Introducing Myself. A Born Again St4s Owner...

Hi All,

Doing the introduction thing. I actually bought my bike a while back now and have been posting to different forums. There cannot be a correct one I suppose but I joined Ducati.org which has an international flavour. Great people and advice but not what I actually intended. Bit of a worry as I work in IT

Firstly, I hate the born again moniker. I prefer once a biker always a biker. I rode for pleasure, commuting, shopping, work, holidays for years before parenthood and speed tax cameras finally put me off. I always had Japanese bikes and aspired to a Ducati ST2.

I prevaricated for ages before purchasing my ST4s and read copiously on previous roadtests and forums advice. After a 14 year lay off I was considering a Multistrada or an ST2 but after trying a Yamaha Tracer 900 I decided the upright riding position was not for me. I wimped out on an ST2 for no good reason and a super low mileage ST3 but when I test rode the ST4s I was hooked.

I have been gradually feeding in power and speed and gaining confidence. Chicken lines nearly gone on the back tyre. The bike does inspire confidence and I am delighted I plumped for a sportier machine. Each to his or her own, of course, but I find that the initial 'scary power' rapidly becomes usable power to relish and enjoy and the handling is really sublime. I now understand what all the Duke fanatics were going on about and I get it. 2 cylinder torque, handling that makes you feel truly unworthy and character and style that only the Italians can deliver.

I have had one breakdown so far (about 1500 miles into ownership) which was the clutch slave. I have replaced with an Oberon unit. Will be riding to the MotoGP this month. If there is a group meeting up, perhaps at the Super Sausage Cafe in Towcester, I'd love to join in a convoy.

The picture is of my beloved machine at rest in Thaxted, Essex on a leisurely ride out last year.

Happy riding.

Cheers

Greg

 

The bed is a bit uncomfortable too

 

It's Greg, cheers

 

Cheers Trig

 

Dun