VT1100 Shadow
The Honda Motor Company Ltd. is a multinational manufacturer of cars, motorcycles, ATVs, and other power equipment. The seven-decade-old Japanese conglomerate has a strong presence in most parts of the world, holds several world records in the motorcycle business, and is known for creating powerful and reliable engines.
As a result, the Honda Motor Company is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world by a considerable margin. In 2019, it achieved the impressive milestone of 400 million units produced globally since it started production back in 1949. Honda is also single-handedly responsible for changing the perception of bikers in the US, going from outlaws and rebels to ordinary people trying to get about their day, thanks to an elaborate and innovative ad campaign in the 60s.
Honda’s story all started in 1949 as Japan was rebuilding itself after World War 2. Soichiro Honda, who established the Honda Motor Company, had a distinct preference for anything on wheels with an engine. Soichiro had spent most of the pre-war period manufacturing piston rings and other related components under contract for Toyota. However, one of his manufacturing facilities was destroyed by US bombers in 1944, and an earthquake cause the other to collapse only a year later.
Disheartened but unwilling to abandon his passion just yet, Soichiro Honda wrote off the losses as the risk of running a business, sold whatever he could salvage to Toyota, and founded the Honda Technical Research Institute in 1946. At first, it overhauled small war-surplus engines and converted them for use on improvised motorized bicycles. A few years after its inception, the Honda Technical Research Institute was dissolved, and the Honda Motor Company was established. The company's first motorcycle intended for mass production was the Dream D-Type; a small bike fitted with a 98 cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine producing 3 hp.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. immediately began expanding rapidly in Japan, offering a line-up of affordable yet stylish motorcycles. The company entered the US market in 1959 after experiencing significant success back home. It introduced the VT1100 engine in 1985 and used it with minor changes for around 22 years. As the name suggests, the VT1100 is a 1,100 cc, V-twin engine with a single overhead cam architecture, good enough for 62 hp and 69 lb-ft of torque. Of course, these figures improved over the years as Honda came up with periodic updates and unique versions.
Honda Motor Co. fitted these VT1100 engines in its cruiser motorcycles as part of its "Shadow" line-up, sitting at the top of the range and produced until 2007 (the engine, not the bike). Unfortunately, that also means that even the latest VT1100-powered motorcycle produced isn’t getting any younger nowadays.
To keep your VT1100 engine running smoothly, your best bet is always to stay on top of its maintenance schedule. Luckily, these engines are quite simple to repair. And thanks to our Honda Shadow VT1100 service manuals, you can learn to fix your bike on your own and never spend another penny on labor costs. Simply choose your specific model from the list and access its VT1100 service manual in digital format. Take it from a mechanic, using a repair manual to fix anything is by far the best way to keep maintenance costs as low as possible. If you are a little handy, it’s really a no-brainer here!
