It seems the ever present rumors of the ST3’s EOL status were in fact true - Apparently the October 2007 issue of Dealer News Magazine claims that Michael Lock made the demise of the ST3 official at the latest Ducati dealer meeting. (Though to be fair, I haven’t actually seen the actual article so this is still somewhat speculative imho).
“For 2008, Ducati is narrowing its market focus by eliminating the ST Touring models from its lineup. This will allow the company to focus its energy on a narrow market segment - sportbikes and traditional - what it calls the “Ducati Relevant Market”. It’s against this definition that the company measures its sales goals and results.”
via The DML.
Popularity: 7% [?]
RSS Feed
That sucks
If Ducati had done a better job promoting the ST line I don’t think we’d be reading of its demise. It’s hard to understand how such a superb example of a sport-touring machine could be disregarded by the buying public, especially considering the number of ‘born-again’ bikers (boomers at, or near, retirement) who are re-discovering the passion of motorcycling. Having been riding for 35 years on mostly European twin sport touring bikes, my ST3 is simply the best-performing and ’sportiest’ touring bike I’ve ever ridden…..period.
That said, there’s more than a few of us thinking that Ducati will re-introduce the ST line at a future date, and incorporate a version of the 1098 motor with a better suspension. It’s just too good a product to die.
Could Ducati have done a better job marketing the ST series? Absolutely . However while I love the ST3, I can certainly understand Ducati’s probable motivation to pull the plug on the model line - if you look at the financial report for the first half of 2007, you’ll notice that they only sold 684 units, making the ST the second worst selling model line behind the Supersport series.
Personally I’d be surprised if we see a future ST with a 1098 engine any time soon, but that’s just my guess…
By that logic - better get rid of the Hypermotard… I’m SO glad I got my ST3 while I could. Heaven forbid you can actually ride a Ducati all day… wouldn’t want to wear it out and have to buy a new one.
The Hypermotard has only been out 6 months and is still unproven. Seeing how long the ST line been on the market, yet still posting such abyssmal numbers is a clear business decision. The sports touring market is defined by reliability, practicality, and low maintenance costs. Factors that BMW and the japanese brands have over Ducati.
I love reading posts when people who obviously have NEVER ridden a Ducati ST think that BMW and the Japanese brands have anything in ST models over Ducati. BMWs REQUIRE at least as much maintenance, BMW and Japans ST bikes are BIG (ST1100 anyone?), and are much more touring than sport. I mean, how many track days do BMW RT or ST Yamaha FJR or Honda ST riders do?
What I’ve seen at the track is few to none. My Ducati ST allows me to pull the bags, raise the exhaust (all within a few minutes), and start carving corners.
But alas, Ducati never really has marketed what they have. Those of us wanting a sport bike with hard bags that were smart enough to get a Ducati ST while they lasted were lucky.
Ducati will almost certainly develop a new ST type bike (they’ve consistantly had a model like the Paso and others, so the likelihood is significant), but with the competition going to more GT types models, there is a good chance the next ST will be bigger and less fun than my ST.
There are still some of the good ones at dealers. get yours now, they are going…dare I say…FAST
ducati blew it
6,000 mile valve adj etc cmon sport touring you cant get accross our own country & back not to mention the cost or complexity of doing it yuorself, my st3 handles as well as i do is faster than i am but in the real market is a3 or 4 runner behind bmw yamaha or honda . too bad but typical ducati arrogance
C’mon Carl. Tell me you can feel the payment under your front tire on a BMW, Yamaha, or Honda sport tourer. On those bikes, the word “vague” comes to mind. The road is down there somewhere, I can feel it …sort of. Better yet go to Italy, ride around there, see the place and then tell me about Italian arrogance.
What a Duc has is soul. You feel it when you ride it. My ST4 makes my BMW RS feel like a tank. Maybe you should try a side by side comparison and report back. Which one helps you feel the road? Which one gives you more confidence to go through that tight turn at speed? Which bike would you rather enjoy on twisty roads?
It’s your decision. In the meantime, I keep seeing the book value of my used Ducati go up, not down like the Japanese. That makes me smile, a Ducati smile.
Picked up a ‘06 ST3s last week with 800 miles on it…after reading Dylan’s review I was convinced that the size, style and performance were just what I was looking for…all the other bikes seemed huge and bland…I couldn’t be happier with my choice…thanks Dylan (and to all of you who shared their ST3 experiences)!
oh, forgot to mention - I’m 5′8″ and 135lbs and had no trouble flat footing the bike…
Congrats Rob! If you’re like me, the more miles you put on the ST3 the better it will get
C’mon … ST3 could have been a way better bike but it wasn’t …. Hyper fantastic… no complaints … I wish there was a better tourer … or cleaner looking Multistrada
Thanks, Dylan…
yeah, I looked at the Multistrada - great bike - a bit taller - but I couldnt get past that snout…oh, by the way, this is my first bike in 30 years…last one was a Triumph Bonny in college…
I’ve done 800 mile days on a 2005 ST3 and it was the most comfortable exhilarating and most soulful bike I’ve ever had. The 6,000 mile service killed me at $800, but after I got it back, it ran better than when it was new. Imagine riding a thoroughbred horse at full gallop where everything is in harmony and there is no stopping. This bike can do it all and do it all day long.
It’s was very sad to hear Bologna is no longer producing them.
I miss mine terribly.
Oilyduc
I love the Ducati vibe and the fact that it is a TWIN. I prefer torque over High RPM HP. However, The Ducati is not the answer for everyone who sport tours. We all don’t want to go to track days and we all dont want to feel 100% of the road under us. Some of us just want a nice quailty bike with decent power and a good handling to get through the twisty mountain roads. If you have money to burn and are NOT 6′2″ the Ducati would be a fantastic choice. Being that I AM 6′2″ and DONT have money to burn in cost of ownership, the FJR1300 and ST1300 are far wiser choices (maybe even the new Triumph SprintST). Yes the value declines faster on the Yamaha than the Ducati but the total cost of ownership is must less. I say buy what you want and what makes you happy and don’t think that because you bough bike brand/model “X” that it is the best choice for everone. It’s not. I ride a 2006 Harley and thought it was perfect for me. Then I learned that my 1977 Honda Goldwing, with all it’s ancient technology and bulk, makes me much happier.
Ducati is a business that has been around far longer than the ST3 and far longer than most of us. I think they know what they are doing by now. I am sure they had a great reason to discontinue the model.
OK with all that said…I wish they were still making them, cause I just got interested in it and now “used” or leftover 07 is my only choice.
Part of the ST’s demise might stem from the EFI issues that accompanied the 2006 & 7 bikes. Word got out that they limped badly from mapping woes and that didn’t help sales. The fix was a $600 investment for a new $13K bike - - not what most new bike owners wanted to face. Once fixed, tho’, the ST has been a great ride. Gunning the 450 miles from LA to Lake Tahoe on US 395 and the passes heading into SLT is more fun and refreshing on the ST3 than on our ST1100 - - I wouldn’t have guessed that before I took off, but the Duc is a sweet, sweet bike.
Goes to show that the 40 crowd interested in sport touring aren’t very interested in what they perceive as a ‘radical’ seating position and minimal protection - - they apparently want full wind and rain screening and upright lounging. What I love about the ST3 is having a sport-oriented bike with hard bags that flow with the scoot’s lines - - that it does absolutely everything so well, including offering very good protection and seating position, is just lagniappe.
Would I buy another Duc with a great motor and sport-touring bodywork? You bet - - but I suppose there aren’t more than 698 others out there who feel the same way.
Owned a ST4. Unbelievable bike and cannot believe Duc would dismiss it. I’ll have to buy a 07 ST3s.
Dear Ducati, please continue to build the ST line of bikes. Comparatively, the Ducati ST is really the only true touring bike that has a modicum of sport to it.
Have faith. Despite the comments from Ducati management about “narrowing their focus to sportbikes and traditionals” I don’t think the ST series is dead, rather on hiatus. The reason is simple. Ducati is not going build a new sportbike every year. The 1098 was a five year effort. And the market for “traditionals” has to be a limited one. Triumph is doing well with their retro models, but their history in the US is much stronger than Ducati’s.
In any case, Ducati has this fantastic new 1098 engine. When the sales slow on that model - and they will slow - Ducati will be looking for another platform for that engine. Hello new ST model. It may take a few years, but by then those of us presently riding ST models may be looking for a new ST and with a 1098 engine. I know I will. In the meantime, Ducati already has what they consider to be a sport touring model, the Multistrada. I, for one, will never buy the Multistrada. If I’m paying the premium for an Italian machine, it also has to be beautiful and not look like an appliance, like the Multistrada. And now that Ducati is once again having “Italians” design the new models, I think we can look forward to some beautiful Ducati’s in the future.
i test rode an ST3, and i didnt think the bike made much sense. it was not very comfortable - i owned a 999 at the time and didn’t think it was tons better in that dept than the full on sportbike - and certainly nowhere near as comfy as a Multistrada, which to me was Ducati’s best streetbike (certainly not in the looks dept, but in terms of how it worked day in/day out in a wide variety of conditions.)
also - let’s face it - the ST3 was not a good looking bike. sure, the update to the front end improved things, but the bike had no visual flow. a Ducati that works well is a great idea. but the ST3 didnt inspire too many people in the looks dept and that probably didnt help it’s chances for survival.
Jim:
I’ve never ridden a 999. On my ST4, I have an after-market handlebar for a more comfortable riding position. That makes the bike comfortable for long tours through the mountains of East Tennessee. My next purchase, is a laminar lip to block more wind.
As to the looks, of the ST models, that’s purely personal preference. I thought Pierre Terblanche’s redesign of the front fairing ruined the curved, flowing lines of the original ST design - even if it provided better wind protection. Based on your appreciation for the 999 and the redesigned ST fairing, I’d guess your taste in design leans more toward angular shapes. Nothing wrong with that, it’s your personal preference. On the other hand, I prefer rounded, flowing shapes. That’s my personal preference and why, for instance, I like the 1098 design more than the 999.
However, let me share a non-scientific survey. Where I work, a lot of folks ride their bikes to work and all park in a designated spot.
When I park my yellow ST4 at work, I constantly get compliments and the frequent comment is, “You’ve got the best looking bike at the company.”
I agree with Stefano, that we’ll probably see a 1098 sport tourer in the near future.
Thanks,
Stephan
A few years back, I was looking for a bike that was both sporty and one I could comfortably ride all day. Being older than the average rider, the new 2002 BMW R1150R fit the bill at the time and I bought one. There is no denying that it has been a great bike for me although I never really loved it the way I had wished I could.
During the time that I’ve owned it, I have become interested in Ducat. Again, with age and physical constraints in mind, my interest led me to the ST series. When I learned that the ST3 was at the end of the line for now, I accelerated my research and the result was that I bought an ST3s at the end of December, ‘07.
I’ve been riding since the age of 13 and can finally say that I have a bike I can love! With rare exceptions, Ducati designs its bikes with such classic styling that they look good forever. I’ve looked at everything comparable to the ST3 and when I look back at it; to me it always looks better. My friends express their admiration of it every time we ride, as do I, but the real payoff is the sensational feel of riding it. I must admit that I would like the bars to be up and toward me a little more, so there will probably be a set of risers on it in the near future.
In a conversation with a Ducati executive, I learned it is likely that Ducati will return to the sport touring category (or something similar to it aside from the Multistrada) as some of you are speculating. He did say that it is their lowest priority at this time and that nothing is currently planned for a replacement model to be introduced within the next three years. Meanwhile, I will continue to love my ST3 until Ducati develops something an older guy like me can ride that excites me more.
Dave
I got my 04 ST3 in December 07 with 21,000 kms on the clock. I flew to Brisbane, QLD Australia and rode it 1000 kms home to Canberra, ACT. The bike was set up beautifully by the previous owner (Sean) with Ducati Performance Carbon pipes and chip set, panniers and gear rack. What made it exciting was i hadn’t ridden a motorbike in 20 years! – I usually put massive k’s into my Canondale rode bike anyway – Well hello moto! I’m back on a Duke and it feels good! First leg home from Brisbane was to Byron Bay, (I’m pretty sure God lives at Byron Bay) its a beautiful setting on the east coast of Australia. I Found a reasonably posh hotel on the beach and got some sleep before another big day ahead. (thankfully I also remembered how to ride the thing) The next day, I woke up a 6 am as if I was in a dream, I was in a hotel room at Byron, the ST3 was down in the car park – Wife and kids text-ing me constantly thinking i’d gone completely mad, maybe I had. As the roller doors opened the Desmo engine burbled up the road into a perfect ride down the east coast, past surfers in the early morning, sugarcane fields, country towns and open roads. I got to Seal Rocks in the afternoon (600 kms) where my old mates (Dave and Gary) were camping out at Treachery Beach on a Surfing weekend with Dave’s son Jack. They had a tent for me and cooked up some much appreciated bush dinner over the camp fire. We saw a two Dingos and a huge Goanna. Dave has 600 RR and is a very experienced motorcyle rider, he also had a Supersport 900 so he knows about my trip and appreciated the moment (or mid-life crisis) with me.
The next day headed down to Sydney and down to Canberra. The last 150 kms were wet so it gave me a chance to test the Dri-rider jacket and wet weather gear, all good.
The point is … you need to get a Sports Tourer or any Sports bike out of the city (away from red light speed cameras) and onto the open road where you can actually ride it the way it was intended. There is nothing better than pulling back that throttle coming out of sweeping corner on the open road on a Ducati. The ST3 does sport handling and power. And touring without being a car. If it doesn’t fit on the bike really you don’t need it. ‘Less is more’ works in the Ducati.
Bring on the next ST Ducati – we want to ride long and we want to ride hard!
Brendan
PS. My wife and I just did a 3000k ride to and around Tasmania, She was comfortable and loved it too. The ST3 did the trip with consummate ease.
I owned a 2004 ST4S with 1 tooth dropped on the counter shaft sprocket, Termignoni exhaust, air filter and ECU kit. It was a great bike. When it was totaled by a truck and I could not replace it I bought the ST3S ABS, also a very nice bike. The Sport—-to—-Touring continuum is an interesting category. The BMW and FJS and VFR et.al are all nice bikes…… but for me the Duc was nestled in the perfect location along that scale, and speaking of scales, I have a thing about light bikes, I will NEVER own a 600 pound motorcycle. The Ducati is relatively light (so is the R1200RS). I’m glad I have mine. If Ducati did a ST1098S ABS I would buy it.
I am 59 years old have not ridden for 20 years, but have 25 years of riding behind me. Last year I noticed an ST3 and have drulling for one ever since, this is what I would like to spend my retirement years on. Oh how I wish Ducati will bring a true sport touring bike back.
Mel ~
Go for the ST3! I have a few years on you and when I learned the ST series was going away, I jumped all over a clean used ST3s and absolutely love it! Some dealers still have new ones and demos available.
Also, I believe it won’t be that much longer to when Ducati will satisfy their current priorities and re-introduce another sport touring model. They can’t continue ignoring older riders like us with available discretionary funds who want to sit up a little straighter and ride a Ducati all day. Meanwhile, you will love the ST3 until its replacement comes along.
Dave
Dave
Your comments and some of the others have enspired me, I found and purchase a 2007 ST3 today. Although the snow will not be gone for a couple of months I have a smile on my face.
Congrats on picking up an ST3 Mel - it’s simply a wonderful bike
Cheers,
Dylan
Mel,
Congrats! I bought my 2006 St3s in November and have managed to get out several times between snow storms. It’s fantastic…if Ducati had made Dylan the ST3 product manager they would sold a lot more bikes…
rob
Congratulations, Mel ~
It’s gratifying to hear that we have stirred your emotions. Wait until you see what the ST3 does!
Sorry to hear that you have so much snow. I’m in Southern California and we have a group riding to a local mountain top for lunch Saturday. It truly pains me to tell you this becuase I can imagine how badly you would like to take the bike out, but our forecast is for 74 degrees and sunny.
Best wishes for some great riding,
Dave
Hi There,
I have been looking at sport touring bikes and was pretty much set on buying a VFR until I read all the articles with glowing praise of the ST3. So I decided today that I would pop into the local Ducati dealer and check it out, they had only 1 more ST3 left and suggested I go for a test ride. I loved it. As soon as I got back to the shop they rang around to see if they could find me a ST3s ABS model and there was one more left which was interstate. I bought it there on the spot. It will be shipped shortly and I should have it soon. I can’t wait, bring it on. Happy days.