DUCATI ST4 (1996 - 2003) Review

Version: ST4S

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £600

A great bike - sometimes. Must be maintained in a way that the average person is unlikely to do. Difficult to ride slowly, engine needs revs and is not relaxed (not what I imagined - no real low down power), reliability is variable, on the flip side it handles like a sports bike (as long as the tyres are in tip top condition), and is super comfortable

Buying experience: No problems, good experience

Year: 2000

Annual servicing cost: £100

Great handling and brakes, but it just has that ability to make me want to be out on it and smile all the time, fairing removal for just about any job is a PITA.

Buying experience: Private.

Version: st4s-02

Year: 2003

Pulls like a train, handles sweet, comfortable and stops on a sixpence. On real world roads what more do you need. I forgot to mention the sound !

Buying experience: About 12 years ago I wrote off my Tuono on some diesel on a roundabout and a friend who had just bought the St4s offered it to me with only 1800 miles on the clock. I didn`t need asking twice. This has been my third Duke and definitely the best.

Version: ST4 and 4S

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £750

Performance, handling, involvement, noise, red, mpg, comfort, rider and pillion, accessories, motor, did I mention the noise ! The reliability 57000 miles all over Europe never had a breakdown.

Buying experience: Dealer great price

7 years on and my ST4S 2004 facelift 996 engined Sports Tourer still has a few tricks up it sleeve and it still cuts it as a real road bike, with pace to shame a few modern bikes, obviously it's a little slower each year then the newer bikes but i've not noticed anyone riding them any quicker and no no has made a replacement bike that is any better in my distorted mind.

A very nice and sedate bike. I took it on a little tour up to Michigan (about 1200 miles 1 way) and did 750 miles in 1 day. I was concerned about fatigue on the interstate but the ST4 is remarkably comfortable. On the way back, I stumbled onto a great stretch of road. 200 miles of hills, curves, no cops, no traffic and the Duc performed great. Bike gets good mileage and really the only complaints I have are the crappy side stand, the complete whip to get the fairing on and off to do anything, and really the financial responsibility one undertakes when owning a Ducati. The ST4 does not like to start in cold weather (below 40-45F in my part of the world) and the electronics are a bit questionable. I swear I will sell it every time I do an oil change (who ever heard of having to remove the mirrors to do an oil change?), but then I swear I will keep it until the tires fall off every time I ride it.

i have always had jap bikes, and in a moment of apparent insanity decided to try a ducati. i am glad i did,the bike has somthing you dont get from jap bikes. i cant realy explian it, but when you start it up all that mechanical clatter and thumping v twin vibe,there,s just more sense of ocasion. starting some jap bikes is no more exciting than starting a lawn mower.dont get me wrong jap bikes are very good but riding my duke makes me understand what people mean when they say it,s got soul.my bike didn,t come with service history which is potentialy a big mistake with a duke.when i took mine to an indepndant duke specialist it cost me £500 for an engine service and a couple of other miner service items.the st4 leans more towards the sport side than touring with regards to riding position and it,s handling abilities, but its still a very comfy ride long or short distance.mine came fitted with a top box which is a good thing because there,s not much space to keep anything without one. under seat storage is reserved for the tool kit only so i leave that at home and take a pressure gauge and a couple other small items in it,s place.i have just fitted some ducati sport exhausts and it sounds great.it,s a joy to ride what ever mood your in whether you just want a steady ride to youre favourite destination or showing sports bikes the way down youre favorite set of twisties.i dont think i will ever go back to four cylinders,that v twin grunt and good spread of power up to the rev limiter make me feel iv,e been missing out on somthing all my jap bike riding years.A couple of minor gripes, standard screen not tall enough for decent weather protection and a heavy clutch lever.with regards to the cluch i was advised to try clutch springs from a 748 which only made a small difference but still worth while. by with confidance if it,s got service history, but dont pay good money for some thing without it because it could be expensive when you do get it serviced

Wow! come with center stand (thumb up), useless windscreen in rain (thumb down). Please check defintition of "Tourer" for more design upgrade and improvement.

I have had a desire to own an Italian bike for years, but was put off by the old reliability issues, but I threw caution to the wind and ended up with a 3 year old demonstrator. Once fired up, that delightful tune demands you just keep on playing it. Sure, at tickover they sound like the gears are not on the shafts they should be, but once under way and over 3000 revs, joy - pure joy. The grin factor is just huge. Frame is excellent and you feel like your riding on a rail in the road. Brakes also very powerful, yet have good feeling. The seat is great for both rider and passenger, but round town the forward inclination puts a lot of weight on your hands. The clutch is heavy. Commuting in London gave me tennis elbow in the left arm. Motion is needed to help take the weight of your hands, or strong back muscles! Apart from the main bearings having to be replaced at 12,000 miles, the "Duke" has been superb. I love it on the open road, hate it round town. Strengths: Good gutsy motor, solid frame, super brakes. Comfy seat, 50mpg average even when caneing it hard, Italian Styling. Weaknesses: Heavy clutch, you have to get used to the riding position.

This bike has it all, starting with the 996 motor, you can thump about on single track roads 2 up, grunt past cars 2 up with under 7k on the clock (that would leave an on the redline vfr750fv for dead) 1 up on fast A roads 115mph is basic stuff and not having to use more than 7k on the clock, ride it like a two stroke and it is a very fast bike on single track roads, bumpy B road, fast A road anywhere you like. how good is this bike, well its replaced my VFR750FV and my CBR954-RR3 both are for sale. Strengths: Everything. Weaknesses: Fuel consumption when gunning it, servicing costs are well out of order, eats rear tyres.

Having owned the ST2 from new in 1998, I have nothing but praise for it's performance, handling, braking, economy, reliability and build quality. If they are properly maintained, Ducatis are as reliable as any other bike. I took mine for a 3000 mile ride to Prague and Budapest and when I returned, nothing had needed any attention apart from routine chain adjustment and lubrication. Tickover was as sweet as it had been on the day I bought it. The only non routine maintenance has been replacement of the clutch slave seal, a quick and inexpensive job. I have no hesitation in buying another. Strengths: Just about everything really. Weaknesses: Fiddly fairing removal for servicing. Dzus fasteners saves a lot of time.

Having owned my st for a year, I have found it more than capable of either touring two up with full luggage or a blast through the twisties. Reliability has not been an issue with 6000 miles notched up without a hiccup. On the downside the seat can be a bit hard though my pillion says its comfy. Strengths: Mid range punch Mirrors Good hard luggage handles well decent brakes. Weaknesses: service costs, seat .