We traveled up the coast, stopping in Santa Barbara for a lunch break, still feeling fresh and ready to roam.
My head was in a blur as I headed out the door. Too many things to do before leaving on my annual trip to Laguna Seca, but as I inserted the key into the ignition of the new Ducati ST3 and fired it up, the melodious V-Twin thrumming below reminded me of what was ahead.
The month of July has been the harbinger for a trip up to the Monterey peninsula, and I've ridden everything from a Kawi ZX-6R to a Honda ST1300 on the trip for the World Superbike races. While it has always been exciting, this year has me amped up more than ever. This would be my first MotoGP race I'd see in person.
I wasn't the only one excited. My wife, Carolyn, has been forced to become a race fan over our years of marriage, and she gave me a tight squeeze in full-bore anticipation as she joined me aboard the Ducati.
I've had plenty of experience on Ducati's sport-touring machines, but the ST3 was new to me. The old two-valve ST2 was decent but it was short on top-end steam. The ST4, which I'd ridden around Europe (including the Isle of Man course and Italian Alps), had the upper-end hit the ST2 lacked but wasn't as responsive on the bottom-end as I'd prefer, especially when towing around a passenger.
Now we have the ST3, which pretty much splits the difference between its two predecessors. The new three-valve motor is very responsive at lower rpm and yet it doesn't run out of breath up top like the old ST2. As Carolyn and I split lanes on SoCal's 405 and through the tiny town of Malibu, the ST3's torque curve proves to be incredibly flat, offering decent power no matter what the rpm.
The cockpit of the ST is quite attractive, and its controls and quality of plastics are of a high quality. Its speedo and tach are easy to read, although its on-board computer information screen is a bit small for easy reading. From the pilot's seat, the ST's windscreen is huge, almost like half a canopy from a jet fighter. Turbulence flowing off the screen can be annoying; it hits the top of the helmet on my 5'8" body, and wind noise gets harsh when I sat up higher.
Still, traveling with earplugs negates the annoying turbulence, and the ST3 feels like a Gold Wing in comparison to something like a Duc 999. The bike has the admirable combination of feeling cushy yet tight. Its seat is flat and supportive, and Carolyn reported the passenger accommodations are exceptionally plush for a sporty sport-tourer like this Duc.
The Dukes decided to test the Ducati ST3 on their annual trek to the races at Laguna Seca.
We traveled up the coast, stopping in Santa Barbara for a lunch break, still feeling fresh and ready to roam. Maneuvering around the beachside parking lot was quite easy for a 1000cc bike with two loaded saddlebags, a tankbag, backpack, and passenger. Clutch actuation is very smooth, aiding low-speed jockeying.
Further up the coast, fog was rolling in, quickly turning a hot, sunny day into a frigid ride. The ST's narrow tank allows legs to tuck in and be shielded from the wind, and the giant windscreen forced most of the oncoming air over and around our bodies.
At the end of the day, as we pulled into the quaint-as-can-be town of Cambria, just south of Hearst Castle, Carolyn and I were no worse for wear. Sure, we didn't ride 400-500 miles like usual on the first leg of our Laguna trips, but that in no way diminished the charms of the ST3. This is a semi-exotic machine that offers a wide performance envelope with a helping of panache that many other similar bikes can't.
Now, with the most entertaining stretch of California's Pacific Coast Highway ahead of us, I can't wait to fire up the ST3 and test its legendary Ducati handling qualities.
Day 2
Outside our little cottage in Cambria, the siren song of sportbikes cruising northward down the majestic Pacific Coast Highway hastened our packing. While my wife Carolyn squeezed the Ducati ST3's last saddlebag closed, I mounted the rest of our luggage and we set forth on our remaining portion of our journey to see our first Grand Prix race.
Aside from some windscreen turbulence, there was little to complain about Ducati's latest sport-tourer. Its clip-ons are a little further away than ideal for my height, placing a bit too much weight on my wrists, but its peg placement strikes a good compromise between sport and comfort. Its narrow tank allows legs to tuck in nicely out of the breeze, and a Thighmaster-like squeeze helps take some weight off wrists.
The ST3 has thus far proved to be an executive-level two-up mount, with a few minor quibbles. Loaded up with supplies for two, the rear spring was wilting under the load. I took out the tool kit but was surprised when I was unable to figure out a way to fit the preload tool in the tight confines behind the Ducati's trademark trellis frame. Similarly, access to the shock's compression damping adjustment is nearly impossible. Also, I didn't appreciate having to carry three keys: the ignition, of course, and one key for each saddlebag.
2005 Ducati ST3
On the plus side, the ST3 looks and feels slimmer in person than it does in pictures, and it attracts its fair share of admiring glances. Its black paint looks deep and lustrous, and it lends its rider an air of class.
Setting out this morning, there were plenty of corner-carving opportunities ahead as we wended our way along central California's rugged coastline. The ST3's motor continued to impress, as its expansive powerband meant I was never in the "wrong" gear for any road condition. Coastal fog accompanied us for most of the trip northward, although every cloud has its silver lining. In our case, the limited visibility hampered the CHP's aerial efforts to spot traffic scofflaws, so only God, Carolyn and a few dozen RVs know if we made some passes over the double-yellow lines. If we did, you can be sure the Duc's V-Twin motor shot the gaps with alacrity.
The sun finally broke free of the fog around Big Sur, with fresh blacktop laying out in front of us to greet its arrival. With the Duc's willing engine, strong brakes and stable chassis, the road ahead almost seemed to straighten out before us. The rise and fall of the Desmo song played in joyful accompaniment to the pavement unraveling, and I'm happy to say that we weren't overtaken by anyone during our ride.
Soon we were entering Monterey, and we headed out to Laguna Seca where the sun was shining brightly on the beginning of this Grand Prix weekend. The gleaming black Duc got us there, and it did so in high style. After schmoozing with Ducati's MotoGP riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa at a media meet-and-greet, it was a pleasure to climb back aboard my version of a Ducati factory ride and put on a few more miles.
