Ask anyone to name the top sports-tourers, and the chances are they'll forget to mention Ducati. It's easy to understand why the ST4 doesn't register on most riders' radar - think Ducati and you think World Superbike and the race-bred 916-996-998 dynasty.
But the 916-engined ST4 makes an awesome tourer, with sportsbike handling and a stonking motor that pulls hard all the way to 160mph.
Ducati's Sport-touring family includes three models. The ST2 is the "entry level" model, oriented mainly towards touring, and competitively priced. The ST4 is a classic, the best compromise Ducati can offer between Touring and Sport. For those with deep pockets, the ST4s is designed for a sport-touring rider more oriented towards sport use, wanting not only comfort and versatility for long trips but also performance even when used on the track.
The ST2 is equipped with the 944cc two-valve, liquid cooled engine, which delivers 83bhp at 8500rpm and a torque of 61 ft-lb at 6500rpm. This puppy is the top of the sports-tourers when it comes to fuel economy and tank range.
The ST4 features the 916cc liquid cooled four-valve engine with a maximum power of 104bhp at 9000 rpm and a maximum torque of 66 ft-lb at 7500rpm. It's also smoother than the two-valve ST2.
Finally, for the ST4s is equipped with a motor derived from the engine that competed in the 2000 Superbike world championship. It offers a maximum power of 117bhp at 8750 rpm, a torque of 72 ft-lb at 7000rpm.
Front suspension features 43mm upside down Showa forks, with fully adjustable (pre-load, compression and rebound), which allows you to adjust the bike to your own riding style. The rear suspension of the ST2 and the ST4 is based on a fully adjustable monoshock absorber. The ST4s gets a fully adjustable Ohlins monoshock, with pre-load remote control for fast and simple adjustment. The ST4s also features five-spoke Marchesini wheels, directly derived from the Ducati Superbike. They're approximately 1kg lighter than the other two models.
All three bikes are fitted with top-quality Brembo brakes with two 320mm front discs and four-piston calipers, and a 245mm rear disc and two-piston caliper.
The ST Dukes may have a fine lineage leading right to the racetrack, but they are also supremely comfortable long-distance mile-munchers - even with a passenger. Other sports-tourers like the Honda VFR and Triumph Sprint ST can't live with the Duke on a fast road.
Make mine a yellow one.
