Dankatz. Many thanks for your earlier message on the Aprilia Factory. had just sold my '04 Ape Wednesday and was all geared up to buy an 848. $8K was my budget. I read your message and thought this guy's right! Ducati's are a bear for everyday use. This is a bike I can live with, day in and day out. Knee down howling down the pike at 150 or going to the corner store, it works. Basically the closest thing Ducati has is a 1098S. Used ones are $14K. Bringing up an 848 to these specs would cost 8K alone, plus the bike! so I dropped the 8K and it's in my garage. Thanks man! See you at the track.