Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > Best Bike in the World (Probably)

[NormanBurrows]

Originally Posted by johnny

Good write up, Please could you show me/point me in the right direction to the warm up and oil flow info you mentioned

Hi Johnny,

Spalding's useful article is here: http://www.sigmaperformance.com/rockers.html

Once the 60-90 secs is done I keep the motor on a light load and less than 3,500 but not labouring for 3 miles. By then, everything is at correct operating clearances. Some question the need but I point to the high mileages on some of my bikes. 175,000 on a BMW R100/7 is the best and thanks to 2nd owner (Roy) also. But that bike made 50% of the power of the ST from the same capacity and didn't do a dozen track days. Did St. Tropez to Blackpool cruising at 115mph for 19 hours though in 1981.

Cheers,


Norm.

[keith888]

Thats an excellent mileage on a great bike. Well done!

I take absolutely no issue with most that is written in the Spalding article as it contains much sensible advice. However, the statement that it takes 60-90 secs for oil to get to the cams on these engines is just not correct. Its really easy to demonstrate this. Just loosen the oil feed union at the feed to the vertical cylinder by half a turn then start the engine. Just make sure you have a spanner at the ready to retighten as oil on my 888 started to come out within 5 seconds despite it not having been started for several weeks.

Keith

[Jools]

Nice one Norman....hmmm ST4S

[Monty]

Originally Posted by Jools

Nice one Norman....hmmm ST4S

Funnily enough I know someone who is selling one....................

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

Yeah, I like my ST4 loads with very few qualms (well, the heat from the pipes during our tropical summers here is a bit of a problem). Read the interesting article you posted. Good stuff. I usually put the fast idle on at startup, especially in the winter, and keep the revs below 3,000 until a temp starts to show on the indicator. Then I turn off the fast idle. I guess I could do without the fast idle at startup, but I haven't had much luck doing that when the bike is cold. Low idle generally means another try and in the winter the battery is getting close to saying 'enough!' After reading the article however, may try starting with a bit less initial idle speed. You brits may be moving quickly into your version of winter, but we still see days over 30 C here....LOL

[John W]

Great write up.

Mine has 36k on it now, and is still going well (did have a new cam and followers at 24k, but mechanic reckons this was due to 12k checks not being done - tricky to prove).

The best improvements to my bike, which makes it perfect for what we need, are the HID light conversions and DP Gell seat.

I really hope the new bike thats due out soon is as good as the ST.

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

Ducati needs another great Sport Tourer. Multi-strada is nice, but not quite the same caliber. The ST had poop enough for two up and luggage and 100 mph cruising. Improve on that with maybe a built in GPS/Nav and less heat under the seat and soon others will be singing the praises of the new ST as well.

[Chef]

Like it - nice to see ducati being used for what it was designed for ie ridden!!

[Jools]

Originally Posted by Monty

Funnily enough I know someone who is selling one....................

Funnily enough, I know someone who's just shelled out £4700 for a new machine. It's cleaned out the piggy bank, but I take delivery tomorrow




















Unfortunately, it's one of these....





But, as you can see it's got full suspension and off-road capabilities so it'll take Mrs Jools around the park and, when we tested it, it ****ed up the 1-in-4 hill between our house and the town. It should give her a lot more independence, so I don't begrudge spending it, even if it does mean that Multiple Sclerosis has stopped my "new" bike daydreams for a bit.

Now....all I need to do is spray it red and see if it'll take a testastretta motor

[Mad Dog Bianchi]

I have a spare Gilera 500 biabero single you could drop in that for a bit more umph! The puppy might be out of a running partner though.