Honda ST1300 (ST1300) reviews

I have heard of the weave but never experienced it with this bike. Up to 130 with no weave (with the windshield down), however what I have experienced in the last 6 months of ownership is this. This is a heavy girl. As bike weight goes up the room for error goes down. Mixmatched tires, off tire pressures and unbalanced laods can and will have a drastic effect on handling. The rear shock adjustment has a lot of travel. Going up in that travel is no biggie (I recommned as stiff as you can stand it for best handling) but going down I recommend doing it 1 or 2 clicks as it will take a little time for the shock to settle down and you could find yourself riding more of a slinky if you get happy with the adjustments. Front forks have little adjustment other than stiffer springs and oil. Stock are pretty stiff and dive is minimal even in heavy braking Handling is good and its hard to scrape the pegs. More at home going 100 on the highway but going down the twisties this beast shines more than one might expect as even hitting good sized rocks in the turns moves it very little. The weight is noticeable but not tiring. After a day on the Blue Ridge, I know i've been riding all day ride but no next day soreness or stiffness that can accompnay some bigger bikes. Motor is excellent and robust. Smooth as silk with little buzzing even at high rpms.Yes the motor whine can be drowning for some but most will be so impressed with the ride and handling it becomes one of its charms. Gas mileage is better than most bikes even with the extra 250lbs. Maintainence is fairly easy and doesnt need much compared to most. I regularly get 50 and have seen 60MPG under the right conditions. 7.5 gallon gas tank ensures you get there and since main tank is below the seat, center of gravity is low and managemble even at slow speeds though I wouldnt park on an incline with a curb without backing in. Alternator has enough amperage to add any electrical features you could want without taxing it. HP and torque ratings vary and doesnt have what some others do but way more than fast enough to send you to prison so there's that. Comfort wise, most will probably opt for the aftermarket seat. I have had to raise the stock seat all the way to keep my nuts from getting crushed against the tank. I can go for about 2 hours on the highway before having to stretch but can spend hours on the twisties at Blue Ridge and it doesnt bother me probably cause Im not in one position for very long. Shorter riders looking for a sport touring will love the low seat height as I am 5'6 and can handle this bike with ease. Panniers are great and can handle full face helmets on both sides. (good luck getting that from anyone else), Easy to lock and unlock and doesnt rewuire different keys though so integrated into the bikes looks that without them its like a turtle thats lost its rear. In conclusion: This bike does everything so well for its size with forgiving handling it could almost be described as boring but hit the twisties and she can make your butt pucker more than once. Because of its size and power there is less room for error compared to others, I would recommend getting to know this bike and the setup well before taking to its limits. Good matched tires are a must and pressures need to be checked more often. Do this, change the oil and tires as scheduled and you have a machine that will keep you satisfied whether riding to the store for groceries, touring the US or hitting the twisties at Deals Gap, this bike will be with you for a long and practically maintenance free time and with Honda reliability. You will be hard pressed to find one that can do it all better. Show less

I went looking for a used Yamaha FJR 1300, the bike shop couldn't bring down the price on one, they had. The salesman said he had the Honda ST1300, on sale(Blue). As I sat on it, he described how clean and well kept it was. It also included the matching Pan-European bag with back support for passenger, and knee pads on the tank. The salesman asked if I wanted to test-ride it. I said "No, need, I'll take it!" It's the most car-like suspension I've felt on a bike without sacrificing handling. The balance is so good; I've even had a few front-wheel slides going over small dirt patches and train rails without losing its composure, quickly regaining traction. Even though it has linked brakes, you can still lock up the rear wheel and fishtail it a few inches for fun, occasionally. Too heavy for wheelies, but front end will get very light under hard acceleration, maybe clearing an inch or 2. My top (track, long straight) speed on my ST1300, 155 mph! Show less

This has been a splendid bike, but at 725lb., my arrival at 72 yrs. of age, tho fit, has raised questions about my continuing ability to control it at very low speeds. The decision was hastened by the arrival of a 430 Yamaha triple in the fleet. The lighter bike has restored my confidence and almost left me feeling like a kid again. Show less

After debating the purchase of a new motorcycle for over four years, I finally decided that a sport touring bike would best suit my needs. As I am unwilling to trump up the 2012 ST1300's sporting abilities and remembering it is a sport-toruing motorcycle leaning more toward the touring side of the equation with abundant power and very agile handling. Although it took some getting used to, the combined braking system which links the front and rear brakes to the brake pedal and lever works excellent along with standard ABS. I cannot say enough about the smoothness of the V4 engine. It revs so easily, it's rpm. redline comes up very quick because of its smooth whirring sound power is deceptively quiet and vibration free. Open the throttle and about the time it starts to growl, you are approaching triple digits! It has great range with over seven gallons of fuel capacity and very economical averaging a little over 40 mpg. It is a sporting bike that you can ride in a comfortable position for long distances. I also like the electronic adjustable windshield which offers excellent protection and also does a great job of wind buffeting. A low center of gravity that is well balanced inspires confidence in its handling. Although I must add the fact of the bike is more capable than I am a rider at this point of ownership, but with each ride I am more confident in its abilities and mine. With its weight of over 700 lbs., this is a very comfortable machine to ride and easy to maneuver. There are similar models that have more power and some that cost more but there are not any that are better in my opinion. I'm glad to be a part of the Sport Touring community, I have not been disappointed and I am very happy with the purchase of my ST1300ABS. At 55, I love the experience of riding again and I have no complaints. The only cons I have are the lack of a gear indicator and no self-cancelling directional signals and minor engine heat, but the pros more than make up for the drawbacks. Otherwise, it's simply an awesome machine. I want to ride. Show less

I bought it new back in 2004 and I have never put this many miles on one bike before. She is running as strong as the day I brought it home back in 2004. Change oil and filter, spark plugs, brake pads, headlight and tires. I head out tomorrow to the west coast and not worry about it. Show less

Honda recently announced they will resume production of the "highly regarded" Honda ST1300 for 2012. There are no significant changes from 2010 except that ABS is now standard. So is Black (civilian) and White (police). Show less

I had always wanted an ST1100 or 1300, but just never took the step to get one until last November. The dealer had an ABS model that had been there a long time. I traded my 2009 Suzuki M90 and got a really good deal. I loved the M90, but it wasn't very practical for me. The ST1300 has just what I like in a motorcycle. It has weather protection, removeable saddle bags, an adjustable windscreen, shaft drive, water cooling, and a very smooth engine and transmission. It also has enough power. The things I dislike about it are the stock handle bar position, the stock seat, the quirky mechanical noises, and the too-quiet exhaust. The motor is noisier than my Burgman 650 even out on the open road. The things I like most about it are the smoothness of the V4 engine, the extremely smooth shifting transmission, and the good handling with plenty of ground clearance. I also love having a center stand, although it is heavy to put up there. I can do it, but it's a chore. Now that I have made some modifications it is a great bike for longer trips. I'm a little disappointed with the gas mileage I'm getting. Most of the time it's only around 38-40 miles per gallon. Maybe it will get better in warm weather and when broken in a little more. Overall I like it a lot. Show less

What a fine all around sport tourer. I had been disappointed after 4 years of owning a different brand that suffered two different catastrophic failures. I wanted a reliable, sporty, and comfortable ride. The ST delivers all this and more. It is refined, well-engineered, powerful, and smooth and has great handling especially in medium and longer radius turns. It is surprisingly fast and agile. Show less

After correcting the little niggles with the bike (such as replacing the stock seat, adding electrical outlets), and putting a few more miles on the bike, I will tell you that this has been a thoroughly satisfying purchase. The motor has just been bulletproof; it still pulls as hard as the day I bought it. I've had it up to 125 and it is as solid as a rock. You can ride all day at 90 (based on GPS, not the optimistic speedo). It handles well... I feel that a more skilled rider than me could hang with most riders/bikes on most roads. I don't do badly and I'm flat-out old. It occasionally occurs to me to get a new bike, explore other makes/models/configurations, then I ask myself 'why?' Show less

I have used the ST as a touring bike since August of 05. Technically it is a sport-touring bike; it's leaning more toward touring than sport. Extremely smooth engine and power delivery. Very good weather protection. Fuel range/capacity higher than the Gold Wing, which adds even more to its touring capabilities. Needless to say, it's a keeper. The wife also rides a 05 ST and loves it. Show less