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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128163
2003 Honda ST1300/ST1300 ABS Engine and Drivetrain Features • Longitudinally mounted 126Jcc, DOHC, 90° Y-4 with 78 X 66mm bore-and-stroke dimensions. • The crankshaft is 20mm lower in the crankcase for a lower center of gravity. • Twin gear-driven counter-balancers to help quell vibration. • Aluminum composite cylinder sleeves are impregnated with graphite and ceramic material to help reduce friction and dissipate heat more efficiently. • A new silent-type cam-chain drive eliminates the previous bike's bulky belt drive. • Larger 31 mm intake valves and 27mm exhaust valves feed a redesigned combustion chamber, with anew, higher compression ratio of 10.8:1. • Shim-under-bucket valve actuation ensures long 16,000-mile maintenance intervals. • Four 36mm throttle bodies feature eight laser-drJlled nozzle holes per Injector, for a very-fine fuel spray delivered at 50 psi, for efficient combustion. • The PGM-FI computer features a throttle sensor, combined with 3-D digital fuel Injection and Ignition mapping for crisp fuel delivery and precise throttle response. • ECU-controlled closed-loop emission-control system utilizes twin oxygen sensors to constantly deliver a precise mixture of air and fuel. • Twin catalyzers reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen, meeting 2008 emissions standards. • Four-into-two stainless-steel exhaust system features triangular-section, 5.4-liter mufflers with stainless-steel heat shields. • Dampers on the transmission malnshaft, clutch and drive shaft reduce noise and help eliminate driveline lash. • High-output, 660-watt, air-cooled alternator is relocated between the cylinder banks, contributing to a shorter and more compact engine design. • Redesigned curved radiator has 8.2-percent more cooling capacity and also features a new ring-type fan to force more air through ·it at lower speeds. • Eight-plate hydraulic clutch. • All-new cassette-type, frYe-speed transmission with shorter gear ratios for improved acceleration and roll-on performance. • Near-maintenance-free shaft-drive system. well. One thing that really surprised me was how competent the ST is on a tight and twisty road. Our group got A comfortable, upright seating position should reward the rider with all·day comfort, yet it is sporty enough for carving the canyons. the opportunity to wick it up through some really tight sportbike-type roads, and the big ST really impressed. One was dragging metal and riding the transition from side to side is the offers 7.4 inches and 13 degrees of adjustability). My biggest problem with the manual version is that the windscreen's lowest position is too high. It works too well - blocking too much wind. On a hot day, like the day on which we were riding, I couldn't get any airflow at all. Once under way, the bike is really nice to ride. Like I mentioned above, the seating position and ergonomics are very comfortable for all-day cruising, keeping fatigue to an absolute minimum. Another thing that can be 32 JULY 17, 2002' .. y' .. I e a little annoying during the day is trying to read the instruments in bright daylight. Not only is there so much information to look at, but the plastic lens that covers the entire array of instruments tends to reflect light back at you way too easily, making the gauges hard to read. However, this shouldn't be a problem at night. Honda has gone to great lengths to make the ST1300 as civil as possible, but it still retains a sporty side as The ST1300 is available in one color, Metallic Dark Silver. n __ s impressive for a 637-pound motorcy- bike's longitudinally mounted motor. than the hokey manual version (it thing that I think really helps the bike thing like an ReS1 in no time - pretty cle. The suspension doesn't have a The fact that the crankshaft is going lot of provisions for adjustability (the in the same direction as the bike fork isn't adjustable), but the rear allows it fall into corners far easier shock has an easy-to-access knob for than any bike this big has a right to. I preload adjustments. ~DlJ®~~o~ ®ITU@ ~QJJ~[R)@ITU~ O@ITU • All-new aluminum frame Is 2.4 pounds lighter than the steel frame It replaces and features a massive steering-bead casting and triple-box-section spars. The Y-4 engine serves as a stressed frame member. • New lightweight aluminum swingarm is 1.9pounds lighter than the steel unit it replace's. • Aluminum upper triple-clamp and a 45mm Honda Multi-Action System (HMAS) cartridge front fork. • The rear suspension incorporates a single shock, which mounts directly on the swingarm. The shock offers 1.2 inches of spring-preload adjustability. • Unked Braking System (LBS) uses a second The knob you see above is the rearmaster cylinder and a proportional control shock preload adjuster. valve (PCY) to couple the three-piston calipers of the dual-disc front and single-disc rear brakes. Using the front-brake lever activates the outer two pistons of the front calipers and the two outer pistons of the rear caliper. Rear-pedal engagement activates the center piston of the rear brake caliper and the center pistons of the front calipers, and a delay valve slows initial front-brake response to minimize front-end dive. • ABS model combines with LBS for a wide range of braking and steering control. ABS features an electric-motor-driven modulator that gives quick, precise braking pressure. • The system incorporates an integrated ECU controller, self-diagnostics with an interactive ECU test function, and automatic protection against system failure. • The ST1300's 310mm stainless-steel, floating front-brake discs feature a lightweight seven-spoke inner rotor, saving a total of 4.7 pounds of unsprung weight over the previous model. The 316mm rear rotor saves another 10.5 ounces, further reducing unsprung weight. • Three-spoke, U-section, cast-aluminum, 5.0-inch-wide rear wheel is nearly 9 ounces lighter than the previous design and sports a large, low-profile 170/60ZR-17 radial tire. • The three-spoke, 3.5-inch-wide front wheel is 2.6 pounds lighter and carries a 120/70ZR-18 radial tire.