beta
09-24-2005, 10:37 PM
THIS IS THE INTRO PART.
I've been lurking here, and at ST-N for a number of months and recently joined up as a member although this is my first post.
I have been bike-less for a number of years, sport bikes, mostly but a number of British bikes before that, My interest was rekindled when I rode my brother in laws Harley Ultra Classic. Man, this thing is BIG, fun though in a farm implement sort of way, I decided that I was ready for a "gentlemans" bike rather than a crotch rocket or something designed to mix paint, (although I will admit I was sorely tempted to buy a VFR). After several months of lurking here, Cycle Trader and any number of other sites, I determined the ST1100 was the bike for me.
Well, New Mexico is a big state though very sparsley populated so there were no ST's to be found, travelling was going to be mandatory. Finally found the combination I had been looking for, late model, low miles ABS, and affordable. BINGO, 2002 in SoCal, 11K miles with ABS, and competetively priced, excellent condition mechanically and cosmetically. Flew in, looked her over wrote a check and away we go, 840 mile ride for a first impression.
IF YOU ARE BORED ALREADY, THIS IS THE RIDE REPORT PART.
Okay, the stock seat sucks, but I knew that already (see I was paying attention), about two and a half hours was all I could stand, but a short break helped tremendously, and it has been many years since I rode that long. After half an hour I was ready to go again. New seat, top of list.
Some buffeting, but the ride was windy anyway, the stock windshield I am sure didn't help matters. Quite a bit of noise with my Shoei RF1000 helmet but ear plugs helped a lot. Maybe a new windshield, not sure yet.
Some buzziness in the bars about 5000 to 6000 RPM, my hands used to go to sleep on my sport bikes but the more upright riding position on the ST helped delay this. I've read that carb sync may smooth this out but after market grips/ gloves may also be a solution . I don't know how much buzz is inherent as I have no other ST to compare it too. Suggestions?
This thing up an moves out, almost electro-motive in power delivery, I was very impressed, made me lazy, I would stay in top gear and just roll on the throttle to pass, I am sure that downshifting and getting into the upper part of the power band would make for more fun, I will find out, not too much in the way of curves for twisty excitment on this ride, but we have some good ones here to play on.
OMG, the brakes are tremendous, nothing else to say about that.
By the way, wore a t-shirt and a Fieldsheer Ti-mesh jacket, excellent airflow and confidence in CE armor and back protection, kept me relatively cool throught the Mojave between Barstow and Needles. I stopped for the night in Flagstaff after 500 plus miles, it was in the low 40'sF and windy early the next AM, but I wore a fleece sweatshirt under the jacket until I hit Gallup and was very comfortable.
OK I"M ALMOST DONE (I TOLD YOU IT WAS LONG).
A few other observations.
The gas gauge indicated empty (without the light coming on ) but I could only put about 3.5 gals to fill her up, I recall reading something about being able to recalibrate it.
My biggest pet peeve, the clutch engage/disengage point is is at the very beginning of travel, I went to my local Honda dealer (remember I am in New Mexico) and they didn't have a clue on whether this is adjustable.
I searched and couldn't find anything to to indicate that it IS adjustable, I will buy a manual and try to make it more user friendly, if not I know i can live with it.
Bike was very dirty after arriving home, as per suggestions on this forum, I used Plexus after washing the bike. This stuff works great, smells good too, unfortunately, it seems bees like it as well, (don't ask).
Glad to be a non-lurker finally, time to get a STOC #. No "southwest" contingent so I guess I'll be more likely to hook up with the Texas ST-er's (seems to be quite a few on the board). I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the fine art of New Mexico green chile vs Tex-Mex cooking. Bring it on. Hope I can contribute, glad to be here.
Warmest regards,
Jeff Tovey (beta)
I've been lurking here, and at ST-N for a number of months and recently joined up as a member although this is my first post.
I have been bike-less for a number of years, sport bikes, mostly but a number of British bikes before that, My interest was rekindled when I rode my brother in laws Harley Ultra Classic. Man, this thing is BIG, fun though in a farm implement sort of way, I decided that I was ready for a "gentlemans" bike rather than a crotch rocket or something designed to mix paint, (although I will admit I was sorely tempted to buy a VFR). After several months of lurking here, Cycle Trader and any number of other sites, I determined the ST1100 was the bike for me.
Well, New Mexico is a big state though very sparsley populated so there were no ST's to be found, travelling was going to be mandatory. Finally found the combination I had been looking for, late model, low miles ABS, and affordable. BINGO, 2002 in SoCal, 11K miles with ABS, and competetively priced, excellent condition mechanically and cosmetically. Flew in, looked her over wrote a check and away we go, 840 mile ride for a first impression.
IF YOU ARE BORED ALREADY, THIS IS THE RIDE REPORT PART.
Okay, the stock seat sucks, but I knew that already (see I was paying attention), about two and a half hours was all I could stand, but a short break helped tremendously, and it has been many years since I rode that long. After half an hour I was ready to go again. New seat, top of list.
Some buffeting, but the ride was windy anyway, the stock windshield I am sure didn't help matters. Quite a bit of noise with my Shoei RF1000 helmet but ear plugs helped a lot. Maybe a new windshield, not sure yet.
Some buzziness in the bars about 5000 to 6000 RPM, my hands used to go to sleep on my sport bikes but the more upright riding position on the ST helped delay this. I've read that carb sync may smooth this out but after market grips/ gloves may also be a solution . I don't know how much buzz is inherent as I have no other ST to compare it too. Suggestions?
This thing up an moves out, almost electro-motive in power delivery, I was very impressed, made me lazy, I would stay in top gear and just roll on the throttle to pass, I am sure that downshifting and getting into the upper part of the power band would make for more fun, I will find out, not too much in the way of curves for twisty excitment on this ride, but we have some good ones here to play on.
OMG, the brakes are tremendous, nothing else to say about that.
By the way, wore a t-shirt and a Fieldsheer Ti-mesh jacket, excellent airflow and confidence in CE armor and back protection, kept me relatively cool throught the Mojave between Barstow and Needles. I stopped for the night in Flagstaff after 500 plus miles, it was in the low 40'sF and windy early the next AM, but I wore a fleece sweatshirt under the jacket until I hit Gallup and was very comfortable.
OK I"M ALMOST DONE (I TOLD YOU IT WAS LONG).
A few other observations.
The gas gauge indicated empty (without the light coming on ) but I could only put about 3.5 gals to fill her up, I recall reading something about being able to recalibrate it.
My biggest pet peeve, the clutch engage/disengage point is is at the very beginning of travel, I went to my local Honda dealer (remember I am in New Mexico) and they didn't have a clue on whether this is adjustable.
I searched and couldn't find anything to to indicate that it IS adjustable, I will buy a manual and try to make it more user friendly, if not I know i can live with it.
Bike was very dirty after arriving home, as per suggestions on this forum, I used Plexus after washing the bike. This stuff works great, smells good too, unfortunately, it seems bees like it as well, (don't ask).
Glad to be a non-lurker finally, time to get a STOC #. No "southwest" contingent so I guess I'll be more likely to hook up with the Texas ST-er's (seems to be quite a few on the board). I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the fine art of New Mexico green chile vs Tex-Mex cooking. Bring it on. Hope I can contribute, glad to be here.
Warmest regards,
Jeff Tovey (beta)