The time had come to perform the first oil change on the ST1300.  It’s almost as easy as changing the oil on the XX.  The XX requires removing no body parts at all, and the ST requires removing a small access panel on the right side of the bike to reach the oil filler cap.  Oil change went without a hitch, so now I’m good for a few thousand miles.

I also got around to installing the Hondaline saddlebag scuff pads that my dad gave me for my birthday.  Installation was very easy, and they should add an extra layer of protection against rocks and passenger’s feet.

After reading feedback on several touring forums I picked up a set of Grip Puppies from California Sport Touring, Inc.  I haven’t had a chance to ride with them yet, so I’ll have to give my evaluation later.
Update: I ended up removing the Grip Puppies. I didn’t like the squishyness. I feel that I have better control of the bike with the stock grips.

I needed to get some miles on the ST so I could do my first oil change, so I decided to ride down to Irmo, SC (near Columbia) to visit my dad for the day.   It’s about 250 miles each way, and we rode around town some while we were there also.  (My dad rides a Honda VTX.)

Very happy with the ST as a long distance bike so far.   I was fairly comfortable for the entire trip, however an upgraded seat and windscreen may be in my future to improve it even more.

 Trip stats:

(And as you may know, the top speed of the ST1300 is about 140mph, so the top speed on the GPS was a glitch. )

Installed the RAM base from CycleGadgets.com on the left clip-on and mounted my Garmin StreetPilot 2720 GPS.  I got the RAM base with an extra ball; not sure what (if anything) I’ll use it for yet.

If you do a lot of long distance riding, you’ll want to have a tire patch kit and a way to inflate the tire with you at all times.  My tire repair kit consists of:

• Slime’s Power Sport Tire Inflator
• Stop & Go Pocket Tire Plugger

Just finished installing a Powerlet outlet on the steering stem of my ST1300. 

All you need is a custom kit from PowerletProducts.com; order the “ST1300 Panel Kit” but make sure you specify that you need the harness to be 80 inches long. (UPDATE - 11/15/2007: Powerlet now offers a ST1300 Powerlet Steering Stem Kit that already has the correct length wiring harness.)

Along with a drill and some courage, you’ll be all set.  Remove the steering stem cover, remove the Honda logo so that it doesn’t get in the way, then turn the cover over, and using an 11/16″ hole-saw bit, drill from the bottom.  There’s a small dimple right in the middle that you can use as a guide to drill in the correct spot.  Then run the wiring down through the steering stem, up over the frame and around the side of the airbox (you’ll need to lift your tank for this), under the front seat bracket, and to the battery.

It will be used to power the GPS and also send power to the tank bag through the tank bag Powerlet Kit (which has two “standard” 12v power plugs inside for cell phone charging, ipod, communicators, etc).

You can also add a RAM base along with the Powerlet if you want.  I did some experimenting and this is what I came up with. I used the RAM-BAR u-bolt RAM base.  Just turn the Powerlet outlet sideways to make room, remove the u-bolt, and obtain bolts long enough to reach through the base and into the holes that are already in the stock cover.  I used some class 8.8 M4-.70 x 25 hex cap bolts (along with some washers and lock washers).  It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but the RAM base doesn’t make contact with the bars at all.

The Nelson-Rigg UV-2000 1/2 motorcycle cover also arrived today.