Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > I am now officially an ST owner

[moto748]

Having taken possesion of a T reg ST2 this morning.

Bit of a beast after the 748, but it'll be good to be back on a Ducati!

I shall look forward to racking up the miles on it in my usual style (rectifiers permittimg ).

[Jools]

Get it set up right and you'll find its a very underated bike

[Ozz]

Great news Fred. Get them miles in....

[YMFB]

welcome to the quiet understated part of the club.

[moto748]

OK, initial impressions: not that favourable, really.

Jeez they're agricultural aren't they? I was surprised by the amount of vibration, although I suppose I shouldn't be with a litre (near enough) twin. Felt much like I imagined an old BMW R100 would feel (not that I've ridden one).

And the headlights are AWFUL! I'm hoping that this may be partially improved by tilting the unit up a bit more: it just doesn't go far enough anywhere near at the moment. Dipped beam lights about 5 paces away, main beam adds another couple of paces. And in fact main beam gave up altogether half-way home. maybe increased vibration from bigger pistons means more blown bulbs, I don't know. But I never replaced a main beam bulb in 60k miles on the 748, I know that. Truth is the 748/916 lights are often criticised, but they are like a set of Klieg lamps compared to these.

Generally the bike didn't seem that comfortable in low-speed traffic.

I know people say, it'll be fine once you get on the open road, but in winter commuting, every journey you do is in the dark, and you know how car drivers mimsey along when it gets dark. Often there *is* no 'open road'. In my 30 mile journey, I barely exceeded 40 mph.

[moto748]

On the plus side, I've managed to re-set the clock to GMT!

[jeff st4s]

I've done 6000 miles since Feb on mine and had no problems with blown bulbs, the lights are shite, check one of the ST threads about lights that one of the other guys stuck up taking you to a link for a place in the States, not cheap but excellent lights.
I think Jools stuck the link up when I asked about some better lights for mine.

[moto748]

That twin headlight conversion?

It's around $500 if I remember correctly. Bit steep...

[rockhopper]

Maybe the ride height is set very high which is making the headlight point at the ground. When its on the main stand how much of a gap is there between the back tyre and the ground?

A 14 tooth front sprocket and a good set up will help the slow speed lumpyness.

[moto748]

Originally Posted by rockhopper

Maybe the ride height is set very high which is making the headlight point at the ground. When its on the main stand how much of a gap is there between the back tyre and the ground?

No gap, really.

Thanks for that, rockhopper.