What I am TRYING to ride

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  Glennjermin New Member

  8/27/26, 1:11 PM

  Thanks for stopping by, stoked to be here! 

  I just recently purchased a 2007 Honda Shadow VLX 600, just a tad over 5k miles and completely stock.... but not running. I am joined the forums because I need to scour the interwebs to inspire me and to gain a lot of knowledge. Surprise, surprise I want to this bike to have the appereance of a bobber.... but I want to maintain the two person seat because the wife loves to ride along. I want to do the handlebars, the exhaust, carb rebuild, new tank and a few updates to the lighting (brakes turn signals, headlights). 

   

  Biggest problem that I have is: WHERE DO I START!? With the shear volume of parts for this particular bike, I have zero clue where to start. You can find parts for this bike but sometimes these parts require other parts.. Do ALL aftermarket handlebars require risers? If/when I switch handlebars, at which point does the bike require longer brake/clutch cables? I am a mechanic by trade but I have only changed oil in my bike (I also have a 2021 Yamaha XSR700). 

   

  So if you are reading this & have gotten to this point, could you please assist me and steer me into the right direction. Thank you and god bless.

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  TJ Admin Staff member

  8/28/26, 5:52 PM

  @Glennjermin not al;l handlebars require new risers. as long as you get 1" handlebars with wide enouigh center width the shadow risers work fine. 
  
  your second question - "If/when I switch handlebars, at which point does the bike require longer brake/clutch cables?" has no answer. because there are so many diferent types of bars and so many design factors - rise, pull back, width, drop, spread, and every bar has a different combination, theres no true answer. I can say that with my z-bars, if you run 8" rise you can get away with stock wiring and cables but you will have to re-route everything to reach. hope this helps man! i have a great video that tells you how to easily measure for new cables and wiring and such - https://youtu.be/ZJbspsIuyaQ?si=RIcaALhPge1dt5Wc

  DO FUN SHIT!
  Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

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  Glennjermin New Member

  9/8/26, 7:23 AM

  @TJ Thank you for the reply, I am definitely going to watch the video. I would like to get upgrade from the stock handlebars. 

  This is a bit of a ramble, so I hope you have a bit of time to read.... I have been fixing up a Ford Ranger and I finally was able to sit down and look over the bike this weekend. I got this bike from someone who had left it outside for 4-5 years, never started it or covered it. Chain is compeltely rusted, tires are flat, battery is dead, kill switch was hard to move, seat was beaten, bruised and battered, and most importantly fuel tank was rusted (on the inside), im assuming from the fuel just sitting stagnant in there.

  I bought a new battery, and cleaned the corrosion around the kill switch and was able to get it started for about 40 seconds. So now that I know the starting system is good, it's time for a new tank and carb rebuild kit.. 

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