Honda VT750 C CD CD2 Shadow Deluxe Ace Cruiser V-Twin 1988-2003 Service Manual

Honda's "ACE," or American Classic Edition, badge existed for one purpose: going toe-to-toe with Harley-Davidson on looks and heritage styling while backing it with Honda's reputation for reliability. The 750-class Ace launched in 1997-1998, offered in two flavors throughout its run — the standard VT750C and the more heavily chromed VT750CD Deluxe — and quickly became one of Honda's best-selling street bikes, topping the 2002 lineup before being replaced by the Shadow Aero in 2003.

Power comes from a 745cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin, a long-stroke design paired with a high-mass alternator and crankshaft specifically tuned to deliver a strong, torquey V-twin feel rather than a revvy character. Each cylinder runs its own 36mm Mikuni CV carburetor, with a 3-valve head and dual spark plugs per cylinder for genuinely efficient combustion. The steel-tube frame carries a 41mm front fork with 130mm of travel, a single 296mm front disc with twin-piston calipers, and a rear drum brake — period-correct hardware for a cruiser prioritizing low-speed comfort over sport handling.

The Deluxe trim distinguished itself with extensive chrome: front fork covers, side stand, lever brackets, footpeg brackets, chain guard, swingarm pivot cap, side engine covers, and cylinder head covers, all set against a black-finished engine with polished cooling fins for contrast. Deluxe models also carried a larger 4.4-gallon tank versus the standard model's 3.1 gallons. Seat height sits around 27.6 inches, with dry weight close to 505 lbs and Honda offering various colorways and two-tone paint schemes across the model years, including a Candy Orange scheme exclusive to certain Deluxe production runs.

This factory service manual covers the procedures, torque specs, and diagrams needed to keep a Shadow ACE 750's engine and driveline running the way Honda built it.