The Honda ST1300, also marketed as the ST1300 Pan European, is a sport touring
motorcycle manufactured by Honda — introduced to Europe in 2002 as the
ST1300 Pan European and North America in 2003, as the ST1300.
Superseding the ST1100, the bike features a standard riding posture, a
liquid-cooled V4 engine and a fully faired body with standard hard panniers.
History During the 2000 bike show season, Honda
presented a prototype sport tourer called the X-Wing, featuring a 1,500 cc
V6 engine, single-sided front and rear suspension and an automatic
transmission. Speculation in the press that the X-Wing was the ST1100's
replacement was partially confirmed when Honda introduced an all-new ST1300 Pan
European in Europe and Australia for the 2002 model year. For the U.S. market,
the new bike would be imported in limited numbers starting in 2003 as the
ST1300. Motor Cycle News reported in 2009 that
Honda would replace the ST1300 with a new touring bike powered by a V4 engine
mounted transversely, similar to the Honda VFR1200F layout. In 2011, Honda
announced that development of the next generation Pan European motorcycle was
on hold. = CTX1300 =
In November 2013, Honda announced the CTX1300, a cruiser motorcycle powered by
a version of the ST1300's engine modified for better fuel economy and
increased torque at low RPMs. Features
The ST1300 incorporates many of the X-Wing's lines but none of its running
gear. Power comes from a lower-slung 1,261 cc V4 engine mounted as a stressed
member in a lighter aluminum frame. A major difference from the ST1100 is the
use of balance shafts for smoothness, allowing the engine to be directly
mounted to the frame. The revised engine layout and a split fuel tank shift some
of the weight downward, making the ST1300 less top-heavy than its
predecessor. The rear wheel is driven through a cassette-type five-speed
transmission and shaft drive. Honda's ABS and linked brake package is
an option for all years on the ST1300 in the United States, but became standard
on the European ST1300 Pan European 2004. Unlike the ST1100, the ST1300 does
not include a traction control system. In 2002 and 2003, models with ABS
included an electrically adjustable windscreen. The electrically adjustable
windscreen became standard equipment on all bikes in 2004. A long list of minor
differences improved upon the ST1100's comfort, handling and performance.
Recalls The ST1300 Pan European has been
recalled for a number of problems: Bikes built in 2002 were recalled to
have a redesigned engine pan fitted as some bikes had experience oil loss after
grounding on road obstacles such as speed bumps.
Bikes built in 2002–2004 were recalled for a wire which chafed against the
frame and blew a fuse, preventing the engine from running.
Bikes built in 2002 were recalled for a potentially leaky brake proportioning
control valve. Some 2008 through 2010 ST1300, ST1300A
and ST1300PA models were recalled to fix a problem that could cause the rear
brake to fail. Pan weave
Evidence indicates the ST1300 can exhibit a weave instability mode at high
speed — known in the case of the ST1300 as Pan Weave.
In April 2007, subsequent to the death of a police motorcyclist riding a single
seat ST1300, the emergency service version of the ST1300, a British coroner
announced he would warn all Chief Constables in England and Wales of the
"serious threat" to riders' lives posed by the ST1300 and the "catastrophic
result" of the high speed weave. Later safety checks resulted in one examiner
sustaining several broken bones in a similar incident. UK police forces
subsequently withdrew the ST1300 from police service; Freewheelers EVS and
London Ambulance Service continue to operate the ST1300.
RiDE Magazine reported in October 2007 that a team replicated weave instability
mode with a civilian Honda ST1300 — reproducing the instability at a speed
of 110 miles per hour under certain loading conditions. The rider noticed a
rear wheel maximum yaw of 11 degrees per second, described as "a consistent and
alarming sideways movement." The editors named the behavior "Pan weave". The
intent of the testing was not to determine the cause of the weave, but to
confirm its existence. Also, the article reported that 43% of surveyed ST1300
owners had experienced the weave. = Honda response =
American Honda published an advisory in August 2007 on the proper selection,
installation, and use of equipment on the ST1300PA police motorcycle. They
made a strong recommendation to have "qualified personnel evaluate a
motorcycle fitted with all intended equipment under the anticipated speeds
and conditions before the vehicle is placed into service." The advisory also
contained guidelines for the selection and installation of attachments,
including: Place equipment as low and close to the
center of the motorcycle as possible; avoid exceeding the maximum load limit
for the vehicle; comply with weight limits for each
saddlebag and fairing pocket; ensure attachments and equipment are
balanced on both sides of the vehicle. By 2010, the ST1300PA was again popular
with police departments in the UK and in the US, competing with police bikes from
Harley-Davidson, BMW, Kawasaki and Yamaha on both price and performance.
The Automobile Association and other groups providing roadside assistance or
emergency services have also chosen the ST1300 for their motorcycle fleets since
2010. See also
Honda ST series References
External links Honda at DMOZ