Ducati ST4 916 2000 — Specifications

Ducati, when it decides to tackle a segment, never does so halfway. In the early 2000s, the market for sport touring motorcycles was dominated by often polished Japanese machines. The Italian response? The ST4 916, a proposition that was less of a compromise than a declaration of war. Beneath its apparent civility, it concealed the heart of the legendary 916, this 916 cc desmoquattro that was then shaking up the circuits. Imagine: 105 horsepower and 88 Nm of torque, figures that, for a sport touring motorcycle of the time, were a serious warning.

Compared to a Honda VFR800, the ST4 is an erudite but uncompromising brute. Its L-twin cylinder, this groundbreaking engine, does not tolerate laziness. Below 8000 rpm, it almost seems grumpy, torque is not its playground. But when the speedometer flares, the release is almost volcanic. The motorcycle transforms, delivering a linear and addictive power that makes you forget its 246 kg fully fueled. This pure sporting essence is what defines the opinion on the Ducati ST4 916: it is a sportbike dressed for a journey, never a sport touring motorcycle in disguise.

The trellis frame, borrowed from the ST2, and the 43 mm inverted suspension are assets on a winding and well-smoothed road. The precision is surgical, the braking with its double 320 mm discs is assertive. But this chassis, optimized for performance, shows its limits on degraded asphalt or in a long straight line. The riding position, with a 820 mm saddle, leans frankly towards the sport, making long journeys potentially challenging. The test of the 2000 Ducati ST4 916 reveals this duality: a machine capable of moments of pure dynamic grace, but which requires constant physical engagement.

So, who is it for? Certainly not for the touring rider seeking a quiet and versatile companion. Its 21-liter tank and its price of €12,200 at the time positioned it in a high-end niche. It targets the mature track rider, the one who wants the thrill of a legendary racing engine – the same 94 mm bore as the 916 – without completely sacrificing the possibility of carrying two bags and covering a few kilometers. It is a machine of passion, a tribute to the era of Superbikes, which requires its rider to play the game 100%. Compared to its more docile competitors, the ST4 916 remains a unique, rugged and magnetic experience, which only smiles at those who accept its rules.