Kelowna-Vancouver-Sedro Wooley-North Cascades to Omak-Osoyoos-Kelowna: 1200 kms, 12 hours. And then 900 kms through the Kootenays the next day. There are few bikes that you'd want to or could do this with. The ST1300 does this with ease. The weight, torque, quiet and handling are perfect for this. No 6th gear or indicator are irritants. A top box solves the storage issue. Aftermarket cruise, heated grips and satelite radio are great additions to make it more civilized for long distance.
"You wouldn't call it an overnighter" it's a great overnighter, folks with the top box on go out for a week. We recently did three nights away. One sidebox each for clothing and stuff, the top box with lunches and some food and drink. Weather was crap by the way and we got home dry :-).
Congratulations! That's exactly what I did last July. The only downside is that you'll spend more dollars on gas and you can forget about the dirt roads (unless you are very brave). The longer I have mine (the ST1300) the more I love it. I can't wait for spring either. It's a phenomenal bike.
I have had mine going 125 MPH and it rode beautifully! It is a great bike and I take mine out for nice back road country rides for 3 days at a time. Further I have done 11 hours in the saddle on my ST and yes I was a little stiff but it was not the bikes fault. Oh and I also herded cattle on my ST and it was able to maneuver wonderfully.
Interesting your thoughts on the type of use - especially the storage. We took ours over to Europe from England this summer for 10 days with all our luggage - it did have a top box but no tank bag. My wife managed all the outfits combinations plus handbags (!) Good review and thanks for sharing.
Gerbing's here too and also with batteries, which is such a relief from the hassle with the wiring underneath your clothing if, since these batteries lasts a bit longer on full power then my daily commute of about an hour. Fit on the hybrid Gerbings, but you can probably make a pouch on your jacket or something.
thanks for the review i will be getting this bike next month along with a riderscan mirror highway pegs and cruise control this bike is going to eat the miles oh and clear indicator lenses and 2 brothers exhaust as the bike is a tad quiet
I missed getting a loan by one day last month so had to ride to belgium by motorway last weekend on a naked bandit and it sucked. I cant wait to get a pan they are beast for going abroad
I've never had a bike with heated grips but it's a good point you make. I have Gerbing's heated gloves which work fantastic. And I can use them on all three of my bikes. Since I ride mostly on curvy roads the lack of CC doesn't bother me. But since the competing (and updated) bikes from Kawasaki, Yamaha and BMW all have these and sell for a lower price (I think), it's hard to justify the price Honda is asking.
Got a 2007 Honda S.T. with a little under 35,000 miles. Added the Givi trunk and Ram G.P.S. mount which I really like. Throttle lock comes in handy. Motor is good just in the shop now for water pump and significant oil gasket leak.
Heated grips are really not that great: they only heat the inside of your hand and not the outside, which gets all the wind. Use heated gloves instead, since they heat in- and outside. Cheaper and better. As for CC: would be nice; costs you € 1,000.-- or there abouts. You can go for TravelLock (€ 150) or an O-ring (€ 0.10). Drive around 20,000 kms/year all year. Btw: in my country ST1300 costs 2/3 more and the gas double, so don't complain ;-)
Hey man great bike! I just went and bought one today!! Coming in next week fresh in a crate! Can hardley wait! Can you plese tell me where you ordered your "sissy" bar from? Thanks enjoy!
I absolutely disagree. No one said anything to me about the Dunlops. They are the wrong tire for this bike. Period. They are a terrible tire for this bike.
i have done 4000 km in 2 months on my 2012 most of that touring alone or with my wife. Absolutely wonderful machine
Kelowna-Vancouver-Sedro Wooley-North Cascades to Omak-Osoyoos-Kelowna: 1200 kms, 12 hours.
And then 900 kms through the Kootenays the next day.
There are few bikes that you'd want to or could do this with.
The ST1300 does this with ease. The weight, torque, quiet and handling are perfect for this.
No 6th gear or indicator are irritants. A top box solves the storage issue. Aftermarket cruise, heated grips and satelite radio are great additions to make it more civilized for long distance.
"You wouldn't call it an overnighter" it's a great overnighter, folks with the top box on go out for a week. We recently did three nights away. One sidebox each for clothing and stuff, the top box with lunches and some food and drink. Weather was crap by the way and we got home dry :-).
Congratulations! That's exactly what I did last July. The only downside is that you'll spend more dollars on gas and you can forget about the dirt roads (unless you are very brave). The longer I have mine (the ST1300) the more I love it. I can't wait for spring either.
It's a phenomenal bike.
I have had mine going 125 MPH and it rode beautifully! It is a great bike and I take mine out for nice back road country rides for 3 days at a time. Further I have done 11 hours in the saddle on my ST and yes I was a little stiff but it was not the bikes fault. Oh and I also herded cattle on my ST and it was able to maneuver wonderfully.
Again, very informative. Like the way you give a non-biased description of the bike. Looking to get one soon. Thanks
Interesting your thoughts on the type of use - especially the storage. We took ours over to Europe from England this summer for 10 days with all our luggage - it did have a top box but no tank bag. My wife managed all the outfits combinations plus handbags (!) Good review and thanks for sharing.
Great review. Thanks. I pick mine up in three days. Can't wait!
Gerbing's here too and also with batteries, which is such a relief from the hassle with the wiring underneath your clothing if, since these batteries lasts a bit longer on full power then my daily commute of about an hour. Fit on the hybrid Gerbings, but you can probably make a pouch on your jacket or something.
True, me too. But where I ride, gas stations aren't everywhere. It's nice not to have to worry about running out.
Great vid! Keep the ST1300 videos coming. Yours are very informative.
btw,
thanks for the review i will be getting this bike next month along with a riderscan mirror highway pegs and cruise control this bike is going to eat the miles oh and clear indicator lenses and 2 brothers exhaust as the bike is a tad quiet
I now have 50,000 km on mine and love it as much as ever.
I missed getting a loan by one day last month so had to ride to belgium
by motorway last weekend on a naked bandit and it sucked. I cant wait to
get a pan they are beast for going abroad
Thanks, I know you will enjoy that motorcycle.
Good review, gives a real understandin of what this bike is about. I might have to buy shares in motorcycle tryes. You sure have a lot of bikes lol.
I've never had a bike with heated grips but it's a good point you make. I have Gerbing's heated gloves which work fantastic. And I can use them on all three of my bikes. Since I ride mostly on curvy roads the lack of CC doesn't bother me. But since the competing (and updated) bikes from Kawasaki, Yamaha and BMW all have these and sell for a lower price (I think), it's hard to justify the price Honda is asking.
Going back to Bridgestones after only 10,000kms on Michelin PR2s. I'm going to try the BT23s. I hope they last longer.
Got a 2007 Honda S.T. with a little under 35,000 miles. Added the Givi trunk and Ram G.P.S. mount which I really like. Throttle lock comes in handy. Motor is good just in the shop now for water pump and significant oil gasket leak.
The range of this bike would never be a concern for me because I need to get off long before a gas stop.
There's one on Craigslist right now with 99k miles! Seems the engine can go forever.
Good luck with the deal. No I won't be getting a top box. The panniers hold enough cargo for what I need.
Heated grips are really not that great: they only heat the inside of your hand and not the outside, which gets all the wind. Use heated gloves instead, since they heat in- and outside. Cheaper and better. As for CC: would be nice; costs you € 1,000.-- or there abouts. You can go for TravelLock (€ 150) or an O-ring (€ 0.10). Drive around 20,000 kms/year all year. Btw: in my country ST1300 costs 2/3 more and the gas double, so don't complain ;-)
220's and 020's have a very similar feel. Someone told you 220's suck and it got into your head.
You will definitely get here faster this time! I've found 130-140 to be an optimum speed. Radar detectors are legal in BC. :)
It's a very under-stressed motor. And no one builds internal combustion engines better than Honda.
Hey man great bike! I just went and bought one today!! Coming in next week fresh in a crate! Can hardley wait! Can you plese tell me where you ordered your "sissy" bar from?
Thanks enjoy!
Thanks!
Do these have cruise control ? I am looking at the ST1300 for my next motorcycle. Riding an 800cc parallel twin BMW now.
What kind of passenger back rest do you on the bike, and do you or your passenger like it??
Going back to Bridgestones after only 10,000kms on Michelin PR2s. I
It's hard to believe at the price they ask for the ST1300 that it does not have cruise control OR heated grips.
Does your Honda have ABS?
yes it has ABS
Dirt roads not a problem.
I absolutely disagree. No one said anything to me about the Dunlops. They are the wrong tire for this bike. Period. They are a terrible tire for this bike.