Honda ST1300-Pan European

I have a 2003 Honda ST1300 ABS. Purchased used from a female colleague (original owner). She rode it across Canada 3 times (about 7,500 kms each direction). I had been without a bike for about 9 years and when the opportunity came - I purchased it.

I have had the bike for 6 years with primarily local (Urban and rural) riding over a mix of roads and road surfaces.

Previously I had ridden Goldwings.

The Good

- I would rate this bike very high for reliability and style (if you like plastic).

- It is a quiet bike for a fairly large displacement.

- The luggage is spacious and functional.

- The power adjustable windscreen is a great option (optional in 2003) as it allows for good visibility in the city and good wind protection on the highway (but not with stock shield)

- Variable height drivers seat is a great bonus

- Availability of top boxes from Hondaline and Givi is highly recommended.

- Bike is agile and a relatively good seating position (thanks to the adjustable seat)

- Adjustable suspension is functional as it allows for 1 or 2 up riding.

- Good efficiency and acceleration. I get about 19km/ltr (55 MPG imperial or 45 MPG US Gal)

- Onboard Computer with multiple functions

- Electric Adjustable Headlight

- Plenty of versatility for add-ons

The Bad

- The Stock Seat has only 1 purpose - appearance to maintain the lines of the bike. It is an uncomfortable seat at the best. I have a tailbone injury and my maximum seat time was 15 minutes without pain. (I would recommend an aftermarket seat such as Russell Day-Long / Corbin / Sargeant - I personally use a Russell and it is immensely comfortable and retains the ability to adjust the drivers seat and has a back rest option.)

- The Stock Windscreen similarly could be improved upon. It looks good but has a lot of buffeting and back pressure. (aftermarket shield is the way to go. Personally, I use a Clearview with an adjustable vent)

- Heat is a minor problem which was resolved in later years for the driver. However, the passenger does experience a significant amount of heat from the pipes.

- Top Heavy and challenging to handle a very low speeds. I have dropped it 4 or 5 times in parking lots - twice with a passenger onboard

- Handgrips are a small diameter and on long rides, hand cramping is a problem. In this area Honda definitely focused on the SPORT side of the equation.

Having read a few reviews I felt compelled to add my own experience. The ST1300 Pan European makes Sport touring affordable for the average bloke and bloke’ess.

I was not in the market for a new bike at the time having just done a major suspension upgrade on my VS1400. However I had my eye on the ST1300 for about 5 years. Then Honda decided to have a sale on a number of their models the St1300 being one of them. Went for a look, took the bike and wife for a test ride and she said yes, what's a fella to do.

A lot of people complain about the lack of this and that but if you are into all the gadgets then go for the BMW and expect to pay $20k more. However I prefer the slightly bare bones approach and then you get to have some fun adding a little bit of this and that. As soon as I placed the order including cost and fitting of the heated grips, I was online sourcing top box and bar riser. Soon after I added the Stebel air horn and a power adapter in the glove box. So all up the total bike cost me a little over $21k less than half the BMW 1200 and it does everything the Beemer does.

Handling: I am a modest rider so I will never experience the rumoured speed weave. At a moderate pace the bike will take every corner without having to back off or take a radical racing line. The suspension is capable of two up with luggage and neither of us are light weights. In peak traffic I can do a walking pace and at times almost stand still with the bike balanced easily. In the rain it will keep both of us mostly dry without the need for extra gear. The stock screen is adequate to silence all helmet wind noise in full up position.

Range: I love it when I go out riding with my Harley mates and they are all looking out for the next gas stop "...aren't you filling up?", "naaah I've got another 300km in the tank, I’ll get there and back." "... crikey what ya riding a super tanker!!"

We recently did a 700km trip and the journey home was in the rain with a constant side wind of about 100kph, she was rough, but the tyres never lost grip once and the bike was very easy to read and conteract the gusts. I never felt my wife flinch once so she felt secure (at last). The bike is better in the sidewind two up but that is fairly common.

Her only complaint in the beginning was that she did not feel as safe. This was due to her being higher and the bike being more nimble and quicker on the corners with a bit more lean and quicker brakes than the old one. It took a bit of convincing that we are actually safer in the long run. So I backed off on the riding style a bit and then gradually added it back in, no more knee clamps from the back seat.

The ST1300 In short it is a pleasure to ride. It is a highbred of all the other sport tours on the market at an unbeatable price. Not as sporty as the GTR1400 but sporty enough, not as aggressive looking as the FJR1300 but just hiding it under a nice curvy body kit, not as tricked up as the Beemer but for a few extra dollars you can add the tricks you prefer and spend the difference on petrol.

I'll be keeping this one a very long time.

Cheers

Brought my Pan new in 2006 and have done 70,000 miles since. I had an 1100 Pan before so the wieght and size have never been an issue, but thay are very heavy and take some pushing to move without the engines help. Pans are heavy on brakes and tyres as you would expect from a bike that tips the scales at 330k fueled. The brakes need careful cleaning or the calipers will bind a bit but when working do a brillient job. I have never had the high speed wobble that some police forces complained about and have never met anyone who has. Great comfort, and can be made to hussle along at surprising speed, im a ROSPA diploma advanced instructor and given my bikes milage brought a BMW R1200 RT to replace the Pan, but after that brokedown for the 3rd time have sold it and plan on keeping the Honda. I,m lucky that I have more than one bike but if I could only have one it might well be a ST1300.

Gave up biking 15 years ago and then got the urge again, so went and bought a pan. 12 years old, one previous owner and only a genuine 11,500 miles on the clock. Settled into riding it very quickly, absolutely luv it. Aim at keeping it for a long time yet, but when the time comes to change, I would def consider another Pan

I bought my 54 reg (05) ST 1300 just over a year ago to replace my aging ST1100.For the first month or so,I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision to change.The ST1300 felt physically bigger and heavier than the old one but I think this was just me getting used to a new bike.I have now done nearly 8000 miles on it in a year.I would now be reluctant to ride anything else.It is a superbly competent machine for all types of riding.It has proved excellent for long runs of several hundred miles at a time and equally suitable for commuting through heavy traffic into central Manchester for work.Honda has built a worthy successor to the ST1100 having incorporated improvements to nearly all the old bikes features.The electrically adjustable screen is a boon as are the ABS and linked brakes.I have had no problems with weaves,the bike being rock solid and stable up to speeds well in excess of 100mph (abroad of course,officer!).Having said that,I don't use a top box and never carry a pillion.As with all riders,I get the itch now and again to try something else but I always return to the pan.Well done Honda!

Had this bike now 3 years .great handling and weaving in and out of traffic.

2 up no problem. bike can be heavy when trying to reverse. New wavy disks fitted for increased stopping power. Some days have tick over issues

bike cuts out, but this can be intermittent. hot sunny days engine heat coming from bike will make your legs sweat. Clutch starting to stick when bike standing for long periods of time. But hay bike now reaching 92000 miles on the clock. And engine still going strong no smoke no noise still pulls like a train...

bought 1st pan in 2007 both myself and wife loved it and did plenty 2 up touring. sold it 2008 for gtr1400 , big mistake its not a patch on the pan and my wife hated bseing on the back, sold gtr march this year and bought an 09 pan. beautiful bike, loads of grunt where you need it , comfy, wife loves pillion. easy get 45mpg. its the best tourer by far with a perfect engine for touring. strangely tho my 1st pan did weave but this one doesnt.brakes need beefing up as its a big old bus but other than that perfect.

Bought it 4 years ago does what it says on the tin but better than I imagined it doesn't mater whose riding what this will keep up even through the twisties been all over scotland, inner hebrides, lakes, france, the pyrene's, andorra, northern spain, not one problem yet and weve weighed minimun 454kg - 516kg over puplic weighbidges allways two up been through several different tyres bridgestone bt020 naff, michelin pilot road 2 very good but noisey rear, currently on third set of avon storm's my tyre of choice, only real critisisumis o.e screen is to low even set on high, off again soon to france, germany, swizerland, austria, lichtenstien and italy. after 4 years if i were to change my bike it would only be to a newer st1300.

Just purchased a 53 ST1300 and it was like I had simply died and gone to Heaven. Great handling and the build quality is fantastic.

Great screen and super comfortable. I traded in a 2007 Super Blackbird and realised what I had been missing all these years. Stay away from the VFR1200 it is over priced and although blisteringly quick it is not worth the money

This is my second Pan, I had an 1100 for 13 years and 75,000 miles, still got £2,750 for it. It had used 3 set of front wheel bearings, 1 Exhaust system, one set of rear wheel bearings and used no oil between changes (despite once driving from Interlaken to Peterburgh in 14 hours-650 miles).

I've had the 1300 for 7 years and done 26,000 miles. A Honda top-box is the only external addition and despite riding both solo and fully loaded two up I have never experienced "the weave". I'm 5'9" and find the seat comfy for all day riding (10-12hrs)and Jane never complains on the back. Fitted Autocom and Zumo and they work well with phone music and bike to bike available. Have done 300 miles on a tank on single track roads (Slow riding-not much above 60 mph). Great bike for daily use, week end trips and really serious touring.

The only complaints are 1. the paint does not stay on the fork legs

2. The side panel attachment to the tail piece is easily broken.

Over all a great bike and I cannot think of another bike I would change it for.