Hello to everyone,
Purchased a 2003 ST 1300 a few weeks ago and so had to turn to the ST forum for the infinite collective wisdom gathered here.
Bike has 30.000 kilometers and has been owned by seniors since purchase. Unfortunately it has spent a lot of time just sitting. Bike sounded fine on center stand, idling, shifting and overall looked great. I figured with a low km bike what could be wrong.
Bike was delivered to me, driven about 30 km and it sounded good when I listened to the engine. Paid the previous owner and after he left tried to back the bike into garage. Was afraid of dropping it so never really took it for a ride wanting to go over the bike first like I’d always done. Could barely move the bike and just put it up to my lack of strength but my youthful exuberance convinced me I was still able to ride after giving up two years ago.
Now it starts. Front tire 7psi, rear 14psi, rodents stuffed about half a shoe box of pink insulation into the air filter...don’t know how the bike even ran or was driven. Took two of us to to get the oil filter off . I laid in the floor for a day trying. Flushed and replaced all the fluids, new rear pads, oiled the cables, cleaned the rodent leftovers and did everything I cold think of. Bike ran fine, safety check, insurance, courage and decided after a few weeks it was time to ride.
Had it out twice and put on about 300km...felt 17 again and regained my confidence. Under not hard acceleration there is a noise I cant quite explain, rattling or stressing, not smooth with something being not quite right. After about 20km highway driving when warmed up properly I hear a steady whine like a car differential being low on fluid. Pull the clutch in downhill and there is definitely a steady hum there.
Took a look inside the pumpkin filler hole and the crown gear teeth show perfect contact. When I had the drain plug out there was a bit of sludge on the magnet but nothing my previous bikes did not have..normal. I’m hopping its a wheel bearing but does not sound like it.
I sure hope some of you ST experts can shine a light on these issues and help me get the bike sorted out for the summer.
And yes there are more issues but these are of primary concerns.
Thank you all in advance and its great to be a part of a bike community again.
Should add; In May 2022 at 24.000km the bike was completely gone over front to back by a reputable shop to address sitting issues from the previous owner who was also 74. Had forks done, valve check, clutch work, tires, brakes, etc. Cost was $4000.00. I think the last owner just rode it hard the first year than life got in the way. Bike was parked in a damp shed and there it sat. That’s about the best I can piece together about the bike now that I had time to think and analyze bikes history.
Purchased a 2003 ST 1300 a few weeks ago and so had to turn to the ST forum for the infinite collective wisdom gathered here.
Bike has 30.000 kilometers and has been owned by seniors since purchase. Unfortunately it has spent a lot of time just sitting. Bike sounded fine on center stand, idling, shifting and overall looked great. I figured with a low km bike what could be wrong.
Bike was delivered to me, driven about 30 km and it sounded good when I listened to the engine. Paid the previous owner and after he left tried to back the bike into garage. Was afraid of dropping it so never really took it for a ride wanting to go over the bike first like I’d always done. Could barely move the bike and just put it up to my lack of strength but my youthful exuberance convinced me I was still able to ride after giving up two years ago.
Now it starts. Front tire 7psi, rear 14psi, rodents stuffed about half a shoe box of pink insulation into the air filter...don’t know how the bike even ran or was driven. Took two of us to to get the oil filter off . I laid in the floor for a day trying. Flushed and replaced all the fluids, new rear pads, oiled the cables, cleaned the rodent leftovers and did everything I cold think of. Bike ran fine, safety check, insurance, courage and decided after a few weeks it was time to ride.
Had it out twice and put on about 300km...felt 17 again and regained my confidence. Under not hard acceleration there is a noise I cant quite explain, rattling or stressing, not smooth with something being not quite right. After about 20km highway driving when warmed up properly I hear a steady whine like a car differential being low on fluid. Pull the clutch in downhill and there is definitely a steady hum there.
Took a look inside the pumpkin filler hole and the crown gear teeth show perfect contact. When I had the drain plug out there was a bit of sludge on the magnet but nothing my previous bikes did not have..normal. I’m hopping its a wheel bearing but does not sound like it.
I sure hope some of you ST experts can shine a light on these issues and help me get the bike sorted out for the summer.
And yes there are more issues but these are of primary concerns.
Thank you all in advance and its great to be a part of a bike community again.
Should add; In May 2022 at 24.000km the bike was completely gone over front to back by a reputable shop to address sitting issues from the previous owner who was also 74. Had forks done, valve check, clutch work, tires, brakes, etc. Cost was $4000.00. I think the last owner just rode it hard the first year than life got in the way. Bike was parked in a damp shed and there it sat. That’s about the best I can piece together about the bike now that I had time to think and analyze bikes history.
