New to me ST1100! I find another community to belong to!

VidGameKing

VidGameKing

Just need a couple more days.
Site Supporter
Joined
Dec 26, 2024
Messages
20
Age
42
Location
Sacramento, CA
Bike
2001 ST1100
Hello one and all I am VidGameKing. I have received via a very strange series of events a 2001 ST1100 with about 6.5K miles on the clock. Or at least it shows that it’s only 6.5K, from what I have learned from lurking these forums they can run upward of 250K, which I assume means it will roll-over. The bike hails from Beaverton Oregon, where it appears to have originally been registered in August of 2002, or possibly Washington State… CarFax and Bumper have differing opinions. So maybe lingering stock at a dealership, or someone bought it in Washington and moved down to Oregon? In august of 2010 it was declared a “total-loss”. Fast-forward to 2024 and a buddy of my brother recently passed away (he purchased the bike as a stand-in for a HD that was in the shop…. Apparently not quite the right fit for him, so he let it sit outside for a season). The bike is in good-ish shape. it runs, but I think the carbs need to be balanced, I’ve got a litany of parts on order in the hope that I can get her registered where I am (Sacramento, California) It’s a 49-states bike not a CA… so we will see what the DMV has to say.

Anyhow, that’s the thing, just wanted to pop in and say hello. I’m not a new rider, in fact I’ve been riding for about as old as this bike is!

Here is my riding history (bikes I’ve owned)

1995 Kinetic TFR (Moped from high school days)
1976 Yamaha Chappy (scooter)
2004 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (first real bike, daily driver and my boomerang bike)
2002 Suzuki GSX750F Katana (where I learned I love sport-tour)
1972 Honda CB750 (went old school for a spell…)

Those were all pre-marriage and kids… all were sold off at some point (ninja keeps coming back…) Now I have the ‘01 ST, and I’m telling my wife it’s “our” bike…

I’m attaching some photos, maybe the original owner, or someone might see it and know what happened to it. it was potentially in a ride, or event called “Goldrush” in 2024…
 

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Welcome aboard!
I was looking for an ST1300, my little brother just bought one, when I stumbled onto a 1991 1100 that looked near new. Just a bit over 14000 miles but had been garage parked for 20 years. Refurbished it in two major stages so it not only looks near new, it has cost near new as well. I found this site and got lots of professional help with that job.
There are tips/hints on fixing most everything on this site, precious little drivel, these folk know their bikes and will lead you in the right direction should you need. Just ask.
 
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No roll over - the ST1100 speedo clocks in hundreds of thousand because there is no 'tenths'.
If it has sat for a long period of time with gas in it, the low speed carb jets are probably clogged.
The way you find out is whether it will idle with the choke (technically a fuel enricher) turned off after it is warmed up.
If it won't idle, you've got blocked idle jets.
You have to pull the carbs and clean them out or replace them.
I'd also check the inside of the fuel tank to see if you have a bunch of junk sitting in it.
Looks like a repaint - you can find the original paint code on the cross bar under the seat.
 
Welcome to the 1100, the last bike you'll ever want to ride. I loved my 95 when I bought it new in my 20s and I love my 2000 now. There's probably better bikes, but I've not cared enough to look...like having a beautiful mate. Enjoy and take care from SoMD!
 
Thank you all for the warm welcomes! I know I may seem young, and by the books I’ll wager a nickel I’m younger than many here (my age = answer to life, universe, and well; everything). That being said I’m not and never been the kind of rider to really abuse things and ride stupid. Putting tens of thousands of miles on the clock of a ninja 250 taught me to hone my riding skills and use what power it had (or didn’t have). It might have said “Ninja” but the riding style on those models were 100% standard. basically an ultra tiny Sport Tour.

Since having kids I’ve not ridden much. too concerned about being there for the wife and kids, too afraid of putting myself at the mercy of cage-ers.

But with age comes a healthy life insurance policy, and the wisdom to have a solid Will and plan in case there is something horrible.

When “The great purge” (of my bikes) happened, I told my wife we will get a GoldWing with a trailer when I retire and we will cruise the Pan America Highway

en.wikipedia.org

Pan-American Highway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

I know the ST1100 isn’t a GoldWing, and it’s not even a “Baby GoldWing” but maybe for me at least it’s a GoldWing for folks that are too young to own one, but too old to be riding around on a CBR.

One thing that this site and my homework has taught me, I think I may want a spare parts bike, and possibly as many bits and bobs as needed for maintaining since at least in the US these bikes are a lot less common and share less parts than the CB, YZ, GSX, and ZX out there.
 
Uncle Phil said:
No roll over - the ST1100 speedo clocks in hundreds of thousand because there is no 'tenths'.
If it has sat for a long period of time with gas in it, the low speed carb jets are probably clogged.
The way you find out is whether it will idle with the choke (technically a fuel enricher) turned off after it is warmed up.
If it won't idle, you've got blocked idle jets.
You have to pull the carbs and clean them out or replace them.
I'd also check the inside of the fuel tank to see if you have a bunch of junk sitting in it.
Looks like a repaint - you can find the original paint code on the cross bar under the seat.
Click to expand...

My brother before he offered it to me (because he knows Sport-Tour is my “thing”) replaced spark plugs, change oil and get a new oil, fuel, and air filter on it. The bike runs and only needs the choke on when the engine is cold. He filled the bike with 91-octane non-ethanol fuel and made sure it’s run enough to fill the carbs with it. I know it does not need 91, but that’s the easy stuff to get in Oregon that does not have ethanol in it, and he was trying his best to make sure the bike would be in good shape. The tires are circa 2019, and have a nice flat spot on them where they rested for too long. I’ve bought new Avon ST tyres, and will have them installed and balanced.

The previous owner had the carbs rebuilt, or he did them himself, either way i’ve been told they need to be balanced… really not a hard thing to do lol. If the bike really only has 6.5K miles on it, that means it’s only just out of break-in. I really would love to know the history of this bike. What caused it to be totaled, what was replaced when it was rebuilt. I don’t suppose there is a way to validate engine numbers to VINs is there?

Bike came with an uninstalled set of RaceTech fork springs… not sure why one would install those on a ST, The shocks are in their stock form far more advanced than any other bike I’ve owned with the anti-dive thingy and what not.

The bike also came with a genuine Honda service manual (the one for the dealership) and a CLYMER manual. Heck, the bike also has the original manual and toolkit in their respective pouches!

Certainly a repaint. The 2000 through 2002 bikes only came in “Candy Wineberry” Wife seems to like the satin black though…
 
I've redone the suspension on all 4 of my ABSII ST1100s - Wilburs rear shocks and all new Racetech fork components.
It makes an incredible difference in the handling.
ST1100 rear shocks are usually mush at 50,000 miles - they start acting like a pogo stick.
I own 4 parts ST1100s and 4 runner ST1100s - and it is wise to have a parts bike if you plan on keeping it.
Some parts are still available and some are not.
If you can find a parts bike at a decent price, close to you and you have 'garage' space it is a very wise 'investment'.
To me, the best seat you can have is a Russell Daylong - just had my 4th one built last year at Shasta Lake.
You can have the front built to you and the back built for your wife - and she will thank you if you ride much together.
Since you are close (they're up near Redding at Shasta Lake), a ride in would be the way to go.


At this point I have over 1/2 million miles between my 4 ST1100s.


It is way more motorcycle than I am rider and I have seen very few riders that could push a ST1100 to its 'potential'.
I've done quite a bit of 'wrenching' on ST1100s - from engine swaps, water pump/timing belt change and converting a standard to a full ABSII.
I'll be glad to help where I can with what little I know.
 
Slydynbye said:
Welcome Neighbor
I've had 4 of these so far. If you want to do a Carb synch I could help. I have a 4 port Morgan tune, also have one of the little vacuum gauges that measure on the intake snorkel (forgot the name)
Click to expand...
Well look at that! A California ST owner! Fantastic! I grew up in the Bay Area, Union City in fact!

think a poorly tuned set of carbs could make it down to Fremont? The bike runs, but it’s also my first non-inline bike, so it sounds weird (not bad, just different enough to make me have no idea if there is a problem lol).
 
VidGameKing said:
Well look at that! A California ST owner! Fantastic! I grew up in the Bay Area, Union City in fact!

think a poorly tuned set of carbs could make it down to Fremont? The bike runs, but it’s also my first non-inline bike, so it sounds weird (not bad, just different enough to make me have no idea if there is a problem lol).
Click to expand...
If your getting any vibration in the handle bars,you need your carbs balanced,
 
Uncle Phil said:
I've redone the suspension on all 4 of my ABSII ST1100s - Wilburs rear shocks and all new Racetech fork components.
It makes an incredible difference in the handling.
ST1100 rear shocks are usually mush at 50,000 miles - they start acting like a pogo stick.
I own 4 parts ST1100s and 4 runner ST1100s - and it is wise to have a parts bike if you plan on keeping it.
Some parts are still available and some are not.
If you can find a parts bike at a decent price, close to you and you have 'garage' space it is a very wise 'investment'.
To me, the best seat you can have is a Russell Daylong - just had my 4th one built last year at Shasta Lake.
You can have the front built to you and the back built for your wife - and she will thank you if you ride much together.
Since you are close (they're up near Redding at Shasta Lake), a ride in would be the way to go.


At this point I have over 1/2 million miles between my 4 ST1100s.


It is way more motorcycle than I am rider and I have seen very few riders that could push a ST1100 to its 'potential'.
I've done quite a bit of 'wrenching' on ST1100s - from engine swaps, water pump/timing belt change and converting a standard to a full ABSII.
I'll be glad to help where I can with what little I know.
Click to expand...
I’ve got family up in Redding, and camp often around Shasta Lake! Certainly an easy ride, three hours of i5 (2-lane divided highway probably the most boring highway in the world)

I’m super interested in what you’ve said there about the conversion to ABS, I’ll look up info on that later. For now I just need to try to get the bike registered in California… Maybe folks have experience doing this?

This is also the biggest bike I’ve ever been on, both in terms of weight and displacement/power. So I’m going to need to learn to ride it. I have noticed (in the two times i’ve taken it around the block) shifting needs to be deliberate. it’s not the same light-touch shifting I had on my Ninja or Katana. I suspect it has to do with the shape of the shift lever, and its direction of pivot. certainly an issue between the windscreen and the top trunk kind of problem (rider). Light taps on the shifter only produce grinding noises. it could also be with the clutch, I’ve never had a hydraulic clutch and I might be engaging/disengaging at the wrong time. I’ve purchased adjustable levers in case that’s a solution…
 
St-Gerard said:
If your getting any vibration in the handle bars,you need your carbs balanced,
Click to expand...
I’m going to need to ride it more to feel that. Also it looks like original bar-end weights were changed, so i may not be starting from a equal playing field when determining vibrations
 
The ST1100 clutch is often like an on/off switch - it takes bit to get used to.
As far as the ABS conversion, that requires a complete ABSII 'parts' bike as there is a lot of stuff (fairing stay, different forks, triple tree, both wheels, pumps, electronics, hydraulics, calipers, front fender, coolant bottle, entire wiring harness, etc.) and some fabrication work to pull it off.
Not a job for the faint of heart as it takes a while and a lot of wrenching.
The 'why' of it -

 
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