St 1100 suspension upgrades 90 model

[Zider drinker]

Just done long journey in driving rain and bike didn,t miss a beat.The suspension I suspect may be on the way out as it ground out on some bad roads.Ive racked up the single shock but can,t tell if its the original shock or not.The bike has done 42k now and I think did alot of two up riding in Europe before I got hold of it.Any suggestions welcome re replacements or indeed if the mileage should prompt a replacement anyway.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Usually a 'stock' shock is toast around 50,000 miles.
I'm using Wilbers shocks on all of my ST1100s and am very pleased with them.
Some folks have had good use out of Hagon rear shocks.
The front ends on all of my ST1100s are completely redone with the Racetech stuff - springs, gold valves, etc.

 

[Roger]

If you are talking of an 1100 - it was always softly sprung at the front and maybe a little over damped. The rear unit was adequate until the damping gave up in as low as 30,000 miles...

I should have added - Hagons can supply front springs that put the front end movement into the right sort of range with 5w or 7.5w oil and I've worn out a Hagon rear and had it rebuilt, no problem.....

 

[TerryS]

I'm pretty happy with the YSS shock in the back of my 1300, and I echo UP's comments on adding Racetech parts to the front end.

 

[Zider drinker]

Usually a 'stock' shock is toast around 50,000 miles.
I'm using Wilbers shocks on all of my ST1100s and am very pleased with them.
Some folks have had good use out of Hagon rear shocks.
The front ends on all of my ST1100s are completely redone with the Racetech stuff - springs, gold valves, etc.

Think your right re the mileage guessed it might be heading that way,I'll check out Wilbers on line.

 

[Zider drinker]

I'm pretty happy with the YSS shock in the back of my 1300, and I echo UP's comments on adding Racetech parts to the front end.

Hadn't even thought about the front end but a Harley I used to have benefitted alot from a front end spring change so worth a look thanks

 

[Zider drinker]

Think your right re the mileage guessed it might be heading that way,I'll check out Wilbers on line.

I can get Hagons here in the UK aswell

 

[Zider drinker]

If you are talking of an 1100 - it was always softly sprung at the front and maybe a little over damped. The rear unit was adequate until the damping gave up in as low as 30,000 miles...

I should have added - Hagons can supply front springs that put the front end movement into the right sort of range with 5w or 7.5w oil and I've worn out a Hagon rear and had it rebuilt, no problem.....

Thanks for this all helps

 

[Zider drinker]

If you are talking of an 1100 - it was always softly sprung at the front and maybe a little over damped. The rear unit was adequate until the damping gave up in as low as 30,000 miles...

I should have added - Hagons can supply front springs that put the front end movement into the right sort of range with 5w or 7.5w oil and I've worn out a Hagon rear and had it rebuilt, no problem.....

Thanks for this all helps

 

[Bikeric]

Welcome to the forum from Cornwall UK! I fitted a Hagon rear shock to my 2000 ST1100 and it handles much better.

 

[Zider drinker]

Welcome to the forum from Cornwall UK! I fitted a Hagon rear shock to my 2000 ST1100 and it handles much better.

That’s great,I’m sort of up the road from you in sunny Somerset where everyone drives through to get to you,yes I’ll take a look at Hagons

 

[rwthomas1]

I put a Hagon on my 1100 and it is very nice. Replaced the fork springs with Sonics, the stiffest they had and 10wt oil. Again, great, but I'm 250lbs. Probably will back down to 5wt oil next time.

 

[Zider drinker]

I put a Hagon on my 1100 and it is very nice. Replaced the fork springs with Sonics, the stiffest they had and 10wt oil. Again, great, but I'm 250lbs. Probably will back down to 5wt oil next time.

Hagons seem to be the way forward

 

[Shakennstirred]

My 1100 came with a new YYS shock, but the Front was stock.
The Front wasn't great and I found it too soft.
So I bought the YYS springs and used 15w oil. frontends brilliant now

I probably could have gotten away with 10w, but I had a Bottle 15w sat on the shelf.

 

[Zider drinker]

My 1100 came with a new YYS shock, but the Front was stock.
The Front wasn't great and I found it too soft.
So I bought the YYS springs and used 15w oil. frontends brilliant now

I probably could have gotten away with 10w, but I had a Bottle 15w sat on the shelf.

Thanks Shaken appreciate the advice ill look into that shock type aswell.Im good with the front end on my bike but that back is def wallowing and bottoming out

 

[newtonhubcap]

Not sure if I am in the right area but was curious if any had attempted to mount inverted fork assemblies on the ST1100. Not sure if this is possible but am kinda poking into it for now.

 

[Bmacleod]

Not sure if I am in the right area but was curious if any had attempted to mount inverted fork assemblies on the ST1100. Not sure if this is possible but am kinda poking into it for now.

Anything is possible I suppose, but you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. You would need to Source a lot of parts, starting with a triple clamp that fit the headstock of the bike and also hold The new forks, which would almost certainly require a different wheel and brake system. After acquiring all the parts, it would then require a certain amount of know-how to put it all together... For a bike that some would consider antique. Hard to see the value in that. You would be far better off getting a newer bike. May even save some money doing it that way

 

[Uncle Phil]

Not sure if I am in the right area but was curious if any had attempted to mount inverted fork assemblies on the ST1100. Not sure if this is possible but am kinda poking into it for now.

You could, but with the Racetech and other front end 're-dos' they are probably fine enough for most folks.
I know of one person that fitted a 17 inch front rim and totally different calipers on his ST1100 - a lot of 'engineering' to say the least.
With enough money and time you can probably do it - but I would be surprised if it made a ton of difference.
But it's your money and your time and I am more than happy to 'watch and learn' on somebody else's nickel and minute!

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

I know of one person that fitted a 17 inch front rim and totally different calipers on his ST1100 - a lot of 'engineering' to say the least.

Dennis Martin. Couldn’t find the old one with pictures, etc. Here’s what I did find:

17 inch CBR Front Wheel Conversion ( ST1100 ) *

17 inch CBR Front Wheel Conversion ( ST1100 ) *

www.st-riders.net

Edit: more discussion here (“Front rim size ST1100”):

Log in

Log in

www.st-riders.net

The waybackmachine might be able to find the original stuff by Dennis on MyMc.com

John

 

[Uncle Phil]

Dennis Martin. Couldn’t find the old one with pictures, etc. Here’s what I did find:

17 inch CBR Front Wheel Conversion ( ST1100 ) *

17 inch CBR Front Wheel Conversion ( ST1100 ) *

www.st-riders.net

Edit: more discussion here (“Front rim size ST1100”):

Log in

Log in

www.st-riders.net

The waybackmachine might be able to find the original stuff by Dennis on MyMc.com

John

Dennis is an dear old friend of mine and he also painted his ST1100 as beautiful shade of blue.
I called him a few months ago and he is still kicking!