Need help... got bitten by the new bike bug!

[Savago]

Dear friends

I currently have a vstrom DL650 and a valkyrie I/S, both bought in 2014. I use to say that:

- "One bike is a necessity!"

- "Two bikes is vanity.""

- "And three bikes is plainly excessive..."

But what can I do? Sometimes I'm a bit excessive. 

Since I got a sports enduro (vstrom), a cruiser (valkyrie) what is missing in the stables is a touring bike. Yesterday, I checked a Honda ST1300, 2006 with 24K miles.

The owner is asking for 5K USD. The bike has a few scratches in a few places, but nothing major (after all, it is a 11 years old bike). Supposedly it is in good mechanical state. The bike doesn't have ABS.

What you guys say? Should I bite the bullet and add a V4 powered Honda in the garage?

Today I will be checking a fjr1300@2006 (with 22K miles), with Yamaha trunk for 4.5K USD. It is the automatic model (which I find intriguing but a bit unsure if it works well).

Best regards

Savago

[Pete]

If you want it and:
You can afford it
No one objects that is important to you

Why would you not do it?

Of course I may not be the one to ask or answer.

[big poppa pump]

Go for it! I am picking up a '04 ST1300 ABS model next weekend from New Mexico.

[big d]

If you can afford it I say go for it. Each bike is vastly different and I am sure will give you enjoyment. The wife and I have 5 bikes. She has a tourer, a trike and I have two interstates one being a SuperValk and a vtx 1800. Each one is riden depending on what and where I am going. Don't worry about what others think and do what you want. After all life is short. Enjoy!!!

[Alpha Dog]

I will throw this out there for a tourer that is a bit different but has the Honda ST 1300 v4, only it has been tuned to have more low end grunt, but is still fast and has been very reliable.  That is the Honda CTX1300 and CTX1300 deluxe with abs and audio in the fairing.  Honda never marketed it well ( lot of that going on at Honda these days ) and it was only in the US in 2014 but they still make new ones for Europe I understand so could bring it back here - Maybe.  Brand new ones can be had for 9 to 11 k and used ones harder to find, maybe not in CA, can be had for 7.5 to 10k depending on the model.  I would have bought great barely used one from Honda of Troy, OH except they wanted 13k which I told them was way above market on them, meaning if I wanted to sell in a year or two, I would take a big depreciation hit.

ST1300 has a great reputation if your body is of the sort that can ride it.  Me being geezerish in some ways, the joints do not like it, but I bet it will you.  Also Yama FJR1300 and Kawasaki Concours are really good.  Nothing like that smooth roll on power that only a V4 has -except of course the Flat 6.

Anyway I know that bug and had it for 6 months.  Since I could not find a ctx1300 in the ridiculous Dayton, Oh market I went up to cleveland and bought a 2013 V Star 1300 tourer ( liked the red and black color ) and have ordered a batwing fairing for it so I could put in the audio of my choice.   Only had 890 miles on it.

Good luck in your quest Savago it is a nice quest to have but can become mind racking, at least for me it was.

[scooperhsd]

I agree with Pete.

[old2soon]

If after you purchase it and you find yourself with guilt feelings an you wanna salve your feelings git hold of me and I'll come out there and take it off yer hands as it were!  I'm with som of the others-won't break the bank you gotz room o on aheadand git it and make em ALL play nice!  RDE SAFE.

[hubcapsc]

Those are great bikes. I don't care that my 1800 Valkyrie doesn't
have ABS, though ABS is probably a good thing to have...

I make myself feel better about it by believing that ABS brakes
would be harder to work on 

-Mike

[Savago]

This is the mistress that caught my attention:
https://goo.gl/photos/6y2zJKBKJpiagG3cA

[Jess from VA]

I had five bikes once (one the wife's).  I thought it would be great to have the choice of which to ride each time I went out.  I miscalculated.  I really only wanted to ride my Valks.  I sold the others.

The plates, tax, insurance, inspections, tires, maintenance and simple storage also got a bit much.

Give it a try.  If they all get ridden, great.  If one sits too much, well.....

[..]

I would  not buy a CTX1300

They stole a lot of power from it by detuning the engine.

PLUS it's really, really, really  ugly.

Do they still make the automatic FJR? If not ask yourself why not.

ST1300 with 7.2 gallons of gas and a reliable low 40's mpg will eat up miles.

Saddlebags are quick detach.

Some use a C/T.

There's a forum with VERY knowledgeable members.

I never had to replace a shim in 135,000 miles.

Air cleaner is an easy swap out.

Bleed brake can be time consuming.

Coolant is easy if you do it every year and only drain/replace the fluid making the job much easier.

[Savago]

So I test rode the ST1300 (really short ride, like 20 minutes tops).

And... I'm in love!
:-)

It handles like the vstrom (flickable and light weight) and has gobs of torque (almost like a Valkyrie). The parking lot maneuverability is unbelievable for such massive bike: it handles like a small bike.

The V4 likes to go fast, if you don't pay attention you will be cruising at 90mph with no effort.

The black ST1300 owner gave up on the last minute, but I had my eyes in another mistress: a 2009, 8K miles,  candy glory red.

Out of the door, all fees + DMV + taxes (8.75% in Santa Clara county, ouch!) it was 6.9K bucks.

Now it is time to do the preventive maintenance and start planning the next road trip:
https://goo.gl/photos/qLWYdRcRdGjjRUsj7

Too bad I will have to sell the weestrom.

[Moonshot_1]

Your rules seem to end with 3 bikes. Since there are no rules for 4 or above, I'd look to make it at least 4 and possibly one for everyday of the week. Problem solved.

[Savago]

@Moonshot: Brilliant!
:-)

[Kidd]

I had a '06 ST1300 in '06  , had 500 miles when I bought it for $10K
Really liked it , extremely  smooth  , watch your speed !
Scary on interstate at speeds  when passing a  semi , very unstable and has killed a couple of cops in Europe  .
It was the  European police that asked Honda to design a motorcycle for them and the ST1300 is what they came up with
My St was the only bike I ever dropped  and I did so twice  , one time it slid for 3 feet and no damage anywhere except  the  motor guard , of course , amazing

[..]

So I test rode the ST1300 (really short ride, like 20 minutes tops).

And... I'm in love!
:-)

It handles like the vstrom (flickable and light weight) and has gobs of torque (almost like a Valkyrie). The parking lot maneuverability is unbelievable for such massive bike: it handles like a small bike.

The V4 likes to go fast, if you don't pay attention you will be cruising at 90mph with no effort.

The black ST1300 owner gave up on the last minute, but I had my eyes in another mistress: a 2009, 8K miles,  candy glory red.

Out of the door, all fees + DMV + taxes (8.75% in Santa Clara county, ouch!) it was 6.9K bucks.

Now it is time to do the preventive maintenance and start planning the next road trip:
https://goo.gl/photos/qLWYdRcRdGjjRUsj7

Too bad I will have to sell the weestrom.

Do you know that you can adjust the seat height?

[Savago]

@Britman: just adjusted the seat early today before riding to work.
\o/

Yesterday I rode it until it made into reserve and the dashboard switched to the available riding mileage before running out of fuel.

When I stopped at the gas station, it reported 0.6 gallons available, but I was able to fill in just 6.6 (so I must assume that I still really had 1.0 gallons available).

I guess they error on the side of reporting a bit less gas than you really have.

[..]

@Britman: just adjusted the seat early today before riding to work.
\o/

Yesterday I rode it until it made into reserve and the dashboard switched to the available riding mileage before running out of fuel.

When I stopped at the gas station, it reported 0.6 gallons available, but I was able to fill in just 6.6 (so I must assume that I still really had 1.0 gallons available).

I guess they error on the side of reporting a bit less gas than you really have.

I used to fill up once I hit 2 bars.

Don't trust the mileage countdown 

Capacity for the 2 tanks is 7.2 gals USA.

[..]

@Britman: just adjusted the seat early today before riding to work.
\o/

Yesterday I rode it until it made into reserve and the dashboard switched to the available riding mileage before running out of fuel.

When I stopped at the gas station, it reported 0.6 gallons available, but I was able to fill in just 6.6 (so I must assume that I still really had 1.0 gallons available).

I guess they error on the side of reporting a bit less gas than you really have.

If you find you are sliding forward on the seat you can bend it to make the rear lower by engaging a different part of the molding under the seat.

[Earl43P]

Great minds think alike?

I bought a fast blue 04 ST1300 last Saturday, with 18,800 miles.

Which completely explains why I'm in St Augustine for a week's vacation, yielding to my wife's desire, as she yielded to mine. Funny how that works.

[big poppa pump]

Great minds think alike?

I bought a fast blue 04 ST1300 last Saturday, with 18,800 miles.

Which completely explains why I'm in St Augustine for a week's vacation, yielding to my wife's desire, as she yielded to mine. Funny how that works.

Picking up my '04 fast blue in 2 more days!

[Savago]

Did the first oil change this weekend:
https://goo.gl/photos/CtKYDh77xdzW4AKUA

Removing the oil filter (it was an original Honda) was only possible by puncturing it with a screwdriver (what the engineers were thinking by putting the filter in such confined location?).

In its place went a nice K&N filter with the exposed nut design, making it easy to use a torque wrench.

It is amazing how the gears shift so much smoother and even the gas mileage improved (from 39mpg to 42mpg).

Removing the low cowling tupperware was a PITA (our Valkyries are much better in this aspect). I hope next oil change to be able to do it keeping the cowling in place.

The final drive oil is clean and on level, but I'm planning next weekend to change it for synthetic Mobil 1. What comes next is the coolant flush.

[cookiedough]

congrats  2 of the for sure top 10 bikes ever made (IMO).  I have never driven a 1300 honda/yami sport tourer but guessing if I did, I would want one of those as well faster than our valks, yet sportier and newer as well.  4.5-5K is a good deal on one of those I think for sure.

I might be 3 bikes shortly in next week or so:  valk I/S, magna, and 250cc scooter got the full spectrum covered except a dirt bike which no seat will fit me on that one and no interest in.  Only thing missing is a 2 cylinder but not into v-twinkies....   

If I was taller, I sat on a kawi versys and really liked that but seat height was too tall guessing similar to the vstrom mid 650cc range.  I am into hwy. cruisers and all 3 fit the bill all 3 comfy at 35,40-45, and 63 avg mpg. 

[..]

Did the first oil change this weekend:
https://goo.gl/photos/CtKYDh77xdzW4AKUA

Removing the oil filter (it was an original Honda) was only possible by puncturing it with a screwdriver (what the engineers were thinking by putting the filter in such confined location?).

In its place went a nice K&N filter with the exposed nut design, making it easy to use a torque wrench.

It is amazing how the gears shift so much smoother and even the gas mileage improved (from 39mpg to 42mpg).

Removing the low cowling tupperware was a PITA (our Valkyries are much better in this aspect). I hope next oil change to be able to do it keeping the cowling in place.

The final drive oil is clean and on level, but I'm planning next weekend to change it for synthetic Mobil 1. What comes next is the coolant flush.

Oil change is easier once you get used to it.    Such a helpful statement. The most important part is using aluminum foil on the exhaust to stop it getting oiled up.

I did my own coolant changes but after the first one I opted to do it yearly.

I did this so that I didn't have to do the complete draining of fluid which IS a real PITA.

[..]

https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G?tag=viglink20849-20

[..]

Why I didn't do the full drain routine including the removal of radiator 

Look at the pdf file attached to DonB's post

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?151625-Coolant-relpacement

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?38212-ST1300-1st-Significant-Service-Coolant-Thermostat-Starter-Valve-Synch-amp-Other

I too used the Honda car dealer 505/50 silicate free premix.

[Gabriel]

I had a ST 1100 once, nice bike but a real cooker.
Lots of heat from the engine....

[..]

I had a ST 1100 once, nice bike but a real cooker.
Lots of heat from the engine....

Yep those pesky infernal combustion engines.

[Savago]

@Britman: awesome slides on coolant flush. Thanks a lot for pointing me to it (I'm still finding my way on st-owners forum).
:-)