When I bought my used ST4S it came with a set of genuine hard Ducati panniers to match that had not (& still haven't) ever been fitted. I may want to use them at some point but looking through the owners manual it states the maximum speed should be limited to 120 kph or 75 mph in old money which seems a tad restrictive. Now clearly as the maximum speed on UK motorways is 70 mph this is not an issue, but if I ever found myself on an unrestricted German autobahn I might want to travel a little faster. does anyone have any experiences of riding with panniers at, ahem, slightly higher speeds?
Only used soft panniers from oxford and had them at over 160 in holland and over 120 numerous times in Germany and they whers fine !
Two up with a holidays worth of panniers and the wife is fine at enthusiastic speeds, rock solid in fact. Hitting the brakes from a similar velocity when noticing a patrol car on the hard shoulder of the approach to Dover in a hurry is not recommended though ! I imagine. My only issue with Ducati hard luggage is riding solo with the top box at a rate of knots. This gets it into an uncharacteristic slight weave. Placing a pillion in the gap restores everything.
seem over 160 true with top box on the st4s,solid as the bloody rock of gibralter,and it was probably overloaded too.
Its does say 70ish in the manual. i done 90ish on my old ST3S for about 200 miles no problems. Cannot see them coming off, although heavy cross winds can make the bike unstable if fully loaded.
I believe the concern is not that they might come off but at what speed is it safe. This is where Ducati as the manufacturer comes down heavily on the side of a little too much caution. They don't want to get sued after all. I never had a moments concern that my luggage would fall off but the odd weave as described above is not a trait i expect of Ducati's.
St2 with ducati panniers and no top box is solid as a rock up to 90ish, so imagine the st4 should be the same.
I used my ST2 and ST4S on the German Autobahns and had no problem cruising at 100. On one occasion whilst cruising at this speed another ST4 with panniers passed me (German reg) and I would say he was doing around 120. He was comfortable enough to give a wave as he passed leaning to the right on a sweeping bend. I had three STs and they are solid as a rock with luggage at speed.
I have genuine Ducati panniers on my ( old tatty ) ST4 - never even knew that there was a recommnedation about speed in the handbook... Never noticed any problems at all at "higher" speeds... The Biggest problem with Ducati panniers is the damn shape - who designs a pannier that will take a full-face helmet, but NOT an A4 ring-binder ? Bloody Italians !
