Am I the only crazy one here that totally still loves his 1100 over his 1300?

[Mcreviver]

< From my cold dead fingers.

[MV_Dave]

< From my cold dead fingers.

Sounds like you need grip heaters!

I too am very happy with my 1100. It does everything I need it to do plus its better looking and more economical than a 1300!

[Mcreviver]

I have grip heaters. If they are on when I croak, that will make it easier to pry me off the 1100.

[sirepair]

I LOVE my ol' 1100 too! She's alot like me; not as pretty as she was when younger, getting more gray (FADED Candy Glory Red) all the time, and makes a few more creaks when moved about!

I spent a few days on a 1300. Likes: Power windshield, brakes, extra ponies. Not enough to give up the 1100!

I ride 2 up alot, and the 1100 is a bit longer in the saddle and wheel base, so I feel it's better for 2up.

I like an instrument panel that I can read in direct sunlight.

I'm perfectly OK with carbs. Don't particularly care for linked brakes and/or ABS (mine is a standard). Like that I can leave the saddle bags unlocked but latched so I don't have to mess with keys to open them.

If I had to get another ST bike tomorrow, I would buy another 1100 (well, unless I win the Lottery, then it might be a K1600!)

[bigdawg]

I have both an 02 st1100 and an 06 st1300. They are both great bikes and I love them equally for different reasons, many of them mentioned already. I didn't want to give up one for the other and plan on taking turns on them for many years to come. It's like having two girlfriends without the guilt and danger of getting caught

[Tommy Lee]

It's like having two girlfriends without the guilt and danger of getting caught

Dont fool yourself ! HA

Tommy

[ST1100Y]

Yes the 13 has more power but candidly, that's it. I dislike the instrumentation (cant see it very well), dislike the short wheelbase for the freeway commute, dislike the suspension, dislike the uncontrollable idle of 2500 in the morning, dislike the higher RPM hence poorer gas mileage, etc. The ST1100 is to motorcycling as the SR-71 was to flight...way ahead of its time.

Agree wholeheartly...

Being rented over an entire weekend the 1300 had its fair chance on me back then, solo as well as with pillion aboard...

- ergos not right for my height/seize
- nearly impossible to get the side stand out without looking down (size 13 boots...)
- can't adjust the handlebar
- clutch and brake lever located too upward for my height, cannot tilt them down (banjos already contacting the bar), uncomfortable on wrists
- shiny brake and clutch handles sparkling in the rearviews, highly irritating
- reflections on instrument glass makes it hard, occassionally impossible to decypher anything, like the fuel gauge there
- idiot lights and t/singnal indicators are hidden from me (useless, they could as well be located on the belly pan or tail cone then...)
- shape and angle of seat causing uncomfortable pressure in crotch area
- the rattling engine noise is simply intolerable (would anyone buy a luxury, long distance car where you'be annoyed by engine noise??!)
- engine vibration transfers badly into seat/crotch area, handle bar and footpegs
- very clunky gerabox, having a hard time getting my foot under the shift lever, I occassionally had to change to 'motocross style' and shift with the heel from the front side...
- skittish handling/steering at low speed (like urban traffic, filtering, parking lot...)
- massive, annoying push/pull response from that EFI throttle, not even possible to cruise along with ~30mph, minimal throttle movement when hitting a minor dent is already causing your/the passenger's head being thrown back and forth
- difficult to dose, literally 'digital' brakes
- in combination with the jumpy throttle response, the brakes gave me a very hard time riding through narrow turns like hairpins
- together with the skittish steering I then finally managed to made like '12 corners' into just every turn... so that's what 'character' means: having to fight with the bike in just every corner??
- verry harsh suspension, hammering every single pebble right through into handlebar an saddle

issues for pillion:
- less evelated to rider (couldn't see over my shoulders in turns)
- a way too upright position (see handlebar not adjustable)
- overall cramped, her helmet's chin guard always knocking on my shoulders, hard to turn her head from left to right as actually my head/helmet gets in the way
- throttle and brake responses tremendously annoying, impossible to avoid 'turtle kisses'
- odd forward shape of panniers contacting her calfs, thus forcing her feet beeing too forward on footpegs, thus cannot push her heels down while braking to get grip on footpegs, thus sliding around helplessly

issues for me with pillion
- hanging on me like a bag of wet dirt, very cramped, hindering shoulder and ellbow/arm movement, thus proper operation of vehicle
- pushing my butt forward on any decelleration, the required frequent slipping back of both persons just adding even more disturbance on the mount
- her boots/toes constantly conflicting my lower calfs/ankle
- every small movement of passenger, like raising an arm to point at something is upsetting the vehicle massively
- very harsh suspension hammering rider and pillion to pieces, very wearing on long hauls...
- being constantly asked if engine and gearbox are broken over the vibes, odd sounds and clunks at gear changes

observation on traffic:
- due the lower, squat profile the 1300 appears smaller, thus taken less serous on approach or in the next lane; car drivers behaive as if they'd judged you as a 50cc scoot...

positive observation:
- enough horsies to keep a chasing VRF750 at respectfull distance


And the real hammer hits you when you mount your ancient ST1100 again after such a weekend testride...
- also with two up there is lots of SPACE!!
- and that seat, oh so comfortable...
- sufficient legroom for both people
- the sportier sligthly forward position
- all controls are just there where they belong,
- I can clearly see ALL instruments and indicators
- no objects sparkling in the rearviews
- it soo easy to sort out your sidestand lever, without having to look,
- you don't notice the engine, wasn't sure if its realy running at first
- no vibrations
- the gears slip in gently without any noise or efforts
- the effortless steering
- already while pulling out the dealer's parking lot: SMOOOOTH !!!
- so gently dosed brakes
- that jet like, smooth and steady propulsion of the engine
- that luxury suspension, you barely feel the unevenness of the road
- the total sturdy line of that mount
- no wiggling the handlebar to keep it straight at slow speeds
- stable, you roll towards a red light, apply brakes, the front dives slightly, the bike stopps, the forks decompress, and then you put your foot down...
- cagers back off significantly from an appearently huge motorcycle


To each its own, but that 1300 is just not made for me.

[bayoubear]

I think I would still have my ST11 if some butt hole had not run me over back in '05 . I love my ST13 but would not have purchased it if not for the attempt on my life . I barely knew this bike . I got the tag in the mail the day after it was totaled . I had been riding a friends ST11 while he was working insurance claims up north for several months which is why I wanted one.

[STBNE]

I cant say my only demo ride of a 1300 was a negative experience...in fact I did love the fuel injection and playing with the electric windscreen...but then the gauges did wash out in bright sun and the overall design of the bodywork just does not appeal to me...it never has. If I were to upgrade to another ST it wouldnt be the ST1300...It would more than likely be a Yamaha FJR1300 though...However I cant see getting rid of my ST1100 anytime soon...

[PQ11]

The only way to solve that existential problem, is to own both. Just like two loves at the same time.

Never leave your three...

Better air protection, low cost, cheap gas is fine and what else.
New technology, for what ?
To please nostalgy...
Are we satisfy with something when we have spare change extra ? Not sure... The main thing for being happy is to ride on anything... Specially a broom !