I finally bought a mint Honda ST 1100 02 with only 40,000 miles on it and love the machine for my weekend rides but for my everyday rides to work, there is no comparison.
My question is, my 08 started making a strange grinding sound a few thousand miles ago, so before going on a 3000 mile trip to Death Valley (just before the ST) I took it in to my regular bike mechanic and he charged me $240.00 and changing a part in the rear end that did not help.
Then I rode it over to my local Honda shop. He worked on it and even had a Honda Rep take a look. Neither had ever heard the noise.
If you put the bike on the rear stand, with the motor running and turn the rear wheel, at every 1/.4 turn the noise is there but not at any other point.
You can notice it when coasting to a stop. The bike now has 35,000 miles.
I do miss not having more time to check into this fantastic forum more often and as always the quick responses from other riders.