V-Twin to ST 1300

[mustang5867]

First time poster here. Thinking of trading in my Nomad for a ST 1300. I know some of you had cruisers before, did it take long to adjust to the different riding position? and will my girlfriend be comfy on the back? the longest rides she takes with me are maybe 100 miles or less. Thanks, Mick.

[Kennedy]

Came off a Honda V65 and it did take me a little while to get used to the ST, never road a bike with a faring before but your going to love it. Great bike for two up riding also.

[NewRider]

Mustang, i went from shoe leather to an ST, so if i can do it, anyone can :D
I have taken people on pillion and they say they nearly fall asleep the ride is so smooth.

Cheers
Tim

[Burger]

First time poster here. Thinking of trading in my Nomad for a ST 1300. I know some of you had cruisers before, did it take long to adjust to the different riding position? and will my girlfriend be comfy on the back? the longest rides she takes with me are maybe 100 miles or less. Thanks, Mick.

I traded my VN for an ST1300 3 weeks ago and I feel much more at home on the ST than I ever did on the VN. Having said that, it might not be fair because I never felt at home on the VN and found it very uncomfortable over any distance worth travelling. My wife loves it on the back of the ST and tells me it is much more comfortable than the VN although she does feel the wind more on it. A different screen and the fairing edge deflectors should help with that I think. I feel much more secure and much more a part of the bike on the ST and it gives a feeling of great security and control rather than just being along for the ride. While the ST weighs almost as much as the VN it doesn't feel it at all and I think it is much better balanced with a much more flexible and powerful motor. Get the ST and leave VN's in your dust :) Oh, but better make sure it's a blue one if you want to do that :)

Regards,

[Blrfl]

I added the ST to a VN750A9 but have had some time on a 'Nad. Give the transition a few weeks and you should be fine. The two big things are breaking in a different set of muscles and learning to relax and keep the weight off your wrists. The former takes a few weeks (you'll be sore) and the latter is just a matter of finding a good position and getting it into muscle memory. Both have about the same pig-in-the-parking-lot factor when you're doing the pushing, but put the ST under its own power and it almost completely vanishes. I don't ride two-up, but I do remember the passenger accomodations on the Noman being a bit lacking.

If you're trading in one of the green '99s, shame on you. They're gorgeous. :)

--Mark

[Ken]

I also came from a VN1500 and have never looked back. I loved the Vulcan for what it was -- a classic American bike -- but I truly appreciate the comfort, handling, speed, and amenities of the ST13. I am a (forever) converted rider.

[tdeboeser]

I came from a V-twin... a Sport twin (SuperHawk). Needless to say I think the ST will fit riders from sport bike to cruzers.

Tom de

[Clair]

Mustang ... I just purchased an '01 ST1100 last friday, so also a Newbie. I also ride a '04 Vulcan 750 and LOVE the nomads. If I had the money, and garage space, I'd have my 750 and a nomad, along with my ST and several other bikes. Sadly, Utah doesn't have a lotto (or any gambling for that matter) so I'm not likely to get rich enough for this dream any time soon. LOL

I LOVE my VN750 and have ridden it long distance. After a week of riding, I'm truly loving the ST1100 too. As mentioned earlier, the transition is easy enough and some will happen quickly. The riding posture is different and will just take a little time to get used to. It's more leaned forward than our cruisers, but not fully like a full sport bike. It just FEELS that way. LOL The bike will take the curves differently than our cruisers ... easier I feel. I was surprised how easily I took the twisties ... and faster. I've also found slow speeds easier on the ST1100 ... it seems to really carry the weight low whereas my VN750 is a bit higher. I was doing the MSF ERC box (figure 8) on my 3rd try with the ST.

The most I've noticed for me is the pressure on the wrists. I may look into some risers to assist me here. It's not bad, but noticible. After 5.5 hours my right wrist was stiff. I need to work on a posture change for this I think.

Anyway, the change over is fairly easy. They're two different style bikes so you really can't compare the two directly. V-Twins are what they are and I LOVE my VN750. But the ST's ... they are what they are, and so far it's been a smile a minutes! :D

[Jedei]

Mustang, I traded my 1100 shadow spirit for my ST1300, at first the both the handling and throttle control of the ST seemed twitchy.

Lots more power out of the ST.

Before the Mrs.. would ride about 100 miles with me, now on the ST the longest trip we've taken is 400mi in one day.

She really likes the wind protection that the raised shield gives, and we actually carry on a conversation for most of the time we're riding.

The riding position didn't take hardly any time for my to adjust. It really is very up right, almost to the point of riding a standard.

[Northern Rob]

Get risers, a peg lowering kit, and a Russell custom seat, and you and your girlfriend would sooner sit on your ST than the living room couch. 100 miles, 800 miles, whatever...

[Wookie]

First time poster here. Thinking of trading in my Nomad for a ST 1300. I know some of you had cruisers before, did it take long to adjust to the different riding position? and will my girlfriend be comfy on the back? the longest rides she takes with me are maybe 100 miles or less. Thanks, Mick.

i just traded in my VT1100C2 (shadow sabre) for an 05 ST. never will i ride cruisers again. the smoothness is unbeleivable. it's like a hover bike. it feels like it's floating just off the ground. passenger pegs are great with a good sized and plush seat for the passenger. not to mention with the increased suspension travel in the rear Vs. a cruiser the passenger wont get her teeth knocked out when you hit a pothole.
:bow1: :biker:

[Kempo-STer]

i just traded in my VT1100C2 (shadow sabre) for an 05 ST. never will i ride cruisers again. the smoothness is unbeleivable. it's like a hover bike. it feels like it's floating just off the ground. passenger pegs are great with a good sized and plush seat for the passenger. not to mention with the increased suspension travel in the rear Vs. a cruiser the passenger wont get her teeth knocked out when you hit a pothole.
:bow1: :biker:


Scott DOES have the Hover Bike..
SToler? Time for the pic again :bow1: :03biker:

I came from a Virago 750 which I thought was an awesome first bike..
Clair mentioned this...I needed riser for the same thing she feels..I got numbness in my right hand due to the pushing forward and pressure on my wrists..I would then go up my arm and I would feel it through my neck and shoulder..

I got the risers from MCL (Motorcycle Larry) for 150..problem gone!

[gstanfield]

I go back and forth between the ST and a V-twin on a daily basis. Unless the weather is bad or I am going on a trip that requires the luggage I wil ride the VTX, but when it's bad weather or I'm needing to take stuff along the ST gets the nod. I enjoy both of them, but the ST is better on the open road due to it's fairings, and te VTX is (in my opinion) a cooler looking bike and more fun for riding around town. Bikes are like guitars though, they are all cool no matter what style and everyone should have as many as they can afford. :D

George

[ALANT]

Go for it, Mustang! I got off my Vulcan 1500 Classic in February and onto my 2004 Blue STeed. I've put 10,000 on it since then and really love the smoothness, power, and oh the handling is something else. I had a little problem with the handle bar positioning at first but that was easily cured with a Motorcycle Larry riser kit. The wife doesn't ride so I can't comment on that but she would love it if she'd just give it a chance. Another plus for the ST over the Nad is cleaning time. I loved the chrome but was starting to tire of the 2 plus hour effort is took to keep it looking sharp.

AlanT :04biker:

One more thing, the gas mileage is WAY better, 35-40 (at best) compared to 45-50. :)

[sherob]

It'll take you a few minutes to get used to the controls not being forward... other than that, zoom zoom zoom :D As the others have said, the little things can be fixed with risers or riding adjustments ;)

[crp5]

I was in the same boat several months ago. I have a VL1500 Intruder and the ST. The Intruder is a good bike, but I find myself always (and I mean always) going to the ST when it's time to ride. I have put 4000 miles on the ST since May and the Intruder only has 2500 miles since new in 2003.
It didn't take long at all to adjust, but I was cautious with all the new found power and handling. As for the wife / girlfriend....my wife won't even consider going for a ride on my Intruder now that she's been on the ST. She says the ST is much more comfortable even with the stock seat. Guess I wasted the $500+ on the Intruder Mustang seat.

Best of luck...you will love the ST.

[John]

Hi, Mick. ST1300 owners are as loyal to the brand as any bike group I've ever seen. I read a lot of praise for the bike on this and other sites, so there is no doubt in my mind that these folks are very sincere. Anyway, after a year of thinking about the ST and reading all the praise, I finally sold my 02 Road Glide with 21,000 trouble-free miles on it and bought an 05 ST last July. I flew from northern California to Las Vegas and purchased an as-new bike with 1250 miles on it. I then rode the bike 611 miles to my house, in 100 degree plus weather (110 near Death Vly). I had no trouble adjusting to the bike. I am 6'2" and 230 pounds, but the seat was terrible. My knees didn't trouble me, but after that trip I did put risers on (MCL); they have helped. I wish that I had taken the advice another member gave you about the Russell seat, but I didn't want to wait, so I bought another brand. That was a costly mistake. I have now put an additional 5000 miles on the bike, and I like it. In thirty-eight years of bike ownership and continual riding, I have never owned a bike that is as smooth and as fast (but I've been on twins except for a new Goldwing in '83). The ST definately has it's own charisma, but it also has its foibles. It is very top heavy at parking-lot speeds, so be careful. My Harley was very easy to do slow turns with. In the last MSF class I took, I did tighter figure eights on the HD than anyone else in the class, including the BMWs. I also made the fastest stop of the day, all contrary to what those who know nothing about current HD's will tell you. However, the ST is the fastest stopping bike I have ever been on (ABS), and it is hard for me to imagine that any other bike can best it, though I'm sure they're out there. Also, the ST has too much throttle lash, which I do not like at all. In addition, it has a crunchy feel when shifting, especially from first to second. The protection from the environment is not better than my HD, which surprised me because I have read so many comments that say otherwise, but of course those riders may have moved to the ST from bikes with little or no protection. My wife is comfortable on the ST (with the backrest on), but the wind for her is much worse than on the HD. I will deal with that soon. I am not sorry to have the ST in my garage. I ride it almost every day, and I appreciate it, but for me it is not quite as fantastic as I believed it would be. I put in ten-hour days on my HD, and for my tired old beat up body it was actually more comfortable on long distance rides, but I do enjoy the ST a lot, and if I had purchased the Russell saddle, I think it would be great for endless hours. Best of luck.

John

[Fireball18]

The first time I ever rode an ST was years ago on a friend's ST1100. My ride was a Kawasaki Voyager XII. It took me approximately 2 miles to get adjusted to the different position of the controls, then only a short distance to realize I had left my friend waaaay behind on the curvy road we were on. A few miles later during a passing maneuver, I also realized that I could get into serious "go to jail" trouble riding that bike. Way smooth, fast and comfortable. All of the same things applied to my ST1300, except a few years and more maturity later, it turned out to be an ideal mount. Sadly, I had to give it up for physical reasons and go back to a Gold Wing. I don't regret the switch, though, but the ST will forever remain a hallmark time in my motorcycling career. Damn the arthritis, anyway!!