My 2002 ST4s recently rolled over 40k and I intend to keep it for quite some time yet. Between last summer and now, I changed the wheel bearings, rebuilt the suspension and checked the shock linkages, and changed the head bearings. At 36k miles I had a big end bearing failure as the crank shaft oil gallery seal had been fitted the wrong way around at the factory. Fortunately, the crank and the con rods were OK, so essentially in the rebuild anything that needed changing was changed and the crank was re-shimmed. So essentially, from 36k miles, it has a clean bill of health. I've also recently changed the clutch pack, which after a bit of faffing is now spot on. So, I would fully expect to get another 15-20k miles out of it before I'll change it. Anyone else heading for, or planning high mileages? The previous owner of my bike had a mate in Oz with an ST4, the 916 version, who had done well over 160,000km on it and still going. A
A, Only just past 10k on my 2002 ST4s on my recent tour of Scotland, love the bike even more now, suits my riding style, so I think I will be holding onto it for a while now, purchased it last year with only 4.5k on the clock, so it getting more use than ever. Eoin
My 2005 ST4S is at about 28500 totally trouble-free miles. I have had it meticulously serviced every year as well as new wheel and headstock bearings. I have had new front discs and pads, fork seals and crank nut check all as preventative maintenance. I have used it for two-up touring every year and rarely get out on it without the Mrs on the back so it has certainly worked hard but I firmly believe that mine is now in the best fettle it has ever been in. I have decided to stop using it for touring now but fully expect it to last for years and be good for another 30000 miles.
I meet a bloke at a bike show who had clocked 75000 miles on his ST2, a 99 model. Although he said" it leaked a little oil. Have a look on US Ducati forums, some of the ST owners have clocked up 80 to 90000 miles, and the bikes are still going strong.
just under 18k miles on my 2005 st4s, nothing really, and its never given me a moments unreliability. I have just had a custom seat made for it to give the wife an easier time as the seat is not so good for a pillion. It looks a little less streamlined but is a huge improvement for her.
Indeed, it seems that the various ST models are well capable of shrugging off the miles when looked after, and I don't mean being kept in a heated garage and used twice in a season for most of its life A
Bought my ST4 with 3500 miles, did a full service (valves, belts etc.) immediately as it had been sat for a year and completed 6000 trouble-free miles. Next full service - no problems until . . .after about another 300 miles a very slight 'whirring' noise got louder and louder! Long story short . . .Main bearings knackered after total of 10k miles. When Rich at Louigi Moto stripped it, he found that the crank had been OVER SHIMMED at the factory by .25mm, which over time had been putting enough pressure on the bearings to wear them out! He was able to tell that the engine had never been apart due to the presence of the distinctive Ducati favoured threadlock that had been used on all the bolts. It was the second ST that he'd had through with the same issue! Oh, and the chrome on the rockers is sh1t - replaced four of them with Dave Newman Cams refurbished ones. These proved so much better than the originals by the way that Louigi Moto fits them whenever another Desmoquattro comes in with flaky rocker chrome - about every 5 mins judging by the box load of scrap ones he's got under the bench ready to send off for refurbishment. Properly rebuilt, I did another 6000+ trouble free miles before I had to sell due to redundancy :frown: If it wasn't for that I'd still have it - very under-rated bikes and I loved mine, despite it being a pain in the ar*e to service! Why would you design a bike you had to take the mirrors off before you could do even an oil change! Still loved it though
Now on my 3rd ST Current one an st3s has 28k and lovin it still either 2 up or playing with my mates when its cold, it has the heated grips :biggrin:
I look after a few that are racking the miles up now. Two 4S's that have clocked 60k+ now. One had the mains fail at about 50k (but has never had a rocker replaced) and the other is still all original. The 2's are pretty much bomb proof given regular servicing, although reg/rec's and the odd alternator have started to crop up.. Crackin bikes though
My 2006 ST3s ABS has 12,500 miles on the clock - In the last 2 years I think it's done more miles on the rolling road at Dyno-Jet HQ than it has with me on it but, hey! That's work for you eh?!
My 2001 ST2 had 24,000 miles when I sold it. I put 6,000 miles on it, mostly in Europe. Cracking bike, I really wish I'd held on to it a bit longer.
That's very interesting. When we bought out ST3s it had 20,000 miles on it. We bought it from Alfs Motorcycles in Worthing, a Kwak dealer. Alf, the owner, is the head mechanic and apart from building their endurance race bikes has a fine collection of classic Dukes in the back of the shop (Worth a look if you're in the area) The salesman told us that Alf had decided to rebuild the engine, so we had a word with him Alf told us that the big ends 'sounded tight' to him, so he'd stripped and rebuilt the bottom end, doing a full service as he rebuilt the engine (and also sending the Ohlins rear shock off to be rebuilt at the same time) I wondered what 'a bit tight' could mean, so now I know, thanks, and I think it puts my mind at rest to know it's been done properly by a top mechanic!
