The ST4S is the latest addition to Ducati's sports tourer range, though if your idea of a sports tourer is more Goldwing than track bike you could be in for a shock with this bike. Ducati's approach to tourers is to take their stunning 996 sports bike, raise the handlebars and screen a couple of inches, widen the seat and stick a set of panniers in the accessory catalogue. This bike is definitley at the sports end of the spectrum but concessions to rider comfort and practicality have resulted in a useable, thrilling and taut bike that actually makes lots of sense on the road.

The riding position gives a semi-racing crouch with a high seat that invites you to lean forward and wrap yourself around the elegantly sculpted tank to reach the low set bars. Footpegs are high and set back, giving plenty of ground clearance, while the narrowish screen keeps most of the air blast off the rider, only your shoulders left at the mercy of the elements. The mirrors work well too, being mounted wide enough to give a good view of the world receding rapidly backwards.

But the real heart and soul of this bike is that magnificent engine. Last years ST4 used the legendary 916 motor but based on the philosophy that more is well... more, Ducati have gone the whole hog and bolted the 996 engine into the ST4S. And what a lump it is. The 996cc watercooled V-Twin (or "L-Twin" as Ducati insist in their sales brochures) uses fuel injection, four valve heads, 11:1 compression ratios and the legendary desmodronic valve operation to pump out a meaty 117 BHP and 72 ft/lbs of torque. And this is in a bike weighing in at only 204Kg. Power comes in strongly from 3000rpm and continues to surge as the revs climb, propelling the bike forwards in an andrenline rush of power that broadens your grin from ear to ear. The price you pay for this is a slight lumpiness at low speed and the motor sounds clattery at tickover with some noise from the clutch. But low speed isn't what this bike is about. Get it out of town and onto the open road and you can forgive it everything as it demolishes mile after mile with supreme confidence.

That confidence is rooted in the way the bike handles. Ducati's gorgeous trellis frame, a direct response to what the Italian factory consider the crude alloy beam frames favoured by the Japanese, uses the engine as a stressed member to hold the whole plot together and provides solid mountings for the big, twin sided swingarm and beefy 43mm USD forks. Ducati aren't shy of sourcing the best components; the forks are titanium nitrided Showas and the rear suspension comes from Ohlins with preload and damping adjustable from the riders seat. The brakes too are arguably the best on the market, the twin Brembo Goldline calipers and floating discs capable of hauling the the bike down from warp speed with a g-force sufficient to wrap you hard around the reassuringly sculpted fuel tank.

Styling wise the bike is elegant but rather understated, the rather muted metallic grey finish on our test bike looking a little bland in the car park at Tesco's. Purchasers requiring something a little flashier may be tempted by the alternative bright red or yellow options. If you're looking for a thouroughbred high performance all rounder with real touring ability take a good look at the Ducati ST4S.

Marks out of ten:

Performance:
Nine. Loads of power, loads of torque and that wonderful Ducati roar. Open the throttle and pretend you're Carl Fogarty. Only marred by low speed lumpiness which can catch you out in the wrong gear around town. Quick steering, taut handling and the best brakes in the business.

Comfort:
Six. That seat is a little hard and some may find the low bars induce wrist aches in traffic. But hey, you didn't expect a big spongy seat like a Harley Electra Glide did you? This is a sports bike with touring capabilities and it feels like one.

Build Quality:
Seven. Italian quality control hasn't always been the best in years gone by but things are much improved these days. This bike is well put together and the quality of finish is good. The mirror stems feel a little delicate and I wouldn't expose that engine to too much winter salt, but keeping the bike clean is part of the bonding process that many owners will relish.

Value For Money:
Eight. Listed at £8650, you can pick up an ST4S right now for £8500, which pitches it into Hayabusa, Blackbird and Triumph Sprint territory. You can get a lot of motorcycle for this kind of money, but few have the racetrack heritage of the Duke and you get some of the best cycle parts in the world as part of the package. Depreciation should be better than the Japanese opposition too.

Street Cred:
Eight. It says Ducati on the fairing and comes with an undisputable heritage. A real thoroughbred, this is a rider's bike rather than a poseur's and in the rather unassuming gun metal finish it tends to get lost amongst the hordes of brightly coloured graphics in the bike park. For the man, or woman, who takes their biking seriously. And wears wrap-around shades while doing it.

Dr.Rod.