1st June 2016

The Honda ST1100 was a touring motorcycle that was in production till 2002. It is considered as one of the best touring motorcycles designed and manufactured till now. It is not a surprise that Honda ST1100 owners are loathe to part with them though there are more advanced touring bikes in the market today. This is one of the reasons it is difficult to find a good Honda ST1100 on the market.

The ‘ST’ stands for sports touring while the ‘1100’ refers to the cc of the engine. The ST1100 version was ended in 2002 but Honda followed it up with a 1300 version called ‘Pan European’ that same year. The 1300 was a leg up in many ways. It was shorter, lighter and had more features than the ST1100, like fuel injection. It also had more grunt in its engine.

But in other ways, the ST1100 was better. The ST1300 had trouble keeping stable at high speeds. There were problems with the sump too. Honda had to recall the bike at least three times. Eventually, Honda ended the bike’s production. Let us see some of the pros and cons of the ST1100.

The Honda ST1100 is the grand daddy of touring bikes

There is no doubt, the Honda ST1100 is one of the best sports touring bike. Anything lesser would be an understatement. The bike has comfortable seating for both rider and pillion rider. Unlike some other touring bikes, the Honda ST1100 does not have any tensioner or cam chain problems. In fact, the ST1100 is known for its higher than average mileage, supported by a capable gearbox and engine.

So if you are buying your first tourer, you should seriously consider buying an ST1100. Not only is it relatively cheaper, it also has great balance and road manners. It has excellent handling and as far as twisting and turning go, it easily matches the performance of some of the more expensive and newer touring bikes out there.

Finding spare parts for the Honda ST1100 is not a problem

You won’t have problems buying spare parts. The bike is popular, so the Honda network carries parts for this bike. Don’t forget the ST1100 was last produced in 2002. This means you’ve got to watch out for corrosion and rusting, especially in the exhaust and swinging arm. The standard screen on the bike is not enough to protect you from the wind.

Many bikers have noticed problems with the timing belt on the ST1100 so that is something you should look out for. The pillion seat has a tendency to get slippery as the bike gets older. If you intend to do a lot of doubles riding, consider replacing the rear shock absorber. If the swinging arm looks rusted, remove it, give it a bead blast and a powder coat and spray the cavity with wax. This is an old bike, so don’t be surprised if the plastic looks a bit jaded.

Final words on the Honda ST1100

If you are looking for a second hand tourer, the Honda ST1100 is a good bike. Though this is an old model, we didn’t see many problems with it. This is saying a lot for a bike the last model of which is at least 13 years old. You may have to upgrade some of the parts like the shock absorbers but it will be worth it. All in all, the Honda ST1100 is an excellent bike.