OzSTOC
Welcome - Getting started & FAQs - Read Here First... => Introduce Yourself & Your Bike => Topic started by: curious1 on July 06, 2014, 04:12:40 PM
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Hello Everyone
I just bought an ST1300 and because it is second hand I would appreciate if somebody could give me a quick direction of what parts I should check for wear and tear. I have been absent from the 2 wheel world for some years but now in retirement I have the urge to ride again. I had Honda's before like a 750 F1 and a Hawke 400 and my wife had a 90 steptrough before she took over the Hawke. I still remember the problems I had to get the right info for syncing the 4 barrel carbies and replacing the steering bearings because of stability problems. But in the end it was fun till the real life started. Mortgage, Kids and self employed Electrical Contractor.
Now I like to get this bike in the right condition to be reliable enough for some travel in the more remote areas like anywhere but the Capital cities. It's bad enough to brake down with a car but a motorbike is even worse. Cant sleep under the bike or in the bike but a car would allow this and carry enough tools for repair.
A friend already pointed out that the brake pads a low and some advice from this forum which are the best replacement brand/type would be of great help.
Regards to all
Alf
Had to correct some spelling
Alf
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Welcome Alf,
What year model and where do you live (approx)
You have to love a wife that rides :thumbsup
Happy to help if I can ++
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Hi Curious1 and welcome to OzSTOC from SA. At 32,000km your ST1300 is nearly run in, so I would anticipate that only the running gear such as brakes and tryes would need to be looked at. Changing engine oil, final drive oil, brake and clutch fluids and coolant might be a good idea. Then you have a solid starting point for your own maintenance schedule. They are rock solid reliable, and trouble free bikes and you will have a long future together.
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Welcome Alf. With only 32,000 on the clock, I don't think you need to be checking too much, just how much fuel is left in the tank. :grin
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It is only early days for that ST1300. As mentioned all the consumable items would need checking just to establish a bse from which to do other things. A few of us around Canberra so if you have any questions or whatever give us a hoy. I have an ST1100 but have done tyres and brakes on an ST1300.
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G'day Alf,
I bought my ST1300 with the same kays as yours and from bitter experience found it was in dire need of a brake and clutch fluid change. My suggestion is you check it out thoroughly before it becomes a big problem as it has for me. My bike has a complete log book but judging from the state of the clutch fluid it had never been changed.
It is not that difficult to do and certainly way easier than replacing the components which get damaged when there is water in the hydraulic lines.
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G'day Alf, welcome to the forum :hatwave
As for brake pads I would recommend MetalGear. We also get a 10% discount :eek :thumbsup check out this link:
MetalGear Industries Brake Components for STs (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=6547.0)
Anyway as everyone has said you shouldn't have any issues with the bike, just check all the fluids, tyres and brakes :thumbs
Cheers
Shiney
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You must have drawn a bad straw HT, most of the bikes are fault free.
As has been said, check the brakes do an oil and filter change (just for peace of mind). Fill the tank and go ride. These are the most reliable bikes I have ever seen, and go for ever as long as they are ridden.
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Welocme along to the forum......enjoy :hatwave
As others have said, take ALL the wet stuff out and put new wet stuff in everything, filters too..... :thumbsup
Dont forget to add yourself to the member map and keep an eye out for RTE's in your area, we may also have Service & Maintenance days on in your area.
:beer
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Hello curious1 and welcome to the OzSTOC wonderland of information and social events.
Only niggly problem I've had with mine was the FI light blinking after around 50,000 km (now 88.000 km on a 2004 model) and it was a relatively simple fix. The symptoms were not idling when cold, FI light blinking and then after warm up, kill the engine and restart and FI light goes off and engine idles perfectly.
Details here on how to fix it here. http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=5870.msg75321#msg75321 (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=5870.msg75321#msg75321)
The other was Cruise control related after a Tyre change where the mechanics had moved the speed sensor on the rear wheel to about a 12 mm gap. should be about 2 to 3 mm.
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Welcome to the Forum. Great advice so far, and you've only been here for just over an hour!
The reason folks have problems with Hondas (and inferior types too) as has already been mentioned, is their not being ridden. Once you change all the fluids you will have headed off problems in many areas. After doing the other jobs (filters and brake pads) you will only need to ride it every day and at least 20,000 km per year to fend off any other problems. :thumbs
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Valve clearances were due at the Major Service at 24,000km, so it might be worth checking the service log to determine if they were done.
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Hi Alf welcome aboard,
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:dred11 :dred11 :dred11
welcome to OzSTOC Alf, :hatwave enjoy your ST1300 when you done all the fluids mentioned. what colour ya got? I have a 1998 ST110 ex police, but dream of upgrading ++
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You must have drawn a bad straw HT, most of the bikes are fault free.
Yeah Brock.
The reputation for reliability was the reason I bought a Honda. I was all set to buy a BMW or Triumph but was put off by their reputation for unreliability.
So it is a real disappointment to be suffering the issues I am now particularly when I need to ride the damn thing. The lack of parts support from Honda Australia only compounded the problem.
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Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable suppliers in Oz, UK and USA.
Mostly cheaper than Honda Aust.
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Thank you for all your reply. The previous owner changed 6 month ago the brake/clutch fluid and tyres. The bike has done since then 4.5k and the front is new (to me) but the rear is a bit flat in the middle. The oil and filter (to you change filter every oil change? I only do this on my car every 3th change of oil) I will change oil this week just to have a known start.
This evening (just an hour ago) I have with the help of an "Haynes Manual" started to explore the inners of the bike and when taking off (after having a lot of fun finding the little leaver to remove the back seat) the main seat a couple of rubbers fell off. I will attach a picture from this rubbers and if someone can tell me where the have to go I can re-assemble the bike for a rego inspection drive and changing rego to my name tomorrow.
I have to digest all the info and news and will be back in the morning hopefully finding an answer for this rubbers.
The bike is a 11/05 ST1300 A-4 Model and burgundy and if somebody is in need of an towbar please contact me.
Good night
Alf
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Alf
Will have another go at finishing off my last post.
Welcome to the Group.
We are looking for a used towbar for an 02 ST1300. What sort of $ are you chasing for it (landed in Toowoomba).
Regards
Gerard Beard.
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Everyone changes their oil filter every oil change, mate. There are even some folk who only change the filter and then change oil every second filter! That's how good the oils are now.
Check the auto stores for Ryco or SCA Z436 filters. Half or less than the cost of the Honda ones.
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Hi Alf, welcome to the group.
I'm also in Canberra and retired.
Catch you on one of our rides.
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Welcom to the forum Alf,
congrats on picking up an ST that is barely run in!
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Hi Gerard
I will need some time to get shipping cost for the towbar, it's heavy and long, to big for AU Post.
Regards
Alf
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I will need some time to get shipping cost for the towbar, it's heavy and long, to big for AU Post.
Have you checked that? They parcel-post some pretty odd stuff.
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Had my second ride today and for the second time this Fat Pregnant Lady rolled on it's side when parking. 1st time I got cramp in my left hip while trying to get the sidekick down while stationary already and today lost control parking under a tree with wet leave being the lubricant at about 2-3kmh and using the brake. All things which I got away before with lighter bikes but at 330kg it is a different kettle of fish. Have to treat this FPL with more care or one day she will roll on my foot. Hope this lost love can be restored with more familiarity and practice and to make the hole thing worse a guy checking the bike for rego warned me that his friend lost control coming home to his place and hitting the rear brake and looked the front wheel on wet grass.
Any body willing to give me some advice to stay upright at very slow speeds? At higher speeds I am doing not to bad but parking and manouvering is a new problem at this weight. I use a plastic sheet about 5mm thick to put under the centre stand to turn the bike around on the spot in my carport. Works ok but has somebody got a better idea? More elegant maybe. While doing this I have to keep the bike front/rear balanced (wheels of the ground) and this is a difficult thing.
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Main advice for slow speed stuff is practice a fair bit until you feel ok about it. I try and keep both feet on the pegs to maintain balance, then use a balance of throttle, clutch and rear brake to steady the bike. With practice anyone can do it. I have jusmped on all sorts of bikes over the years, and this works for Goldwings down, but I do understand your situation as those heavier bikes can feel rather daunting - particularly when it is not yours to drop!!
Once you start dangling the feet you start loosing control of the bike, as you need to use its power to keep up the balance. I practice all the time, when leaving the driveway to make sure everything is working, or just playing around in a carpark while waiting for others in a group to get ready.
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Sorry to hear about your early incident with the Steed. You really do have to have to plan the 'plan of attack' when manoeuvring the beaST. I'm ok with seat height but I still assess the surrounds before before doing any manoeuvres on unsealed terrain. I hope this doesn't put you off Alf. Avoid parking nose down on a down hill decline, even the slightest decline. The weight on parking is the biggest challenge. And did I mention that damn seat? :fp
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On a loose surface, dont use the hand brake or the front wheel will lock, skid and down you go.
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The ST is a big lump of a bike and it does take some getting used to. The basic technique for slow speed riding is hold the clutch lever at the slip point, and control your speed with rear brake. This takes all the "snap" out of the drive train that you will get as you go on and off the throttle, and prevents the bike jerking, and keeps it smooth. It's also critical to look ahead to where you want to go.
Practice, Practice and then do some some more Practice.
Having said all that, I dropped my new ST when it was two days old, so you are no orphan, and she now carries a scar on the right muffler.
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curious1,
You are not alone coming to terms with the big bike.
I dropped mine in spectacular from just 13 days after buying and sliding it down the road at 80 km/h in the wet. That was in early December and didn't get the bike back until the following April.
The next time was up a slight rise in the driveway, when I backed off after taking off because my son's car was closer than I thought. Pan stalled and down he went.
I paid dearly both times because the next day each time I was crippled with a Kidney stone which I am blaming on straining to get Pan back on his wheels.
As other have said though, practice, practice, practice.
I now barely notice the weight of the bike and throw it right where I want it.
Most of all, have fun. :thumbsup
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Yesterday I took Mrs Biggles for a ride. She has a RH hip replacement which limits her leg movement. When she gets off I have to lean the bike to the left. We're going to have to find a better way (apart from always using a kerb where available), because I can't hold it at as great an angle as she would like.
The key for me in these situations is to avoid any sort of loose surface- leaves, gravel, dirt, you name it.
As noted, always back into any parking spot. If you can't push it in with your legs or someone pushing on the front, then you don't want to park there. NEVER park with the sidestand uphill so the bike is near vertical. Murphy will push it over, and the mirror cover, mirror, brake lever, pannier cover and muffler all suffer. Carry a puck in the RH glovebox for when the ground is soft. FPL will cheerfully push the sidestand into anything softer than concrete (including very hot bitumen) and fall to the left. See above for what gets hurt on the LH side, except this time it's the clutch lever.
All minor inconveniences for riding the best Sports Tourer less than $20Gs can buy (and better than a lot of >$20Gs). :grin
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Never Park with the nose pointing down hill ( down hill to the left as well). Murphy will make the bike pop out of gear, roll down hill and collapse the side stand. If parking on a hill, its always nose up.
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Have been riding my ST1100 every day for about 18mths commuting back and forth to work in all weathers. Have been able to master very slow speed rolling. Main issue is to keep your feet on the pegs, balance clutch and brake to maintain forward momentum and you should become competent in slow travel. Sit on the seat and keep both feet on the pegs, this is most important to maintain stability.
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Hi SAAZ
My problem is not slow speed but sloooooow speed or standing still. That's when a little bit off center is a problem. My bicycle I can control in any angle of lean but an ST a bit off from the vertical is a heavy beast and cant be held up. But the good news is I had a ride today and had no parking difficulties at all. I was alert to the problem of getting just a little of vertical is a NO NO when standing still unless the side stand is down and locked and the bike is leaning towards the stand.
Since you are in the ACT we may could meet sometime at your convenience.
Alf
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No problems. I will be around Monday to Wednesday next week so could meet up someplace. I am in Kaleen but anywhere will do.
Hi SAAZ
My problem is not slow speed but sloooooow speed or standing still. That's when a little bit off center is a problem. My bicycle I can control in any angle of lean but an ST a bit off from the vertical is a heavy beast and cant be held up. But the good news is I had a ride today and had no parking difficulties at all. I was alert to the problem of getting just a little of vertical is a NO NO when standing still unless the side stand is down and locked and the bike is leaning towards the stand.
Since you are in the ACT we may could meet sometime at your convenience.
Alf
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Kaleen is to close to warm up a motorbike. You are in bicycle range. I live in Flynn.
Arent you going to Ulalla near Armidale this weekend? I thought I read something like that you booked.
Regards
Alf
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Yes, I am going to Uralla, leaving tomorrow to stay in Urunga beforehand. Hope the weather is better than today down here!
Kaleen is to close to warm up a motorbike. You are in bicycle range. I live in Flynn.
Arent you going to Ulalla near Armidale this weekend? I thought I read something like that you booked.
Regards
Alf