How's The Handling?; How About Maintenance?; How About Fuel Mileage And Range?; How About Comfort? - Honda VT750C Specifications And Review

How's The Handling?
With a 63.6 inch wheel base, the ACE 750 is not a particularly long bike. This makes it very nimble and easy to
handle. When combined with the 500lb dry weight, this means it's heavy enough to stand big gusts of wind on the
highway, but light enough to be able to maneuver around parking lots easily. The ACE's handlebars rest in a
comfortable position that make turning the wider front tire relatively easy.
The only complaint I have with regard to the suspension is one that is common across the Shadows. The front fork
springs are a bit on the mushy side, which results in a bit of a nose‐diving when applying the front brake
aggressively. While this is definitely not a show‐stopper for the ACE 750, I'd suggest a set of aftermarket fork
springs and heavier front fork oil to really bring the front suspension to its peak.
How About Maintenance?
Heck...it's a Honda. Maintenance on the ACE 750 is pretty straight forward. Change the oil and coolant fluid, check
your tire tread and air pressure, oil the chain at the appropriate periods and you are good to go!
One other thing to note about the ACE 750 is that the rear brake is a drum brake, not a disk brake. While this
doesn't really add any additional maintenance, when it comes time to change the rear brake out, it's a bit more
involved that just snapping out the old pads and dropping in the new.
Other than that, the most intense maintenance you'll have on the ACE 750 is keeping all those spokes clean. While
they offer that beautiful classic look, be prepared to scrub the road grime off them periodically to keep them
looking great.
How About Fuel Mileage and Range?
The ACE 750 sports a 3.7 gallon tank and gets around gets anywhere from 40mpg to 45mpg, depending on how
and where you are riding. This means that you are looking at 120‐130 miles before having to stop for gas. In other
words, it is more likely that your butt will be crying "uncle" before the ACE does.
How about comfort?
As I mentioned earlier, the ACE 750 is a bit on the cramped side for taller or larger riders. The foot pegs are in
somewhat of a forward position, but taller riders might consider investing in aftermarket forward controls or
floorboards if they plan on taking longer trips.
Heavier riders or those looking for long road trip with plenty of riders might consider stepping up to the ACE 1100.
In addition, the passenger setup for long trips leaves much to be desired in the way of comfort.
The only other bone of contention I have with the ACE's comfort is something that I have seen across the entire
Shadow lineup....the seat. Honda installs very stiff seats on their cruisers, which makes for uncomfortable longer
rides. The stiff seats last longer and hold up better, but after a couple hundred miles on a stock Honda seat, I find
myself shifting to relieve the pressure on my tailbone. The ACE 750's seat is no different and I would suggest that
any ACE owner look around at the Mustang or Corbin seats. They look expensive at first blush, but offer a totally
different comfort level than the stocker does. Adding a more comfortable pillion pad will also make your
passenger much happier for those long trips.
History, Specifications, and Review Manual
Honda VT750CD ACE
11