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

Gasket kit is cheap enough that its probably cheaper than OEM Honda for just the valve covers, etc. But its cheap chinese and you get what you pay for.

Leave the engine alone. Period. No reason to go into it. The failure rate is approaching zero and you have more chance of doing damage than something positive.

Take a look at the timing belt. If it doesn't look dry rotted, teeth cracked, etc. I'd leave it be. There are essentially zero failures of these belts, at any mileage and age. Most do them at 100K and state the old and new belts looked the same.

I probably shouldn't admit it but mine has 80K, purchased with 41K and I have never checked the valves. Maybe it was done by the previous owner, maybe not. Again, when most check valve clearances they are in spec. I've also never rebuilt the carbs or even synched them. The bike runs great, starts perfectly, no bad noises, gets 47mpg and is dead reliable.

They are very well engineered machines that need very little maintenance. Coolant system/hoses/tstat, check the drive splines and replace the 3 orings when you do new tires, go through the calipers and refresh with a kit from Brakecrafters, engine oil, fork oil and then go ride the thing.
 
This is very fascinating! I'm not sure I've ever heard of a machine that is reliable to this level. I agree it sounds like if it ain't broke, leave it the F#*! alone.

Clarification on spares: investing mental energy (of which I surely have done a little bit) is part and parcel to becoming an ST rider. However I am aware that these bikes will not be around forever, new old stock is dwindling, aftermarket stuff is near gone. The best many might expect from what homework I've done is have very well conditioned used spares. The mental expense for me is as much or even greater value than the bike I have. How do I insure my mental investment? Parts. Parts enough to last between now, and 30+ years down the road. if this is the last bike I'll ever own, then it's the one that will go from Alaska to Brazil when I retire.

Thoughts on the gaskets and what not are specifically around buying a parts bike that is nearly toasted, pull the motor and rebuild. The idea is if ever needed I have a functioning motor to place in. Same thought on potentially the swing arm. Find what could go wrong and have spares of that. motorcycles are 90% engine so a spare engine is object of acquisition #1. I was even thinking about how to get just the engine and gearbox it run on a shop stand (not on a bike frame).

I know this sounds like overkill but as an engineer spares = continued riding. a running engine ready to drop into a frame means I could ride it like I stole it.

also there is one more factor to consider: I really enjoy building up engines. I have a running (on a shop stand, with control board) a Chevy small-block that I've built from a block I bought from a pick-pull junk yard. I drive Toyotas! so... there is the "This sounds like fun" aspect...
 
ST1100 swingarms usually do not go south on this side of the pond.
The stuff they use on the roads (especially in the UK) seems to rot them out pretty quickly.
FWIW, several ST1100s engines are usually for sale on 'Fleabay' but you have to look at the mileage.
I don't recall - with the exception of Allen Millyard - of anybody tearing down/rebuilding a ST1100 engine.
If you are not familiar with Mr. Millyard (who's daily riders are ST1100s), google him and look for his ST1100 videos.
They are well worth downloading and keeping handy.
He has done some pretty incredible 'work' on various motorcycles and such.
 
ST1100Y said:
Essential: Vessel #2 & #3 JIS screwdrivers/bits
Essential II: OEM Honda w/shop manual
Click to expand...

Vessel is the brand-name? I will take a look. I have the Honda service manual for the bike, but not the Honda standard service guide. there are many articles there that say "do this from the standard service guide..."
 
Uncle Phil said:
ST1100 swingarms usually do not go south on this side of the pond.
The stuff they use on the roads (especially in the UK) seems to rot them out pretty quickly.
FWIW, several ST1100s engines are usually for sale on 'Fleabay' but you have to look at the mileage.
I don't recall - with the exception of Allen Millyard - of anybody tearing down/rebuilding a ST1100 engine.
If you are not familiar with Mr. Millyard (who's daily riders are ST1100s), google him and look for his ST1100 videos.
They are well worth downloading and keeping handy.
Click to expand...
It was his video that made me want to inspect the main bearings. Also his tear-down and rebuild looked fun. Not on my runner, but on a spare. Yep looked at the bay of fleas. Bought several things. motors run around $700-ish close to cost of a non-running parts bike.

Bike was in Pacific North West for most of its registered life. They salt them roads...
 
VidGameKing said:
It was his video that made me want to inspect the main bearings. Also his tear-down and rebuild looked fun. Not on my runner, but on a spare. Yep looked at the bay of fleas. Bought several things. motors run around $700-ish close to cost of a non-running parts bike.

Bike was in Pacific North West for most of its registered life. They salt them roads...
Click to expand...
It is not so much the salt as it is what they mix with it.
Pretty easy to pull the rear wheel (and if need be the fuel tank) and poke around to see the condition of it.
BTW, I have not heard of a ST1100 transmission going south either.
With the engine pulled, it's a quick process to remove the tranny.
 
Beyond regular routine maintenance items the most failures on ST1100's are:

Coolant leak from a split in the overflow hose from the radiator to coolant overflow tank at the radiator end. Easily fixed- cut off 1/2" and reattach.
Worn final drive gears. Due to very high mileage or improper maintenance procedures. (High mileage for an ST is in the hundreds of thousands of miles, not tens of thousands.)
Overheated terminals in red electrical connector. Easily fixed - Search for red wire bypass.
Cracked sub-frame for the rear luggage rack, usually due to having been overloaded such as from a top case carrying to much weight.
Oil leak from the 28 amp alternator on the pre 1996 model year ST1100's. Usually a precursor to a failing 28 amp alternator. You have a 2001 so you have a 40 amp alternator so you're good.
Vacuum operated fuel cut-off valve. The diaphram tears and the bike stops due to fuel starvation. Many people just bypass it and either leave it there or remove it all together.

Have a look through the below thread for some ideas of things to look at maintenance wise;

Maintenance Items Needed for a New (old) Bike​


Rotted out swing arms is mainly a UK problem and not really an issue here in North America.
Make sure that you learn how to properly attach and latch the panniers or you risk loosing them while in motion.

These are minor and very easily repaired items. They don't break. Engines and transmissions don't fail. I would be much more interested in having spare mirror covers than I would a spare engine. The best advice you can get is to make sure that the regular maintenance items and known issues are taken care of and just go ride and enjoy.
 
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Okay everyone. You are all awesome! This is fantastic help from all of you. I knew I would find my people here.

Getting the bike registered, and then I've got a list of action items on top of personalization to make it "mine".

I wasn't thinking this before, but now I'm thinking VLOG (do they still call it that?)
 
Tupperware is good to have spares of, being a bit heavier bike,dropping it while parking or stopping at a light is more likely to happen than anything else. Only thing I did not like was how much the side cases moved on my ST. Cure was some washers to tighten the bracket that holds them and a screw and nut into the rear fender to make sure they aren't going anywhere on their own.
 
VidGameKing said:
Vessel is the brand-name? I will take a look. I have the Honda service manual for the bike, but not the Honda standard service guide. there are many articles there that say "do this from the standard service guide..."
Click to expand...
Something like this should cover you...

A-16510

A-16510 Motorcycle Restoration & Repair 8-PC, Japanese Motorcycle Repair & Restoration Set
www.vesseltools.com www.vesseltools.com

The issue/warning is, that there are no Philips head screws on Japanese motorcycles and automotive (or any product), instead they're JIS cross-head, requiring appropriate drivers and bits; failing to follow that will cause mangled/rounded out screw heads rather sooner then later...

The "Honda Common Service Manual" is the basic overall knowledge in form of a ~500 page phone-book... how do carburetors, valve trains, exhaust, lubrication and coolant systems work, how to properly adjust head bearings with a spring scale, etc, etc...
And then there the "addendums" for each individual model...
 
St-Gerard said:
Welcome to the St group, one thing I would like to share with you is you have to watch your speed, ST1100 's will easily break the speed limit.
Click to expand...
Talk about! Our 1300 is so quiet, engine noise, vibration and wind, that the little speed noises I grew used to just aren't there. Not uncommon for me to glance at the speedo and find I'm doing too much over the speed limit around town. I frequently glance at the speedo in town and use the cruise control when on the highway.
 
ST1100Y said:
Do you really intend a full engine revision? :unsure:
(valve shaft seals, crank case and gear box gaskets?)

I'd suggest:
- valve cover gaskets & grommets (is the loaner shim set still avail?)
- carb insulators/boots
- coolant hoses, overflow line, elbows & O-Rings
- thermostat + O-ring
- radiator cap
- brake caliper pistons & seals
- brake master overhaul kits front & rear
- clutch overhaul kits master & receiver (+ paper gasket on clutch cover)
- clutch lever, pushrod, brass piece

Essential: Vessel #2 & #3 JIS screwdrivers/bits
Essential II: OEM Honda w/shop manual
Click to expand...
I've had an over-kill habit on all my bikes. Since I rebuilt/restored all but a few (the new purchases), I rat-holed, well....peg boarded...., all the consumable parts I could find as many were long out of production and hard to find. Still have that habit. Many of the 1100's OEM consumables, gaskets-seals-frequently broken parts, are getting difficult to find. Only the two ST's now. I have a LOT of spares for the 1100 but there are still some I would feel comfortable having at hand. Just gaskets, seals, bulbs, plugs and filters for the 1300....probably need to fix that.
But... I do have several habits that cold be fixed with proper counselling.
 
This is an interesting thread. My take is that I’ve prepped both STs (and the Silverwing), for the long haul- have done the belts, hoses, elbows, synched the carbs, all new fluids (and I most recently used the 350K mile/15 year Prestone coolant). New tires on all the bikes now as well. I’m 60 years old and likely will (hopefully will) be riding into my early 80s (so ~ 20 years). Valve checks done ~ 15K miles ago and all in middle of spec…bikes now have 54K on the 94 and 50 on the 2000 (and only 12K on the Silverwing).

Point: These bikes will outlive me…I will change fluids, tires, and brake pads when needed- the rest I will leave alone- sometimes people (myself included) tend to over maintain what’s not needed- I agree that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ride on…
 
What amazes me is I put new tires on (usually) each season, and drive Orings/paste, then flush the brakes/clutch, check the coolant and the machine will run flawlessly for the entire season approximately 10K/yr. That is very little work for the service it gives. Sort out the maintenance, get it up to date and it will just run.
 
ST1100Y said:
Something like this should cover you...

A-16510

A-16510 Motorcycle Restoration & Repair 8-PC, Japanese Motorcycle Repair & Restoration Set
www.vesseltools.com www.vesseltools.com

The issue/warning is, that there are no Philips head screws on Japanese motorcycles and automotive (or any product), instead they're JIS cross-head, requiring appropriate drivers and bits; failing to follow that will cause mangled/rounded out screw heads rather sooner then later...

The "Honda Common Service Manual" is the basic overall knowledge in form of a ~500 page phone-book... how do carburetors, valve trains, exhaust, lubrication and coolant systems work, how to properly adjust head bearings with a spring scale, etc, etc...
And then there the "addendums" for each individual model...
Click to expand...
got a common service manual Thanks for the tip on that, best tid bit: they ask for philips head screw drivers! it was written by Honda America… JIS is what I’ll be using.
 
VidGameKing said:
got a common service manual Thanks for the tip on that, best tid bit: they ask for philips head screw drivers! it was written by Honda America… JIS is what I’ll be using.
Click to expand...
I'm convinced this is why all the screws on our early Hondas got screwed up. We all used phillips
Does anyone remember upgrading side cover screws to Allen bolt to remedy the problem.
 
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