Honda Pan European ST1100

[CurTeiN]

I've read that they are great machines, but I've never really owned anything that was over 200kgs and 650cc.

What is the handling like and do you feel the weight of it in that handling?

I want to pick one up for about £1500 and tour Europe with it and figured this was the best bang for buck to do it.

Any owners have any thoughts and stories about their Pan or past Pan's?

Thanks

 

[ST1100Y]

What is the handling like and do you feel the weight of it in that handling?

"heavy" is relative...
If you make the mistake to park front towards the curb, hence have to back up against the crest... yep...
Same if you want/need to load it onto a trailer by yourself... or drop it while "looking the wrong direction during a parking lot U-turn"...
(whilst picking it up from the crash-bars isn't that hard with the proper technique... so is reversing it, even uphill...)

Once its in gear and rolling, the weight is gone... just counter-steer and the thing flies where you want it to go...

 

[Al st1100]

I've read that they are great machines, but I've never really owned anything that was over 200kgs and 650cc.

What is the handling like and do you feel the weight of it in that handling?

I want to pick one up for about £1500 and tour Europe with it and figured this was the best bang for buck to do it.

Any owners have any thoughts and stories about their Pan or past Pan's?

Thanks

Hoping it doesn't need a lot of work, nothing worst than breaking down on the road and parts not available or it's older than 10 years and "we don't work on bikes older than 10 years ". Don't by one older than a 97.

 

[Bush]

FANTASTIC touring machine. If you can find a well maintained, preferably with servicing records machine, its worth that minimal cost for what was once considered for more than a few years, the best sport touring bike made.

 

[Uncle Phil]

96 and newer came with the 40 amp alternator upgrade so I would stay with those years.
ABSII if you can find one - much better braking that the standard (not the ABS part).
If it has had reasonable maintenance and not been crashed, you should get a lot miles out of it.

 

[Slydynbye]

I want to pick one up for about £1500 and tour Europe with it and figured this was the best bang for buck to do it.

The best bang for your buck is to get a well maintained bike and be flexible if it costs a bit more. A fixer upper is not a bargain.

 

[Flexit]

I've read that they are great machines, but I've never really owned anything that was over 200kgs and 650cc.

What is the handling like and do you feel the weight of it in that handling?

I want to pick one up for about £1500 and tour Europe with it and figured this was the best bang for buck to do it.

Any owners have any thoughts and stories about their Pan or past Pan's?

Thanks

Welcome to the site. Where in the UK are you located? I have 3 1100s, one with a sidecar on and two solos of which one is really a spare but fully road legal (not for sale I hasten to add). I am located just outside Gloucester. If that's anywhere near you, you would be welcome to pop in and see one in real life and maybe try one for size, and weight! No test ride though (sorry).