Honda Pan European ST1100 By Derek Hayden
Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster
When I first set eyes on the Honda ST1100, or Pan European to give it it's full
Grand title, the first thoughts through my mind were 'what a load of C%^&*,
however those first impressions soon got pushed aside as I became more aware
of the concept behind the Machine, a European designed Motorcycle, but what
is so unusual about that?. Well first lets look at the way motorcycles have
been designed and marketed to date. The Japanese Manufacturers have ever since
their domination of Motorcycle Manufacturing aimed their designs and marketing
predominantly at the USA, this is a fairly natural trend as America buys the
lions share of Japanese output. Because American attitudes to motorcycling are
so different from our own, the machines they design suit the USA but not necessarily
Europe. Americans view Motorcycling as a hobby. Something to do at weekends,
much the same as scuba diving or Jet-Skiing. They do not see it as a practical
means of transport, and because it's a hobby it doesn't matter if it's expensive,
considerations for fuel consumption, tyre and chain life go out of the Window.
Even before the recent deluge of Hyper-Sports bikes hit the Market place, the
Japanese successfully sold vast numbers of totally impractical machines to the
Americans, remember the Kawasaki triples!. However the Japanese are now realising
that Europe is a very different place to the USA. So the Pan European is a machine
designed in Europe for Europeans, It is a Concept designed touring machine,
complete with panniers, at least so the glossy leaflets tell us, one of which
depicts the 'Rider'(Male Model) handing one of the panniers to a 5Star Hotel
Bellhop!!!. Once I'd stopped laughing, I decided it was about time the Pan European
was put to a serious test. Not the usual superfluous tests by magazine journo's
but a test by a serious long distance Motorcyclist, with definite ideas of what
he wants from a "Concept" (or any other for that matter) Machine.
Here's the Yard Stick
Fuel Consumption, at least 50MPG
Tank range, at least 200Miles
Rider/Pillion comfort, at least the range of the fuel load.
Weather protection, both rider and pillion kept Free from turbulence, dry and comfortable.
Panniers, 40Litres each or more, capable of Holding at least one full face Helmet each.
A Maintenance free drive system.
Tyre Life, better than 10,000 rear.
With all these factors to consider I arranged the loan of the ST1100 from my local Honda dealer P.F.K.Lings of Watton, in Norfolk, for the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend. The plan was a simple one, load the bike with luggage for the weekend, and travel over to Shrewsbury to stay with friends, and while we're there put the Pan European through it's paces, under a Variety of Road and weather conditions, after all it was a Bank Holiday weekend, if we found the roads the weather was a forgone conclusion.
I collected the Bike from Lings of Watton on the Saturday morning, but due to previous commitments the trip to Shrewsbury would have to wait until early evening. Upon leaving Lings I firstly had to negotiate the Saturday morning traffic in Watton, an ordeal I did not relish on a machine I scarcely knew. To my delight the ST was very easy to manhandle in traffic despite it's size, and despite the size of the rider, I'm only 5ft6ins, I was on the balls of my feet to touch the ground, but I still felt quite comfortable. One of the first things I noticed was the way other motorists treated the Pan European, whether it was because a Silver motorcycle looks very much like a white (potentially Police) motorcycle at first glance, or it was just the shear presence of the machine, but the traffic always seemed to move over to let me through, others commented on this later in the weekend, so it wasn't just my imagination. At Home the panniers were detached, this I found very fiddly at first but soon learnt to master. We were only away for the weekend so we were travelling light, but we still had difficulty getting all we needed into the panniers, they are very small, only 35Ltrs each, a peculiar shape, and only open up to approximately 45degrees, which makes them difficult to load. We later found that they will hold a full face helmet each, but what you do with the rest of your luggage is a mystery, because once the helmets are in, there is precious little room for anything else.
At 5.15 pm on the Saturday evening we set off for Shrewsbury, this would be an exclusively Dual Carriageway and Motorway jaunt as we didn't want to waste good drinking and eating time. My first impressions were of a smooth, stable, refined, powerful motorcycle capable of gobbling up the miles on Motorway style roads, not too surprising considering a V4 1100cc Engine producing 100BHP. I found the fairing kept the rider well protected, although if the fairing was 1.5-2" wider it would have been even better. The fairing ducts air well over the riders head (at least a 5ft6ins Riders) and than produces an eddy which gentle pushes the rider in the back, a most peculiar but comfortable sensation. Dawn's reaction to the pillion was very mixed, below 70MPH she was well protected, and quite comfortable, above that speed the Turbulence starts to buffet the pillion around, the rider still being quite comfortable. Dawn said it felt like someone was trying to pull her helmet off, an interesting comment when you consider that she is usually pillion on a VFR750, and doesn't experience that problem. The instrumentation is well laid out, the clock (personally would prefer not to have one) is set to the side of the main instruments, and so is not a constant reminder. Some 2.75hrs, 200miles, and one very brief stop for the loo later we arrived in Shrewsbury, still quite fresh.
Saturday morning after an ample breakfast, we set off, our first task was to fuel up, it was at this stage that I became aware of the enormous fuel tank. I poured 24.5Ltrs into the 28Ltr capacity tank, which is located behind the engine, a sort of vertical box, this helps to keep the weight low. The "tank" is actually a cover over the air box, and being made of plastic makes it impossible to use a magnetic tank bag. Our Hosts for the weekend Jimmie and Sue Elliott, had arranged a ride around North and Central Wales, taking in such places as Blaenau, Conwy, and Aberystwyth. This now gave me the opportunity to try the ST on some beautifully fast and twisty roads. I was not disappointed, with 18" wheels front and 17" rear, the ST was so sure footed and stable I found myself hurling it around much as I would with the VFR, in comfort, and with enormous confidence. The steering is much slower than my own machine, and the first time I banked it hard into a long left hand bend I felt much as I expect C15 Galaxy Pilots feels when he banks one of those monstrous Aircraft, "What the heck is holding it up". I commented to my friends that I felt I was riding slightly off my usual pace, but they assured me I was not, the ST is definitely not the Behemoth it at first appears. To draw comparisons Sue Elliott swapped seats with Dawn, and confirmed the buffeting problem, She commented that it wasn't as comfortable as Jimmies R100RT. Throughout the weekend I was extremely impressed with the smoothness of the engine, gearbox, and shaft drive, the drive train held no vices at all, and only the slightest hint of torque reaction when under very heavy load on take off. I could force the torque reaction by holding on the front brake and trying to pull away, but that's hardly a fair test. The only time I became aware of the size of the machine was under very heavy braking. Even with 316 * 5mm twin front and 316 * 7.5mm single rear disc you knew you were trying to stop nearly 300kg of motorcycle. Although at no time did I feel compromised when braking. I feel that the omission of an ABS option on a machine of this size is an enormous oversight, especially when you look at the opposition. Honda have now rectified this omission. I was concerned at the amount of plastic on the machine, the fairing, no doubt made of the Japanese plastic PolyCrackathene, looks a bit vulnerable, although the stylish "wings", do conceal engine crash bars. The engine is extremely quiet, producing a "K" type whine at low revs and a very characteristic V4 Drub-Drub at anything over 2000. Over 200miles later we returned to Shrewsbury, the ST was still nowhere near to being on reserve, and both myself and Dawn felt very comfortable, the ST scores top marks here, the riders seat is well cushioned and comfortable, the pillion seat is much the same but Dawn later commented that she felt it was too wide!. After discussing the problem we agreed that is was probably that the passenger footrests were too low, thus forcing the inside of the thighs into the edges of the seat. It would appear that the ST is designed around the Height of the average European Male, about 5ft 10Ins, which leaves both myself and dawn about 4ins short. I've heard it muted that I'm a couple of slices short of a loaf, but never 4ins short of a European. Bank Holiday Monday took us for a spin around Herefordshire, where we purchased some delicious organic Cider, over Clee Hills, then to Ashby to Visit a Friend laid up after a recent Accident, and then Homeward once more to East Anglia. As mentioned at the start I wanted to test the ST in a variety of weather conditions, one area, which particularly interested me, was Stability in heavy winds and Turbulence. The trip Home took us across the Fens, as anyone knows who has travelled that way, a brisk breeze can feel like a Gale here. The ST handled the crosswinds, and the HGV/Coach 'Afterblasts' with ease. The only thing left to do now was ride it in the Rain. On the return trip to Lings on Tuesday morning the weather obliged, only a moderate shower, but enough to realise that the machine was not going to give up any of it's and Stability, just because the roads were wet. The Fairing kept most of me dry, my upper arms got damp, and so did my Knees. The fairing is plenty wide enough, its the seat width which pushes your Knees out past the edge of the fairing, unless you have spindles for legs, which brought me around to thinking that I'd like to meet this "European Bloke", reckon he must look like E.T.! So how does the Pan European measure up. On a positive note, taking the machine out of concept simply as a motorcycle it is superb, I loved every minute in the saddle, tyre life I predict will be good, around 10-12,000 using Radials. However the ST is aiming at a target, and quite frankly it misses badly. The panniers are hopelessly inadequate, although there is the option now of an additional rack and top box at £180-00p !!!!. A magnetic tank bag is useless because of the plastic "Tank", and I didn't really see any accommodation for strap on luggage, ie Tent, Sleeping Bags Etc. I expect two people could travel Pan European with only 2, 35ltr panniers to carry luggage, but I for one would not want to be Down Wind of them after more than a few days. I only managed at best 45MPG and I wasn't riding that hard, (fuel injection could help) still good tank range, but boy does it hurt your wallet when you come to fill up. No ABS Option, and the passenger gets his/her head ripped off. If it is compared against the Japanese opposition, FJ, GSX, GTR, it is about £2,000-00p over priced. Compared against the German opposition the only thing it lacks is ABS.
Why the Silly Title?.
It was the Pseudonym the ST collected over the weekend. Apologies to Douglas
Adams.