gray, or white means too lean, and black powdery soot indicates too rich.

There are four plugs! Two in each cylinder.

--Justin
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1986 Shadow 700
1986 Honda Trail 110 (Postie Bike)

rocksolid · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 2734

I'm 6'-0" and the bike fits me well. At 5'-3" I believe it will be a bit tall for you. It could be lowered. The price isn't out of line if the condition of the bike is very good. The bike doesn't need premium gas. Money wasted. The straight pipes are noise makers and ticket bait. I run stock and they are loud enough for me. The stock pipes match the engine well. W/O baffles, you are probably losing HP and gas mileage, and running hot because it's lean. Frankly, I'd buy a used set of stockers from Ebay and set the modified pipes aside for the next owner. To each his own.
BTW, you don't need the loud pipes for performance. This bike will out-run most v-twins.

tubes_rock · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 4268 Location: Claremont, NH

NewAgeRoman · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

You might also be able to tell if the bike is running lean by going down a steep hill in gear and see if it pops or gurgles a lot. I have heard that is a symptom of being lean, but keep in mind that will only identify the idle circuit. To check the pilot and WOT circuits, you have to pull the plugs:
http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79321&highlight=plugs+color+colour

If you are really off on the mixture, you will start to stumble when you hit 1/2 throttle or so. If you pull the choke and it runs better you are definately lean, but I doubt that just drilled baffles would make it that lean.

Complements of Thunderglass...
This is the best chart that I have found for reading plugs.
http://www.dansmc.com/spark_plugs/spark_plugs_catalog.html

That really doesn't sound like a bad deal on the 700. I think those are the older twin pin style (no HD sound, but more power) with dual carbs and have heard they will fly. If it runs good and the temp light don't come on I'd take it. Maybe offer him a bit less because you "don't like loud baffles and might have a hard time finding a stock set". I'd easily take that over the rebel for the same price. Lots of people run with drilled baffles, and it shouldn't make that big of a difference, but rejetting the carbs ain't that big of a deal anyway. If you can't find the jet kits for these older bikes, just try shimming the needles or swapping jets.
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'92 shadow VLX

Writeups with lots of pics for Flexible LED strip blinkers, Dual Carb Rebuild and Fork Rebuild info

XxDarkEuphoriaxX · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

if the bike has white plugs and runs lenn, besides hp loss and mpg loss, will there b damage done to the engine over time Question

JN · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 1768 Location: California

VT700 completely rebuilt can go for as much as $2,500 around me. Just fixed up and painted maybe $1,800. I sold a Old 85 VT700C with a clutch issue for $1,500. Rebuilt the clutch in a 86Vt700 replaced the Alternator/Startor, fuel filter, thermostat, going to give it a decent black coat of paint and sell it for around $1,800.

Not sure if i'll get it in this economy but i traded a beat up DR650 for it so either way i'm doing ok on it!
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1997 VT1100C HondaShadowSpirit(Daily Driver)
1978 Honda xl125(Ranch Rider)

XxDarkEuphoriaxX · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 4

ok, so is there a way I can put plugs in that run a little colder to compensate for the lean situation if the bike is actually running too lean? I know the NKG7's are hotter than the 8's right, do they make like a 9 or something?

What plug does the shadow use anyhow?
thanks

NewAgeRoman · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

I'm no plug expert, but I think that is sidestepping the problem. I *think the heat range is just so that they burn the fuel most efficiently. I would be surprised to find out that some kind of fancy sparkplug will reduce the temps enough for you to even notice.

Buy it and either rejet it or replace the baffles or put on stock pipes.
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'92 shadow VLX

Writeups with lots of pics for Flexible LED strip blinkers, Dual Carb Rebuild and Fork Rebuild info

tubes_rock · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 4268 Location: Claremont, NH

sunnyrider · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 152 Location: Kennewick, WA

I'm 5'4" with a 30" inseam, and my 84 fits me great. Different seats/seat mods make a difference on how well it fits, also. The curb weight of at least the 83 thru 85 is 498 pounds. You'll find it to be very nimble and a blast to ride. And like the guys have said already, it's got lots of giddy up. I say buy it, ride it, and if/when you decide to keep it you can give it new paint and lots of chrome goodies. Very Happy

By the by, the pic in my signature is my 84 with a couple modifications. Very Happy

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Tina

84 VT700C aka "Sunny" in his coat of many colors

rc1richard · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

Newbee here,
I'm going thrugh the same delima now as I just purchased an 86' 700.
It has the stock mufflers but one pipe has 3/8" holes drilled about 1/4" apart all the way around the end of it. The other side does not. I still ain't figured that out. Previous owner had been running without mufflers.
I was thinking of using some shorty style mufflers but dont know what they would sound like. I want it as loud as possible but with enough backpressure to run good. I never liked the sound of the stock mufflers on these bikes.
Anyone tried these mufflers before?