As a former ST1100 ABS owner for 10 years and 72,000 miles, then a ST1300 ABS owner for 19 months and 24,000 miles and now a 2004 GL1800 ABS owner with only 2000 miles, please allow me to offer my opinions. Some statements by others are offered as fact, when we all know that our thoughts are actually opinion, so I offer mine as just that.
I bought the 93 ST1300 new and loved it for the 10 years I had it and I always thought that it was the best 2 up sport touring bike on the planet. The wife and I had demoed the GL1500 but thought it was too automotive in overall feeling for us, so stayed with the ST1100. While I loved the ST1100 as a sport touring bike, I found it a bit lacking in the sport department , sort of the "your father's Oldsmobile" syndrome. To address this I had an assortment of sport bikes at the same to satisify my adrenalin addiction. Bikes such as VFR's Super Hawks and finally a RC51 did the trick for me. Many times I would come home from a long trip on the ST1100, park it and take a ride on my sport bike to "get the blood flowing".
In June, 2002 I was President of the Honda Sport Touring Association and as such was invited by American Honda to the first Press Intro 2 day ride fo the new ST1300. I immediately fell in love with the more sporting nature, light handling, exciting power and sound and overall personality of the bike. I phoned my dealer during the ride and told him to get me the first one he could get. It was delivered near the end of Nov, 02 and I put 24,000 miles on it and loved every one. It satisfied my sporting nature enough that I sold my RC51. At the same time it was comfortable enough that the wife and I enjoyed several long trips. My longest 2 up days were about 600 miles and longest solo days were 900 and 700 on succeeding days during a California trip.
The last couple of years that we had the ST1100, my wife began to have problems with her knees and the bend required for her legs on the pegs tended to aggravate that. While the ST1300 at first seemed better, we found that with her getting a bit older, the knee and leg position was becoming a problem again.
After the ST1300 Intro ride in June of 2002, we borrowed a GL1800 from Honda and rode 2200 miles around California. I enjoyed the trip, and my wife loved it, especially the more comfortable seating position and lack of knee pain. We thought of this recently when it became apparent that if I wanted to continue to enjoy her company on bike trips we had to make a change. We are both now retired and have the time and inclination to do more touring. With that in mind, I sold the ST1300 and bought a beautiful candy red 2004 ABS GL1800 in July of 2004.
Sorry for the long prelude, but thought it might clarify my thoughts and impressions on this bike comparison. In contrast to others that preferred the ST1100 over the ST1300, I absolutely preferred the ST1300. I had added the Honda top box, Honda AM/FM radio, J&M intercom, Sargent seat, Honda heated grips and combined with that wonderful electric windshield, it was perfect for me. I rode a ST1100 just like my former one when the guy who bought my ST1300 rode it and I was really surprised at how much better the ST1300 felt to me after riding the ST1300 for so long.
I thought that my memories of the ST1100 were of a much better bike, but after getting used to the ST1300, this ride proved otherwise to me. So, while some say that ST1100 was a better package, I disagree at least in my case and I'm sure that the vast majority of ST1300 owners on the ST1300 discussion group would say the same. By the way, the ST1100 owner bought my ST1300 after one ride.
Someone mentioned the ST1100 got more tire mileage and that may be true, but only if running different tires. In comparing apples to apples, I found no difference. I ran radials and consistantly got about the same mileage out of tires on both bikes. My rear tires only lasted 6,000 miles on either bike and that is probably because of my preference for higher speeds when travelling. I know guys who have run harder tires, some non radials on both bikes and ridden a bit slower and gotten better mileage.
I think the windscreen buffeting is about the same on the GL as the ST1100. I ran a Clearview +4 on the ST1100 and this helped a lot over the stock screen. My wife and I wear all weather gear (Darien, Kilamanjaro, full face helmets) and find the GL to be a bit hot due to it doing a very good job of blocking the air. I think we will have to add Baker wings to get enough air to us to be comfortable in warm weather.
While the built in audio devices on the GL are nice, the radio tuner is not as good as the Honda add on tuner for the ST1300 and I prefer the VOX control for the intercom that the J&M offered rather than the on all the time feature of the GL intercom.
The torque of the GL1800 engine is wonderful. While the ST1300 has more power and less weight and is faster, you have to use a few more revs. The super low end of the GL1800 is wonderful, in my opinion.
I only included the ST1300 in this discussion, because my opinions do not agree with other opinions in this thread, so I felt a need to defend the ST1300. So, getting to the original question at hand, ST1100 vs GL1800. My thoughts are that the GL is more comfortable for 2 up riding. My back is still trying to adjust to the upright seating position and so far is giving me more problems than either ST did. I liked being able to gas up on the ST's at 275-300 miles. The GL requires about 200-220 for me. At first I thought this was a problem, but so far, with my back aches, I am ready to get off anyway.
In my opinion, I think you would be very happy going from a ST1100 to a GL1800. Knowing what I know now, I would choose the GL1800 over the ST1100 for my personal bike. Doing as much 2 up riding as I do now, and with my wife's knee problems I agree with our choice of the GL1800 over the ST1300. If I were riding solo or if my wife had younger knees, however, I would go back to the ST1300 in a minute.
