Honda Shadow Vlx Deluxe

HONDA SHADOW VLX DELUXE

Quick Ride

Entry-level at its best

OKAY, HERE’S YOUR Mission: Design an entrylevel motorcycle that will be 1) affordable, 2) easy to ride and 3) an absolute joy to look at. You seem troubled. Stymied, even. Not a problem, because Honda’s already done the job for you with the tweakedfor-’99 Shadow VLX Deluxe.

But wait, you say. Since when was a 600cc motorcycle considered entry-level? Explains American Honda’s Pete terHorst, “It seems the cruiser market is moving into a larger definition of what an entrylevel machine is, particularly when Harley offers its 883 Sportster as entry-level and Yamaha’s V-Star is a 650.” There you have it. So, on to the motorcycle in question. Retaining most of its predecessors’ specs, the VLX is still powered by an sohc, liquid-cooled, 583cc V-Twin. Big diff is that this year’s three-valve-per-cylinder engine breathes through one 34mm Keihin CV carb, not two. Furthermore, in an attempt to give customers more big-bike feel, Honda retuned the engine for more midrange torque. “We got a nice little bump in there,” says terHorst. “Seat of the pants, I’d say it’s about a 5 percent increase.”

Cosmetic changes include bobbing the rear fender for a sportier look and-here’s the big news-lowering the seat height to a lilliputian 25.6 inches from the ground. Now, even the most diminutive rider can comfortably touch the asphalt.

Honda also rearranged the footpegs and handlebar to com plement the new seating posi tion, hence the VLX's comfortable, upright ride. It's not cramped, nor does it tax the lower back or derriere.

Speaking of which, the short er suspension is quite plush on both highway and surface streets. And the venerable en gine, too, handles either envi ronment in an almost vibration-free manner. Minor gripe is that the four-speed transmission, although smooth shifting, could benefit from an additional gear for freeway duty. At speeds in excess of say, 75 mph, hands, feet and rump are positivejy abuzz.

In the handling department, the VLX is more than compe tent. Despite its 63-inch wheel base, the bike maneuvers easily. And with its lower-than-low seat height, parking-lot exercis es can be augmented with an indiscreet dab now and then.

The bottom line here, then, is that the VLX is a stylish motor cycle that won't intimidate beginfling riders. Nor will it bore more experienced enthusiasts. But what about affordable? Try this on for size: The two-tone Deluxe we tested costs $5499, while the black base model is priced al most as low as its saddle: $4999. The VLX as the ultimate entry-level bike? Mission ac compTi~hed.

Wendy F. Black