How fast have you had your ST?

Indicated 135mph on my ST in NoDak. Rock solid steady, too. 140 on a test ride of an Aprilia sport tourer, no longer sold here.
 
Best I did was 165 on an '92 FZR1000. I owned an '86 VFR that saw 145 numerous times. I've taken the '91 ST to around the 125 mark. Aren't a lot of good roads to do that sort of thing where I live and the exuberance of youth has moved on and left me with more common sense.

Just got to burn the carbon out once in a while.
 
I hit the rev-limiter last night, indicated a little over 150. Felt very solid. Actual speed probably about 140. Maybe it was a speed-limiter, since it can rev higher in the lower gears. It cut in about 8700.
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Well I wussed out;fear of a traffic ticket etc.etc at 250km/hr on my Hayabusa. Felt nice. For the ST well, just haven't had the chance to open it up yet. I'll let you know ;)
 
137MPH GPS in the desert. Low altitude, closed course! Bike was rock solid. No wobble unlike my old bike that would start shaking at about 80. The old bike was scary!
 
CruisingDog said:
137MPH GPS in the desert. Low altitude, closed course! Bike was rock solid. No wobble unlike my old bike that would start shaking at about 80. The old bike was scary!
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I interpret your old bike was a cruiser and that it started shaking at about 80 decibels? :crackup
 
150 MPH on OEM unaltered speedo. Tach just entering the red zone at 8600 rpm.

Slight down grade on hiway, wind shield down, me tucked in slightly, smooth as can be.

This never gets old.:D
 
wobble is from the windshield, mine 125 a couple of time,(fast enough) thats a go to jail free for sure
 
I've taken my ST1100Y to 128 (indicated) without a problem, except the :policeST: blue flashing lights - however - she has a tendency to go into a front end wobble that turns into a full on tank-slapper at speeds of 25 - 50mph if I take my hands off the 'bars (dont stay I shouldn't take em off - the point is I SHOULD be able to without investing in stain resistant underwear!).
Getting hold of the 'bars again, even with very light pressure stabilises the bike immediately and she's solid as rock from then on.
I've been unable to trace the cause of this handling issue and have changed both tyres (new Bridgestone BT-020 at each end), the head bearings, front wheel bearings and am just finishing a rebuild after buying a replacement frame.
The bike is otherwise standard except for a Shad 42 litre topbox (leaving it off makes no difference).
Tyre pressues are 36front 42 rear (psi).
Whatever happens, I'm not gonna get rid of my Pan - I'll just live with its little problem ;)
 
she has a tendency to go into a front end wobble that turns into a full on tank-slapper at speeds of 25 - 50mph if I take my hands off the 'bars (dont stay I shouldn't take em off - the point is I SHOULD be able to without investing in stain resistant underwear!).
I have the exact same issue with my 89 PC 800.
 
she has a tendency to go into a front end wobble that turns into a full on tank-slapper at speeds of 25 - 50mph if I take my hands off the 'bars (dont stay I shouldn't take em off - the point is I SHOULD be able to without investing in stain resistant underwear!

I have the exact same issue with my PC 800 minus the ability to go 135 mph
 
BakerBoy said:
:eek: :yikes: :bigeyes: :holy crap: :yowza: :eek:4:

[Serious Rant] In engineering terms, loads on key parts of the bike go up as the square of the speed. By 'loads', I mean drag, hoop stress in the tires & rims, stress on engine & drivetrain parts, ... etc. The following table shows such loads as a function of speed, relative to 60 mph.

Speed, Loads
60, 100%
70, 136%
80, 178%
90, 225%
100, 278%
110, 336%
120, 400%
130, 469%
140, 544%
150, 625%

Just a quick burst up to 90 that we each seem to find on our speedo at times more than doubles the load on key parts. From 90 to 130, it more than doubles again. Scary stuff.

It only takes a slight imperfection in a tire and you are done with life at such high speeds. If a piece of fairing rips off and the bike no longer has symmetric loading...done. A rim cracks...done. A bearing siezes...done. One of many engine parts gives out...done. A tooth on the driveline failes...done. You hit something on the road...done. The road is damaged...done. Someone misjudges your speed and pulls in front of you...done.

I implore you to slow down. [/Serious Rant]
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Maybe you should take up knitting ;)
just getting on the bike is not the sanest thing in the world

Normal speeds all of the above will result in DONE!

145 on the speedo or real close as I was not staring hard at the speedo
She was almost scary stable.
My ZX1400 is also stable a little above those speeds but then it still has a lot of go left then
 
tercol58 said:
she has a tendency to go into a front end wobble that turns into a full on tank-slapper at speeds of 25 - 50mph if I take my hands off the 'bars (dont stay I shouldn't take em off - the point is I SHOULD be able to without investing in stain resistant underwear!

I have the exact same issue with my PC 800 minus the ability to go 135 mph
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The explanation for these things that I got is as follows: The folks that engineered the bike expect your hands to be on the bars. They use your hands to absorb small vibrations, which, if your hands are not present to absorb, turn into big vibrations which in turn become a wobble etc. Since such vibrations cannot be eliminated altogether, they "tune" (so to speak) the bike's chassis so that they occur in the speed range you point out, because its much easier to recover from them at this speed... it usually just requires placing your hands on the bars.

Whether its true or not I don't know, but over the last 28 years and many motorcycles I've ridden I've found that each bike has a speed range where they will do this if you take your hands off the bars.
 
Interesting Long Tom, but on the contrary I have a 28yr.old Yamaha XS1100 Venturer, factory full dresser that I've had since new. Not as nimble even with the fork brace, but planted and solid as a rock at any speed. The ST is just as planted now, but took fork brace and tapered-roller steering head bearings to get there. XS still has original steering-head bearings. Go figure. So looks like to me, a few fine adjustments and simple mods will get your ride stable and planted.
 
on my post I was trying to quote someone else my bike has the same issues a friend of mine pointed it out to me when we swapped bikes he was on a harley that didn't do it. 110 is all the PC wants and more than I can handle really.
 
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Call me old...I was happy blitzing to 100mph.

My '92 Zx11 went 176mph riding on rails. What can I say; I was younger then.
 
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