In 2005, the Japanese maker launched the Honda VT400 Shadow Slasher, a middleweight cruiser machine with a low-slung, stretch-out design typical of cruiser motorcycles, with a low seat of 710 mm (28 inches), which made it easy to handle for riders of all sizes.
The Honda VT400 Shadow Slasher was a custom cruiser motorcycle part of the Shadow line in Honda's range, introduced in 2000 and powered by a 399cc V-twin engine coupled to a six-speed manual transmission.
Overall, the Honda VT400 Shadow Slasher was a reliable and easy-to-ride machine, well-suited for both commuting and leisure riding, with a low seat height, lightweight, and easy-to-handle capabilities that made it a popular choice for beginner and intermediate riders.
The 2005 motorcycle was fitted with standard features, including a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a chromed exhaust system, a one-piece dual seat, a black-finished engine with chromed covers and cooling fins, and a round headlight with a chromed housing, bullet-style turn signals, and cast aluminum wheels.
For suspension, the bike packed an air-assisted telescopic fork on the front and dual adjustable shock absorbers on the rear for optimum suspension performance and handling.
In the braking department, the bike packed a single disc squeezed by a two-piston caliper on the front, paired with a drum braking unit on the rear that offered optimum stopping power.
The 2005 Honda VT400 Shadow Slasher was set in motion by a 399cc four-stroke V-twin liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 33 hp at 7,500 rpm and 35 Nm (26 lb-ft) of torque at 5,500 rpm.