So i was recently given a 1988 honda shadow vt800. Im slowly fixing it up and ready to pull the trigger on taking it to the shop to finish it off. Any recommendations on what gauge clusters I can use other than the stock set up. Also should I leave the stock carb set up. It's built into the frame along with the airbox. I don't know anything about these bikes so any knowledge would be great.
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Honda Shadow 800
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The bike is complete and was running fine in 2019. I know this bike is "rare" and I want to keep it alive. TJ, do I have to keep the shift drive? Is it a great bike to try and work on and keep running? What engine should I put in it if everything goes south? Lots of questions.
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TJ Admin Staff memberModeratorMember who has the rights to delete posts, and ban members form forum if they violate the rules.@Anthony Balsamo hey duder! there are no gauge clusters to my knowledge that work with the VT800. and Leave the carbs alone. Youre dealing with a 37 year old bike and the intake boots are no longer available. if you pull the carbs, they will never seal properly again, no matter what cockamamy thing you hear online. They're done. If they seal now, great, but dont touche them.
if it runs, leave it alone.
Yes you have to keep the shaft drive. You cannot convert a shaft drive motorcycle to anything else. actually, you CAN, but its not a simple thing, you will need to completely engineer a transfer case that would be 20 times the cost of the bike, if it works, but the power loss will be pretty exponential plus, with how much money and time you would put in you could buy 20 new bikes. I dont like to say things are impossible, but honestly, you dont want to try and make a square roill like a circle.
I had a VT800, it was great until it sat for 10 days. yes 10 days. It would nto start. something happened in the carbs. this is where i found out the rubber components are no longer available. the intake boots were the same on the VT700. Honestly man, if it runs, cool, run it, dont monkey with it, it was made for ONE year and the design was pretty much abandoned. the VT700 was a tariff buster bike, and they only lasted 4 years. That style of cruiser was abandoned and the VT600 was released in 88.
if anything goes south, sell it for parts.
I tried to sell mine for $100 for a year. i finally had to give it away.
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@TJ ok so this particular bike has not ran in almost 5 years. With you knowing what you know what are the odds and worth in getting an 800 running?. Im not going to lie i pulled the carb to clean it but I did have an original set of replacement boots that were still brand new. I pulled the entire emissions system off the bike.
Are the rear drum brakes going to be a pain?
If i get it running is it worth keeping? Or will it turn into a nightmare?
Kinda sucks learning all this. I was given the bike but everyday I learn it's going to be pretty difficult to keep it running.
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TJ Admin Staff memberModeratorMember who has the rights to delete posts, and ban members form forum if they violate the rules.
@Anthony Balsamo hasnt run in 5 years? i wouldnt mess with it at all. i dont car eif the boots are new old stock, i can almost guarantee they are not soft and flexible.
you can open up the nightmare and have fun if nightmares are how you get your jollies! or sell it and get something that isnt a ONE year model.
sorry i dont have better nwes broski but im just being real with you.
theres a reaosn people give bikes away.
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@TJ well the bike was given to me from a fellow veteran. Who I've known for 10 plus years. The intake boots and bottom boots are actually brand new basically. The old timer who owned the extra set of intake boots kept them in immaculate condition. Still soft and maleable. I will keep you posted. The bike has 900 original miles. This wouldn't be my craziest build. But definitely the rarest.
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