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.
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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.phpDave