Ducati ST3 (2003-current)

the season draws to a close up here in scotland so I thought I'd update my review on my ST3s ABS. The ST range is THE most expensive of the Ducati units to service, even more so than the super-sports. I was shown the OEM service price list by the Ducati Service Centre as the lady was most suprised! A major service is £353. I had a new set of tyres put on at the same time and saw barely any change from £600! A bike problem with this bike is the fuelling. The closed loop system combined with the Euro3 emissions requirement means it sufferes from snatchy throttle at low speeds and the need to ride the clutch round corners/roundabouts or suffer the dreaded '50p' look. It can also result in a lot of blowing back through the air box and stalling at idle once the bike becomes warm. Not even the Ducati Service Centre could solve it, as it's so integral to the ECU/O2 sensor loop. In the end it was solved only with the installation of a Power Commander and Lambda controller, with 6+ hours of dyno time and a custom map tweak. Worth it? YES!! I wish I had done it sooner. The bike is smooth, responsive and accelerates like a demon! What else would I change? The standard exhaust note - my last bike was a twin; a (1700cc) Yamaha MT01 with Akrapovic pipes. Now that sounded like a bike! My wife says the ST3 sounds like a lawnmower in comparison and she's right. Only after 5K rpm does it sound a little more throaty. I wish the OEM units had been blessed with a removable baffle. Overall though, despite being expensive to service, temperamental if left unused and difficult to source 'extras' for, she is a beauty. The paint is thick and creamy, the 21Ltr tank is fantastic, the Ohlins & ABS a must-have. She draws admiring glances as the sun shines off her bright red paintwork and dropping 'Ducati' into the bikes-you-own conversation turns others green with envy. Get the 'S' version with ABS if you can but, they are rare as pixie-shit, so expect to pay a premium - and no, you can't have mine!

Just got a clean 7K mile '07 ST3s, and 1,000 miles on I am enjoying it more than ever. Mine came with the factory paniers, and you do have to watch out for them as the bike is wider than you think when filtering with them fitted. The suspension is fully adjustable and proper setting is worthwhile. I set mine back to the default settings in the manual after my first ride out and have tweaked them since, and the ride is much better. Compared to some other sports tourers the equipment level is quite poor. On the other hand none of those are Ducatis, and they don't have that engine or that sound! If you can find one buy it, but make sure the belts have been done and budget around £750 for a service every two years!

Bought a 2005 ST3 one year ago and still love riding it. Use it every day on a short commute but also done a Winchester to Cornwall for the weekend !. It starts every time, I've loaded it with luggage (colour coded panniers came with it) & I've added a top box. For general riding / traffic filtering remove the luggage & swing the cans up (one bolt per can) and you've got a slim sports bike. Suspension is on the soft side and if you push it hard you will get slight steering wobble but if you use it for what its designed for then a 300 mile run is easy going added to 50-60MPG. The engine is lumpy below 3000RPM but accelerate above that and you're rewarded with a sound that is 'hell unleashed upon the world'. It really is two bikes in one, far sportier than a 'Pan' & far more comfortable than a 'Gixer'. Its 'clutch clatter' gets it noticed and even a guy in a 355 stopped & wanted a chat about it!. In conclusion I love it, its not perfect (but nothing is) but I'm pleased I bought it, what would I change it for..... god knows, maybe the S version.

Where's the one I submitted TWO YEARS AGO? It was on the old website!

Have it for 2 years and 37.000km whent to Hinckley in England on it and France and Spain use it for every day comute in center Lisbon, so far its a perfect all rounder, low maintenance also.