The Honda Shadow Aero received a present from Honda engineers—a rear disc brake. Changes for the Shadow Aero, which debuted in 1998, have been few and far between, and the last significant update was the introduction of EFI in 2010. We haven’t reviewed the Aero since 2015, so the new disc brake and the accompanying ABS upgrade were reasons enough for us to get the 2024 Honda Shadow Aero in the expansive and well-lit Ultimate Motorcycling garage.
- The liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin is as reliable as it gets. Honda has massaged the Shadow motor many times throughout its lifetime, which began in 1982. The current EFI-fed version is as bulletproof as ever, while delivering power with buttery smoothness to prevent intimidating new riders while impressing experienced riders. Sure, the motor is only cranking out about 35 horsepower, but that’s all it needs for its intended use. You won’t feel intimidated by four-wheelers at green lights, though there aren’t a lot of motorcycles you’ll want to pick a fight with.
- The 2024 Honda Shadow Aero is meant for urban and suburban duty. Parked, the Aero shows larger than it is. However, once you hop on and experience the compact—though not cramped—ergonomics, you get that it’s not a motorcycle about stretching its legs. With its low seat, buckhorn-bend handlebar, and forward-mount footpegs, the Aero provides a good sense of control of the 560-pound cruiser. As we have come to expect from Honda, the Shadow Aero feels just right for the task at hand.
- Simplicity and accessibility are the basis of the Shadow Aero. Nothing about the Aero complicates things. There are no adjustable rider aids. The new two-wheel ABS is always on—there is a non-ABS version available outside of California that saves you $300—and you can forget about power modes, traction control, or cruise control. Even the switchgear is solidly 20th century.
- Honda expects you to ride the 2024 Shadow Aero in a straight line. The rake is 34 degrees with 6.3 inches of trail—that is as relaxed as it gets. The chunky Dunlop D404 tires—17-inch front and 15-inch rear—like heading in one direction, though they offer good traction to the quickly found cornering clearance limit. This all works well for riders in areas with roads that connect towns in the shortest possible distance.
- Should you find yourself wanting to hit the canyons, the 2024 Honda Shadow Aero will tell you to behave yourself. The tall and wide steel handlebar is flexy and rubber mounted. Put those two attributes together and you have as vague a front-end feeling as you’re likely to get in a contemporary motorcycle. The harder you push, the less confidence you’ll have. However, if you take it very easy, the squishy front end does fine around smooth corners. At any speed, the flex is disconcerting when leaned over on neglected roads.
- The 2024 Honda Shadow Aero’s chrome-sheathed suspension isn’t quite balanced. The front suspension offers 5.5 inches of travel, compared to just 3.6 inches from the shocks. Add in the jolt-reducing flex of the handlebar and damping of the rubber mounting of the bar, and you have a front end that forgives long-ignored city streets admirably. The shocks do fine until the 3.6 inches are used up. When that happens, you’ll feel it in your tailbone. The Aero’s saddle has limited padding—the seat height is an impressively low and novice-friendly 26 inches—so it doesn’t help when the shocks bottom or get a hit too abrupt for them to react and protect your posterior. As is a theme with the Aero, the slower you ride, the happier it is.
- We haven’t mentioned the new rear disc brake yet—that’s because it’s not a big deal. The Aero is a front-brake type of cruiser, as there’s not that much weight on the rear wheel and the back tire isn’t particularly wide. The feel and strength of the new disc is a minor improvement, at best, over the old drum. It requires a heavy push of the brake pedal to activate the ABS on dry pavement. The fat front tire and the front 296mm disc combination is your best bet when it comes time to decelerate.
- The foot and hand controls work as expected. Yes, the ancient clutch could use an assist function, and the rear brake pedal doesn’t have much feedback—two things more noticeable to our experienced test riders than will be noted by a new rider. Shifting is Honda-like, meaning excellent. The front brake has good feel and enough power for the Aero’s urban mission. Oh, and the mirrors are great for keeping tabs on traffic behind you.
- Whether parked or while tooling down the road, the 2024 Honda Shadow Aero looks good. While Honda blandly describes the paint job as “Black”, the brown/tobacco insets on the tank and the raised “Shadow” badging look top-notch. The mix of black and chrome adds to the premium appearance, as does the brown two-piece seat. Yeah, the valanced fenders and side covers are flimsy plastic, though that fact is camouflaged nicely. Regardless, Aero owners cruise in style.
- A new Aero owner won’t learn much about maintenance. Don’t tell anyone we recommend it, but the Aero will probably run forever with nothing more than putting gas in the tank. Still, don’t skimp on oil and filter changes. You might want to refresh the shaft drive oil now and then, even though it probably isn’t necessary. A Honda Shadow is reliability-defined.
- When we last tested the Aero in 2015, the list price was $7499—now it’s $7949. That’s a six percent increase over nine years, while the Consumer Price Index has jumped 63 percent. That is astonishing!
- The Shadow line has lasted over 40 years for many reasons, and the 2024 Honda Shadow Aero embodies most of them. This is an easy-to-ride cruiser that is impressively stylish and will run forever. It’s a superb urban and suburban mount that welcomes new riders and reassures experienced riders who are downsizing. With minimal attention, this Aero could last into the 22nd century. It’s not easy for a $7949 motorcycle to impress us, but here we are.
Photography by Kelly Callan
RIDING STYLE
2024 Honda Shadow Aero Specifications
ENGINE
- Type: 52-degree V-twin
- Displacement: 745cc
- Bore x stroke: 79 x 76mm
- Compression ratio: 9.6:1
- Valvetrain: SOHC; 3 vpc
- Fueling: EFI w/ 34mm throttle body
- Ignition: Two spark plugs per cylinder
- Cooling: Liquid
- Transmission: 5-speed
- Clutch: Wet multiplate
- Final drive: Shaft
CHASSIS
- Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable 41mm fork; 5.5 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable shocks; 3.6 inches
- Tires: Dunlop D404
- Front tire: 120/90 x 17
- Rear tire: 160/80 x 15
- Front brake: 296mm disc w/ twin-piston caliper
- Rear brake: 276mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
- ABS: Optional ($300)
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 64.6 inches
- Rake: 34 degrees
- Trail: 6.3 inches
- Seat height: 26.0 inches
- Fuel capacity: 3.9 gallons
- Curb weight: 560 pounds (ABS: 570 pounds)
- Color: Black
2024 Honda Shadow Aero Price: $7949 (as tested with ABS, $8249)
2024 Honda Shadow Aero Review Photo Gallery
