Send a message to Honda ?

Uncle Phil · Mar 21, 2017

scootac said:
I did my research.
In Montana.
No wobble.

I did my research on the Autobahn in Germany at 120-130 Mph+ sustained. I encountered front end lightness that would have turned into a wobble if I continued. Since I'm rather fond of not crashing, I backed off. It occurred if the windshield was up any position at all. All the way down and me tucked in, it was fine. I had to maintain the speed for a little while before it happened (which is easy enough on the Autobahn ;-)). So I believe it has to do with an aerodynamic lift created by the position of the windshield and how the suspension is set up on the bike.
The ST1300 did have the Honda top box on it. And it turns out it was going to initially be a police bike (solid white) before the mess erupted over in the U.K. where the Scottish police bike tester was killed from the 'weave'.

jonjonboo · Mar 21, 2017

scootac said:
I did my research.
In Montana.
No wobble.

congratulations

Mellow · Mar 21, 2017

I can get just about any bike I've ever had to do some sort of wobble/tank slapper...

The ST is prone to this and I personally fee it's just aerodynamics more than anything.. or we'd see similar complaints from the FJR/RT/K1600 guys...

It could be they didn't do as good of a job w/saddlebag design and the turbulence causes issues... why else would the OEM Pan Top Box be designed to move a little?

Anyway, you can probably get any of them to do a high speed wobble.. maybe some are more prone to others.. dirty air next to large vehicles/trucks definitely exposes the weakness.

Still a great bike and even though all my bikes, current and past, would do over 100.. I don't spend much time there as there's no point so the ST was still a great bike for me when I had it.. still wish I did actually.

jonjonboo · Mar 21, 2017

I still have mine--still cant get above 100 mph without it getting squirrely--still love it though and it handles like a dream (below 100 mph) eating miles with excellent performance and economy. Just believe this "high speed wobble" problem is a big reason for the ST1300 getting the axe.

Blrfl · Mar 21, 2017

Here's the thing about ST1300s: Other than mine, I've only ever seen a total of 75-100 in the flesh. I can't prove that any beyond those exist, and the lot of you could be lying about owning one.

--Mark

Mellow · Mar 21, 2017

Blrfl said:
Here's the thing about ST1300s: Other than mine, I've only ever seen a total of 75-100 in the flesh. I can't prove that any beyond those exist, and the lot of you could be lying about owning one.

--Mark

Gotta love photoshop...

Coolhand · Mar 21, 2017

He may be referring to the Rune...that was a limited 1-2 year run.

Uncle Phil said:
Maybe it was one of the 'new' Valks that they came out with in 2013.

ArTravlR · Mar 21, 2017

scootac said:
I did my research.
In Montana.
No wobble.

Do you have a top case installed? What is your weight? Didn't European 'Opinions' point in that direction? I don't know, I have an 1100.

Uncle Phil · Mar 21, 2017

Coolhand said:
He may be referring to the Rune...that was a limited 1

Nope, they came out with the 'new' one, IIRC, in 2013. Same idea - stripped down Goldwing - 1800 this time. But it sure didn't do anything for me.
I'm still happily stuck on my ST1100s! It is interesting that the ST1100 was designed by Honda of Germany to compete with the BMWs of the era. The Pans, as they call them, are much bigger across the pond than they are over here (or at least much more desired). Honda pretty much appeared to have the police market over there sewed up with the ST1100. When the Scottish fatal accident happened on the ST1300, it pretty much killed it for the plod work over there.

Mellow · Mar 21, 2017

Coolhand said:
He may be referring to the Rune...that was a limited 1-2 year run.

Right the Rune showed up after the old valk was discontinued but then honda brought the valk back:
http://powersports.honda.com/2015/gold-wing-valkyrie.aspx

jonjonboo · Mar 21, 2017

I kind of like that but not interested---I will be getting an F6B Deluxe in my near future. perhaps the replacement of the ST1300

:

Coolhand · Mar 21, 2017

Uncle Phil said:
Nope, they came out with the 'new' one, IIRC, in 2013. Same idea - stripped down Goldwing - 1800 this time. But it sure didn't do anything for me.
I'm still happily stuck on my ST1100s! It is interesting that the ST1100 was designed by Honda of Germany to compete with the BMWs of the era. The Pans, as they call them, are much bigger across the pond than they are over here (or at least much more desired). Honda pretty much appeared to have the police market over there sewed up with the ST1100. When the Scottish fatal accident happened on the ST1300, it pretty much killed it for the plod work over there.

Ahhh, that's right. I was thinking the Valk was rechristened the F6B, but they did (do) have a separate Valkyrie, even if it's the same bike with a different headlight nacelle . =)

MNKid · Mar 21, 2017

Blrfl said:
Here's the thing about ST1300s: Other than mine, I've only ever seen a total of 75-100 in the flesh. I can't prove that any beyond those exist, and the lot of you could be lying about owning one.

--Mark

You need to go to Moonshine. At the hotel it looks like a ST1300 convention.

Mellow · Mar 21, 2017

jonjonboo said:
I kind of like that but not interested---I will be getting an F6B Deluxe in my near future. perhaps the replacement of the ST1300 :

Coolhand said:
Ahhh, that's right. I was thinking the Valk was rechristened the F6B, but they did (do) have a separate Valkyrie, even if it's the same bike with a different headlight nacelle . =)

Yeah, no idea why they'd bring the Valk back when the F6B is basically the same thing... looks a little different ... the Valk is more of a cruiser of course and the F6B is like the old Valk Tourer w/bags.

scootac · Mar 21, 2017

ArTravlR said:
Do you have a top case installed? What is your weight? Didn't European 'Opinions' point in that direction? I don't know, I have an 1100.

No top case but had dry bags strapped on rear seat.
Total wt me and bags....260 ish.

scootac · Mar 21, 2017

Blrfl said:
Here's the thing about ST1300s: Other than mine, I've only ever seen a total of 75-100 in the flesh. I can't prove that any beyond those exist, and the lot of you could be lying about owning one.

--Mark

:bow1:
I think you are on to something!!!

wjbertrand · Mar 21, 2017

No wobble with my 05 up to 130+ MPH. No top box though. Everything I've ever read about any motorcycle is that you should keep it under 80 MPH when a top box is in place. I've pushed that a little with my top box, but not too much. As far as police departments dropping them due to the wobble I think this was only the case in the U.K. They eventually put it down to the off center light tower on the back of the bike.

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ArTravlR · Mar 21, 2017

scootac said:
No top case but had dry bags strapped on rear seat.
Total wt me and bags....260 ish.

So, is it safe to assume there will be no wobble when or if I buy the 1300 since I don't use a top case? I doubt that. Honda extended the length of the CTX1300 by five inches (64.5 vs 58.7)? (I know it's a cruiser but my point is Honda is lengthening their bikes in general.) In fact most of the newer small displacement bikes have a longer wheel base than the 1300. An example is the CTX700 @ 60.2 inches. The 1100 has 61.2 inches and my old CBR100F has a wheelbase of 59.1 and my VFR800 has a wheelbase of 57.4 & the VFR1200X is 62.8 & the Rebel 500 is 58.7 inches.

scootac · Mar 21, 2017

ArTravlR said:
So, is it safe to assume there will be no wobble when or if I buy the 1300 since I don't use a top case? .

From my 'research', that is correct.

Extending the wheelbase is only done to emulate the cruisers.
Which given their popularity...prove them to be a far superior design.

Let's just keep beating this dead horse for a couple more years.

jonjonboo · Mar 21, 2017

I have never had a top box on my ST1300 so that has never contributed to my wobble problem. When I say it wobbles at speeds over 100 mph I am refering to actual GPS 100 mph--not the incorrect ST1300 speedo mph. I have changed head bearings and even removed my windshield for speed testing --still wobbled. Then removed saddlebags--guess what--still wobbled.

Send a message to Honda ?

Uncle Phil

jonjonboo

Mellow

Joe

jonjonboo

Blrfl

Natural Rider Enhancement

Mellow

Joe

Coolhand

ArTravlR

Uncle Phil

Mellow

Joe

jonjonboo

Coolhand

MNKid

Mellow

Joe

scootac

Will Ride for Food

scootac

Will Ride for Food

wjbertrand

Ventura Highway

ArTravlR

scootac

Will Ride for Food

jonjonboo