2003 Ducati reviews

As a vee twin lover, I have always wanted a duke and I find the 999 series to be more comfortable as a daily use bike than previous models. The handling and acceleration is just awesome. Show less

I only bought a second hand Duc because there are not many main dealers here selling big bikes. So I had no preconceptions about Ducati or Monsters. Since I bought my bike nine months ago, I just love it more and more. Once you get your confidence, the acceleration is blistering. Worst thing is the sore hand with the clutch in heavy traffic. What's this about a clutch recall? Show less

This is a great bike maybe not the highest horsepower but it puts the power it has to very good use. It is very fast. I haven't had any problems. Fantastic brakes and handling. This bike feels like an extension of the rider. It goes wherever you point it as fast as you want it. If you want something different, this is it. It holds you like an Italian lover and is just as expensive, but worth it. Show less

I purchased this bike used because the price was right and the condition was perfect. I was in the market for a bike to take short trips on and commute to work. I choose the Duck over BMW because I could stand flat-footed and it felt more sporty. After putting 4000 miles on it I can say this bike is rock solid reliable, fast, handles great and is comfortable to ride for 100's of miles a day. It is a fantastic machine. Try one and you will be sold on Ducati forever. Show less

This is the finest machine and the best ride I have ever been on. And I have had 9 others, from supersport to cruisers. It is nimble, powerful, has great comfort for all day and torque on command. I've never had any problems at all with it. It's great with two up, though the back seat I was told needs help. Forget the specs, it just has a great feel and sound. It is a keeper. Show less

My Monster was my first motorcycle. I have put 2k miles on it since purchase. For a person unfamiliar with motorcycles, it feels quite fast at first. Eventually, however, you will want a more potent mill. On the other hand, every other aspect of this bike is solid gold. It has the look, feel, sound (!), and manners of a perfect bike. I originally bought it for commuting, but the Ducati culture will suck you in! I'll probably buy a different bike soon, but by different I mean a Monster with a bigger motor. By all means, though, this is the best place to START. Show less

Owned an St2 before purchasing the st4sabs. Wonderful handling and sounding bike but weak electrical system and clutch. 6 and 12 thousand services can vary up to four hundred dollars difference in price between dealerships. Oh, the price we pay for Italian craftmanship, a Ferrari on two wheels Show less

I have had nothing but a smile on my face from day 1. I bought the bike with 2 miles on it and it has broken in quite nicely. What I really love about the bike is the torque and power in the low gears. This bike was made to carve corners. With that said the only draw backs I have found with this bike is the stock pipe set up. I find myself scraping the pipes when I am leaning into sharp corners. This problem can be cured with the installation of high mount pipes. Also I know they went with a 6 speed tranny in the 2004. Very smart, because I find myself looking for 6th all the time. Show less

I've written several of these follow up e-mails to people contemplating the same thing. Let me tell you how I came to this bike. I previously rode a 2000 VFR800FI. Rode to work every day, rode to Daytona, rode about 2 dozen track days. Very reliable, hey it's a Honda afterall. Did it still break? Sure, but it never stranded me. Next bike had to do the same BUT I wanted character as well. See, the Honda did everything right and was smooth to a point of being "too smooth." It wasn't a looker and it wasn't scary fast. Next bike turned out to be a ST4S. I wouldn't have bought this a first bike or as a specialized bike but for what I use it for it's great. See, I do the same things as my last bike. First as an every day bike:
I have a top matching case on mine. My laptop, jacket fit. I plug my heated jacket, gloves into the outlet on the side. The blinking light on the dash has prevented theft. I have enough bungee points with the pannier bag mounts to carry extra stuff behind me. Second as a tourer:
The bags work. They detatch easily and mount back on. The passenger seat is big and my wife enjoys it better than the VFR. My 2003 didn't have the bigger fairing found on the 2004 and later but the wind deflection is adequate. You rarely use top gear unless you change the sprocket.(more on that later). You have to have a procedure for starting though. The battery on these bikes is barely enough amps to keep kicking it over. In other words, when you turn on the ignition you must preset the idle and begin. The lights are a big draw on the battery and you sometimes think you're going to run out of juice before the cold engine starts. But, you get used it. The bike stranded me once because I left the parking light on(key position) and ran it dead. I jumped it from a car but the battery was toasted. New battery $189. I've ridden this bike to Blue Ridge, Ocean City twice, Charleston SC, and Daytona last year with zero problems. Third as occasional track day bike:
I rode NESBA and Superbike school this past summer. My last bike I put a Ohlins suspension on that is the prime reason I bought this bike. You can't surprise or max out this suspension. Dial it in the middle for regular riding. Dial one turn up for 2-up. Dial it all the way and back a half for the track and smile all day. The brakes are the best, period. The 996 motor. What a rush. The bike goes fast and doesn't get upset easily. It's a hoot. Problems with the bike were all covered under warranty include:

1. Battery replaced
2. Turn signal switch
3. Clutch (impossible to get into neutral from a stop) finally replaced by dealer
4. Loose fairing screws all over. The rubber well nuts and vibration cause them to work out. Conclusion. If you've never owned a Ducati you always fear what maintenance and reliability will cost you. After 600/3000/6000/10000 mile service I've had 2 shims replaced, belts. Service is about 600 average per service with the first two under warranty. I still don't think owning a Ducati is more expensive than others of equal performance. My Ducati gives me more smiles per mile and gets more looks than my buddies BMW, Honda 919, and Aprilia. If you're tossed between the ST3 and ST4s then I'd ask how hard you ride. The ST3 would do 95% of what I want in a bike but I'd add the Ohlins because to me the ride is worth it. The ST4s has that last 5% for me to plunk down the extra money for. You've had a Ducati so you already know what many people don't, that suspension and frame must work together to give you confidence. On top of that, you have a motor that stands out like a Ferrarri in an ocean of Harleys.
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This is a really good motorcycle, light, fast, nothing upsets the stability of this machine at any speed. The torque is amazing on this bike as is combined with light weight. Love the precision steering. This is the best bike I have ridden in 30 years of motorcycling. It is a little hard on wrists and bum after 2 or 3 hours. New Zealand is a land of corners and this bike is in its element and so am I. Show less