Return to an ST1100

[Wrigsby1]

So after a couple of months mithering over an Airhead for various reasons I came to the conclusion that much more for less could be had in my sweet spot of 90's motorbikes...
So, hey presto, a 1990 ST11... I tried to ignore these for years, first being a sports bike laddo and not wanting an oldsters tourer and then as a Boxer convert who sold them as well so they were "opposition"... Well I went for it with as chav gold 50th anniversary project, the "upgrade" to an ST13 and regretting it and finally... Back with a 90 H ST11 for a bargain price... I was looking at later years but this is a sweet runner and rider and fits the bill of solid but not perfect...
A previous owner who was great to deal with and liked to keep on top of mechanicals, decent tyres, brakes etc and with 78k on, a very sweet motor.
So with my 11GS and my decent GTR 1000 I have a great daily ride dilemma for the cost of the annual depreciation of a new big tourer.
Happy days...

 

[Steve398]

My ex-crewmate has a fully-loaded RT1200 in 817 paint, an ex-Job K SEG bike, a Hantspol ST1100, a ‘spares’ ST1100, a ex-Job Rickman Metisse, an R750/5, and a workhorse ST11… and rides the ST 90% of the time. They are a very capable bike

 

[team duvet]

Best of the best.

Enjoy.

TD

 

[squibb34]

It Looks like you've snagged a bargain; it's worn very well. Is the swinging arm good - sounds like you know your way around them?

I ran with several CBR1000s & Fireblades back in the day, so the odd ST loan bike, when mine were in for service, seemed a bit underwhelming, but they have certainly stood the test of time. No wonder the Police liked them.

 

[Wrigsby1]

My ex-crewmate has a fully-loaded RT1200 in 817 paint, an ex-Job K SEG bike, a Hantspol ST1100, a ‘spares’ ST1100, a ex-Job Rickman Metisse, an R750/5, and a workhorse ST11… and rides the ST 90% of the time. They are a very capable bike

I've tried the new bikes, the best being the R12RTLC... It was very Pan like but the weird thing is, once you de-bling of all the modern electronic amenities of these bikes, the ST11 feel more a bike for riding... I pulled away last night, felt totally natural and when you needed to get going from it's lovely lazy top gear, down a couple and it flew... Not bad for a 35 year old bike with about 100 hp...
PS... I fixed up an ST13, way more complex, probably better build quality in every area but not the package of the ST11 and felt busier and less natural...

 

[Wrigsby1]

It Looks like you've snagged a bargain; it's worn very well. Is the swinging arm good - sounds like you know your way around them?

I ran with several CBR1000s & Fireblades back in the day, so the odd ST loan bike, when mine were in for service, seemed a bit underwhelming, but they have certainly stood the test of time. No wonder the Police liked them.

Yep, the swingarm seems ok, yep I've been there and I always thought underwhelming until you wind them on into a different speed range and they can fly... This one seems strangely lively so even better...

 

[Wrigsby1]

Just had a laugh on eBlag as I liked the fairing wind deflector kit on my old one and a couple of breakers in Germany are wanting £450+ for both sides... Think I'll give it a miss...

 

[frosti]

Did a few hundred kms on mine yesterday.
Plenty of back-roads involved and plenty comfortable as well

 

[Wrigsby1]

Did a few hundred kms on mine yesterday.
Plenty of back-roads involved and plenty comfortable as well

Great looking bike and I did my work commute A, B roads, traffic, filtering and it's a great relaxed experience... Might be like last time and I use this more than my GS, at least for a while...

 

[frosti]

Great looking bike and I did my work commute A, B roads, traffic, filtering and it's a great relaxed experience... Might be like last time and I use this more than my GS, at least for a while...

They are old-fashioned but very effective alright.
Have good fun on it.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I've tried the new bikes, the best being the R12RTLC... It was very Pan like but the weird thing is, once you de-bling of all the modern electronic amenities of these bikes, the ST11 feel more a bike for riding... I pulled away last night, felt totally natural and when you needed to get going from it's lovely lazy top gear, down a couple and it flew... Not bad for a 35 year old bike with about 100 hp...
PS... I fixed up an ST13, way more complex, probably better build quality in every area but not the package of the ST11 and felt busier and less natural...

Sometimes "Less" is More!

I certainly found my old 83 R100RS a much more fun ride than for example my mates Fazer thou It may have had more brakes better suspension Better handling Better seat etc etc

But I felt that you integrated with the old bike much better and planned your ride better and did not get lazy and let the "More" push your speeds up or your braking or turn in later etc etc

 

[Wrigsby1]

Sometimes "Less" is More!

I certainly found my old 83 R100RS a much more fun ride than for example my mates Fazer thou It may have had more brakes better suspension Better handling Better seat etc etc

But I felt that you integrated with the old bike much better and planned your ride better and did not get lazy and let the "More" push your speeds up or your braking or turn in later etc etc

Very true... It's great to have the primary parts of riding and non of the peripheral stuff that Is counted as so important today... I had a chat with a guy last year on an NT1100 and one of the things mentioned was Apple carplay or whatever and I drifted off from there...

 

[Wrigsby1]

So after a few days use I've been reflecting on EU Honda's design vision from what was the late 80's... I've had K110/1100/75 LTs, ridden R1100RTs which were really 94 on+ my 80s/90s niche GTR and am surprised at how much more advanced many aspects of the ST are... The engine and overall handling are remarkable for what is a 35 year old tourer and even though I have previous history I am still surprised... Truly Honda's golden period....
If hadn't been a 20 something/30 at the time of the ST11 model height and had something against met green or burgundy paint I might well have taken the advice of older ST11 converts and not even tried BMs... I'm glad I did with my Olihead GS experience but it's weird how it goes.
Sadly, even though bikes are "better" these days and legislation has made design harder, the "package" that some bikes were seems to have been lost in trying to out perform/ bling up bikes to impress a market sector... Alright, I'm stuck in the 90s and happy with that... Plenty of real bargains out there gang ...

 

[SBD]

loved my ST1100

 

[Clifton]

loved my ST1100

Same here. Mine was a 1990 also that I picked up in 1992 with almost no miles from a poor fellow who was going through a divorce. I sold it after a few years and 30K miles but it wasn't long before I was keeping an eye out for another. The problem was not many were selling theirs, the ones for sale had high mileage, and prices had actually increased. I never had a motorcycle that I could tour as fast, in comfort, and for as long, on. The bike was comfortable, tall 5th gear, great weather protection, huge tank, and got great mpg even at higher speeds. Congratulations on finding one!

 

[Wrigsby1]

Just had a short weekend away Fae NE Scotland down to NW England and 21/2 days of A and B roads if poss... Managed to catch shiteola rain through the Carngorms either way haha and only hit motorways or dual carriageway for about 100 miles in 800 dodging weather... Bike was great, simple and no distractions and still can't believe it's so good as a 35 year old... As it wasn't a thrash was seeing 50+ mpg too... All in all very satisfying for a grand... So much value in older bikes if you know what you're looking at...

 

[Wrigsby1]

4.5k miles now and I can't get over the fact they've (argue away) not made a V4 as good as the ST11 since... ST13s are "better", newer, faster etc but also not... Not as stable, revvier buzzer higher speed cruising and 11 belt cam drive is as good as it can get re the smoothness... Unicam quicker but rough sounding and guzzle like a celeb in the green room when pushed... My 1990 goes really well and can crack on in the realistic world as good as anything big tourer ..
The more I have thought about it over the years the more biking has become about bling and emissions with the message that it's all for the good of the rider... What shite... Happy biking...!

 

[Clifton]

4.5k miles now and I can't get over the fact they've (argue away) not made a V4 as good as the ST11 since...

They probably have not. A big advantage is its V4 is oriented longitudinal with crankshaft aligned with the driveshaft for efficiency and the cylinder heads out to the sides for easily accessibility. Contrast with a VFR 1200 and its transverse engine, the valve train is a bear to access for maintenance and the rear cylinders exhaust heat is very noticeable.

 

[Wrigsby1]

They probably have not. A big advantage is its V4 is oriented longitudinal with crankshaft aligned with the driveshaft for efficiency and the cylinder heads out to the sides for easily accessibility. Contrast with a VFR 1200 and its transverse engine, the valve train is a bear to access for maintenance and the rear cylinders exhaust heat is very noticeable.

And it guzzles... Progress to me it better efficiency not worse... My Crosstourer failed my 45mpg or more test... Went well though Only my old 1000 V Strom was allowed that as it was cheap and a right laugh....

 

[Clifton]

Now that you mention it I recall my Crosstourer didn't deliver nearly the MPG as the ST1100 either. Emissions? FD ratio/ aerodynamics? Having to turn the power 90* twice rather than once? All the above?