1988 Honda reviews

This is an ideal cruiser. It's not a sport bike, it's a cruiser. This bike has plenty of power to do what it was meant to. I hate this new big bore, go fast, cruiser fad. If you want something to go fast on, go buy a sport bike. There's a reason that the bike is called a cruiser...to cruise. Show less

Bought my CBR-1000 as my first bike. Very awkward at very low speeds. However, at anything over 15mph, it was rock steady and with enourmous acceleration. Ended up racing it in Mexico in Novice Open Class and it gave a very good account of itself. Riding position is similar to a BMW and is comfortable for two up riding. Mechanically very stout. Ended up trading it for a YZF-750 frame with a 1000 motor for open class racing. a more responsive but less comfortable option. At times I wish I still had the old beast. Show less

Bought this beauty (was beast) 6 months ago. This 130K mi. 1988 Shadow VT600C had seen rough times. Slightly modified (poorly, in most cases), rusty spokes, cracked paint + parts everywhere... so I got it for a good price as a starter bike, knowing it's Honda, at least, and that I may be killing it as I learn to ride -not much to lose seeing how motorcycling is so cool + "fun", supposedly. Well, it is! Being 5'10" 160 lbs. and mature-minded, I found the bike to fit me rather well, not too agressive, not too wimpy. After learning how to ride (i.e. countersteering + MSF course), I found the bike to be very forgiving and quite nimble. The throttle is not TOO strong (it's a 583 cc motor, afterall), yet she has the go at a moments notice, especially with the nice + tall (4)gears. Plenty for me, at least. Got her up to 95 + she was starting to whine, let alone my nerves were saying "when", being new to it all. She had a bit more to go, especially if a 5th gear was present. The tall 4th gear runs nice from 55 to, arguably, 75 as a smooth cruising speed, and beyond. Different ratioed sprockets can change that, though. Plenty of aftermarket parts to choose from for customization. OEM Parts are easily accessible, I've replaced roughly $600 in OEM and no problems finding parts yet, even those puny grommets or brass washers. She's pretty much restored + running great. All for ~$3,000 in bike, gear, training, parts, and pulled hair:) (which was minimal I just like to whine) Having taken the heads apart for cleaning, I was surprised at how clean the head/case was on the inside. After rebuilding the heads, I swear I got 10% more power out of the motor! Not too difficult to work on, but some parts, as on any other machine, were a bear to get to/ replace. Getting roughly 55-60 mpg with stock air cleaner, external fuel injection, and aftermarket pipes. All in all, this is a perfect bike for a beginner who doesn't want to upgrade after 6 months of 500cc or less OR have too much bike to control starting out. Conversely, an experienced rider who likes easy riding, good gas mileage, and doesn't have to cruise 5,000 miles in a week, I believe, would enjoy this ride thoroughly as well. If you're new to this stuff, this is a premier choice for a first ride, IMO, as it offers stablility, reliability, accessibility of parts, and tons of grins for the relatively cheap pricetag (typically)! Hope this helps, + happy and safe motorcycling! Show less

I just sold my '88 Hurricane after owning it about 2 years. In all I found it to be a very fine bike. It has a great motor, providing plenty of torque and smooth, usable power throughout the RPM range. Shifting is purely an option, as the bike pulls well even at low RPM. Handling is passable, but this is a very heavy bike that definitely prefers wide, sweeping corners over tight ones. The brakes are probably the weakest part of the bike. They are not quite up to rapidly stopping a bike this heavy. The ergonomics definitely favor riders of shorter stature. I'm 6'2" and I always felt just a little cramped by the seat/footpeg distance. Not a major issue, but something that taller riders should check out when considering this bike. Shorter riders should feel very comfortable with the low center of gravity and planted feel of the bike. There is some buzz that can be felt through the bars and also some pressure on the wrists that can cause discomfort over long distances. The stock seat is also not the most comfortable around. You can certainly do some touring with this bike, but I do not consider it well suited for really long trips. I found it to be very reliable and well finished, with no minor glitches or major problems that I can report. The styling of the bike still looks good, even after 13 years, and it is fast enough for all but the most speed crazed riders. Show less

I acquired a "beat but complete" 1988 VLX last year for a song and a few dollars. It wouldn't start but the motor would turn over. The bike was neglected for about five years in the cold environment of the Colorado Rockies by the previous owner. It has since become a rebuild/restoration hobby for me (I affectionately dubbed it "the clunker"), sitting in my garage alongside three other functioning and stylish VLX Shadows. It needs a few items to get going, such as a carb cleaning/rebuild, new coils, new battery, plugs, plug wires, oil and filters, and a stator wiring harness. The tank and lower left engine casing were replaced (rust in tank and corrosion on casing), a new front brake master cylinder, and a rebuilt front end. The tires both need replacing (dry rotted) along with a few other minor TLC touches. I learned all my wrenching on this bike, I stripped it down to the bare frame and began experimenting with the assembly/disassembly of the various components. The plastic body pieces (rear fender/seat cowling and side covers) all needed mending, the frame has been repainted, and the bodywork will receive a matching coat soon. Now the point I would like to make here is this: DURABILITY! When I had the engine off the frame I started popping covers off to see the innards of a VLX motor for the first time. Here's what impressed me more than anything: the engine has 45,000 miles on it and has sat neglected for five years through the harsh winters of the Rocky Mountains. The inside of the engine was immaculate, completely clean, the timing chains were snug, the gears were in excellent shape, the valves were unscored, and not a single metal shaving was found within. This only reinforces Honda's bullet-proof reliability. Hats off to the engineers of such a tolerable machine, I know now that my other three will serve me well for many years to come, and perhaps someday in the near future I'll have this fourth one to add to the stable. Kudos to Honda's 5 STAR long lasting tough and dependable VLX! Show less

A good friend of mine has one of these bikes (a good friend is one who lets you ride it ), and the most significant thing I can say is that the power band just doesn't give up. I've wound it up to 10,000 rpm on a few occasions and even though that's almost redline, it feels as if it wants to go a lot further. The biggest misconception about this machine is that everyone thinks it's a 600cc bike. The only thing that slows this puppy down is a set of twisties, as the bike weighs in close to 600lbs wet. My only beef is the riding position. I'm very uncomfortable on sport-type bikes with their forward leaning rides. My friend is quite comfortable on it, and it would seem as such to anyone else accustomed to sport bike riding. Let's talk reliability, this bike has 40,000 miles on the clock and still ticking. The only problems come with the jet-kit that requires seasonal adjustments. Show less

I bought my '88 Honda CBR1000 about a year and a half ago with about 19000 miles on it. It's been an addiction ever since. I think I've read every review of the bike on the planet and can't find a bad review anywhere. I couldn't agree more. The bike is smooth with ample power to get you into and out of trouble. Make sure you're hangin' on if you rev over 6000rpm. It's a little heavy to be throwing it around in the twisties, but on the highway it's a dream cruiser. that's if you have wrist built like steel. Surprisingly enough, the small windshield and fairing do not allow much "windlift" on the chest area and highway cuising does not lift much weight off your wrists. I mostly love this bike for the looks I get from the "young bucks" (I'm 42) riding their featherweight, race-ready, multicolored, fuel-injected bikes. (Mine is straight black with no logos or emblems at all.) When I open her up and blow 'em away, they have to follow me to my driveway to findout what it is. (Some of these guys were in the first grade when my bike was built.) It's like driving a '70s muscle car on two wheels. Show less

I can't say enough about the motor. First,and second gears you better be paying attention. The torque is excellent. Just twist your right hand. There's usually no need for downshifting for any highway passing, but the price you pay for a sport bike is the comfort level. Iam 5'8' 165lbs and after 2hours on the bike my lower back just cant take anymore. The weight on my wrists gets the better of me as well since there's not too much wind pressure coming at you even with the short original fairing to take some weight of the wrists. At higher speeds - 100mph plus - the bike is extremely stable. It corners with no effort at all. For its intended purpose, I'd give it a 5, but the comfort level brings it down for me, Show less

The Hurricane 1000 in silver and grey is a slick-looking bike that has enormous power and great riding comfort in a single package. With air adjustable front forks and manually adjustable rear shocks, it can be tuned for lots of riding styles from roadgoing to radical. The seat is very generous in both length and width, and the padding and covering of the seat have both stood the test of time. This thing will rev to 12,000 rpm, it sounds great at full song, and it covers ground like you would not believe, even with two up, which is how I usually ride mine. I ride mine only occasionally when the sun shines and have only 11,000 miles on it in 12 years. I paid a ridiculously low price for it in the summer of 1989, brand new in the crate, and I would not sell this bike for any amount of money. It fits my 6'4", 230-pound body like a glove, and its Dunlop K591s, my second set, work really well for all-around. Show less