Author Topic: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.  (Read 941 times)

Online Dragonstaff

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First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« on: October 04, 2022, 07:59:46 PM »
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of spending some time talking to the great Bill Horsman ( https://www.motorcyclingsa.org.au/bill-horsman-inducted-into-the-motorcycling-sa-hall-of-fame/ ), and he mentioned that he rode the first ST in SA. He also told an interesting story about it.

When Honda first introduced the bike to Australia, they sent six grey test bikes over (one for each state) and selected a test rider from, I guess, known motorcyclists. These riders were asked to ride the bike and put it through it's paces and report back. Bill reported that it only really had one problem- at over 100mph (160kmh) you had to push back on the bars because the windscreen formed enough of a vacuum behind it to actually suck you into it. Apparently this was fixed by putting a couple of triangular cut-outs somewhere at the base of the screen (I think, I haven't looked at an early 1100 screen). He also said that he never saw another ST that colour.

My questions for the brains trust are as follows.

Did the windscreen mod happen prior to release, or did the first ones have the above problem?

Did any of the six grey bikes survive testing and stay in the country, or did they either get returned to Japan, or have a date with the crusher?
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 
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Online Brock

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2022, 09:53:10 PM »
The windscreens had cats eyes in them, you will see them in all ST1100s with the stock screen..

Never seen a grey ST1100..
Brock
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Offline Shiney

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2022, 04:32:24 PM »
This was my grey 1990 ST1100






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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2022, 04:55:12 PM »
This was my grey 1990 ST1100

Well the year is right, and it's grey.  Could it be???
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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2022, 06:07:31 PM »
No cats eyes in the screen either.
A man rides on his STeed, says “Why am I short of attention? Got a short little span of attention”.

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2022, 06:30:28 PM »
Grey...or is it Silver???  :think1



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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2022, 06:41:07 PM »


        2005 Honda ST1300A
 

Online Dragonstaff

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2022, 08:35:48 PM »
It seems that while there was a grey metallic, it didn't come to Australia, so Shiney's bike is the silver.

Did it develop the vacuum behind the windscreen at high speed, Dave?
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 

Online Dragonstaff

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2022, 08:36:53 PM »
The windscreens had cats eyes in them, you will see them in all ST1100s with the stock screen..


That would be the cut-out Bill mentioned, I would think.
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 

Offline Shiney

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2022, 09:44:44 PM »
It seems that while there was a grey metallic, it didn't come to Australia, so Shiney's bike is the silver.

Did it develop the vacuum behind the windscreen at high speed, Dave?


I didn't notice vacuum...
But it had the Laminar Lip installed on the bike when I brought it so that may have stopped it from happening :think1

Or it could be that I never rode the big 11 any higher then 150 ish.

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Offline DaleAP

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2022, 08:20:24 PM »
I have a standard screen without the cutouts/holes and have not experienced the suction effect.

However.... I fitted an adjustable screen extension and found that if it's at the angle in these photos it gives the maximum wind protection it can, but if I make it just slightly more vertical it causes a REALLY strong suction on my head and shoulders.
Dale Porter
1995 ST1100 ABS/TCS  :bl11

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Online Dragonstaff

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2022, 07:40:59 PM »
I have a standard screen without the cutouts/holes and have not experienced the suction effect.

Have you hit 160kmh+ Dale?

Quote
However.... I fitted an adjustable screen extension and found that if it's at the angle in these photos it gives the maximum wind protection it can, but if I make it just slightly more vertical it causes a REALLY strong suction on my head and shoulders.

How do you find this? I have one that I didn't leave on for very long because the plastic is not good optically- warps and distortions in what you see, which isn't good on dirt roads.
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 

Offline DaleAP

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2022, 08:48:35 AM »

Have you hit 160kmh+ Dale?


Ummm...... I''ll say no.  o:)



How do you find this? I have one that I didn't leave on for very long because the plastic is not good optically- warps and distortions in what you see, which isn't good on dirt roads.


I really don't mind it. Yes the optics aren't great, but neither is the main screen anyway. Plus I am able to look over the top of it just fine. If I'm needing to look through it then I'm doing something wrong.
Dale Porter
1995 ST1100 ABS/TCS  :bl11

Past bikes: GPX-250 -> CBR-600F2 -> CBR-954RR -> VTR-1000
OzStoc: #?  Ulysses: #71199
 
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Online Dragonstaff

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Re: First test of the ST1100 in Australia.
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2023, 08:02:19 PM »
As a follow up to this, it is possible that Shiney's bike might be one of the six. I have found another in SA, that Bill thinks could be his. The VIN  ends in 104, so a very early one, and it doesn't have a top box. just the bags. It was first rego'd in 1990. Build date June,1990.

THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)