Igofar Reviews

The ST1300 has been the bike that keeps on giving - this time it brought me Larry (IgoFar is his user name I believe). He's a VERY knowledgeable mechanic who schooled me on some very basic maintenance tasks I have been ignoring for years. One of those items were my wheel bobbins; and they were FILTHY. I wish guys like Larry would travel and offer maintenance courses to amateur mechanics such as myself, but I understand that's a massive undertaking for one person. He's equally as helpful over the phone!

Sorry for the grainy pictures - I was using an old Canon PowerShot A630 I bought a almost 15 years ago.
 

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I'm finally getting a chance to write down my accolades for Larry after an incredible visit of wrenching and learning on my bike. All during the summer of 2020 I spoke with him on a regular basis as he helped me work through some deferred maintenance for a Covid inspired 2007 ST1300 I picked up 18 months ago. After several conversations it became clear that Larry would be able to tune/remedy my bike beyond anything that I or a local shop could do, so I started thinking about how I could get down there (WA->AZ & AZ<-WA) for a visit with the man in person.

Luckily enough, I was able to do this last month and during a very compressed 42 hr period he was able to do the following work:
  • Throttle body timing/synch
  • Fix coolant leaks
    • Coolant flush
    • Radiator clean
    • New thermostat
    • All hose clamps tightened (never done by dealer after purchase)
  • Brake inspection and cleaning
  • Flush brake fluid
  • Front Fork seal replacements, fluid change
  • Balance front suspension/axle
  • Found and fixed wire harness rubbing on cooling fan
    • Ignition wires had worn through insulation
    • This could have been a major stranding on a remote road, unlikely anyone would have been able to find or fix problem had it had gone terminal
  • Clutch fluid flush
  • Service rear suspension pre-load and adjust
During the days I was able to help out, observe and just shoot the ***** with Larry. So much knowledge, curiosity, and compulsive drive for “doing it right”! In the evenings he kept working while I took my van to find a place to sleep for the evening. On the last night he pulled an all-nighter and I had to bring a case of Red Bull in the morning to help him make it through the last few hours of work before taking off for the big trip north. Whatever money I gave him can’t even be equated with what a shop would do for the same work. Larry just does everything above and beyond what a service or factory trained tech would do. While I will still do my annual maintenance work as prescribed by my sensei, I’m sure that’s all the bike will need for a long time. Thank You Larry, I hope we actually get a chance to hit the road/trail at some future point!
 

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WingMan1500 said:
I’ve also been the beneficiary of Igofar’s generous encouragement and knowledge about the ST. My lack of mechanical expertise/comfort level has often kept me from taking on many of the maintenance challenges of ST ownership myself. Although I’ve tackled a few Farkle’s (Heli Bars, Gold Wing Tipover Bars, Givi Top Case with Admore lighting, HiWay Blades, etc), I haven’t been confident about some other tasks. Larry (Igofar) has patiently talked me through a few basic things like Bobbins service, while giving me the how and why... often with guitar accompaniment! What a guy!
Cold weather here in PA has slowed me down for the time being, but I’m looking forward to Igofar’s guidance for some more challenging (in my mind) tasks come spring (truing the front forks, for example). Sure wish he wasn’t so far away!
Thanks, Larry, for inspiring confidence and for your patience with a guy like me.
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He is quite the guy! We are on a first name basis already lol. I sent him a funny coolant reservoir picture last night I found on my bike after removing the skins. Hold drilled right into it from previous owner. He’s still laughing about it I’m sure.
 
LJST said:
He is quite the guy! We are on a first name basis already lol. I sent him a funny coolant reservoir picture last night I found on my bike after removing the skins. Hold drilled right into it from previous owner. He’s still laughing about it I’m sure.
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I must say, that from one small question I received a wealth of information when talking with Larry (IGOFAR). What I thought may be an issue with a bad cell in a battery (it was) turned into needed maintenance item to hopefully make my bike run so much more efficiently that what I have observed so far. Even helpful information on the first oil change that I will be doing on this bike soon and finding out that this bike has an idle adjuster (haven't seen this on my other FI bikes) but it takes special instructions to use. As soon as all the parts come in I will update this with a performance review. Thanks for all the help Larry, I hope to ride out there this summer and you can show me around between bike improvements.
 
I purchased a 2003 ST1300 recently, and even though it's a gorgeous, well equipped bike, I knew there were things I'd need to learn about it so I found this awesome website. I started poking around and asking questions and Larry replied to one of my concerns. I got the number to the white courtesy phone and after a little bit of phone tag we started discussing issues with my bike. This man is an absolute guru. He asked me questions related to common concerns and has walked me through replacing my SMC and thoroughly explained a couple of other important services I have ahead of me. He's supplied me with parts lists, tool recommendations, and has made sense of things that were new to me. He even checked back with me after I replaced the SMC to make sure everything went properly while he played guitar in the background. Very helpful, very knowledgeable, and an invaluable member of this forum!
 
MaconMan77 said:
He even checked back with me after I replaced the SMC to make sure everything went properly while he played guitar in the background. Very helpful, very knowledgeable, and an invaluable member of this forum!
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Assistance, knowledge, follow up and a serenade? What more could one ask for?
 
I hope Larry gets a F6B.......

But seriously folks, as any of you who have been fortunate enough to receive the benefit of his knowledge and generosity know, it makes you feel more confident in owning a ST knowing you have access to that kind of help when you need it.
 
MaconMan77 said:
I purchased a 2003 ST1300 recently, and even though it's a gorgeous, well equipped bike, I knew there were things I'd need to learn about it so I found this awesome website....
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I was ready to respond, "Please! Tell us where we can find that site!!"

Seriously, this has turned into consistently the best embodiment of the ST Owners community that I've found, and believe me I've been there since the beginning. STOC listserve and usenet anyone?
 
Ive only been here a year and spent a lot of time reading his and other members contributions Ive gained a lot of insight into this bike before even getting the second half off the clam shell - had an excuse last weekend, my 65 beaumont convertible friends 283 start up, two barrel rochester (Im so glad he didnt put a 4B on that) start up, just perfect, couldnt miss that, figures itl be his last - reminds me of when I worked at a hi perf shop as a kid; theres so much to take in with these bikes, and its all here
 
Paraphrasing: Eisenstein said. If you can't explain something simply ... you don't know the subject well enough.
No worries about that with Larry Igofar.
 
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Had a great day bleeding lines on my ST and Blackbird. Larry is really patient and easy to work with, he makes owning an ST a lot of fun. Such a great guy.
 
I recently replaced the clutch slave cylinder at Larry's suggestion, and man am I glad I did! This is what I found.
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As much of a PITA as it will be, I'll be doing brake fluid AND clutch fluid once a year as it's a bit humid here. When you're told to get a piece of wood to do the CSC, don't laugh! It came in quite handy holding it in place to help you get the bolts started and stuff! I hope to never have to do this repair again, but the guru made it less of a pain. I also loved the fact that when I told him I replaced the plugs, he asked "your #4 coil boot is ripped, isn't it?" It most certainly was. Definitely a man who knows his stuff!
 
After replacing a couple dozen clutch slave cylinders in the past few years, one thing I’ve found very consistent, no matter how nice the bike looks, or how nice the owner thinks it has been maintained, if it/they sat for a year or more, or the fluid wasn’t flushed yearly, it’s very common to find them looking like the one MaconMan posted a picture of.
If anyone has EVER opened their clutch master cylinder up and found sludge in the bottom, you can bet your dollar that the slave cylinder will look the same.
Most folks buy a bike, change the fluid, and think all is well, without really knowing what lurks beneath.
 
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