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 RIrider |
From T to ST1300? |
Lead | ||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 25 08/29/07 8:25 AM |
Hi Guys,
Has anyone gone from the VT1100T to the ST1300? I do mostly highway riding and would like more umph to walk away from situations that arise. Let me know. Thanks! 
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gr8scott51 |
#1 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 762 08/29/07 9:12 AM |
I've talked to a few of the ST riders that I meet while waiting for the ferry. They are very happy with their bikes, very few problems, lots of features
and a huge gas tank (7 gallons I think). If you can find a used ST1100 ABS model with traction control you'll have what most feel was the best model. Parts
on the ST1100s were interchangeable over the run of the model. As for more umph - I don't know. Escapability is usually in the handling and gearing rather
than the displacement.
Scott "Silence is golden, duct tape is silver" |
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RIrider |
#2 | |||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 25 08/29/07 9:43 AM |
It is the ST1300 I am looking into, not the ST1100.
Last Edited By: RIrider 08/29/07 9:50 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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dukey33 |
#3 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 721 08/29/07 9:51 AM |
I spent some time this past weekend on an FJR1300, Yamaha's sport-tourer marketed directly against Honda's ST1300.
The FJR obviously has much more power, agility and brakes than the T, but it didn't take long for my wrists to start getting tired from the lean-forward position. And this bike even had risers on it! I found the saddle comfortable enough although that is entirely subjective and varies from person to person. The additional 200cc displacement over the T may seem small, but the extra two cylinders and higher tech engines gives the FJR and the ST about twice the horsepower output of the VT1100. There have been comments about excessive heat coming off the ST13. You may want to look into that a bit before pulling the trigger. Aside from that, the ST13 is a great bike even if it doesn't have class leading performance. It's a solid package.
duke
loud horns save lives |
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gr8scott51 |
#4 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 762 08/29/07 11:02 AM |
I understand that you said you were looking at the ST1300, I only passed on what I have heard from ST riders - that the 1100 ABS model with traction control is
the best of the STs. It has more features and less problems than the newer 1300.
Scott "Silence is golden, duct tape is silver" |
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tonythecarguy |
#5 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 607 08/29/07 11:04 AM |
I rode a ST1300 at the Honda hoot last year. I loved it except for two things. my hands went numb in the 30 min ride, after the ride someone else on the ride
told me he owned one and the risers made it fine for him. but as duke said that will very. the second and biggist thing in my mind was the heat. i rode in
the morning and it was only in the upper 70's but the inside of my legs where uncomfortably hot 20 minuets into the ride. Many complained about the same
thing on the FJR1300, prompting them to make changes last year and they seemed to have fixed it. the engine was very nice, good power and response, it would
no doubt walk about anything you would like to get away from. Wind control at speed was good too. bottom line is you gota ride one and see if it speaks to
you. unfortunately it is getting towards the end of the season, i don't know if Honda is having anymore demo ride dates.
Tony |
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Fredrider |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 6120 08/29/07 11:11 AM
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RIRider,
My time on an ST1300 is limited to a demo ride, but what I noticed during that ride was: 1. the ST1300 has a much more favorable power-to-weight ratio than a T - I was able to accelerate from 50 mph to 115 mph (indicated speed) in just a few seconds (~ 5 seconds), 2. the ST1300 has a greater lean angle by virtue of its shorter wheelbase, 3. substantial engine heat vents out between the ST1300 cylinder heads and the gas tank which is a 2" wide space about 18" long - in the summer the rider needs to keep his knees and thighs bowed out 2" to 3" from the gas tank to avoid burning up; in the winter engine heat can keep your legs warm, 4. the riding position is much more forward than the T's position.- different people will find one riding position more comfortable than the other.
Fred
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bamaTrider |
#7 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 3862 08/29/07 8:25 PM |
One other big difference is the seat height at 31" on the ST. The ride is sensational to say the least, and it carves the curves with ease w/o scraping
anything. You do lean forward more than I like and the risers only offer a small improvement to this. Because of the way the handle bars are set up, you only
have a few options for more pull back.
There is now a set of Baker air wings that can be added to deflect some of that engine heat away from your legs in the summer, and then towards them in the winter. You can expect well over 100k miles from that engine w/o issues. The seat height is adjustable and adding a top box is easy. For a little bit more money you can have a much more comfortable GL1800 Wing. Stan
"We are different - yet we are the
same"
2004 GL1800 Goldwing (Titanium) 1999 Ace Tourer (Silver over Black) |
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dukey33 |
#8 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 721 08/30/07 8:24 AM |
The seat height is no big thing. The sport touring bikes are much narrower than cruisers. Your feet go straight down to the pavement rather than having to
straddle the wide saddle and pipes.
duke
loud horns save lives |
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danbgt |
#9 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 1935 08/30/07 11:35 AM |
Stan always has a problem with seat height. As do most other midgets.
-Dan |
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Stephens T |
#10 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 210 08/30/07 2:21 PM Tail Gunner |
danbgt wrote: midgets  
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bamaTrider |
#11 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 3862 08/30/07 10:33 PM |
Keep it up , Dan and Steve, or else I'll have to come over there and box both your knees.
Stan
"We are different - yet we are the
same"
2004 GL1800 Goldwing (Titanium) 1999 Ace Tourer (Silver over Black) |
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BMac1100 |
#12 | |||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 22 08/31/07 7:00 AM |
Hey RIrider I see you are from Rhode Island. Where about are you, I'm just North of you up in the Attleboro's in Mass.
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Stephens T |
#13 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 210 08/31/07 8:51 AM Tail Gunner |
bamaTrider wrote: cant ya just feel tha love 
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Oakland Kevin |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 27 08/31/07 9:51 AM |
I can weigh in on this with a unique perspective. I have had a 2000 ST1100. Not the 1300 you're considering, but very similar. In 2001 I had had my '99
Shadow ACE 1100 (not a Tourer) for 3 years. I had equiped it with a windscreen & saddlebags for touring. I discovered that I liked 250-400 mile days
touring. I wanted more power, longer range, better braking, etc. I traded the ACE in on a brand new 2000 ST1100.
The things I thought I would like were there in abundance- immense power and acceleration in any gear. It was awesome- fastest bike I had ever had by far. Great brakes (though not ABS) 200mile + cruising range. So smooth you would swear that it had an electric engine. Great, but quiet, exhaust note with stock mufflers. But, two things proved so unaceptable for me that I sold the ST and bought back my ACE after a few months of ST ownership: One, It was extremely top heavy. I'm a very experienced rider, smooth and confident, yet low speed manuevers were panic inducing every time. Though it never touched the ground I almost dropped it twice. Two, the riding position was painfully uncomfortable- it was too "sport bike like". I tried Heli bars & risers. I tried a Saddleman seat. The end result was still the same: leaned forward a little with weight on my arms & shoulders, head slightly raised, with my feet behind me on the stock pegs was unbearable. I couldn't understand why. Thousands of bikes are laid out like that. Thousands of happy ST1100 riders find it comfortable. It's the unofficial bike of the IronButt Rally fer goodness sake! My $.02 worth. Good luck and ride safe, Kevin |
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