2004 Ducati ST3

Pros: Great performance, great looks, great handling and great luggage.
Cons: Handle bars are a little low and far away for my reach.

This bike has incredible acceleration, great handling, breaking and looks great. After 1500 miles, I'd rate this bike a 4.75 on a scale of 5. The handle bars are still a little low for me, but i can still ride the bike all day. Quality of the bike- ...

Pros: Sound, open road performance, image(Ducati)
Cons: reliability, fueling, build quality,slow turning.

I use my ST3 for every day all year round commuting and have ridden it happily for the first year of its life. The daily travel is only a mere 12 miles round trip and most of that is in town. I got used to the heavy clutch and mastered the expected lack ...

Pros: Speed, economy, looks, reliability, sweetly smooth engine.
Cons: High maintenance (timing belts and valve checks)

I love this bike. I looked at BMWs for 3 years, after a hiatus from bikes of nearly 20 years. Once I saw the Ducati, I got ready to pull the trigger on a bike right away. I fell in love. A clear cut case of heart over head. BMWs are very expensive even with lots of miles. Ducatis get very affordable used,even barely. I do need to raise the handlebars with some replacements,very soon, but no complaints, other than that. The bag straps pulled their screws out on mine, too. I just replaced them with some better ones, very simple. The 90 degree L-twin is almost vibrationless- a real rarity on most motorcycles.Downside here is the maintenance. You have to de-panel it every 6000 mile to check the desmodromic valves. There is a way around that, but stock, it's required. There is also the timing belts to change every 12K, but that's easy. I have had one self-induced no-start incident, easily fixed (by me). Smooth, reliable bike that gets lots of admiring looks and compliments, too.