General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

how is it going from a honda shadow to a harley?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 11, 2012 | 04:08 PM
  #41  
Kudzu's Avatar
Kudzu
Advanced
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Santa Fe, NM
Default

I went from a 2000 Shadow 750 A.C.E. to a 2011 Road King Classic. Rode the Shadow five years prior to buying the Harley.

The biggest surprise was the balance and slow speed maneuverability of the Road King. It is far superior to the Shadow which likes to flop over when making slow turns. The only time I really felt a weight difference was when standing up the Road King from the kickstand, or backing it up. Otherwise, the Road King rides like a dream.
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 04:08 PM
  #42  
DannyZ71's Avatar
DannyZ71
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Default

Everyone has pretty much covered it. Just be careful if you crank the throttle. The torque will surprise you. Better be hanging on.
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 04:10 PM
  #43  
frankenwick's Avatar
frankenwick
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 283
Likes: 1
From: Bartlesville, OK
Default

I already mentioned this on another thread, but I have to say, our small-town Harley Dealership is also a Honda Dealership. Of all my years of owning Hondas, the staff would hardly give me the time of day until I scored my Street Bob 2 months ago... now they know me by name and greet me left-and-right... funny how that works.
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 04:11 PM
  #44  
sr_smyth's Avatar
sr_smyth
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 253
Likes: 5
From: Terrace, British Columbia
Default

Originally Posted by Turbinesaint
Remember when you were a mere teenage boy dreaming about getting that first girl(assuming you're a guy)? Put down the Jergens and grab a fistful of rubbers because it's prom night!


What he said!!!
I went from BSA single to KZ750 to a CB1000c to my bagger. You will also start parking in such a way that you wont have to back out of anywhere. As an aside, you also need to clean out a drawer for all your new tshirts that you will be tempted to buy. One day, early in your ownership, you'll be riding along and you'll start cackling like a crazy man to yourself and think "holy crap, THATS what it's all about"
It really can't be explained, it has to be experienced
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 04:12 PM
  #45  
frankenwick's Avatar
frankenwick
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 283
Likes: 1
From: Bartlesville, OK
Default

Originally Posted by frankenwick
I already mentioned this on another thread, but I have to say, our small-town Harley Dealership is also a Honda Dealership. Of all my years of owning Hondas, the staff would hardly give me the time of day until I scored my Street Bob 2 months ago... now they know me by name and greet me left-and-right... funny how that works.
^ Oh, and I even bought my Hondas from THEM, and the Street Bob 'used' from a Private Owner!!!
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 08:40 PM
  #46  
Irishknight's Avatar
Irishknight
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: San Pedro,CA
Default

wow! thank you all for the great and very detailed responses! i am really really excited for tomorrow now,i was super excited but after reading all these replies i am completly estatic!!!!!! i will


post here tomorrow night after i ride them all and share my experience with you all,sounds like the hardest part is gonna be riding my bike home after riding harleys all day!
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 09:55 PM
  #47  
Markymannn's Avatar
Markymannn
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 154
From: Buffalo, NY
Default

Just thought of a HUGE drawback with the Harley.

As opposed to the Shadow, now with the HD the wife wants to ride with me everywhere
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 10:21 PM
  #48  
Bow383's Avatar
Bow383
Stage II
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Sycamore, IL
Default

I went from an 805 Suzuki 10 years ago to the new 2012 FB Lo/ makes a world of difference, I agree with some of the other guys about getting expereince. The fat boy lo is my favorite out of all the bikes I had tried and yes it is low, plan on dragging your floor boards on the ground when leaning corners or turning around, definatly takes some getting used to. Just had the 1000mile serivce done on mine, with pipes, tuner and big sucker ram air and cost was close to $2k. A far cry from the $500 it cost to do the same on my suzuki. All in all, I will never go back. The HD fatboy lo is an awsome ride
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 11, 2012 | 10:29 PM
  #49  
Fnortner's Avatar
Fnortner
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 8
From: Beaverton, Oregon
Default

Like going from a pogo stick to a Cadillac. Really
 
Reply
Old May 11, 2012 | 10:29 PM
  #50  
garthj's Avatar
garthj
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Default

Lots of former Shadow riders out there, it is kind of a "wish i had a Harley" bike. My first street bike was a 99 750 Shadow Ace, I went right on to an Ultra Classic. It is heavy, and I have tipped it over a couple of times, but it is so much more enjoyable, handles better and it is easier to ride, only harder to push.
I put more miles on the Ultra in 2 years than I put on the Honda in 10.
The wife would not ride on the Shadow, but she loves that back seat on the Ultra.
 

Last edited by garthj; May 11, 2012 at 10:34 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE