2003 Honda Shadow VLX review from United States of America
"Great reliability and value, and it looks good too"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Fork seals needed to be replaced. This was most likely due to the previous owner riding it a total of only 750 miles over 4 years.
General comments?
This motorcycle is not the largest displacement mid size cruiser out there. This motorcycle isn't loaded with "cutting edge" technology. This bike has three things going for it: reliability, style, and it's affordable.
Because it's relatively uncomplicated, there's less to go wrong. The VLX has been around for many model years. Over time, the Honda engineers have worked out all the kinks. Do your pre ride inspection, turn the key, press the ignition button and you're ready to go.
The VLX also has an old school look to it. For me, it's what a motorcycle should look like. The Deluxe model has chrome everywhere. The bike just looks good.
The VLX is also very affordable. It's relatively inexpensive to maintain. It gets good fuel economy. It's cheap to insure. Owning this bike won't break the bank.
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Acceleration marks | 7/10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Handling marks | 7/10 |
| Braking marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 750 miles |
| Most recent distance | 2750 miles |
| Previous motorcycle | Honda Shadow VLX |
| Date of Entry | 19th March, 2008 |