Advice needed on bike purchase

[Pablo Uganda]

Gidday there.

I'm considering buying either a Ducati ST4 or a Triumph Sprint ST age wise around about 3 yrs old.
I have'nt ridden either model yet, but having had Jap bikes thought I'd try one of the above.
Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of them, like any known faults that occurr regular and what you think, those that have owned or ridden them.

Cheers.

[Lou Girardin]

Don't know about Ducs, but the ST is pretty much bulletproof. Right up with the VFR800 as a sports/tourer, but with a more characterful engine.

[Avignon]

The ST Dukes may be bullet proof but the service costs of an Duke is substantial and the service intervals less than a trumpy let alone a rice burner.

[Pablo Uganda]

Thanks guys.

I've heard that Ducatis can be costly to maintain and need to be done more by a specialist than a normal mechanic.
Dont know if thats correct, but its been mentioned in passing to me.

[Bonez]

Thanks guys.

I've heard that Ducatis can be costly to maintain and need to be done more by a specialist than a normal mechanic.
Dont know if thats correct, but its been mentioned in passing to me.

The Desmo valve adjustment needs to be done absolutely spot on. 10,000km intervals at the most- head removal required to adjust two of them. Cam belts, two of, every 20,000km along with the pully needle bearings.

[GB500nz]

Expect it to cost about $1500 a year for maintenance and to be less reliable than a Jap bike. If you're going to ride it, get the Trumpy. If you're going to look at it, get the Duke.

[Pablo Uganda]

Hmmm, ok, I did'nt know the heads had to come off just for adjustment, that seems a bit of a prick.

GB500, I like what you said, look at it = Duc, ride it = Triumph

I imagine the Triumphs are like the Japs, pretty reliable and reasonably maintinance free.

[Mooch]

The ST Dukes may be bullet proof but the service costs of an Duke is substantial and the service intervals less than a trumpy let alone a rice burner.

Is this fact or Bullshit ?. Seem to remember a couple of mate's ST T's service costs were similar to the Ducati. I don't think there's much in it.

Triumph ST wise some of the earlier ones had issues with cooling / Radators , but should have been sorted under warranty . One of these owners traded the Triumph at 70,000 and it had no issues in that time so seem / are realiable.