Road Test: Honda ST1100 vs. ST1300

[lomita]

He's impressed that the 1300 will wheelie but feels less stable at higher speeds. The 1100 will wheelie also, but with more effort, this is directly attributable to the 1100s 2 inch longer wheel base, add 2 inches to the 1300 or any bike for that matter and it will be much less prone to lifting the front wheel. Not really a factor for consideration in a sport touring bike. Curious as to the gearing between the 2 as the 1100 seems it could benefit from a slight gear reduction at times.

It's fun to hit 75 mph in 2nd gear on my 01.

 

[increasing]

Which really, is where we start to get to the crux of this matter. To my mind, the new Pan is a better Pan than the old Pan. But I'm in my late-middle 30s and a long way from the older target audience the original bike's gathered over its lengthy existence. So the very reasons that make the ST1300 appeal to the likes of me make it much less so to the people that bought it originally. Maybe this was deliberate.

If you do want all of the above, then the new Pan's expensive but a bloody good bike. If, on the other hand, you don't need the performance, but favour practicality and comfort, a late model Pan is a bargain. It's half the price, but more than half as good.


One man's ceiling is another man's floor, after all.

ST1100 lots of fun at a low price, easy to maintain yourself

 

[the Ferret]

What a trip to log on and see a thread started by Paulcb. Gave me a start for a minute. Wish he were still with us.