Cheap Honda ST1100 for Commuting / Touring
Discussion
I went to see a Honda ST1100 Pan European the other day. It ran well and seemed in pretty good condition for the year. I checked the swingarm which seemed in good condition (rust is a problem on these apparently). The only big issue for me is that it has no service history at all. It had 43,000 miles on the clock which ties in with the MOT history check online.
Its just over £1000, is it worth a punt do you think as a cheap tourer / commuter or should I stick out and spend maybe twice the money on a slightly newer bike with better history?
I will add that I am not only looking at Pan Europeans, although I am a big Honda fan. Have also been keeping an eye on Ducati ST2 / ST3, Yamaha FJR1300, Blackbirds, Triumph Sprints and Trophy's etc
The famed reliability and lower purchase price of the old Honda is tempting though...
Its just over £1000, is it worth a punt do you think as a cheap tourer / commuter or should I stick out and spend maybe twice the money on a slightly newer bike with better history?
I will add that I am not only looking at Pan Europeans, although I am a big Honda fan. Have also been keeping an eye on Ducati ST2 / ST3, Yamaha FJR1300, Blackbirds, Triumph Sprints and Trophy's etc
The famed reliability and lower purchase price of the old Honda is tempting though...
The ST1300 was a big step up if you could stretch to one of those. You're not going to find much service history on older bikes. That wouldn't put me off, just buy on the condition. As much as you can determine I guess anyway. Good news about the MOT mileage and 43k is nothing for one of these.
It's by far the most comfortable bike with the best wind protection, out of those you mention. Have you ridden one? The least sporty as well. It's your preference really.. The one I rode felt like a well engineerd bus. I didn't like the FJR either, they drop into corners at slower speeds, some pretty terribly. The Ducati's are good fun, even the first multistrada, as is a Sprint or Blackbird. A VFR7/8 would be a safe option.
A Pan European jam sandwich put the fear into many a biker. I got pulled over by one yonks ago after thrashing my RGV flat out for a couple of miles. Luckily he didn't catch me until I stopped. A swift b
king ensued.
It's by far the most comfortable bike with the best wind protection, out of those you mention. Have you ridden one? The least sporty as well. It's your preference really.. The one I rode felt like a well engineerd bus. I didn't like the FJR either, they drop into corners at slower speeds, some pretty terribly. The Ducati's are good fun, even the first multistrada, as is a Sprint or Blackbird. A VFR7/8 would be a safe option.
A Pan European jam sandwich put the fear into many a biker. I got pulled over by one yonks ago after thrashing my RGV flat out for a couple of miles. Luckily he didn't catch me until I stopped. A swift b
king ensued. I'm not sure I'd want an ST1300.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
The only bikes not on the list above are the BMW K100/K1100. The K100RS 16v and the K1100RS are IMHO better than the ST1100. Quicker, lighter and just as likely to last. You're more likely to find one that, even at 25+ years old, has had 1 or two mature owners, has been garaged all it's life and has a full dealer service history.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
The only bikes not on the list above are the BMW K100/K1100. The K100RS 16v and the K1100RS are IMHO better than the ST1100. Quicker, lighter and just as likely to last. You're more likely to find one that, even at 25+ years old, has had 1 or two mature owners, has been garaged all it's life and has a full dealer service history.
I did ask a friend who worked for a company that ran dozens of ST1300s about this problem. I think he said one chap had it happen on one occasion. That's over several million miles combined. Not to down play it, but the risk is small, if it is there.
Lots of choice out there for the OP
Lots of choice out there for the OP
black-k1 said:
I'm not sure I'd want an ST1300.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
The only bikes not on the list above are the BMW K100/K1100. The K100RS 16v and the K1100RS are IMHO better than the ST1100. Quicker, lighter and just as likely to last. You're more likely to find one that, even at 25+ years old, has had 1 or two mature owners, has been garaged all it's life and has a full dealer service history.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
The only bikes not on the list above are the BMW K100/K1100. The K100RS 16v and the K1100RS are IMHO better than the ST1100. Quicker, lighter and just as likely to last. You're more likely to find one that, even at 25+ years old, has had 1 or two mature owners, has been garaged all it's life and has a full dealer service history.
Good call but a decent K1100RS is more expensive than £1k for anything clean.
Well I went impulsive and bought the ST1100 
Haggled the guy down a bit further and paid just £1k for it. Just brought it home and it rides lovely. Engine is a peach and feels super stable at speed, i'm very happy!
I am going to give it a full large service due to the lack of history (timing belt / valve clearances / brake fluid flush / carb balancing etc). Parts prices seem very reasonable and with a good polish up I should have a very nice and well sorted bike for £1200 or so and a long weekends work.
I will post up some pictures tomorrow
Haggled the guy down a bit further and paid just £1k for it. Just brought it home and it rides lovely. Engine is a peach and feels super stable at speed, i'm very happy!
I am going to give it a full large service due to the lack of history (timing belt / valve clearances / brake fluid flush / carb balancing etc). Parts prices seem very reasonable and with a good polish up I should have a very nice and well sorted bike for £1200 or so and a long weekends work.
I will post up some pictures tomorrow
Congratulations!
They are brilliant bikes. The roll on stomp is excellent, supremely comfortable and pretty unbustable.
I rode one up to the Isle of Man and went round the course on Mad Sunday. It was incredibly competent and surprisingly good fun.
I even surprised the pillion scraping his shoes at one point. Enjoy your new bike.
They are brilliant bikes. The roll on stomp is excellent, supremely comfortable and pretty unbustable.
I rode one up to the Isle of Man and went round the course on Mad Sunday. It was incredibly competent and surprisingly good fun.
I even surprised the pillion scraping his shoes at one point. Enjoy your new bike.
Not even had a chance to give it a wash yet but here it is!
First job was to remove the extremely loud silencers and repair and refit the originals
Next up was starting the service with the parts that have turned up already
The old oil and filter were pretty good condition, as were the spark plugs which points to being well looked after despite the lack of history
Next up will be a good clean and polish! Very happy with it so far though. Done over 100 miles now and it rides beautifully, although hides it speed very well so will have to be careful
First job was to remove the extremely loud silencers and repair and refit the originals
Next up was starting the service with the parts that have turned up already
The old oil and filter were pretty good condition, as were the spark plugs which points to being well looked after despite the lack of history
Next up will be a good clean and polish! Very happy with it so far though. Done over 100 miles now and it rides beautifully, although hides it speed very well so will have to be careful
If I'd read this thread before you bought the Pan i'd have advised on giving that swinging arm a second good check over,the newest ST1100s are 17 years old now,the eldest are 29.If your swinging arm is genuinely solid all round then youre fortunate or it has been properly repaired sometime in the past.
You have to get under the bike and give the front underside of the arm a hard poking with a screwdriver,its often the case that what appears to be a bit of surface rust and a few pinholes can be pulled away with pliers until you have a pile of rotted steel on the floor,
That was the case with my then 16 year old ST1100.
Someone said the BMW K1100 was faster,thats not true,i own an LT at the moment and they just don't quite have the grunt and defintley not the smoothness of the ST1100,which is higher geared than the BMW,at any given high speed the K engine is working harder than what the ST ever did.
What on earth has the previous owner used for those silencers,they look like something from a 1930's flash Gordon movie
You have to get under the bike and give the front underside of the arm a hard poking with a screwdriver,its often the case that what appears to be a bit of surface rust and a few pinholes can be pulled away with pliers until you have a pile of rotted steel on the floor,
That was the case with my then 16 year old ST1100.
Someone said the BMW K1100 was faster,thats not true,i own an LT at the moment and they just don't quite have the grunt and defintley not the smoothness of the ST1100,which is higher geared than the BMW,at any given high speed the K engine is working harder than what the ST ever did.
What on earth has the previous owner used for those silencers,they look like something from a 1930's flash Gordon movie
Edited by wildone63 on Friday 12th April 22:28
black-k1 said:
I'm not sure I'd want an ST1300.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
You could always try reading past the sensationalist headline:https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
"The inquest was told the problems affected only police motorcycles which have been specially fitted with heavy emergency and communications equipment, which altered the centre of gravity."
Pothole said:
black-k1 said:
I'm not sure I'd want an ST1300.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
You could always try reading past the sensationalist headline:https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/april/apr...
I know there is a lot more to this than has been reported in MCN but even so …
"The inquest was told the problems affected only police motorcycles which have been specially fitted with heavy emergency and communications equipment, which altered the centre of gravity."
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