2012 Honda Cruiser reviews

I recently purchased a 2013 Honda Interstate and I really love the bike. I am new to riding so, initially I purchased a Honda CTX 700. It was a great bike, but I felt like the automatic bike took away the joy of learning how to change gears, so after completing riding school, I purchased the Interstate. It shifts gears easily and is very forgiving. There is some vibration and buffeting because of the windshield, but outside of that it is awesome. At first glance the Interstate looks like a Harley Soft-tail, but this bike stands alone and is a joy to ride. Show less

My 2012 Honda Interstate is now set up perfectly for me. It is a marvelous machine. It is incredibly smooth at 80 mph. The bike, as delivered new, has an inherent wind buffeting issue at higher speeds due to the windshield and the narrow gas tank. The wind, at higher speeds, comes under the windshield and up around the narrow gas tank and meets the wind coming over the windshield right about head level, causing an uncomfortable buffeting. As you read reviews on the Interstate, you will see this issue brought up often. That issue is, however, fully resolvable. Once resolved, the bike is a wonderful ride. Here is the resolution. Install MS Fork Wind Deflectors, Honda Line Engine guards with leather Chaps (see Sage Brush Designs) and clear hand wind deflectors. With this setup, the wind buffeting is completely eliminated. Since I am about 5'7", the reach to the handlebar grips was just a little more than optimal. That too was perfectly resolved for me by adding 3-inch risers to the handlebars. Honda would sell many more of these bikes if these modifications were standard. Oh, by the way, a Mustang seat replacement is highly recommended. Show less

I recently purchased my Honda Interstate and have put a few miles on it when the weather was permitting. I use it for back roads, interstate travel to Florence, back and forth to work and home and just leisurely cruises for the sheer joy of the ride. This is my first motorcycle (I had ridden a few before and a lot of dirtbikes, though) and the 1300cc engine hits the sweet spot in my personal opinion. It offers enough power to get moving on the interstate at 80 mph. and remain smooth with obviously more power to take on faster trips if you wish. Being as I am not speed demon and just want to enjoy the freedom, this motorcycle more than fits the bill for what I wanted. There is some slight vibration due to the windscreen when moving above 65 mph., but it is negligible and if the ride wasn't so smooth before hand, I doubt I would notice it. I do get a fair amount of buffeting on my helment when riding, but a slightly more aggressive riding posture elements it completely. The windshield does a fantastic job of keeping the cold off my core though, so that it is a huge plus during the winter months, but I will probably remove it in the spring and summer months (easily accomplished with the removal of four simple bolts) to really get a sensation of additional freedom. The 1300cc engine is also ideal when in town. Some of the large bikes out there are indeed wonderful on the freeway, but you have to use a really fine touch when hitting small towns with low speed limits. The Interstate handles those low speeds with the same rock solid performance as it handles the high speeds and is fairly easy to mainpulate. Keep in mind though, I am a big fellow so that helps a lot when manuevering a 700 lb. motorcycle. The braking and clutch are very smooth and the shaft drive offers a relatively maintenance-free upkeep, ensuring your motorcycle will run smoothly for years to come. Truly, the only real complaint I have about the bike is the seat. While it is low and easy for almost any rider to sit on with both feet on the ground and it looks really stylish, it could use a little more padding as it will wear on your tailbone for longer trips. The passenger seat also almost requires a backrest and the positioning has the passenger sitting a good deal higher than the rider. The height differential isn't a big deal in my case as most people are so short compared to me that I am still significantly taller than them, but it is something to consider for similar sized riders. I still highly recommend the Honda Interstate as a wonderfully priced touring motorcycle that can also handle in town traffic with ease. If you are going to be riding with a passenger, definitely opt for a backrest for them. Happy trails and safe riding. Show less

All I can say is "Wow, what a trike." It's a Viper Trike from CSC. My upgrades are a fully independent rear and slotted disk, extra full tank, 6 degree steering rack with chrome front rims and Ground Effects stone guard on the whole bike. Show less

After debating the purchase of a new motorcycle for over four years, I finally decided that a sport touring bike would best suit my needs. As I am unwilling to trump up the 2012 ST1300's sporting abilities and remembering it is a sport-toruing motorcycle leaning more toward the touring side of the equation with abundant power and very agile handling. Although it took some getting used to, the combined braking system which links the front and rear brakes to the brake pedal and lever works excellent along with standard ABS. I cannot say enough about the smoothness of the V4 engine. It revs so easily, it's rpm. redline comes up very quick because of its smooth whirring sound power is deceptively quiet and vibration free. Open the throttle and about the time it starts to growl, you are approaching triple digits! It has great range with over seven gallons of fuel capacity and very economical averaging a little over 40 mpg. It is a sporting bike that you can ride in a comfortable position for long distances. I also like the electronic adjustable windshield which offers excellent protection and also does a great job of wind buffeting. A low center of gravity that is well balanced inspires confidence in its handling. Although I must add the fact of the bike is more capable than I am a rider at this point of ownership, but with each ride I am more confident in its abilities and mine. With its weight of over 700 lbs., this is a very comfortable machine to ride and easy to maneuver. There are similar models that have more power and some that cost more but there are not any that are better in my opinion. I'm glad to be a part of the Sport Touring community, I have not been disappointed and I am very happy with the purchase of my ST1300ABS. At 55, I love the experience of riding again and I have no complaints. The only cons I have are the lack of a gear indicator and no self-cancelling directional signals and minor engine heat, but the pros more than make up for the drawbacks. Otherwise, it's simply an awesome machine. I want to ride. Show less

Honda recently announced they will resume production of the "highly regarded" Honda ST1300 for 2012. There are no significant changes from 2010 except that ABS is now standard. So is Black (civilian) and White (police). Show less