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This is what Honda says about ST1300 stability issues.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ST1300
Another bike Hancock was instrumental in developing is the ST1300. The bike was launched in Europe in 2002, though it wasn’t a smooth introduction.
During Honda’s R&D track testing the ST1300 would ride fine for about two laps, but engine heat would change the consistency of the engine bolts, and the engine would come loose in the frame. Because the engine was acting as a stressed member and the swingarm pivoted in the cases, this would subsequently have a detrimental effect on handling.
And just to complicate matters more, because of varying production tolerances, some bikes weaved, some didn’t.
Hancock, who did development riding for the bike, knew about this weave. The day before the world press launch in France, he called the European national sales manager and expressed his concern that since work was still being done to resolve the stability issue, it might not be a good idea to let journalists ride the bikes, telling his European counterpart, “If they ride it on the road they’ll all complain about the stability.”
The ST1300 – it all looked good on paper, but then came the product launch. Image: Honda
Hancock was told it was too late to do anything about it, and was even accused of being “too critical”. The following day he got a phone call telling him he was right, and that every journalist who had ridden the machine had complained about its instability.
The solution was specific to each individual bike and required shimming the swingarm pivot bearings and then take it out and test ride it to make sure the weave was corrected. Every ST1300 produced since has been test-ridden before leaving the factory.
Even today, ST1300 swingarms need shimming at the factory to prevent weave. Photo: Honda
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ST1300
Another bike Hancock was instrumental in developing is the ST1300. The bike was launched in Europe in 2002, though it wasn’t a smooth introduction.
During Honda’s R&D track testing the ST1300 would ride fine for about two laps, but engine heat would change the consistency of the engine bolts, and the engine would come loose in the frame. Because the engine was acting as a stressed member and the swingarm pivoted in the cases, this would subsequently have a detrimental effect on handling.
And just to complicate matters more, because of varying production tolerances, some bikes weaved, some didn’t.
Hancock, who did development riding for the bike, knew about this weave. The day before the world press launch in France, he called the European national sales manager and expressed his concern that since work was still being done to resolve the stability issue, it might not be a good idea to let journalists ride the bikes, telling his European counterpart, “If they ride it on the road they’ll all complain about the stability.”
The ST1300 – it all looked good on paper, but then came the product launch. Image: Honda
Hancock was told it was too late to do anything about it, and was even accused of being “too critical”. The following day he got a phone call telling him he was right, and that every journalist who had ridden the machine had complained about its instability.
The solution was specific to each individual bike and required shimming the swingarm pivot bearings and then take it out and test ride it to make sure the weave was corrected. Every ST1300 produced since has been test-ridden before leaving the factory.
Even today, ST1300 swingarms need shimming at the factory to prevent weave. Photo: Honda
