Best year for ST1100?

Jim Harris

Good afternoon everyone!
I?m an old guy just getting back into riding motorcycles after a 40 year absence. A good friend recently gave me a vintage 1972 Honda CB450, just like the 69 CB450 I had in HS. The CB450 is great, but I am looking for another generation vintage Honda that has a bit more power, a windshield and some storage. I?ve been looking at the old Pacific Coast models, but I like the look of the ST1100 even better. I understand that the ST1100s were produced through the 1990 and into 2002, with a couple of recall issues in the early 1990 models. I also saw where ABS and LBS were available on the models in the late 1990s. Can anyone give me some advise as to what years were the best of the best and which I should steer away from as I continue my search?
Thanks!
 
Jim* Welcome to the forum. All the 1100`s are great. For me,having `96 and newer is important. Larger output alternator.

A weakness perhaps in the 28amp early models. Aside from that and a couple of small changes,and colors they are ALL great. I`ve had 4.............:>}

Good luck!
 
The best year was 2003......when the ST1300 was introduced...:headbang: :crackup

But seriously...I hear anything '96 and newer is better due to the upgraded 40A alternator...
 
1996 and above sounds good. I did see that issue with the 28 amp alternator mentioned somewhere else and there seems to be a good selection of 96 and above available for sale. Thanks for your input!
 
IMO the biggest problem with the entire ST1100 model line is they didn't offer it in blue - at least in the US. And as has been said already, the 40 amp is nice if you plan to run electric heated clothing and aux driving lights. I'd recommend a HID conversion kit (35 amps edit: oops er I mean watts) each and more light than standard after market 65/55 watt halogen lamps) if you get a pre 96 model. They will do everything the driving lights attempt to do.
 
From some of the guru's comments, I would advise you to not only look for a '96 and newer, but if you can, look into the ABS models. Whether you prefer the potential advantages of the ABS technology or not, one point I hear is that the brakes are stronger. That can be a good thing... ;)
 
I think the best set up for an ST1100 would be a '96 or later ABS model. Besides the ABS, that model includes Honda's linked braking system, a wider front wheel and tire, radial tires, and beefier forks (43mm vs. 41mm that earlier ABS models and all non-ABS standard versions have).

Having said that, I loved my '93, non-linked ABS model, though I did suffer a 28A alternator failure which I upgraded to the later 40A unit.
 
Tankereng said:
The best year was 2003......when the ST1300 was introduced...:headbang: :crackup

But seriously...I hear anything '96 and newer is better due to the upgraded 40A alternator...
Click to expand...

Actually the ST1300 was introduced in 2002, just not here. Oh and there is such an animal and the 2003 ST1100. Of course it only came in white and was a P model. But technically they still had the 1100 in 2003.
 
Ouch! I wasn't even going to bring up the ABS vs non-ABS question as a new forum member. I didn't want to start a fist fight among the old ST Owner members. OK, let's do it! Who likes ABS and who doesn't?
 
I guess ABS would be OK. I don't know, never rode a bike with ABS. I certainly DO NOT want linked brakes. A problem I can see with ABS brakes and the ST1100 is the age of the bike. The newest 1100s are now 8 years old. My '91 was made 3/90. Many of the older bikes with ABS have failing systems. Doesn't really matter what brand BMW, Honda or whatever. The ABS systems are big $$$ to replace. I saw on Ebay a used ABS pump for a ST1100 with a buy me now price of over $800. Something to think about.

Ralph Sims
 
I have an '01 STandard.
If I had known enough when I bought it I would have hunted for an ABS model.
Well maybe not... at the time we were pretty tight on cash; but, if I knew then what I know now I would have saved until I could have afforded the ABS.
I can say this because we bought an ABS for Chris when her '01 standard was totaled and we'll buy an ABS to replace the '05 that I believe will be declared totaled this week.
 
As far as LBS - I've heard of some folks disconnecting the link. No personal input on that, just have heard some have done it.

ABS - my point was aimed more directly at the larger braking system - better stopping force. Even if you DON'T want ABS, I would think the sytems are fail-safe designed to work if the "system" fails. I'm not an expert, I'm just thinking from the engineering side for safety and liability. You don't want to put a system on the road that will no longer stop a bike (or car) if the modulation portion of the system bombs.

My '96 is a standard and I would be happy with stronger brakes...
 
My 1100 is a standard, my 1300 has linked brakes with ABS. I will say that when it comes to maint the linked brakes are a pain. Bleeding for the most part because there are brake lines running all over the bike.
 
Jim Harris said:
The black ones look best to me!
Click to expand...

Jim - Welcome aboard ! A man of obviously refined tastes !

Seriously though, back in the day on the 1100 ABS was a $3000 option, so they were definately at a premium. I believe there are probably alot fewer of them out there to start with. Money question aside, at this point I think Bud raises a good point, how well will these systems continue to work when they're 10-15-20 years old?

And then there is the endless debate, will they save your bacon ? My own opinion is probably yes. There for, money aside, I would prefer to have ABS.

My .02
 
TNST_Rider said:
You don't want to put a system on the road that will no longer stop a bike (or car) if the modulation portion of the system bombs....
Click to expand...

This is B.S. (sorry but it's important to be accurate here). All ABS systems, cage or bike are designed to fail safe, that is if the modulator or any other component of the ABS system "bombs" the worst thing that happens is you now have standard brakes.

With respect to ABS system failures, they are quite rare based on the number of years I've been on this and the other ST lists and my 150,000 mile experience with my '93 ABS and 80K experience with my current '05 ST1300.
 
wjbertrand said:
This is B.S. (sorry but it's important to be accurate here). All ABS systems, cage or bike are designed to fail safe, that is if the modulator or any other component of the ABS system "bombs" the worst thing that happens is you now have standard brakes.

With respect to ABS system failures, they are quite rare based on the number of years I've been on this and the other ST lists and my 150,000 mile experience with my '93 ABS and 80K experience with my current '05 ST1300.
Click to expand...

Jeff - read my full post - you expounded my point... :)
 
BuddingGeezer said:
I guess ABS would be OK. I don't know, never rode a bike with ABS. I certainly DO NOT want linked brakes. A problem I can see with ABS brakes and the ST1100 is the age of the bike. The newest 1100s are now 8 years old. My '91 was made 3/90. Many of the older bikes with ABS have failing systems. Doesn't really matter what brand BMW, Honda or whatever. The ABS systems are big $$$ to replace. I saw on Ebay a used ABS pump for a ST1100 with a buy me now price of over $800. Something to think about.

Ralph Sims
Click to expand...

You've obviously never ridden an ST1100ABS II. The linked brake system is fantastic, proportioned correctly to give smooth braking in any situation pretty much. The brakes on the ABS models are larger, stop better, and the pads last longer than the non-abs models. I don't know what you have against LBS, the only problem I ever had with it was getting into the bad habit of forgetting to use the rear brake pedal and thus giving up 2/3 of my rear braking power and 1/3 of the front. Most of the stories about the disadvantages of LBS in rare situations are bogus, and have been proved to be such.

With the post-'95 ST1100 models, you also larger, stiffer forks and a wider front tire, more advantages for a good ride and better handling.

I've not heard of "many" older ABS systems failing. Indeed, except in very rare instances, I've not heard of ST1100 ABS systems failing at all. In a very high percentage of cases, a "failing ABS system" turns out to be a bad battery, or battery connection. Perhaps you could point out your sources for that statement. :confused:
 
Thanks everyone! I know that there is a wide range of opinions on the ABS-Non-ABS question. I think I will look for a 96 or newer ST1100 with ABS. I'll report back after my first emergency stop!
 
Jim, as owner of both standard (91's STick and ReSTored) and ABS (<edit>2001 lipSTick), I'll land on the side of ABS. Jeff and Don have hit the high points on the differences.

My 2003 had a dragging rear brake, result of many years of neglect. A simple application of the ABS function (may have been the first time ever??) cleared the blockage and she's been fine ever since. Folks don't consider, the ABS function is very seldom if ever applied in regular riding and those components are just hanging there. I now recommend jumping on the brakes occasionally just to give the proportioning valves and other bits a little exercise. (Don't try this on a standard model! :22yikes:)

BTW, I have activated the ABS function a couple time in dusty condtions. Really glad I have'em. This after >300,000 miles on the two non-ABS bikes.

BTW2, there is considerable difference between ABS I and ABS II, don't recall which years for each. Anyone?

98 and 99 are black, 2000 thru 2002 are wineberry (dark metallic red.) Those last five years are the only ones I'd look at now. Look for low miles but not too low. My 2003 had <54,000 miles with only 250 miles added from 2005 to 2010.

Keep us poSTed on yur hunt and eventual purchase. I think yur making a good decision here. My son Derek took his PC to the White Mountains in 92 with a passenger. When he got home he said, "I need more power!" and all the reST is hiSTory. :D
 
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