I've seen the Darkside

[miSTa]

Yes its true I saw it, the dark side that is, and loved it. On Sunday I had the privilege of taking a Ducati ST4 for a blast around the block. Well it was supposed to be around the block but instead of turning left I went right. I couldn't help myself the ST4 was such great fun I just had to keep on going. What a blast.

Before taking the ST4 out I took out a Triumph Sprint ST. That went well, great brakes, quite comfortable but to me the steering felt very heavy. The amount of effort needed on the handlebars to steer the thing was huge though to be fair I had just jumped off on the GS where the bars are the width of the road wide. Nice bike but didn't set the world on fire.

Next bike around the block was a Guzzi V11 courtesy of Lemans. Physically quite a small bike probably too small for me but nonetheless that was a nice ride. I would describe it as a connoisseurs bike - one for the purists, you need to get your technique right to get the most out of it. Get right it lets you know, get wrong and it tells you that to. Easier to steer that the Sprint (then again maybe I was getting use to the narrow bars by then) but a little more cramped. Enjoyable but I couldn't imagine Mrs S wanting to spend all day on the back.

Then came the Ducati ST4. Fitted like a glove, extremely comfortable, all the get and go I need, great handling; changing directions was a piece of cake. What a great sound winding on the throttle. I thought the induction roar on my old ZZR1100 was great but the ST4 was way better. I haven't this much fun a bike for years. This is a bike I could own (won't be this particular one but a ST4 all the same).

Then the trip home on the GS was slow and boring, mmmmmmmm, the darkside is calling...and calling very loudly.



A big thanks to Lemans and Ian at Just Motorcycles for the rides.

[far queue]

Come on in, it's great in here. Now you see why I got one, huh? Your write up sounds very similar to my views when I 1st rode mine, and I'm still very pleased with it.

[laRIKin]

Come on in, it's great in here. Now you see why I got one, huh? Your write up sounds very similar to my views when I 1st rode mine, and I'm still very pleased with it.

Well......well when do I get a test ride.

And we all could tell (that is the people standing out side the shop) that you really really liked the ST4 Mr S.
Now you just have to talk the better half around to the Dark Side.

[far queue]

Well......well when do I get a test ride.

I'm sure if you ask Ian nicely you'll get a ride.

And we all could tell (that is the people standing out side the shop) that you really really liked the ST4 Mr S.

Did he come back with a hard on too?

[miSTa]

Come on in, it's great in here. Now you see why I got one, huh? Your write up sounds very similar to my views when I 1st rode mine, and I'm still very pleased with it.

Where else have you been on yours apart from the Hare a few weeks ago? How does it feel now compared to your first ride? Anything you don't like?

And we all could tell (that is the people standing out side the shop) that you really really liked the ST4 Mr S.
Now you just have to talk the better half around to the Dark Side.

Was it that obvious? Mrs S, yeah well thats going to be a challenge. Damn you BMW for making the pillion perch on the GS so good.

Did he come back with a hard on too?

Are you really sure you want to know?

[laRIKin]

I'm sure if you ask Ian nicely you'll get a ride.

Did he come back with a hard on too?

I think that I will have to ask Ian.

And did not look.

And he was still walking normally, not like you.

[far queue]

Where else have you been on yours apart from the Hare a few weeks ago?

For the Hare I went down SHWY1 and came back via Cave, Fairlie, Geraldine, Rakaia Gorge. I've been for another blat round the Summit Rd and the bays. Saturday I took the boring roads out to the Hororata pub and home via Waimak Gorge, Ashley Gorge, Loburn. It's great. It's happy and comfortable at 100kph on the boring, straight, cop infested, main roads and even better at, umm, slightly faster speeds in the twisties and less infested back roads. The longest single stretch so far has been 321km home from the Hare, and I felt fresh and fit when I got off at home. Fuel consumption during the hare ride was 19km/L - range from a tank looks as though it'll be around 400km.

Weather permitting, I'm going for a ride on Saturday somewhere. Dunno where yet, was thinking maybe Hanmer. Come along if you like. The weekend after I'm off to the Mokihinui rally, then the weekend after that (Easter) a day ride to Blenheim for the airshow, then the weekend after that maybe heading down to Omarama/Wanaka/Queenstown for the weekend. After that lot I should be well sorted and will have found any flaws.

How does it feel now compared to your first ride?

I fell in love with it on the test ride, and still feel the same. In fact it's just getting better as I get used to it more.

Anything you don't like?

The fuse on the accessory socket was only 3A - I blew it after I'd owned the bike for about 4 minutes. It's now a 7.5A job so I can blow my lilo up at rallies. Newer models have 20A fuses and presumably heavier wiring. That's it - it's great.

Are you really sure you want to know?

Nah, she's right thanks

I've lost your email address, if you want to PM it to me again and I'll send you a pile of reading I've acquired on Duc ST's.

[miSTa]

Great info thanks O.

Found this great link tonight: http://www.bike-gizmos.com/DucatiSTFAQ.html - lots of useful info. I'll read at work tomorrow (need something useful to do until my last day)

[SDU]

I reckon Mrs S will the bike. Go for it you know you want to

[Dooly]

The darkside is good.

[idb]

What's this 'dark side' rubbish?!
It is the side of light, where good triumphs over evil, where dreams become real, where everyone gets issued with 42 virgins, where you realise what a waste your life has been up until this point, where the world shrinks to the sensation between your legs and the view out of your visor....and then you open the garage door and the fun starts...........!!!!

[sels1]

If you quite liked the Sprint ST, and liked the ST4, then have a go on the new 07 Triumph Tiger - its like the ST4 but with Sprint motor and brakes - very smooth, comfortable, light and flickable.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

the darkside is calling...and calling very loudly.

Bwahahahahaha...

[deeknow]

They really are a wolf-in-sheeps-clothing... I spent the whole day chasing one round Taupo track a couple of years back on me ZX7, the dude on the ST4 had enough torque (and skill ) to keep ahead of me on the straight. I was quite happy, the 4v lump sounds great, the looks I'm in two minds about.

[dangerous]

What's this 'dark side' rubbish?!
It is the side of light, where good triumphs over evil, where dreams become real, where everyone gets issued with 42 virgins, where you realise what a waste your life has been up until this point, where the world shrinks to the sensation between your legs and the view out of your visor....and then you open the garage door and the fun starts...........!!!!

Ohhh... so sickening... yet so true, to pull of the Iti

MrS... honestly, what are you thinking? I never thought you would go back to a road bike, and a Duk off all things, it aint no dark side brother... its a passion like no other, all the best for your decisions.