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Message started by Blinky-FSO on 09/17/14 at 13:21:10

Title: Honda ST1300?
Post by Blinky-FSO on 09/17/14 at 13:21:10

It is fall and I have the motorcycle upgrade bug again. I had the 2007 S40 for one riding season, moved to a 2007 C50 for two seasons and I am now looking for a long distance touring bike and have my eye on a 2005 ST1300 with about 30,000 miles. It is not the ABS model.

Dave,
I think you have an ST1100. Any input on the brand would be appreciated. Everybody jump in here if you have any first hand experience with the ST1300, especially for 2up touring.

Thanks in advance and good hunting

Title: Re: Honda ST1300?
Post by Dave on 09/18/14 at 04:17:23

I really like my ST1100, and it just loves to get out and do 70-80 mph all day long. The bike may not be "quick" by sport bike standards - but it comes on really strong and can do speeds far beyond where I am willing to venture. The windshield and Tupperware do a great job of keeping the wind and rain off - only my toes seem to get wet if I ride in the rain. The bike seems to handle corners really well, it seems to prefer long fast sweepers more than tight switchbacks.

Some folks prefer the ST1100 as it has simple mechanical tach and speedo, and directs less heat onto the driver in the summer. The seat height is a bit tall and 30" inseam or less and you will be tippy-toe. The ST1300 has an adjustable seat and can allow better reach for short riders, the windshield has an electric height adjustment that can be used while in motion, and there are all kinds of electronic displays on the dash. The ST1300 has a lower engine mounting and some better isolation - but the ST1100 is really smooth and I have never noticed any kind of vibration from it.

I chose the 1100 as the prices were about half what the 1300 sells for. I bought a 2000 with 34,000 miles on it for $ 3,500. I wanted to see if I really liked a big touring bike, and see if my wife wanted to ride with me before I spent more money on a motorcycle.

TIPOVERS - The ST bikes are heavy, and with a passenger on it is very easy to tip over when you come to a stop. The ST forum has a place you list your tipovers.....and I unfortunately get to update my personal information to include 1 tipover. My wife and I were in Michigan and we stopped in a gravel parking lot to watch the kids on a big hillside. The local Fire Department had placed a huge sheet of plastic on the hill and were hosing it down with a mist...and the kids were wearing plastic trash bags and sliding down the hill.....great fun! When we went to leave I leaned the bike up off the kick stand - but there was some gravel built up behind the kick stand and I leaned the bike just a bit more to the right to allow the kick stand to fold up. At that point the bike started over......not sure if the wife was leaning over looking at something or why it suddenly started going over to the right - but once it started I could not stop it. The handlebars are too high and you just don't have enough leverage to stop a 740 pound bike, luggage and a 140 pound wife from going over. The bike tipped over into the grass on the right side and it didn't hurt anything, and the two of us rolled it back up. Embarrassing.....but no damage and nobody was hurt. The ST1100 and ST1300 are not built like cruisers....they are a bit top heavy and it is very easy to tip over if you step on a slippery spot, some loose gravel, etc. The lady I bought my bike from had a 28" inseam and after having 2 tipovers....she decided to sell it and buy a BMW touring bike with a lower seat height.

If you want to ride my ST1100.....lets meet somewhere between here and there and go riding. This Saturday is supposed to be really nice riding - but I do have to take my wife to the Ballet in the afternoon.....she had foot surgery and is going to need help (This will get me a lot of points and allow for future riding weekend. ;D)

Here is the link to the ST forum. I found my bike in the classified section, and it was local. The prices on this forum can be very good. And like our forum, they are loaded with good information (I don't like the format of the forum as well as ours).
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/forum.php
Dave

Title: Re: Honda ST1300?
Post by Blinky-FSO on 09/18/14 at 06:26:03

Dave,
Thank you for the excellent information and the offer to test ride your bike. I will pass on the offer and test ride the bike at the dealer. I would much rather drop his than yours.

I am more interested in the touring abilities than the "sport" and cornering ability. The fairing, adjustable screen on the ST1300 as well as the luggage package (it has the Givi top box) and 7.7 gallon tank would, I think, help make it a good cross country bike. The one that is on the radar also has heated grips and something called a Heli Bar which I think is a combination of a riser and pull back.

Will keep everyone posted
Thanks again

Good hunting

Title: Re: Honda ST1300?
Post by Dave on 09/18/14 at 07:20:07

Mine has the Heli bars.....it replaces the stock bars and has adjustable joints that allow you to change the bar alignment to fit you better than a rigid bar can.

The lady that owned the bike before me named it "Camel Joe". It has a 300 mile fuel range......and she would only fill up on every 2nd or 3rd stop when she rode with her Harley friends. With very gentle riding you can extend the range up over 350 miles.

For two up riding I am only 5'-8" tall, and my wife a bit shorter. I ride right up against the fuel tank, and she rides leaning against the back pad on the Givi top box. This puts about a foot in between us, and I believe my wife gets a lot more wind than I do. She is not fond of 70 mph interstate riding as it is really windy for her.