Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > Ducati are to blame !

[Dunlopg]

quote
"Hi everyone,
I swapped my 4 for a 4s 3 weeks ago and I haven't stopped smiling since !
My son had the 4 and he's quite pleased two!
Why are these bikes so underrated?

Alan"

the st4s is a superb motorcycle, it's safe, fast and great fun but when was the last time you saw a full test in a bike mag for the st4s, why is there not an st4s in every bike mags "sports tourer group test" the last group test i saw was an st3 ( not knocking st3's) a vfr800, sprint st 1050cc and a k1200s on cost the st4s should have been there.

have you ever seen an st4s on long term test for any mags, if ducati were trying to prove their bike are as reliable as any other then why not give them to bike mags.

anyway point to point the st4s is one of the fastest bikes i've driven, it's got more grunt and the ground clearance of my vfr750fv (who wants a fat fast inline 4) and you can use 120 mph + on A and B roads with more ease than my fireblade rr3, in fact it's replaced both bikes.

[KeefyB]

Ducati's ST range is their best kept secret.They are ALL underated,especially the "dog slow everywhere ST2".
Not true though,is it Glyn,Jools??!!
At the end of the day,the ST4 is basically a comfy 916.Those bikes were not noted for going slow,were they?!

[Edited on 6-11-2005 by KeefyB]

[bolds]

There wont be any long term tests on an ST4s now as its been discontinued from the range

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

isn't that a switch to the ST4s ABS and the new ST3s

[BDG]

Wonderful bikes the ST4 and the ST4S.

I loved both of mine and did lots of trouble free miles, streets ahead of the supposed market leading sports tourer VFR's (i've had a few of them as well) and the first Triumph Sprint ST.

All of which were used for 2 up European trips before the kids came along.

The Dukes, performed better, handled better, more economical, loads more SOUL, etc but agree the ST's have never been popular with the press.

[Rushjob]

isn't that a switch to the ST4s ABS and the new ST3s

No, there is no longer an ST4S of any kind, the top end bike is the ST3S ABS

[Athelstan]

Well - I said it direct to Ducati and I'll say it again here:

They've (Ducati that is) have lost the ability to read the Sports Touring market, combine that with:
a) reducing the ST range offering, and
b) the death of the "Yellow Brand Signature" across the range of bikes and supporting products ie clothing etc..
And the net result is that they have disenfranchised themselves from a core group of Ducatista (as well as a group of motorcyclists that would have switched into Ducati from less capable products).

In my case - why should I buy another Ducati when they do not do my beloved yellow in the ST range, or if persuaded, buy a red one, but wait a minute - if the ST4s range is deleted then I can't buy it in any colour for love nor money - bonkers!!

This is a marketing strategy of bean counting fools who sit behind desks and probably drive Korean cars.

Yours
Athelstan
Retired Business Communications Strategist
Clients Included: Slazenger, Jaguar, EDS, Unaxis

[bike mad]

thats mad, the best sports tourer they make the st4s, and what do ducati do make it better ie a st5s no they say you need a st3 , mad just crazy.

[ratchet]

I think hey have decided that the 3s engine is better suited for sport touring, they would need to put the testretta engine in for emissions for next year, as the 996 motor won`t pass.
whats the point of having two bikes in your range that compete againts one another, they sell little enough anyway ( and worse since the arrival of the multistrada I`ve been told), as for yellow if they have stopped the colour THEN STRING THEM UP BY THEIR DANGLIES............................