I bought the ´03 Shadow Spirit VT1100C in November and have not had adequate time to really get to know the bike but in 305 miles I have come to get to know it a little bit. The bike is definately a fun ride for a cruiser and has a strong engine. Im still breaking it in for the first 600 miles but Im halfway there at least. The bike pulls strong and the brakes are ok. I wish there was a double disc up front but the single hasnt failed me so far. The drum rear was kind of a let-down, but, again, it is adequate. The mileage is pretty darn good. I had a 150 mile trip yesterday (in 30 degree weather) and I had to be approaching 45 mpg if not more. The bike has great lines and I just love riding it. The look had me hooked immediately and I recommend one to anybody looking for a mid-level cruiser with a 1000+ CC engine. The shaft drive is very cool and I havent experienced any of the herky-jerky things that apparently come with shaft drive. Im definately looking forward to getting the new pipes put on, whether V&H or Cobra...I dont care as long as it gives the bike a better sound. It was almost embarassing to be riding between a Harley Deuce and a Harley Electra with loud exhausts. It is way too muffled in stock form. The 2 hour ride yesterday gave me a pretty good understanding of the seat´s comfort zone. It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be considering some of the other reviews I read. As long as the shocks are set properly, there wasnt much feedback thru the bike that was annoying. Overall, and since this is my first bike, I would say without too much bias, that it is a great bike for the price and the longetivity that it will last, due to Honda quality being what it is. Comments welcome!