Richard's ST2 pages - checking out a used ST

Information on this page last updated 2/16/02.

Here's a few of things I would check and factor into your price offer before buying a used ST2:

Look around the left rear engine mount, just above the countershaft sprocket, to make sure there are no signs of cracking.
Look at the end caps on the swingarm, plus the rear sprocket and brake rotor for signs of damage. Sometimes the caps come loose.
If the bike is a 98 or 99 ask if the alternator stator and spacer have been replaced. Ducati came up with a new spacer to spray more oil on the stator to keep it cool and hopefully prevent it from failing. Newer bikes have a different alternator design and this is not an issue.
Ask when the cam belts were last changed. These should be changed every 12k miles or every couple of years. If the bike is low mileage but the belts are more than a year or two old I would consider replacement a must. Broken cam belts are bad news, you do not want to take the chance with old belts.
Ask the owner if they could remove the clutch cover to let you take a look. Frequently the tabs on the clutch plates and even the slots on the basket get really beat up. If there is significant wear the clutch may work fine but will be extra noisy and will require a few hundred bucks to set right in the near future.
If any aftermarket parts are on the bike ask if the stock parts are available. Some items really do not matter but things like silencers might cost a lot of money should you ever need them in the future to pass a state inspection or even some track day tech inspections.

And here's a few of things I would check after buying a used ST2:

Torque the engine mount bolts. Some folks have had the rear mount come loose, in a few cases this led to cracked engine cases.
Tighten the chain adjuster bolts on the ends of the swingarm - after the axle is tightened these should be snugged down and checked periodically. Either that or safety wire them to the large axle nuts. Some folks have had these adjuster bolts back out and allow the end caps to contact the brake rotor or the rear sprocket.
After the above it might pay to go over the whole bike checking for loose fasteners and proper torque on critical ones. You never know if the mechanic or previous owner took the time to do this or not at the last service.
On that note, not everyone keeps up with brake and clutch fluid changes. If the fluid is dark colored then it is likely a year or two old, I change mine every year. Keeping it fresh gets moisture out of the systems and avoids corrosion.
Another detail thing that may have been overlooked is battery fluid level, I have to top mine up every few months. Note that the battery is mounted at an angle so it needs to be filled a bit above the fill lines on the battery case. Plus the batteries are pretty small and these big twins can be hard to start, so I use a Battery Tender charger every week or two to help keep the battery fully charged.
Also, take a look at the ST2 Owner's group, this is a pretty fun and informative group of ST2 owners on the net.

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