Miles or Years?

Hillboy81

Hillboy81

Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Messages
3
Age
44
Location
San Diego, CA
What's more important, years or miles? All things being equal (stock accessories, riding style, regular maintenance, etc ..) I'm torn about buying a 2006 ST1300 with 34k miles or a 2012 ST1300 with 56k miles. Both are $5000. Both are ABS Police models. I ride daily here in San Diego. I'm not sure if the technological advancements between 06' and 12' should be factored in. I currently have a 2006 ST1300 with 98k miles that I'll be replacing. ‍♂️.
 
Hillboy81 said:
What's more important, years or miles? All things being equal (stock accessories, riding style, regular maintenance, etc ..) I'm torn about buying a 2006 ST1300 with 34k miles or a 2012 ST1300 with 56k miles. Both are $5000. Both are ABS Police models. I ride daily here in San Diego. I'm not sure if the technological advancements between 06' and 12' should be factored in. I currently have a 2006 ST1300 with 98k miles that I'll be replacing. ‍♂.
Click to expand...
I think in 2008 Honda updated the computer, but not positive about it
 
The 2012 will get you beyond the 03-07 dodgy ECU years, about $1,000 to replace it if you start getting the code 25 or 26 knock sensor errors. Otherwise, I think there are just other minor revisions along the years.

Article [13] - ST1300 - Model Year Changes | ST1300 Articles

ST1300 Model Year Changes 2002 ST1300/ST1300A Pan European introduced in Europe and Australia Pan Colors: Amazona green metallic; Tower silver metallic; Candy ambassador Red Recalls: High Speed Stability, Oil Pan 2003 ST1300/ST1300A introduced in US Non-ABS version also does not include the...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com

Josh
 
Miles on these bikes are not that important because a well cared for one will last well north of 200,000 miles. The diff between 34 and 56 is only 22k miles. Not a big deal. I always want newer, presumably the mfr has fixed problems (and maybe introduced new ones, but not so much between the '07 and '08 model years (i mean no problem areas were introduced in the upgrades). As mentioned, the ECU rarely fails on the later bikes, but we have had a few this year on the earlier bikes. I think there are minor differences in the brakes and suspension.

What is extremely important is a bike's maintenance history, but w/ P bikes that's usually an unknown.
 
Hillboy81 said:
I'm torn about buying a 2006 ST1300 with 34k miles or a 2012 ST1300 with 56k miles. Both are $5000. Both are ABS Police models. I ride daily here in San Diego. I'm not sure if the technological advancements between 06' and 12' should be factored in. I currently have a 2006 ST1300 with 98k miles that I'll be replacing. ‍
Click to expand...
Hello Mr Hillboy81. Since your in San Diego (like me) I recomend you call National City Motorcycles and ask to talk to Rob (the owner). He is a friendly guy and his shop also maintains the local police pool of ST1300s. I have all of my ST1300 work done at his shop. Better yet, just stop by and talk to him. FYI, I was in the same boat as you last year ... same questions ... but couldn't find what wanted here in San Diego so found a pretty red one in Portland Oregon last November (2009, 28k, $5500) that I flew up to get and ride back. Good luck.
PS ... 98k isn't that many miles on a Honda .. is there something wrong with it that can be fixed?
 
My question is..... Were either of them in police service?
P bikes, if used in service, suffer from many hours of idling and lots of jackrabbit starts chasing down speeders. Second gear takes a hit in those cases.
So in that case...maybe the lower mileage unit.......
T
 
ToddC said:
My question is..... Were either of them in police service?
P bikes, if used in service, suffer from many hours of idling and lots of jackrabbit starts chasing down speeders. Second gear takes a hit in those cases.
So in that case...maybe the lower mileage unit.......
Click to expand...

^^^ This
 
Five of the biggest concerns that suggest a little extra scrutiny of these items might be in order when buying a used ST1300 in my opinion are;
- The ECM on 2007 and earlier models, they have a growing history of failure.
- Failing secondary master cylinder. While not immune, the 2008 and later model years have an improved design.
- Premature wear of the final drive splines if proper maintenance was not effected and they were abused- all model years.
- Damaged wiring harness under the throttle bodies due to mice- all model years.
- Failing or failed electrin windshield mechanism- all model years.

All things being equal, if both were not neglected or abused, or if both were equally neglected and abused, the 2012 would be my preference regardless of the extra mileage.
 
The 2008+ ECM is a much nicer ride, in my opinion. I can only speak from owning one of each from new - my 2006 I rode for 70k miles, my 2013 (A9 model) is coming up to 60K.

The 2006 model seemed to be tuned lean. It would pink very quietly when running at speed and when climbing even gentle gradients. Not loud, not serious, but annoying.
Climbing steep gradients with tight hairpins required the clutch to be slipped in order to keep the revs high - it wouldn't pull out of the bends at lower revs - there was no low down power.

The A9 has never displayed these symptoms. The engine has much more grunt in first gear climbing. The engine is a tad throatier.

The front brakes, SMC and ABS sensor / ring are a better design.

I keep looking at 2nd hand ST1300s, but I filter out the 2006 and earlier models. I wouldn't have another one, having had the A9.
 
Both miles and years, taken alone, can give you issues. Operating style, maintenance diligence, storage conditions, care by the PO can emphasize or negate either.
 
I've owned both, the 2006, (don't ask what happened to the 2006, suffice to say I have found easier ways to run into young ladies in cages) and now i ride a 2013, (last year in Canada). The 2006 had heat bothering the family jewels, they seem to have fixed this on the 2013. The front brakes are different on the 2013. Back brakes are the same on both. The 2006 pads won't fit in the 2013 calipers. 2006 suffered from a sensitive, jumpy throttle opening, they also fixed this, much smother operation. Of the two bikes I would choose the 2012. Long term, better resale value.
 
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Bill Flint said:
Hello Mr Hillboy81. Since your in San Diego (like me) I recomend you call National City Motorcycles and ask to talk to Rob (the owner). He is a friendly guy and his shop also maintains the local police pool of ST1300s. I have all of my ST1300 work done at his shop. Better yet, just stop by and talk to him. FYI, I was in the same boat as you last year ... same questions ... but couldn't find what wanted here in San Diego so found a pretty red one in Portland Oregon last November (2009, 28k, $5500) that I flew up to get and ride back. Good luck.
PS ... 98k isn't that many miles on a Honda .. is there something wrong with it that can be fixed?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. That is also where I get some of my bikes serviced. My 2006 slips from 2nd gear to neutral if you rev too hard. Also the wiring harness for the headlights needs to be gone through because it pops the fuse daily. I had to reroute the low beams to the auxiliary to avoid this for now. I'm not super handy, so I just want to give a patient new owner the full disclosure of issues and bail before it nickel and dimes me to insanity.
 
Hillboy81 said:
That's the issue with my 2006 I'm selling. The 2nd gear slips to Neutral if you rev too high.
Click to expand...
Its telling you that either the shift linkage is rusty and dry, or more likely, the clutch slave cylinder is so jammed up with crap, that the piston is not moving freely, and needs to be replaced.
 
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