First Post to Message Board
 

Hi Everybody
This is my first message. Have been looking at this site for some time now and have found much of interest. Traded my 2003 Multistrada for a 2005 ST3 (but with the old dry clutch )which seems OK. The ST3 is a lot more comfortable than the Multistrada.
I am a bit surprised at the sales results for this bike, although perhaps riders of ST2's will show more interest when they decide that the time is ripe to change their bikes.

Evenin'
Whereabouts in Nottingham are you?????
If you fancy a drink of an evening, the Notts mob meet at the Unicorn in Gunthorpe on the 2nd & 4th Tues of the month.
Cheers
Andy

Evening Ariel, and welcome to the site.

Top choice of Ducati.

I've had my ST3 since September last year and haven't stopped smiling since.

You'll also find many other postings singing it's praises on the site as well as tips on improving the bike...not that there's much to improve on!

Check out the April edition of Bike magazine when it features in a group test of sports tourers.

Anyway, make mine an ice cold Cobra as I think you'll find you're in the chair!

Welcome on board. Numpty was uncomfortable, why/where was that?

Rgds, Rob

My New ST3
 

Thanks guys for posting your replies to my first message on the board. Your drinks are lined up at the bar.
In colour terms ignore the Avatar the bike is a red-un as was the Multistrada. A smart colour. I live at Keyworth just off the A606 which gives me easy access to the A6006 and the B6047. These are great biking roads in my opinion. Though to be honest any road is OK when I'm on my Ducati ST3. I love it.
When I commented that the Numpty was uncomfortable it was in terms of the sit up and beg position, the bars too wide and for me the seat height was a bit daunting because although I am tall I only have a 30 inch inside leg. The seat was comfortable enough but the standard screen does little to protect you from the elements, particularly on motorways.
After 50 miles or so I used to feel as though my arms were being pulled out of their sockets.
Liked that two valve air cooled motor which looks gorgeous and the underseat exhausts look really cool.
Thanks for the invitation to a Tuesday night at the Unicorn at Gunthorpe.
Regards
George

Welcome to the world of ST's George. I'm a relative newcomer to this myself, having only got my ST2 in November (see previous posts on First Time ST). The guys on here are extremely knowledgeable and friendly and I have been really pleased with my bike.

There seems to be a certain kudos about riding a Ducati that I wasn't previously aware of.. it seems to hold a lot od street-cred in the office car park when compared to other makes of bike.

Thanks for your comments Dunks. So you ride an ST2.I think the 2 looks very sporty. The other day I was riding the back road from Plumtree to Bradmore when I caught up with a guy on a red ST2 at the junction to the A60 Loughborough Road. His bike looked really smart. Would have liked to stop for a chat but a car was behind us at the junction.
I certainly agree with you about the guys in DSC. I am amazed at the helpfulness and the depth of knowledge and there is no doubt about it, riding a Ducati makes you feel good. Have owned lots of bikes but nothing has given me the fun I have had with the Multistrada and the ST3. If only Ducati could improve on the build Quality they could become world beaters on sales figures. For example the Multistrada from new had a leaking petrol tank, leaking oil feed pipe and a instrument display that had to be replaced. The front brake was very grabby and the mirrors were not secured properly to the stalks. Let me say though that all these faults were put right by Italia of Lincoln. Despite all this the Numpty was a lovely bike to ride. so precise on corners.
The ST3 seems OK so far but even so I had to get emergency work done because the top hose was leaking where it joins up to the thermostat. Hve I been a bit unfortunate with my experiences or is this typical? Would very much like to know.
Enjoy your ST2 Dunks.:sing::sing:

Hiya ariel, and welcome.

Not an Aki Kaurismaki fan, are you?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094675/

Great film from The World's Greatest Living Finn! :lol:

Hi Moto 748

No I'm not an Aki Kaurismaki fan, just an old git who rode single cylinder Ariels, Matchless and Nortons etc. in the dim and distant past.
I'm a bike fanatic and the more I ride the bigger the smile.
Ride safe Moto 748:sing::sing::sing:

Hi, and welcome.

I Used to have an ST2, then ST4s. Now gone sporty with a 749. Also used to ride the old brits, several Triumphs, BSAs and a Panther 600 sloper w/sidecar (they don't handle a damn so might as well put a chair on it!). Always fancied a Duke back in the 70s but couldn't afford a 900SS Desmo or the Darmah then. Now I have one I never stop grinning so I know exactly what you mean!

Have fun with it, and hopefully see you at the Unicorn sometime. I've only been twice myself, being a new member, but I will say that you feel "at home" very quickly around here.

Henry :burn:

Hi Henry

Thank you for your welcome message. It's quite some time since I spoke to someone who rode a big Panther with a chair. Never rode an outfit myself but used to travel in the dicky seat of the Swallow sidecar attached to my Dad's Douglas Aero!
Yes I am getting a lot of fun riding the ST3. Shame it's wet this morning. I would have been out riding otherwise. These days I avoid wet roads as much as possible. Anyway don't want to mess up my shiny bike.
How does your 749 compare with your previous Dukes?
Regards Henry. Maybe see you at the Unicorn.
George:burn:

I've been around the Sporting Club forums for a year or so but it sounds like I've just joined the Old Git's Club having taken delivery of an '03 ST4s ABS a week past friday.
I did have a 900ss in the seventies (the first black & gold one that all the mags tested), following an 860GTS and a string of Gold Stars and A10s. I passed my test on an Ariel Golden Arrow and for a while had an NH350 which was the worst bike I ever owned. I fell off that bike more than all the others put together, mainly due to the 20 year old front tyre which was a 20" and replacements couldn't be got then.
I've been riding a '95 900ss for the last 5 years (it's currently for sale).
The new bike had exactly 1000 miles on it when I collected it, haveing previously been owned by Triumph Motorcycles "for assessment", so it still needs a bit of running in yet.
Unfortunately the weather up here has turned really crap which is keeping me from getting out on the new bike. :(
Ariel, I hope you get many happy miles out of you ST3.

George, the 749 is one hell of a bike by anyone's standards. You hear a lot of grumbling (still) from the 748/9xx camp, but it's mainly the asthetics that do not appeal. I never had one of the 748/9xx bikes, and having ridden Ruth's 996 back from Cadwell after Friday's track day I reckon I still prefer my 749 chassis for comfort. The pervious chassis is too cramped for my frame and after half an hour my knees were aching. Mind you, I was shattered fro the day's riding at that point. As far as the STs go, I liked the ST4s a lot, sometimes not sure why I traded it in. Now I think about it (again) I remember making a decision that as 99% of my riding was done on fast, twisty A and B roads around where I live (sth Lincs/Leics border), and just occassionally do some distances then I might as well go for the "sport" bias more that the tourer. In previous years when I was getting "back into the saddle" as it were, the sports/tourer was ideal for me because it could do anything. And in the case of the ST4s, I really mean ANYTHING. I have a huge amount of respect for that bike and if I went for a sports tourer again it would probably be that one, altohugh I would give the ST3 a punt as the DS motor is punchy. I've just done my first track day (every) and on the 749s at Cadwell. That's why my Avatar just got changed to the 749 with a white (as yet unpainted) race fairing to preserve the posh expensive road plastic. Fantastic experience, exactly the right tool for the job. The ST is just as capable on a track, as are monsters and numtpystradas (sorry, couldn't resist, I actually like riding the multistrada too having tried one for a day), but a full on sports bike is in it's element when on the track. It's not what you ride, but how you ride it that counts. I loved it at Cawell (after I got over the culture shock), learnt a lot about the bike and about how I ride, and tomorrow I'm off to book my next track day.

Hi Derek, nothing wrong with an ST4s. You said yourself it has a hell of a "stomp". I'd be ineterested to know how you get on with the ABS in the "real world". Should be good if it has a "sport" bias to it rather than playing it too "safe"?

Henry

Hi Henry,

I have only managed 300 miles on the bike so far. It has rained solid for nearly a week now and the forecast for the next two weeks is more of the same. :(
I had to do quite a hard stop when a car pulled out on me last week but the ABS didn't cut in. As yet I haven't been aware of the ABS on the road. The 2004 ABS model gets a very good appraisal in the US Motorcycle Consumer News, claiming it allowed them to do 45 degree stoppies :o I think I'd prefer to keep both wheels on the ground, especially the front one. It also achieved a stopping distance of 110 feet from 60mph compared with 124 feet for a Honda ST1300 which is better than 1G - pretty impressive. The ABS can be switched off but I don't think I'll bother.

Derek

Henry.Thanks for your message and your opinion of the 749 and I note that you find the bike comfortable.With regard to the bike's looks I think it's just great. I have never ridden any of the 7's so your thoughts on these bikes are very much appreciated.Can understand why you opted for the 749 when you like to ride the fast twisties around where you live. We are both lucky that we have some wonderful roads in our neck of the woods A606, A607, A6006, B6047 etc etc. Who knows one day you may see me "pottering" along on my ST3! Know what you mean abot the ST's ability to do anything and I have been surprised at how the ST3 can really get a move on when necessary and so faster revving than the Multistrada, suppose that's all down to the desmotre configuration.
Can see how much you enjoyed your track day at Cadwell. Perhaps you should keep the white fairing on when you are road riding it might cause the outer lane hoggers to move over thinking you are the plod!
My old white BMW 75/6 has had this effect sometimes, although I rarely ride it nowadays.
Hope you have great fun with your next track day. Yes most certainly it's not what you ride but how you ride it that counts.

George

The white fairing would certainly get me some attention, but unwanted attention from Mr Plod! It has no headlight you see! It is also really rough being a hand made fibregalss affair. Not a good substitute for the lovely shiny original plastic.

Henry :)

Derek. Welcome. as you put it to the Old Git's Club. now you have just taken delivery of an ST4s with ABS. Interesting that the bike had been previously owned by Triumph Motorcycles for assessment. Have lots of fun on your new bike when the weather picks up in Angus. You have got some great biking roads North of the Border.
I had to laugh at your comments regarding your Ariel 350 NH. and the ancient 20" front tyre:sing:
I am rather reticent to admit that the Red Hunter was one of my first bikes and when I rode it this was considered "state of the art biking"
Have fun Derek:sing:
George

Hi Henry, was thinking of doing the same replacement fairings on my 749, could I ask how much they were and where you managed to find them?? (sorry to jump into your thread here..):)

You have U2U