Cruisers

2006Honda VT125C Shadow

33 fields on record

The 2006 Honda VT125C Shadow is an entry-level cruiser ideal for new riders and commuters seeking an accessible, reliable motorcycle. Its compact V-twin engine delivers modest but usable power for city riding and short commutes. Known for its classic cruiser styling and dependable Honda engineering, it offers an affordable introduction to motorcycle ownership with manageable handling and low maintenance demands.

Capacity: 125.0 ccm
Engine: V-Twin, four-stroke
Gearbox: 5-speed
Dry weight: 146.0 kg
Seat height: 680 mm
Power: 14.8 HP (10.9 kW)

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

What’s new for the 2006 Honda VT125C Shadow

vs the 2005

Spec	2005	2006
Power	15.0 HP (11.0 kW)	14.8 HP (10.9 kW)
Torque	10.5 Nm (1.1 kgf-m or 7.7 ft.lbs) @ 9000 RPM	10.5 Nm (1.1 kgf-m or 7.7 ft.lbs) @ 8500 RPM
Rear brakes	Expanding brake	Expanding brake (drum brake)

Other years 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail8%

Cornering35%

City riding72%

Daily riding60%

Touring28%

Two-up25%

Track5%

Best for: It's built for relaxed cruiser-style commuting and short leisurely rides rather than outright speed or long-distance touring.
Built for: It has a classic small-capacity cruiser feel, with a laid-back V-twin character prioritizing style and easy handling over performance.
Not ideal for: This is not the bike for riders wanting highway touring speed, two-up comfort over distance, or any off-road capability.

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

Will it fit you?

Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to us

Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 680mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 2006 Honda VT125C Shadow, with a moderate knee angle of around 110 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 100Poor

The 2006 Honda VT125C Shadow passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 71.9% of the time, 10.3 points below expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 18% of models.

All years of this model: 27 / 100 (below average) from 2,744 tests.

71.9%Passed first time

17.4%Failed outright

10.7%Fixed during test

11,000Typical miles

943Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

82.1%

10-20k

71.5%

20-30k

66.6%

30-40k

72%

40-50k

63.8%

All years of this model.

Score by year first registered

2003200620072008

Against its rivals · ranks 2 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Suzuki Intruder 125	33 Below average	110
2	Honda VT125C Shadow	27 Below average	2,744
3	Suzuki GN 125	19 Poor	15,158
4	Kawasaki Eliminator 125	17 Poor	184
5	Suzuki GZ125 Marauder	10 Poor	10,545
6	Daelim VL 125 Daystar	7 Poor	248

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.

Full specifications

Engine

Capacity: 125.0 ccm
Power: 14.8 HP (10.9 kW)
Torque: 10.5 Nm (1.1 kgf-m) @ 8500 RPM
Engine type: V-Twin, four-stroke
Power/weight ratio: 0.1014 HP/kg (dry)
Bore x stroke: 42.0 x 45.0 mm
Compression: 11.8:1
Cooling system: Liquid
Starting: Electric
Ignition: Dual digital transistorised with electronic advance
Valves per cylinder: 2

Transmission

Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type: Manual
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplate with coil springs

Dimensions & weight

Wheelbase: 1530 mm
Overall length: 2300 mm
Overall width: 890 mm
Overall height: 1110 mm
Seat height: 680 mm
Dry weight: 146.0 kg
Fuel capacity: 14.50 litres
Ground clearance: 145 mm

Chassis & suspension

Front wheel travel: 110 mm
Rear wheel travel: 80 mm
Trail: 122 mm

Brakes & wheels

Front brakes: Single disc
Front brakes diameter: 240 mm
Rear brakes: Expanding brake (drum brake)
Rear brakes diameter: 130 mm
Front tyre: 110/90-17 55P
Rear tyre: 130/90-15M/C 66P

Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

What changed, year to year

Differences highlighted

Specification	1999	2001	2003	2005	2006	2007
Capacity	125 cc	125 cc	125 cc	125 cc	125 cc	125 cc
Dry weight	145 kg	145 kg	145 kg	145 kg	146 kg	145 kg
Seat height	680 mm	680 mm	680 mm	680 mm	680 mm	680 mm
Fuel capacity	14.5 L	14.5 L	14 L	14.5 L	14.5 L	14 L
Bike Reliability ⓘ	Too few tests	Too few tests	13 Poor	Too few tests	18 Poor	34 Below average