Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

Maintenance List

Listed below you will find the routine maintenance and breakdowns of my ST.  I made this list to help others contemplating purchasing a Honda.  Other ST owners can also compare notes.

4-28-01.  12,213 miles.  Replaced the stock rear Bridgestone tire with a Dunlop 205.  Total cost (tire and installation) 167.35

6-01.  17,540 miles.  Replaced the stock front Bridgestone tire with a Dunlop 205 in Salt Lake City.  Total cost. 128.50

9-6-01.  26,788 miles.  Flushed and replaced radiator water.  Adjusted valves, and replaced rear tire with another Dunlop 205.  Total cost 319.89. 

9-27-01.  28,200 miles.  Replaced front tire with a another Dunlop 205.  Tire still had life but a long trip (Canada) was looming.  Total cost 129.88

1-19-02  39,023 miles.  Replaced blown out low beam bulb with a upgraded bulb.  Bulb is a significant improvement over the stock bulb. Look for Honda part number 34901-MC7-601AH.  Total cost 7.98.  NOT a misprint, a better bulb for much less money.

2-16-02  41,307 miles.  Replaced rear tire with another Dunlop 205.  The 205s are consistently delivering 14,000 miles so no need to change. Replaced rear brake pads.  Total cost 221.57.

4-2-02  43,330 miles.  Replaced front tire and brake pads. A Dunlop 205, currently there is no upgrade to the 220 for the ST.  I continue to buy my tires at the dealer.  They offer free mounting and installation if you buy the tire from the shop.  I guess I could save a few bucks the mail order route, but not worth it to me.  The tire delivered 15,000 miles. Total cost 183.67 

6-7-02  48,607 miles.  Replaced rear tire with a BT 020.  As much as I hated to do it, I killed my 205 with 4,000 miles of tread remaining.  The tire could have made California, or further, but my mind would not have been at rest crossing the Nevada and Utah deserts. I have seen first hand what the desert does to less then good tires.  Changing a tire in mid trip is a pain in the butt, so I replaced a perfectly good tire for piece of mind.  I also wanted good tread to deal with the many twisty roads in Montana, Colorado, California, and Utah.  No 205s could be found on the short notice, so I went with the Bridgestone.  So far I like it.  If it delivers 10,000 miles I will be happy, but I will settle just to get to California and back.  

After 48,000 miles on the original plugs, I finally let the shop replace them.  They were still performing flawlessly, but Maryland was in the back of mind, and I wanted to be sure I had good plugs for the altitudes I will be riding.  The shop also dropped the final shaft oil, and checked all nuts, bolts, and fasteners.  I skipped a valve check and radiator flush, plan to do that before leaving for Nova Scotia in August.

Total cost an amazing 189.50. Now y'all see why I skipped a out of town tire replace?  Including mounting and tire installation.  I explained my circumstances, and needed a quick turn around, and he delivered.  In at 10am out at 5.  My dealer is Montgomery Honda and Yamaha, Montgomery, Alabama.  Even though I did NOT buy my bike there, they have taken good care of my bike at a reasonable price so far.

8-13-02- 57,300 miles.  Replaced front and rear tires with Dunlop 205s, replaced front and rear brake pads, checked cooling system (hoses, leaks, pressure check, coolant replaced) checked exhaust system, also complete safety check.  Total cost 452.00 dollars. ouch.

The 020 on the rear delivered 9,000+ miles, and still had wear remaining, but I never start a long trip with less then good tires.  The front 205 went 15,000 miles, the last 10k of that it was cupped.

I took the long way home from the shop, putting down 50 miles.  I wanted a shakedown ride before leaving out for Canada.  Ran like a champ.  Feels much better with the new tires, and the brakes feel tight again.  The mechanic advised the pads still had wear, but things were close enough to warrant a change out.  He knew of my upcoming long tour, so took the liberty of replacing them.  

 5-17-03-  72,020 miles.  Hard to believe nothing has happened in the way of maintenance since LAST August, but here it is.  Replaced front and rear tires, again Dunlop 205s.  Replaced final drive oil, front brake pads, air filter, brake and clutch fluid.  Inspected valves (last check 46,000 miles ago) mechanic reported 1 exhaust valve slightly out of spec and corrected it.  Checked radiator, battery, all hoses, clamps and fasteners.  Total cost 518.47

I will change the oil just prior to departure.  I will also wash and hard wax the bike at that time.  I like the protection hard wax offers for the places I will be going, desert sun, and a few miles of salt air on the coast.

I took the ST the long way home from the shop today.  It never ran better.  The new tires felt great, and she purred effortlessly at 95mph.  I took her to a good spot, and for the first time since the Crater Lake area last year, I opened up.  She came in at  133 mph, 8 better then last year, when it was loaded down with touring luggage, and battling a stiff headwind. 

I also replaced 1 PIAA 1700.  Unit had burned out.  I ordered 1 extra assuming the other will die somewhere between here and Calif. Cost for both 80 something bucks.  The PIAAs deliver 13-15000 miles of service.  I run them 100% all the time.

For those checking, the 205s that just came off delivered 14,720 miles.

I'm ready to go in just a few weeks.  I have a new upgraded tent, Moto Fizz touring bag, DVD player, handheld air pump, and new JR Phoenix gloves.  I've been carefully shopping all winter, and picking up some really good equipment for this year's trips. 

My only concern is ME.  I've not ridden much since last fall.  Oh, I've been out almost everyday, but no serious mileage, so I question my riding condition.  Suddenly embarking on a 2 week 8,000 mile tour, without tune up tours is not good.  I'm hoping I'm good enough to quickly adapt, but we will see.

August 1, 2003- 81,670- Replaced rear tire with another 205.  I ended the life of this tire prematurely, because of a long trip.  Replaced rear brake pads.

Oct. 3rd, 2003- 86,976- Replaced front tire with Dunlop 205

March 8, 2004- 93,905 miles- Replaced rear tire with a Dunlop 205.  The old 205 still had a few thousand miles left, but the tire had a slow leak somewhere so I replaced it.  Replaced rear brake pad, flushed and replaced coolant, 4 new spark plugs, checked electrical system, changed out drive shaft gear oil, inspected all hoses and clamps, new air filter.  The bike is now ready for a full summer of touring.  The front tire will need replacing in 4-5k miles but with the arrival of my 1300 that may take awhile.   The 1100 will now go into reserve duty.