New ST1300 owner AND new member

Shadow

Shadow

Joined
Mar 1, 2026
Messages
3
Age
67
Location
Barrie, On
Bike
2005 Honda ST1300
After about 25 years of riding cruisers, I finally smartened up and bought a 2005 ST1300. It should be ready for me in a week or so then I’ll just have to wait for Mother Nature to cooperate.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved my cruisers but the last couple of years I’ve done a bit of touring (a one week tour of the Adirondacks and the Finger Lakes 2 years ago and a 2 week trip to Newfoundland last year). Especially after the NL trip, I wanted something more comfortable for touring and something that allowed it to be MY decision to stop at 200 kms, not the bike’s. It will also be nice to be able to ride in more remote areas with being so concerned about where the next gas station is.
Anyhoo, I’ve been creeping the forums for a while gathering info but, now that I’ve pulled the trigger, I thought I would join.

See you on the road
 

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Welcome! Good choice.
After owning 3 V-twin cruisers, I got an ST 1300.
It had all the advantages you mentioned and additional bonus features were that it had a quieter exhaust, less engine noise, less wind noise, and less vibration.

But, a distracted driver ran a red light and crashed into me —totaled the bike and kept me out of work on medical leave for six weeks, without pay,

So when I got a replacement motorcycle, I had to pick up something cheap— so I went back to a cruiser, a model I’ve had before: a Honda Shadow 1100. But I’d really rather be on a sport touring bike.
 
gunsmoker said:
Welcome! Good choice.
After owning 3 V-twin cruisers, I got an ST 1300.
It had all the advantages you mentioned and additional bonus features were that it had a quieter exhaust, less engine noise, less wind noise, and less vibration.

But, a distracted driver ran a red light and crashed into me —totaled the bike and kept me out of work on medical leave for six weeks, without pay,

So when I got a replacement motorcycle, I had to pick up something cheap— so I went back to a cruiser, a model I’ve had before: a Honda Shadow 1100. But I’d really rather be on a sport touring bike.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about the crash but glad it didn’t sour you on 2-wheeled travel. The bike I’m moving from is a Shadow 1100 ACE Tourer.
 
I also had a Honda Shadow, a 1992 VT1100C. When I gave it away it had about 250,000 Km (about 155,000 miles) on it. I put all but 22,000 of those KM on it. I rode that thing all over North America, many places several times. I think that it is a great bike. It is really comfortable to ride, it effortlessly cruises all day long at 85 MPH, it gets around 60 MPG, I always got around 12 or 13,000 miles to a set of tires, it never broke down, it never needed any repairs, it just kept going.

I bought an ST1100, and then another one, and now an ST1300, for many of the same reasons as you did. Primarily I wanted better weather protection, increased water proof luggage capacity, and increased fuel range. I didn't get rid of the Shadow however. They are different types of rides and for many years I had both and the decision of which motorcycle to use was based on the type of ride I was heading out on. The reason I bought an ST was because as my trip frequency and length of trips increased my criteria of what I wanted from a motorcycle changed. That does not take anything away from the Shadow however, I still think that it is a great motorcycle but is better suited for a different purpose than the ST. On many types of rides I preferred to be on the Shadow rather than the ST.

There is a very active ST1300 community in your neck of the woods if you ever want to hook up with some of the guys on this forum. You will enjoy your ST1300. Let us know how it worked out after you get it.
 
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