- Click to enlargeMedia Platforms Design TeamThe tank mounted speedo and a heavy dose of chrome accents contribute to this Honda cruiser’s looks.Honda’s new Shadow Spirit 750 C2 has a big 21-in. front wheel, a subtly tapered rear fender, and a low-slung stance — all of which make it appear larger and more expensive than it is. Since it has only a 745cc liquid-cooled V-twin, the Spirit C2 doesn’t rocket off the line, but it’s quick enough to hustle through typically uncruiser-friendly terrain — the prototypical serpentine two-lane road. Just don’t push too hard; the suspension is tuned rather soft, and there’s only a single disc up front and a drum in the rear. Still, this bike delivers one of the cruiser world’s best bangs for the buck.For less than $7,000, the Spirit C2 may be the coolest cruiser around.Ben StewartBen is a lifelong enthusiast of anything with wheels. He has been contributing to Popular Mechanics for nearly 20 years and lives in Venice with an eclectic collection of vintage pickup trucks, muscle cars, and motorcycles scattered in various garages around SoCal.
