Advice and bike sought after

[Ace]

G'day all,
As an intro I have bugged Chris a couple of times on the phone over the past twelve months or so regarding buying an ST!
I live in Gippsland, Victoria and am a member of the VJMC. Mid fifties in age. I own honda cx models, (yes, the old plastic maggots), and have the 500's plus the 650ed, so I know about shaft drives and Honda reliability...also, I am the good old 6ft tall so height won't be a big issue with the st..and I am sort of used to the heavier bikes ( as the cx 500 has a fair bit of weight!)
So that's it....I am buying an ST to add to the stable!
I want to purchase a reliable sports cruiser so that my wife and I can start doing longer trips with comfort, panniers, maybe communication sets etc..so the St fits the bill.
Chris has given me the run down on the differences and some attributes of each model..I didn't even know you can tell their age from their colour!
My budget won't stretch to a 1300 I think..and an older st1100 will be able to go on the wonderful Vic historic bike rego eventually...
So members.... can you please keep an eye out for a goody with not toooo may ks and maybe some of the great accessories like seat/screen etc. Not too far from Vic please...ie lower NSW?
and...if you have any opinion re my choices, happy to hear them ( I am really getting this bike so my wife ( and I) will have the comfort etc to do the longer trips in our eventual retirement!)
thanks in anticipation of opening a can or worms!
Chris ( yes, another one)

[Shiney]

G'day Ace, welcome to the forum

What sort of price range are you looking at spending?

[Williamson]

Hi Ace, welcome to the Forum. 

Plenty of ST11's and 13's on Gumtree, and on BikeSales.  It might take a while for the stars to align (model, condition, km's, colour, state, etc ...), but I'm sure there is an ST out there with your name on it.

Plenty of advice and support on the Forum too.  If you need advice or assistance, it's only a keyboard away.

Mmmm ...... CX's.  They were / are a nice Honda package.  I had a CX500 Custom back in the 90's, lusted after a CX500 Turbo but never took that step.  Nearly did a couple years ago.  At a local "moving and demolishing house" garage sale a guy had a few bikes for sale and another, a CX500 Turbo under cover, not ready for sale.  The CX was in immaculate condition with very low km's.  His story was that he was a Honda Australia (Head Office) mechanic, and would get the CX into condition for sale (tune, oil change etc ...), I gave him my card, he would call me.

No call within a couple of weeks, I return to house to find it demolished and a couple of townhouses being built.  Check with neighbours, guy had died, family sold off remaining stuff, no one could remember what happened to the CX.

Hoping to head down your way next week to visit an old mate on Raymond Island, let me know if there is a coffee on offer as I pass that way.

[Ace]

G'day Ace, welcome to the forum

What sort of price range are you looking at spending?

Hi mate..don't shoot me but around the 4K mark....so limited to the St1100....


Michael....thanks for the great reply...bloody hell wish i knew about those cxes...esp the turbo....coffee? No worries depending on what day and time you are coming through the area. Love Raymond Island...one of my cx mates lives in Bairnsdale... work is pretty hectic but if we can catch up it would be great...maybe send me a pm for my details....
Thanks
Chris

[Williamson]

Hi mate..don't shoot me but around the 4K mark....so limited to the St1100....

It ain't necessarily so .......

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/parkes/motorcycles/2003-honda-st1300/1148791573

If it's rough around the edges, or worse, $2,850 may be all it's worth, otherwise ....... 

Someone on here may know this bike, someone may be close enough to check it out for you.   Alternatively, a good pool of motorcycle checker-outers is on the ADVRider Forum.  It probably has one of the biggest, broadest spread memberships in Australia, and many are very experienced and knowledgeable in most things motorcycle.

Check out currency is usually a slab of beer.

[Williamson]

....coffee? No worries depending on what day and time you are coming through the area. Love Raymond Island...one of my cx mates lives in Bairnsdale... work is pretty hectic but if we can catch up it would be great...maybe send me a pm for my details....

Oh yeah!

When I know my timetable, we can exchange PM's and details, etc ....

[Ace]

Hmmm looks ok at that price but has a few Ks....but amazing price...maybe too good to be true?
Chris

[Gadget]

That same one is listed on bikesales for $3,850. It's also under ST1300 ABS listing, which I highly recommend. 

PS. Welcome Ace.

http://www.bikesales.com.au/private/SSE-AD-4756077/2003-Honda-ST1300-ABS/?cr=0&psq=%28%28%28%28%28SiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20bikes%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20bikes%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BDemo%20%26%20near%20new%20bikes%5D%29%26Service%3D%5BBikesales%5D%29%26%28Make%3D%5BHonda%5D%26Model%3D%5BST1300%20ABS%5D%29%29%26Price%3Drange%5B..4000%5D%29&pso=0&pss=Premium

You could look further afield for a bargain and use the OzSTOC Bed, Shed and Fed section of the forum to ride it home to save on costs.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[alans1100]

Hi Ace - welcome aboard.

I had a CX before I bought my 1100A as well. That one was a typical CX good enough to haul the two of us around but really only a stepping stone to the much better ST.

We also owned the Turbo version years before and for me back then it was what the ST is like now. We had a two trip around the coast from Adelaide to Sydney and cross country back to Adelaide and trip up north to Ayer's Rock and the Alice.

[Ace]

Ok so I rang the owner of that bike and he had no idea that he had listed it at the wrong price. It should be $3850...he's a great bloke however, older rider retiring. Has all receipts, service etc...for one minute my beating heart thought I had got a great bike at a bargain price....and even at the higher price it is probably very good....still...maybe I will keep looking damn it...
Chris

[Sicman]

Welcome On In Ace 

[Ace]

Ok...so for my first foray into the mysterious ST world last night I went and had a look at this bike : https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/churchill/motorcycles/st-1100-honda-low-kms-sports-tourer/1145198745 which was only 30 minutes from me.
First impressions were all pretty good. Had a quick spin and yes, the ST is heavy at rest...esp backing out, but once moving very easy. I can get this bIke for $4,500 with a roadworthy. Very low ks. Owner started it from cold...used full choke then it warmed and settled ok into idle...slightly rough when cold like my old cx twins...but then sounded very smooth.
It had a new front wheel as when he bought it there was as a ding in the rim and the tyre wouldn't  hold air well...but he did have that rim to show me...he took off the panniers to show me things like the abs, rear rim etc...looked ok..slight surface discolouration and  some light aluminium pitting on the metal frame and on things like the pannier locks and catches  which was a bit concerning as the PO apparently stored it under a verandah rather than a garage... (are those locks available in the black bike colour?)
Has cruise control and higher screen.

Or...there is that higher klm 1300 in Parkes NSW for only $3,500 with matching top box, heated grips but no cruise. Does any member live close to that bike for a look?
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/parkes/motorcycles/2003-honda-st1300/1148791573

Given that I am buying an ST as a touring bike for my wife and I and not as a solo bike (I have plenty of cxes for that) what do you think of the choices?

Chris

[Sicman]

Bugger Ace - your timing is off. I went thru Parkes twice this week I wont be back thru there for a couple months. Sorry

The 1300 does look the goods tho 

[Ace]

No worries Tony...thanks anyway
Chris

[Brock]

$4.500 is still a bit on the high side for an 1100, but the bike will certainly do the job.

The 1300 is at a good price for the Ks.

Both bike are still good for a long time yet.

[Ace]

Thanks Brock....i agree re the 1300. It's just a bit too far from me to easily check it out but if still available in the July school holidays I can do a road trip! 
Chris

[Biggles]

Thanks Brock....i agree re the 1300. It's just a bit too far from me to easily check it out but if still available in the July school holidays I can do a road trip! 
Chris

Keep scanning the ads for ST13s.  They keep popping up.  When I'm in the market I keep a spreadsheet tracking the length of time all the items of interest have been up for sale, any shift in price, any hint of desperation.  All helps with negotiations.
A cruise control for the ST13 will set you back about $1100 in the box, but now they come with the excellent electronic actuator.  I have one on my V-Strom and it's way better than the old vacuum actuated one on my ST13.

[Ace]

Ok so I have looked at quite a few bikes now...looks like i will bring one in from interstate. Has any member from Victoria purchased an interstate bike and what did you do re the original state's rego...ie how long can you have or ride the bike before getting Vic rego?
Chris

[ppopeye]

I thinks its 3 months or if you have settled permanently then you you need to do it promptly. Shouod just need a rwc and proof of ownership and some cash. Then you acn cancel rego and get a refund.

[Williamson]

..... Has any member from Victoria purchased an interstate bike and what did you do re the original state's rego...ie how long can you have or ride the bike before getting Vic rego?
Chris

Something I posted a few days ago in another thread.

I had some 'difficulties' with mixed and conflicting messages from VicRoads' staff when bringing in a Tasmanian registered bike (XT 600, not that should make a difference), and registering it in Victoria.

There was some disagreement between VicRoads' Bundoora office staff on whether or not I needed an RWC to register the bike in VIC.   It didn't really matter in the end as the rego transfer in VIC is the catalyst for a RWC.

IMHO, I think it would be best for an interstate owner (if coming to live in VIC as indicated by the OP) to bring the bike to VIC, keep the bike in his ownership and transfer the bike rego from interstate to VIC (my understanding no RWC required at this point).  Some administrative, rego, TAC and plate fees would apply, these could mount up to ~ $600 or $700, but could be off-set with a refund on the balance of interstate fees.

The bike should be easier to sell in VIC than in SA (bigger market), certainly if it has 12 months VIC rego.  A RWC would be required on transfer of rego in VIC.  This can be obtained by the seller or the buyer.  If the seller doesn't provide a RWC, he should remove the rego plate and send / take it to VicRoads.   VicRoads will generally send the plate to an office nominated by the seller (usually the closest to the buyer) for the buyer to pick-up once the RWC is presented to VicRoads and fees are paid.

I thinks its 3 months or if you have settled permanently then you you need to do it promptly. Shouod just need a rwc and proof of ownership and some cash. Then you acn cancel rego and get a refund.

My understanding, is that three month applies to persons moving to Victoria from another state, ie. three month is given to transfer driver licence and vehicle registration details to the VIC address. 

If a vehicle is still registered in another state, it is still registered in the seller's name, ie. in the 'eyes' of the authorities, it is still owned by the seller.  As far as I am aware, the registration authorities / departments do not permit a vehicle to be registered to a person in a different state.

I overcome this problem with a bike trailer I purchased from NSW a few years ago.  The seller and I agreed that the trailer was with me on a "loan / trial" basis, thus giving me time to registration / ownership details transferred to me. 

[Ace]

Well....after two years as a silent and ST-Less member...today I signed the papers and purchased a (hopefully) lovely 2001 blue St1100A from Queensland.   
It will be shipped down next week. I will post up some photos when it arrives...
My wife and I decided to stretch the budget just a bit as this bike has full Honda options, abs/cbs and lowish k's...
I did look at some good earlier year models,  (some were even more expensive) but this seems the pick of the bunch...
I will reserve my full opinion until it arrives but thanks to all members who have provided me with much needed assistance via this forum and the phone.
Now I just need to move some of my cxes to make room in the workshop to fit in the ST...need a bigger shed!
Chris

[Williamson]

Well....after two years as a silent and ST-Less member...today I signed the papers and purchased a (hopefully) lovely 2001 blue St1100A from Queensland.

 

See ya on a ride one day, soon.

Haven't given up a ride to visit a mate on Raymond Island, previous plans got de-railed, but I'll let you know when I'm next heading Gippsland way.

[Shiney]

Awesome news Ace, I look forward to seeing the pictures and hearing what you think of it

[Sicman]

Glad you got one Ace - At least its not one of the pink shaded ones 

[Wild Rose]

Great news Ace, looking forward to photos and report when it turns up.
Enjoy