Accessories

Most of the following accessories are available through your local Honda dealer, or via mail order outlets. A good source of firms that specialize in mail order motorcycle parts is the back of any motorcycle related magazine.

Knee-pad set

A set of two pads that mount to the the rear facing portion of the fairing where your knees would hit if you are tall. These are listed as a bolt-on accessory in the Honda catalog at the dealer I went to. It was also mentioned in the list archive that this accessory would require drilling holes.

Inner saddlebag set

Set of saddlebag liners for use with the ST saddlebags. Also used on the Pacific Coast.

Passenger Backrest

Mounts using the 4 bolts that hold the passenger hand grip bars to the tail section of the ST. Also has a good sized pouch with zipper closure on the back of the backrest.

Rack and Top Box

There WAS a top box available from Honda that sits above the tail section of the ST. It required the Honda rack to also be purchased.

This is no longer available in the states anyway.

Givi makes a luggage rack & trunk combo for the ST. Its removable, lockable, and available in several sizes (including VERY LARGE!)

Scuff-pad set

From: "Tom Cardinali" Re the scuff pad kit. This is a set of die-cut clear plastic panels which are applied to the bodywork like a decal or automotive window tinting. The kit was created in response to customer complaints of the fragile finish on the black '91 (released in '90) ST. It was provided free of charge to purchasers of that model year. It is now available as an accessory.

The scuff pad consists of ten pieces: one covers the fuel filler door, another wraps around the lower edge of the false tank cover, just above the edge of the seat. There are two pieces for each sidepanel; one at the forward position, about where the rider's lower leg would be. The other covers an area just above and to the front of the rubber insert by the passenger's leg (note: the '95 sidepanel would require modifying the shape of these two pieces). Finally, there are two pieces for each saddlebag. One goes on the top panel and fills the gap between the saddlebag latches. The other fits on the forward edge of the bag.

The kit comes with a small squegee for installing. There's a mild adhesive on the back that's activated by spraying the pad with a 50-50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. Once positioned you work the bubbles out with the squegee and let it dry. The pads are incredibly durable. My have taken numerous scuffs from a boot that just rub right out with a fingertip. They also stay in place without a problem yet are removable (I transferred a couple from one saddlebag outer cover to another, just let it soak in hot water for an hour or so before hand).

Tank Bags

From: gpwilhel@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Greg Wilhelm)

I've had good luck with two tank bags. The first, an Eclipse Sportpack Mini Tank Tote was originally mounted on the PC800 I traded-in. It was the only tank bag I could find which didn't interfere with the PC800's steering lock. I had to go to an outfitters and buy several more feet of 1" nylon webbing strap to make it work right. Bag is small, though. So...

The current bag I'm using, which I am pleased as punch with, is a Chase Harper 750 bag in black. It mounts using straps, and includes attachment buckles at the correct four corners to allow it to use the four wire mounting points built into the ST1100. It's as if this bag were designed for this bike. The bag is 10"L x 8"W x 9"H, includes two zippered compartments, has a decent-size velcro map pouch and an adequate "non-scratch" pad underneath. It can be mounted so that it in no way interferes with the steering lock, yet also need not be removed in order to gas up. The bottom compartment is 3" high; the upper accordions to 6" high and includes internal stabilizing cords w/cordlocks to cinch down the top load. The bag does not include a rain cover, but from the fold-over rain flaps it may not need one. Velcroed down the entire bag can compact to a sleek 3" high package. Of particular interest to me when purchasing this bag was the ability to carry a box 7"W x 2.25"H x 6" deep - a DIN chassis removable-face car stereo unit. I've developed a one-off system mounted onto a piece of plexiglass/foam, wired into the bike, and carried in the bag. Beats the hell out of a walkman!!!! I'll have to write about it someday. . .

.Anyway, go for the Chase Harper 750. Don't use the larger Chase Harper's, as they are 9" wide and may interfere with the steering lock. The bag will mount with the supplied hardware, but I didn't care for their use of "quick-clips" on the plastic tank. I purchased additional webbing strap and tri-Ys from an outfitters and mounted it properly. I paid about $60 mail order for my bag and about $5 for the additional supplies.

The four "wire mounting points" I speak of are the two loops welded into the steering head brace and the two larger loops welded into the side of the gas tank under the front of the seat. From what I can tell, all STs have them. Their location and design makes it very clear that they were intended for tank bag mounting straps. This is strange, since the Hondaline tank bag appears to use the less stable three point system. This system would require either a special adaptor strap, or Y-ing the straps into each side. The center seat post is very difficult to use for a strap point and also allow easy seat replacement.

From Derek Catt

I happen to be using an old Nelson-Rigs tank bag. It orignially had a 5 point mounting system-the two side mounts won't work on the ST. Only using three points proved un-satisfactory-the bag wouldn't remain stable. I finally took it to a shoe repair shop. He relocated the two side buckles to the rear of the bag and now it has four mounting points-two in the front (straps wedged under the fake tank) and two in the back (straps hooked to the fake tank). Very stable. To protect the tank I glued high density foam on the bottom of the buckles. The bag is narrow enough for ST duty. I thought an $8 investment at the

shoe shop was better than buying a new, unnecessary bag.My father is using a small, cheap tank bag he ordered from J.C. Whitney and Company. It is sits very far back on the tank so it doesn't interfere with the handlebars. Its limited in size but does what he wants-place for maps and rain gear. (e-mail gac@intgp1.att.com for more info about this option)

I've seen many STs with RKA Accessories tank bags. They seem to mount okay and are stable enough, but they are very wide bags (at least certain models are). Everyone I know with an RKA bag swears by it.I suppose someone that was REALLY motivated could install a steel plate under the fake tank and use a magnetic bag. . . .

From: Jim Alexander

Tank bag comments:

I have had a RKA tank bag on my ST for 71,000 miles. I have had a radio in it all the time and have had no problem with it being in the way or being too big. It has not scratched the bonnet (or fake tank). The are built to last and function very well. It works great because of the true three point mounting system. Two of the mounts go under the bonnet and around the frame on each side of the engine (it does take a little effort and maybe a bent coat hanger to install the straps). The rear strap attaches to the post which the seat slides into. I know have a bag which has a stereo cassette / radio and Cycle-Comm CB/Intercomm unit. It works great and because of the quick release buckles on the bag, I can remove or install it in about 30 seconds or less. I have been extreme rain and the contents stayed dry for the most part, and I had not scotch guarded it in over a year when I was in the down pour (in Ohio, June 93).

You can get a free brochure from Rich and Kathy at 707/579-5045. I have no affiliation, other than friendship with them. They will also color match it to the bike.

From: ralph@swmerc.rain.com (Ralph Merwin)

In preparation for my trip to England I bought a Chase Harper 750 tank bag. It fits just fine, but I'm not overly impressed with the size (it's small!) and it seems kind of wobbly when fully extended. I do like my old Eclipse bag but it has the nastly little problem of being to fat at the front and hitting either the horn or started during full lock turns :-( At least the CH 750 won't tell everyone I'm turning a tight left!

On an up note, I was able to stuff almost everything I'll be bringing for three weeks, including tent and sleeping bag, into just the two saddle bags. And that's before the obligatory repack to jettison the really unnecessary junk!

Bagster Bra & Tank Bag

By: Mike Rowland mrowland@ocs.com >

I read Ross King's article about the Bagster tank-bag setup in the Winter 1994 edition of the ST1100 Newsletter. I was looking for a tank bag, and this looked like it would fit my needs. The address of the dealer, Capital Cycle Corp. was in Sterling Virginia, only 40 miles away. These bags are made in Europe and, to my knowledge, Capital Cycle is the only importer/distributor in the US.

I was taking a few days off work for some R&R on my bike and figured I would go by Capital Cycle on my way out of the Washington DC Area and see what this setup looked like.

They are located in an office/warehouse park and don't have much of a show room. The warehouse is huge. Capital Cycle is a large distributor for BMW parts and accessories, so they did not have the ST1100 tank cover in stock. Since the bags are universal, and go on any tank cover, I was able to choose the bag I wanted, but had to wait for them to order the tank cover. I placed an order for a gray & black, medium sized tank bag, and a dark gray tank cover. I have a silver ST so this looked like the best color.

About 5 weeks later the tank cover and tank bag arrived. The tank bag has a clear plastic map window and a small zippered compartment on the top. I use this compartment for pens, high-liters etc. The main part of the bag is about 5" deep 15" long and 10" wide. There is a zipper around the outside that allows it to expand another 1 ½ - 2". Under the front is another zipper to another compartment that holds the rain cover. The rain cover is attached to the bag, inside the zipper and works very well. The tank cover is one piece with padded sides and a zippered flap to allow you to get to the gas tank. The tank cover did not come with any instructions so it took me a little while to figure out how to attach it. There are two rubber clips that hook onto the front of the tank cover, this part was both obvious and easy. There is a 1 inch nylon strap on either side of the cover towards the back. The only place I could find to wrap these around was the motor mounts. You must remove the sides panels of the bike to get to them. The strap then passes through the crack between the side panels and the plastic tank cover. The side panels did not go back on real easy but after playing with them a little they snapped into place, leaving a small gap between the two parts. Finally there were two shoe laces on the back.

I removed the seat and wrapped these around the two wire "U" pieces that look like they were designed for a tank bag hold down.

I used the bag when I went to Ashville, for the Honda Hoot. It held my maps, rain gear, camera, and more. The bag goes on and off easily but stays put once mounted.

My only complaint would be that you can not put the rain cover over the bag with one hand. If you hit rain, you must stop to put the cover on. The bag is somewhat water resistant but will leak.

From: "Mike DiTullio Loral FSC (609-485-7828)"

What kind of tank bag are yuns using? I tried mounting my Eclipse sportpack on the ST and the bars more than moved the bag as I turned them from lock to lock, and because of the design of the "fake" tank the front mounting points are too close together to make effective fasteners.

From: "Steve Kelley"

In the June, 1995 issue of Rider Magazine there is a review of the Fox Shuttle tank bag on pg 87-88. I have one. For the money, it's the best deal going, and it works well on the ST. Editor Tuttle seemed to share my opinion - his only beef was that it didn't come with a rain cover. Don't know why he says this, as mine came with a very nice rain cover.

From: Phil Roberts, Peterborough England

For the European market, Honda supply a tank bag custom designed for the ST1100. This is a two-tier bag which zips together and has a clear map pocket on top. It also has two external zip pouches (one on either side) and a third, detatchable, document pouch at the rear which is big enough to hold a passport and a few other bits and pieces. The bag has a seperate base which is secured to the bike by way of webbing straps to the four wire loop mounting points (two on the headstock and one each side of the tank, under the seat). The bag itself zip mounts to this base. The bag is tapered in section towards the front to provide adequate clearance for gloved hands on the controls at full lock. An integral opaque rain cover is included meaning that your map is invisible if it rains. Very helpful. Apart from this one stupid design point, the bag is excellent. Its Honda part number is: 08L56-MT3-800.Windshields

This page is from the www.xyz.com/st1100/ pages, with permission from the author Michael Galassi