Expected reliable lifespan (mileage) for ST1100?

Northern Rob

Northern Rob

STOC #5208
Joined
Jan 15, 2005
Messages
28
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hi, I drive a 93 ST1100. It's got 110K km on it (that's about 65k miles). I change the oil/filter every 3-5k miles, and put about 10k miles on it a year. Usually, half of my mileage is city commuting and the other half is touring. My favorite riding is my annual 4-5 day touring vacation. I'm really starting to itch for an ST1300, but my 93 is still running perfectly. Does anyone know what kind of mileage I should be able to reach until it starts to become unreliable for touring?

Thanks!

Rob
 
I would think you are about 1/4 of the way there. If the bike is anything like the wings that I have owned, normal wear items like brakes, tires, and maybe wheel bearings or steering head bearings and a suspension rebuild at some time should be about it, the engine is bullet proof, kinda depends on how you treat it.
 
I've heard the engine is good up to 250,000 miles. I've heard that, I know of some one that just sold one with 135,000 miles and said his bike was still running in perfect condition. I'm sure seals, final drives and some other items will wear out long before the engine.
 
Alan Hunt on the ST1100 list just had his final drive go out....... at 235k. I know of another that has over 225k, and many at 150+k. All distances in miles. :D

Steve
 
I used to have a Honda Pacific Coast and there were guys in the owner group with 250,000 miles on their bikes. Honda makes motors that last. So far I've replaced my Honda motorcycles not because they ran out of miles but rather because after 10 or 12 years the new models offer big improvements in design and performance. If you're happy with the ST11, 65k miles is nothing to worry about.
 
Northern Rob said:
... I'm really starting to itch for an ST1300, but my 93 is still running perfectly. Does anyone know what kind of mileage I should be able to reach until it starts to become unreliable for touring?

Thanks!

Rob
Click to expand...

With your criterion for replacing your bike, you won't be able to get a new one for about 20 more years. :D
 
i used to own an eight year old ST1100R with mileage of 69,000miles, she's still working well with me for another 80,000miles before i traded her in for a new ST1100Y.

very reliable engine & other components i should say, but got to be cautious with the charging system. for the those below 96' Nov produced models with 28Amp alternator r capable of frying the regulator. during the 80,000miles of my previous ST1100R i've burnt 4 regulators & 2 alternators... :mad: to make her touring fit, have a reliable workshop to check the oil seals & other o-rings or a top overhaul to make sure the head gasket & valve rods o-rings r in good condition. & also the final drive shaft oil seals. few of my guys has suffered leaking oil seals at the steam of the drive shaft to final drive.

with my ST1100Y now after 1 1/2 year old at mileage of 98,000km so far so good..! not a single bulb blow... ;)
 
Ya Simon, I wish I could be getting that kind of mileage in a year! When I first bought a bike, it almost got me a divorce! I often sneak in a ride before the family wakes up... like a smoker trying to hide his habit! You're touching my pain, man...

If I learn how to "farkle" up the spouse so she chills out, the mileage will be going way up! (Tried diamond studs, don't waste your money).

Any suggestions on "wife management" would be much appreciated! (She's got a lot of miles left in her too, so the plan is to keep her instead of upgrading to a newer model). :lol:
 
:03biker: Upgrading (or down) to a new wife is a hell of a lot more expensive than a new bike (I'm not speaking from experience, so what do I know).
 
Wife management, ask her what she wants out of life and the marriage. Is it reasonable? Tell her what you want out of life and the marriage, is it reasonable. If you can't come to some kinfd of a mutual agreement no amount of money will keep her happy, send her packing and start over, without a woman, then you won't have to answer to anybody but yourself. If your lucky/unlucky she may chill out, but if she doesn't life is to short to be miserable, from experience. Told mine my rear will be in the saddle you can come with or stay home, your choice, but my butt will be in the saddle, that was 31 years ago and she's still here and I couldn't be happier.
 
Well, that sounds like sage advice Danny. I was hoping to use the "its starting to get old and unreliable" line to justify a new bike...but based on these posts, the ST is disappointingly reliable. :rolleyes:
 
My wife loves to ride as well. Everytime the ST fires to life she wants to be on the back, and usually is. We ordered some riding gear from Motoport and she talks about it all the time...."I can't wait until our gear gets here, I'm excited". I kind of dismissed it after we placed the order due to the 7 week delivery time, but she talks about it all the time.
 
I'm really glad you guys have supportive spouses!

My gal has somehow convinced herself that riding a bike means certain death. The fact that I and a lot of my "middle aged" buddies have signifcant mileage and are still living doesn't seem to calm her down. I get the "someone has to raise the kids when you're dead" line. You guys don't get that kind of stuff??? She says she'll start to ride when the kids are out of the house (15 yrs). By then I'll need a Goldwing or a trike or something! :eek: :D

Hey, well riding solo ain't so bad!
 
Rob you could always point out the fact of how many people are killed in cars every day, but then you get the argument of thats differn't, so just go and ride and enjoy the time with the bike, don't look like your going to win the battle anyway. 15 years from now the statement will probably be I'm to old to ride that thing, and what will the neighbors think.
 
Danny, you don't know how right you are. I stopped riding to help raise the kids, after my wife stopped riding with me (guilt??). Now that the youngest is 17, my wife says she's too old and her hips can't take it. Well the good thing is I didn't have to buy a GD (or is that GW). I lost a great riding partner but came out of it with a great bike. Enjoy your family (first passion) but don't give up your second passion!! :03biker:
 
hi Horst,

now she's 1 1/2YO, at exactly 1 YO she clocked exactly 70,000km, it includes a trip to Northern Thai(Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Chiang Saen aka Golden Triangle total --> 6,700km from Singapore), unaccountable Southern Thai weekend ride. :D

i wont say i'm the mileage king :p i just ride for the sake of interest & love of it, just ride..! :cool:


Horst said:
So Soh, you're averaging 60,000 kms per year ? ... that puts you in the top 1% mileage kings around here ! .... wow ... :04biker: :04biker: :04biker:
Click to expand...
 
hi Northern Rod,

i will say no women agreed on things when they r not into it, my wife too made hell of fuss after i replaced a new ST1100Y without consenting her, but what the crab, it's my own funds. :mad:

u too can ride more often if u can get ur wife involved into our motorcycling community, she will slowly learn how to appreciate it but be with the correct companies of good riders & ride defensively, once the impression of safety is performed, the rest is...... ;) for a start bring her for short day trips, as soon as she got into it u will have more chance to ride with or without her tagging along, trust me bro.. :D

good luck.. :04biker:

that's me at Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand last month.
f53cbce7.jpg


me & my previous ST1100R 2002
f7719311.jpg


the family of STOC Singapore.
f6da5e30.jpg



Northern Rob said:
Ya Simon, I wish I could be getting that kind of mileage in a year! When I first bought a bike, it almost got me a divorce! I often sneak in a ride before the family wakes up... like a smoker trying to hide his habit! You're touching my pain, man...

If I learn how to "farkle" up the spouse so she chills out, the mileage will be going way up! (Tried diamond studs, don't waste your money).

Any suggestions on "wife management" would be much appreciated! (She's got a lot of miles left in her too, so the plan is to keep her instead of upgrading to a newer model). :lol:
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What about the wimpy 28 amp on these high mileage bikes ?
Evidently no problems.
I REALLY wish I could get a straight answer...........................
 
Schavlan said:
What about the wimpy 28 amp on these high mileage bikes ?
Evidently no problems.
I REALLY wish I could get a straight answer...........................
Click to expand...

The straight answer! Now that is funny, how can any of us know how long a 28amp alternator will last?
Think of the classic bell curve.
There are people who will never have any alternator problems (even though they use *extra* electrics).
And there are those who had the voltage regulator fry quickly.
The top of the curve is somewhere around 55k miles.
Repair of the 28amp may not be the most cost effective method... think replacement/upgrade with a 40 amp unit if you have any problems at all with your 28 amp system.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom