Ducati ST4 Starting Problem

[mangocrazy]

This is the guy I was thinking of - he does high capacity starter cable kits for just about all the more popular Italian models:

https://www.ducati.tech/shop/Exact-Star ... c155257294

I'm pretty sure he supplied a kit for my Falco which dramatically improved the starting, and the bike was only a couple of years old when I fitted them. Your mate might need to email/PM him to see which kit is suitable for the ST4.

Iirc, wasnt the TDM900 relay the cure for many aprilia starting woes. I know we did that on my mates mille and he stopped eating batteries after that.

It was probably the same part, but the big go-to in Aprilia circles was the 'Scooter Assassins' 150A relay. Only cost a tenner or so and had lots of happy Aprilia campers as a result...

[Yorick]

He ordered new battery cables and relay and all perfect now.
Cheers

[Yorick]

He wants to upgrade the shit headlight now.
Can he fit LED bulbs?
Or does he have to replace the headlights themselves?

[BBB]

Both my speed triple and rsv mille are notorious for starting issues, undersized cables knacker the sprag clutches.

New batteries with higher CCAs, uprated cables and higher amperage starter solenoids are the solution. A more powerful battery on its own won't help as the narrow gauge cables won't let the power through.

[A_morti]

He wants to upgrade the shit headlight now.
Can he fit LED bulbs?
Or does he have to replace the headlights themselves?

Is this still in Spain and subject to ITV testing?
Probably better to get advice from someone who'll know the local law.
Until then standard advice applies - clean the reflector, put a Nightbreaker in, get thicker wires on a relay.
It's worth checking the voltage right across the bulb versus the charging voltage, running a thicker wire through a relay can get a good bit of voltage back.