2006 St3 - Ducati.ms

cycledood · Nov 24th, 2006, 1:21 pm

Hello, I'm new to this site and am looking for information about Ducati ST3 2006.

Question-1, Does anyone presently have a 2006 Ducati ST3 and,
how many miles do you have on it.

Question-2, Do you have any problems with it or dislikes?

Question-3, Please rate from 0-10 your overall rating for this bike?

Question-4, What type of rider are you and what type of roads do you ride?

Question-5, Would you recommend this bike for long hauls or short?

Question-6, Does the 2006 ST3 get only 37 MPG as documented?

Thank all in advance for the helpful hints, cycledood...

Snapon · Nov 24th, 2006, 3:27 pm

Question 1--I own a 2006 ST3 presently has 2310 miles
Question 2--No problems so far
Question 3--I would have to rate it 10 in relation to my previous 9 other bikes
Queation 4--I consider myself a spirited (would like to be better) I enjoy the twisties
Question 5--Both Ducati hit the nail on the head with the ST3 when I get on it I dont want to get off, a long day for me is about 300 miles without a problem
Queation 6--I'm not sure the mpg but its definatly more than 37 but I suppose mpg's depend on your riding style

rickmillertx · Nov 24th, 2006, 4:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycledood

Hello, I'm new to this site and am looking for information about Ducati ST3 2006.

Question-1, Does anyone presently have a 2006 Ducati ST3 and,
how many miles do you have on it.

Question-2, Do you have any problems with it or dislikes?

Question-3, Please rate from 0-10 your overall rating for this bike?

Question-4, What type of rider are you and what type of roads do you ride?

Question-5, Would you recommend this bike for long hauls or short?

Question-6, Does the 2006 ST3 get only 37 MPG as documented?

Thank all in advance for the helpful hints, cycledood...

I have the 06 ST3s and I have 3700 miles since August.
No problems and it doesn't surge as some report
I'd give it a 9. No bike is a 10
I'm 59 ride normal. Don't try to drag pegs etc. 70 percent highway miles and mainly backroads.
Long hauls - I've put several 400 mile days on her and have been fairly comfortable. Not being able to shift your feet forward or backward makes for aching knees at the end of a ride. A problem with any non cruiser bike.
I get 45 mpg.
I'm happy.

jneglia · Nov 24th, 2006, 5:06 pm

Question-1, Does anyone presently have a 2006 Ducati ST3 and,
how many miles do you have on it.
-------- 6700 miles on a ST3s (ABS, suspension upgrades)

Question-2, Do you have any problems with it or dislikes?
-------- some surging at about 3300 when I got the bike; two trips in and it runs wonderfully. Other than that is great. Have had it to the track, out on the highways, but lots of backroad riding in WI and MN.

Question-3, Please rate from 0-10 your overall rating for this bike?
--------- I'd give it a 9+.

Question-4, What type of rider are you and what type of roads do you ride?
---------- 51 years old, ride it to work 8 months / year. Often do 250 - 300 mile day rides on the weekend; lots of twists and turns are the best.

Question-5, Would you recommend this bike for long hauls or short?
---------- either; I had a ST1100 ABS Honda before this, and this is every bit as comfortable. I really like having 250 fewer pounds to hassle with.

Question-6, Does the 2006 ST3 get only 37 MPG as documented?
---------- That sounds low. The British mag TWO just got 40.5, and I doubt they were easy on it. I'm usually well into the mid 40s.

doug-b · Nov 24th, 2006, 5:18 pm

I have a 2006 ST3s also. My answers:

Question-1

3400 miles since August.

Question-2

I find the power delivery is slightly snatchy at low rpm, particularly on/off closed throttle. My dealer has offered to fit a Ducati Performance ECU to the bike, which will allow it to be tuned richer. If you pay attention to bike reviews in general, emissions regs have bikes running so lean now that most of them are not smooth going off and back on throttle. Euro 3 has ruined a lot of nice bikes, in my opinion.

Question-3

9 - I absolutely love it. It is a sweet handling sport bike with relative comfort and luggage. It really feels light compared to many big bikes.

Question-4

Quick but smooth, I hope. Not a flat out rider, but I like to 'make progress', and use the bike's strengths to get down the road smartly. I avoid the freeway as much as possible.

Question-5

This is the great continuum of touring bikes. I find this bike perfect for longer hauls, according to my taste. I've done 500 miles in a day with no problem. Some may not agree, depending on fitness, muscle tone, and expectations. There is some weight on your wrists, and the wind blast hits your helmet. This is the trade-off for sporting qualities. On a full tourer, there should be little to no wind blast, and your weight will be all on your butt.

Question-6

I think I get about 38, but I don't care enough to have looked very closely.

-Doug

TZ250 · Nov 24th, 2006, 5:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickmillertx

70 percent highway miles and mainly backroads.

Sounds like Yogi-ism!

cycledood · Nov 25th, 2006, 5:34 am

Thank you all for your response! I'm close to making up my mind on which Touring road bike to buy.

If anyone else has input to any or all the previous questions. I'd like to read your input too.

Thanks, Cycledood

stryder · Nov 27th, 2006, 8:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycledood

Thank you all for your response! I'm close to making up my mind on which Touring road bike to buy.

If anyone else has input to any or all the previous questions. I'd like to read your input too.

Thanks, Cycledood

I purchased my '05 ST3 11K ago knowing the vast majority of riding I do is daily recreational rides, and day trips, with the odd 1-2 day get away, not for LD touring, though many on Ducati STX's do and say it works well for them. I like to ride at a spirited, (not crazy) pace on winding "B" roads, *if* the road traffic allows, and the road seems isolated enough. (I need my driver's license and at 52 YO, bones would take a very long time to heal)

More than anything else, I like the looks and sound of the bike. I recently had a mental wrestling match with the "new bike committee" in my head, and the incumbent is secure since I could not think of any other bike that could meet all my ownership requirements, therefore, in my case, it's a "10", for now.

The bags work well. The brakes, (non-abs in my case) are great. The motor pulls hard once on the boil, (but won't be confused for a rocket). The non-s ride is compliant 90% of the time. The seat is excellent. The ergos and weather protection are decent. I've never counted MPG due to grin-factor interference with rational thoughts when twisting the fun handle. Let me put it to you this way: The day I stopped thinking rationally about Ducati, is the day I bought mine.

Maintenance costs are higher than "normal" bikes due to twice the amount of shims per valve, ie desmodromic openers and closers, and "rubber" cam drive belts. I knew this going in, so I have no complaints. I understand Ducati has changed valve seats, and extended shim inspection/adjustment intervals to 7.5 K from 6K for '07.

The bike has given me no grief over the last 2 seasons. I've loved every klick I've put on. So far, I've added Sil Motor C/F oval racing cans, and a couple of stickers. :-) I'm in the process of upgrading my suspension as the bike's off the road for winter. I'm not a fan of ABS, so by buying the "standard" ST3, I'll be able to upgrade suspension while avoiding ABS. YMMV.

Good luck.

ChrisA · Nov 28th, 2006, 11:53 pm

A little late but wanted to add my two cents.

1. Bike is a little over a month old, 2,000 miles.
2. Had slight surging, since fixed at 600 mile service, only other problem was a nail in rear tire, tough to blame the bike on bad luck.
3. Had great experience with past BMW's but would rate this a high 9 so far.
4. Bought the ST because I wanted a better bike for my favorite roads, not straight, and I do enjoying pushing it a bit.
5. Have taken the bike on a couple of longer rides, no problem. Good weather protection and compares very well with departed R1100RS.
6. Fuel mileage has depended on nature of trip, have received as low as 34 and as high as 45.

BAZ_777 · Nov 29th, 2006, 6:41 pm

Question-1, 2006 Ducati ST3s purchased April 2006, now owned for 8 months and have 7000 ks (4350 mi) on it

Question-2, Initial surging problem, new ECU fixed all problems. A bit less handlebar vibration would be nice, but then it would lose that Ducati feel.

Question-3, Rating 9+

Question-4, Moderately agressive rider, not into track days but do like to touch the toes in corners, love the tight hilly twisty stuff, ride secondary roads through local hills and mountains mostly.

Question-5, I would recommend this bike both for long hauls and short, although its not really a town / city bike.

Question-6, I get 15 kilometers/litre (35 mpg) around town and tight hilly twisties, up to 20 k/l (47 mpg) highway cruising.