First long distance ride report on my new trusty steed 2008 ST1300 and comparing some of the differences to my DL1000.
Trip time just over 14hrs, travelled just shy of 1450km with only two fuel stops on the way first was Northampton 477km using 23lit of juice, the ST likes sitting around the magic mark of 130kph wind buffeting was at least half what I was accustom to on my DL.
Left Perth at 3am low beam head lights on the ST where a match for the DL’s, high beam on ST maybe a touch better and lights are a big deal for me as due to the hot weather I do a lot of overnight riding.
Second fuel stop was Carnarvon 430km 22lit top up of juice that’s a good extra 100km on what my DL could do with the same fuel.
Ambient temp is now sitting around 36deg which is about normal for this time of the year, the heat from the engine bay and exhaust around my feet is lot more noticeable on the ST, by the time I reached Nanutarra Road House the mid afternoon the temp was pushing 44deg the bike was running great but the rider was starting to cook especially the around the feet/ankles some of the heat was coming off the bitumen but a lot of heat off the stock pipes and air around the bottom of the Tupperware.
Arrived home around 5pm the bike must have been running on vapours as the last stint covered 536km sucking 28lit out of a 29lit tank, the ST performed fantastically, handling, braking, fuel range was better than my DL but for me some things need improving before next year’s interstate run.
Just placed an order for 18inch oval Delkevic after market exhaust, left and right s/h radiator cowling from the wreckers as I don’t want to cut up the originals, bar raisers, HWY Blades, Thermo Tec header wrap kit, Omni throttle lock, heat insulation reflective tape for coating inside of the fairing pockets, heavy duty headlight wiring kit with relays, mirror mounts for LED driving lights and the usual GPS mounts and power sockets $1200 bucks later hopefully money well spent.
Cheers
Dave
