ST 1100

[Joe]

My son is getting a 1996 Honda ST 1100.  
I know nothing about this ride.  What are your
thoughts?

[Scoop]

As far as I know, a good reliable sport tourer, with the emphasis on touring.  Very comfortable.  I almost bought an ST130, but thought it was a bit too "car-like", but that's just my opinion.  Depending on what he wants from a bike, he should be happy with it.

[knobby]

Well, I just picked up a '92 ST1100, but have only rode it on a test ride home.  So far I like it, and so does my girlfriend.  Don't have a lot of time on it yet, but it seems to be a comfy bike that seems to handle well. That's all about I know so far.
-joe

[Joe]

He's going to use it to get to work,
about 50 miles each way.

[GerryPetrecca]

Well, I just picked up a '92 ST1100, but have only rode it on a test ride home.  So far I like it, and so does my girlfriend.  Don't have a lot of time on it yet, but it seems to be a comfy bike that seems to handle well. That's all about I know so far.
-joe

Hey Joe!  congrats on the new addition.  Was that the one at the dealer the you were telling me about??

Gerry

[knobby]

Hey Joe!  congrats on the new addition.  Was that the one at the dealer the you were telling me about??

Gerry

Hey Gerry,
How ya been? Yup, that's it. Thanks. I never gave that guy a call about the other ST. I chose to stick with this one. Seems to run good. We may take it for a short ride today if time permits.
-joe

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

A good, solid machine, if a bit old mannish.  Less old mannish than a Concours, though.

Should be great for what you said he wants to do with it.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Very nice touring bike  

[FlowBee]

He's going to use it to get to work,
about 50 miles each way.

Let's see... 100 miles/day x 200 days per year...  20K/yr... he will replace the water pump every 4 years.    

Valves should need to be checked every year. Adjusted maybe every other.

The engine should last 8 to 15 years without major issues.  He needs to be sure to lube the drive splines EVERY tire change.  Keep the undercarriage clean to prevent exhaust rot.  

The engine is very understressed.  It won't break. The wheels are strong. The whole thing is a tank (hence the weight).

So long as he treats the thing like a precision machine and changes the oil/fluids/etc regularly it will last a long, long time.

[MacGyver]

Let's see... 100 miles/day x 200 days per year...  20K/yr... he will replace the water pump every 4 years.    

Valves should need to be checked every year. Adjusted maybe every other.

The engine should last 8 to 15 years without major issues.  He needs to be sure to lube the drive splines EVERY tire change.  Keep the undercarriage clean to prevent exhaust rot.  

The engine is very understressed.  It won't break. The wheels are strong. The whole thing is a tank (hence the weight).

So long as he treats the thing like a precision machine and changes the oil/fluids/etc regularly it will last a long, long time.

+ 1

[RBEmerson]

A good, solid machine, if a bit old mannish.  Less old mannish than a Concours, though.

Should be great for what you said he wants to do with it.

Uh, we've agreed on points in the past but on this one...  nah.  In the past week my Concours and I have knocked out almost 1,000 miles in conditions ranging from bright and sunny to close to a frog-choker rain to running late at night, on anything from twisty back roads to I-95, and at speeds from seriously legal in school zones to... very, very, very fast.  The Concours is old mannish?  These two are for you!

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

Uh, we've agreed on points in the past but on this one...  nah.  In the past week my Concours and I have knocked out almost 1,000 miles in conditions ranging from bright and sunny to close to a frog-choker rain to running late at night, on anything from twisty back roads to I-95, and at speeds from seriously legal in school zones to... very, very, very fast.  The Concours is old mannish?  These two are for you!

Come on, RB!  I love the Connie, and put 67K on my 99 before I sold it last year.  But it is an old man motorcycle.  I think that when I bought mine (at 29) I was the youngest person to buy one, ever!

[RBEmerson]

Even if what you said were right (and it isn't!  ), I'll remind you of a comment made by (among others) Robert Earle Clarke: "Old age and cunning will beat youth and enthusiasm any day".  I kinda reckon Bobby Clarke of the "Broad St. Bullies" Flyers knows what he's talking about, and has the Stanley Cup rings to prove it.  

[jadziadax8]

Come on, RB!  I love the Connie, and put 67K on my 99 before I sold it last year.  But it is an old man motorcycle.  I think that when I bought mine (at 29) I was the youngest person to buy one, ever!

Nope, that would be my husband, who has one at the tender age of 24.

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

Nope, that would be my husband, who has one at the tender age of 24.

Well, that makes me feel better!

RB-
Please note that my saying it's an "old man's bike" isn't a knock on the Connies performance or capabilities.  It's really a comment on styling (which I like, by the way.  Especially in Candy Amaranth Red Micah or whatever our "Barneys" were/are) that is rather dated.  The Concours rarely got a second look, but the chics dig the Sprint.  And I need all the help I can get.  

I'll agree with you on the "old age and cunning" bit, too.

[ridingfar]

Rock solid, over engineered, many go 120k to 180k miles w/o opening the engine/clutch. Great commuter and/or one-up long distance mile muncher. Now dated looks were ahead of it's time in 1991, still highly functional. Weak oil cooled alternator on '91 through '95 models can be upgraded to newer air cooled heavier duty one that was standard on '96 through '02 models.

I've never heard of a water pump going out on a 1st gen ST if you use phosphate and silica free anti-freeze.

Best on open roads and sweepers, although it handles better than a bike that big should and will surprise many on sportier bikes in the hands of a capable rider. Long and heavy with tall gearing and a 7.3 gallon tank it will excel at reliably taking you from point A to B with little fanfare whether it be commuting or the Iron Butt. Can be found with relatively low miles at bargain prices. Strong owners group borders on cult-like support for both 1st and 2nd gen models.

[astrogt]

    i think of the st1100 as one of the best all around bikes ever made. very smooth and reliable, dosent care to be ridden agressively or you can putt around on it. a set of radial tires will really wake up the handling though. used as a police and first responder bike all over the world, the st1100 is still being made in a police version so parts are readily available. i just completed a saddle sore 1000 on  mine. i did 1100 miles in 18 hours in far more comfort than my gl1500 goldwing. i have a 01 st1100 and i love it......clay

[RBEmerson]

 
One last detour...  

"Amaranth Red Micah" is the official name for the '99 paint job - "Barney purple" is closer to the truth.  

And, yeah, the lines of the Concours are not the "velociraptor" look of many bikes now in production.  Which may or may not be a bad thing.  But then, I still like Craig Vetter's Windjammer line of fairings, too.  The "babe magnet" thing...?  Not an  issue - I landed the one I was after.  


We return you to the Honda ST1100 thread, already in progress.

[smiling johnny]

ST11's are great bikes.  If you're going to do any real mileage, it's tough to beat it. Spring for a used Corbin seat and a set of Helibars, though.  The stock bars aren't really wide enough to get good leverage, and the stock bar cover is a little too 1979 Oldsmobile.  I really liked my '98. Got rid of it because I felt bad not putting real mileage on it.  Kids do that, though.

[chesthing]

To anyone with experience, how is the ST1100 2-up? how does it handle bumpy roads and such?

[smiling johnny]

It really doesn't care whether you're one or two up for general riding.  The v4 puts out a nice spread of torque also, so it's really going to be more a matter of gear selection than anything else.  That being said, it's not a sportbike, so the performance isn't going to match one.  

Not to beat a dead horse, but the seat really is key for both passenger and rider.  Corbin made one with a fastback style backrest that folded flat when not in use, and it was a great seat.  Passengers loved it.  In the alternative, you can mount a givi top case and strap a covered foam pad to it and that's not too bad either.

Ride is nice, if a little soft.  The rear can handle most things pretty well, but the front can use some upgrading.  Either www.st-owners.com and www.st1100.org has good instructions available on fitting progressive springs with the right spacer dimensions, and that's supposed to make a huge difference.

Happy hunting.

[MDHCO]

Strong owners group borders on cult-like support for both 1st and 2nd gen models.

Good choice, 50 MPG, 7.2 gallon capacity is great for commuting or long distance touring.  Great handling, reliability, and comfort.   Easy bike to like, but cult like support?

Have some more Coolaide.  

[WBill]

Shared a small motel parking lot in some place (Montana? Colorado?) with an ST 1100 rider.  I  don't remember the modelyear.  This fellow was riding back from Idaho, I think, to his home in Tennessee.  He loved his ride and said he'd been many, many miles on it.  There had been an issue with something up front on the engine, but it was a part-swapping matter, easily remedied.  Sorry for the vague report, but, overall, that rider gave the ST 1100 a thumbs-up.

[STGurp]

Get handlebar risers or Heli-bars. If you're riding 2-up think about a Clearview with some extra height and width as there's quite a bit of passenger buffeting with the stock. I run a Clearview medium and Wonder Wife loves the difference. It makes a big difference in crosswind handling too - it tracks much truer in gusts.

I have a stock seat but when the piggy bank fattens up plan to order up a Corbin. The stock is a little too non-buttlike for desired comfort, but certainly acceptable for riding. WW keeps a thin closed cell foam net-like thing to keep from sliding forward.

The bike is silky smooth on the highway. Power and torque galore. The weight takes some getting used to when jockeying around in a parking lot but keep your balance points in mind and there's no problem.

I've had mine for less than a year and and am really enjoying every mile.

Cheers,
John

[mikeinvaf16]

my 91 st1100 survived my sons jeep running it over in my garage : )  80,000 miles so far and it runs great!! excellent weather protection and bullet proof. i ride in all kinds of weather....even in the rain and average about 45 mpg. it is a pig when you are going slow but balance and being aware of the 700 lbs of weight under you and its no problem.

[brianhe]

Good choice, 50 MPG, 7.2 gallon capacity is great for commuting or long distance touring.  Great handling, reliability, and comfort.   Easy bike to like, but cult like support?

Have some more Coolaide.  

50 mpg on the Interstate, but not in city commuting.  I know this as a 5 year ST1100 owner (just sold).

[seattleST]

2005 ST1300 here.  Last bike was a 85 V65 Magna.  Basically the same motor as far as I know.  Quiet.  Fast if you want it to be.  Bullet proof.  Great weather protection.  Lots of amps for goodies.  Hoping to put 200k on mine.

Probably just a Honda truster but you can't go too far wrong.

Dan

[brianhe]

2005 ST1300 here.  Last bike was a 85 V65 Magna.  Basically the same motor as far as I know.  

Not really.  The ST1100 and 1300 motors are similar in that both are longitudinally mounted, all-aluminum motors.  But the 1100's is isolated on rubber mounts, whereas the 1300s is solidly mounted to the frame as a stressed member, and has counterbalancers.  The 1300 is higher displacement and compression as well; 1300 needs high octane gas, but 1100 runs great on 87.  The counterbalancers and higher revving in particular change the new bike's character somewhat, as does the stiffer aluminum frame versus tube steel on the 1100.  The Magna powerplant of course was not longitudinally mounted and is quite different from either of the STs.

[rgbeard]

I too am potentially looking at a ST-1100.  I currently use a Trophy for our "Fun Bike" and an old 84 GL-1200 Interstate for my commuter.

I believe I would like to part ways with the GL1200 and get the ST1100 instead.  

My question is - what do people use for a third luggage box?  I'm a bit spoiled with the GL's luggage capacity and very often throw in an overnite bag for a day or two/three of business/casual clothing, in addition to a backpack and sometimes some tools.  

I'm seeing prices firmly in the $4,000 range for early nineties, and towards $6,000 for late nineties.  Are there any particular years to avoid?  Or is it more of a "The later, the better" as many vehicles?

[ejwpc]

I bought my 91 ST1100 a couple of years ago. It now has more than 80,000 miles and is going strong.  I really like this bike and I plan on taking it on even longer rides this summer.

[MDHCO]

50 mpg on the Interstate, but not in city commuting.  I know this as a 5 year ST1100 owner (just sold).

Isn't 5 a little young to be riding a motorcycle?  

I avoid the stop and go as much as possible, but my commute runs around the eastern edge of the Denver Metro area.  It's about half highway and half secondary roads.  Six in the morning, and five in the evening.  

Then there's the occasional run up into the high country.  Blitzing the canyons and running over the passes doesn't really seem to have much impact on the mileage.  

The little yellow light starts flickering at about 275 miles.  By 285 it's on steady.   Generally pull in for fuel at 300.   Pump in around six gallons of 85 octane, punch the reset button on the trip odometer, it's the same drill every fill-up.   Three hundred divided by 6 equals 50.   It does very, but not by much.  

[Schavlan]

I too am potentially looking at a ST-1100.  I currently use a Trophy for our "Fun Bike" and an old 84 GL-1200 Interstate for my commuter.

I believe I would like to part ways with the GL1200 and get the ST1100 instead.  

My question is - what do people use for a third luggage box?  I'm a bit spoiled with the GL's luggage capacity and very often throw in an overnite bag for a day or two/three of business/casual clothing, in addition to a backpack and sometimes some tools.  

I'm seeing prices firmly in the $4,000 range for early nineties, and towards $6,000 for late nineties.  Are there any particular years to avoid?  Or is it more of a "The later, the better" as many vehicles?

Depends on the price.  I have a 1993. The pre-96 bikes had an oil cooled 28 amp alternator.  Lots of problems with the VRR connections, and eventually the 28 amp would burn out.  I drive a lot in stop and go traffic.  I had my 28 amp replaced as a precautionary measure.
In 96 they also changed the handlebars and made them a bit higher.  I replaced mine with Helibar risers.  I also bought a used GIVI topcase which can hold 2 helmets.  I bought a Sargent seat for the bike as well.  The OEM seat is open cell foam and would really REALLY start to hurt in less than 90 minutes.  I added a Laminar Lip to help with wind management.
I also installed an MIT-100 communication system.
The only thing I added to the 93 bike that I would not have added to a later model is the 40 amp alternator upgrade.
I still think I'm financially ahead of the game compared to what it would have cost for me to buy a later model.
Plus, I get a motorcycle that is the fabulous Candy Glory Red.

[fxrbill]

Cult? 6,000 members in ST-Owners.com Considering the number of ST's out there I'd say thats a pretty good membership to glean information from.

[jtormo]

My question is - what do people use for a third luggage box?  I'm a bit spoiled with the GL's luggage capacity and very often throw in an overnite bag for a day or two/three of business/casual clothing, in addition to a backpack and sometimes some tools.  

I'm seeing prices firmly in the $4,000 range for early nineties, and towards $6,000 for late nineties.  Are there any particular years to avoid?  Or is it more of a "The later, the better" as many vehicles?

I do not own a top box for my ST1100, but there are two common solutions:  
(1) Buy the European-spec top box from a European dealer or a domestic aftermarket source.  One of the more popular in the US is www.cruiserbackrest.com  

Advantage - color matched to the bike.  Disadvantage - expensive, and some colors are hard to find.

(2) Buy a Givi top box with hardware for the ST.

Advantages - lots of dealers, lower price, several sizes to choose from.  Disadvantage - colors not perfect (the black is best match for '98-'99, candy red for mid-late '90s ST1100 is also very close), so you may be looking at a custom paint job too.

Re:  Which years to look at.  You were mostly right in your second line - any year is fine, but the newer ones with lower mileage will get you on the road with more pleasure every morning or weekend.  There were very few changes to the ST1100 over the 12 years of its existence ('91-'02).  The most significant changes:  in 1996, Honda upgraded the alternator from 28 amp to 40 amps and added the ABS version (ST1100A), which has a slightly wider front rim (and different tire).  The upgraded alternator was an excellent improvement, and any of the older bikes can be refitted with the 40amp alternator.  If you do buy an early version, check to see if this change has already been made.

Some people love the idea of the ABS, others (mostly sport bike lovers) prefer to avoid the complexity and weight of ABS, in the belief that ABS systems tend to take an extra few inches to stop compared to expert use of the levers including rear lockup.  

The engine has been known to last for a very long time - several members of the ST1100 owners club have over 200K miles on their bikes after 10-15 years of use.  The usual parts that age will need to be replaced on an older bike - brake lines, coolant hoses, etc. - but don't be afraid of a bike from the early '90s.
You should check out the ST Owners site (www.st-owners.com) for more info and ideas on how to enjoy your potential purchase.  They cover both ST1100 and 1300 versions, and there are thousands of members and monthly events.

[knobby]

Owned my used '92 ST1100 for about 4 months now, and it runs excellent, handles well, and have had no problems what-so-ever with it. It was bought originally so that my fiance can travel around together in more comfort over longer miles than my other ride which is a CBR1000RR. If we are staying within a 100-200 mile range though, and don't need any luggage, we still take the RR because it's just plain more exciting, and...as much as I hate to say it after reading some previous posts, I do feel the ST is somewhat 'old-mannish' in stature.  But for the purpose that it serves for a couple riding long distances on together, it's a great machine. I highly doubt though it will see half as much action once my fiance finishes her rider training, and gets her own machine though. Time will tell on that one though.  
As far as all the other information posted on the ST's here, I have to agree with it being a great machine.

[MotoYoda]

Quick question, didn't seem worth starting another ST1100 thread over -- anyone know the seat height on a '91 (there's one for sale about 50 miles away from me - so I can't easily go sit on it)?  I've never ridden a near-700 lb. motorcycle, and being on the short side with a 29" inseam, that'd be my biggest concern.  A heavy bike flat-footed and a heavy bike while I'm reaching the ground with my toes are two different beasts.

On that same note, does it *feel* that heavy?  Some bikes are heavier than they feel, and some feel heavier than they are - I think a lot of it has to do with steering geometry, bar width/leverage, and how high they carry their weight.  VFRs for instance feel "top heavy" to me, and therefore feel heavier than a bike of similar weight that carries its weight lower.  I test road a '99 Sprint ST a few weeks back, and it felt heavier than any bike I'd ever ridden -- heavier than my old '86 FJ1200 -- and I know it could not have actually tipped the scales higher than the FJ.  But for what ever combination of reasons, that ST moved around at slow speeds like a tank.

[Highrider]

Yoda

The stock seat height starts at 31", I had a Corbin put on mine that lowered it to 30". At a 29" inseam, it could be a stretch for you. And yes, it feels like a 700 pound bike, nice and stable on the road. The Sprint ST feels a LOT lighter than the ST1100.

[MotoYoda]

The stock seat height starts at 31", I had a Corbin put on mine that lowered it to 30". At a 29" inseam, it could be a stretch for you. And yes, it feels like a 700 pound bike, nice and stable on the road. The Sprint ST feels a LOT lighter than the ST1100.

Thanks for the info.  Right now I'm riding a stock '05 FZ1 - which I believe has a seat height of 32.3".  I am considering having it lowered by an inch.  I can ride it without a problem, but with the rainy season coming up I'd like more contact patch when my feet hit the ground.  I've found that I'm very comfortable on anything 31" inches or lower -- but with a very heavy bike, I'd prefer 30".

One other quick note, the '06 Sprint ST I sat on at a dealership lifted off the side stand easily and felt light and balanced.  The one I (test) rode that felt heavy was a '99 (older design) -- and maybe there was something odd about that particular bike because it felt heavy just getting it off the stand, and the steering required a huge amount of effort when riding.  

My apologies for the brief thread hijack....  now back to our regularly scheduled program....

[1KPerDay]

My dad put 110K on his ST1100 (I helped on a few thousand of those). Russell Day-long seat, tall Rifle windshield, honda topcase, throttle lock. No other mods. Great bike. Smooth, torquey, handled great, extremely comfortable, very reliable. My brother has it now and it has about 120K on it. The shop says the final drive is wearing out, but that's about it.

My dad liked it better than the ST13 FWIW.

[fallzboater]

I've been riding a buddy's '94 ST1100 with 50k on it for a week, and am leaving on a 2,500 mile trip tomorrow.  Coming off sportier bikes (Falco, VFR), the ST is not quick, but deceptively fast.  Very quiet and smooth at 80-100 mph.  It doesn't like to be trail-braked into corners, or mid-corner bumps (dampers are tired), but has fairly good cornering clearance with a light load.  Very stable in the wind.  This one has a Russel seat which I don't like since I'm used to moving around more on the bike.  My knees hit the fairing and there's a lot of heat off the heads in that area (not as bad as a Triumph ST I rode, though).  I have very long legs, so a taller seat would help.  I really like the bike so far, and need to try an ST1300 or FJR.

[ctfz1]

Note, showroom bikes without gas and oil, often battery, and low preload susp.

[05ST1300ABS]

Good choice, 50 MPG, 7.2 gallon capacity is great for commuting or long distance touring.  Great handling, reliability, and comfort.   Easy bike to like, but cult like support?

Have some more Coolaide.  

I thought the ST1100 was just a tad smaller at 7.4 gallons and the Concours was 7.5  The new ST1300 gets about the same mileage as the ST1100 but with a little more fuel at 7.7 gallons it might have a few more miles to empty.

[ctfz1]

Worst feature, heat at noon in August, stop and go,.

[GoneRacin]

I thought the ST1100 was just a tad smaller at 7.4 gallons and the Concours was 7.5  The new ST1300 gets about the same mileage as the ST1100 but with a little more fuel at 7.7 gallons it might have a few more miles to empty.

Correct about the tank size. My 2002 connie had 7.5 but the average fuel mileage was in the mid to lower 40s

[GRN]

Sold my '91 in 2000 with 75K on it, still ran like new, never needed a valve adjustment. I would still own it if I hadn't had a big ass party to pay for that I woke up married as a result of... no complaints though as she replaced it 4 years later as promised   ST11 was a great bike... had mirrors that were usable, very stable at stupid speeds, better Pan design than the ST13, and other than the BAS recall and a crazy old Mennonite backing into the right side while grinding the left side into a brick wall  , I had no other service needs beyond regular scheduled stuff.

Bottom line... he did GOOD!