Ducati ST2

ISTR that was posted on here, sometime back.

 

Well lets look at the specifics. I used a 996 to commute to London from
Oxford. Note the ST4 is the 916, the ST4S is the 996. The latter is a much
better unit.

Look at the actual service prices for starters, not as great a difference as
one might think.
www.ducati-john.co.uk/routine-ducati-servicing.htm

Belts, of which much is made. For peace of mind change every 6000 miles if
you will, I think factory is 12000 though. Buy a little tool perhaps
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Duca...-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ290136019770QQcmdZViewItem
and do it yourself. Belts are only £26 each or thereabouts.

Oil changes, filters etc. you would do yourself.

What does that leave? valve clearances. Get a man to do it every 12000
miles, checking the rocker faces at the same time.

 

That's assuming that, if I got a 2-valve engine, I'd actually pay for
servicing on it.

Yeah, I see what you mean. I'm just not all that confident in my
abilities to look after the 4-valve engines, but I'm convinced I could
look after a 2-valve engine.

Maybe it's just a confidence thing, but I've never liked doing belts on
twin-cam engines.

 

Embarrassment can do terrible things to you.

 

I rode a GPZ550 into the ground commuting 206 miles a day on a return
trip to Norwich and back plus weekend mileage. It had been couriered
before I got it, I was quite impressed that it lasted me nearly 4 months
before the top end finally gave out.

 

It wouldn't be the maintenance costs that would worry me: it would be
the nagging doubt that the 916/996 lump simply isn't as solid as some of
the old two-valvers, and that any repair work will come into the
'ferociously expensive' category.

 

This is the expensive bit, mind - especially if the rocker faces have
worn out (though I thought that was an issue reserved for the 748?)

 

snip>

It's less than I spend on stuff for a packed lunch and that's without
the added cost of toasted bacon sandwiches.

 

snip>

I had kevlar belts put in my 748 because they're supposed to be
capable of doing the 10k miles without any need for concern and they
certainly weren't double the price of standard ones.

 

You wanna fit GL1500 cambelts, you do - 100,000 mile service item.
£38 the pair.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..90668../..24701.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 26 Pts:0500 Miles:1739

 

exactly - 500 quid/ year is peanuts[1]

[1] less than that, if you can be fed on this sort of money.

 

Uh? the 996 engine is unburstable AFAIK. THe original 916 might have had a
few niggles but TBF that was mostly on the electrics.