1991 Honda ST-1100a
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I’ve seen the bike referred to in print
as "The Gentleman’s Express".. and I think that line sums up
this bike perfectly. The darned thing is so civilized and comfortable.
And versatile? I should say so! You can ride to work in a suit and tie,
detach the spiffy removable panniers, and use one as a chic, albeit
cartoonishly bloated briefcase. Then after work, go profiling down Hot
Rod Boulevard. Or take to the backroads and play Captain Apex Strafer.
You can effortlessly cruise the US super slabs at 105 to 110 mph all day
long.. with one hand on the bar and a cold Gatorade in the other! Two
up!!
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Yes, it weighs well over 54 stone.. yet it will hustle down a Mississippi backroad
like nobody’s bidness. Trust me on this.. :-)
You won’t hang tight with your crotch-rocket riding buddies.. but neither will
they run away and hide from you. Not unless they’re very, very determined, that
is. And in that case maybe you’d better switch to a different mouthwash. ;-)
The rundown’s like this;
Specifications
| Engine |
Liquid-cooled
4-stroke 16-valve DOHC 90° V-4 |
| Bore
x Stroke |
73
x 64.8mm (2.874 x 2.551in) |
| Displacement |
1,084cm3
(66.15ci) |
| Compression
Ratio |
10
: 1 |
| Carburetors |
34.5mm
CV-type x 4 |
| Max.
Power Output |
100PS/7,500rpm
(DIN) (74kW/7,500min-1) (99.23hp) |
| Max.
Torque |
11.3kg-m/6,000rpm
(DIN) (111Nm/6,000min-1) (81.73ft-lb) |
| Ignition |
Computer-controlled
digital transistorized with electronic advance and Traction Control System
(TCS) |
| Starter |
Electric |
| Transmission |
5-speed
cassette-type |
| Final
Drive |
Enclosed
shaft with integrated dampers |
| Dimensions
LxWxH |
2,285 x 935 x 1,405mm (with
panniers)
(89.96 x 36.81 x 55.31in)
|
| Wheelbase |
1,555mm
(61.22in) |
| Seat
Height |
800mm
(31.5in) |
| Ground
Clearance |
145mm
(5.71in) |
| Fuel
Capacity |
28
litres (7.4 gallons US) |
| Wheels
Front/Rear |
Hollow-section
triple-spoke cast aluminium
|
| Tires
Front |
120/70 ZR18 |
| Tires
Rear |
160/70
ZR17 |
| Suspension
Front |
43mm
(1.69in) air-assist fork with TRAC, 150mm axle travel (5.9in) |
| Suspension
Rear |
Single-side
conventional damper with adjustable preload and rebound, 120mm axle travel |
| Brakes
Front |
296mm
(11.65in) dual discs with Dual Combined three-piston calipers, ABS and sintered
metal pads |
| Brakes
Rear |
296mm
single disc with Dual Combined three-piston caliper, ABS and sintered metal
pads |
| Dry
Weight |
297kg
(654.7 lb) |
But the mere numbers don't tell the real story on this bike. I've also seen
this bike referred to as "politically correct". Now, while I bristle
a bit at that statement.. the fact is, there's a grain of truth there.
My personal take on the bike, and one of my main reasons for buying it, is
that it's a 'Stealth Bike'. You can cruise down the road at 90, yet cops hardly
give you a second glance.. I mean, you're sporting bloody great panniers, and
you're obviously so understessed. You don't appear to be in a hurry at all.
Indeed, while red ST1100's are cool, I'm glad I found a color other than
red to help keep the gendarmes attention from meself... ;-)
Above all else, this motorcycle's greatest strength, in my humble opinion,
is that it's so undramatic. It just gets the job done, with no fuss whatsoever.
Even if that job happens to fall well outside the norm!
And stay tuned.. that last line was a hint...
<ST1100 impressions and riding log>
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