Motorcycle mixups?? help please!?

ok motorcycle lovers, what kind of bike is this? http://youngstown.craigslist.org/mcy/2376576522.html


Its posted as an 82 shadow, but for you real experts out there know honda didn't make shadows until 2003. So what kind of bike is is so that i can get a good view on the real price for this bike. And whats the id tag? Like CR500 or XL250, that tag, Thats how i gauge the price, through NADA guides. Any help is greatly appriciated! thank you!|||I really liked the expertise and info in twoasone's response, other than to say that even though this bike is over 25 years old, it's no classic to anyone I know. They made a billion of this kind of bikes in the 80s and you can still find them all over the place for next to nothing.





I think it's a great starter bike. You can crash that thing and who cares?|||http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/buyersgui鈥?/a>|||No Shadows before the new millenium? Wrong! The bike in the ad has "Shadow" printed in script on both sidecovers under the seat. It's a VT500C.|||It looks identical to my 1984. VTX is the Shadow nomenclature.|||It is NOT a CR or XL anything. It IS, in fact, a Honda Shadow 500. It's true value would be found in the motorcycle blue book, not the generic Nada guides. The AMA puts out a motorcycle blue book for more accurate reference.





Any vehicle made more than 25 years ago is an antique, btw.





VT500C is an 83, not an 82. The owner probably read the year off the identiplate on the steering head, which likely reads as 1982. The model year and the year that the model was made are not always the same.





The bike is an antique now and deserves a rider that appreciates the value of a good, clean antique motorcycle, not some kid that knows squat and would wreck it.





And us "real experts", as you put it, know better than you.





I had a friend in 1985 that had a Honda Shadow so to say that "...for you real experts out there know Honda didn't make shadows until 2003." shows that you know nothing about bikes or their histories.





The bike in the pics is most certainly a Shadow.





Over the decades, the Shadow has changed looks quite a bit. The Shadow didn't really become anything like the current models until the early 90's, where it took on the current retro-Harley/Indian look that you see in the newer models.





The 500cc "VT500C" introduced in 1983 was available in Candy Wineberry Red or Black. The identifying features of this model are the painting of both the fuel tank and rear fenders. The side covers are chrome and engine covers black. The Black and Red "Shadow 500" decal was on the side cover with a gold outline from 1983 to 1986. The headlight was chrome and rectangular and had a single horn. The engine was 491 cc OHC 3-valve, liquid cooled V-Twin with a six-speed, shaft drive transmission.





In 1984, The "VT500C' was available in Candy Scorpio Red or Black. The identifying features include the fuel tank and rear fenders painted the same. The front fender is chrome and this year the side covers and engine covers were painted black. The black and red "Shadow 500" decal was on the side cover with a gold outline. The headlight was chrome and rectangular and there was a single horn. The engine is virtually the same as the 1983 model.





The "VT500C" model was available in either Black or Candy Glory Red. The head lamps are now round and chromed. This model continued with the dual horns. A two piece seat with an integrated backrest was incorporated. Starting this year, the engine covers were polished chrome and the fins enlarged. The "Honda" tank decal was curved instead of straight.





For the 1986 model year, the "VT500C" model was available in either Black or a new Candy Scorpio Red while everything else was virtually the same for the 1985 model.