BMW R1150RT, DUCATI ST4s

The Odd Couple

Motorcycle traveling has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Nowadays pure touring bikes compete with cruisers, standards, and sportbikes, which can be equipped with luggage racks and bags by the factory. In this comparison, the tourer BMW R1150RT met up with a sport-tourer, the Ducati ST4s.

Concept & Tranformation
Our two test bikes couldn't be more different. Traditionally, BMW manufactures bikes which make traveling very easy. Even their Nakeds, like the R1150R, can be purchased with some nice touring features, including luggage hardcases or tankbag. The R1150RT comes with almost everything you need for those longer trips. Its heritage goes back to the late 70's R100RT – a bike that carried many of its owners thousand of miles throughout the U. S., South America, Europe, and even around the world. In the 90's, the four-valve R1100RT and its sisters took over and accentuated the sales success of the Beemers. During 2002, the R1150RT ranked as the top model in the BMW boxer touring range.

The historical lineage of the Ducati ST4s isn't as long. If you count the Paso range and its last model, the 907 i.e., It extends to the mid-80's. But that wouldn't be quite appropriate because the fully faired Pasos were more a design alternative to the classic Ducatis than a real attempt by the company to enter the touring market. So, the real first sport-tourer was the ST2, released with color-matching luggage boxes (as optional accessories) in 1997. Powered by a 944-cc two-valve engine, the bike made 83hp. The next steps forward came with the four-valve 916cc ST4 in 1999 (105hp) and the 996cc ST4s in 2001. Finally, the ST gained the power (120hp) to challenge its Japanese and European competitors....

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