Popos go for Hondas

[rastuscat]

Those 10 year old design Honda's would be a lot cheaper to purchase than the new BMW RT or Yamaha's new FJR 1300
What's worse the Honda won't break down and cost very little to keep on the road, The Honda ST1100 that the Police last bought for APEC or CHOGEM? costed very little to keep on the road.
No more waiting for BMW parts with bikes of the road.
Rusticat it's not the end of the World least the Beancounters could of got You Guys VFR800's like Japan use , They would be to Fast.
Bugger I am a BMW fan/owner.

I've only ridden an ST1300 once. Just prior to buying my R1200RT. That says something, I guess.

I didn't like the high pitched engine tone, but I'm just a horizontally opposed old bugger.

[Big Dog]

Big Dog and Grem...............here's some thoughts.

My civilian 09 R1200RT is a lot lighter than the 07 work bike, but only a little lighter than the 13 work bike. The 13 work bike is the DOHC model. I don't like the new indicator switches, I'm a BMW separated switch fan. Just personal preference.

The 13 is the one we have on loan from the Popo college pending the replacement for the bonfire bike. The 07 is the sister ship to the bonfire bike. It now has 144000 km on it, and it's getting tired.

My 09 has a stereo and CD player, ESA, cruise control, and fat arse bags. It only has one battery. I think the gearbox is taller, at least in first, as Grem has pointed out. The authority bags are top opening for a quick get away from donut sales.

My electronics are different too. The work bikes have a digital speedo readout which we calibrate in the middle of the main display. We don't look at the factory analogue speedo much. It's pish.

The work bikes have disco lights, to match my disco ball(s). They're red and blue. (The lights, not my balls). Somewhere down in the electronics there is a suffering cat being tortured. Allegedly it's a siren, but I'm not convinced. We can turn the torture on and off with a switch with a klaxon graphic on it. Go figure. I think it should be a cat graphic.

More people pull out in front of my private bike. Fact. Maybe it's because the work bikes look like.......well.......Popo bikes. People still pull out in front of the work bikes, but less so. Followed closely by application of the disco lights..................

The Hondas will be interesting, but to be fair, I like the Bimmers. That said, any bike the Bwana provides with a full tank and a fuel card will do me just fine. It's not all about the bike, but rather the work we do which the bike is a tool for. I'd ride anything, if it was provided.

Well, almost anything.

True that. "Anyting you wan" is the term comes to mind when someone says here is the fuel card go for a ride.

People often mistake me for police as it is. So a police bike would be ironic.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[AllanB]

I didn't like the high pitched engine tone.

Put a rowdy aftermarket can on it

[BMWGSER]

Just a reply on RT 1200 gearing. Differences are mainly in the final drive ratio.


RT /ST. 2.6 to 1
RT-P 2.75to 1
Pre 08 GS/ADV 2.82 to 1
Post 08 GS/ADV2.91to 1
Most ADVentures that came to NZ had the Enduro option lower first Gear.

I have a 2.82 to 1 final drive for sale if any one wants to make there RT orST go a little harder.

[Moise]

It's an interesting decision. Not sure I'd enjoy riding a fully loaded ST1300 around town.

[HenryDorsetCase]

It is due to the BMW's catching fire .............


So if you get a Honda do I get a discount if you catch me speeding. You know, Honda thing and all that.

nah mate, its the OTHER Honda thing that'll get you off. If you catch my drift. Nods as good as a wink eh?

[Gremlin]

I certainly get a few more looks with the extra lights attached for part of the year.

I was filling the bike in a servo earlier this year and I think coupled with the fluoro helmet, a women is constantly looking at me, and finally asks if I'm a cop or something. No-one knows they're orange because they're not used outside of events (well, plus I'd probably get into big trouble if I tried using them whenever I felt like it)...

The gear the police/ambo bikes use is freaken expensive, the lighting controller itself is over $400... bugger that. My first test with some lights didn't work, they were good in low light but barely noticeable in daylight. These 4 (2 per side) were about $100 (excluding custom brackets) and I'm definitely satisfied with the result... Even better, no controller required, so I set them up with an existing loom for other lights for a simple on/off and they automatically cycle through patterns.

[rastuscat]

I certainly get a few more looks with the extra lights attached for part of the year.

I was filling the bike in a servo earlier this year and I think coupled with the fluoro helmet, a women is constantly looking at me, and finally asks if I'm a cop or something. No-one knows they're orange because they're not used outside of events (well, plus I'd probably get into big trouble if I tried using them whenever I felt like it)...

The gear the police/ambo bikes use is freaken expensive, the lighting controller itself is over $400... bugger that. My first test with some lights didn't work, they were good in low light but barely noticeable in daylight. These 4 (2 per side) were about $100 (excluding custom brackets) and I'm definitely satisfied with the result... Even better, no controller required, so I set them up with an existing loom for other lights for a simple on/off and they automatically cycle through patterns.

We need to talk. I want some of those lights for my private bike. I want to avoid a Canbus crisis too.

[GrayWolf]

I've only ridden an ST1300 once. Just prior to buying my R1200RT. That says something, I guess.

I didn't like the high pitched engine tone, but I'm just a horizontally opposed old bugger.

Hell, you'll be able to get from Donut provider, to donut provider, without the coffee getting cold between them.

However, I take it your Bwana is aware of the issue they had with the ST1300's in the UK Popo service?

Quote:
Evidence indicates the ST1300 can exhibit a weave instability mode at high speed — known in the case of the ST1300 as Pan Weave.

In April 2007, subsequent to the death of a police motorcyclist riding a single seat ST1300, the emergency service version of the ST1300, a British coroner announced he would warn all Chief Constables in England and Wales of the "serious threat" to riders' lives posed by the ST1300 and the "catastrophic result" of the high speed weave.[13] Later safety checks resulted in one examiner sustaining several broken bones in a similar incident. UK police forces subsequently withdrew the ST1300 from police service;[14] Freewheelers EVS and London Ambulance Service continue to operate the ST1300.[15][16]

RiDE Magazine reported in October 2007 that a team replicated weave instability mode with a civilian Honda ST1300 — reproducing the instability at a speed of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) under certain loading conditions. The rider noticed a rear wheel maximum yaw of 11 degrees per second, described as "a consistent and alarming sideways movement." The editors named the behavior "Pan weave". The intent of the testing was not to determine the cause of the weave, but to confirm its existence. Also, the article reported that 43% of surveyed ST1300 owners had experienced the weave.[17]

So the Pan, may rival the HD 'death weave'......

That being said though Rastus, a couple of the guys at work (work's bike club) have later model ST1300's... and believe me those ST's can really honk along when used in anger.

[rastuscat]

Hell, you'll be able to get from Donut provider, to donut provider, without the coffee getting cold between them.

However, I take it your Bwana is aware of the issue they had with the ST1300's in the UK Popo service?

Quote:
Evidence indicates the ST1300 can exhibit a weave instability mode at high speed — known in the case of the ST1300 as Pan Weave.

In April 2007, subsequent to the death of a police motorcyclist riding a single seat ST1300, the emergency service version of the ST1300, a British coroner announced he would warn all Chief Constables in England and Wales of the "serious threat" to riders' lives posed by the ST1300 and the "catastrophic result" of the high speed weave.[13] Later safety checks resulted in one examiner sustaining several broken bones in a similar incident. UK police forces subsequently withdrew the ST1300 from police service;[14] Freewheelers EVS and London Ambulance Service continue to operate the ST1300.[15][16]

RiDE Magazine reported in October 2007 that a team replicated weave instability mode with a civilian Honda ST1300 — reproducing the instability at a speed of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) under certain loading conditions. The rider noticed a rear wheel maximum yaw of 11 degrees per second, described as "a consistent and alarming sideways movement." The editors named the behavior "Pan weave". The intent of the testing was not to determine the cause of the weave, but to confirm its existence. Also, the article reported that 43% of surveyed ST1300 owners had experienced the weave.[17]

So the Pan, may rival the HD 'death weave'......

That being said though Rastus, a couple of the guys at work (work's bike club) have later model ST1300's... and believe me those ST's can really honk along when used in anger.

Honda reckon they've fixed the weaving.

Exactly who is going to weave the baskets now is unclear.

Our model will be an ST1300PA

They're back buying them in the UK too.

[HenryDorsetCase]

One of the early pleece moorsickles was withdrawn from service here too: CBX750 or CB650 SOHC?

basically putting dirty big fairings on them and loading them up to the max and they wonder why they're unstable.

[Gremlin]

One of the early pleece moorsickles was withdrawn from service here too: CBX750 or CB650 SOHC?

basically putting dirty big fairings on them and loading them up to the max and they wonder why they're unstable.

Turning bikes into disco ones isn't an old problem. Aftermarket companies geared up the Concours14 in the USA and sold them as police bikes. Several departments received bikes, then the issues came out. Bikes master fuse wasn't handling all the extra accessories, the link between the two batteries caused problems and well... turned into a shit storm with the bikes recalled. However, it does mean that if you have a Concours14 (I did muse over one) you can get the police style crash bars on the front (Accessory mounting heaven).

[willytheekid]

...I didn't like the high pitched engine tone.

...the trick is to balance it with a nice free flow pipe

Please note how the sexy V4 exhaust sound, mixed with the whine of the cam gears = pure heaven! to the ears


hay!...Ive got a cordless drill!...will happily sort the muffler for ya Ras



...your gonna fall for that V4, just wait

[Gremlin]

...your gonna fall for that V4, just wait

I seriously can't imagine an ST1300 sounding like that

However, I can imagine the whine, because I've been in conference comms with 2 other bikes, one an ST1300, and the whole time there was that high pitched whine.

[willytheekid]

I seriously can't imagine an ST1300 sounding like that

However, I can imagine the whine, because I've been in conference comms with 2 other bikes, one an ST1300, and the whole time there was that high pitched whine.

yeah...ripped off sound wise it seems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CajergOCyQs
...and I was so looking forward to "moding" Rastuscats muffler's as a surprise prezzy

That whinging sound, I just noticed...there a belt drive! ...hence the different tone...yuck!



BRING BACK GEAR DRIVEN CAMS!!