2005 Honda ST1300

Pros: Smooth engine and transmission, comfortable seating position, great range, fun to ride
Cons: Heat from the engine is dumped on your ankle, speedometer error

I have just eclipsed the fourth month of ownership of a candy red Honda ST1300 and have just over 4000 miles on it. So far the riding has been around San Antonio and Austin with frequent jaunts up into the Hill Country (nice twisty roads) and down to ...

Pros: Good windshield, stability in crosswinds. Great brakes and good ABS.
Cons: Rough ride, engine, drivetrain, handling, build quality, poor reliability. Costly, labour intensive maintenance.

I purchased this Honda thinking it would be better and more updated than my '93 Honda ST 1100. I wanted so much to like this bike but substandard ride, choppy suspension, lack of smoothness, and quirky handling left me wanting. Where do we ...

Pros: finish, power, range, stability, dependability, smoothness, luggage capacity, handling, ABS, crash bumpers
Cons: wind noise (get an aftermarket screen), throttle needed adjusting, buzzy grips, hot glove boxes

My ST1300 is the 2006 ABS model but there were no model changes, except color, from the 05 to the 06. I'll admit to having a Honda bias. I like their extended warranty, the dependability, and ease of ownership. I also like the extensive dealer ...

Pros: Smooth, reliable, forgiving, fast/slow equally smooth, gas mileage excellent, great brakes, gives confidence
Cons: heat, its headlight could be better. It is HEAVY.

I've been reading some of the comments here about the Honda ST 1300 and thought I'd share some of my "opinions" as well. My 1300 has shown none of the quality control issues mentioned here. It starts quickly, settles down to a nice idle and pulls ...

Pros: Power, braking, handling, ergonomics, power windscreen, smooth running engine, large fuel capacity
Cons: Slightly jerky on/off throttle transition, OEM seat. Requirement for premium fuel

I have had an excellent experience with this bike. Like the initial poster, I too previously owned a 1993 ST1100 and this bike strikes me as a 20-25% improvement over that bike. Based on my good experience with the ST1100 the ST1300 was the obvious ...

Pros: Well rounded sport touring machine
Cons: Failed thermostat, uncomfortable seat

The Honda ST1300 is a very smooth bike. I’ve owned my 2005 machine now for 15 months. The wind protection is top notch. The engine effortlessly delivers smooth quiet power over the entire RPM range. Basic maintenance is easy to accomplish. The bike has ...

Pros: 3 year warranty unlmted kms. Smooth, powerful. Comfortable, even for two. Love the ABS.
Cons: Manual-cancel turn indicator.

2005 ST1300A Just put 7000 km on it, and love to ride the bike. It does NOT put out a lot of heat on the legs or ankles, contrary to other reviews I have read. I bought a 2005 new in the Spring of 2006 and have 7000km on it now. My biggest complaint is ...

Pros: Steady ride, power, comfort, storage space, just sheer fun.
Cons: Doesn't come with a coffe maker- I mean, what is there not to like!

Honda got it right with this bike. It handles great, loves the leans and exudes power and agility. There're a lot of things to love about this bike, my favorite is the ABS braking system. I live in deer country so it's good to know the coordination of sudden stops is there when you need it. The electric windshield drastically reduces wind noise and if you have a V-stream, it's even more quiet. Watch out for the speed- it'll creep up on you as this bike moves fast with ease. The dash has as much info as a high-end vehicle including average fuel consumption, miles to go before fill-up, trip meter etc. Too much to write about and for the price, you just can't beat it.

Pros: Comfort, fit and finish, MPG wind/weather protection, dealer network
Cons: lack of a variety of tires... would like a longer lasting touring tire.

I bought my 04 new in May of 04.. I now have 38K trouble free
miles.. Just about all of the jerkiness can be eliminated by
a simple adjustment of the throttle cable (just take out the slack) Some people are bothered by the heat, mine feels no warmer than, but generally a heck of a lot cooler than some previous bikes that I have owned. I guess that if you really want to look, you can find fault with anything... Riding single I usually ride anywhere from 400 to 1000 miles a day without any problems. When riding with the wife on board,
we generally ride 400-600 miles before stopping for the night.

Pros: Power, balance, build quality, great storage, and that Beautiful RED!
Cons: While it works well, the power windshield could provide more protection.

Have ridden almost 1000 miles since purchase of my '05, and I'm totally pleased! Smooth, quiet, plenty of power, excellent fit & finish, handles much better than my previous bike and doesn't feel like a 700lb machine. Very well balanced. Dealer support can be an issue with this model, since many dealers don't see many ST's. One BIG advantage to owning an ST is the support I get from www.ST-owners.com. One of the best forums I have ever found!

Pros: Great reliability
Cons: Some heat on hot days

Just saw a negative review here and wondered if this guy had fallen down a rabbit hole into a parallel world.
First let me say while not perfect the ST1300 is one of the best motorcycles in the world. Also one of the most reliable. Equal to or better then any other larger sport touring motorcycle in the world.
Some of the high points:
1. Absolutely smooth engine
2. Great handling. Especially for a larger motorcycle
3. Long range on 7.7 gallon tank
4. Great build quality
5. Hardly ever needs maintenance. Just ride it.
6. Best ABS system available
7. Good fuel economy
8. Reasonable price if you shop around. Much cheaper then any BMW
9. Longest warranty. 3 years unlimited mileage. 4 year unlimited mileage extension available for around $400. 7 years of no worries.
10. Add a custom seat and ride all day in comfort.

Some of the low points:
1. Puts out quite a bit of heat on days warmer then 85-90, but not too bad.
2. Digital display dim in bright sunlight.
3. Abrupt on/off throttle like many other fuel injected motorcycles.

You can't go wrong with this motorcycle.

Pros: Great power, Reliability, Great for two up riding, Value
Cons: Tires wear out at 9000 miles, I have to wash it.

I own a 05 st1300, and I think it is one of your best buys for big touring bikes. I'm not the only one read reviews from any major motorcycle mags.
Even at 700 lbs it feels light when moving. The brakes are great Abs or Non. The motor is a Honda V4 and very smooth and the power band is broad. After 14,000 mile the only time I've have had it in the shop is for new tires. The reason I picked it is Honda value and broad dealer network. Also the price 13,000.00, nothing comes close in it class.

Pros: * Warranty * Dealers * ST-Owners.com * Smooth V4 * Honda quality and finish
Cons: * Lack of some dealers knowledge about the ST * The stock seat!

I put 25k on my 05 ST1300A in 18 months. I spent alot of time comparing ST bikes, and the ST1300 came out ahead of the competition. The price, quality, availability, warranty, fuel tank size, alternator output for accessories (LD riding need), dealer support, couldn't be touched by the others.

Some have complained about heat issues, but I find this to be a tolerance issue since I never had one... and I live in the Houston area. Some complain about sloppy throttle response... tighten up the slack in your throttle cable and it's gone. Some complain about speedo error... all Japanese imports have this to a certain degree.

Is the ST the perfect bike... no. No motorcycle is. Was the ST the perfect bike for me, yes!

Pros: Smooth, powerful, practical, comfortable, fast cruising speeds, large gas tank for distance riding, weather protection.
Cons: rear tire seems almost too small, can't think of anything else on this one now.

I'm pleased! It does exactly what it was designed to do very well. BUILT FOR THE ROAD, EATS MILES. Stable and well planted at speeds on the highway and plenty of power from the bottom all the way to the top end. Excellent passing ability. Comfort is good, good storage. This bike is so well built, it's almost boring. I sold my hayabusa before I purchased this 2006 abs model, and it's the most sensible move I've made. This is a great touring bike. You can't beat the price for what you get.

Pros: Torque, comfort, style, online network, warranty, upgrades, looks, dependability
Cons: Have to wash it.

Well the only thing I can think of is that it's a bit boring because I never have to fix anything. Like someone said though, it needs washing, which is another major minus point.
Apart from that it does 130mph for 8hrs at a time for days and days in Germany, handles the twisties two-up with lots and lots of luggage, scrapes the pegs, and just generally does what it says on the tin. S = Sport. T = Touring.
ST1300. It rocks.