Ducati ST3S ABS : Sleeper of The Pack
A thick early morning marine layer is hanging just a few feet above the coast as I whip through another mile of twisting euphoria. Each consecutive series of corners comes flying at me in a rapid succession that almost seems implausible and yet it’s not. Because it’s happening right before my eyes and even though I can’t quite believe it’s real, I know it is. Driving hard out of the turn I peer ahead and as soon as I’m able to focus on the next corner, it becomes the last corner. Gone. Just like that. Consumed in a remarkably easy singular motion that only comes forth when you realize that you’re not just out riding, you’re hunting a form of ecstasy.
With my heart pounding and a trace of sweat covering my brow, I swoop from corner to corner in an effortless advance. It’s one part bodysteering, a touch of countersteering and a dash of sliding off the saddle. The perfect recipe for an easygoing graceful yet utterly sporty early morning adventure. The kind of exploration that allows you to do as much or as little work as you want and still enjoy the ride to exactly the same degree.
By the time I finally pull up to a stoplight in Malibu after miles of full tilt swooping satisfaction it’s nice to finally take a breather - even if that breather includes a mouth full of sea salt. Sliding the bike into neutral, I turn my attention to a group of wetsuit-clad surfers who are crossing the street and staring. They have no idea exactly how much fun I’ve already had before even tasting a sip of coffee this morning. Of course right now I’m not even visible on their radar. In the lane to my right stands a piece of heavy metal auto lust, a brand new Aston Martin DB9 and it’s luring every set of available eyes towards it.
Like most of the greater Los Angeles region, Malibu offers an almost crazy perspective when it comes to cars. Around here what you drive is far more important to some people than just about anything else in life. People will live in shacks but throw down serious amounts of coin for their automobiles, all in the name of personal illusion. Yet while perception is the rule around here, right now I can’t help but feel like there’s a certain kind of pleasure that comes from being the forgotten man. The lost member of the moto lust crowd. It’s the kind of gratification that can only come from knowing that you’ve been let in on the big secret and nobody else has…
A secret called the Ducati ST3S with ABS.
It’s not the fastest motorcycle in the world or the most exclusive, but it’s certainly one of the most multifaceted. As I watch the heat on the DB9 continue to grow, I can’t help but smile. When was the last time you swung your leg over an Italian motorcycle and enjoyed being the sleeper in the crowd? When the light finally turns green one roar is all it takes to make the point. While you don’t need to exceed at business to ride this bike, the bike itself is nothing but business when it comes to riding.
At this point I’m nearing my fourth hour of riding and I’ve only stopped to get off the bike twice. Once to eat and once to fill up the tank. Compared to most Italian motorcycles this seems almost sacrilegious. I’m used to taking rest breaks in twenty-minute intervolves and yet today the only intervolve I care about is the number of minutes being spent traveling between curvy roads.
Thus far the ride has been nothing short of phenomenal. The kind of coalesced morning where the style in which you want to ride and the length of your journey come together in perfect harmony. It doesn’t seem to matter if I’m feeling particularly sporty or willing to dial it down, the bikes acts happy either way. Smiles back at you and asks for more.
On most weekends by this point I’d be ready to cash it in and head home – but not today. Not on this bike. Not when I feel like I can go on forever. Carving canyons in comfort has been an utterly enlightening experience and I’m ready for more.
By definition the sport-touring motorcycle category is all about compromise. It’s a unique market segment that’s built on the belief that a number of folks want something that’s lies between a full-blown land yacht and a high performance ergonomically harsh thoroughbred. Yet every bike that stands within the confines of this category puts one side of the sport-touring equation ahead of the other. There are no true fifty-fifty splits, or at least that’s been my experience until I saddled up on the ST3S.
Introduced at the Milan Motorcycle Show at the tail end of 2005 as a 2006 model, The ST3S is the fifth “ST” designated sport-touring motorcycle to be produced by Ducati. The basic genetic structure of the bike dates back to 1998 when the ST2 first rolled off the assembly line and thrust Ducati into the sport-touring marketplace. Back then there was a good bit of fanfare made about those early bikes, however the first reviews weren’t nearly as glowing as the company probably had hoped. For all their racetrack heritage, they were entering the sport-touring arena late and had some serious ground to make up. Since those early ST models the bike has seen a number of quiet revisions and has been bizarrely badged with a confusing sequence of numerical names. Instead of going sequentially, the boys back in Bologna decided to base the bike names solely on the number of valves per cylinder. Therefore for the uninitiated the ST3S is illogically newer than the ST4. While the naming convention might be a bit perplexing the basic idea behind the bike is not. Ducati bills the ST3S as bringing together, “the very best components and unparalleled comfort, making it ideal for day-to-day use” and they’re not far from the mark.
As The Pacific Coast Highway turns into Interstate-10 and I head towards Downtown LA, I can’t help but think that this bike does so many different things well it’s almost revolutionary for a rider like myself. It’s got that truly unique Ducati spirit and charm while at the same time seemingly allowing the rider to go on endlessly. Someone my age doesn’t normally admit to wanting or needing a bike that goes beyond racetrack chic, yet this motorcycle offers the kind of comfort, reduced heat emissions and quite frankly a riding position that doesn’t require mandatory twenty-minute wrist breaks. Swishing through a series of lane-changes I can’t help but think that in many respects this is a 999 that you can ride all day.
Twenty minutes later as traffic on the Freeway comes to its usual crawl, I watch the temp gauge rise towards to the mid 210s and I find myself shaking my head. It’s unbelievable. While it’s a hot day in LA, I don’t feel the usual Italian heat wave pouring over my lower body. Unlike my 999 and other Ducs I’ve ridden, someone at the factory finally figured out how to get the heat away from the rider when you’re rolling down the road under fifty miles per hour. For a real world Ducatista this is a borderline mind-blowing revelation, however for the sport-touring category it’s nothing new.
Clearly Ducati understood the competition when they introduced the ‘ST’ line because most discussions about sport-touring motorcycles inevitably begin with BMW. They’ve been building comfortable, reliable, heat resistant motorcycles forever and while there are other players in the market, BMW clearly has defined itself as the sporty touring motorcycle manufacturer over the past several decades. Yet for all their German reliability and completely functional engineering, the ST3S offers something that no BMW I’ve ever ridden has – a nimble, intuitive, heart pounding and emotionally cathartic riding experience that in many ways is just as comfortable as any Bavarian utilitarian ride.
Thirty minutes later I’m across town and standing at the base of The Angeles Crest. After all the freeway riding I’ve done today, I can’t wait to finally get a chance to let the bike out again. Personally I find playing at the top of the rpm range the most fun you can have on a motorcycle, but true to its touring nature the ST3S makes rolling along at seventy-five miles per hour plus almost a completely non-event. It doesn’t roar, shake, buzz, or rattle it just goes on and on and on. In an effortless movement towards your destination. I can easily imagine tearing off hundreds of miles a day for a week straight on this bike.
Yet the beauty of the ST3S is that it can do anything you want whenever you want. As California Route-2 shifts from a quiet neighborhood byway into a full-blown sportbike ascent in mere seconds, the idea that this bike is based on compromise seems illogical to say the least. It’s not nearly the same visceral sensation as say a 999, but it’s the best damn emulation of that experience I’ve ever felt on a bike with bags.
In some respects calling this bike a sport-tourer is a gross understatement. While it’s obviously built to travel, it excels at making you feel invincible when you’re carving corners. Heading into the first of many endless corners it becomes apparent that I’m moving around far less in the saddle on this bike than I normally do. The taller and wider handlebars make countersteering a breeze and the ST3S has a magical way of swooping from corner to corner with an astonishing sense of ease.
The bike just flows from one place to another and that creates a remarkable feeling of control. You can’t help but feel like you’re one with “the line” and while it’s not exactly racetrack technical the sensation is completely relaxed. It’s also just damn easy to body steer this beast. The footpegs are located directly beneath where you’re sitting and that allows you push down with such a tremendous amount of force that it can hurdle the bike wherever you want it to go without any other input being made. Instantly.
Coming out of the next corner I get on the gas and whip the throttle back. There’s a moment of hesitation and then the bike just shoots out from underneath me. It’s not nearly as instantaneous of a response as a Superbike or even some of the Monsters, but the ST3S gets going with the best of them in its class. Perhaps even the best in its class. It’s deceptive speed to say the least. You almost don’t expect it with a bike this big, but no matter how many times I let the bike out it just keeps asking for more. Unlike other sport-tourers I’ve ridden this bike doesn’t leave you lusting for more power. Rather it offers plenty of useable power.
At its core the ST3S is very much a Ducati and when you’re pinning the throttle back and letting it rip, the bike lets you know it. It yells with Italian heritage and a vast command of the human condition. There’s an utterly Italian sensibility to this kind of speed. An emotion that doesn’t come from statistics or require you feel like you’re hanging on for dear life, but rather offers you the chance to feel like you’re one with the acceleration. You create it and you control it. The bike is merely a conduit for your dreams and your passion.
The giddy-up factor can be directly attributed to the 3-valve 992cc 107 horsepower engine, which is built on the 1000DS motor platform. Ducati astutely altered the engine by adding an extra valve so that now there are 2 intake valves and 1 exhaust valve per cylinder. The result is a surprisingly stout feeling powerplant that offers a more commanding sensation when you’re opening it up then the traditional 2-valve 1000DS does. Why they have decided to neglect this engine in favor of promoting the 2-valver is beyond me. Granted I have nothing against the 2-valve, but this engine offers such a greater linear sense of delivery that I wonder why Ducati doesn’t ship more models with it.
However, just like the 1000DS there is a relatively small power window when compared to the 4-valve Ducati engines. When you’re getting on the throttle the impression of hyper-acceleration only kicks in around four thousand rpms and then it dies down just around eight thousand. If you top the engine out to ten on the tach it doesn’t seem to add very much to the adrenaline creation experience.
Rocketing along about a third of the way up The Crest it’s hard to miss the change in the road surface. What had been a perfectly paved chunk of asphalt transforms into a wet-weather battleground. Suddenly there are patches and grooves in the pavement that can completely unsettle a sportbike. It’s in these sections that the Showa front end and the adjustable Öhlins rear shock truly shine. The ST3S does a magnificent job of helping you navigate these kinds of rough and tumble sections by offering a tremendous amount of feedback while at the same time bouncing you around considerably less than a base model 999 or the entry level Monsters. Of course by definition sport-touring motorcycles are supposed to be less harsh in these sorts of situations and the ST3S succeeds in this regard. It’s the kind of bike that marginalizes poor asphalt without it being a detriment to its performance capabilities.
Of course getting a bike going and getting it stopped are two completely different aspects of riding and luckily the ST3S offers a commanding set of Brembo brakes. For a sport-tourer they’re outstanding. They offer a terrific feel for the road and at no point did I ever get the sense that they were underpowered when trailbraking through a corner or coming to a stop. In some respects they might be too powerful – if that’s possible for brakes - because no matter how smoothly you apply the front disc brake the front end of the bike has a real propensity to harshly dive. It’s not completely obnoxious but it certainly takes some time to get used to and is a definite departure from the way in which either the Superbikes or the Monsters handle braking.
When I finally roll into the parking lot at Newcombs Ranch, I toss the bike up on its centerstand and start to unlock the bags. If there is one area that Ducati still pales in comparison to BMW, it’s the luggage. For starters the need for separate keys for the ignition system and the bags baffle me. You’d think in today’s world having one key do both tasks would be standard issue. The locks on the bags are another sore point. They’re not the worst in the class, but they’re not BMW simplicity either. For the sake of all motorcyclists around the world I wish all the manufactures would just get together and license BMW’s design. There’s no need to try and out-engineer perfection. On the flipside however unlike BMW, the hard luggage is included in the bike’s purchase price.
A place like Newcombs offers a tremendous amount of motorcycling diversity – both in the bikes that show up and the riders. Glancing around the parking lot it’s obvious that there are all kinds of motorcyclists. A good portion of them probably won’t fit on an ST3S. The bike is by no means short. I’m 5’11 and while I was able to put my foot completely down at a stop, it certainly felt like a bit of a stretch. I can’t imagine shorter riders feeling very comfortable unless they start changing seats or repadding the stock saddle.
An hour later I’m heading back down The Crest towards the Westside of LA after a late lunch and I’m finally feeling just a bit past spent. The sun has started its decline and a day that once held an endless amount of opportunity now holds nothing more than a few more hours of light. As the traffic gets a bit heavier and I make my way down the mountain, it’s hard to ignore exactly how many things Ducati got right on this motorcycle. I’m not sure why the company puts so little effort or emphasis on marketing the “ST” series in general or the ST3S in particular. This is simply one the truly great motorcycle that is on the market right now and it offers a plethora of personalities to explore. If you feel like running it hard it’s absolutely game for the adventure yet on the other hand it’s more than happy to play along if you’re in the mood to take it easy and amble around.
It’s truly one of the most outstanding packages I’ve ever ridden. As someone who doesn’t draw a paycheck from either ProItalia or the mainstream motorcycle mags, I suppose it’s fair to say that I have a very different view of journalistic objectivity. I came into this review with some fairly heavy preconceived notions as far as this bike was concerned. It’s a bike that does not sell particularly well and my sense was that if the motorcycling going public was ignoring it there was definitely a reason. After thrashing around on it for a few weeks the only rational for this limited demand that I can come up with is a lack of marketing support.
I also suppose at this point I’m starting to sound a bit like a Ducati evangelist, but the reality is that this is just a wonderful motorcycle that offers traditional Italian sensibilities and flare while at the same time catering to the creature comforts that make riding for extend periods of time extremely enjoyable. It’s a downright fantastic combination of every aspect of riding that I not only enjoy, but also admire. Having now ridden my fair share of Italian metal if I had to come up with a top five list to own and ride, I find it somewhat bewildering and shocking that of all the bikes that are out there the ST3S would sit in one of my top two slots. It’s not nearly as visceral in any aspect of riding as a 999, but for everything else – and everyday life – it’s outrageously good and in many respects it makes weekend adventures far more enjoyable than any full-blown literbike could. This is more than just a motorcycle; the ST3S is a swiss-army knife for riding. It lets you carve corners, take grand adventures and motor along at any speed you like. If there’s a better definition for sport touring I don’t know what it is.
Photos - Stephen Schauer;
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You must have awfully short legs! I’m just 5′9″ with a 30″ inseam and I can just about flatfoot both legs on my ST4S with the ride height set at stock and 5mm of preload in the back (155# rider weight).
Perhaps I do have short legs, lol!… Strikes me that it’s also possible that my reaction to the height of the bike might be due to the amount of riding I’ve done on the 999. Getting off that bike and climbing aboard the ST is a night and day experience.
Thanks for that great review. I’ve been shopping the STS for a few days trying to figure out if I would miss the trade in HP from my current bike. It sounds like the gain would be in versatility. One question I have is what kind of fuel mileage where you averaging? Calculated or displayed? My wife is getting 50+ on her FJR commuting and I wonder if this would have the range to ride with her.
Excellent review and I’m as impressed with the ST3s as you are. I have extensively ridden the ST4s and have to say that the ST3 is (dare I say) a more refined and better all-around motorcycle. I too am vertically challenged with a 29″ inseam at 5′8″ and I’m no where flat-footed on the ST3. Even still, this is a bike that quickly makes me overlook this inconvenience as have many other motorcycles I’ve owned in the past (nothing is more challenging than my KTM 52s0SX). The ST3s is truely a superb sports tourer and in my opinion, better than the Honda Interceptor. Way more sport than tour when compared to the grossly overweight ST1300 & FJR1300(they should call these toursports bikes) and I’ll bet it handles better than the new K1200GT. Factor in the Ducati persona and what you have is the best sleeper bike around. Unfortunately, like ast Ducati ST’s, they probably won’t sell them in huge numbers and that my friend will keep the price down and the rarity factor high. Great review and a great bike.
Sachs shock????! Better have that eyeglass prescription checked. My ST3S has something gold and Swedish suspending the rear end.
:smile::lol: After a lot of research on what bike to buy for the type of riding i do ,i decided to get a 2005 st3 , i have being riding it for 1 1/2 years and love it ,i compare it to my honda vtr ,and it”s like cadillac vs chev. impala ,don”t get me wrong the vtr is a great bike but the duck is way better,confort ,transmission,brakes,fuel injection,ecc.So the vtr is used for around town wek days,and thest3 for weekends trips,this way i get the best of both worlds!!!!
Nice catch Tom… All that proofreading appears pretty futile right about now…
Fun read, the ST3s ABS in its current set-up looks like it will replace my ‘03 ST4s ABS when I get to 100,000 mi in 3 years (yah, I’m shopping early, but who doesn’t start thinking about the next bike before the new smell wears off the current one?). The ST4s has been a fantastic mount for the touring that I do, and the reliability in 35,000 mi has been more than I expected. No problems! Yes, I have to service it more than a Japanese bike, but I knew that going in and that difference will not change my enthusiasim for riding a Ducati. There are probably better interstate tourers, but for someone who bypasses superslabs for canyon twisties there is nothing better. My only concern in getting the the ST3s was the high end power loss, but after reading the reviews, I’ll be gaining grunt in the low end. Since I usually average 35 - 65 mph of all day riding on my twisty trips, that low end power sounds like its where I can really use it. I’m not ready for a trade yet, but after reading reviews of the ST3 like this one my mouth is starting to water. My only hope is that Ducati will continue to improve this sporty mount in the next several years.
But what bout the Triumph Sprint ST? It is also remarkable. This is probably the ST3’s most closely rivaling mount.
with over 22,000 miles on my 04 ST3 I am still as thrilled to get on as the day I picked it up. From 10 hour day rides to running around the city the ST3 preforms impecably.
The comfort on long trips makes enjoying the complet ride possible.
I have added the Ducati performace carbon pipes ,upgraded ECU and open top air box. The touque is incredable. I also changed my front and rear sprckets going up 1 on the fron and 2 on the rear. This makes 6th gear a whole lot more flexible. Did however reduce my top end but I find the overall result perfect for my riding style .
The ST3 is by far the best bike I have ever owned .
I too would like to hear any comments or comparisons between theDucati ST3 and the Triumph sprint ST. I’m going to buy one or the other but short of a test ride I cant split these two.
I will continue to visit enjoyed the reading thanks
What a good article. I am lusting after a ST3 after going to the Superbike races and getting to hear the Ducs on the track. I have always respected the Ducati marque, but hesitated due to the maintenance requirements that seem to follow any discussion.
I have 8 bikes and my current favorite is my Honda ST1300, but now I must have the ST3! I haven’t even riden a Ducati of any sort, but the Honda feels like an overweight “sport” to me now after 3 years. I had one older fellow “in the know” tell me that Ducatis can be set up on the tight side with the valve train and not be adjusted again. Any truth to this?
I’ve got it bad for this machine!
Happy riding!
Ron
I swear that is my BMW in the pictures with the ST3. I am ready to move on to my next bike and I will sorely miss my R1100S. Sorely because my arthritic hip make the S unrideable for the 500+ mile days. I am very interest in a great sportbike alternative and this article helps as I wrestle with alternatives. I would really like your opinion on the direct contrasts and similarities between the S and the 3. I love the Beemers, but the current crop doesn’t have what I am looking for. How about the comparo?
Thanks,
Geoff
Thanks for stopping by the site & leaving your thoughts… As someone who used to ride an R1100S before making the dive into the world of Ducati, I suspect I have an unusual understanding of what you’re curious about. While the ‘S’ and the ST3 are both wonderful bike, they’re built for different applications. I know folks do long days on the ST3, but I sure wouldn’t. It’s not a ride all day long bike imho. Certainly not like a beemer. Additionally, if you’ve got a bad hip the ST3 won’t make that feel much better I’m afraid to say. It’s a Sport-Tourer with the emphasis squrely on the ‘Sport’ part of that equation. I suppose ultimately the difference between these bikes boils down to a very simple question or perhaps equation - do you want to ride long stretches of the day in relative comfort or do you want to ride shorter distances and feel more viscerally connected with the bike. If the latter of those two thoughts is more intriguing to you, then the ST3 is a worthy bike to consider. But on the other hand if you’d rather enjoy all day adventures the BMW is still the way to go from my perspective. And I say that as someone who obviously bleeds Ducati red…
What a great review, especially for those of us who swear that if you listen carefully enough to a Ducati engine, you can hear the overtones of the great Caruso singing opera in Monte Carlo. I love my monster, but I am seriously thinking about trading it in for an ST3. I’ve been on some amazing rides on my monster through the twisties in the countryside (nothing but white fences and horse farms on either side of the road), and the moster is amazing for that. The problem is that I’m a ski racer and I periodically have this impulsive need to ride 2-6 hours north into the mountains, even in the dead of summer. That’s where the moster kills me, because I get all that wind in my chest and the ride just seems exausting. My only concern is that if I go with the ST3 I’ll lose that swift amazing “feel” of the monster in the twisties. Since you’ve ridden both bikes, I’m really interested in what you have to say about that tradeoff.
Dog - Obviously the ST3 and a Monster are not exactly an apples to apples comparison. That being said, the ST3 is a remarkably agile motorcycle for a sport-tourer, especially when you enter & exit a corner. In my mind it’s certainly much closer to the feeling that a rider feels when they’re on a full blown Ducati sportbike, i.e. The 999, then what the Monster elicits in the same spot in the road…
But ultimately what you’re really pondering is one of those holy grail motorcycle questions - What bike lets you have fun on most weekends, but also offers the opportunity to go on longer rides, be it all day or all week?
That’s not an easy question to answer in many respects and/or for most folks because it’s all about the trade offs involved. Is the ST3 as aesthetically pleasing to look at as a Monster, probably not for most folks. On longer rides does it work better and would it be more fun? Absolutely. At least in my opinion.
But on an average weekend, which would be more exciting to ride? That’s really the tough one now isn’t it???
I can only speak for myself, but if I was the rider in question given the scenario that you’ve outlined, I think I’d lean towards the ST3. It’s bulkier, less conducive to knee dragging, and not quite as ‘hip’ or ‘cool’ - but, and this is a big but, it’s the right tool for the right job if you’re trying to walk that thin line between weekend fun and longer riding. The bike has a wickedly enjoyable engine and certainly offers a very, sporty experience. Sometimes I think the phrase ’sport-tourer’ has become a bit corrupted by the image of big bulky BMWs and the like. The ST3 isn’t that kind of bike - In many respects it’s a more comfortable 999 that just happens to have saddlebags…
Mark - Congrats, The ST3 is a fabulous bike! Welcome to the fast life & times of the Ducatista
I ride an 05, ST4s (sans ABS) and would like to know if I am the only rider that gets a painful clutch wrist and at times a very painful index finger knuckle in the palm of my clutch hand after riding for an hour or two on terrain needing much gear changig. I would also like to know if bar rises will help. I otherwise enjoy greatly every other aspect of my ST4s.
I’m writing from Italy, I bought a ST 3 one and half year ago, rode it for 25.000 Km (approx. 16.000 Miles) and I support 100% the review. I do not know any ST 3 owner who has not fallen in love with this bike. Think to trade it in for a ST 3S ABS. But the future of this model appears to be uncertain. I would suggest that who loves this bike send message to Ducati (you can do it through the DESMOBLOG in Ducati Website) encouraging them to dedicate proper attention to this model and develop necessary upgrading (particularly aestethical).
Paolo - The ST3 is an incredibly wonderful machine. I completely agree with you, it’s a shame that it seems to go so unrecognized in the Ducati product line…
Dylan,
Fascinatin article with all I wanted to know. It seems I fit a minority archetype in that I am looking to, not replace what I have been riding for the past 27 years but, buy a new bike. The BMW R100S has served me extremely well and still does. I bought it new in ‘79 but circumstances have conspired to allow me another toy. I have looked at the various BMW’s like the K1200GT, R1200RT, R1200S and even a Guzzi, but nothing prepared me for how good the ST3s is. I test rode it with a mate’s son on a test R1200S - an ex Monster owner and past mechanic for a Duke/BMW dealer, and he claims the ST3s to be the best Ducati he has ridden and I agree that the BMW range has nothing that compares. I think that there is enough fight in this old dog yet to still enjoy fast blasts through the mountain roads we have here in the Australian highlands as well as the odd day or two in the saddle. As a recently departed friend said to me only days before he died, “life is too short not to have owned a Ducati”. He still had 2. So the time has come to let the Bee Em rest in favour of something modern and your article has helped me decide it will be the ST3s. Totaly agree with how good the BM panniers are and no doubt I will miss all the camping gear I can carry on the BM, but I will still have her for the bush trips!
Glad you enjoyed the review and found it helpful. The ST3S is a heck of a bike - certainly worthy of high regard and many discussions. In my mind the rub, so the speak, is that any discussion about the ST3S ends up with drawing comparisons to BMWs and that’s a tough bit since Beemers have so well established themselves as the de facto sport touring marquee. For me personally what it comes down to is quite simple - the ST3S is a more visceral, emotional machine where as the Beemers are far more reliable and trustworthy when you’re riding through the back country in the middle of no where.
Enjoy the new bike and let us know how it treats you!
I haven’t ridden the ST3, but purchased a “new” 2002 ST2 (zero miles with full 2 year warranty from Ducati) a year ago. Actually, when I purchased it, I believe there was another one in Utah, but yellow– mine is the dark blue. When I went to a Duc club ride, it doesn’t get the stares of the other bikes because of the better lines other Ducs, but because it’s blue. The 2 valves = less valves to adjust– I hear the ST4 is definitely more of a challenge when it’s time for adjustments, not sure on the 3. Also, some shops give you a break price-wise on the adjustments with a 2 valve vs. a 4 valve motor.
I’m a SoCal native and live amongst motorcycle paradise with all the twisty backroads, Malibu, etc. Much of riding is about ability vs. the actual bike. On twisty Malibu canyon roads I’ve ridden with Monster S4RS, Paul Smarts, etc. I didn’t have all the road armor they had, so I held back slightly for that reason and slightly because they ride through the canyons more, but the most they waited for me at a Stop sign after a road several miles long in the canyon was roughly 2 seconds. Had I spent more time through the canyons, they probably would have had a tough time losing me at all, but I’m not an advocate of pushing it on public roads, especially when I’ve seen the helicopter visit several weekends out there because of someone pushing it too hard, some of these resulting in death to the rider as well.
Regarding the clutch question, there are aftermarket add-ons to get you a lighter feel. I’m a pretty avid weight lifter, so it’s not been a real issue, but riding through LA (from Ventura) to Irvine, where the freeway lanes are narrower, my left wrist did get a little tired through stop and go traffic one day (narrow lanes with Excursions and Hummers next to each other = no lane splitting in several spots). If the lever pull required is a challenge to you (they’re dry clutches), go with the aftermarket add-on which reduces lever pull by 40%, I believe. Do a google on Richard’s ST2 pages and you’ll find a lot of information that will apply to the ST3 on his site, as other than the motor, they’re very similar bikes.
In about 10 months, I’m now just shy of 10,000 miles. I believe the ST3 has the “gel” version of my seat which may be more comfortable, but my research leads me towards the Sargent (vs. Corbin) aftermarket seat. With a passenger on back (wife, son, or daughter) riding through canyons, braking and decellerating, you’re pushed up to the tank which isn’t always comfortable. Additionally, the stock handlebars are situated more towards the sport position and with someone leaning on my back, I find pressure points on my wrists that I don’t have when riding solo.
I test rode some of the Beemer bikes through canyons in Santa Barbara– they’re heavier and have more power than my ST2, but I prefer my ST2 much more. The Beemers felt like a giant scooter to me. When you hit their 100 horsepower range at the higher revs, the power definitely kicks in and IS exhilirating. But, if you’re riding through a canyon I find a V-Twin that doesn’t really care what gear I’m in much more controllable and fun to ride. My year of the ST2 is about 85 hp and I can still get to 130mph pretty quick. However, if you’re going over 100 and aren’t assured there’s not a black and white car around, you’re looking at your bike being impounded for several months and a ticket that’s equivalent to a DUI and stays on your record for 7 years, increasing your insurance costs similar to a DUI, etc. I’d rather pay $150 several times a year and go to a track where it’s a controlled environment and void any potential tickets.
The steel trellis frame is rock solid and I can easily flick the bike side to side and have NEVER had a surprise bump the bike didn’t completely absorb (none of the Beemers are as flickable, they weigh about 100 lbs more). I like the looks of the ST2 a little bit better (the only difference is the front shield/headlight). The ST3 resembles more of a jap bike, but does offer more wind deflection. I remedied my wind blast with a Zero Gravity shield. I’m waiting for shipment of my new Remus aluminum pipes from a dealer back on the east coast that will give it that Ducati sound on weekends and probably be slipped back off for rides with my wife so the sound doesn’t annoy her. This also lightens the ass-end of the bike by about 10 pounds. Cyclecat handlebars will give you the adjustability in the bars if you’re looking at racking up several 100 miles in a day. Throttlemeister will give you manual cruise control, as well. Both of these are polished aluminum, as well, and have a better build quality look to them.
My dream bike would be the 1098 motor (coming out in February) with the trick looking single-sided swing arm that most bikes have now, in an ST-esque frame, allowing 2-up riding, with the ST gas tank (5.5 gallons vs. roughly 4 in the 1098). Preferably even a little larger, as I’m sure it’s more thirsty than my ST2 motor. 160 horsepower, 90 lbs of torque, on a bike that weighs less than 400 pounds dry– that would be the ultimate swiss army knife of bikes to me! I’m tempted to buy the 1098 and let my wife be the mule on my ST2 with the 3 hardbags.
Maybe more information than what you’re looking for, but you won’t go wrong with an ST3, that’s for sure. If you’re looking for a point and shoot bike for long interstate riding, the Beemer is the way to go. If you have windy canyons near you, though, and like the VTwin Ducati sound, etc, I’d go with a Duc. I haven’t ridden the Triumph Triple, but my reading indicated it’s a very nice bike as well. My recollection is it’s a tad heavier than a Duc, but I could be wrong. The torque of a VTwin probably isn’t there, either.
Enjoy your riding,
Steve
shumeston@gmail.com
Nice read. So, you act as if Ducati never built a sport-tourer prior to the ST series. I guess you don’t recall the Paso series? Actually, they didn’t get it right until the 907ie when the Paso name was dropped. But I owned one for several years. I good ride it comfortably for miles, and also never felt exhaust heat or had cooling problems, unlike on my 996. In fact, the riding compromises on the 996 made me seek at a 907 just so I could have a nice, enjoyable commuter. But the 907 turned out to be much more than that. Anyway, I just wanted to point out that Ducati made a very nice sport-tourer prior to the ST series.
Paso was/is nice, but to be a true sport-tourer I think you need the hardbags, which didn’t come ’til the ST2, I believe in ‘98. At least I’ve never seen hardbags on the models you’re referencing.
Steve
Great review. I ran across it after i went to a dealer demo 3 1/2 weeks ago and got a ride on an ‘06 ST3s. I was hooked in 1 mile. You pretty much summed up everything i was feeling about the bike from just the demo ride. After riding the ST3s, i got on the S4R Testaretta. That ride tempered my feelings about the ST3s, so i began an earnest search for an ST4s. I found a near perfect red 2002 ST4s (with Arrow Carbys, FIM chip and DP comfort screen & faring) on a Ducati dealer website within days of the demo and bought it sight unseen. My wife drove me the 500 miles south to the dealer and i rode it home. What a great chassis! The first 450 miles were highway, but the last 50 were all the backroads i know leading home. The sound of the bike is intoxicating and the thrill from the twist of the wrist is invigorating. The Ducati ST is the most fun you can have with your cloths on. I sold my Monster 620 already. Poor thing was destined to gather cobwebs, so it was best to let someone else enjoy it. I sure did, but my connection to the ST is much stronger. Like you I have no idea why Ducati marketing doesnt push this bike, unless of course they see it as a threat to SBK sales.
Great review………I’m selling my 05 St3 only so I can buy one with ABS!
I have a bunch of bikes…….all buying decisions are well thought out…..The St3 was bought to replace a BMW K1200RS that was involved in a total accident. I wanted all the ergos and performance of the big Beemer, but a lot less weight and more fun in the Twisties. I thought about the ST4, but the mainenance issues sent me toward the ST3. It was a wise decision.
Thanks for a great review….
RoyB
Dartmouth, Ma
2007 DL650 V Strom abs
2005 St3
2004 VFR abs
2003 Tuorno
2002 R1150RS
2002 MV Agusta F4 750
2001 MG Rosso Mandello
2001 MZ Baghira
1989 Honda NC27
Thanks for some great insights into my new favourite. I’ve been looking at bikes for several years, in preparation for retiring at 55. (Hey, that was four years ago!) So, it’s down to a red ST3 at a local bike store I’ve been haunting—they are so understanding of my demographic.
I was glad to see that you included your height. The bike fits you. My wife tells me I look like a circus act on most “lust” bikes. I’m 6′2″. If your wife is willing to tell you that you look stupid, well, she’s been right before…
I imagine myself, after a hiatus of…can it be 30 years?— riding around(alone, she says) for a few excitable hours every day, and once/twice a year, going from Ontario to California to visit my brother. I’ve spent the last twenty years riding 4-5000 miles/yr. on an Italian, racing bicycle. I’m stunned by how uncomfortable and unadjustable most motorcycles are. The ST3 seems to fit me perfectly, and have a few little tweakables to make it even better.
I was wondering if you’d recommend getting the ABS over the non. The one in the showroom is a straight ST3. While I have thousands of miles of highway experience (reading mile-counters on swaying tandem wheel hubs), I seldom manage more than 30mph on the flats, and the Italian attitude to cycling brakes is: “Why would you want to slow down?”. I’ve read that the ABS can be shut off for riding on the edge; but since I don’t see myself wearing out knee-pucks, is this an issue? The ABS would appear to be a good option for driving among The Enemy, especially in the wet.
Still, after all the research/dithering, it’s come down to sitting on that bike, looking at that red, and feeling an old song starting in my chest.
Hey, I should sign off, and just go buy the damn thing! Thanks for the encouraging article…bookmarking, now.
Yours truly,
RogerinON.
Hi from the Southern Tip of the Dark African Continent ;-)))
I`ve previously ridden a Multistrada 1000S DS. Most probably the BEST handling bike I`ve ever come across. It is just that when going upwards of 180km/h that the buffeting really starts getting to you. Then…….. an unfortunate crash which landed me in hospital with a pulverised left leg and the Duc on the scrap heap ;-((
After some fight with the insurance I purchased a NEW 2006 ST3 cause they wanted to rip me off on the replacement of the Multi. Now I must confess that it seems to have been for the better !!!!!! The ST3 is the ONLY bike. So comfy even on long hauls. I did a 1659km stopping only for fuel and the international border between namibia & RSA in 12 hours from Walvis Bay to Postmasburg. Now I know this classifies as a short Iron Butt, but really there was NOTHING wrong with my butt ;-)) The seat is So comfy that I`m going to do a 3000Km in 36 hours on 28th Dec. The only place that hurt was my right hand gripping the juice.
The bike handles exceptionally well. I`ve been doing evasive maneuvers at 200km/h. This is sooooooo cool.
Hey, RED, what do you think about ABS; is it worth the upcharge? Slowing down doesn’t seem to be a big issue with you; but I’m a pensioner and living longer is the best revenge.On the other hand, what are you evading at 120km/hr? We have a foot of snow here, and I didn’t get to the store to buy the bike—ditherditherdither.
RogerinON
Wow, what a great bike. I was looking for a new ride and took an ST3 S on a demo ride, fell in love and didn’t look back.
I have owned a Super Hawk and a FZ1, the Duc out handles, looks and rides better than either of those bikes. I still do not have the bike broken in yet but, what I understand is that the power is down low.
Additionally the bike came with bags and Ohlins for those long days of twisty mountain roads north of Atlanta.
I like the ABS, it does pulse so you know when it comes on so you can back off the brakes.
Roger,
I purchased my first motorcycle about two years ago now and it was a Ducati ST4s ABS. This was my first motorcycle after I took the Sheridan College Safe Riding Course(being from Ontario I’m sure you’ve heard of that) and I must say I got a lot of …….”You Bought What!!!!”…when I was asked what kind of bike I was getting. The ST4s, like the ST3, is considerably lighter than the other touring bikes I intially looked at, and this appealed to me. I didn’t want something that weighed 700 pounds and had just 60 HP….not interested, no fun. The big thing that attracted me to the Ducati was an article I’d read about the ST4s ABS and how the writer raved about the non-linked ABS system. This system is setup for aggresive riding and doesn’t come on easily and it can also be shut off if you so desire. I wanted it because I was a novice rider and I was worried about riding in wet weather. Just having it gave me the confidence to ride in the wet without worrying. Saying that, I’ve put almost 16,000 KM on my Ducati and I’ve never engaged it once….but I wouldn’t be without it, because I know if I need it, it’s there. My advise would be to get the ABS and make sure you negotiate the purchase price based on the US$ selling price converted at todays exchange rate of 14.5% or so, or you’ll pay to much. I saved several thousand dollars on my 04 ST4S ABS by doing that. Ducati North America tries to some extra profit out of Canada by boosting the prices here….won’t work with me. Anyway, good luck and I hope you get your ST3, I’m sure you’ll love it like I do. Oh and I’m 55 as we speak, so go for it you’ll never regret it.
Paul.also.in.Ontario.
Paul,
Thanks for the from-the-saddle insights. I’ve had the “You’re going to buy what?!!” comments, too. And, what happens when you break down in…Kamloops…FED-X? And, about the exchange rate: I didn’t buy a Monster in the Spring, because of the US/Cdn(!) difference. My Brother in California could buy the same bike for -$2,000. I sent several posts to Ducati, and explained my disgust to the bike store. I was so pissed, we never got to negotiating. The sales guy said that the’07 prices have come down over ’06s. I’ll check it out before going further. One visit to a California site makes me think that they are now closer to par, but it’s certainly a good card to play.
As far as the ABS, it may come down to the ‘07 ST3 w/o ABS being on the floor, and one with ABS having to be new stock for them.
Regarding Sheridan, I’m thinking that my thousands of kms on skinny tires gives me some training. I certainly can handle two wheels in traffic and bad weather—snow/rain/ice (OK, I’m crazy. It’s the lycra). One funny memory is of a fully dressed ST1300 turning back after passing me because it had started to rain. He had EVERYTHING: red helmet, red/black suit/gloves, red bags, red bike. I pressed on in my Eddie Mercks/hard-man mode. He probably went home with his double garage door opener, and spent the day detailing.
I like your observation about the lightness of the bike. I love the look of 700lb bikes with 60hp (Road King?) but they don’t feel “alive” like my bicycle. The only one that did was a used R1, in the showroom, but…the rocket-boy fantasies are…all…behind me now? The ST3 doesn’t even seem like a compromise. Currently, however, the red plastic I’m dealing with, is a Toro snow-blower which won’t start. I don’t think I can get out of London for the TO bike show this weekend. And as far as making it to the steeper fifties—Isn’t it great! So many choices; so little time. Smells like Boomer Spirit.
RogerinON
Hi Ron,
My son and I went down to the Toronto Convention Center for the Bike Show yesterday and it was great. Wait until you see the new Ducati 1098, it is absolutely gorgeous and from what I’ve read it’s going to be the bike to contend with for Superbike honours in 2007. I also sat on a brand spanking new red ST3, which is exactly the same as my 04 ST4S ABS except the ST3 has a wet clutch and mine is the dry type and of course the 996 motor in ST4s. If you do buy the ST3 with or without the ABS, I think you will really love it. I wouldn’t sell or trade my ST4s for anything. I might add to the stable, but I’m keeping that bike forever. I thoroughly enjoy my weekend 7:30 am rides north of Oakville in the country with no traffic and the winding country roads with a covering of huge Maple and Oak trees. When I ride those roads a always think to myself, man it’s great to be alive…there’s no better feeling.
The Monster is a nice bike, but not what I would want for any long distance touring. The air pressure on you at 100-120 KM is not enjoyable over a long or short stretch for that matter.
About the Sheridan College Course (or similar), it’s really worth going to and very enjoyable. You won’t regret taking the course if you so decide, it was a real fun time. There was quite a range in our classes from young girls and guys to middle aged beginners, right up to old farts like me. You really learn a lot and I’d riden a few motorcycles before and I didn’t even know what push or counter steering was….scary.
You ride from about 8:00 am to 6:00 Saturday and Sunday and basically you learn how to safely control the motorcycle in fast manouvers and slow close quarters control…..I found the close quarters stuff, the hardest by far. One of the exercises was accelerating quickly along a curved line and stopping in a designated box at the end, ok sounds easy enough. Well I’d switched bikes after our lunch break and didn’t realize the brakes on the Suzuki were a lot stronger than the Yamaha’s I had been riding. So when I hit the brakes just before the box with the same pressure I’d used earlier, I ended up doing a stoppy, with the rear well up about 6 feet in the air. I new I wasn’t going to go over, so I kind of smiled at the instructor and said I was just trying to liven the class up with a few trick manouvers. The whole class had a good laugh, as did the instructor, thank god. You won’t regret taking the course and it’s very, very worth while. Remember controlling a 500 LB motorcycle is a lot different than a 25 LB bike and the course allows you to get a bit of experience, with professional guidance.
Hey, what year is the ST3, it’s got to be a least a year old now, you might be able to get a really good deal on it if you buy it now and save the dealer from paying interest on it all winter. That way you could sneak out in the garage at night and go for a pretend ride like the guy in the Honda commercial used to do…..I always found that
funny…..and quite frankly, something I could see myself doing.
Have a great day.
Roger,
Just noticed my mistake…..addressed you as Ron….sorry, must be the early onset!!!!!
Regards,
Paul.
I am VERY close to purchasing a new 06 ST3 and have read many positives and only one negative. Anyone have problems between 3 - 4000 rpms with coughing/hesitation ?
I will likely make the purchase but would appreciate any feedback.
(can’t be worse than my 99 Road King!)
Just got back from the International Motorcycel Show in NYC. I was hoping to see an ST3 ABS but no luck. Seems Ducati had so many new models out that they fealt the ST3 would sit in the corner unattended in the 1098’s shaddow. 1098 is gorgeous by the way. Nontheless I was able to eye two of them up at my local dealer. Both brand new 06 and 07 models. I read this year that Ducatis need 50% less maintainance than previous years so my question is, are there any differences between the 06 and 07 models. I’m thinking of beating them up a little on the price for the 06 if all things are equal.
Thanks
Mike
I’m still dithering and shivering.
The ST3 at my local is an ‘07. I guess I believe them, they look the same. I’m not close enough to buying to ask for the papers.
I’ve read that the side cases will [NOT] take an XL full-face Shoei—They lie?
In a recent BIKE, they go on about the -50%, but they don’t include the ST3…hmmmm.
Of course the beautiful 1098 is a 1099, but they don’t want us thinking it’s related to the 999, so…they lie.
I keep hearing about the finicky nature of Ducatis and wonder about cross-country tours. Yeah, I guess I could believe the promises. I noticed the lads took R1150 GS’s the long way ’round. Maybe an ST3 was their second choice?
Then, I just sent a ten year old Meile washing machine to the dump. $2,000 plus and gauranteed for twenty years. So much for German tech. Maybe we wash too much. $582 for the motor, and a six week wait.
That’s me in the showroom, losing my religion.
Maybe what bitter, little men, really really need, is a motorcycle. Any motorcyle!
Time to read some more reviews,
Roger
Ducati, surely owes you big time! I have googling ST3 articles and no one has done better than the great job you have done this article. Congrats! My choice of getting a ST3 this spring will be greatly due to the fine job you have done here. Keep it coming.
Well… Tomorrow morning is the day. I am heading down to Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, KY to ride my new ‘07 ST3s home. I’ve read and re-read every article I come accross. This one seems the most informative. I will be posting comments after putting some miles on her.
Go Desmotre!
Ron
Dylan:
Thanks for the excellent review. Can you tell me more about the head lights? The Ducati site says they are adjustable for vehicle load, which is a nice feature, but what type of lights are they? An ST3 passed me last week and only had one head light lit, like a Yamaha R6. I really need a 2-light, 4-filament system for driving at night. Do you know what type of bulbs they are using?
The ride height thing is curious to me. I keep my rear susp at the highest setting to improve the sluggish turn-in of the ST’s, and I’m about where the author describes his feet (I’m 2″ shorter). I’m wondering if perphaps the Ohlins forks are set up or are diminsionally different. At any rate, it should be known that the ST’s all have more susp adjustment to them than many Jap sport bikes, even…Showa or Ohlins. For those considering the ST3, the Showa units of ST2/3/4 are only usuable at their limit of adjustment to firm & preload. It is likely worth the additional cost of the S model to get the Ohlins if you are hauling over 320lbs of human(s)….it would be a bargain over upgrading your non-S model.
On mpg’s, I don’t know any Ducati ST to get better than 39mph, in real life. If you are shopping for mpg’s, you’re probably in the market for a boxer BMW of sorts.
2 centavos!
I now have a ST3 thanks to your article…thanks again. The bike is everything you wrote about.
After riding 14 previous Ducatis from a ‘86 MHR Mille through a series of Monsters (5), Superbikes (888, 996 & 749s) and Super Sports 750 Sport & 900 SS ,plus ‘92 907, a Multistrada and a MH 900e, I finally reached a point where I need some semblance of comfort. After reading your article I decided to purchase a 2007 ST3S ABS. It should arrive in two weeks from Atlantic Motoplex. The DP cans will be installed to enhance throttle crispness (I hope) and provide that wonderful Duc sound.
I live in Newfoundland so we still have several feet of snow. I will update this after several rides. Please note: unfortunately I do not still own any of my older bikes…but that’s another story.
Great article.
Very good article and messages. Seems many people had the same experience as I. Have owned Honda CB 750 and CB 1000, then Beemer K1200RS (liked alot) then traded for K1200LT (total boat, wrong bike for me). Then I went to the BMW / Ducati dealer and for grins rode an 07 ST3S. OH HAPPY DAY. Smile still hasn’t gone away. Almost sure I am going to purchase, but, I still don’t have a good idea of the maintenance and reliability costs and time etc. Could anyone give me an idea of the reality of these issues. Are they MUCH different than for a Beemer or others??? Thanks, a great site.
I’m also interested in the avrg fuel mileage calculated or displayed on this Duc? I’ve been eyeing her for awhile and would mainly be in town riding and weekend long runs.
I had a Honda CB 750 before the purchase of an 04 Multistrada. The Multi weighs about twenty pounds lighter and has twenty horsepower more. Needless to say it is much more fun to ride and has that great Ducati feel and sound. It gets around 45 to 48 mpg most of the time and the ST gets a few better because of extra body work and the water cooling which makes the engine more efficent. It costs more than my Honda for maintence but is in no way a deal breaker. The ST 3 does not cost nearly as much as an ST 4 for valve adjustments and if you keep out of the upper rpm range they dont need valve adjustments as often, just checks.
If you set the gas consumption to current on the gauge you can get the milage down to the teens at least for a few seconds.
Hey,
Thought I’d give an update. I am about to roll up 2000 mi since picking up the bike on Feb 22. This bike is a hoot to ride and seems to be growing on me as far as comfort is concerned. It reminds me of my old dirt bikes in many ways. I find myself wanting to look things over and cleaning it. I haven’t had a bike that draws me in like this one. I am starting to understand all the hoopla over Ducati maintenence issues. My left mirror lost a mounting bolt a few days after new, my battery went flat after a ride in hard rain, and I have had a screw back out of my front brake master cyl a couple of times. It makes me smile just thinking about it though, and smiles are why I ride motorcycles in the first place. I think anyone riding one of these just needs to keep an eye on things and work out the little bugs along the way. The light weight is a major part of why this bike is so much fun, and the fact that this engine is fantastic in it’s willingness to rev and that lovely sound. I’ll keep in touch as I pile up more miles. Oh, and for you drive shaft guys scared of chains. I haven’t even had to adjust mine yet.
Ron
Someone asked about fuel mileage. I just bought a cherry used ‘05 ST3 last Saturday (only had 700 miles on it then). What a blast of a bike! It’s got 1500 miles now, Friday. Three tank fill ups, and it’s gotten 47 mpg on the highway twice, and 44 in the city once. Thats in 45-55 F weather. Still breaking it in. Summer mileage should be better. It seems the computer is awefully optimistic in reporting fuel mileage. It always calculated I was getting 53-55mpg average for those tankfulls. Oh well, it at least gives a benchmark to go by for the instantaneous mileage, if I want to pay attention to that. My bicycling mileage has dropped drastically since I got this thing. Gotta find a balance…
Having owned my 04 st3 for 2 years now, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The only complaint I had was the flat spot if I had to really get out of the way on the freeway and I was already cruising at 60-65. So I did a little homework and contacted Ferracci in PA and talked to the service manager. We decided to put on a set of slip on exhaust, add the power commander, and upgrade to the large airbox. After a trip on the Dyno, my bike went from 104 rear wheel horsepower to 110. The flat spot was gone and bike explodes when I ask it to. The only other change I made was to have a custom made Corbin seat put on, and the long cruises at 80-85 are a dream. For anyone who wants a little bit of cruise, yet still ample sport. Don’t miss this bike.