Hi Everyone I am looking at getting back into biking after many years and am leaning towards a Ducati 750SS. However, I have also noted that an ST4 can be had for about the same money (~£1,800). I was therefore wondering what the various merits were of each of these machines from your collective experience? Please bear in mind that I am not out and out racer and am looking for somethng for weekend and pleasure use.....mostly one up but I maybe able to persuade my better half to climb aboard. Thanks in advance.
I've not ridden an ST4 but own an ST2 and a 750SS that I've used for a project. Both are very different bikes. The 750 is slower but miles better looking and lots of fun. The ST range have looks only it's mother could like, but ride superbly and are great for touring and two up riding!
The 750SS is a beautiful bike the ST is rather a required taste I should imagine the ST is better for 2up and it looks comfy I have sat on one granted not ridden it. My friend has one and enjoys riding it but misses the SS I speak as a pillion of the SS by the way it's quite a sporty leant into the rider position and quite hard work hanging on under braking. If I had to choose it would be the SS
What flavour of SS, carby or injected? The carby is a little more comfortable (the i.e. is quite a committed riding position) but the injected bike runs a little smoother. St4 will be quicker, but more comfortable. I have the injected 900ss, and just love its raw edge.
I have a 750SS and an ST2.The 750 is fantastic for hooning round the lanes,(the single disc front stopper is perfectly adequate btw),but I'm not sure I'd want to do more than 100 miles at a stretch on it.Having said that I'm a portly 6'3".... The ST2 is a super piece of kit,good weather protection and plenty of real-world performance.I've done Normandy weekends a couple of times on mine,keeps up with most people on the twisties although the handling is nowhere near as sharp as the 750SS.Would imagine most of this applies to the sT4 Bite the bullet and buy one of each....:biggrin:
Imola - That was going to be my next question! I thought that the SS may well be less. Having had a look around most of the 750SS in my price range (~£1,600 - £1,800) seem to have ~15-20k miles on them, wheareas the ST4 I spotted had ~45K. Can anybody give me an idea of how much I should budget for annual servicing costs for each model (750SS & ST4); assuming that the mileage I do only warrants servicing once a year?
In answer to philoldsmobile's question - Injected. Looking for a probably a 2000/2001 model on my budget.
I stole my injected 900ss in 2011 for £1400 in extremely nice condition, but I did have to go to the edge of the world for it. Love mine, despite not being able to ride for around 18 months (at least) I can't bring myself to sell it. Lovely bike, and all you ever need on the road.
For DIY servicing, a couple of hundred pounds a year will be more than enough, you will have change. Budget a minimum of an annual oil change, about £40 for oil and filter, a pair of plugs (I use platinum plugs and got a noticably smoother engine as a result) belts are around £40 a pair and done every two years, and an air filter at about £40 every couple of years, so alternate air filter and belts each year. Much of the servicing is labour only - blow the dust out of the clutch (900 with dry clutch only) and one worth doing is cleaning the engine earth strap. Not only should you clean the lead and the surface it bolts to, but the part it attaches to also screws into the engine, and this also corrodes. Unscrew, clean up and silicone grease it, and the strap itself. It will make a huge difference to hot starting. Go over the whole bike with a spanner, but its not actually that prone to bolts backing off. Shims are supposed to be done quite regularly, but I have it on good authority that they seldom go out of tolerance inside 40,000 miles, and many don't touch them at all. Mine were done at 10,000 miles, so I'm not in a huge rush to do them as I'm on 25,000 now. Towards the end of the year the bike will go to baines for a full service and it will get shims then.
Many thanks for the advice philoldsmobile, most useful and all sounds like I could tackle it myself, with perhaps a bit of help from a mechanic friend of mine....to make sure I do not make any blunders, as it has been many years (30+) since I rebuilt my BSA 250 Starfire! I have to admit that I am being swayed towards the SS model, and I especially liked Ducbird's 600SS with the 750SS forks.....that was a great looking bike at a great price. Wished I'd been more sure of what I wanted. Anyway I am in no hurry so hopefully something like that will come along again.
You're welcome. The SS is not a complicated bike, desmo asside its really very simple. Watch the video on youtube from California cycleworks on changing 2 valve belts - it really is exactly how the job goes. It's actually an extremely enjoyable bike to work on. If you have a 750ss with the wet clutch you will need a crank rotating tool, but the dry clutch 900 can be rotated with the plugs out by turning the clutch by hand.
