2002 Honda STX1300

[Hitcher]

I know nowt about this genre of machine. What are some of the stock features (apart from the REALLY obvious stuff like paniers). Rider / passenger intercom?

Any vibration at all through anywhere (bars / pegs / tank)?

That's a big negatory on a stock intercom there, good buddy. But Mrs H and I already had this base covered.

Stock features? I'm still enjoying the on-road entertainment provided by the trip computer and mult-featured dashboard display. Fuel economy, distance to "stop" once you hit reserve, time, ambient temperature, two trip meters, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge. The capital of Burkina Faso is Ougadougou and high tide isn't expected there for quite some time, apparently...

Vibration? Enough to let you know it's going! If the STX1300 is a "gold standard" for smoothness, then a Kawasaki ZRX1200R isn't too far off the pace. The front rebound damping isn't is good as my ex-Kwak but that's starting to get really picky...

[MD]

Good review and a smart looking machine Hitcher. Thanks for letting me put a leg over it. Surprisingly light at a stand still.
A couple of observations.
1. you did well in the first post using the "H" word six times. No, lets be out there and say it ...H o n d a. That's progress just keep taking the transitional medication (the red pills not the yellow transgender pills) until the word flows smoothly off your tongue without hesitation. Change can be hard but their are support groups available for bike swappers.
2. If you ever ride in a singlet remember to shave under your armpits otherwise your mirrors wont work.
3. OK now its a few observations. Not a good look letting a shop bike go out the door with both tyres near flat. I've always been impressed with how shops give em a good check over first. Give them the benefit of the doubt as Anza were good to me once when I was stranded by a broken wire just as they were closing up for the day. Thanks Guys.
I'd be interested in hearing long term what it's like on tyres. Those 020 tyres lasted well on my VTR. Tyres are the bane of my riding costs.
See ya on the other side
MD

[vifferman]

That's a big negatory on a stock intercom there, good buddy. But Mrs H and I already had this base covered.

How so? I'm interested in an intercom myself. Do you have one, or do you use semaphore?

Stock features? I'm still enjoying the on-road entertainment provided by the trip computer and mult-featured dashboard display. Fuel economy, distance to "stop" once you hit reserve, time, ambient temperature, two trip meters, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge. The capital of Burkina Faso is Ougadougou and high tide isn't expected there for quite some time, apparently...

Hmmm.... the VifFerraRi misses out on the fuel economy, distance to stop and the geographical/physical data. Prolly why the STX costs more.
The fuel gauge is a worry - it goes from 2 bars to flashing in very short order, especially if you brake hard going downhill.

Vibration? Enough to let you know it's going! If the STX1300 is a "gold standard" for smoothness, then a Kawasaki ZRX1200R isn't too far off the pace.

I think the smoothness thing was initially the CBR1000's domain, but the GL1800 would probably hold that now. Incidentally, the CBR1000 I rode back in '98 or thereabouts was the smoothest and 'nicest' bike I'd ever ridden, so much so that I didn't like it. No character at all.

The front rebound damping isn't is good as my ex-Kwak but that's starting to get really picky...

Is it? I don't think so. Why not provide either suspension that's superb, or (more practically) provide sufficient adjustment that it can be tailored to suit?
I'm a bit disappointed that while the VifFerraRi has reasonable suspension, the front end lacks the damping adjustment that the lower-budget VTR has. It wouldn't have cost much to throw the internals from the CBR600 (f'rinstance) into the forks, as many VFR owners have to resort to doing.

[Hitcher]

How so? I'm interested in an intercom myself. Do you have one, or do you use semaphore?

We use the Bike-To-Bike system that Pinfolds in Rotorua sells. You have to supply your own walkie talkies. The kit includes helmet headset and mike, a handlebar-mounted push-to-talk switch and enough cable and plugs to join up all the bits.

When it works it does so magnificently at highway speeds of up to 120kmh, even while wearing earplugs. The limiting factor on being able to hear is helmet wind noise.

The kits retail for a for-each price of $120.

[Grumpy]

Congrats on the new bike. I'm envious. I took one for a ride up to Wellsford last year and was so impressed that I took the Mrs back the next day for a spin on the back in an attempt to convince her it would look "the bee's knees" in our garage. She loved the ride but not the price tag. I even offered to sell her bike for her to help pay for it.. That was a while ago and we're getting on better now

Awesome bike!!