Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 20??

Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

You are able to perform the "simple fixes" yet this doesn't escape the fact that it's a hassle to disassemble plastic to get at the windscreen tracks and hose clamps. The bearings are not simple to guys who don't have a drift or wherewithal to tackle a bearing replacement. I bought a bike to ride, not one that I have to spend half a day tearing into the inner reaches to repair stuff that could have been designed better right out of the gate (or with update.) BTW, I also forgot the stuck thermostat.
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I didn't even change the bearings myself, although I do almost all my own maintenance. I just got the guys who mounted my tire to drive them out. They had replacements on the shelf (and they are not even a Honda dealer) and it cost me about $75 in total. The equivalent repair on an RT is $600 - $1000++ and requires a BMW specialist to shim it correctly when it is reasembled.

BMWs remain popular because, despite the fact that German engineers have become obsessed with technical innovation (at the expense of simplicity and reliability) they are fun to ride. And BMW leads the market in gadgets and trinkets and knows how to package them for maximum profit. When they are running, they work well. Because they are expensive, they are generally purchased by people who can afford to take them to the dealer to be repaired. And because they are expensive, owners tend to be willing to spend more on their maintenance to keep them on the road, so they remain on the road longer.

At our BMW rally last weekend, I bet there were almost as many airhead GSs (80's - 90's) as there were new ones. A nice original airhead GS can sell for $8000 today, because there is such a demand for the older ones. Why? Because unlike the current BMWs, you can repair them yourself.

I'm not trying to be an apologist for Honda. I'm trying to be a realist. If Honda was going to update the ST13, I believe that they would have done it by now.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

As to changing wheel bearings, I did just that on lipSTick's rear wheel last week. In Petar's driveway. With a hand axe as a hammer and a 3/8 drive 8" extension as a drift. In the heat (107). Try that with a BMW. :rofl1: Seriously, the 1100 at least is so easy to work on I've done a complete brake caliper rebuild in the field. And a motor swap too, if we count Digiamo's 93 at ACL's shop a couple years ago. Haven't worked on 1300s much but assume they are nearly the same.

I understand the frustrations some must feel when their "perfect" bike lets them down. I'm here to tell ya, tho, they can all will ALL do it eventually. Ya buys yur ticket 'n ya takes yur chances. Don't like an ST? Got get something else. Great thing about this forum, all are welcome. :D
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

The ST1300 replacement is already out! It comes in the manner of a 1100cc "standard". All you have to do is add saddlebags and a fairing and instant Sport Touring!

Now, as soon as Craig Vetter gets on making the fairing and Saddle Bags, we'll be set!

So, take one new CB1100
2013-cb1100.jpg

Add a Vetter Windjammer
1972-Windjammer-200.jpg

Add some Vetter Saddlebags and topcase
1977-Vetter-saddlebags-web.jpg

And Bingo! A new Sport Touring model from Honda!
Vetter-resto-GL-sep-flat.jpg

Okay, so I couldn't find any pictures of a new CB1100 with those attached...:rofl1:
 
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Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

SupraSabre said:
And Bingo! A new Sport Touring model from Honda!
Vetter-resto-GL-sep-flat.jpg
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I owned this exact bike a few years ago (even the same color). Replaced it with my ST1300. It had the most comfortable seat (pictured) that I've ever travelled on. I wonder what that seat would look like on the ST13?
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

GlenT said:
I owned this exact bike a few years ago (even the same color). Replaced it with my ST1300. It had the most comfortable seat (pictured) that I've ever travelled on. I wonder what that seat would look like on the ST13?
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It looks like the old Corbin saddle they used to make. I always wanted one for my V65 Sabre, but they quit making them before I got it.

corbintourseat1.jpg
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

sherob said:
go ride.
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+1
.02...93,000mi, the few times it didn't start I left a farkle turned on. 12? - 104? it starts when I hit the go button 3 bars.
It doesn't live in a garage, it gets ridden if there isn't ice on the road it's stable at bike impounded speeds.
Replaced wear items and dealer error; tars, fluids, brake pads, pinch bolts, muffler clamp, caliper bolts.
defective items, t-stat, bearings windshield adjuster etc. $0.

I owe it fork seals I can live with that.
Oh and another light bulb, guess which one LOL.
If '14 brings no change I get another year of supported replacement parts.
If there is an update mines still pretty low miles for a Honda, they aren't getting my money.
All in all not bad for a dinosaur.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

SupraSabre said:
It looks like the old Corbin saddle they used to make. I always wanted one for my V65 Sabre, but they quit making them before I got it.
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That seat was actually more or less a hollow shell with some kind of springs under it (like a couch). I've only heard of people refer to it as a 'King and Queen' seat, but they were very popular on the original GL1000's. Never found any markings on mine.
Nev
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

I had Vetter trunk and Windjammer III on my GL1000. Added soft bags. I'd be willing to do the same to that CB1100 if somebody makes chain > shaft conversion kit.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

ST Gui said:
I had Vetter trunk and Windjammer III on my GL1000. Added soft bags. I'd be willing to do the same to that CB1100 if somebody makes chain > shaft conversion kit.
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Or a chain > belt conversion kit... It's the best of all worlds, lighter than the others, quiet and no snatch.
 
Re: Replacement for ST1300 ?

I can not quote every single one but here it goes;

st1100 took 12 years to change says, I say it has been 11 years for the st1300 so they should do something.

Niche product says, but it does not sell much? What a niche than. If sale number is the criteria forks and spoons are the second most awesome things after the nails.
Small displacement bikes at 3rd world countries which has the highest amount of population so the sales is not a criteria for this forum. 125cc buzzers are nothing to do with comparison to st1300 short comings.
Ford can not say "ooo i cant sell more than 4 million so i cant fix the windshield wipers.." yet Bugatti is producing nothing 4 million but updating like crazy. If you sell that means you can update.
Still no answer to my question here; if not enough sell numbers why still produceing st1300? Cease production than.
BMW is a dream company, cars and bikes all world knows it is the real NICHE. Honda come up with crosstourer and couldnt even come close to gs. Every area got beaten up by gs. I am a honda owner and i am saying this if you can imagine. If you guys talk civic now that is a different story. Perfection at the top for its class.
St13 needs upgrades, honda is actin like a mule to not better it so other companies selling more share of their own.
I say to honda this; stop the nonsense with vfr1200f and call it dead, work on the st1300 platform and create the best tourer. In other words be the BMW. What BMW do? They bring the best machine in comparison to the others. Even it has glitches people don't care.
So if honda can open its ears and listen to the CUSTOMERS, may be they can get out of the dark side... :)
What ever the numbers says, I believe a lot of people still looking for capable tourers. Comfortable seating, leg rest, speed, gadgets, reliability. They choose others because honda didnt do his job for long years with st1300. That is why they are not selling as much, and they deserve those sell numbers in my opinion.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

There's a good review of touring bikes in the October issue of RIDE magazine,(UK mag) the ST1300 is in there along with the FJR and BMW r1200rt and K1600gt,Triumph trophy se and the kawa 1400gtr.
Predictably the st1300 was very good but they favoured the more modern bikes. The FJR and the bmw's seemed to be their top picks.
They also have a used buying guide to budget tourers in different price ranges and the ST1100 came out as their top recommendation in it's price range.
In another article I see a very good quote from a guy who was being told by sports bike riders that his touring bike was 'dull'- he said he'd rather have 'comfort and cornering ability than a sore back and unusable speed'
 
Re: Replacement for ST1300 ?

STPaulK said:
It's not nonsense when it's selling well over in Europe.
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:plus1:.........sounds more like some just wanna have the 'new thing' that's out. Lots of great scoots out there besides our STeeds folks!.....including Beemers. My 21yr.old STeed suits my 'needs' just fine, and in many ways suits a vast majority of riding styles, depending how it is set up comfort-wise and suspension-wise. Veratility, won't find MANY other scoots to accomodate, unless you go with a variety of dual-sports offered out there, but that is extreme ends of both riding spectrums. In a nutshell, some are never happy and always wanting more of whatever it is their searching for:confused:.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

Badger said:
Do we have Honda employees here posting to protect Honda at any cost?
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No, we do not. Honda keeps at arm's length from sites like this one. File the reason under "too many lawyers."
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

Badger said:
Do we have Honda employees here posting to protect Honda at any cost?
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All I was doing was pointing out that your perception of the VFR as a wasted effort by Honda is not the reality here. I actually hate the new VFR but that doesn't matter one bit to Honda because it's selling reasonably well elsewhere. My opinion is that Honda has lost whatever share they had in the sport touring market long ago and it's not worth it to them to introduce a redesigned ST to a limited (and now shrinking) market. They will just keep trying to milk whatever they can out of the 1300 to recoup their cost.
 
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Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

Vfr1200f .......
The king of the "why vfr1200f is not selling" forums.
Over priced, shortest range of a tourer (but hey you can ride around your block without a problem), with identity crisis, bad gas mileage.
Second hand sales are devastating... huge loss of money.
Lacking almost everything as a tourer that i am not going to even waste my time.
Heavy for a daily commuter, also slow for a speed bike.
Yes it has more power than st1300 and lighter weight but it is not a tourer, you can never employ the accessories on it like you do on an st1300. That is why it is not selling.
But hey, lots of interesting crowd of people who will support it for their lives. They even claim that it is the best space ship that can go to moon.
I personally never come up to a forum which was like "why bmw (or any other brand) is not selling? Vfr1200f achieved that.
They say "in europe it is selling", maybe they have a government mandate for them ??? Who knows :)


On the other hand ST1300 is a very awesome platform for a tourer. Treated like a step kid. No updates or advancements. All have the same song goes like "well it is not stelling much"... Kind of like they come up from the same lathe machine...

I wished BMW patented the ST1300, it would be more pricier but at least it would be updated yearly and i believe it would be selling like crazy.
I really belive an st1300 with 50 less pounds, 10 more horse power, with heated grips, cruise control, sound system, gear indicator will sell like crazy. It will steal from every manufacturer present today.
If the motoguzzi tourer, which is retarded in every aspect sells their bikes, no one can claim that there is not enough market share. There is, it is just the St1300 sucks at it for now.
 
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Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

Shuey said:
Uh . . . how would we know? :think1::shrug1:

Shuey
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I was told so by Honda corporate reps at the VFR introduction in VT. I asked why they didn't appear to seek insight from ST riders via websites like ST-O. They told me that they are required by Honda to stay at arm's length from such sites and cited issues with the use of copyrighted names as well as the potential for liability if they offered advice which turned out to be inaccurate or was misinterpreted...too many lawyers.
 
Re: Replacement for the Honda ST1300 in 2014?

I'd bet Honda uses this site and many others to glean free market information.
There's no upside for them to post and a lot of down side if they did.
Forget the lawyers it's just not good business sense.
 
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