Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > Decisions, decisions...

[John W]

6k5 for an 02 unreg'd ST4S in YELLOW
or
8k for an 02 /52 prereg'd (0 miles) ST4S ABS in RED, but with some carbon, termis, and standard bits too.

A new 04 reg and yellow, or
a 52 reg and red, with carbon bits & termis for an extra 1500 quid...

(I would fit the termis anyway, not so sure about the carbon bits)

If it was your money, what would you buy.
Both are 02 bikes remember, and both 0 miles.

Cheers,
John (p.s. this isn't a red/yellow is faster post, more an 02 reg with ABS + toys vs 04 reg without question)

[Edited on 1-3-2004 by John W]

[Monty]

Personally I'd go for the Yellow 02 registered as an 04 and have the money to get the extra's you want. £1500 buys you a few nice bits and you don't need ABS.

John

[Jools]

I might be inclined to try and haggle the price down on the red bike on the basis that if you turned up at a dealers looking to p/x and your bike was festooned in termis, carbon and other trick bits, the dealer would quickly tell you that they add nothing to the base value of the bike.

I also suspect that most people are dubious about ABS on a bike (as I am) and unwilling to shell out extra wedge for something that they don't see a need for. I just have a hunch that ABS models are harder for the dealer to shift, and may hang around affecting the dealers cashflow for longer than they'd like.

As for the 04 plate, well it would look like a newer bike to the uninitiated but it would still be an 02 model so there's nothing really in it agewise (except of course that both bikes have been in the showroom for a couple of years...and getting harder to shift now the facelifted model is available)

So a bit more haggling. If I could get the red bike within £500, I would go for that, but if they won't budge on price go for the yellow one

[John W]

Thanks guys.

In traditional form I read your replies, made my decision based on common sense, and then did something totally different !

Money down on an unreg'd 03 ST4S ABS in Senna metallic grey.

I pick it up next week

Oh, price. Well, not as cheap as the yellow one but less than the red one (after a bit of brief haggling) and a nic discount on any parts

Thanks people. I do value your opinions, even if I don't follow your advice

Cheers,
John.
So who beat me to 'ST04 ESS' then...

[Rushjob]

But ST04 SSS is still on the DVLA site......
Suit you Sir.......

[John W]

Originally posted by rushjob
But ST04 SSS is still on the DVLA site......
Suit you Sir.......

It might still be on the site but I brought it before 9:30 this morning (tuesday) - before I'd even brought the bike !

[Rushjob]

So now you just have to get it run in.........
Mine's off to see Nelly tomorrow for a new chain & some 15/43 Renthal sprockets.....should make it a little more interesting out of the bends
3 weeks & counting & I'm off to Italy with my beloved!!!!!

PS The wife is staying at home........

[BDG]

Difficult choice, i've got an st4s but really like the multistrada as well and can see the plus points of both bikes.

Hope u r really happy with it, i'm sure u will find it far better than the vfr. Good luck

[John W]

Rushjob,
you are right - need to get some miles on it so I can get the termis fitted
14t front sprocket already ordered too

We're off to Spain in May for 10 days and France in June for 10 days
My wife will be going on both trips too, but it doesn't normally slow me down
(she doesn't mind the twisties, just doesn't like prolonged fast motorway work, which is fine by me )
We might do Italy in September, although the wife wants what she calls a 'normal' holiday (sheesh !)

BDG, I really loved the MS, but while it would be superb in the alps, I think I'd be divorced by the time we had got there !
The ST4S is the closest to the vfr it replaces. I'm hoping it will give me some of the fun I have on my 996 that the vfr lacks though.

Just spent the last 3 hours reading all the posts, looking at pics of mods, etc

Cheers guys.
John.

[Monty]

"The ST4S is the closest to the vfr it replaces." Hey John W-are you in for a surprise!! An ST4S will eat a VFR just about anywhere, and especially down the twisties-an ST4S with a 14 tooth front sprocket is an animal which will give a 996 a VERY big fright. Enjoy!

John