I'm looking at changing bikes! I think it is ST1300 time

**MarkH** · 1st March 2014, 15:57

I've had a lot of fun on the RF900R but I'm thinking I might prefer to be riding an ST1300.

Since I got the RF my situation has changed a bit.
I'm now working full time and have more money coming in and I'm running about 350km per week going to work and back, most of it open road.

What I'm looking at is more comfort for regular riding and for some long touring holidays (maybe NI in a year and SI the following year).
I had over 100 litres of lockable storage on my 400cc scooter and I really liked that, I'd like to go back to having some decent lockable storage.
Chain maintenance isn't all that much fun (currently need new chain & sprocket set, around four hundy).
I MUST have good reliability, not being able to get to work would be a big problem.

Basically:
I liked the comfort & riding position of my Burgman and also the lockable storage.
I like the bigger more powerful engine of my RF900R with the better open road ability.
Combine the 2 and the ST1300 seems to fit the bill nicely.

I'm looking at a 2004 with lowish kms, but I'll be adding about 20k per year on whatever I buy.
I'm planning on taking a test ride after work on Monday.

**FJRider** · 1st March 2014, 17:15

Are you going to use it for the commute .. ???

**MarkH** · 1st March 2014, 17:38

Originally Posted by FJRider

Are you going to use it for the commute .. ???

I would be using it for everything.
I loved the scooter for commuting around Auckland, but now I'm commuting on the open road (Morrinsville - Cambridge) and I want to use a bigger bike that will happily run 20,000km PA for year after year after year. Home to work is 35km and then back home is another 35km, 5 days a week gives the 350km per week and that is before going anywhere else.

With over $300 spare money each week after covering my costs (which seems like a lot to me because my finances were very tight for me in Auckland after the recession hit) I'm not worried about going to some smaller bike that is cheaper to run, I'm also not keen to pay 2 lots of rego.

**Akzle** · 1st March 2014, 17:52

Originally Posted by MarkH

I'm also not keen to pay 2 lots of rego.

well boy have i got a solution for you!

Dereg the cunt and give it to me.

**Gremlin** · 1st March 2014, 21:26

Well, STs have no problem racking up mileage, several guys have 6 figures on bikes with no problems.

It is heavier than the scoot you'd be used to, but it's certainly an open road tourer...

**nadroj** · 1st March 2014, 21:42

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=692213720

**pritch** · 2nd March 2014, 13:43

Originally Posted by nadroj

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=692213720

Having ridden with both owners I can vouch for the way that bike has been treated. Seems like just yesterday that I was talking to the first owner about his then new acquisition,
2005? Bugga!

**MarkH** · 2nd March 2014, 15:57

Originally Posted by nadroj

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=692213720

I'll add that one to my short list.

**Hitcher** · 2nd March 2014, 17:18

The cam whine will drive you nuts.

**caspernz** · 2nd March 2014, 18:20

Going down the old(ish) bike route, consider FJR1300 or if the budget allows it, Concours.

If you're gonna do serious clicks on an ST, best you remember the now outdated tyre sizes it runs...

**leathel** · 2nd March 2014, 19:46

The people I know that have the ST130's absolutely love them!

Not sure I like the std exhaust sound but thy seam to go very well

**Hitcher** · 2nd March 2014, 20:03

Originally Posted by caspernz

best you remember the now outdated tyre sizes it runs...

More "extremely oddball", rather than "outdated". They were oddball when the ST1300 first appeared in 2005 and time hasn't healed that.

**caspernz** · 3rd March 2014, 13:26

Originally Posted by Hitcher

More "extremely oddball", rather than "outdated". They were oddball when the ST1300 first appeared in 2005 and time hasn't healed that.

I was trying to be polite, and I have about three days of that each month

But yep the weirdo (for 2014 anyway) tyre sizes are one reason why I didn't get an ST1300

**KoroJ** · 3rd March 2014, 18:17

Wot cam whine?....nothing an MP3 or muzak through the GPS won't fix.

Extremely Oddball tyres?....the front is a little different to what other bikes run but they are generally readilly available in all the brands the other tourers use. (Just don't go near the Avon Storm 2 Ultras!)

The big tank is a beaut and biggest criticism is 'old and boring' because it hasn't been remodelled since 2003 and it's so easy to ride it even makes a Noddy like me look good.

**MarkH** · 3rd March 2014, 20:20

The test ride didn't happen, the owner grabbed his bike back from the dealer and now has decided not to sell it.
I still haven't had a chance to ride an ST1300 which is something I really need to do.
I work Sunday to Thursday so I guess that means a ride up to Auckland on Friday to test ride a bike.

If I confirm that an ST1300 is the bike for me then I'll either buy the one I test ride (if I'm happy with it and the deal is decent) or option 2 would be a trip to New Plymouth.
If I had already ridden an ST1300 I might have considered just buying the one in New Plymouth and not bothering with the trip to Auckland.