Honda ST1300
Encyclopedia
The Honda ST1300, also known as the Pan-European, is a sport touring motorcycle manufactured by Honda
and introduced to Europe in 2002. The following year, it was released in North America 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 pannier
s.
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 (about 2,200 per year) starting in 2003 as the ST1300.
mounted as a stressed member in a lighter aluminum frame. A major difference from the ST1100 is the use of balance shaft
s 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 on the ST1300 in the United States, but became standard on the ST1300 Pan-European 2004 (A4 models). Unlike the ST1100, the ST1300 does not include a traction control system
. In 2002 and 2003, models with ABS included an electrically adjustable windscreen, which became standard equipment on all bikes in 2004. A long list of minor differences improved upon the ST1100's comfort, handling and performance.
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 Constable
s 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 (177 km/h) 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
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
and introduced to Europe in 2002. The following year, it was released in North America as the ST1300.
Superseding the ST1100
Honda ST1100
The Honda ST1100, also known as the Pan-European, is a sport touring motorcycle that was manufactured by Honda until 2002.- History :The ST1100 began its production in 1990 and ended in 2002, although the police variant, the ST1100P, was available for several more years.A revamped model, the...
, the bike features a standard riding posture, a liquid-cooled V4 engine
V4 engine
A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....
and a fully faired
Motorcycle fairing
A motorcycle fairing is a shell placed over the frame of some motorcycles, especially racing motorcycles and sport bikes, with the primary purpose to reduce air drag. The secondary functions are the protection of the rider from airborne hazards and wind-induced hypothermia and of the engine...
body with standard hard pannier
Pannier
A pannier is a basket, bag, box, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over the back of a beast of burden, or attached to the sides of a bicycle or motorcycle. The term derives from the Old French, from Classical Latin, word for bread basket....
s.
History
During the 2000 bike show season, Honda began showing a prototype sport tourer called the X-Wing, which featured 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 (about 2,200 per year) starting in 2003 as the ST1300.
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 engineV4 engine
A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....
mounted as a stressed member in a lighter aluminum frame. A major difference from the ST1100 is the use of balance shaft
Balance shaft
In piston engine engineering, a balance shaft is an eccentric weighted shaft which offsets vibrations in engine designs that are not inherently balanced...
s 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
Driveshaft
A drive shaft, driveshaft, driving shaft, propeller shaft, or Cardan shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement...
.
Honda's ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
and linked brake
Combined braking system
A combined braking system , also called linked braking system , is a system for linking front and rear brakes on a motorcycle or scooter. In this system, the rider's action of depressing one of the brake levers applies both front and rear brakes...
package is an option on the ST1300 in the United States, but became standard on the ST1300 Pan-European 2004 (A4 models). Unlike the ST1100, the ST1300 does not include a traction control system
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
. In 2002 and 2003, models with ABS included an electrically adjustable windscreen, which 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 bumpSpeed bumpA speed bump is a speed-reducing feature of road design to slow traffic or reduce through traffic, via...
s. - 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.
Pan weave
Evidence indicates the ST1300 can exhibit a weave instability mode at very 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
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
announced he would warn all Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
s 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
Freewheelers EVS
Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service is a registered charity based in South West England. The charity was founded in Weston-super-Mare in 1990....
and London Ambulance Service
London Ambulance Service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the largest "free at the point of contact" emergency ambulance service in the world. It responds to medical emergencies in Greater London, England, with the ambulances and other response vehicles and over 5,000 staff at its disposal.It is one of 12...
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 (177 km/h) 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.