Well, there ya go - all fast bikes are just ticking time bombs that for meek scardey cats can be disarmed with a simple mod .......
Well, there ya go - all fast bikes are just ticking time bombs that for meek scardey cats can be disarmed with a simple mod .......
Marshal_Mercer
Bumbleberry + Crumble = Yum!
Kent Brockman "Professor, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say it's time for our viewers to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?" Professor "Yes I would, Kent."
-- the Simpsons
-- the Simpsons
Too much pie?
jamesblaverty
I had a similar incident when I first purchased my ST. I was riding an interstate South from Ohio back to Dallas and experienced a high speed wobble on smooth surface at about 85 to 95 MPH. Never experienced it again. I would have hoped that the dealer checked the tire pressure before handing over the keys. Light to no load and no clue as to the cause.
longdog_cymru
A tourer without a top case ????
I posted this "obvious" question under the parallel UK police thread but will repeat it here: Won't get Honda to admit anything, but why do you think the top-case (rear trunk) ISN'T available in the US for the ST????
http://powersports.honda.com/2010/st1300/build.aspx
...... and don't give me any "distribution problems", or "limited sales", etc. when one IS available from the factory for the VFR1200 and NT700.... " I'm just sayin'..."
http://powersports.honda.com/2010/vfr1200f/build.aspx
http://powersports.honda.com/2010/nt700v/build.aspx
Well Honda, (along with BMW, Yamaha and other manufacturers), recommend a maximum load for the top box and warn the rider no to exceed 85mph with the top box fitted.
As far as the British Police issue goes, the ST1300s used by the Police were modified. They had different top boxes loaded with radio equipment in excess of the maximum weight specified for the Hondaline top box. In addition, I think you will find that the suspension rates and spring rates were changed too to cope with the extra loading. IRRC, the Honda progressive springs were replaced by single rate springs with a higher spring rate.
I'm not saying the ST doesn't weave, I am saying that maybe it was exaggerated by the rider who tensed up and gripped the bars tighter when he/she felt what might be perceived as instability.
A motorcycle is like a giant gyroscope. If you manually introduce a sideways motion to a gyroscope, it will oscillate, leave it alone and it will always right itself. Try to stabilise it your self and it will not settle.
Hold a bicycle wheel by the spindle and spin it. Now try to turn it, it doesn't want to turn. When you do input a sideways force, see what happens. Our bikes have 2 big, heavy gyroscopes at each end and they will right themselves if you let them.
The sideways force could be aerodynamics with the airstream acting on the top box and causing the "weave", relax and let it right itself. The thing is, there are a lot of variables, from tyre pressures, suspension settings, rider weight, screen type and height, rider position, handlebar risers, load carried, it would be impossible to cover them all.
I'm not an expert, (there are plenty of those around who know better than me), but this is just my 2 cents so to speak.
Hmmmm, I find this very interesting, because I also have a 2005 ST1300 and was trying this fall to catch up to a rider I was with... and at about 95 mph I got a front end shake wobble that scared the @&$* out of me. New tires, pressure check, whatever. A month later was horseing around and hit about a 100....... nothing smooth as could be????
Your $.02 still didn't address the FACT that Honda WILL NOT ALLOW an accessory topbox for the ST to be sold in the states, so maximum load and/or speed is a moot point
:.longdog_cymru
Your $.02 still didn't address the FACT that Honda WILL NOT ALLOW an accessory topbox for the ST to be sold in the states, so maximum load and/or speed is a moot point
A moot point? Not really, it still doesn't stop owners in the States importing and fitting Hondaline boxes and fitting a whole range of other top boxes, therefore the caveat for maximum speed and/or load should certainly be noted. It's up to the owner/rider if he/she chooses to ignore this.
Unless I am mistaken, just about every manufacturer of motorcycle luggage states a maximum weight for their products, but I'd bet there are not many owners of said luggage who could tell me what the weight restrictions are without checking first. I certainly couldn't tell you that without looking it up.
If Honda "WILL NOT ALLOW" an accessory top-box to be sold in the States, then it is probably because they wish to avoid possible law suits. Doesn't this suggest that you fit it at your own risk?
My point from the git go
; it also suggests that the ST is inherently less stable and more risky than either the VFR or NT ............. at least as far as the Honda bean counters are concerned.I guess we agree
.
drrod
Site Supporter
Being as how Honda does offer a top box in other markets (eg. Canada http://hondacanada.ca/MCPE/Accessories/files/Eng/honda_accs_st1300_eng.pdf), I would suggest it has more to do with gov't requirements for testing, etc. than an admission that the bike is inherently unstable. Not enough ST's sold in the US to make it worthwhile. It certainly is not because we are lacking lawyers!!
Rod
ROBERT MCCLAIN
I have experienced a speed wobble or "Head Shake" at 120mph on two ST1300s that I have owned. The ST is an awesome bike, but I believe that the engineers didn't spend enough time testing this bike at its upper potential.
Bob
Bob
Well, I had an 1996 ST1100 and it tracked significantly straighter, with never any wobble.
The 1300, in my opinion, should have been manufactured with the same wheelbase
as the 1100.
Honda made it the way it is to make it more "flickable", and it does over the 1100,
but at the expense of straight line stability.
This was a mistake, in my opinion.
Honda will never admit this publicly, but behind closed doors I would bet they regret
the decision to shorten the wheelbase.
The 1300, in my opinion, should have been manufactured with the same wheelbase
as the 1100.
Honda made it the way it is to make it more "flickable", and it does over the 1100,
but at the expense of straight line stability.
This was a mistake, in my opinion.
Honda will never admit this publicly, but behind closed doors I would bet they regret
the decision to shorten the wheelbase.
FJRHank
I don't disagree norton, but there's more to steering geometry then wheelbase. While it's one factor, rake and trail, along with tire radius, steering axis, fork axis, bike weight, etc, are very much involved also.
This Link, at the bottom, has the comparison of many of these variables for some of the most popular sport touring bikes. It's pretty interesting...
David Walsh
I have had my '06 ST1300 for a couple of weeks and experienced a couple of 'wobbles' on my first ride out from Devon to Surrey - I found that if I simply relaxed my shoulders the wobble stopped - both happened at between 80-85 mph. No dramas after that even when pushing it to about 90-95 in the wind and rain on the way home a few days later. Well I had to test the weather protection didn't I.....
Very chuffed with the ST which is just as well as I'll be commuting 380+ miles each week from the start of Feb.
Very chuffed with the ST which is just as well as I'll be commuting 380+ miles each week from the start of Feb.
Check your rear suspension preload setting - page 3-25 in the Honda Service manual. Turn the pre-load adjuster dial clockwise to increase the pre-load. You don't want your preload too soft or the front tire may "hunt" at speed. I've also heard that shocks need to be inspected for replacement or repair around the 50,000 mile mark. I'm thinking a worn out shock may sit the rear of the bike lower than optimal and that may also cause the front tire to "hunt" at speed. I chauk this rear suspension management up to set-up and maintenance NOT a flaw of the motorcycle.
Hi STers. Here's my history on the dreaded weave; I took delivery of STina on the 15th of January 2010. What a disappointment, she was wobbling like a whale at 140 km/h. The local dealer tried their best to get her sorted, to no avail. She's been in and out of workshops, even Honda South Africa had a go at fixing her, again to no avail. She spend nearly 3 months in workshops last year.
Da Ace (yes from the owners forum) set me onto a link of a St owner who lowered the front of his St by a 1/4 inch. I took the information to our local dealer and he did the work on STina. Took her for a high speed run today and can report that STina is cured. Had her up to 250 km/h, (speedo speed) engine speed 8750 rpm, she's absolutely stable.
For the first time since I took delivery of STina, it's a pleasure riding her.
I hope this will help.
Blessings from sunny South Africa.
Kiewiet.
Da Ace (yes from the owners forum) set me onto a link of a St owner who lowered the front of his St by a 1/4 inch. I took the information to our local dealer and he did the work on STina. Took her for a high speed run today and can report that STina is cured. Had her up to 250 km/h, (speedo speed) engine speed 8750 rpm, she's absolutely stable.
For the first time since I took delivery of STina, it's a pleasure riding her.
I hope this will help.
Blessings from sunny South Africa.
Kiewiet.
Hi there Kiewiet.
Glad you'r problems are solved.
Great bunch on this site eh?
STeve
:grin:
Glad you'r problems are solved.
Great bunch on this site eh?
STeve
:grin:
I've always said these issues were the result of suspension setup, specifically not having the rear suspension high enough. The initial problem on police models was units heavily loaded with radio and other gear. I know that some owners here have experienced the issue with the rear fully raised, or even with a stronger rear spring. Lowering the front has the same effect as raising the rear. Glad you got it sorted out, I would suggest a comment to this effect be added to the Hall of Wisdom.