Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Any problems with the Honda Shadow Spirit 1100, honda shadow spirit, air filter system

Question
What modifications are you talking about that would cause problems with this bike? What modifications should I stay away from?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am looking at a used motorcyle and want to know if there are any problems with the Honda 1100. I am currently looking at various 1100 from the years 2002, 2003, and 2004
Answer -
John,

There have been no significant recalls for this bike. It has a good reputation as a solid bike in stock form. Any modifications could change that, so shop carefully.

Enjoy it!

Bill Roberson

Answer
John,

Typical modifications usually start with the exhaust system (usually to make the bike louder). Depending on what systems is used, who installed it and how it was installed, the system could be causing problems in the engine. If the bike is VERY loud, that usually means the exhaust valves are taking a beating. Honda (and everyone else for the most part) designs their exhaust systems to work as a system with the engine and air filter system, using pressure waves and lots of other obscure mechanical witchcraft. That's how they get good power out of the engine using a quiet exhaust.

Upset the system, and it may sound great, but if it was just thrown on there with no fuel system mods to match, it probably makes less power than stock, gets worse mpg and is hammering the exhaust valves. So if you can find a bike with a stock exhaust, that's great. May not sound like rolling thunder, but it will last, and trust me, riding a big LOUD bike a long distance gets really tiresome (noise fatigue).

If the bike does not have stock wheels, I usually cross it off my list. Just too many opportunities for problems there. Usually, Honda's stay pretty stock, so that's good.

Most cosmetic changes are matters of taste than function, so if a bike has custom paint, saddlebags, a windshield and highway pegs, that's usually fine, since you can remove/add those items fairly easily. But remember- new paint may mean the bike was crashed, so look carefully for scratches, bent pegs, scraped handlebar ends and so forth.

Try to find a nice, stock bike if you can. If it has non-stock pipes, find out who made them, who put them on and if the engine was "adjusted" (and by who) when they were installed. If none of that info is available, or the owner did the work themselves (and are not Honda mechanics), you might want to take a pass on it.

Ride Safe!

Bill Roberson