I'm looking to buy a new bike and I'm stuck between?

Yo Hairy, check out this site http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/

and go to "rider reviews" on the left. I look here and dream all the time. It's full of regular riders like me and you. I have the Aero 750 and love it. But here's the thing, if you're a beginner or even semi-beginner and you like to ride a lot, the more important question is re-sale value. You're going to want more bike in 1 or 2 years anyway...I've had my Aero for 1.5 years and have been ready for a new bike for 1/2 a year now.

Both are good bikes, but the cost of ownership will be less with the Honda.

The Yamaha has mechanical tappets that require valve adjustments at 600 miles and every 4000 after that. The Yamaha is air cooled and has external oil lines. Very antiquated design. For whatever reason, the front end on the Yamaha feels heavier than other bikes. Something to do with the geometry I'd say.

But either will last you as long as you will want to keep it, and both are a hoot to ride.

Good Luck!

Neither, take a look at the Suzuki Boulevard C50 or the Kawasaki Vulcan. If you're looking at a new bike you might as well go with fuel injection and a good drive system. I've sat on a few aeros and their balance doesn't feel right, kinda top heavy. The V-stars are really nice but have a really rigorous maintenance schedule (every 4000 miles) and need to have all their valves and whatnots adjusted.

i've ridden the aero, and altho it has a comfy ride and good all around handling, my biggest beef with it was that it was impossible not to have the bars smack the knee in a full fork lock turn when doing a parking lot 180.

sit on both bikes, and when in typical riding position, fully turn the bars in both directions. if they hit ur knee standing still, they will be a very unnerving problem when u go to do a full fork lock turn in a parking lot. u'll feel like u are going to lose the bike when the bar hits the knee.

I'd go with the Honda Shadow.

I have a Honda VTX1300 and love it. But I'm moving up to a Goldwing.

20 years from now, somebody will still want the Honda.