Ducati ST3 - 2005

When it was introduced as the entry machine to the Sport Touring range, the ST3 received immediate acclaim as a bike that delivers what it promises. Its new triple valves engine is smooth, powerful and economical, too. Though designed to provide relaxed long distance touring, the ST3 is also capable of pretty impressive sports performance.

Style

The entry model to the ST range is equipped with a fairing that is elegant and effective, thoroughly capable of protecting both rider and passenger despite its stylishly compact dimensions. Designed for maximum agility, the fairing plays a fundamental role on this tourer that tackles all riding conditions, from city centre to mountain hairpins, with equal ease. The ST3 is styled to appeal and designed for optimum aerodynamics too. Like the other bikes in the ST range, the new ST3 uses the latest fairing fasteners, making removal of fairing parts quick and easy, and speeding up scheduled maintenance checks.

Chassis

The ST3 is not only a great tourer, but also capable of impressive sports performance, thanks to no small extent to the classical high strength steel trellis frame used on all families of Ducati motorcycles. Ducati's trellis frame is renowned for exceptional lightness and rigidity, making it ideal for all types of motorcycles, especially machines like the ST3 from which two contrasting characteristics, sports handling and touring comfort, are demanded. The frame's low weight and torsional rigidity are easy to appreciate on the ST3 under all conditions from high speed riding on twisty roads to full load, two-up touring. The suspension also makes a major contribution by allowing riders to find exactly the right setup for different circumstances. The Showa front fork provides adjustment for spring preload while the Sachs rear monoshock features spring preload and damping adjustments.

Engine

The Desmotre is a new generation of engine that complements Ducati's existing Desmoquattro, Testastretta and Desmodue engines. The Desmotre engine configuration is half way between Ducati's liquid cooled four valves twins and its air cooled two valve twins. With three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder the ST3 engine is an ultra-modern design that it already able to satisfy the even stricter emission control standards due to be imposed by Euro3 legislation.

The special valve gear with its classical desmodromic action requires only limited maintenance and helps develop bags of torque even at low engine speeds plus excellent top end power, all with some of the lowest fuel consumption figures for this class of bike. Now, in addition to the many characteristics that previous ST3 owners have enthused about, the 2005 model also features a new oil bath clutch. Though this innovation will deprive some enthusiasts of Ducati's traditional clutch sound it brings with it a number of major benefits. As well as being more silent running the new wet clutch gives smoother gear changes and has excellent wear resistance.

Specification