Looking for more power

[NAKED_ST]

I am a new ST owner. I have had my bike for 2 years and im looking for some ways to start getting a little more from my bike. I am getting more and more comfortable with every ride but i feel like it has more it can give! Im looking for recommendations for "starter" mods to get more speed and stability as i progess as a rider! Thank you to anyone that can help!

 

[red one]

I am a new ST owner. I have had my bike for 2 years and im looking for some ways to start getting a little more from my bike. I am getting more and more comfortable with every ride but i feel like it has more it can give! Im looking for recommendations for "starter" mods to get more speed and stability as i progess as a rider! Thank you to anyone that can help!

If its running well I'd leave it alone. These aren't and never will be a sport bike. If you accept it as it is it will give you several miles and years of reliability. But if you think you must these are carbureated bikes so you can mess with the jets and pipes and fiddle around with suspension parts to give you performance but at what cost? As I said before a well running ST is best left alone at least thats my humble opinion If you own an ST1300 you'll have fuel injection so no carbs....but same advice.

 

[Ron]

Many have tried but not many found much above stock.

I suggest ride it regularly (at least 75 miles a week). That will keep the battery constantly charged leading to a longer battery life. It will also keep your gas flowing through the carbs helping to keep them clean. Synch the carbs. Check the plugs every 40-50 K miles. Check the air filters. Run the tires at the correct pressure.

 

[dwalby]

I am getting more and more comfortable with every ride but i feel like it has more it can give! Im looking for recommendations for "starter" mods to get more speed and stability as i progess as a rider!

If you're really looking for more speed and stability, your best approach would be to sell it and buy something else.

The ST1100 was not designed to be a high performance machine, it was designed to cover as many miles in a day as comfortably and reliably as possible. Just how far do you expect to get with a carbureted 8,000RPM redline engine sitting in a tubular steel frame?

 

[jfheath]

It's nearly 20 years since these wonderful beasts were the motorcycle of choice for our police force here in the UK, so you have probably not had chance to see how well respected the ST1100s were by these top class, elite riders. Talk to them, and they would comment that very few sports bike riders could ride particularly well, and even if they could out-power them, they were unable to leave a well ridden 'Pan' behind.

Police and some retired Police instructors run training courses. They are all motorcycle fanatics. Some of them go racing in their spare time. Get one of these experts behind you and get some top quality feedback. Its possibly the best tune up you can have.

 

[Bush]

mods to get more speed and stability

How much faster than 130 mph do you need to go? Stability? This machine, all 700 pounds of it, is as rock steady as a locomotive going down the track, at any speed. Maybe you need a Honda CBR1000RR? Good for 180 mph.

 

[ChriSTian_64]

@NAKED_ST , I agree with all that have been said.

Now, maybe, your ST could benefit from a tune up or a check of a few items.

What I mean is... how do we know that someone's ST is up to the specification.

A dynamometer test could confirm how many torque and HP your ST is delivering.

That could be a starting point. If you aare obviously under the specification, then you could try to fix what is wrong.
We have seen ST running mainly on 3 cylinder, due to coil or wires problems. We have seen perforated rubber diaphragm in the carburetors, things like that.

But maybe, also, your ST is just up to the specs.
I got my 2000 ST1100 only last summer. I have only run 5000 km (10-11 gas tank) with it so far and... the more I run it, I feel it just run better and better.

What mileage do you have ?
Do you know if the bike spent a long time sitting in a garage ?
What is you fuel consumption ?
What does the compression look like ?
What does the plugs looks like ?

These can all be clues of how well your engine is actualy running / performing.

 

[Upt' North]

It's covered but FWIW.
Re speed/power forget it. If a genuine 130 mph isn't enough, walk on by.
Re suspension, new rear shock if needed and progressive fork rebuild.
Re tyres, don't scrimp, yes they'll run on anything but if going round corners is your thing the T31's or T32's will suffice.
Re fuel, they run better on good fuel, high octane, non ethanol. It won't produce any more power, but it will be smoother and just feel a little nicer to ride.
All the above is from my own experience and others WILL disagree, which is absolutely hunky-dory.
If as the name suggests, it is naked, then I'm guessing top speed will not be your game, if you're thinking it needs to get off the line quicker; physics is physics and these things are heavy. All you will achieve by quick getaways is practice replacing clutches.
Hope it helps.
Upt'North.

 

[drbuzzard]

with the age of your ST 1100 you are not likely to find parts to increase the engines performance. as for the handling i installed a new progressive shock and put new progressive springs and replaced the leaking fork seals. next will be checking swingarm and head bearing

 

[diferg]

FJR 1300, Concours 1400, K1600, Hayabusa 1300, all are also "Sport tourers" with increased performance compared to the ST,s but each has its own differences. Overall I still prefer the ST,s

 

[rwthomas1]

Near as I can tell, you have a naked ST1100. The 1100 was never designed for top end power, it has a nice flat torque curve that is perfect for sport TOURING. That "rush" of top end power that I've felt on every sportbike I've ever owed simply isn't there on the ST. I believe the ST is severely cam limited and this is why it doesn't respond to exhaust and carb tuning changes. Early ST engines had slightly hotter, or more aggressive cams. It would be some trouble but these could be installed in a late model if someone wanted it. Still, the gain is minimal.

The posts above are spot on with the regard to suspension, if that is as good as it can be, handling improves and average speeds increase. Does nothing for the acceleration obviously.

Lastly, I'd wager that 99% of street bikes are not used anywhere near their potential. Unless you have significant track time its doubtful you ever will get ALL the ST has to give. I'd say your money is better spent on California Superbike School, and the like if you want to learn how to go fast.

RT

 

[stinker]

All good advice and I think the advice by jfheath is the first thing to do and of course a thorough service. Then visit a good suspension shop and buy the best you can afford and have an expert suspension tuner set it up for you, remember that new suspension can take up to 1000 miles to bed in and will feel too hard until then. Rider skills and a good chassis will increase your riding pleasure and safety beyond what thrills you might get from something faster. If you are most interested in an adrenalin rush do a burn out in front of the local police and race them.

 

[ST1100Y]

I'd beef up the suspension, i.e.: Wilbers rear shock, Hyperpro fork springs & 7W oil... properly bled brake systems... attending some MSL trainings is also very helpful...
And learn how to work with the engine, it ain't a high rev inline-4, it's a torque monster V-4, pulling from 1200rpm on, so most happens between 2500 and 5700rpm down the road...
Here on the twisty alpine roads I've nice "dog-fights" with all the weekend warriors on their CBRGSXR crutch rockets... not in accelerating on a long straight piece of road (everyone with a healthy right hand can tension a throttle cable...), but by outrunning them in all the tight backsweeps and corners...
Two up, tankbag and topcase, dirty and crusted, returning from 1~2 weeks touring, mistaken for an "ROF bike", till you ride circles around them... great fun!
Where they "park" all over the place in tight hairpin corners, 1st gear, waiting desperately for their >6000rpm power to kick in, I simply use the ST's mass, no hard braking, rolling in smoothly, right on the ideal line, trail braking, in 2nd gear and then let the V-4 loose, from 1200rpm on... vrooommm...
It ain't about the shier power, it's about what you can actually transform onto the road...

 

[Walleye]

Check your speedometer once in a while, you are probably going faster than you think you are. I had the same desire for more power after I purchased my 1100 and was disappointed mods were scarce. If you can afford it you could have a monster engine built by the pros, look at some of the V Maxes. I have had 2 V Maxes lightly built, this may be what you need for straight line power, some good buys on them. I found a good buy on an 07 Triumph Sprint, thats my magic carpet when i feel the need for more. The cost to make an ST1100 perform like the Triumph would be 3 times what I paid for the ST. A turbocharger or supercharger may be consideration, they have been fitted on everything imaginable.

 

[NAKED_ST]

@NAKED_ST , I agree with all that have been said.

Now, maybe, your ST could benefit from a tune up or a check of a few items.

What I mean is... how do we know that someone's ST is up to the specification.

A dynamometer test could confirm how many torque and HP your ST is delivering.

That could be a starting point. If you aare obviously under the specification, then you could try to fix what is wrong.
We have seen ST running mainly on 3 cylinder, due to coil or wires problems. We have seen perforated rubber diaphragm in the carburetors, things like that.

But maybe, also, your ST is just up to the specs.
I got my 2000 ST1100 only last summer. I have only run 5000 km (10-11 gas tank) with it so far and... the more I run it, I feel it just run better and better.

What mileage do you have ?
Do you know if the bike spent a long time sitting in a garage ?
What is you fuel consumption ?
What does the compression look like ?
What does the plugs looks like ?

These can all be clues of how well your engine is actualy running / performing.

@ChriSTian_64
I appreciate the help sir. If you could help me with a quick issue i would love your feed back. I have a slight miss happening at 5000 to 6000 rpm when at wide open throttle but if i back off the throttle even slightly it goes away. I am a young car mechanic so im not as versed in carbs as most everything is fuel injected. I originally thought i had a vacuum leak that was slight enough it wasnt effecting it until i held it open but i did a smoke test of all the vacuum lines and everything tested out fine. I am now thinking i have a carb issue but im not sure where to go with that. My bike is a 2001 if that helps! Thanks for any help you can give and again i appreciate the time you took to help a young rider out!

 

[Al st1100]

@ChriSTian_64
I appreciate the help sir. If you could help me with a quick issue i would love your feed back. I have a slight miss happening at 5000 to 6000 rpm when at wide open throttle but if i back off the throttle even slightly it goes away. I am a young car mechanic so im not as versed in carbs as most everything is fuel injected. I originally thought i had a vacuum leak that was slight enough it wasnt effecting it until i held it open but i did a smoke test of all the vacuum lines and everything tested out fine. I am now thinking i have a carb issue but im not sure where to go with that. My bike is a 2001 if that helps! Thanks for any help you can give and again i appreciate the time you took to help a young rider out!

we go from I want more power to there is a miss at 5-6000 rpm. At wide open throttle a small vacuum leak would not mean anything, think of a lean condition on fuel injection MAF picks it up at idle mostly. If you have a lean condition at WOT with fuel injection the first thing you would check is fuel pressure and the MAF. We don't have fuel trims to look at but letting off the gas a bit, it runs better could mean it's starving for gas. Check fuel pressure and or fuel volume. If that is good check spark plugs. Valve clearance could be an issue. Theses are a few things I would check before condemning the carbs. It just doesn't seem like the carbs would cause the hi-speed misfire. Oh by the way the st1100 is a 12 second bike in the quarter mile, that's pretty fast.

 

[dwalby]

Oh by the way the st1100 is a 12 second bike in the quarter mile, that's pretty fast.

Let's be realistic here, the ST1100 12.7 second 1/4 mile time is about on par with air-cooled 750s from the mid to late '70s. In comparison to any modern performance oriented motorcycle (no Harleys, Indians, cruisers, etc.) that's not really fast at all.

Thirty years ago, performance oriented bikes were well into the 10's, as was the FJR1300 almost 20 years ago when it was introduced.

 

[NAKED_ST]

I never questioned that the bike is quick i was just interested in seeing what everyone uses for aftermarket upgrades. A bike that weights over 700 pounds that can do a 12.7 second 1/4 mile is very impressive and i love the way it rides! Just want to clear that up for anyone else who is taking the time to help me out.

 

[ChriSTian_64]

@ChriSTian_64
I have a slight miss happening at 5000 to 6000 rpm when at wide open throttle but if i back off the throttle even slightly it goes away.

Oh. Yes... Right.
Mine too does that sometimes. And it's an easy fix.
See, between five and six thousand RPM... when it does that... the bike is trying to tell you : "maybe you could try shifting gears now".

Just kidding.

Well, I'm also still new to the ST1100 and I am not as knoledgeable as many members on this forum. I've learned a lot since a year, though.

When I bought my ST1100, last year, it hasn't had run much for the last two three years.

So, at first, yeah, the engine was kinda missing an explosion here and there. Every two three second. I looked at my spark plugs and they were all covered by a black layer of carbon deposit. I cleaned them. And... to make a long story short, I burned a few gaz tank with "seafoam" or injector / carburator cleaner in the gas tank. It now really runs smoothly.

Do you have lots of mileage on your ST ?
Thinking, maybe you could check the valves clearance.

 

[Upt' North]

@ChriSTian_64
I appreciate the help sir. If you could help me with a quick issue i would love your feed back. I have a slight miss happening at 5000 to 6000 rpm when at wide open throttle but if i back off the throttle even slightly it goes away. I am a young car mechanic so im not as versed in carbs as most everything is fuel injected. I originally thought i had a vacuum leak that was slight enough it wasnt effecting it until i held it open but i did a smoke test of all the vacuum lines and everything tested out fine. I am now thinking i have a carb issue but im not sure where to go with that. My bike is a 2001 if that helps! Thanks for any help you can give and again i appreciate the time you took to help a young rider out!

Two things......
Run some good fuel cleaner through it........sea foam? For a couple of tanks. And run Good fuel.
Put vacuum gauges on the carbs to see if they're set right. I think this procedure is well covered here, don't follow the manuals.