Ignition relay burnt out twice, both times leaving me stranded.
Headlight replaced at a week old when the reflector started corroding.
Intermittent failure of rev counter traced to corroded multiplugs on the wiring loom. The bike was only 3 weeks old at the time! This was fixed, but just before I got rid of the bike it was happening again.
Original battery died within the first month, despite the bike being used at least twice a week from new.
Hose union on the rear brake caliper started weeping.
Light switch on the rear brake failed.
Very noisy (even by dry standards) clutch. Much noisier than the demonstrator bike, but apparently "within limits".
Coolant leak from rear (vertical) cylinder head gasket at 1,000 miles.
All this within a month!
Never again!
Maybe Ducati's sports bikes have a unique appeal that offsets the exorbitant price and primitive levels of build and component quality, but that doesn't extend to the ST4. I bought it with an open mind, but sadly even the worst rumours I'd heard about Ducati quality and reliability didn't do justice to the experience I was about to endure.
This bike replaced a very tired 75,000 mile D1 model ZZR600, which although a total dog in most respects, actually never let me down. This £8.5k ST4 left me at the side of the road in the first week of ownership.
In the end things got so bad, I used the Sale of Goods Act to reject the bike after just under four weeks of ownership on the grounds it was both not of merchantable quality, and unfit for purpose (part of the reason I chose it was to tour, and how can you tour on a bike that hadn't in the time I'd owned it completed more than 150 miles without something going wrong?)
Lovely, lovely engine from the 916 superbike, good performance and handled beautifully. Sadly, these qualities were rendered irrelevant by the problems. My first and last Ducati.
Heavens. That's a nightmare. Since getting rid of my m750 (ibid), I've bumped into lots of people who say I should have stuck with it. Labour of love and all that.
This is nonsense. Why should our toys punish us? Glad you're showing the same indignation and making the mistake only once. Shame though, cos of the engines, their sound, and the look of the things...
Sounds like a saga, however I have had a completely different experience with my 2001 ST4. Just turned 17K miles, and it has been nothing but fun and enjoyment. I ride a lot, and like it more now than when I bought it! Great bike, gets lots of attention, handles incredibly, and that motor!
I have had more than enough problems with my ST4. I too would NEVER buy another Ducati. Servicing is horrendously expensive (I have had two bills over £1000) and the thing eats batteries. It lives on an Optimate in the garage, so is always fully topped up, yet refused to start after work a couple of weeks ago (I have not ridden it since). I surmise there must be something wrong with the wiring, something draining the battery, but that's not the point as far as I'm concerned. There should not be a simple problem like that.
The clutch has been a problem (the reason for one of the £1000+ bills) and the radiator costs over £700 (the reason for the second big service bill).
Also, if you drop it, DO NOT pick it up by the tank - it's not stressed for that sort of thing. Guess how I found out...
The fairing was not designed by someone who gave any thought to the need to remove it to work on the bike. And the swing-arm seems to have too much play.
Looks like I might have to buy a Triumph or, god forbid, a Honda.
I have had an ST2 (similar bike) for the last 6 years and have done 26,000 miles on it.
The only problems I've had have been needing to rebuild it after writing it off after a side on collision from a car, no damage to frame, engine, wheels etc.. these things are tough!!!
After that I broke the fuel pump wiring by tilting the tank too far forward (past the little peg there to support it, and have had 1 new set of wheel bearings.
A few problems have arisen because a garage kept ordering the wrong parts.. not a fault of the bike.
All in all I'm very pleased with it.. that's why I've kept it so long.
Yep they can be touchy? I have my ST4S for nearly 3 years and I love it, there just is not any other bike that I have tried that would replace it, (yes and I have tried them all).
Have decided to service it myself as I trust no one, and do not want to pay them silly service bills. Fairly easy to work on. Belt is an easy job.
The problems are: wiring (big multi connector full of water), simple dry out and clean with electrical cleaner and cover it up by using a large heat shrink to recover.
Fuel pump relays; well just carry a spare or swap it out with one that you don't use to get you home.
Chains, well don't last long do they, use a scott oiler will help.
Tyres, by far the best I have ever had is - pilot road2. Last 3 times as long as any other tyre AND COMPLETELY TRANSFORM THE BIKE.
Fuel is good at 180 miles per tank (2 up).
At the end of the day it gets looks everywhere I go, and I love it sound and handling. It will do anything the others will do and better. 160mph; How fast do you want to go. It is normally all down to the riders skills. Well do you still think they're all bad?
Regards
CS.
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