[JmuRiz]

FYI I think the ST3 is a better sport touring motor, and it's cheaper 8) The ST4 (4-valve) really has to be up in the RPM but the 3-valve has a lot of grunt.

[cmartin]

Thanks, I'm slowly learning about Duc's.

The BMW still seems like the best cross bike, if that makes sense. A run to Giant or the gym, or on a date work on the BMW. The fact that they seem to be bullet proof doesnt hurt either. However, the monster is just sexy. There's an ST2 on fleabay that's priced right too...

[markwemple]

Don't forget to look into the cost of maintenance on them. Neither is cheap. But, both are great bikes!

[87turbolook911]

Chris,

Just saw a Duc Monster 600 for sale in Silver Spring. Parked in front of a house. If you're interested, I can try to get the number for you.

[Manny Alban]

If you're going up to Parade Concours and Car Show on June 26th at the Hotel Hershey, Ducati will have bikes, literature and factory reps on hand. They are one of our sponsors. Word has it that the CEO of Ducati also owns a Porsche. I'm trying to convince my wife that I need to upgrade my pitbike and a Ducati is my best bet

[tghii]

Buy a Ducati if you like the idea of learning a new valve train system and the adjustment procedures. The Desmo valve system is amazing - cool old school! I raced Ducs for several years - 748SPS and 996SPS. I love the sound and torque of the Desmo V-twin superbike but the 748,916, 996,998 models are not useful for much more than track days or high speed runs through the countryside. In traffic they are torture. The Ducati ST is the best of both worlds, sport bike and touring. The monster is not my first pick for anything.

BMW's will run forever. I have an '04 BMW 1150 adventure for my all purpose "street" touring bike - heavy traffic, back roads, gravel roads, mud roads it loves them all. The bike is bomb proof. BMW is the bike guys use to ride around the world. There was a book on this in the early 90's - "Investment Biker" can't recall the author but he and his model/girlfriend were the first to ride around the world on a motorcycle.

Be wary of '98 thru 2000 4 valve ducati's as there are many problems with the rocker face flaking and damaging the cams. Also change the cam belts and check the valves on any Duc you buy no matter what the PO tells you about the bike's service history.

[markwemple]

Since you know how to work on a duc, is it something that a p-nut can do or best left to the dealer??

[cmartin]

Thanks for all the info guys, great thread! I'm in no hurry for a bike, but sure would like to find the right one. At this point the Honda 919 sounds like a hoot, old 'r' bmw's still make me sweat too though.

[tghii]

Mark,

I've yet to adjust the valves on a p-car but from what I learned so far it's quite similar. Main difference is in measuring the shims on Desmo and that there is much less access/room on the Duc - maybe a 4" x 3" access to the valve areas.

If you can drop and rebuild a Porsche engine then I'm certain that you can master anything non-electrical on a Ducati. The 4Valve Duc EFI system, burning chips and TPS adjustments are all black magic. There are probably only six or seven tuner guys in the States that have the EFI tuning items truly mastered - Bruce Myers @ BCM, Jeff Nash @ AMS in Texas, and Doug Lofgren in MN. There are others but I think these guys are tops.

If anyone in the area is considering buying a Duc I'll gladly help with a PPI.

thomas

[markwemple]

SO a valve adj on a duc is w/pucks?? What about the belts??