Should we rebuild or look for another bike

Jangarey

Joined
Mar 27, 2025
Messages
3
Age
72
Location
Barooga NSW Australia
Bike
St1300a abs 2004
St1300a PanEuropean abs 2004
Now needs a few things done before this year's rego.

We are 72 rider, and nearly 70 pillion. We love riding our bike. We have this bike for over 20 years. It has a towbar and we have a trailer. We don't own a car.

Should we look for another bike (limited means) or fix this one.
Bike needs
New rear monoshock and cost of fitting
New brakes and brake discs( already have) disc damaged by bike shop) and fitting
New tyres
New sparkplugs
wondering what costs are likely to be?
Thanks NSW Australia1289.jpg
 
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Welcome to the forum.

How have you been riding it for over 20 years and not have already done most of those things???

Fix, by all means! Those are all basically maintenance items. Also, replace brake and clutch fluids.

You can't get a good bike for as little as those things cost, although I'm not sure of how much.

Whose labor, and who will do the shopping for best pricing?
 
Larry Fine said:
Welcome to the forum.

How have you been riding it for over 20 years and not have already done most of those things???

Fix, by all means! Those are all basically maintenance items. Also, replace brake and clutch fluids.

You can't get a good bike for as little as those things cost, although I'm not sure of how much.

Whose labor, and who will do the shopping for best pricing?
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Hi Larry
I have been writing this for my husband.
Of course he has been doing all those things, oil, oil filter brakes, brake and clutch fluids, spark plugs and tyres as needed.
I will do the shopping for the best prices, at the moment I'm looking at YSS monoshock for the rear. I've bought the tyres before and the brakes. My husband is great for hands on, but does like having to source materials. He usually gets all the fluids
The labour for the monoschock and brake discs with brakes will be done at Honda dealers. Usually does own brakes, but easier to be done together.
Just heard monoshock was a big job.
We have had many other bikes over the years.
 
If you are happy with the St1300 fixing it will be less money than replacing it with another bike. I have never bought a used vehicle that did not have some problems that needed fixing. Not much new in the market like the St's most are in the$20,000 to $30,000 range. Probably more in Australia. Myself very happy with my ST1100 have owned a couple of Honda 's over 40 years of riding and ST1100 is in my opinion the best bike for me. All the best, Gerard
 
I vote for fixing your current bike.

Did you mention the mileage? Anyway, changing the rear shock is not really a big task on the 1300, the price of the shock itself may be a little high.
 
Even a weeny new bike is going to be more expensive than all that, especially with hubby doing the labor. And it'll be worth much more if you do decide to sell it for a bigger one. I'm impressed you don't own a car at all!
 
I will make an assumption that there is nothing wrong with your motorcycle beyond what you have listed. If there are other problems the below calculations change accordingly.
Based on the above being the case, here are my thoughts.
Bike needs
New rear monoshock and cost of fitting
New brakes and brake discs( already have) disc damaged by bike shop) and fitting
New tyres
New sparkplugs
Click to expand...
All of the above are normal routine maintenance items that are required on any vehicle, not just motorcycles. They are not defects or unexpected failures that need repairing. Unless you purchase a new, or fairly new, replacement motorcycle you will have to do all of these maintenance items on the replacement motorcycle as well. The exception is the brake discs and the mono-shock. Based on that I would remove everything on your list but those two items from your cost analysis all together.
Of course he has been doing all those things, oil, oil filter brakes, brake and clutch fluids, spark plugs and tyres as needed.
Click to expand...
Does this statement mean that he does the work himself?
If the answer is yes, the remaining two items on your list are replacing the brake discs and the rear mono-shock. If your husband has been doing this work himself he is more than capable of replacing the brake discs and the mono-shock himself as well. Replacing the brake discs and the mono-shock both are less technical tasks than doing the brakes. If he replaces these items himself what you are left with in your decision is only the cost of these parts. You stated that you already have the brake discs so you can remove them from your cost analysis as well. The only item left for you to consider is the cost of a replacement rear mono-shock. No matter what mono-shock you end up purchasing there is no way that it will come within a fraction of the cost of any replacement motorcycle that you will be willing to buy.

You already have this motorcycle set-up and well equipped the way that you want it. If you still like and still enjoy riding it I see no reason to replace it. Based on what you have stated it appears to me to be more a question of whether you want something different rather than if it is more economical to get something different.
 
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