Just got a ST1300P/PA 2011 and I need help!!!

Reckless

Joined
Mar 12, 2026
Messages
3
Age
34
Location
Washington
Bike
Honda ST1300P/PA
I'm recently a new owner of an ex-cop ST1300 and I am having trouble with it starting. I know it can ground itself with all the different wires that get cut when they sell these. With that being said, I was looking for help starting with removing all things police wire harness. I have the service manual and will use the diagram. Just looking for easier visuals since I'm partially colorblind and this part ALWAYS sucks 🤣😂

Reply
 
Uh-oh! Well, definitely not an expert, but I do have one that was never commissioned that I can look at to compare if needed. Just FYI, the de-commissioned police cruisers are generally pretty abused. Some on here have PTSD from working on them, so if the responses seem short and to the point, it is just because they have seen all the problems before and you are digging up painful memories. ;)

Can you be more descriptive of your starting problem? Is it cranking but not starting (fuel/spark problem), or is it not cranking at all?

Also, if you can list everything you have checked already, it will help eliminate guess work.

Thanks,
Ryan
 
When I first looked it over, it cranked up no problem and I rode it a couple blocks no issues. I was trailering it back from Cali. We stopped in some nice weather, pulled it out and I rode for close to two hours no problem. Pulled over to talk to my friend and take a second and it wouldn't start after that. It will crank like everything mechanically is good. Initially it just sounded like the battery was dead, which makes sense if there's a bunch of cut wires exposed on the bike. Once I got it home it hasn't cranked and seems like the battery has been drained. I haven't charged the battery yet, but figured it would have the same shorting problem if I did only that. I want to remove all the unused police wire set up since I have no reason to have most of it. The strobe lights still work and I might be able to rewire the siren to a speaker for fun (no plan on using that feature on the public road) but all the wire connections for the red and blue lights that are no longer there and the hook ups for the radio I want to remove but don't want to mess up the main wiring of the bike. I haven't started pulling wires because I didn't want to pull the wrong ones. I've taken off the seat and the brackets to expose all the wires underneath and disconnected the battery. I'm basically at the beginning and ready to start pulling wires and fuses
 
These batteries are somewhat notorious for being "just enough". If you pull over for 5 minutes and don't turn off the key/lights, it could be enough to discharge it and not allow it to restart. Having said that, cut/open wires are never a good thing and I agree that you should see about removing excess and possibly repair the main harness.

Near the tail section, under the radio bracket, there are several connections for the right hand switches and over mirror harnesses. I would start by disconnecting anything there (I believe it is 4 connectors). I don't have a picture handy since we had the site server crash recently, but it looks kind of like a softer plastic amber bell about 3" in diameter. Everything in there you should be able to unplug as it is not part of the "normal" harness (it is all additional wiring for the PA). This *SHOULD* disconnect any added accessories that run off the right hand switches. I say should, because if they hacked into a power wire somewhere else, you won't know unless you pull all the plastics and check for voltage on the cut wires.

After that, I would charge up your battery and see if it starts, once it starts I would verify voltage output ~13.5-14.5 to make sure you have a working alternator and then go from there. You might just have a weak battery.

Good luck! I am happy to provide pictures if needed, but there will be a delay.
Ryan
 
Thank you for the encouragement! I will look at tackling those first when I get home! I did order a stronger battery, I was reading the battery could be a weak point with all the extra electrical. I'll get home later this afternoon and can take pictures of what I'm looking at. Thank you for your response man!
 
I just re-read your description and you mentioned it was cranking and not starting initially and now the battery is dead. Let us know if it restarts with a fresh battery, if not - you will need to diagnose if it is a fuel or spark problem. The fuel gauge may not be working correctly and it may just be out of gas, but don't put more than a couple of cups of fuel into it to verify. You don't want a completely full tank if you need to get to the fuel pump.

If it does restart, I still think you might have a fuel delivery issue - if it shows up when the bike is hot again your tank might not be venting correctly. I believe a clogged charcoal canister can cause this (easy way to check is to open your fuel filler and see if it is under vacuum).

Just keep the information coming once you get a chance to look at it. Lots of knowledgeable folks on here that can help point you in the right direction.

Ryan
 
Where in WA are you located? Im thinking of hosting a tech day in May - we could make it the subject bike for the day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom