Aero 1100

Honda is a Japanese motorcycle manufacturing company that has sold motorbikes in the United States since the early 1960’s. Honda has a reputation for building reliable and efficient motorcycles. The Honda Shadow 1100 Aero was introduced to compete against Harley-Davidson. The 1100 Aero remained in production until 2007. Maintaining these motorcycles is easy with a Honda Shadow 1100 Aero service manual.

Honda introduced the Shadow 1100 Aero in 1985 to compete with Harley-Davidson by producing a big-twin cruiser that was sophisticated and easy to ride, unlike the competition’s unruly reputation. The water-cooled V-twin measured in at 1,098 cc and produced in excess of 70 horsepower in the early models. Later models saw slight power decreases due to a change to shorter stroke connecting rods.

The classic lines of the honda Shadow 1100 Aero are intended to evoke the wind-in-your hair, free spirit attitude associated with American bikers. The Shadow looks similar to some Harley-Davidson models, but is fundamentally a different motorcycle.

The 1985 and 1986 Shadow 1100 Aero motorcycles are highly sought after by collectors. They can be distinguished by the single exhaust pipe running at either side of the bike. Later Shadow 1100 Aero’s would have both exhaust pipes on one side, among other minor changes to the appearance. The early bikes are desired for their ability to produce larger amounts of power in factory trim.

In 1995, Honda sought to draw more “traditional” Harley-Davidson buyers to dealerships by introducing the American Classic Edition, or ACE. These Shadow 1100 Aero models featured “induced vibrations” to simulate the feel of a Harley-Davidson, and a tuned exhaust to get the correct H-D sound. These bikes produce about 50 hp, a drop of 10 hp from the standard Shadow Aero 1100. ACE bikes are also heavier than standard 1100 Aero bikes.

The Honda Shadow Aero 1100 was discontinued in 2003 in the United States. These classic-inspired street cruisers remain popular for their reliability and cool looks. The aftermarket availability of parts and accessories is very good for the Honda Shadow 1100 Aero rider. The bike is simple to work on and parts are commonly available in stores and online.

Every motorcycle requires maintenance to be safe, and a Honda Shadow 1100 Aero is not any different. Whether it is minor adjustments or complete tear-downs, having a high quality Honda 1100 Aero repair manual will make every job easier. These repair manuals have detailed descriptions of the steps to remove and replace parts, and the diagrams and specifications needed to identify problems easily.