Honda Shadow Aero 750
MSRP: $7299
Caretaker: Masker
Measurements: 5'5"/167 lbs/28" Inseam
Odometer: 3205
Miles Since Last Issue: 415
It's time to say goodbye to our Shadow Aero. Overall, it's been fun; we came into this experiment with some clear ideas of what we wanted to change, made most of them happen, and enjoyed the results. Sure, the Aero suffered a few scratches in the course of testing, but the Honda knew the job was dangerous when it took it.
We started off with a Saddlemen Tattoo Profiler seat for quick added comfort, then upgraded the suspension front and rear suspension with some Progressive Suspension products, and gave the motor a little more grunt with a Jardine exhaust. Last month, we finally pinned down the pesky turn wobble with a new set of treads from Avon.
All through the ups and downs, we've had a reusable Flo oil filter standing by patiently. It was donated in the beginning, and before we say goodbye to the Shadow, we felt we owed the little guy his fifteen minutes. It's not exactly a performance enhancer, but it can stretch your dollar if you log tons of miles by eliminating the need to purchase a new filter every time you change your oil. It has a re-usable element, much like on an air cleaner; you pull it out of the casing, wash it with a solvent (or even soap and water), then spray it with compressed air to "rinse" it.