HONDA REBEL 1100 vs HONDA SHADOW 750

The Honda Shadow and the Honda Rebel are two of Honda’s oldest cruiser lineups. Introduced in 1982, the Shadow 750 was a large, heavyweight cruiser with a big engine. Meanwhile, the first Rebel model was launched in 1985 as a lightweight entry-level cruiser with a 250 cc engine and a low price. The REBEL 250 remained in production until 2016, being promptly replaced by two new Honda models: the REBEL 300 and the REBEL 500. Later on, in 2020, the Honda Rebel 1100 was launched, becoming the best variant in the Rebel lineup.

Over the years, the Honda Shadow has undergone several upgrades to its engine and performance. In 1997, Honda installed a new type of engine with a chain drive train in the Honda Shadow. The chain drive train was later replaced by a shaft drive train in 2003. In 2003, Honda manufactured the new HONDA SHADOW AERO, which was shortly followed by the HONDA SHADOW PHANTOM released in 2010. Both of these Honda Shadow variants are still currently in production.

The Honda Rebel 1100 is a retro-style cruiser with a naked engine and a diamond-shaped chassis. The chopped fenders and small but wide fuel tank are the only colored parts, while the rest of the motorcycle is covered in matte black. It has a two-into-one exhaust system and a circular digital speedometer mounted to the HANDLEBARS. The Rebel 1100 has a very minimalistic design, sharing the same headlight, fender, tail light, and seat as previous Rebel models. At the front is a 43 mm fork with a wheel travel of 139.7 mm (5.5 in), a single 330 mm disc brake, and a 130/70-18 tire. At the rear, it has pre-load adjustable dual Showa shocks with a 12.5 mm fork with a wheel travel of 93.98 mm (3.7 in), a single 256 mm disc brake, and a 180/65-16 tire.

The HONDA SHADOW 750 is a classic cruiser with wide handlebars, a wide fuel tank, a forward-mounted footrest, and a passenger seat.

Its two variants include the Shadow Phantom 750 and the Shadow Aero 750, with both models having different passenger seats, HANDLEBARS, and fenders. The Shadow Phantom is available in two color schemes, has chopped fenders, a combined rider and passenger seat, and slightly narrower handlebars. The Shadow Aero is available in only one color, and has wide and upright handlebars, full-sized fenders, and separate rider and passenger seats.

The Honda Shadow Phantom has a circular headlight and a fuel tank-mounted speedometer like other classic cruisers. The Shadow Phantom has matte black suspensions and handlebars, while the Shadow Aero has chrome suspensions and handlebars. The Shadow 750 has a 41 mm front telescopic fork with a wheel travel of 129.5 mm (5.0 in), a single 296 mm disc brake, and a 120/90-17 tire. At the rear, it has a dual-adjustable shock, a single 180 mm disc brake, and a 160/80-15 tire.

The Honda Rebel 1100 comes with a 66.1 cu in (1,084 cc) liquid-cooled V-Twin engine equipped with a Uni-cam and four valves per cylinder. This engine is fitted with a bore size of 92 mm and stroke size of 81.5 mm, making it capable of a horsepower of 85.8 hp @ 7,000 rpm and a torque of 72.2 ft-lbs (98 Nm) @ 4,750 rpm. Built with a compression ratio of 10.1:1 and an EURO5 emission rate, the Rebel 1100 has a fuel tank capacity of 3.6 gals and an average fuel economy of 44.9 mpg with a programmed fuel injection system (PGM-FI) and a 46 mm throttle body.

The Honda Shadow 750 is built with a 45.4 cu in (745 cc) liquid-cooled, 52°V-Twin engine with a stroke size of 104.3 mm (4.1 in) and bore size of 89.5 mm (3.52 in). This engine is capable of horsepower of 74 hp @ 5,000 rpm and a peak torque of 90.7 ft-lbs (123 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm with a 9.6:1 compression ratio. The Shadow 750 has a 3.7-gallon fuel tank capable of fuel mileage of 56 mpg with a programmed fuel injection system (PGM-FI) and a 34 mm throttle body.

The Rebel 1100 has wide handlebars with a trail size of 109.2 mm (4.3 in) and a rake angle of 28°The Honda Rebel 1100 has a seat height of 698.5 mm (27.5 in), a wheelbase of 1,518.8 mm (59.8 in), a length of 2,240 mm, and a height of 1,115 mm, offering an ideal seating position for all riders. The Honda Rebel 1100 has a weight of 487 lbs (220.8 kg), which is less than most other cruisers. This Honda model also has an optional seat suited for shorter riders, bringing them closer to the handlebars by one inch. Also, the mid-mounted footrests offer a confident riding position for novice and shorter riders.

The Honda Shadow Aero has a wide and slightly higher handlebar than the Shadow Phantom with a trail size of 160.02 mm (6.3 in) and a rake angle of 34°The Shadow 750 has a low seat height of 657.8 mm (25.9 in), a wheelbase of 1,638.3 mm (64.5 in), and forward-mounted footrests that provide a relaxed seating position. The Shadow 750 is a middleweight cruiser with a wet weight of 560 lbs (254 kg). The forward-mounted footrests provide a comfortable position, especially on longer rides.

The Rebel 1100 is a bobber-style cruiser with a design inspired by older models but is equipped with the latest technology and features. Meanwhile, the Shadow 750 is a classic cruiser with a classic seating position, forward-mounted footrests, and a fuel-tank-mounted analog speedometer. The Shadow 750 has a smaller engine than the Rebel 1100, therefore producing less horsepower and torque. The Rebel 1100 is also more expensive than the Shadow 750.

The Honda Rebel 1100 series has two variants: the Rebel 1100 and the Rebel 1100 DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission). The Rebel 1100 DCT does not have a clutch and can be fitted with both automatic and manual transmission systems. The different riding modes have different types of gear transmission systems. The sports mode has the most aggressive gear transmission system than the other modes. With the manual option, the rider can easily shift between gears easily by pressing the buttons on the left-hand grip. On the non-DCT variant, the riders can shift between gears using the paddle shifter.

Both motorcycles are well-built cruisers suited for longer rides. However, the Rebel 1100 is not as well suited for taller riders due to not having forward-mounted footrests. However, the Rebel 1100 has extra features such as multiple riding modes, traction control, ABS, cruise control, etc. Meanwhile, the Shadow 750 is an old-school cruiser without as many features. For an experienced rider, both motorcycles are reliable on longer rides. However, for novice riders, the Rebel 1100 is the best option because it has more safety-oriented features.

The Honda Rebel 1100 has a bigger engine and can produce more horsepower and torque than the Shadow 750. On the other hand, the Shadow 750 has a more comfortable seating position than the Rebel 1100. Although the Rebel 1100 is more expensive than the Shadow 750, it is the better option overall because of its engine and additional features.

The Honda Rebel 1100 has plenty of useful features like cruise control and mid-mounted foot controls which makes it ideal for longer rides. However, this Honda model offers little comfort for taller riders. While the Shadow 750 has a more relaxed riding position that makes it suited for all riders, this vehicle lacks many features. The Rebel 1100 is a cruiser with modern features and technology, while the Shadow 750 is more like a classic cruiser without any modern features. Neither comes with pre-installed SADDLEBAGS, other LUGGAGE BAGS, CRASH BARS, or SISSY BARS.