Honda ST1100's

G'day Folks,

Been a while since posting in here although I regularly read posts here,and
I'm considering getting back on a Motorcycle again and I'm interested in the
Honda ST1100 touring bikes.
Most of the 1100's now have got quite high Kms for around the 8 grand mark
and was wondering what kind of Kms would some of you baulk at if looking at
a budget tourer?
I've been told that theres no reason to worry with these bikes with the
higher K's as they are well known to do 200,000 plus without too many
dramas.Is this to be expected?
I'd be interested in a mid to late 90's Beemer as well, so how would they
compare in the 1100cc range for reliability and tourability?
I'm not good with spanners & screw drivers so self mechanic-ing is out of
the question for me.
I do want to get into touring and get a bike with all the hard panniers on
it but I must admit I have had limited experience with large bikes and my
last one was a Kwaka er500 that I sold 2 yrs ago and which I got my licence
on.
You reckon I'm aiming too high towards a bike of this size?
I don't want or need a sports style tourer as I'm getting a bit long in the
tooth at near 50 for 200kph sprints or cruising at 150+ and I'm not into
cruisers either but love the big tourers.
I seen a nice maroon Honda ST1100 last week for $8,500 or there abouts with
87,000kms on the clock, looked in very good cond with just a few little
scrapes near the mirrors and the fairing but nothing to be concerned about
as ther was no sign of cracks in the fairing and the bike looked pretty well
for it's age & Kms, in fact to look at it I first though it was a early to
mid 2000's model.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Cheers

DJ

 

Let me get in before *someone* says Norge, which is out of your price
bracket anyway.

I once rode a ST1100 for about 1000k over one weekend, which hardly
makes me an expert, but I did notice:

1. It's a very heavy motorcycle.
2. Above 15 km/h the rain is deflected and doesn't hit any part of you
except the helmet.
3. It's smooth and rock solid up to 160 km/h, and cruises happily at
that speed.
4. It handles the twisty stuff surpisingly well given its weight.

I suspect 200,000k without major engine work is reasonable - it's a very
understressed motor. Even then, you're probably only looking at a
top-end rebuild.

If you live in Sydney, or can get there, hire one and find out for
yourself. The weight was a big issue for me - trying to manouvre at less
than 5 km/h was very hard work. It's also very big, meaning it's not
going to sit in a corner of the garage, it's going to need a car slot of
its own.

HTH

 

Thanks for your reply Andrew, yes I had considered the fact it could be
somewhat cumbersome in traffic however I'm not likely to use it to ride in
the City in peak times because I live relatively close to work but will use
it for work so that the mrs can use the car.
I actually do live in the Sydney region so your advice to hire one for a
weekend or so is quite a good idea, one that I hadn't actually thought of.
One of my biggest worries now is, because it's been over 2 yrs since I've
had a bike, my riding gear probably won't fit me as I became a bit of a
Porker recently. I think the leather Jacket might be ok but the draggin
jeans......no bloody chance!!

Cheers

DJ

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:16:52 GMT

Well yes, that's why I didn't say it Even the cheapest are over
the limit.

I've ridden a late 90s Beemer, and they are nice bikes. Don't have the
horses of a big multi, but feel lighter and easier at low speeds than
the ST due to lower CoG.

Friend of mine picked up a lovely R1100RT of the one owner beautifully
looked after kind for about $8k, can't recall the model year, but was
about the age the OP is looking for. Apparently they aren't selling
all that well as most people buy new, so bargains are out there.

If you can't get a Norge then a BMW is not a bad bike....

Zebee

 

If I was able to buy new, the Norge would definately be in the top 5 bikes I
would own.They are a very nice package.
the Other 4 would be ST1300, FJR1300, V-strom 1000 and possibly a beemer but
for now, these are definately in dream territory and I'm looking somewhere
around the $5-8K mark.
I have also considered an Yamaha FJ900 diversion or maybe a FJ1200 for this
price and have read some great things about these bikes and would do me for
a tourer till I can afford something better.
Anyway no major rush, I will wait till something good comes along.
This Month's motorcycle trader has some good articles about $5000 bikes but
most of them are sports bikes and not tourers.

Cheers

DJ

 

I heartily recommend XJ(not FJ)900 Diversions. I also heartily recommend
oil-head BeeEms (R850, R1100, 1150, 1200 etc)
Come over to shaft-drive and you'll never consider a chain again!

 

Heaps of them at auctions. Don't expect to pay more than 6 grand for an
ex cop bike. They tend to chop them in around 75000ks. Great bike.
What state are you in?

Fraser

 

The V-Stroms are great tourers. It is my touring bike of choice. I
have the 650 and huge days, even two up, aren't a problem. Of course
the ST1100 is more touring orientated and more road orientated. But a
Strom is a great option.

Fraser

 

Fraser, I'm glad you mentioned the VStrom 650's as these have been in my
sights as well and I have at least sat on one and they felt very comfy.
Never ridden one though.
Do you have hard luggage of soft luggage on yours? I would've thought where
the exhaust pipe is on the Vstroms, it'd be impossible to fit hard luggage.
The V-strom 1000 sits up too high for me, ducks disease you know.......
Another bike that has taken my interest and I've been reading some good
things about is the Yamaha TDM900 and there is Hard luggage available on
these in fact, I think the panniers from the FJR1300 fit these bikes.
Do you beleive that the Hard Panniers are better than the softer bag
options? I know they are a pain in the arse when they get wet.Or maybe the
Hard top box then having 2 saddlebags on the side (throwovers)?

thanks guys for your opinions

cheers

DJ

 

Knobdoodle wrote:

(who owns a chain-drive bike)

Does it still count as a chain drive if it doesn't actually drive?

regards,
CrazyCam

 

If you've got ducks disease the crossover bikes like DL and TDM may be a
hassle - but it's only so around town - so if you plan to stay on the
highway it's not the end of the world.

FJ12 is shortarse friendly but prob only a little lighter than an ST if
any, I'd agree the XJ would be a good buy - you can't kill them with a
stick. I'd buy the BMW twins over the ST personally - lighter and more
manageable

What about the GSXF750 ? It's not a powerhouse but very comfy mile eater
and you said you didn't care if it didn't do warp speeds (prob struggle
to break 200 but it's OK up to that) - will definitely be in your price
range and will be a lot newer (and hence more likely to be reliable)
given they sell for 2/5ths of bugger all brand new (errm 9K I think I saw ?)

Maybe Bandit 1200 ? Shortarse friendly (I had a 12) can't kill em with
an axe, the S model has a half fairing so reasonably comfy - upright
seating position probably 40 or 50KG lighter than an ST. Been sold for
years so heaps of aftermarket options (top box and panniers avail from
all the majors)

Slightly more sporty but you can option them up with bar risers to lift
the riding position - ZZR1100 or CBR1100xx assuming the Hondas are down
to the price point (given what they've been selling for new they should
be). There's also that Kwaka tourer that GS had one of - I forget the
model - very reliable (basically the GPZ900 motor).

You haven't said whether you're going 2up or 1up. Makes a big
difference. Just a large hard top box should be enough for 1 bloke for a
week, use it for anything that matters if it gets wet, throwovers will
do the job for really long trips

JL

 

I've got a Rjays 45 litre topbox on my wee strom and hepco becker
pannier mounts so I can whack some pelican hard cases on it. Luggage is
not a problem at all. There is tons of stuff out there from it.

Fraser

 

You can get lowering links for the Strom. I'm 5'10" and short legged
and I don't find I need them. Once you sit on a Strom the suspension
takes up quite a bit.

Fraser

 

jl is of the opinion:

GTR1000, I'd expect. Good bike, by all accounts.

- Matt

 

Yeah that's the one

JL

 

It's driving me to despair; does that count?

 

OK... that'll have to do.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Mine was actually a Kawasaki Concours, the US/Canada version of the
GTR1000. The advantage was that it wasn't as strangled as the later
Australian versions were and it made similar horsepower to the early
Australian ones.

There were a few differences, notably fork seals and headlights and
indicators. Other than that it was basically a grey market version of
the Oz GTR1000.

Goaty had one too... but his was boring green not go faster red ;-)


G-S

 

It's driving me to despair; does that count?
--
Clem


I hope it is driving you to repair.

Boxer

 

Well I bought one for $9.90 at Supercheap........
Yeah; I might just take you up on that John.
(Or I may just assemble it and then trailer it to the local shop for the
torqueing and final assembly)