The Ultimate Tourer (Honda Pan European ST1100)

Name: baldeagle

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Product:	Honda Pan European ST1100
Date:	25.08.00 (3048 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Big and comfy

Disadvantages: Big and expensive

The Pan was introduced to try and diminish BMW?s control over the big tourer market, and the spin -off police, paramedic and service patrol bikes. That demanded a large capacity, comfortable, reliable and good luggage hauling machine, with a shaft drive to do away with messy chains, and loads and loads of torque to do away with having to change gear. To add a little distinction to the bike, other than the usual square meters of bodywork, the engine was configured as an in line V4.

My first impression of the bike was that it was big, heavy, very flexible, and yet surprisingly nimble. Stationary, and at very slow speeds, the height where the mass is carried is inescapable, and the bike has an alarming ability to feel as though its going to drop into every turn, but after a few miles my grip on the bars loosened, and I could stop worrying about sending it down the road on every turn, and think more about its creature comforts.

The seat for rider and pillion was superb, the screen and fairing kept my bits warm from literally head to toe, and the engine behaved like a turbine offering effortless stonk, and an interesting turn of speed as the revs hit the 4500 mark.

A great tourer but for one niggling fault. Even with my modest frame, there was far too much weight on my arms, and my hands and wrists soon became tired, very quickly at town and city speeds. All in all a great bike for starship mileage if you can adjust to the bars.

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