Opinions on Ducati ST3

I'm in the hunt for a new bike and I;ve shortlisted it to the Triumph sprint
ST, VFR800 and the ST3.
I've already owned 2 VFR's so I'd like to try something else. Love the looks
of the ST3 and the fact that's its a V motor.
I rate the looks of the Triumph pretty highly but damn shame it's not a V
motor. A friend has a 2004 sprint and I'm going to swap bikes for the
weekend to get a feel for the tripple.
But an uknown is the Duke. My local Ducati dealer does not have a demo ST3
so it makes things a little hard for the desision making process.

However, If anyones owned or ridden a Ducati ST3, I would interested to hear
their general comments.


tia.

vifer

-

 

googling for you coz im bored

http://www.motorbikestoday.com/reviews/Articles/ducati_st3_2004.htm

http://www.reviewcentre.com/review139516.html

http://www.bike-gizmos.com/DucatiSTFAQ.html

http://www.ducati.com.au/news/meTemplate.php?NewsPage=Me5.htm&NewsDate=22/11/2005

http://autoguide.com.au/news.asp?ed_id=2559&class=Motorcycles

http://groups.google.com.au/groups?q=ducati st3 &hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wg

 

<<<Opinions on Ducati ST3:

SUPERB!

Bayliss recommends them

 

Check service costs and spare parts costs.

 

Yep, sorry to be a spoiler.

 

They tell me, ducati service intervals have been extended hence they should
be close (if not on par) with jap bikes. Spare parts costs?, well exotic =
parts premium.If I love the bike enough, I'd have to bite the bullet and
pay Bologna;s parts premium.

btw dude, I see you;ve got the two best passions a man could ever
need...bikes and guitars..
seen your posts in the guitars forums.

vifer
- working out how to mount my guitar stand on the vfr aka pannier style. -

 

I often carry the guitar to jam sessions on my back in a soft bag. It
wants to pull you off the bike over 100 kph though.

 

Well, I love my ST3 heaps of grunt, good handling and reliability - I also
don't think the servicing costs are that high either - the engine is simpler
than 4 cylinder bikes to service.

This is a good web site for bike details and you can do comparisons as
well.- http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/ducati_st3_2005.php

Baz

 

Ducati had a "free-care" offer on all NEW 04' and 05' Ducati's in
stock.All your services where FOC for the first 2 years of
ownership.This winds up on the 31st.March so you better get cracking.

Hate to say it, but better to buy it off Frasers even if you have to
travel to NSW, as they have demo units and would most likely do the
best deal around as they want to quit 04/05 stock.They *might* even
give you a jacket give u a free massage or something.

As far as service is concerned, is it a nuclear rocket or something?Do
you know how to use a screwdrive and spanner and get your hands a
little dirty?Its not hard, buy the workshop manuals join the DOC Club
and your Duke wont have to visit a dealer again.Or you can visit one of
the many cheaper non authorised Ducati specialists
Simple and cheap ownership is there for the taking..The DOC has
discount parts offer and if some part seems expensive do a google and
buy from o/s.No need to be screwed.

The "G" is correct but not in guitar, more like G-spot, or just plain
G for Girls...

Cheers

Looking foward to your posts

 

That depends a lot on your point of view.

Actually, no, it doesn't.

The Ducati has 10,000km valve service intervals (assuming its the same as
my '99 Monster), the valve service intervals on the VFRs the original
poster is used to are (I think) 24,000km. The Ducati services are more
expensive too, my 2 valve Monster (which would have to be similar or
cheaper to service than a 3 valve ST3) costs around $700 for the 10,000km
services from a dealer (and an extra couple of hundred at the 20,000km
services for new cam belts).

Ducatis _do_ cost more to service than most equivalent Japanese bikes,
quite likely more than 4 times as much (twice as expensive, more than twice
as often).

Don't believe that ad campaign of Frasers. (actually, don't believe
_anything_ you hear from Frasers without reliable secondary confirmation...)

Having said that, the valve services are easy enough to do yourself, and
I'm happy enough with the time and money I spend keeping up with the
scheduled maintenance on my Ducati, but I don't try to kid myself that its
a cheap-to-maintain bike choice...

still-bitter-big

 

I've ridden an ST2 and ST4. Loved them both. Reason I don't own one is, I
already have a Ducati.

The service fees are horrendous, you will have to sell your house just to be
able to afford an oil change. And god help your offspring when it breaks
down. It could sit at a dealers for years waiting for parts. Then they won't
fit.

Of course, I could be making this all up, like the other non Ducati owners

 

exotic????? Go up the old road and see how many are up
there...................

ck

 

Its not hard, buy the workshop manuals join the DOC Club

Well joining the "club" goes without saying

if you buy one of those pieces of shit isn't it compulsory to join the club,
buy the jacket, the helmet, belt buckle, socks, undies,
pyjamas................................

that wouldn't surprise anyone here - it wouldn't appear you have much else
to look forward to

ck

 

If your expectations are starting out with the 24,000km valve clearance
checks on a VFR, I suspect you'll be a little disappointed... I haven't
heard of Ducati increasing the interval from 10,000km (but I don't keep a
particularly close eye on whats going on with newer Duc's these days...)

Curiously enough, in my experience Ducati parts (at least the usual
service/minor damage parts for my Monster) don't often seem to have the
expected rich-mans-bike premium prices. $4 for an indicator lens, $24 for a
complete indicator, $70 for a set of handlebars, $22 for replacement
brake/clutch levers (or $40 for the aftermarket adjustable span ones from
Gowanlochs...). The headlight assembly on the Monster is a $400 rort, but
you can buy the same Bosch part numbers from a BMW dealer as R100 parts for
about $80...

heh

big - '99 Ducati Monster 750, '88 Charvel Jackson model 4...

 

I owned an ST2 for two years - the ST3 offers slighty more top end poke. The
ST2 was comfortable, very, very grunty in the low to mid ranges, and could
keep with the sportbikes in the twisties. The decent factory panniers and
great engine sounds are bonuses...

My ST2 managed everything from long distances with ease to three-gear
wheelies for entertainment, never missing a beat. I sold it only for
financial reasons.

Sprint

 

Indeed, the Brotherhood, dont worry about sitting at the races watch
Ducati thrash every other brand, no its a giant piss up/bench racing of
sorts....

Noooooo

Thats a American gay brand, your all confussed!

 

take a closer look - it's both brands

you need to get out more.............

ck

 

Service costs THAT high were they? ;p

Johno

 

I thought (heard) wrong then. Looks like I may have to check the clearances
myself at 10k. Then if they need adjustment, load the bike into my Van and
take it to a Ducati mechanic.
I've been doing that for the VFR for the past 4 majors. Out of the 4, I;ve
only had to have them adjusted twice.

Minors, I do myself.



vifer

 

isn't that called a "reach around"?