In the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s - sure bolt on an aftermarket fairing, everybody did it. In the 20-teens - not a hope.
There is nothing to stop them doing the whole watercooled thing. I'd love a Multistrada motor. I just don't want it in a Multistrada. I want it in an inimitably Italian super-styled, gorgeous, comfyish Ducati that looks the business when parked up and attracts a hoard of jealous onlookers to stroke my ego. What is so hard to understand about that, Signor Domenicali?
I would have thought it possible to produce a model that would combine a 900ss replacement as well as an ST replacement, one with plenty of scope to adjust seat height, handlebar position, fairing height etc so you can from low seat & clip ons to upright and higher seat with a couple of minutes spannering. I had Gillies adjustable bars on my last 900ss and they gave a fair amount of adjustment and a piece of cake to do. I`m pretty sure they wont build one just for me but that would certainly be something I`d consider and I`m sure I`m not the only one. At the moment my next bike could well be the latest BMW R1200RS and that is surely what an ST would be competing with today. It seems to offer all I need and want from a bike and is even quite good looking (especially in white/blue) for a BMW.
My try list for the spring includes the R1200RS, the 1290 Super Duke GT and the K1300S. I'll also give the DVT another go, just to see if having the new map and the right seat height makes sufficient of a difference.
Surely "niche market" is what Ducati is good at ? I reckon their reasoning doesn't make sense - I think what they really mean is "there is a market, but it's already being covered by Kawasaki, BMW et al and we don't think we can compete..."
That would be good enough for me I've had the st2 st4 and still got the st 3. I would buy something like the above...but I'd keep the st3 too. in fact a 1199 with a real passenger seat would do fine Santa.
Ducati would argue they have the sports/tourer market covered with the Multi. I don't like the styling of them, if they did a version without the beak I would buy one. But I doubt the investment needed in producing a sportier looking Multi would be realised in extra sales and if they did people would complain that they wanted Panigale based ST. So I will stick with my ST3. When you look around at other manufacturers who produce a sports tourer - eg Triumph ST, Honda VFR, Kawasaki Z1000SX ... there don't appear to be that many around on a recent plate. You have to conclude the sports tourer is out of fashion, it might not stay that way forever but I doubt it will change in the near future.
I've been riding a BMW F800ST for the last four years, then just recently due to the battery dying I started riding my hubby's 2nd bike – his ST2. It only took a couple of rides and I was absolutely hooked and am desperately wanting an ST3. He says I have to sell the Beemer first because there's no more space in the garage, and he refuses to put the 848 in the potting shed. I find cornering on the ST2 easier than the F800, kind of more natural if that makes sense, and I love the more forward riding position, not to mention the incredible sound of the bike. I was quite amazed recently when I found out that Ducati no longer make the sports tourer any more. Surely people are still touring, and surely many like me want to ride a Ducati? The very idea of touring on my hubby's 848 makes me wince :Inpain: – that seat is like a small slab of granite about the size of a tea plate! I'm just pleased to bits that I discovered the ST2
Welcome to the ST: I've been riding since the mid-70s, on Ducati since 1982 and have had my ST4s for 13 years, from new. Although I have a Multistrada 1200, good bike though it is, it's a blunt instrument compared to the balance, precision and finesse of the ST. They have that effect on people and mine will probably outlast every other bike I own. Enjoy the ride!
What the Ducati head honcho didn't mention was that the ST's were not promoted nearly enough because Ducati were going through one of their financial crises New bike ,new sector you have to give it a good push to get it to catch on Had my first Ducati in 1976 and had one ever since .In 2003 I had a VFR which I had grown to dislike then I saw an ST4 and the Honda was binned on the spot.I've still got it and it's a keeper
Hmmm... Maybe a "parts bin special" ST4 would work. That's how the Monster started - and who would have bet on that becoming Ducati's biggest selling bike ever? But if they never take the chance they'll never find out.
I don't know why they can't just rework the Pani, higher bars, taller screen, a tweak or two to the geometry, beef up and extend the rear subframe, suspension et al. Design some sexy panniers and matching box, detachable a'la givi stylie and the jobs a good un. To my mind it's a no-brainer, who wouldn't want one if it was executed correctly? Seriously, how hard can it be? Oh, and it has to weigh in at sub 200kg, wet, and have a sss
I have read many a thread like this before. I am a fan of the ST, and don't find it ugly. SSie's have ugly covered ,but I think a combination of ST, SS & Monsters could make a very versatile but functional machine. When doing long rides on my ST2, I often wonder what area I need to improve, and it was always suspension, but not that necessary, it was OK, but an area I wanted to improve. Brakes are easily updated and the simplicity of the electrics limited the list of probables in a break down, though I never had one. The fairing on the series 1 could do with some work, so the Series 2 fixed that. Multistrada guys don't like their screens either so the problem still remains not to mention all the other technical difficulties the Multi suffers I never got a speeding fine on my ST, because the police saw the panniers and assumed 'old man', so I was OK with that. I have an ST2 in my garage that I am restoring and I will put it back to stock with an emphasis on reliability and comfort for stress free riding. My 998 can just be pretty and ridden for fun. If Ducati made a modern ST, it would have too many unnecessary bells and whistles I don't want or need. I am an analogue man, electricity sucks! Craig
Here's a concept from US site Asphalt and Rubber. It's part MutleyStrada, part Pani, but leaning more towards the MS side things in the riding position. Here's a thought though, what if Ducati went the other way? Instead of a new sports tourer, given the ongoing popularity of the likes of the ZZ-R and the 'Busa, what about a Hypertourer? Would the Diavel engine make the basis for a continent muncher?
This is a tempting and attractive proposal, except for the ugly way the front of the fairing has been circumcised.
I agree with Technomad. If the KTM GT is a sales success I wouldn't bet against a Ducati ST. Upright tourers don't suit everyone and I wouldn't be surprised if the format didn't prove to be of its time. I quite like the Asphalt an Rubberr 1199 concept though its a little too like the Multi for me. And why the 1199? The 1299 is surely the engine to use. I bet they don't though, they'd use the DVT engine which I don't think will match the performance of KTM's 1290 and they'd want 19 grand for it..
