Cruisers

1995Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow

14 fields on record

The 1995 Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow is a cruiser designed for riders seeking accessible, laid-back riding with classic styling. Its 1099cc V-twin engine delivers smooth, manageable power ideal for highway cruising and leisurely rides. Known for its low seat height, reliable engineering, and comfortable ergonomics, it appeals to both novice and experienced cruiser enthusiasts.

Capacity: 1099.0 ccm
Engine: V-Twin, four-stroke
Gearbox: 5-speed
Dry weight: 260.0 kg
Seat height: 730 mm
Power: 50.3 HP (37.0 kW)

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail5%

Cornering35%

City riding55%

Daily riding60%

Touring62%

Two-up60%

Track10%

Best for: Built for relaxed cruising and boulevard style riding rather than outright speed or sport performance.
Built for: A classic V-twin cruiser character with a torquey low-rev feel, laid-back ergonomics, and a strong emphasis on relaxed, styled riding.
Not ideal for: Not a good fit for riders wanting sharp cornering agility, off-road capability, or high-speed sport performance.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 730mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 1995 Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow, with a relaxed knee angle of around 125 degrees and an upright riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 750 mm or under — Short Kings →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Below average

The Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 75.6% of the time, 5.3 points below expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 30% of models.

This covers every year of the model.

Test records don't say which version a bike is, so this covers Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow / Honda VT 1100 C Shadow / Honda VT 1100 C2 Shadow ACE together.

75.6%Passed first time

11.0%Failed outright

13.4%Fixed during test

30,000Typical miles

164Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

20-30k

77.8%

30-40k

76.6%

40-50k

69.7%

All years of this model.

Against its rivals · ranks 6 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Harley-Davidson Fat Boy	83 Excellent	6,083
2	Harley-Davidson Springer Softail	74 Good	398
3	Yamaha XV 1100 Virago	62 Good	11,113
4	Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster	58 Average	4,396
5	Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 1200	36 Below average	718
6	Honda VT 1100 ACE Shadow	30 Below average	164

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.