Ducati Sporting Club UK
 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 01:46
fatduke11111's Avatar
fatduke11111 fatduke11111 is offline
Registered Forum User
500SD
 
Posts: 640
Join Date: Aug 2003
Mood: Christ been away too long....
ST3

Anyone got one of these yet?
Quote+Reply
  #2  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 10:09
Loz's Avatar
Loz Loz is offline
Registered Forum User
Big Twin
 
Posts: 1,973
Join Date: Apr 2004
Mood: Train comes and I know its destination
Heh. Nice work by that orthodontist.
Quote+Reply
  #3  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 10:50
rockhopper's Avatar
rockhopper rockhopper is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Corse
 
Posts: 3,367
Join Date: Jul 2001
Funny enough i was going to ask the same question today...
Quote+Reply
  #4  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 12:02
Jools's Avatar
DSC Member Jools Jools is offline
DSC Club Member
BSB Star
 
Posts: 6,930
Join Date: Jul 2002
Mood: MT Meglomaniac
Nope, I haven't. I thought about it briefly and chopping my bike in as p/ex but then thought "no, I've done the ST thing" so my next bike won't be an ST, it'll be a more sporting Ducati. I will be keeping my ST2 though for the purpose it was designed for, putting the suspension and ride height back to 'tourer' mode and putting the panniers back on.

Having said that, the ST3 gets pretty good reviews. It beat the benchmark VFR in a recent sports tourer test in Bike magazine. I reckon that the engine should be a real peach, combining the two valve flexibility and low down grunt with a bit more ability to breath at the top end. On the downside it does seem to have downgraded suspenders from even the ST2 and they're lacking the 3 way adjustable forks. Having said that it seems to handle as ST's should and the test reported that it will handle as well as anything except real track oriented stuff.

It only really got slated for the 'poor' finish, but I wish they would make their mind up. In a test of the ST4S (the previous version) a year or two back, the same magazine said "Forget stories of dubious Ducati build quality, the paint is thick and lustrous and the switchgear is robust", and let's not forget that the ST2 came out top in a test that Ride magazine did on bikes used through the winter - The ST scrubbed up better than any others. Now apart from the new engine, top fairing, saddle and updated electronics the new ST's cycle parts are identical to the old ones, in fact the ST4S is exactly the same (except I noticed that they now have a placcy hugger instead of the carbon one the old models had as standard).
Quote+Reply
  #5  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 14:05
rockhopper's Avatar
rockhopper rockhopper is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Corse
 
Posts: 3,367
Join Date: Jul 2001
Another point is that every Ducati that the mags have tested in the last 12 months have broken down to one degree or another apart from the ST3's which have been fine.
Quote+Reply
  #6  
Old 10-Jun-2004, 14:24
fatduke11111's Avatar
fatduke11111 fatduke11111 is offline
Registered Forum User
500SD
 
Posts: 640
Join Date: Aug 2003
Mood: Christ been away too long....
Pulled up at the lights next to one yesterday, didn't get time to speak to the guy. First one I've seen on the road - p'haps it may be worth a test ride on one.

I ain't quite as sporty as you jools....(seeing as I weigh as much as a small country... - carbon fibre is for the finish on my bike!)

[Edited on 10-6-2004 by fatduke11111]
Quote+Reply
  
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Postbit Selector
Switch to Vertical postbit Use Vertical Postbit

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Recent Posts - Contact Us - DSC Home - Archive - Top
Powered by vBulletin 3.5.4 - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. - © Ducati Sporting Club UK - All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:02.