In 1997, the Italian motorcycle maker created the ST family, a series of sport-touring machines manufactured from 1997 to 2007. The family comprised five models with similar appearances but different engines.
The range comprised the Ducati ST2, ST3, ST3S, ST4, and ST4S models and were intended to compete with other sport-touring machines like the Honda VFR. The bike was fitted with a full fairing, a large, one-piece dual seat with a relaxed riding position, a center stand, and optional matching side-mounted panniers.
In 2003, the manufacturer launched the Ducati ST4, a sport-touring motorcycle that debuted in 1999 and was manufactured until 2005. The machine was powered by a retuned version of the engine used by the Ducati 916 model.
The 2003 Ducati ST4 was fitted with standard features, such as a full fairing, a windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, a dual exhaust system with a muffler on each side, and three-spoke lightweight alloy wheels.
At the bike's core, the maker installed a 916cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine with an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system, delivering an output power of 105 hp at 9,000 rpm and 89 Nm (66 lb-ft) torque with peak force at 7,500 rpm.
The bike's suspension comprised a 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down Showa fork on the front and a fully adjustable Sachs shock absorber with progressive linkage on the rear, offering excellent handling capabilities.