st1100-digest September 10, 2002 Volume 02 : Number 6046
The ST1100 Digest
RE: ST1100: Kris Nijs- Pan World STraveler is "safe" in NYC
RE: ST1100: Re: BFG Stormscope
ST1100: Buying Tires at the local dealer
RE: ST1100: Throttlemeister
RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
RE: ST1100: Giving back
ST1100: Interesting idea for a motorcycle tour
Re: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
ST1100: Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:11:44 -0700
ST1100: Lanesplitting (was:FJR1300 & Panniers)
RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
RE: ST1100: In on the ground floor
RE: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
Re: ST1100: FJR1300 & Panniers
ST1100: Corbin
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:15:12 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Kris Nijs- Pan World STraveler is "safe" in NYC
"He inadvertently came through the Bronx. Good practice for Africa I guess."
ROTFL - and I often work in Africa.
I rode through NYC earlier this summer for the first time - from the South
end of the Taconic Parkway to the 59th street ship terminal, so I could load
my ST on the ferry boat to Europe - it was an 'experience', that is for
sure, especially for someone like me who does not like being in cities with
populations of more than about 25,000 people. Amazing how many people are
in NYC.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: ST1100: Kris Nijs- Pan World STraveler is "safe" in NYC
Just a note to the interested...
Kris Nijs is staying at my house on Staten Island and will be here on
and off for about a month. The border glitch is behind him.
He inadvertently came through the Bronx. Good practice for Africa I
guess.
Call 718-727-0374 or E-mail your RAH RAH's and Atta-boys!
Dan 678 nyc
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:19:53 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Re: BFG Stormscope
Yea, but you wouldn't enjoy an ILS even if you could do it - it's all
straight lines. Now, maybe a DME arc to a MLS approach - that's "twisties"!
Or, all the radar vectoring that SwissControl gives you when you are trying
to get into Zurich during the busy times (I went through that yesterday at
work, doing my 6 month prof check) - that made riding the Sustenpass on the
weekend with the ST seem boring by comparison. Yee-ha.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
HB-LTF
<snip>
Yes, I have the WX900 Stormscope and UPS MX20 in my Lance. I tried them on
the ST1100 for a while. The WX900 worked well, but I couldn't get the ST to
track the glideslope.
bye for now,
don ferario
STOC #2477
N54SS
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 20:52:27 -0400
Subject: ST1100: Buying Tires at the local dealer
Back 'round the beginning of the month, there were a couple of tire threads
going on here - one had to do with whether it was sensible, in principle, to
buy tires at the local dealer (snip of that post is below), and the other
had to do with the handlebar wobble (almost like a mini-tankslapper) that I
encountered from day one with my new Metzeler Z4 front tire. The handlebars
would wobble quite a bit whenever I was decelerating from speeds above 180
km/h.
I went back to the dealer this week - needed to take the bike in to get some
routine stuff done, oil change, 48,000 km check and the like. I mentioned
the deceleration wobble to the service manager, who is also the owner. He
was quite surprised, said he never heard anything like that before with Z4
tires, therefore it must be a defective tire, so the tire will be replaced
with a new one, no charge. That's the first troubleshooting step. Just to
make sure there is nothing wrong with the bike, they will also have a close
look at the steering system.
I was impressed that the 'first step' was a free replacement of the suspect
tire, based only on my verbal report of the wobble. I don't think I would
have had the same level of support if I had bought the tire by mail order
and brought it in for mounting.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
<original message>
- -----Original Message-----
From: Michael Moore
Sent: September 1, 2002 2:59
Subject: RE: ST1100: Tire mounting prices.
I don't really think it makes sense to buy the tires through mail order,
when you look at the big picture.
I went into my dealer last week, with no appointment, at 1130, to get my
tires changed - he told me to come back at 1300 (they close for lunch for an
hour) and they would squeeze me in. I had a choice, from his stock, of
either Dunlop, Metzeler, or Bridgestone tires. I rode away with new tires
(and brake pads) at 1430 the same day.
There is no mail order trade in tires that I know of in Europe, if there
was, I kind of doubt that the dealers would keep this kind of stock on
hand - which means we would all lose when it comes to service and
convenience. I don't think I paid too much for the tires, as I mentioned in
an earlier post, it cost USD 400 for the tires, including all labour,
removal, etc.
Michael Moore
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 20:59:11 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Throttlemeister
I've had one for 15 months and about 30,000 miles, wonderful device, very
well made, expensive but well worth it when you look at the design and
manufacturing quality. Works great, no problems at all, does what it is
supposed to do, I would highly recommend it to you. You can paint it black
to match the rest of the handlebar assembly easy enough if you first scuff
it up with a 3MR ScotchbriteT abrasive pad, then paint it with regular black
spray paint.
Only problem I had was that the dealer accidentally got a little bit of
lubricant on the friction pad portion of the Throttlemeister when they took
the throttle handlebar twist grip off for routine lubrication at the 24,000
km check. Took me a few days to figure out why the Throttlemeister didn't
hold the twist-grip in place anymore. Once I figured out what was causing
the problem, the fix was easy, I just took it off and cleaned the two sides
of the friction part with Honda Brake cleaner (a degreaser) and then put it
back together.
Don't forget to use LoctiteT on the long bolt that holds the device on.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<snip>
Can anyone comment on throttlemeister cruisecontrol? Does it work pretty
well?
<endsnip>
Marty
STOC #3569
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 21:09:14 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
Hi Jeff:
Thanks for the suggestion. I think there are only 4 settings on the shock
absorber, and I am on the third of 4 right now. Some of the ST1100 owners I
met at Suhl said that if I put it on the 4th setting to keep from dragging
the muffler tips when really leaned over in the twisties, the back end of
the bike might start to bounce around if I hit bumps when running fast on
the flats. In other words, there would not be enough "absorption" left in
it.
Rob Parker suggested that I check to ensure the mufflers were correctly
installed - I did that today, the measurements are in spec.
I think I will ask the dealer in Zurich to replace the thing, then tell
Honda Canada that it had a leak or something like that when I submit the
bill. Does this shock absorber thing have some kind of fluid in it? Is it
necessary to check the level of the fluid, or change the fluid from time to
time? Forgive my ignorance, but I don't have any of the service manuals
with me, I am on the road at this time.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
Michael,
If you are dragging stuff frequently and you are only on the 3rd of 5
preload settings for the spring, try cranking that up to the 4th or 5th
position first. You may find that was all you needed. You can test the
shock on a shock dyno and compare it's performance to a new one. I think
that your problem however sounds more spring related than shock related
based on your ground clearance woes. A properly damping unit won't improve
your clearance, it's the spring rate and preload that determines ride
height.
Jeff Bertrand
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 21:11:13 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Giving back
Great idea, thanks a lot for posting it, Brian.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: Brian Cescot
<snip>
Dental floss.
I use a length of floss about a foot long & wrap a few turns under the
fastener head leaving 5 or so inches of floss on each side to get a hand
hold.
Then I just pull it straight out. The nice thing is it doesn't mar the
fastener
or garnish in any way.
I guess thread would work almost as well. Or, better yet, the Honda factory
fastener removal tool for $ 37 dollars.
Brian Cescot
<endsnip>
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 21:43:43 -0400
Subject: ST1100: Interesting idea for a motorcycle tour
Here's a link to a press release about a motorcycle tour in Germany being
organized by Metzeler and Aral (a service station chain).
The registration fee of about USD 500 or so covers 3 nights hotel, breakfast
and dinner daily, a complete new set of Metzeler tires, including
installation, and all the gas you can burn while riding the tour.
Wonder if we can get the North American tire and gas companies interested in
a similar sponsorship?
http://www2.intermot-muenchen.de/index.php?d_docnumber=13080202312002
Regards,
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
------------------------------
From: "Don Feyma" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 14:24:02 -0500
Subject: Re: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
Tommy,
An easy way to mount it is to go to your local home store and get a piece of
metal bar stock 1 inch x 1/8".
Cut yourself a piece of it long enough to straddle the two bolts that hold on
your grab rails at the rear. Drill the appropriate holes to mount the bar, and
get a couple of longer metric bolts with the same thread size as the grab rail
bolts. Then you can drill a hole or holes through the bar to mount your
antenna or antennas onto. You can run the antenna wires through the grab rail
openings under the seat.
Don -- STOC237
- ---- Original Message -----
From: "t.hadden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 9:05 PM
Subject: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
> I need to mount a CB antenna on my 01 ST. I do not have a top box or
> luggage rack and would like some input on where a good place to mount the CB
> antenna would be. I am probably going to purchase a Cyclecomm CB and mount
> the it in my tankbag. Any and all suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tommy
> STOC 2243
>
>
------------------------------
From: "Joseph Zulaski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:42:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ST1100: Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:11:44 -0700
To hell with a sink, how about a large Jacuzzi so's we can soak these
tired muscles after a long ride. I wouldn't even mind paying $10 per
half hour for something like that if they kept it cleaned regularly.
Especially if there were other riders of the female persuasion enjoying
a soak at the same time. ;-)
Joe Zulaski
From: Brenda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 13:46:57 -0400
Subject: Re: ST1100: In on the ground floor
<snip>
One idea that I would like to see anywhere at a "motorcycle friendly"
place is an outside tap with a sink!
Not a piddley little sink, but one that you could stick your head under
and hose off. Potable so that you could fill up your drink bottle. When
fellow ST riders of the "TTT" (A thousand miles of Tennessee Twisties)
stopped at Center Hill Dam, the park at the base of the Dam had a fish
cleaning station. That hose was well used by fellow riders to cool off
with.
just my 2 cents worth
Brenda Grundt
Wawa, Ontario
STOC 2501 - "Scorch"
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 21:51:16 -0400
Subject: ST1100: Lanesplitting (was:FJR1300 & Panniers)
You mean there are places on the planet where you are not allowed to split
lanes? Whaddya s'posed to do instead, run up the shoulder?
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth R. Smith
Subject: Re: ST1100: FJR1300 & Panniers
<snip>
I guess I might feel different about the bags if I were commuting in an
area where lane-splitting was legal.
- --
Ken Smith
<endsnip>
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 21:57:51 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
John:
Thanks a lot for the numbers, that is exactly what I was looking for, much
appreciated. I'll get the dealer to measure it when it the bike is in for
service next Tuesday. The dealer has arranged to give me a Fireblade as a
service loaner bike. The funny thing is, when I went to the dealer last
week to get all the plastic parts ordered in advance, he took one look at
the bike, and said "zees is not a race bike"... then told me to forget about
the Silver Wing scooter I was thinking about getting as the "Zurich daily
driver" and take a Fireblade out for a day and a half instead.
It will be interesting to see what it will be like, I hope we have sunny
weather that day. The seating position is really weird, plus, no saddlebags
or storage space. Not much to the thing - guess that's why it costs a lot
less than the scooter.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: John, Becci & Rick Parker
Subject: Re: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
Michael,
Still haven't gotten that "Fireblade" yet eh? ;-}
Two things can go bad with the OEM shock; the spring and the damping. The
spring is shot when you cannot get the required sag measurement of 30 - 35
mm. The damping is shot when you cannot adjust if for adequate control of
the spring rebound. Dragging your muffler tips sounds like your sag is set
too large or your spring is shot. Take a look at the articles
at: http://johnandbecci.com/Hints/Suspension.htm for a more detailed
description of what is required.
<endsnip>
John Parker
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 22:02:57 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: In on the ground floor
My two cents:
1) Make sure the bike parking area is in a location that can be seen easily
when the customers are lined up at the cash register to pay. If I can keep
my bike in sight when I go into a convenience store, I don't have to bother
taking off the tank bag, GPS, etc... plus, I don't get pissed off about
waiting in line, while I wonder who's dicking around with my motorcycle.
2) Put a small shelf, about 15 inches square, on the wall in the toilet
stalls, about 7 feet off the floor, and put two coat hooks underneath it.
When you go into the can to do some serious work, you put your helmet on the
shelf, and hang your jacket, etc. on the hooks. There is a chain of German
gas stations (Aral) that supplies these helmet holders in all the washrooms
there, smart marketing move on their part.
3) Paint rectangles on the pavement to indicate the parking slots for the
motorcycles. In the absence of any paint markings, you'll only get 50%
utilization of the space, because people will park at random, leaving lots
of empty but unusable space.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Jack Hunt
Sent: September 10, 2002 11:43
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: ST1100: In on the ground floor
A new convenience store is under construction in my town. The owner
is planning to put in a motorcycle-specific area, with covered,
pull-through bike parking, picnic tables, and an air hose.
What other features would you like to see here? This is in a high
traffic area on the side of the Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains,
TN.
The best and most feasible ideas *will* be incorporated in this new
bike-friendly store.
- --
Jack Hunt STOC#1870
'91 ST1100 (dead)
'95 Suzuki DR250SE "Dr. Zook" (muddy)
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 22:18:56 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
Here is a link to a photo of how the French Federal Police Force (Gendarmes)
solved the ground plane problem on their BMW motorcycles.
http://pics.tdiclub.com/members/PanEuropean/Honda/Antenna.jpg
Really funky looking antenna - would most likely cause the average cager to
keep at least 50 feet back, just out of fear of the unknown.
Michael Moore
STOC 2636
Zurich
- -----Original Message-----
From: Ken Robitaille
Subject: Re: ST1100: Where to mount CB antenna
Go to <http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm>
Go thru their library and you will be an expert on antennas, especially the
titles on motorcycles and Ground Plane vs No Ground Plane.
Ken Robitaille
>From: "t.hadden"
>I need to mount a CB antenna on my 01 ST. I do not have a top box or
>luggage rack and would like some input on where a good place to mount the
>CB
>antenna would be. I am probably going to purchase a Cyclecomm CB and mount
>the it in my tankbag. Any and all suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tommy
------------------------------
From: "Michael Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 22:20:48 -0400
Subject: RE: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
The footpegs touch first, then the bottom part of the side wind deflectors,
then the rear outside tips of the mufflers. Not the bottom of the mufflers,
but the sides, when the bike is really leaned over hard. The problem
started when I installed the friggin' Metzeler Z4 tires, I never scraped
mufflers before, but these tires stick like Velcro, and the bike can be
leaned waaaaaay over with confidence until all the hard parts start
dragging. Photo here:
http://www.my-mc.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=1&post=12918#POST12918
Last weekend, I leaned it over so far that the lower part of the side wind
deflector took too much weight off the tires, and levered the tires off the
ground. Result was I lowsided the thing into a ditch full of water at about
50 mph when taking a corner fast. The mufflers only drag when hitting a
tight corner that goes uphill on a well banked road, like a mountain pass
switchback road. I'm just damn glad it didn't happen a few days before when
I was riding mountain passes in Switzerland.
Anyway, I gotta find a fix for this problem. The bike is only a year old
and has 30,000 miles on it. Since it's the back end of the bike that is
dragging, I think maybe the shock absorber might be the problem.
Michael
- -----Original Message-----
From: David Ryder
Subject: Re: ST1100: Rear Shock Functional Test?
<snip>
On 10 Sep 2002 at 2:20, Michael Moore wrote:
>
> I am still having problems dragging the muffler tips when making really
> hard cornering manoeuvres on mountain roads.
The mufflers? My shock was TOTALLY knackered, and I touched down
everything BUT the mufflers.
<endsnip>
- --
David Ryder
------------------------------
From: "David Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 16:25:31 -0500
Subject: Re: ST1100: FJR1300 & Panniers
On 10 Sep 2002 at 9:23, Kenneth R. Smith wrote:
> I've only ridden my ST once without the bags. It was a major nuisance
> every time I stopped. I had to carry my gloves and helmet into the
> restroom. I saw several great photo opportunities, but had not brought the
> camera for fear of having it stolen. I thought the bike looked silly with
> the pipes sticking out so far from the rear wheel. I doubt that I will
> ever ride without the bags again.
I, too, rarely remove my bags. Over the years I've added and added
to my riding kit, to the point that the bags are NORMALLY 75% full
with just stuff I "have" to have when I ride. It's ironic that when
I tour now (for longer than a day trip), I have to use an Ortlieb for
my clothes, since the hardbags are full already. But everything in
them is stuff I've needed at one time or another, so that's the way
it shall be.
Of course, the nature of being someone who's always prepared means
that those around you will be LESS prepared, since they always assume
you'll be there to rescue them.
"Do you have your compressor handy?"
"Throw me some of that Advil."
"Can I borrow that bug towel when you're done?"
"Got a bandaid in that firstaid kit?"
"Hey, if you're not gonna use that fleece jacket, mind if I do?"
"Lemme sneetch one of those bungees."
"Hey, you carry some siphon tubing, don't you?"
"Oooh, a tire plugging kit! Just what I need!"
But the best is, "Dood, can you put some of my shit in your bags?"
- --
David Ryder
Pittsburgh, PA
91 ST1100 "The Silk Stiletto"
"I'm not interested in spending the fourth quarter of this game
drooling
in my soup in a rest home, anyhow." -- Tom Arbogast
------------------------------
From: "barry whitley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 16:23:38 -0400
Subject: ST1100: Corbin
Well, guys and gals.
It has been 2 weeks since I invited Joe Mendoza of Cobin to dicuss my
customer service problem with me. Not even the slighest response.
As a refresher, after ordering a Corbin from my local dealer, I was told
it was in stock and would be in shortly. Then it became 30 days, Then 30
more days, and finally Oct. 1 was the projected ship date. I cancelled the
order. What would happen if I had a problem after I got the seat?
Anyway, some of you asked to be kept current on the offer from Mr.
Mendoza to dicuss my problem. Now you have it.
Barry Whitley
STOC 1909
------------------------------
End of st1100-digest V2 #6046
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