St2 vs St4?

[krautmc]

Less than a month and I'll be back in 'merica and I can't wait to ride again! I've spent the last year motorcycle-less and have been eagerly researching my next bike since Feb. I got over my FJR1300 fixation (too expensive, too much for around town and I didn't meet the min. age req.  ) and I thought I'd narrowed it down to a VFR or a Sprint ST. But then, I spotted an ad for a 1998 St2 and I was quite taken with it. So that got me to thinking...ST2 or ST4? From what I can tell the difference is 10 hp and + $1000 bucks used for a ST4 over an ST2. What say you Ducatistas, any compelling arguments for either bike? Why did Ducati offer two such similar models?

[1KPerDay]

The difference is a bit more than 10 HP... more like 30

ST2 ('98) 75.4 @ 8500 56.6 @ 6500 12.39 @ 106.2 5.42  532  
ST4 ('99) 105.5 @ 9250 63.3 @ 7250 11.03 @ 123.8 4.88  525  

[atadaskew]

Yup, a 40% gain in powah is kinda significant!
Move up to an St4s and it is about 50% gain, plus ya get Ohlins suspension, alloy swing arm, Marchesini lighter 5 spoke wheels.

[wvrider]

big power difference. Watch out for ST4's for maintenance on valves as they did/do have a history of flaking rockers. The ST2 line has been flat out solid engine wise. The early years (to 99) had some electrical charging gremlins but did have fully adjustable front forks. Any of them are great bikes, depends on how fast you want to get to how fast.

Phil

[1KPerDay]

Yup, a 40% gain in powah is kinda significant!
Move up to an St4s and it is about 50% gain, plus ya get Ohlins suspension, alloy swing arm, Marchesini lighter 5 spoke wheels.

Actually according to this same source (motorcyclist) the ST4s "only" puts out about 108HP to the rear wheel.

Nice engine, though.

ST4s ('02) 107.8 @ 9000 66.7 @ 7000 10.74 @ 126.1 4.39  521 28.1/18.2/4.9 12/01

[atadaskew]

Sportrider's numbers for the 05 St4s:
ST4S ('05)  2/05  33/60/42  69.0 @ 7250  114.2 @ 9000  534  501  

What does this all mean? Still more go juice than a 250 Ninja!

[Vee2Win]

Less than a month and I'll be back in 'merica and I can't wait to ride again! I've spent the last year motorcycle-less and have been eagerly researching my next bike since Feb. I got over my FJR1300 fixation (too expensive, too much for around town and I didn't meet the min. age req.  ) and I thought I'd narrowed it down to a VFR or a Sprint ST. But then, I spotted an ad for a 1998 St2 and I was quite taken with it. So that got me to thinking...ST2 or ST4? From what I can tell the difference is 10 hp and + $1000 bucks used for a ST4 over an ST2. What say you Ducatistas, any compelling arguments for either bike? Why did Ducati offer two such similar models?

The ST bike you are thinking about is the ST3 and was 1K less when both were sold during the same years.  It has 10hp less than the ST4S.  The ST2 is the 2 valve air cooled bike.

[levine98]

The ST bike you are thinking about is the ST3 and was 1K less when both were sold during the same years.  It has 10hp less than the ST4S.  The ST2 is the 2 valve air cooled bike.

think they are all water cooled, even the ST2.

[1KPerDay]

you are correct.

[krautmc]

Ah, I did mix up the models..my ba..er not allowed to say that anymore..my mistake. The ST3 and ST4s are out of my budget range but I'll keep my eye out for a deal, that ST4s is really appealing.  The ST2 I have my eye on is a '98 with the FBF chip and exhaust and about 18k miles and says it just had "the big service" done. A bike this ought to be good for many more miles I'd imagine. What's the next service interval, every 6k for valves? Anything else to look for?

[Desmo Demon]

Ohlins suspension, alloy swing arm, Marchesini lighter 5 spoke wheels.

You are thinking of the ST4s and not the ST4.....

Here's a good thread on the differences on the ST models...
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=15290

I really like my '98 ST2. At 28k miles, I hope I have all the bugs worked out of the electrical (the location of the voltage regulator was prone to frying them on the '98 model). The ease of maintenance on the 2V is another bonus.

[Hulked Up]

The biggest difference for me would be the maintenance between the ST2 and ST4.  On the 2V someone with average mechanical ability can do all the maintenance including changing the belts and checking/adjusting the valves.  The valve work on the ST4 is quite a bit more complicated (4 valves per cylinder) and is best left to a competent dealer unless you’re comfortable doing that kind of thing.  

The service interval is 6,000 miles for a check of the valves and adjustment if necessary.  Belts should be changed out every 12,000 miles or 2-3 years.  Make sure those items were done.  The “big service” they talked about would have been the 12,000 mile.  Good idea to ask for records and see if they have the measurements for the valve clearances, to see if they were out of spec or not.  If you get a blank stare you might question how well the maintenance schedule was followed.  Very important on a bike like that.

There’s an obvious horsepower difference and the ST4 has better suspension with a remote adjusting shock.  If those are less important to you the ST2 should be fine.  The ST2 engine is a very good one.

[Desmo Demon]

the ST4 has better suspension with a remote adjusting shock.

The '98 ST2 has adjustable front and rear suspensions.    ....and used '98 models can be found for $4000-$5000, all day long.

[1KPerDay]

You are thinking of the ST4s and not the ST4.....

that's why he said

Move up to an St4s and it is about 50% gain, plus ya get Ohlins suspension, alloy swing arm, Marchesini lighter 5 spoke wheels.

 

[Vee2Win]

think they are all water cooled, even the ST2.

Ha...teacher becomes the student.  I guess I missed class the day they went over the ST2.  

[Desmo Demon]

that's why he said

Doh!    My morning coffee must not have kicked in.  

 

[atadaskew]

that's why he said


 

1K's got my back, alright!