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Take heart, you keen of spirit and short of limb. There is a motorcycle that will allow you to get both feet flat on the ground.

The Honda VT750 Shadow Aero has a seat height of just 658 millimetres, which for those of us who are metrically challenged, is just over 25 inches. Along with the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883L, Suzuki C50 and Honda VTX1300, this makes it one of the most accessible bikes on the market, suitable for smaller riders and those who just like to be closer to mother earth.

It's also one of the most comfortable bikes out there. In fact, the first thing that struck me once I got on board was how accommodating and ergonomically right the saddle was. Decent lumbar support, proper contour, nice riding position.

Everybody's built differently, but this is one of those bikes that should be able to accommodate a wide range of sizes and shapes.

In terms of proportions, the 750 Aero is roughly the same size as the Suzuki C50 and Kawasaki Vulcan 800, and has a dry weight of 235 kilograms.

In fact, everything about this bike is user-friendly. Power is smoothly provided by a 745 cc V-twin that has a 52-degree configuration, liquid cooling, three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder, and a single 34-mm carburetor.

This is the same basic engine as the VT750 Shadow Spirit, but with a little less performance. Like so many Honda products, the engine in the Shadow Aero is well behaved to the point of being docile, and buttery smooth in operation.

If you're looking for a pavement-scalding, tire-destroying bar-hopper, this is probably not the bike for you. Honda has plenty of other similarly designed bikes that offer more in the way of performance, and although it can certainly keep up with traffic and then some, the Shadow Aero is built for comfort, not speed.

Around town and during low-speed manoeuvres, it's just fine, but forget about corner-strafing or head tucked down behind the handlebar speed runs. Top speed is in the 180 km/h neighbourhood, and the bike is just about out of wind by the time it gets there.

Like so many bikes in this market, the Shadow Aero has shaft final drive. Interestingly, its stable mate, the Spirit, comes with a chain, and I think this model would benefit from the same set-up.

It's not as though Honda would have to design it from scratch, and that extra bit of oomph and more efficient power delivery would help this bike. Transmission is five-speed.

Riding position on the Shadow Aero is feet-forward, cruiser style, and all foot controls are easy to get at and well-placed.

Handlebars are the ubiquitous wide-shouldered "beach style" and once you get rolling, there's no escape from the wind. Like some of its competition -- the Suzuki Boulevard series, for example -- the Shadow Aero features a front disc brake and mechanically-activated rear drum. Not the most up-to-date braking set-up in the world, but it does the job. Instrumentation is pretty basic: speedometer and various idiot lights mounted on a tank console.

Where the 750 Shadow Aero really shines is in the styling department.

This is a very nice-looking motorcycle; well proportioned, tastefully executed and traditional without being overdone.

The 41-mm front fork complements the overall nostalgic feet of the bike as does the two-into-one exhaust system, externally-mounted rear shocks, and full-sized rear fender.

Honda has pretty well nailed the retro look with its cruisers, and the 750 Aero is no exception. I rode the (now discontinued) bike this series is patterned after - the ACE - at least 10 years ago, and this is a much cleaner looking motorcycle, to my eyes.

I also like the fact that Honda has stayed with laced wheels here; its slightly bigger brother, the Shadow Sabre, has alloy wheels and isn't the better for it.

Honda offers an extensive selection of accessories for the 750 Shadow Aero --dressing up your bike is what this market is all about, after all, and you can choose from sissy bars, leather saddlebags, windscreen, tank straps, accessory lights, various chrome bits and pieces, and so on. A limited edition version, with special paint and full touring kit, is also available.

If I have any criticism of the 750 Shadow Aero, it's that novice riders may outgrow it fairly quickly. Initially, it's everything a new rider could ask for -- very rideable, easy to handle, manageable power -- but as you gain in experience, you may find its lack of grunt and top end kind of unsatisfying. Another 15 to 20 horsepower would do wonders here.

On the other hand, it has a very approachable price tag -- base price is $8,499 -- and is well below the 800-cc displacement mark, after which everything changes in terms of insurance and performance.

tlaturnus@globeandmail.ca