The Honda Shadow refers to a family of cruiser-type motorcycles made by Honda since 1983. The Shadow line features motorcycles with a liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin ranging from 125cc to 1800cc engine displacement. The 250cc Honda Rebel is associated with the Shadow line in certain markets.The current line of Shadow motorcycles originated from the technical underpinnings of the Honda CX series. In 1983, Honda introduced the Shadow series of motorcycles in an attempt to address the needs of the American cruiser market with the "VT500c" and "VT750c". However, due to tariff restrictions in the United States on imported Japanese bikes over 750 cc, the VT750c was reduced to 699cc in 1984 and was sold as the Vt700c. In 1985, the tariff was lifted and the line soon expanded to an 1100cc bike the "VT1100c". The VT750c was replaced by an 800cc version the VT800c in 1988. The "VT600c" was launched in 1989 as Honda's new entry level Shadow though still slotted above the Honda Rebel. The line changed little until the introduction of the 750cc Honda Shadow Ace in 1997. From 2000 to 2007, the Honda Shadow Sabre replaced the VT1100cc until the 1100cc class was discontinued in favor of a new 1300cc offering known as the VTX1300. As of 2011, the Shadow brand has been limited to a single 750cc cruiser available in Spirit, Aero, Phantom, and RS trims. All other offers are known under the VTX or Rebel brands.
