Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

ROUNDUP

HONDA VLX600 A shadow of the real thing?

GO AHEAD, BE BRAVE. CRUISE into your favorite Harleysonly hangout on this Not-A-Hog, and get ready for the smart remarks when your pals see that its tank lettering reads “Shadow.”

Shadow? Of what? Real made-in-Milwaukee, American-iron? Not hardly, Davidson. The Honda VLX600 Shadow is itself the real thing, just like crime-fighter Lamont Cranston, The Shadow of old-time-radio mystery theater. Like its namesake, the VLX600 is a slick operator that delivers the goods, especially considering that its suggested retail price, $3999, is down there at the low end of what you can buy a new bike for these days.

What you get for your money is a tightly assembled piece that should be equally inviting to the frugal oldtimer and the eager beginner, thanks to its non-intimidating looks and performance, its low, 27.2-inch seat height, its easy balance and its reasonable dry weight of 455 pounds.

This is an elemental motorcycle, powered by a liquid-cooled, 583cc V-Twin that drives through a fourspeed transmission. It is suspended by a non-adjustable fork and by a single rear shock that offers seven spring-preload settings. But as an adjunct to that simplicity, the Shadow offers Honda’s traditional attention to detail, evident in the nicely machined front hub, in the precision and smoothness of all its controls, and in the depth and beauty of its finish.

A beautiful finish is a genuinely good thing, especially on a bike built for cruising your home town’s Main Street. And that is just where the Shadow and its pilot will be most comfortable. Twist the key mounted down under your left haunch, pull out the choke knob on the carb, stab the starter button, and you’re ready to rumble.

Rumble is exactly what this little V-Twin does, with a very Harleyesque exhaust note. Rev, just a little, shift; rev, shift; rev, shift. You’re in top gear, and as long as you don’t drop below about 30 mph, you’re done shifting for the day.

Serious speed isn’t much fun aboard the Shadow. Both ends are underdamped, lean angles soon have its footpeg feelers dragging, its front brake isn’t powerful enough for sporting velocities, large throttle openings drain the tank to reserve in about 80 miles, and speeds of more than about 60 mph try to blow the pilot off the back of the bike.

Nope, this is a Main Street cruiser, and for all its attributes, it may just be the ideal bike for those short of skill, confidence, inseam or bank account. Such folks will appreciate the Shadow for what it is. A friendly, easy-going, easy-to-ride machine, one that will quickly generate much more than just a shadow of a smile.

Jon F. Thompson