?? about the ST1100

[cruisin]

Greetings all, a friend of mine has a very clean 2000 Honda ST1100 (dark metallic red) with very low mileage that I will likely have a chance to acquire when he decides to let it go.  This friend is in his early 70s and has a stable full of bikes, 10 or 11 I think.  Anyway he got this bike a couple of years ago with less than 4K on the odo and due to having so many bikes he simply does not accumulate many miles on any one of them each year.  His favorite rides are the 4 Valkaries that he owns.  He is a very good friend and I suspect I will get the bike at a very good price, but knowing what they are worth with info here won't hurt my feelings any.  

Now on to my primary questions: how difficult is it to lower the seat height?  I have a 27" inseam and the listed 31.5" seat is going to be a problem just as it was when I got my first BMW R1100RT back in 2001.  With help locally and on the Internet, I overcame that so that I am comfortable with the balls of my feet pretty solidly on the ground and heel up about an inch when I put both down together.  I'd like/need to get the ST to at least that same level to feel good about getting as I don't plan on just getting at low cost and reselling.  I am the type to ride lots of miles for many years before cutting a bike loose.

Next: I'd like to hear all of your pros and cons about performance compared to the 1100RT (if you've ever owned one) or just in general as well as ease/difficulty/cost of DIY maintenance.

thanks in advance

[ST-DocLizard1]

Check in over here:

http://www.st-owners.com/

[Fred]

1. Only way to lower seat height is to reshape the foam.

2. You may want to check/sync the carbs once or twice every 100,000 miles.

3. Valves are shim-under-bucket, my ST1100 was within spec for the 93,000 miles I put on it before selling, which was/is not uncommon.

4. Most DIY is relatively easy, and there is a tremendous knowledge base for DIY'ers on ST-Owners.Com.

[cruisin]

1. Only way to lower seat height is to reshape the foam.

Sounds like a good place to start; I've built a few lowered seats for my RTs and for a few other folks that all worked out pretty good.  Do you know if there any after-market shock options for lowering?

2. You may want to check/sync the carbs once or twice every 100,000 miles.

Ah, reminds me of the old days with the CB 350 and 450; except the intervals were much shorter than 100K.

3. Valves are shim-under-bucket, my ST1100 was within spec for the 93,000 miles I put on it before selling, which was/is not uncommon.

Sounding like my learning curve is about to to get very steep for a while; I don't have a clue what "shim-under-bucket" means.  But, I'm ready learn if I can get my friend to turn loose of that beautiful red scooter.

BTW:  thanks for the feedback.  I'll check out that website soon.

[MDHCO]

I have a 30" inseam, and can easily get both feet on the ground, but not both heels.   Once put sixty series tires on it, and both heels touched.  I do prefer the handling with the original equipment seventy series, and have since gone back to them.  

The rear shock seal went somewhere around fifty-five thousand miles.   Replaced it with a Progressive, which has a height adjustment.

Haven't had the opportunity to ride a BMW, but I really do like my ST1100.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.      

[cruisin]

Check in over here:

http://www.st-owners.com/

just gave that a shot, but after nearly an hour of trying to put up an intro post, I keep getting told I don't have permission to access the page.  I've tried both a new thread and replying to the intro thread.  You have any idea if it is always that difficult for first time users over there?

[ST-DocLizard1]

just gave that a shot, but after nearly an hour of trying to put up an intro post, I keep getting told I don't have permission to access the page.  I've tried both a new thread and replying to the intro thread.  You have any idea if it is always that difficult for first time users over there?

Did you register before trying to post?

I sent a pm to the Administrator at ST-Owners.

Hopefully he will give you a shout.

Doc

[tdeboeser]

st-owners.com is VERY good site.... try again...

[cruisin]

first post finally showed up.  It seems the admin has to approve your intro post before it gets put on the site.  Problem is, when you click submit, it just goes away and leaves you thinking it's out there.  But when you go to look, it's nowhere to be found until they give it the all clear electronically.  I'm in now and asking questions.  Seems to be some nice folks over there.  

[ST-DocLizard1]

first post finally showed up.  It seems the admin has to approve your intro post before it gets put on the site.  Problem is, when you click submit, it just goes away and leaves you thinking it's out there.  But when you go to look, it's nowhere to be found until they give it the all clear electronically.  I'm in now and asking questions.  Seems to be some nice folks over there.  

Aces!
You are in the right place.


Doc