What current production motorcycle is closest to the ST1300?

Daboo said:
It would be hard to beat a ST1300 (ST1100 too). I'd think about the Kawasaki C14. Also the FJR. I'm more than a little against the R1200's. I've seen a lot of final drive failures reported on the BMW MOA forum. The answer when someone complains about the failures is that's just part of the BMW experience. If you can't afford the repair costs, don't own a BMW. That's BS to me.

This post is in reply to me saying that there are lots of former BMW owners who have been burned by BMW reliability, or lack thereof...and how they are really bitter. This guy doesn't drink the Kool-Aid...he makes it. ;)
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I am regularly on the BMW K1600 forum and cannot remember when I last heard of a final drive failure so I believe BMW have fixed that problem.

54K miles in just over 3 years on my 2015 BMW K1600GTS with only minor issues. Biggest problem is all that power wears out rear tires! Loved my 2005 Honda ST1300, but have never regretted moving up to the KBiK.
 
amorley said:
I am regularly on the BMW K1600 forum and cannot remember when I last heard of a final drive failure so I believe BMW have fixed that problem.

54K miles in just over 3 years on my 2015 BMW K1600GTS with only minor issues. Biggest problem is all that power wears out rear tires! Loved my 2005 Honda ST1300, but have never regretted moving up to the KBiK.
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Mr Morley, could you please send me a pair of your blinkers please, I would also like the ability to ignore everybody
elses opinion as incorrect, it seems even the man who fixes them can be ignored. I am willing to pay the freight. Life's just going to be peachy from now!
If they are BMW blinkers please send the part number for the refurb kit for when they fall apart.
Upt'North.
 
Upt' North said:
Mr Morley, could you please send me a pair of your blinkers please, I would also like the ability to ignore everybody
elses opinion as incorrect, it seems even the man who fixes them can be ignored. I am willing to pay the freight. Life's just going to be peachy from now!
If they are BMW blinkers please send the part number for the refurb kit for when they fall apart.
Upt'North.
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On the rear of my K1600GT, I have installed the Skene LED lights (https://www.skenelights.com/).

I have a set of the P3-TS red brake and turn signal lights mounted on the side of the number plate.

On the panniers, I have a set of the Photon Blaster Yellow Turn signal lights.
 
KCJones said:
VFR is a transverse v4, like the magna. I find the power delivery very different vs longitudinal. I also find the transverse v4's much harder to work on, but that may or not be an issue for you.
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Yep, understood on both accounts, or so I've read. I do my own work on my ST11 but I've not ridden or worked on the 1200X, yet.
 
MajorTom said:
Lucky it's available in the US as it isn't on the Honda Canada website.
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Yeah, that seems to be the question for the VFR1200X crowd... has Honda discontinued it? I hope not, as it's at the top of my list right now, assuming it rides as well as everyone says.

It's not perfect, but checks off a lot of my boxes.
 
Not a lot of love for BMs here, and I understand that. But I suggest Thunderchief might at least take a look. After 8 years on a 2006 ST, I was where he is now. Tried out the C14 and FJR. They seemed as rock solid as the ST. But the K1600 gave me all the thrill and excitement that I felt when I first bought the ST. I'm not a good enough wordsmith to explain it. But I think it had something to do with engine character and characteristics. Like most here, I really liked the V4. Even the turbine like whine was most pleasing to me. The K16 is very different. Its sound and performance is more Ferrari like, I think. Very different but like the ST, very distinct.

I had heard all the horror stories about the BM's problems. So I actually kept the ST so I still had a running bike when the K16 was broken. But the K never gave me any problems. It goes to the dealer for all service as required. And I have not modified it. Maybe that's the secret. Eventually traded the ST for a CB1100. Lack of BMW dealers is a concern. It seems you're always 150 miles or more from the nearest dealer. As was stated earlier, the K16 does eat tires. I used to get 12,000 miles. Now I get half that.
 
Allen K said:
Not a lot of love for BMs here, and I understand that. But I suggest Thunderchief might at least take a look. After 8 years on a 2006 ST, I was where he is now. Tried out the C14 and FJR. They seemed as rock solid as the ST. But the K1600 gave me all the thrill and excitement that I felt when I first bought the ST. I'm not a good enough wordsmith to explain it. But I think it had something to do with engine character and characteristics. Like most here, I really liked the V4. Even the turbine like whine was most pleasing to me. The K16 is very different. Its sound and performance is more Ferrari like, I think. Very different but like the ST, very distinct.

I had heard all the horror stories about the BM's problems. So I actually kept the ST so I still had a running bike when the K16 was broken. But the K never gave me any problems. It goes to the dealer for all service as required. And I have not modified it. Maybe that's the secret. Eventually traded the ST for a CB1100. Lack of BMW dealers is a concern. It seems you're always 150 miles or more from the nearest dealer. As was stated earlier, the K16 does eat tires. I used to get 12,000 miles. Now I get half that.
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Interesting that all the 'pro' BM posts reference the K___ series while the derogatory remarks are versus the R___ series.
 
paulcb said:
Yeah, that seems to be the question for the VFR1200X crowd... has Honda discontinued it? I hope not, as it's at the top of my list right now, assuming it rides as well as everyone says.

It's not perfect, but checks off a lot of my boxes.
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The Honda Pavilion at the USA MotoGP at COTA in April had a VFR1200X on display so I think it is still available in the USA.

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I too have been thinking of a younger bike to replace the 03 ST1300. The number look good to me for the Connie but check out the Truimph Trophy SE. Dealer may be an issue though.
 
Just my humble opinion here so I'm currently having trouble with my st1100. I may not fix it. May replace it after 18 years of ownership. Now let me tell you this now. I don't know about the ST1300 but there is no replacement for my ST1100. Looked at BMWs They are an acquired taste. Don't like the shaking of the boxer or the seat height. The BMW K1600's Top heavy and man that seat looks tuff on your rear end. Kawasaki Concours well they lost me with the new redesign. FJR looks promising but I don't think the wind protection is as great as the ST's. Now I will admit I've only test rode the bmw rt. And sat on the others in the dealership. For me my new bike will be Honda Goldwing without the trunk.
 
red one said:
Just my humble opinion here so I'm currently having trouble with my st1100. I may not fix it. May replace it after 18 years of ownership. Now let me tell you this now. I don't know about the ST1300 but there is no replacement for my ST1100. Looked at BMWs They are an acquired taste. Don't like the shaking of the boxer or the seat height. The BMW K1600's Top heavy and man that seat looks tuff on your rear end. Kawasaki Concours well they lost me with the new redesign. FJR looks promising but I don't think the wind protection is as great as the ST's. Now I will admit I've only test rode the bmw rt. And sat on the others in the dealership. For me my new bike will be Honda Goldwing without the trunk.
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If you can afford the new Goldwing you'll never look back and it will outlive you[emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
amorley said:
The Honda Pavilion at the USA MotoGP at COTA in April had a VFR1200X on display so I think it is still available in the USA.

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amorley said:
The Honda Pavilion at the USA MotoGP at COTA in April had a VFR1200X on display so I think it is still available in the USA.
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It isn't shown on the Honda Powersports website as a current model, 2017 is indicated as the last year for it.

It fails to meet my criteria for a motorcycle, basically because it is an adventure bike, has wire wheels, and has aluminum suitcases hung on the sides of the bike as a $1400 optional accessory.
 
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If I was going out today to buy a new bike to replace my ST1300, it would be a FJR1300. It's a bike that has been refined since it's intro in 2003.

New 2017 versions can be had for less than "new" 2012 ST1300 that are still sitting in warehouses.
 
KCJones said:
2nd for the BMW R1200 series. Rode those and they're very close, IMHO, to the characteristics of the ST... Just that buying (and maintaining) one may cost you a leetle-bit more... and they do tend to sound like a tractor, a bit, if that bugs you. You can get an idea of the sound on an R1150 we did at
(skip forward to about 1:00 to hear it run).

I do agree that the question, at this point, isn't "What's the closest replacement?" but rather "With what should I replace?"...
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Lol it sounds just like an old Massey Ferguson
 
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