These bikes, jeez, why did I wait so long?

[irunamok]

Went for a ride today, intended the local(ish) Honda dealer but picked the wrong "Powersports" and ended up at a small time shop which was already pulling their bikes in so, oh well, headed home. Dallas, not my favorite city, is at the very least blessed with fine women and some awesome twisty local roads where the beast can really shine. Twisty might be a little extreme...short sweepers might be better, up here in northwest Dallas. Even a little elevation change in places, which kind of surprised me coming from pancake flat Florida and having lived in equally flat Houston for many years.

So anyway, it occurred to me today as I was hustling around without the tour pack and my usual passenger, just me and the bike in it's basic form, designed 35 years ago, it's kind of hard not to laugh as I ride along. i read all the latest press about the incredible "sport-touring" bikes with chain drive and price tags all north of $15k and many over $20k and I feel like the ST is like a cheat code. I'm riding a 25 year old bike with 35 year old technology that I paid about $3500 for all-in with repairs and I honestly don't know how I'd be any more comfortable or ride any faster because I'm conservative-ish compared to riders of the top spec bikes, I'm assuming. So as far as "butts in seats" go, I'm riding as fast as I want to go, on a bike that is nearly bulletproof, that cost me a small fraction of a new bike would cost and i'm loving every mile of it. It almost feels unfair. It's truly laughable at the amount of bike you get on either ST model for the prices in the used market. I don't know why they haven't all figured it out.

 

[St-Gerard]

I had to wait 32 years to get my ST1100 , when they came out I could not justify the price, Was Married with two young daughters. The bike is everything I wanted in a motorcycle, it will outlast me. After 30,000 kilometers in two years,it puts the biggest smile on my face.

 

[Obo]

We wait so long either due to $$, or we don't know what we're missing.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Having ridden ST1100s since 1997 I have just not seen anything (and yes I have seriously looked and ridden) that will do what I need a motorcycle to do any better - except maybe for the Motus but they didn't survive. At this stage of life, it is not the $$ for me at all. As long as I can keep mine ST1100s running, they will be my bike of choice. The newer ones have all sorts of electronic wizardry (some of which you can add as aftermarket if you want), but being in technology business for 50 years, the latest technology does not appeal to me at all. I do not need to be 'electronically' dazzled nor entertained while I am on 2 wheels by some 'newest available' gizmo. The wind and the curves are enough entertainment for me!

 

[Erdoc48]

I was out on the 94 yesterday on some twisties in SC (yes, a few do exist, but not like you would see in the mountains)- it does everything I need it to do, so a new bike (as nice as it may be) doesn’t do too much for me. I have heated grips on all 3 bikes and have recently added a heated seat pad (Gears brand) and use a controller for that pad on the bike. I have a BT controller for the music as well (on all 3 bikes). I told my brother I really have no need for a GW (again, as nice as they are) as the ST does it all (and now it’s nice to have heated gear as well). I bought a heated seat pad for the scooter and just move the seat for the ST with the pad and controller between the 2 STs and it takes 2 minutes to hook up (including hiding the wiring). So I’m all winter ready. Plus, the ST jumps to 85 mph without any fuss, but I need to be careful when looking straight ahead as you’re not aware how fast you’re going in many cases.



That’s my seat heater hook up in case anyone wants to get one- Dennis Kirk sells the seat pad and I have a plug in on the bike for power. I run the controller wires under the seat. Not as elegant as a factory setup, but it works just fine. And it can be moved to the other ST with a minimum of time.

 

[Donk]

A friend of mine's son in law totaled his bike a while back. Good kid, good rider, hit a deer. He's all healed up and looking for a "new" bike. I mentioned how many really good older bikes could be had for around $3500. I figured he was recently married and out of work for a while recovering from injuries that was wise financial advice. I mean an ST1100/1300 is still a good bike today and for that kind of money! I fear it was wasted on him as he has his own ideas.