Pan European 1100

[Samantha Neighbour]

Hi just wondering what people's thoughts and experiences are with this bike I quite like the idea of getting one sometime.

 

[Me!]

Had two over the years. Good plodder. Swing arms and exhausts rot badly. Early ones had a small alternator. They ride well for a big old lump. Quite dated these days, Classic V4 engine. They develop coolant leaks in the ‘V’ and need a cam belt circa 90k.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

Later models with the larger alternator suffer from it corroding and eventually breaking causing the drivetrain to lock up. Owners usually put the bike away one day and it just wont budge next time they go to it. Alternators are very expensive, possibly no longer available from H, and if you can find one its a swing arm out job to replace.
So laying under the bike check exhaust, swing arm, alternator, oh and the bottom of the petrol tank too. They’re also known to rot.
Bearing in mind the youngest 1100 is now 17-18 years old, far safer to look for a 1300. Just make sure you test ride before buying, some dont handle as well as they should.

 

[Jaws]

A looked after 1300 is ok, and they make good mile munchers.. I think if they had been around at a sensible price when I was dispatching I would have gone for one.. bottom line , a workhorse

 

[Murt]

What they say...

I used an 1100, and a 1300 for bike instruction.
1100 was more planted but 1300 smoother and comfier.

Pillions moaned of wind buffeting on the 1300. Early model has fixed screen, later has electric movement on the screen.
Still mucho fun if you are willing to push them.

Go for the 1300 if you can.

Murt.

 

[T.C]

What they say...

I used an 1100, and a 1300 for bike instruction.
1100 was more planted but 1300 smoother and comfier.

Pillions moaned of wind buffeting on the 1300. Early model has fixed screen, later has electric movement on the screen.
Still mucho fun if you are willing to push them.

Go for the 1300 if you can.

Murt.

Goes to show how opinions can be so subjective does'nt it?

I did over 150,000 miles on the 1100 and loved it. Biggest issue was that with shall we say vigourous cornering I used to wear the bottom of the panniers out as they could touch down.

I found ot comfortable, stable, quick. The only issue I ever had with both my Police bike and the civillian version was that the oil filler cap could break up and you would suddenly find all the life blood blowing out of the rocker cover. Apparently it was a design/manufacture issue but I rectified the problem with having one made of billett made specially.

The 1300 on the other hand I hated with a passion.

It was uncomfortable unless you had short legs and were no taller than about 6'0", it was stable but not as planted as the 1100 and it could not be hussled in the same was as I could the 1100.

Even with the electric screen the buffetting was uncomfortable and it was noisy (because of the buffetting) whereas on the 1100 I could ride flat chat with the standard screen in total comfort.

It is horses for courses. If we all had the same opinion it would be a very boring world. I am just (I hope) trying to show how opinions are subjective, we all have different views and one persons like is anothers dislike.

Thye only real way to find out what suits you is to try and ride each model for yourself.

 

[Samantha Neighbour]

What they say...

I used an 1100, and a 1300 for bike instruction.
1100 was more planted but 1300 smoother and comfier.

Pillions moaned of wind buffeting on the 1300. Early model has fixed screen, later has electric movement on the screen.
Still mucho fun if you are willing to push them.

Go for the 1300 if you can.

Murt.

Cheers for that..

 

[Toast]

Pan handling? I followed a Bike-Safe copper around the back roads near Mallory park on a dealer press-day many years back. To say he had 'No Problem' with the handling of the big Honda would be an understatement. Impressive, what those boys can do with such a large tank.

 

[Samantha Neighbour]

Pan handling? I followed a Bike-Safe copper around the back roads near Mallory park on a dealer press-day many years back. To say he had 'No Problem' with the handling of the big Honda would be an understatement. Impressive, what those boys can do with such a large tank.

Low centre of gravity helps bet a well ridden pan would embarrass a lot of sports bike riders LOL.

 

[andyBeaker]

Low centre of gravity helps bet a well ridden pan would embarrass a lot of sports bike riders LOL.

A good rider on an average bike is quicker than an average rider on a good bike..

 

[Samantha Neighbour]

A good rider on an average bike is quicker than an average rider on a good bike..

ALWAYS learnt that one long ago .

 

[andyBeaker]

ALWAYS learnt that one long ago .

Unfortunately I was an average rider on a bike that I made average.

 

[Samantha Neighbour]

Unfortunately I was an average rider on a bike that I made average.

LOL