Overview

The Ducati sport touring tradition began way back in 1957 with the humble 175TS (Tour Sport), a favourite of chief engineer Gianluigi Mengoli. He notes "compared to the standard 175 Ducati, the TS added more power and comfort with a two-up seat and a relaxed riding position.

Today's ST family is much the same; comfort, lots of power and great handling". The Ducati formula of comfort, luggage capacity, a racing-inspired chassis and suspension results in a versatile motorcycle that satisfies the most demanding sport enthusiast.

The Sport Touring family fulfils its Gran Turismo principle with a more relaxed riding position and some of the most powerful Ducati Desmodromic 90° L-twin engines. Adding the Superbike-derived trellis frame, fuel-injection, computer engine management and the latest race-tested braking and suspension systems guarantee confident and capable road manners.

This year, the Ducati Sport Touring range includes the ST2, ST4, ST4s and the all new ST4s ABS. The addition of an advanced Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) to the ST4S line opens a new dimension of safety and confidence in any touring conditions.

With 4 different models, highly differentiated in performance and equipment, the Ducati Sport Touring family is aimed at satisfying a wide range of Sport Touring customers, and delivers optimum performance whether touring, sports riding or racing on the track.

In Detail

The Sport Touring family, Gran Turismo bikes that combine perfectly comfort and high performances, presents, for the 2003 MY, an important and innovative element: the ABS. This will equip the top level model, the ST4s (with the ST4s standard model remaining in the range).

The Sport Touring family:

- ST2
- ST4
- ST4s
- ST4s ABS

The ST family models are highly differentiated in their performance and equipment, to satisfy both customers who prefer a more touring orientation and those who prefer a sportier riding experience, or even a day on the track.

The Ducati ST range features three different engines, each designed to compliment the intended use of each individual model:

· ST2: Desmodue 944cc engine, liquid-cooled, two-valve and fuel injected. 83 HP at 8,500 rpm and 8.5 kgm of torque at 6,500 rpm

· ST4: Desmoquattro 916cc engine, liquid-cooled, four-valve and fuel injected. 105 HP at 9,000 rpm and 9 kgm of torque at 7,500 rpm

· ST4s / ST4s ABS: Desmoquattro 996cc engine, liquid-cooled, four-valve and fuel injected. 117 HP at 8,750 rpm and 10 kgm of torque at 7,000 rpm

The three Ducati Desmo twin cylinder engines share several important features:

· Electronic injection - to deliver smooth linear power and torque over the widest rpm range no matter the conditions, plus improved throttle response compared to a carburetted engine.
· Low fuel consumption - The Ducati ST models are at the top of the segment in terms of fuel mileage.
· Exhaust system with catalytic converters – All comply with the forecasted Euro 2 emission standards.

All Model Year 2003 model have a redesigned and improved gear selector drum. The new drum improves shifting action and precision plus eliminates “false” neutrals between the gears.

The ST4s and ST4s-ABS have a new starter safety system. Up to model year 2002, the starter safety system did not allow the engine to run with the side stand down, preventing the rider from starting out with the stand down. Although this was designed to increase safety, the engine could not be warmed up while on its side stand. Ducati was receptive to the recommendations of its customers to modify the system by introducing a new system that allows the engine to run when the stand is lowered and the bike is in neutral. The safety system now stops the engine as soon as the clutch lever is pulled if the stand is down, making it impossible ride away with the side stand down. The advantages: safety is guaranteed while the rider can still warm up the engine while in neutral with the stand down.

The signature Ducati trellis frame is used on the entire Sport Touring family. It is constructed of mitered and welded high-rigidity ALS450 tubing. Its advanced design integrates the engine as a “stressed member” component. Combined, the trellis frame and engine create a confident inspiring chassis that is light, rigid and beautiful. The advanced chassis design and geometry deliver a ride that combines great handling in the curves, yet high stability at speed.

Each Ducati ST model is equipped with suspension systems selected and tuned for the specific models.

The ST2 uses a 43 mm Showa upside down front fork that is externally adjustable for spring preload, allowing quick adaptation of the suspension to the variations in load typical of touring use. The rear shock is a Sachs fully adjustable.

The ST4 is equipped with Showa 43 mm upside down forks that are fully adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound damping, in keeping with the sport and tourism features of the model. The advanced suspension can be adjusted to both the variations in load and personal riding style. Also the ST4 features a fully adjustable Sachs rear shock.

The ST4s and ST4s ABS feature our highest performance suspension components. Up front both bikes have Showa 43 mm fully adjustable upside down forks, with the additional advantage of TiN treatment to the fork legs. TiN treatment, normally found on only the most exotic race bikes, ensures smooth travel and superior suspension action by lowering the friction of the fork sliders.
A fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock is another feature usually found on competition motorcycles. Additionally the Ohlins shock is equipped with a remote spring preload adjustment, allowing the rider to quickly adapt the bike to riding conditions and load without the use of tools.

All models of the Ducati ST range offer accessories and details to meet the individual desires and tastes of the variety of Sport Touring customers.

The exhaust silencers are height adjustable. When lowered to the touring position they allow the side panniers to be mounted, and when raised to their sport position they give additional ground clearance for spirited sport riding.

The side panniers have a combined capacity of over 50 litre, and they even hold most full face helmets.

All models feature an easily accessed 12 volt external outlet to power popular accessories. Additionally it can be used to charge your battery without removing the fairing.

A lifting handle on the right side of the bike assists the rider when lifting the motorcycle on to its centre stand.

The ST4s ABS is the first Ducati to include an Anti Lock Braking System (ABS), adding a new level of safety to the Sport Touring family. The state-of-the-art ABS system engineered by Ducati delivers unprecedented performance compared to the systems currently found in the industry.

An ABS systems purpose is to prevent the wheels from locking-up during emergency braking and low traction situations, one of the main causes of falling on a motorcycle.

The system installed on the Ducati ST4s is produced by Bosch and has had its settings developed by Brembo in collaboration with Ducati. The system utilizes a control unit that, by means of valves and pumps, manages the pressure in the braking circuits of the front and rear brake callipers. The input signals to the control unit depend on the actuation of the controls by the rider, (front brake lever and rear brake pedal) and by speed sensors on the wheels. The logic behind this is that when a wheel is sensed to slow down too much in relation to the calculated speed of the motorcycle, a valve - placed on the corresponding branch of the braking system - reduces the pressure in the circuit - produced by the rider’s action on the control levers - from rising further and preventing wheel lock-up. The efficiency and speed of the spontaneous control logic of the control unit is such to allow a 90% utilisation of the wheel-ground grip coefficient available, making efficient braking possible even in cases of panic stopping or when surfaces offer inadequate grip.

The ABS braking system adopted by Ducati allows separate ABS management of the two braking systems, front and rear.

An important goal for Ducati in introducing the ABS system was that the Ducati system had to maintain the same “feeling” as a traditional system. Understanding the sport riding priorities of the ST4 customer, the Ducati system gives good sport braking feel and feedback, not the “spongy” feeling typical of other ABS systems for motorcycles.

For reasons of safety, in case of a system malfunction the ABS is cut out and the system functions as a traditional brake without ABS to ensure effective braking power.

A SUMMARY OF NEW FEATURES

On the whole range:

· New gear selector drum for more precise shifting and elimination of “false” neutrals between gears.
· External 12 volt outlet that also allows battery recharging.


On the ST4s:

· A New version with ABS – the ST4s ABS
· New starter safety system, which allows the engine to be warmed-up with the side stand down. The system stops the engine as soon as the clutch lever is pulled if the side stand is down, making it impossible to ride away with the side stand down.
· New dark metallic grey colour with red wheel rims
· New graphics - side vents and filler plug are colour matched to the fairing. The dark metallic grey model has side vents in silver


All of the Ducati ST models deliver the pleasure of riding comfort, performance, practicality, safety and environmental friendliness. Now all models are catalysed, and are in compliance with the forecasted Euro 2 emission standards.

ST 2

ST 4

ST 4S

ST 4S ABS