"Life may begin at 30, but it get's real interesting around 150."">
Anybody seen much about the new XWing??
RetroCheck out this article on the ValkRiders Web site: http://www.f6rider.com/Valk2/honda_x.htm I agree with the author in this bike certainly wouldn't be a suitable replacement for the Valk or the Goldwing, bu the ST1300. Ride safe! Retro

"Life may begin at 30, but it get's real interesting around 150."
JimI agree with Retro, this is not a viable replacement for the best touring mototcycle on the planet, (not just my opinion, but at least 30-leven different magazines say so)or the most origional cruiser on the planet (not counting that butt ugly BMW. But the ST1300 could 'evolve" into the XWing in 3 or 4 years without anyone blinking an eye. Jim AMA Ironbutt Association Jimmy is not very sharing and does not play well with others First grade report card 19--
bearWow, what a neat looking motorcycle, look at the style there, look at the sexy lines, wooo I think I might be in love must have one, oooo, I hope they sell them in this country, ya know they always keep the neat stuff for the eurpeons and we never get them here, man would one of them look good in my garage next to Ol Travler and my Triumph, Huh, Huh, Huh.... Joe [the bear] noli illegitimi carborundum
John Bennett I saw that photo a couple of years ago. I believe it was someone's speculation as to what the new Honda STX1300 (ST1100 replacement) would look like. Here's what turned up... 2003 Honda STX1300 Everyone in the Sport Touring community is raving about how great the new STX is. Even some of the BMW-RT guys are admitting it's a sweet ride (but like the Goldwing/Accord is "souless" and has no "character"). Here's a good review... http://www.motorcycledaily.com/26june02honda2003st1300.html I always wanted an ST, but somehow I've set my heart on a BMW-RT. I just want a twin for some reason. ==========================================
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FireNSteelIm sorry, but its simply a sport tourer....looks alot like a Yamaha FJR1300...dont confuse it with a "cruiser"...people riding Gold Wings and Valkeries are looking for a different style ride......its got the cafe racer looks with bags.... Shotgun "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride..."
John Bennett
quote:
Im sorry, but its simply a sport tourer....
They are very different bikes. BMW R1100RT = Opposed Twin Honda STX1300 = Longitudinal V-Four Yamaha FJR1300 = Inline Straight 4 Shadow Sabres and and Harley Softails are "just cruisers", but they are very different bikes. ==========================================
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FireNSteeli wasnt talking about the engine configurations or being that technical.....the article in the link used the word cruiser...actually "power cruiser"......it is in fact a "sport tourer" any way you look at it....period...it bears no resemblence to a gold wing or a Valk in any way shape or form...it does though look alot like many other sport tourers, at least in form if not engine....look at the seat.....look at the fairing, footpegs...the style.........says cafe all over it.....what i meant was resemblence.....that being said, Harleys, Shadows, V-Stars, ect all look somewhat similar as cruisers........ Shotgun "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride..."
John Bennett Sorry SG. I misunderstood. To me, a cafe racer has those water-buffalo low-style handlebars, a chopped off single-person seat, and a little bubble fairing. Like these... With the RT, STX, & FJR, you sit almost bolt upright - not over in the racer's crouch, your feet are directly underneath you - not behind you like a racer, and they have extensive body-work to protect you from the elements on long rides (what they are really designed for). The RT, STX, and I think FJR all have CD players as an option. That's why I want one. I'm at a point now in my life where I want a radio, rain protection, and hard bags, but I don't want a Goldwing. The flat six just does nothing for me. I'm just bloody sick of using a bungee strap to haul stuff around. I want a nice topcase I can put my helmet in when I don't feel like wearing it. I can make one side case into an ice chest, and put tools and sandwiches in the other. Incidentally, on the Speedvision channel last night the 'Bikeweek' program had a short section on the Honda STX. I just didn't like the way it sounded. Plus, they had the test rider doing wheelies and throwing it hard around the curves. The Honda spokesperson was really playing up the high-performance aspect of the STX (curve ability, shorter wheelbase, lighter, 120something horsepower). I guess they are trying to attract the old, or reformed sport bike riders who want more comfort, but not a heavy barge. To me, sports tourers represent the pinacle of motorcycling. ...real-world bikes that perform more like a motorcycle than a car, but are still comfortable to ride. ==========================================
Click here to visit the Lufkin, Texas MC Group!
PJDHey Retro, I thought the Valkyrie was already impacted. There was no production model this year, is there one scheduled for next year? I kinda thought Honda got it right with the 1300, this bike looks a little more bloaty. .

PJ Daly
South Carolina
'97 1400 Intruder
'98 V-4 Magna


RetroThey still made the stock Valk in 2002, they discontinued the Valk Interstate. It's yet to be determined whether they will still produce the Valk for 2003. It'll probably be September before we know for sure. Seems to me that they need some sort of big cruiser - probably a T version of the VTX is my guess, since that seems to be the basket Honda is putting all its eggs into ! Ride safe! Retro

"Life may begin at 30, but it get's real interesting around 150."
FireNSteel
quote:
To me, a cafe racer has those water-buffalo low-style handlebars, a chopped off single-person seat, and a little bubble fairing. Like these...
Nope.....wasnt talking about those antiques which are basically stock streetbikes of their day with little fairings bolted on.....the terminology has changed, but i still remember them being called cafe racers......its kinda like rap music is now called hip-hop......same music, different name....now you simply take a crotch rocket, make the fairing a little taller, add hard bags and a few other effects, add new technology to some components and you have a sport tourer(crotch rocket for longer rides)....still a cocked forward on the gas tank, backwards footpeg, designed to scrape the footpegs while canyon carving at high speed bike. Nice rides to be sure, but hardly a GoldWing or Valkerie replacement.....completely different class of bike designed for a completely different attitude rider... Shotgun "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride..."
RetroYeah, I have to agree that there is a distinct difference between the tourer, sport-tourer, and cruiser-tourer classes. That's basically why the Valk Interstate, ST1300, and Goldwings draw very different types of people. The Valk Interstate owners want comfort, cruiser styling, and power. The ST1300 want comfort and sportbike handling. And the GW owners want comfort and lots of add-ons (although styling and handling have been recent additions). I think this prototype would more than likely replace the ST1300 just as the VTX is taking over the Shadow line. Just my $.02, though... Ride safe! Retro

"Life may begin at 30, but it get's real interesting around 150."
ace28Here's what I posted in a message borad last week after test riding the STX1300. I am actually waiting for mine, a nice silver one. Here you go: I travelled 250 km today, waking up at 7 am. I got straight there and they let me have the STX for a 3 hours ride. So I went to another coastal town, 70 kms away and back. I did twisties, motorway, in town riding... This bike is TOO MUCH! You can't imagine the power and the handling it has. In 5th gear a,d doing 120 km/h, I opened the throttle and you can feel the instant torque and power push you decidedly forwrd. At 160 km/h I had to cut off gas: too many police cars hiding on the way. She brakes without hestitation. Perfect! I also tried braking on a slippery wet part of the asphalt in a side street, braking abruptly and the bike didn't flutter. No slippery tyres. I took a curve at 140 km an hour in the motorway and had to rectify inside the curve applying gear change and brakes and that bike allows you to do so. You can rectify in the middle of a curve at high speeds. The chasis is great. The windshield workd perfectly. No wind or noise, veryu slight buffetting in areas with strong cross winds. Other wise nothing. Acceleration is smooth with an almost linear power output, but as you get to the 5000 rpm zone, the bike wants to fly. Extremely comfortable. I am 172 cm tall - not tall at all - and the seat being in its lowest position, have no problem to manage her, feeling confiddent with my feet well placed on the ground. Not as much as with my cruiser, but enough to feel quite secure. The ergonomics are superb. The heat problem doesn't exist anymore - the bike was modified by Honda - and the display can be easily seen in DIRECT SUNLIGHT! (I read many articles saying the display was difficult to see under direct sunlight. Bull....! You can easily see it. It won't blind you, but is perfectly readable). Conclusion: I shouldn't have had this second 3 hour test ride. Makes waiting for my silver STX1300 unbearable. To all of those who have the legendary st110: this bike is not an evolution of the ST. It is a completely different bike. It resembles the older one in nothing... at least performance wise. It handles much better at all speeds. As a matter of fact, it is the easiest bike that I rode for ages. Maybe even easier than the CBR600, and that is something. Ride safe.