Thinking about st1100 Pros and Cons

[matthew77]

OK...so I have more of a sportbike background than anything. (Zr7, R1, GPZ1100, Sprint RS) BUT, I have a beautiful 4 mth old daughter I want see grow up. All my friends have Hardley, I mean Harley, full dressers. I was thinking that maybe somethiing a little more laid back like an st1100, due to budget restrictions, would be a good way to go. My friends like longer overnight rides so the luggage would be nice. I want something that handles well for commuting. Yet something attractive and eye catching when I go to bike nights.

So any owners out there to give pros and cons. OHHH Btw looking at 1991-1995 models. (Again budget restrictions.)

[Highrider]

Matt

I started out with an ST1100, and still have it along with my upgrade - ST1300. The ST1100 is a good dependable ride, there are no cons I can think of as a model that stands by itself. When you start to compare it to other bikes, there naturally will be aspects that one will prefer comparing one bike to another.
The ST is a great around town bike, does pretty good on the track and is one of the best long distance bikes out there. I prefer the smoothness and power of my ST1300, but I like the feel on the road of the ST1100. My longest trip on the ST1100 to date has been 6300 miles in ten days, and I would not hestiate to plan a similar trip on that bike.

[ST1300Rider]

The '96 and later bikes had a few improvements. Much larger alternator (28A/40A), and on the ABS model, much stiffer front forks due to increased diameter. I think there may have been a change to the linked brakes as well but I'm not sure. Don't overlook a higher mileage 96 or later and if you do find a good earlier model, check out the connection and harness at the alternator for evidence of heat. Alternator failure was about the only problems with the early years, but the upgrade to the larger 40A unit is possible and well documented. HTH

[Against The Wind]

My best riding buddy had an ST1100 for years and it was as reliable as a rock, heavy but reliable.

[matthew77]

I have been seeing where the older model alternators tend to go out around 80,000, which is the mileage of the bike I am looking at. Anyone know of a cost estimate on replacement of the alternator?


OHHH thanks for all the replies. I was starting to think noone road 1100's around here!

[GRN]

Sold my '91 with just short of 75K on it... still started and ran like new. On the older ones ('til '93?) just confirm the BAS recall was done, put gas in it and go... no worries. No cons, in fact, some things I liked more about the 11 than the 13... much better cruising/hwy bike than the 13, not nearly as nimble in the twisties though. Good luck, ride safe.

[ST1300Rider]

I have been seeing where the older model alternators tend to go out around 80,000, which is the mileage of the bike I am looking at. Anyone know of a cost estimate on replacement of the alternator?

Here's a good place to start, http://mmartin36.home.insightbb.com/Alt.htm if you're interested in the upgrade procedure. Parts prices for the upgrade vary, but IIRC you should get away with around $450.00. Use one of the parts lists on Mike's page and do some online shopping. It's a DIY job, no dealer will touch it (the upgrade). What a dealer will do is replace the original 28A model and that will run you about a grand.

[matthew77]

Here's a good place to start, http://mmartin36.home.insightbb.com/Alt.htm if you're interested in the upgrade procedure. Parts prices for the upgrade vary, but IIRC you should get away with around $450.00. Use one of the parts lists on Mike's page and do some online shopping. It's a DIY job, no dealer will touch it (the upgrade). What a dealer will do is replace the original 28A model and that will run you about a grand.

Very helpful...thanks!

[GRN]

Good forum for getting to know the Honda ST's and that rider community (great bunch of folks) well:

ST-Owners.com

[jahoobob]

About the only bad thing I can think of owning an ST1100 is that it might make you want an ST1300.  That is what happened to me.  I bought a 1991 1100 in 2003 and had to have the 1300 when they first came out in 2004.
It is a great ride for what you want.  Mine had 90,000 miles on it and ran like a charm.

[Tilt2Turn]

OK...so I have more of a sportbike background than anything. (Zr7, R1, GPZ1100, Sprint RS) BUT, I have a beautiful 4 mth old daughter I want see grow up. All my friends have Hardley, I mean Harley, full dressers. I was thinking that maybe somethiing a little more laid back like an st1100, due to budget restrictions, would be a good way to go. My friends like longer overnight rides so the luggage would be nice. I want something that handles well for commuting. Yet something attractive and eye catching when I go to bike nights.

So any owners out there to give pros and cons. OHHH Btw looking at 1991-1995 models. (Again budget restrictions.)

Based on what you wrote here, I don't think the ST would be the best choice. As you can see here, a lot of enthusiasum comes from high milage junkies. As a commuter bike, the ST1100 weighs over 700 lbs., which is all right when you are moving, but heavy for parking lot manouvers. At bike nights, my friends made passing reference of how closely related my ST1100 was to a Pacific Coast. So while it is eye candy to avid Sport Touring riders, others mights see it as a sea of painted plastic. I think it is a great bike, but for weekend getaways and commuting, there are better choices.

[RoadWorn]

I've got a '94 model purchased new with the small alternator.  From following the subject for years, it seems as though most failures happen to those guys running extra watts like heated clothing and big lights.  No problems here without those accessories, and I've only replaced the battery once.  The 1100 was once named the most trouble-free bike ever made, based on an owners poll in Motorcycle Consumer News.  Sometimes I remove the plastic just to clean underneath because I'm so bored having nothing significant to maintain or tinker with. If the VFR is a two-wheeled Honda NSX, then the ST is an Accord.  (Eh, what's that make a Goldwing...  an Odyssey?)

Speaking of plastic removal, curses to the tiny-fingered Asian engineers responsible for the intricate jigsaw fitment of all that Tupperware and countless numbers and styles of fasteners!  I've always said that if I ever met one of those guys, I'd have to punch him in the nose.

[Fred]

I've got a '94 model purchased new with the small alternator.  From following the subject for years, it seems as though most failures happen to those guys running extra watts like heated clothing and big lights.  No problems here without those accessories, and I've only replaced the battery once.  The 1100 was once named the most trouble-free bike ever made, based on an owners poll in Motorcycle Consumer News.  Sometimes I remove the plastic just to clean underneath because I'm so bored having nothing significant to maintain or tinker with. If the VFR is a two-wheeled Honda NSX, then the ST is an Accord.  (Eh, what's that make a Goldwing...  an Odyssey?)

Speaking of plastic removal, curses to the tiny-fingered Asian engineers responsible for the intricate jigsaw fitment of all that Tupperware and countless numbers and styles of fasteners!  I've always said that if I ever met one of those guys, I'd have to punch him in the nose.

Ditto on the small alternator. ASFAIK the alternator in my 93 was still going strong when I sold it after 13 years and 90,000+ miles.

If you think the plastic on the 1100's fun, wait 'til you tackle the 1300!!  

[MDHCO]

PROs: 50 MPG, 300+ miles between fill-ups, comfortable ride, great handling, pretty much bullet proof, everything just plain works.

CONs: Don't drop it on your foot.  

So it's heavy, once it starts moving you won't notice the weight.   It's so well balanced, that parking lot maneuvering  is really no problem.  

Not the best bike if you want to pose, but then no matter what you buy somebody's going to knock it.  

 

 

[strider]

I’ve read the previous posts on the ST1100 and offer mine as objective comments about those and other issues that people have raised.

I bought my ’95 model ST1100 in 1999 with around 63,000 km on the odometer.  It’s now clocked up over 193,000 km.  I also ride a Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans and a GSXR1000K6 (until my son gets his licence back).

Things I like about the ST:
Comfortable;
Great luggage capacity, especially with a Givi top box;
Long interval between servicing;
Excellent touring range;
Good fuel economy;
Reasonable tyre wear.

Things I don’t like:
Awkward to maintain.  Too many fairing fasteners.
Heavy.
Stock seat is uncomfortable for long distances (consecutive 1,000 km + days).
Front wheel shimmy (head shake) at approximately 60 km/h.
‘Plush’ suspension.
‘Slow’ steering.

Things that have gone wrong.
Alternator – stator open circuit (known fault).
Molten connector (main alternator connector under left hand side panel).
Fork seal/fork tube – caused by binding?  
Final drive seal.
Headlamps don’t last long (comparatively).
Battery (twice).
Broken speedometer cable twice (plastic mount that holds the ferrule on fork leg).

Things I’ve done to rectify:
Seat re-padded (for Australian readers, John Moorhouse Ergo Seats in Capalaba, Queensland – excellent job and about half the price of a Corbin.).
Replaced steering head ball bearings with rollers and dropped the triple clamps 8mm (didn’t completely eliminate shimmy but helped the steering).
Heavier weight fork oil.
Rewound alternator stator.
Replaced connector.
Replaced fork leg and both seals.
Replaced final drive seal and bearing.
Replaced headlamps.
Replaced batteries.
Replaced speedometer cable once, made alternative mounting method the second time.

Other ‘faults’:
Tall riders are badly buffeted as the windscreen is too short.
When fully loaded, it feels very light in the steering at low speed.
Hard to match paint (Candy wineberry).
Poor parts back-up from dealers.  Parts take weeks to arrive, for example speedometer cable.
The gearbox requires firm pressure.  I change gears without the clutch and even so, it occasionally surprises me.   It has jumped out of first on more than one occasion.

Misconceptions:
‘The ST1100 handles well.’  Disagree.  It handles adequately.  
‘The ST1100 gets thrown around badly by the wind.’   Not really. Again, this is comparative.
‘The ST1100 doesn’t handle dirt roads well.’  Surprisingly, it’s pretty good, although the mirror shrouds dislodge if you hit big enough pot holes on those dirt roads.

Overall, the bike has been very reliable and has only left me stranded due to the alternator problems.  Would I recommend it?  Without hesitation, yes.

[sailor22]

I am a long time sport bike and track day rider and I am a recent ST1100 owner so I have a perspective that might be helpful.

I can understand your sentiment about wanting to be around for your daughter.  The hardest thing about sport bikes for me was trying to enjoy myself and still ride at something like a sane road speed.
I have owned and ridden (both on the track and street) a GSXR 1K a Duc 916 and an R1.  All are great bikes and all are a lot more fun riding really fast than riding anywhere near the legal speed limit. It seemed like every ride on the street was an exercise in avoiding the blue lights and handcuffs.

Part of the reason I wanted a touring bike was to have a bike that was fun to ride slow(er) and included my wife.  I have been trying to find a way to have fun going slower for a few years and have settled on a few bikes that work for me...  
I have come to believe the first gen SV with suspension mods (fork rebuild, after  market shock with ride right adjust) and some motor work is an answer for one up commuting.  I can ride it hard and feel like I'm flogging it without being in high triple digits.  It's nimble and gets thru the tight mountain roads great too.
For looonnnggg rides and two up the modified ST1100 I have now is just the ticket. The ST is a pretty neutral handling bike with a very balanced feel and the weight is not an issue as long as you don't try to sport ride it too aggressively.   My ST has some mods that are important to me for how I want the bike to work.  A complete fork rebuild along with a better spring in front and a Works Performance shock are a big help. The Corbin seat with a back rest is my wife's favorite feature. A wonderfully flexible motor lets you troll along at car speeds, beebop along a freeway speeds or wick it up a bit on back roads.  Just don't get too frisky it's still mostly a tourer - but a very fun one at any speed.

[Roseknight]

for those that say a ST1100 isnt manuverable I offer the following video as proof that it can be thrown around quite well...
http://bbs.tsba.org/images/brad-st1100-obs.wmv

is it light? not by a long strech..
can it be made to embarass the kids on the latest repliracers.. oh yeah..

[matthew77]

That was a GREAT vid! Reminds me of the Japanese police video of the vfr 400's (I believe.)

[Larrypv]

Matthew, check out the ST1100 forum on www.my-mc.com . Click on the Honda link.

Larry