Well you learn something new every day .Regarding the gears tom has a us import 1100 stated to be 1993 his is a 5 speed as does his 1983 700 shadow import . The tappet set up works fine ,the 750 had tiny shims on the one I rebuilt ,they are all pretty built proof motors . Yours looks very tidy .

Yeah, I bought it as 1988 model but I think it's a 1987 first registered in 1988. The reason: For some reason known only to Honda they saw fit to fit yellow plug leads (yes they're original, or NOS replacements) and just for that one year.
Maybe owners had complained about the plug leads being too dark..

Well I thought I was destined to be forever reaching for those forward controls on the Shadow, but made a concerted effort to adjust them today and even though they don't look like there's much adjustment there I got it to fit me perfectly. Much nicer to ride when all the controls "fall easily to hand" or foot as the case may be...
Next I just have to do something with the crappy headlight - bigger, brighter bulb probably.
I find it a bit bizarre that Honda managed to copy so successfully most of the Harley Sportsters bad points so well..

very nice looking shadow , Ive had a 600 and a 750 in the past.

Regarding the gear thing: From what I've read the US models went from 4 to 5 speed boxes in I think '93, while the European bikes kept the 4 speed box until '96. Just to further complicate matters my bike was originally imported into the UK from Holland in about '89! Can't begin to guess at the thinking behind the gears - Maybe Honda had lots of unsold 4 speeders they wanted to move..
Another point with these bikes is the '86 Shadow 1100 had a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge mounted on the tank. For '87 it lost both of them!

Yes my m8s one has the tank with gauges but I suspect it's a retro fit somewhere along the line of owners .

Ferret you said you've done the valves (on your 750?) and it had small shims. I've seen a "how to " posting on the Shadow forum where a bloke does a 750 and it's normal locknut and screw adjustment (which I like!). I've also seen a video by a bloke called Eanan Strain on You tube where he's explaining the 1100 setup which did have tiny black shims to adust the hydraulic tappet "assist shaft" gaps.
Did the valve setups change with year on the 750 also? Did you adjust the hydraulic setup, and if so, can it be done with the engine in the frame? Any info. would be appreciated. Not that my valves are noisy, they're lovely and quiet. I just like to know how to do anything which may come up. My Haynes manual isn't very clear on this point.

The motor in mine was a 700cc USA spec one and I dropped the motor just for ease .I had a clymer manual which was better .

So were they hydraulic?

Yes they was hydraulic liffters