To St or not to ST?
 

Hi
I am moving up to a bigger bike for touring and I am looking at the Ducati ST3/4 ,Multistrada or Triumph Sprint ST.
I would be interested in any input from more experienced guys regarding these choices.
Cheers
Dave

I owned a ST2 for about 18 months and found it to be a very underestimated bike, it will do pretty much anything.
I have since moved to a 916 but I do miss the comfort of the ST2.
If the ST4 is a faster version of the ST2 then go for that.
Why pay more for the ST3....?

Ive got an ST4, which I have had since Aug 04, its the best fun Ive had in years. Its done over 6000 miles and has been reliable the only cost so far being servicing and a rear tyre. I had a clutch changed under warranty and a rear brake disc, which was hit by something foreign. I fancy trying a Multistrada but my wife doesnt, too high.

I have only heard positive things about the entire ST range, try and get the panniers thrown in as they are expensive to buy afterwards but well worth the investment if your going travelling.

oh and welcome, its tradiditional for newbies to get a round in at the virtual bar, as its Burns night and Ive eaten me haggis I will have a large glenfiddich with you.

great fun, very comfortable, panniers are convenient and not so much in the way, very fast (ST4), easy to ride (stay away from ice!) and bloody hot in the summer!
Went to a Sargent seat to keep the pillion from always sliding into me, and a smaller countershaft sprocket (don't need to do 255 in Japan) which have both made the ride more pleasant and exciting.
Just Jack Daniels on the rocks for me.

Depends on whether your buying new or used.

The new triumph is meant to be a corker. It will cost less to run in servicing costs too. I found the previous triumph very soft power-wise, and not that great on the handling front either.

I found the ST3 a little underpowered. For reference I would say it has similar power to a Honda VFR800, but handles a lot better.

Personally I'd go with an ST4S. This has the 996 engine, and goes just as well as a 996, except with a comfy seat ;)

If you want to save some money you can get some tremendous bargain on second hand STs. There is/was a 3 year old ST4S on ebay at the moment with a starting price of 3k5 !

Echo what has been said, get an ST4S, better suspension that the others-ohlins on the back-with a 996 engine that is 'detuned' but produces more power and torque than a 996! Belting bike, mines been 2 up to Italy twice, Norway and Sweden last summer, done the Nurburgring, trackdays, the lot. Has 26,000 on it now, and I'm not selling. I love the Multistrada and my partner reckons it is more comfortable for her-she's got long legs-but I would miss the pure punch of the ST4S, especially above 100. The standard panniers are brilliant, never leak, and we have gone through some horrible weather. I like the look of the Triumph ST apart from the exhaust from the rear which I think looks cheap and nasty. You pays your money and takes your choice.

John

My introduction to Ducati ownership was an ST4S. Bought it in 2001 sold in 2005. Took it to the Isle of man, Northern Spain and across 5 countries to Italy. Superbike performance with Tourer comfort. Up to 220 miles out of a tank of fuel.

You need to seek out a well looked after bike owned by a Ducati enthusiast. That way any niggling problems will have been sorted. Service history is king, but don't be put off if it's not at the dealer. People on this board have their favourites when it comes to independent service shops. Thing is, these shops are Ducati enthusiasts themselves and know the bikes inside out.

Get the ST4S and surprise a few sportsbikes. Most people don't know what is lurking, engine wise, under the fairing.

I still miss the bike but I hankered after a 999, so it had to go.

For example

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/xm....php?tid=28896



[Edited on 26-1-2006 by chrisw]

My ST2 has been (and still is) a fantastic bike. Does everything I've asked it to do, never gets seriously embarrased by bigger, sportier bikes on rideouts or trackdays - in fact on DSC trackdays it's been very happy in the fast group and holds it's own with 748's and 916's...even 996's.

Echo everything that's been said about the panniers and stuff - except mine hardly ever wears them because it's been set up on the sport side of the sport tourer equation. I've got an 888 now as a stablemate for the ST, so the ST's going back into touring mode, but I love it. It's such an under rated bike that I'll keep it until it falls apart.

So if I were you I'd go for the ST4S, because it's like my ST2 on steroids. I can keep up with Monty round the twisties, but give him a sniff of any road where he can open the taps and he's pulling away into the distance

ST4S :devil:
Definite wolf in sheeps clothing...
Intercontinental tourer, back road scratcher & track day tool.
How many bikes can say they do all of those and do them well.

I have an 2001 ST4s - YELLOW

Okay now that's out of the way I will say that if you want a Ducati Sportstourer get an ST4s - forget the others as 4s has all the good bits on it, oh and importantly, do not get a recent one as Ducati have cheapened the spec on later models (no Ohlins up front - less carbon etc) the only good thing to say about the later model is it has a better standard headlight. The earlier models have a headlight that you'd be better offusing candles. You can improve it a little for a few pence.

All the previous posts have covered most of the other ground opn this subject - except for the seat. The newer models have a "more sculptured" seat that prevents the pillion from sliding forward and it is more rounded at the sides for added comfort. Having said that I have had no comfort problems with the original early seat but I'm a slim Jim of 73kgs.

As for the Triumph ST - the model year 2006 is very very highly rated over here - the Germans love it and say it is the best in its class. That it may be, but, I would not trade in my ST4s for one as I do not like the styling. Simple as that.

I have a friend in Vienna and she has a model year 2003 red'un and loves it and does many big mileage tours on it. Loves it, except for the times she has to do the chain tensioning. When she was round at my place once she showed me exactly what she was ranting about and I have to admit it was tough (needed to eat loads of Yorkie bars) n tricky to do. It scratched her porcelain hands so much that she wrote to Triumph about it - She also rode from Austrian to Hinckley to make her point and was invited in to talk through the issue (how's that for customer relationship building) - they have since changed the mechanisim. So the Triumph is worth a look if you don't mind its looks.

But - do ya self a big favour first - ride a ST4s and do the Duc.

[Edited on 26-1-2006 by Athelstan]

Much as I love Ducatis I suggest you try a used Sprint RS. I have one (albeit for sale) and i have to say that it is by far the best road bike I have ever owned...better than my VFR750 was by some margin.

Some bikes are faster, some handle better but, as a package it is very hard to beat. It handles well, has an amazingly grunty engine, it's fast, economical, reliable and has low servicing requrements. I paid £5600 for it new in 2003 - they're not made any longer but can be picked up cheap used and there's still some languishing new in dealers.

It will top 160, it will do 60mpg at 80mph, I can get my knee down on it, it's comfortable for 600 miles in the saddle in a day, will do nearly 200 miles on a tank of fuel, it will just about slay anything in a roll-on from 60-120mph and has no trouble staying with the latest sportsbike tackle on most roads. Max torque is about 70 ft-lbs at 5200rpm and when chipped with the Triumph pipe it's delivering a little over 110bhp at 9000rpm.

The suspension is a little crude but, that's nothing that can't be sorted by Maxton et al.

I'm very impressed with it and can't see anything that would do it all better.



[Edited on 26-1-2006 by twpd]

...and it sounds fabulous.

I know the new ST4s seat was supposed to keep the pillion from sligin forward, but it really didn't and all three ladies who have ridden on it continued to keep me pressured so to speak....Lucky they were light weight Japanese lasses. So, it you do do a newer model ST I would think about changing the seat if you plan to ride with anyone.
Also, the panniers hold a lot of stuff and are pretty rugged so far. ABS brakes are also pretty nice and I haven't been able to get the ABS to kick in despite some pretty serious braking.
But oh that engine!

Dave
Give me a shout if you are looking for a good second hand ST4. shaneanita@gwinnutt.com

[Edited on 7-2-2006 by ShaneG]

Dave,

Give me a shout if you are looking for a really good second hand ST4. shaneanita@gwinnutt.com

I've got an ST2 and last year bought the ST3, both great bikes IMHO. Did a long 2 up trip on the 3 last year and it was great. 2 up panniers top box and tank bag cruising at 140 on the autobahn or just bimbling along through countries like Luxembourg. Great value for money bikes and fun to ride.

If you need convincing go and watch Jools on a track day :-)

Or Glyn, who is quicker on an ST2 than anybody else I know.

I've owned an ST4, ST4S, Multi, early Triumph ST (plus 3 VFR's) and the best out of the lot was the ST4S. (and covered anything from a minimum of 4500 miles upto 20,000+ miles on them).

I'll echo all of the previous comments made and just add its a corker.

The Triumph was OK but bland as a bland thing whereas the ST4S is so much more involving and fun to ride, and just as capable.

ST4S wolf in sheeps clothing, if i could only have one bike i think that would be it.

Having ridden my own ST2 on some pretty serious trips I'm looking forward to testing the ST3 more fully this year to see how it measures up in comparison. It seemed to have a bit more top end than the ST2 when we toured on it last year 2 up with loadsa luggage, will be looking at reliability as the miles rack uo but don't see it being a problem.