Went for the test ride on Saturday - we've all read the reviews but theres nothing like trying one for yourself. I dont want to bore you all with the same stuff but heres my first impressions after just 3 hours on a rainy Saturday morning
The most noticeable thing for me was the size just melts away when you sit on it, maybe its those bare handlebars or the having the screen set on low but it just feels kinda smaller, which is very welcome. Whilst we're on the subject that electric screen is just fantastic. Enough said. On the cosmetic side, Mr Honda has moved the pass-light button, well that confused me for a few seconds there ! Ooh, and he's fitted hazard lights too, well done. Comfort wise, the adjustable saddle/seat (I never know what the proper terminology is?) is again a great improvement.
Oh yeah, and my shins don't catch the bottom of the fairing like they do on the 1100.
I know this isnt new, but as a first time experience with DCBS (which I had heard you either love or hate) the system certainly didnt bother me - the brakes stop this bike very nicely thank you.
Now I'm used to the 1100, it has its own sound, the 1300 motor sounds different, in a kind of VFR way. I would get used to it though...Does it go better than the 11? Sure, its got a newer, bigger, slicker engine, what did you expect ! But thats not what the Pan is all about to me.
Do I like it? You bet I do. The STX1300 is a brilliant update by Honda. Will I buy one? One day, yes, without a doubt I will have one, but you see, my Pan is primarily a workhorse. She lives outside, commutes through town traffic 260 days a year, and gets serviced almost as often as it gets washed...(ok it gets serviced by the book but you get the picture...)....
The 1100 may not be the showroom queen anymore, but she still feels smooth,reliable, and most importantly she can still cut the mustard where it counts...Anyway, new bikes are destined to live in garages for their first few years and be polished a lot anyway ...... arent they...?
April 07, 2003
Mirror, Mirror, on the floor...
I was driving back from the airport the other day, doing about 45, maybe 50, on the perimeter road. When, suddenly, the left side mirror cowling leans out slightly and then spangs off down the road.
I went back and picked it up, thinking "isn't it held on by something?"
Oh, yeah... There's a tether and the indicator wiring. Only, the tether has sheared and the wiring has stripped out of the back of the connector. The cowling is scuffed and scratched every which way you can imagine. :-(
I'm taking the bike for a service this week so I'll see if this is covered by the warranty. Well, I can ask...
I went back and picked it up, thinking "isn't it held on by something?"
Oh, yeah... There's a tether and the indicator wiring. Only, the tether has sheared and the wiring has stripped out of the back of the connector. The cowling is scuffed and scratched every which way you can imagine. :-(
I'm taking the bike for a service this week so I'll see if this is covered by the warranty. Well, I can ask...
April 06, 2003
800%
I've changed jobs and now travel 20 miles to work instead of 2.5. An increase of 800%
My journey consists of all the types of road. A bit of motorway, Dual carriageway, A Roads, B Roads and congested towns roads.
After a fortnight of this new 'commuting' I think it's time to comment on how my ST1300 (and me) copes with the journey.
My previous journey took longer by bike than car because of the time it takes to get 'togged up'. My new journey is quicker by bike including getting changed because though the Pan is wide I can still get through the traffic quicker than in my car. In the morning as I'm quite early there's little traffic until the final two miles. I travel home between four and half-past, just before the rush hour starts properly and the journey takes the same time both ways, though there's much more traffic on the way home.
I was late leaving one evening and in the height of the rush hour I took less time getting home? I think it was because the rush our drivers allowed room for bikes where the pre-rush drivers didn't.
There's been a couple of hairy moments. A bus driver decided that bikes can move sideways when stationary, so he tried to come down the nearside to get to his bus stop two seconds earlier. It's a good job the paint on the panniers isn't any thicker! He stopped before he reached the mirrors, when I waved. He might have stopped sooner if I'd banged on his window, but I couldn't quite reach that high.
The most serious was Mr On-The-Phone. Loads of traffic, wandering about phone in one hand, scratching his head with the other. When I tried to wake him up with a 'beep' on the horn he promptly slammed his brakes on! He'd no idea what was going on around him. There should definitely be a stiffer penalty for driving whilst on the phone. It should be classed as driving without due care and attention at minimum.
There's also been the normal drivers not seeing an enormous silver bike with it's lights on in a queue of traffic situation. Fortunately in the really congested bit I'm never going more than 20 so I'm able to stop ok. I'm going to get a day-glow yellow waistcoat. It's the only way, dress like a police man. Then they may notice.
I was concerned on my first journey that the Pan may be too wide to give me any benefit in the heavier traffic. I was wrong, as my experience of the roads improves I'm finding more than enough space to filter through. Only on a couple of occasions has the width been a problem then, I just let a narrower bike go through, the gap generally widens as the cars pull in a bit. Some car drivers can be very considerate, which has surprised me as no one seems to give an inch to other cars.
On the whole travelling to and from work on the Pan is a pleasure. I always arrive at my destination less wound up (even allowing for hairy moments) because I feel I'm always making progress.
May be more people should travel to work on a bike, not just to reduce congestion, but also to reduce stress!
My journey consists of all the types of road. A bit of motorway, Dual carriageway, A Roads, B Roads and congested towns roads.
After a fortnight of this new 'commuting' I think it's time to comment on how my ST1300 (and me) copes with the journey.
My previous journey took longer by bike than car because of the time it takes to get 'togged up'. My new journey is quicker by bike including getting changed because though the Pan is wide I can still get through the traffic quicker than in my car. In the morning as I'm quite early there's little traffic until the final two miles. I travel home between four and half-past, just before the rush hour starts properly and the journey takes the same time both ways, though there's much more traffic on the way home.
I was late leaving one evening and in the height of the rush hour I took less time getting home? I think it was because the rush our drivers allowed room for bikes where the pre-rush drivers didn't.
There's been a couple of hairy moments. A bus driver decided that bikes can move sideways when stationary, so he tried to come down the nearside to get to his bus stop two seconds earlier. It's a good job the paint on the panniers isn't any thicker! He stopped before he reached the mirrors, when I waved. He might have stopped sooner if I'd banged on his window, but I couldn't quite reach that high.
The most serious was Mr On-The-Phone. Loads of traffic, wandering about phone in one hand, scratching his head with the other. When I tried to wake him up with a 'beep' on the horn he promptly slammed his brakes on! He'd no idea what was going on around him. There should definitely be a stiffer penalty for driving whilst on the phone. It should be classed as driving without due care and attention at minimum.
There's also been the normal drivers not seeing an enormous silver bike with it's lights on in a queue of traffic situation. Fortunately in the really congested bit I'm never going more than 20 so I'm able to stop ok. I'm going to get a day-glow yellow waistcoat. It's the only way, dress like a police man. Then they may notice.
I was concerned on my first journey that the Pan may be too wide to give me any benefit in the heavier traffic. I was wrong, as my experience of the roads improves I'm finding more than enough space to filter through. Only on a couple of occasions has the width been a problem then, I just let a narrower bike go through, the gap generally widens as the cars pull in a bit. Some car drivers can be very considerate, which has surprised me as no one seems to give an inch to other cars.
On the whole travelling to and from work on the Pan is a pleasure. I always arrive at my destination less wound up (even allowing for hairy moments) because I feel I'm always making progress.
May be more people should travel to work on a bike, not just to reduce congestion, but also to reduce stress!
April 04, 2003
Time for an upgrade?
Well, went back to the dealer to settle up for the new tyres and battery, lo and behold a (nearly) new silver STX1300, ABS/DCBS model.
"Have you got a STX1300 demo bike? I ask.."yeah, its that pile of bits in the corner, it's written off, but we have just taken this silver one as a trade in, wanna take it out for the weekend?"....long pause.....glance at the price tag.....even longer pause...the sense of deja-vous is overwelming....
"err, yeah, thanks, I will"
I'll let you know what happens....
"Have you got a STX1300 demo bike? I ask.."yeah, its that pile of bits in the corner, it's written off, but we have just taken this silver one as a trade in, wanna take it out for the weekend?"....long pause.....glance at the price tag.....even longer pause...the sense of deja-vous is overwelming....
"err, yeah, thanks, I will"
I'll let you know what happens....
April 03, 2003
You never realise how things degrade without you noticing....
The new BT020 tyres fitted this week have brought the Pan back to life. After 14 months and around 8000 miles the old ones had done pretty well. As usual, the front had gone completely, due to the stop/start and heavy braking riding round this little rock called Home.The only slighty squared rear had a puncture plugged a few months back so it went the same way as the battery, which at nearly 7 years old was still going strong, but surely couldnt have gone on much longer...
The Pan certainly handles again, feels so much sharper, and is much easier to control at traffic filtering speeds. And I'm sure the starter motor has just that little bit more eagerness than before...but maybe thats just me.
The Pan certainly handles again, feels so much sharper, and is much easier to control at traffic filtering speeds. And I'm sure the starter motor has just that little bit more eagerness than before...but maybe thats just me.
April 01, 2003
Another milestone...
Passed 12000 miles today (service next week, ulp!). And, no, I haven't forgotten I said I'd put together some running costs...
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