There�s a motorcycle saying that goes, �You can never have too many motorcycles.� While we can�t quarrel with the adage, most of us seek out a bike that more or less does it all. If you�re looking for that singular street machine, look no further than Honda�s remarkable sport-tour-de-force, the ST1300, or its sibling, the ST1300 ABS (antilock braking system).
Have you wondered if sport-touring is really for you? Consider this: If you�re a dedicated street rider who enjoys twisty two-lanes as much as the straight-arrow superslab, you�re already a sport-touring rider. Fortunately for us, Honda invented and perfected the genre�like nearly every other category of motorcycle out there. And that perfection is realized every time you swing a leg over the ST1300/ST1300 ABS.
Here�s a typical spring weekend from the log book on our ABS-equipped ST. Our two-up ride to the coast via the mountains started off on a cool and drizzly morning. The weather report told us fog was predicted in the valleys for the first hour. We donned our two-piece riding suits, loaded our detachable �his and hers� saddlebags, checked the tire pressures and adjusted the rear suspension pre-load. After raising the electrically operated windscreen and cranking up the amps on the (optional) heated grips to keep the cold damp air at bay, we were off.
We hadn�t gone 20 minutes when the fog turned to pea soup and drizzle. No problem�we slowed our pace and lowered the windscreen for improved visibility. More than once the ST�s LBS� (Linked Braking System) slowed us with confidence as we approached blind curves and the ABS provided peace of mind for the slippery snakes of asphalt sealer we would encounter.
Just as we crested the last mountain pass, the sun broke through and the sinewy two-lane to the valley below beckoned us onward. The air warmed as we descended and the panoramic views were majestic. The tractable power delivery of the 1261cc liquid-cooled, longitudinally mounted 90-degree, V-4 propelled us effortlessly as we carved through turns and immersed ourselves in the experience.
Our lunch stop gave us pause to share our reflections and refuel our bodies (the ST�s 7.7-gallon fuel tank was still half full) and we shed some clothing layers in anticipation of soaring afternoon temps. The road straightened considerably as we neared our destination and so did our pace, yet the ST�s fairing and adjustable windscreen combined to minimize buffeting while still routing plenty of cooling air into the cockpit.
We arrived at the beachfront B&B by late afternoon just as the fuel display told us it was time to gas up. We�d covered nearly 300 miles with just one stop but felt like the trip had just begun. We weren�t tired at all and looked forward to a stroll on the sand before dinner. The following day we explored some coastal roads and stopped at several local shops. We weathered two cloudbursts and endured stop-and-go riding on 140-degree tarmac with nary a concern for anything mechanical. By the time we returned home Sunday night, we�d amassed 900 miles on the ST. For us, it was an invigorating and relaxing getaway. For the ST, it was just another day at the office.
0 Comment:
Post a Comment