Hello all.
We're new to ST1300 ownership, but not motorcycles. I have been riding since the early 70's and slowly progressed up to the ST1300. It is probably going to be the last new one ever sold in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, now that imports have ceased.
We have a 1987 CBR1000F that was getting a bit tired, and when the ST1300 first came out, we test rode one - for four days touring in the Atherton Tablelands. We weren't greatly impressed with the two position, bolted on screen, or the amount of heat on the pillions legs etc, so passed it over in favour of a newer version of the CBR1000F (1995). Now, ten years later, after much refinement, including all sorts of heat deflectors, an electric driven adjustable screen and the addition of fuel injection etc, the ST1300's are to be no more.................so I grabbed one for $16,990 on the road with 12 months Registration.
A Top Buy as far as I'm concerned and my wife much prefers the seat on this to the 1995 CBR1000F and most probably the VFR1200 that I was contemplating.
We've done many longer distance touring trips over the years, including some such as the 2011 and 2012 Black Dog Rides and a Far Ride (Iron Butt at your place), so the ST1300 should lift our comfort factor to a new level.
All I need to get for now, is a Cruise Control, preferable with a servo motor, rather than the vacuum operated variety, unless there are all sorts of horror stories out there about them.
Regards
John & Andrea Crocombe