ST 1300 Update

So many people have asked where I have been. Actually, that is a lie; the two people that read this have a pretty good idea of where to find me on a daily basis. On June 25th I took and passed my PHR exam. I studied a solid month before the exam so most of my spring was lost to the stress of SHRM. If you are in TX then you know the weather sucks right now. Just last weekend we broke a 17 day 100 degree+ streak. There were several 102-105 degree days in that run. This week is tolerable but I have yet to sit in the bike. In 48 hours I will be on my way to Galveston, in a rented breadbox, to celebrate my 40th.

The ST has 575 miles on it. I wanted the break in (300 miles) to get done quickly but I have been advised to ride it easy through 600 miles, the traditional break in period. What have I learned so far? Don't buy a bike in June, it’s too hot. The ST1300 is heavy and steers that way up to about 20 MPH. Don't buy a bike in June, it’s too hot. The mufflers superheat the contents of the saddle bags once you stop. Don't buy a bike in June, it’s too hot. The ST lacks the "flick-ability" I am accustomed too. You cannot turn the handle bars lock-to-lock with a real tank bag.

My opinion of the bike has not really changed from the initial assessment. Honestly, it is a little boring... In a good way I guess. The Strom had so many quirks that it was a living project. The ST1300 just sits there in its well engineered glory ever ready to be ridden. It personifies the old Honda marketing slogan "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."

I explained it to a friend this way: When I would walk into the garage and look at the Strom's intimidating yet insecure countenance I envisioned a drunk slurring loudly at me "What are you looking at!" as I fetched the frozen peas from the deep freeze. The ST is more like "Welcome to my garage. Where can I take you today?" It just sits there in quiet perfection.

Mods? Well, to be honest the windscreen stinks. That would be first. Second would be inquiring into front end adjustments. When the adjustable windscreen is all of the way up the rear end feels loose at high speeds (70 & up). It almost feels like the vacuum behind the screen is so great that the rear end is being levered up off of the ground. It is unsettling. With the screen all of the ways down you get a healthy dose of wind but no helmet buffeting. I usually leave it down.