This article will discuss the comparison review of the 2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 vs 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200. Honda and Harley-Davidson are well-known motorcycle manufacturers with a long history of delivering reliable, high-performance motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson is an American motorcycle manufacturer that has been in business since 1903. Harley-Davidson focuses on classic cruisers with modern upgrades. Meanwhile, Honda is a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that produces reliable motorcycles in almost every category. Honda motorcycles have a longer lifespan, fewer breakdowns, and require less maintenance.
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 and the Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200 are uncomplicated modern cruisers. Both motorcycles are suitable for beginners due to their low-powered engines that produce smooth, low-end torque. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a vintage cruiser with a helicopter-style look.
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 has a longer wheelbase than the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 due to its front end and larger overall size. It also has a bigger fuel tank and more ground clearance. Even though the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 has better ground clearance, the seat height of both motorcycles is low.
On the other hand, the Harley Iron 1200 has a bigger engine and weighs more than the Honda Shadow Phantom 750. The Harley Iron 1200 is a unique cruiser with a single rider seat and medium foot controls. This article compares the 2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 vs the 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200 in great detail.
2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 vs 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200 – Features Comparison
Design
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a plain and straightforward bobber-style cruiser. It has a flared front that gives it a helicopter-like appearance. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750’s front forks, handlebars, motor, frame, air filter cover, and separate chrome dual exhaust pipes are all blacked out. It comes with a 3.7-gallon peanut-sized gasoline tank with gauges attached. It has a planted design with an ample wheelbase of 64.6 inches and a low seat height of 25.8 inches, as it is a helicopter-style cruiser.
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 features bobber-style front and rear fenders and an integrated LED tail/stop light. It also features a traditional round headlamp housed in a dark brown. The handlebars of the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 are semi-swept back and tilted, with regular risers. It also features a single-piece gunfighter-style seat that can accommodate two riders. Steel spoked wheels with black rims add to the distinctive look of the Honda Shadow Phantom 750.
The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is a cruiser of sorts with a simple style. It also features a bobber-style front fender, a chopped back fender, a bullet-shaped rear turn signal, and a small LED tail/stop light. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is a modern motorcycle with a color scheme and fuel tank decoration inspired by the Harley motorcycles of the 1970s.
It features blackout details such as a short nose fairing, dual slash-cut mufflers, a battery cover, an engine, a traditional round air filter cover, and attractive nine-spoke aluminum wheels. The mini-app handlebars have black exterior mirrors, gauges and front turn signals. The Harley Iron 1200 also features a lone rider seat in a cafe racer design.
Engine and Performance
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is powered by a 745cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 52° V-Twin engine producing 44.6 hp at 5,500 rpm and 64.94 Nm at 3,500 rpm. It has a five-speed transmission with a wide gear ratio that connects to the rear wheel via a shaft drive.
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is fueled by a programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) system and gets a fuel mileage of 56 mpg. The raked front end and longer wheelbase result in a lower center of gravity, better linear performance, and better handling. The final shaft drive is easy to maintain and offers a smooth ride with wide torque distribution at all gear levels.
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is perfect for extended rides, weekend rides, daily commutes, and city trips. It’s not a fast bike, but it has enough power and torque for a pleasant ride on the open road. A single 296 mm front disc provides braking with twin-piston calipers and a 180 mm rear drum brake. The 41mm front fork and spring preload adjustable, dual rear shock absorbers on the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 guarantee a smooth ride on smooth and uneven terrains.
The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is powered by a 1,202 cc air-cooled Evolution V-Twin engine producing 60 hp and 98.97 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. Despite having a 1,202cc engine, it is not a fast bike and has insufficient horsepower for long-distance touring. Also, the Harley Iron 1200 lacks a sixth gear, which is required for a better touring experience. An electronic fuel injection system achieves a fuel economy of 48 miles per gallon.
As it is lightweight and easy to manage in tight turns, the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is an entry-level motorbike. The Harley Iron 1200 is slim in shape, making it easy to control. The 1,202cc EvolutionTM V-Twin engine delivers consistent low-end torque for enjoyable short-distance cruising and city commuting.
Replace the default non-adjustable cartridge front fork and twin rear shock absorbers with superior suspensions that allow more wheel travel for a more comfortable riding experience on paved and uneven roads. Harley provides reliable brakes on the Iron 1200 along with single front and rear disc brakes as well as optional ABS.
Comfort and Ergonomics
The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is an excellent cruiser with excellent ergonomics. It has a grounded design with a long wheelbase and raked-out front end, resulting in a seat height of 25.8 inches and a low center of gravity, resulting in a more comfortable ride experience and improved handling.
Despite its standard overall size, taller riders will enjoy riding because of the forward foot controls and ample legroom. Semi-swept back, flat handlebars provide an upright back position and comfortable riding ergonomics. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is suitable for short and average-height riders. On the other hand, faster riders should sit a bit further to reach the handlebars.
Overall, the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a comfortable, lightweight cruiser suitable for beginners, long riders and average riders. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 can have an aftermarket windscreen to block incoming wind for a more comfortable riding experience on open roads and highways. This vehicle can also be converted into a spectacular cruiser by adding SADDLEBAGS and BACKRESTS.
The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is a stylish cruiser with exceptional ergonomics. It has mid-mounted foot controls and tall mini-ape handlebars, which allow for a slightly more aggressive riding style. Because of its compact riding triangle and ergonomics, long-distance rides are uncomfortable for tall riders. However, due to its high-mounted mini-app handlebars, the rider has plenty of legroom to accommodate their knees.
The Harley Iron 1200 maintains an upright back position, allowing you to rest your arms comfortably while reaching for the handlebars; because of the low-swept back and long handlebars, an average and shorter rider must sit forward. A modest seat height of 25.7 inches, on the other hand, makes it an excellent bike for beginners and smaller riders.
2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 vs 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200 – FAQs
Is the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 Good for Long Trips?
Due to its small legroom, fairly aggressive riding style, and lack of storage space, the Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is unsuitable for long-distance rides. However, by replacing the mid-mounted foot controls with forward-mounted foot controls and adding a few aftermarket items like Saddlebags, Backrests, a windshield, Sissy Bars, Crash Bars and Handlebars, it can be turned into a great cruiser.
What is the top speed of the Harley Sportster Iron 1200?
The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 has a top speed of 118 mph and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 vs 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200 – Specifications Comparison
| Specs \ Bikes | 2023 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 | 2023 Harley Sportster Iron 1200 |
|---|
Engine and Performance
| Displacement | 745 cc | 1,202 cc |
| Engine Design and Type | 52° V-Twin, Four-Stroke Engine | Evolution™ V-Twin Engine |
| Cooling System | Liquid-Cooled | Air-Cooled |
| No. of Cylinders | Two | Two |
| Valves Per Cylinder | Three | Four |
| Horsepower | 44.6 hp at 5,500 rpm | 60 hp |
| Torque | 64.94 Nm at 3,500 rpm | 98.97 Nm at 3,500 rpm |
| Stroke | 76 mm / 3 in | 96.52 mm / 3.8 in |
| Bore | 79 mm / 3.11 in | 88.9 mm / 3.5 in |
| Fuel Injection System | Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI); 34 mm Throttle Body | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 | 10:1 |
| Transmission | Wide-Ratio, Five-Speed | Five-Speed |
| Final Drive | Shaft | Belt |
| Clutch | Wet, Multiplate | Wet, Multiplate |
| Fuel Economy | 56 mpg | 48 mpg |
| Muffler | Chrome, Separate Dual Mufflers | Blacked-Out, Separate Dual Mufflers |
| Exhaust | Two-Into-Two Exhaust | Two-Into-Two Exhaust |
| Frame | Steel | Mild Steel, Tubular Frame |
| Starter | Electric | Electric |
| Gauges | Fuel Tank-Mounted | Handlebar-Mounted |
Wheels
| Wheels | Steel Spoked-Wheels with Black Rims | Nine-Spoke, Blacked-Out Aluminum Wheels |
| Tires | Front: Dunlop® 120/90 R17 64S Rear: Dunlop® 160/80 R15 74S |
Front: Michelin® 100/90B19 57H Rear: Michelin® 150/80B16 77H |
Braking
| Front | Single 296 mm Disc with Twin-Piston Caliper | 300 mm Single Disc with Dual-Piston Caliper |
| Rear | 180 mm Drum | 260 mm Single Disc with Dual-Piston Caliper |
| ABS | No | Optional ($795) |
Suspension
| Front | 41 mm Front Fork | 39 mm Cartridge-Style Front Fork, Non-Adjustable |
| Rear | Dual Shocks with Five-Position Spring-Preload Adjustability | Variable Rate Spring with Nitrogen-charged Emulsion-Style Dual Shocks, Preload-Adjustable |
| Front Wheel Travel | 4.6 in | 3.6 in |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 3.5 in | 1.6 in |
Dimensions and Weight
| Trail | 160 mm / 6.3 in | 116.84 mm / 4.6 in |
| Rake | 34° | 30° |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.7 gal | 3.3 gal |
| Ground Clearance | 129.5 mm / 5.1 in | 109.22 mm / 4.3 in |
| Width | 825.5 mm / 32.5 in | 109.22 mm / 36 in |
| Height | 1089.7 mm / 42.9 in | 1239.52 mm / 48.8 in |
| Length | 2395.22 mm / 94.3 in | 2199.64 mm / 86.6 in |
| Seat Height | 655.32 mm / 25.8 in | 652.78 mm / 25.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 1640.8 mm / 64.6 in | 1513.84 mm / 59.6 in |
| Wet Weight | 549 lbs / 249 kg | 564 lbs / 255.83 kg |
