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

[Athelstan]

Originally Posted by jeff st4s

No, No, NO!

Please don't starts fighting amonst ourselves, it's bad enough the red v's yellow brigade, but the intellectual elite fighting over who's ST is the best.

We ride the best Ducatis , the rest of them just don't know it!

Oh dear - I see the boys from the Communist Party are at it again.

My post re the ST4 was an expression of my own opinion based on what I had ridden in the ST range which included experiences of the 2 and 3 (note I did not mention the ST4sABS as I have not ridden this bike). I did not say that the ST2 was an appalling example of motorcycle engineering!

Neither did I question the veracity of Jool's performance on his ST2.

We should not stifle opinion, nor confuse an alternative viewpoint as a skirmish. The forum is here for us all to elucidate our experience of one product or another, or, our preference for example, of a bike in one colour scheme or another.

Folks writing freely (without abuse to others) about their own favourite Sports Tourer (or any other Ducati) should be encouraged - Henry Fordiets or Joe Starlinists have no place here.

An open and broad debate develops the forum into a worthwhile, informative and valuable platform - let's keep it that way.

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Moto748
The US DucatiDesigns solution is expensive - but it does the job. A cheaper alternative - approximately £12 is to upgrade the stock bulbs using the Xenon one's available from Halfords, but, a 20% improvement on rubbish is still rubbish - the problem lies with the headlamp lens and the wiring looms capacity to feed the bulbs.

[jeff st4s]

Originally Posted by Athelstan

We should not stifle opinion, nor confuse an alternative viewpoint as a skirmish. The forum is here for us all to elucidate our experience of one product or another, or, our preference for example, of a bike in one colour scheme or another.

Folks writing freely (without abuse to others) about their own favourite Sports Tourer (or any other Ducati) should be encouraged - Henry Fordiets or Joe Starlinists have no place here.

An open and broad debate develops the forum into a worthwhile, informative and valuable platform - let's keep it that way.

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I think you missed the joke somewhere along the lines here.
I was saying if the ST boys started fighting about the number of valves it would be no better than the red/yellow divide.

Besides red ones are sexier if not faster.

[ChrisQ]

I had an R reg ST2 and now have a 51 reg ST4s and I find the ST4s much, much smoother and would not go back to the ST2. The 4s has also (tough wood) been 100% reliable whereas the ST2 wasn't.

Having done a track day on both (at Castle Combe), I much prefer the 4s there as well. On the ST2, as mentioned above, it runs out of steam around 7k whereas the ST4s just keeps going until about 10K.

So another vote for the 4s. However, the ST2 is a hell of alot cheaper. But if I was in your position and you're thinking of changing, I would look at the 900ss. Cheap as chips, easier to work on, smaller and lighter than the ST2.

Chris

Edited to say - my ST2 was silver and the 4s is red so that may account for the performance difference!!

[rockhopper]

My St2 was silver and my St4 is red and i also wouldn't go back to a 2. I'm really not sure where the gruntyness of the ST2 comes from which is perhaps why i never managed to find it. I think the ST4 has a vastly superior engine at all revs. The only downside are the increased maintenance costs.

[Nattyboy]

Isnt the ST2 based around the old paso engine ?

Just let it rust up a bit Fred and get a few more scratches on her and it will be like an old friend then....lol !!!

[moto748]

Originally Posted by Nattyboy

Isnt the ST2 based around the old paso engine ?

Just let it rust up a bit Fred and get a few more scratches on her and it will be like an old friend then....lol !!!

Oi! Bloody cheek!

[moto748]

Just to clarify: I have no complaints about the suspension/handling at all.

It may well only be 10 kg heavier than a 748, but the point is the 748 is smaller, with a lower seat height. As I said, the ST2 is a nightmare to get in and out of my back yard. That may seem like a little thing, but it's not to me; it's a damn nuisance.

Re the lights, as I said, I can't believe they;'re as good as they should be: they are nowhere near up to the standard of the "before" pix on that US site.

I took the car to work today, but tomorrow I'll take that nose fairing off and have a good look at those tilting mechanisms. Also I may lower the ride height a little more.

How do people think the stock lights compared to a 748/916? I found my 748 lights perfectly adequate (with a "20% brighter" dip beam) without being brilliant.

Chris> The ST2 was only intended to be a short-medium term stop-gap. I have indeed been thinking of an 900SS next; I've mentioned that on other threads. And I have put a few miles on one before, so I know what they're like.

jeff> Doesn't the ST4S have a updated lights set-up anyway?

[jeff st4s]

Originally Posted by moto748

Re the lights, as I said, I can't believe they;'re as good as they should be: they are nowhere near up to the standard of the "before" pix on that US site.

How do people think the stock lights compared to a 748/916? I found my 748 lights perfectly adequate (with a "20% brighter" dip beam) without being brilliant.

jeff> Doesn't the ST4S have a updated lights set-up anyway?

Not sure about different lights, one of the more knowledgeable boys may be able to help here.

When we were out on a night ride, when we got to a coffee stop, I switched my st4s lights on a Roy used his 996 lights and they were just as bad as each others, not sure if they are better than yours.
But I think they are dangerous for quick riding on tight twisty roads, especially when I have a BMW of similar age design and it's lights are far better, so no excuse for Ducati to say there was no better technology around at the time when we designed the bike.

I think it is a case of try normal new bulbs or some modern brighter replacement ones that may be able to drop in place without modifing? Don't know if there are any.
Or it's this American kit for loads of money.

[moto748]

The ST4S I saw yesterday had a completely different nose-fairing and light unit to the ST2/4. I don't know if all ST4S's are like this, or just very recent ones.

Well I've just had another go at it: jacked the ride height up a little more (a bit more accessible than on my 748), and screwed away frantically at those adjusters under the instrument panel fascias. Although I have to say they don't appear to have hardly any effect. When it gets properly dark I'll pop out for a quick spin and see if it's made any difference.

As far as the ride height is concerned, I can now just get the handle of my ratchet under the back tyre with the bike on the centre-stand. Measuring it, that's about 18mm. How does that sound to you guys?

[Glyn]

bout right