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You guys make me laugh...I just took a rip up the Mtn. with the Ducati Southwest Club-which was awesome. I've been riding the T around for a few days, and though I still love the 9R, I am really beginning to like how the Tuono rides and handles, and of course, it sounds amazing! It is def. a hooligan bike that begs to be wheelied all over the place. Where the Mille just wants to go fast! It handles really well too, but different with the handle bars. I'm going to enjoy this bike very much!
Ducati's unique history, and pedgiree on the race track, along with how they market the lifestyle, make it an awesome brand to buy into for a rider that is more discerning. They def. have years on Aprilia in terms of brand equity, and race performance. However, Aprilia shocked the market in 1998/99 when it released the RSV Mille 1000R. And to say that only in the last few years have their bikes been equal in fit and finish is to not know the brand. Aprilia has been building 2 of the best road going twins (Mille/Tuono) you can buy for the last decade. And if you look at how long they've been building street bikes (not that long in the grand scheme), its really apparent how serious the company approaches doing so, especially over the last 3 years.
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...otorcycle.html