2008 Honda ST1300 Comparo Photo Gallery

The Honda's $15,599 MSRP, second highest only to the BMW, is disappointing considering it has been around for so long.

A lot of Premium was poured for this comparo.

Everything's bigger in Northern California, with big redwoods towering even over Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

Brought to you by the folks who have made the Gold Wing the touring standard.

Honda switchgear is nothing flashy.

The Honda instrument display is effective, but doesn't look like something out of the 21st century.

Right side idiot lights.

Left side headlight adjuster with button to toggle through info on the dash.

The Honda ST1300 windscreen at low.

At its highest setting the Honda ST1300 windscreen provided plenty of protection.

The three-piston Nissin binders deliver effective stopping power on the Honda ST1300.

the rear shock can be adjustmend by turning this knob.

Removing the Honda ST1300 bags require a key and pulling up on the release mechanism.

The Honda ST1300 bags are straightforward and roomy.

The transverse V-Four in the Honda ST1300 is deceptively powerful.

The HMAS suspension components, a 43mm cartridge fork and gas-charged shock, deliver an almost identical amount of travel (4.6 inches front, 4.8 inches rear).

Surprising us all the heavy ST1300 is well-balance and a remarkable handler in a corner.

At its highest setting the Honda ST1300 windscreen provided plenty of protection, blocking out the wind and rain entirely for most of our testers.

Rated second to the Honda by our testing crew, the linked ABS units feature three-piston calipers, two up front teamed with 310mm discs and one out back matched with a single 318mm rotor.

Although far and away the heaviest machine in our comparo at 730 lbs (684 lbs tank-empty), the well-balanced ST has a low center of gravity, delivering easy maneuverability and surprisingly graceful cornering.

The Honda ST1300 is the longest standing model in our 2008 comparo, with the 1300 a revision of the long-serving ST1100.

While its dyno numbers aren't spectacular, the deceptive V-Four powering the ST delivers plenty of pull right from the get go.

There's no denying the Honda is a hefty beast of burden.

The Honda's wheelbase was the shortest of the five bikes.

Torque production from the Honda put it second from last.

The Honda was the meekest horsepower producer on the dyno.

While it trails the Yamaha in overall handling, the Honda cuts into a turn with surprising ease and it is quite simple to toss from side to side.

Working through Sonoma and Mendocino County on the PCH we were surprised by the nimble handling offered by the ST.

At 26 degrees the Honda rake angle is right in-line with the other five, but its 58.7-inch wheelbase is the shortest by a full inch.