ST2 Review - wisebuyers.co.uk

[Mini Mo]

It may be Ducati's "entry level" sports tourer, but don't let that put you off - the ST2 Sport Tourismo is a very capable motorcycle, and much cheaper to keep in good fettle than the upmarket ST4 and ST4s.

More oriented towards touring, the ST2 features a very smooth power delivery, with high torque at low rpm. The engine is a big-bore version of the old 900SS unit. Now 944cc, the two-valve, liquid cooled motor delivers 83hp at 8500rpm and 61 ft-lb torque at 6500rpm.

Pay another £1400 for a new ST4 and you get the 916cc four-valve, liquid cooled engine, with 103.5bhp at 9000rpm. The top of the range ST4s gets the 996cc four-valve engine derived from the 2000 Superbike world championship contender. Maximum power is 117bhp at 8750rpm.

But while the ST4 and ST4s get trick suspension that wouldn't be out of place on a track tool, ST2 is equipped with 43mm upside down Showa forks that can only be adjusted for pre-load. The rear suspension is fully adjustable. It's enough to tweak the bike for the roads you'll be riding in typical touring use.
But if you really must take your ST2 on a track day, you can swing the exhausts up out of the way for extra ground clearance.

Ducati and Brembo go together like bread and butter, so the ST4 comes with two 320mm front discs and four-piston calipers and a 245mm rear disc and two-piston caliper.

Paint finish is metallic dark gray frame and wheels and metallic silver gray for the engines. Besides the classic red and yellow, there is also a metallic blue and a silver version of the ST2.

Top speed is over 130mph, and you can expect 40mpg - that means 180 miles between fill-ups. Just what you want from a sports tourer.