Ducati purchases are famously from the heart not typically from logic. You have to really like maintaining them well. Keeping them in a garage not over night on the street makes a difference.
I've had a Monster 900S (air cooled) that was one of the best bikes ever built in the history of man. Solid, amazing fun everywhere. Zero ever went wrong with it.
Super Sport - also very reliable
My 848 was a new generation with a few new aspects that came from MotoGP. It had a few issues at first, almost all were the first year, and under warranty. One head was replaced because they discovered the factory coolant was corroding the aluminum heads. That was expensive. After that it has been a dream. I've ridden it a decade everywhere, mountains, traffic, snow, rain, deserts, race tracks, never another issue.
1198 right when it came out had a bunch of issues at first, all under warranty, then has been perfect.
See the pattern here?
Panigale V4S so far is the most delicious thing I've ever ridden. It's on another level entirely. It's champagne, the Hondas I've had were coca cola.
I grew up riding Hondas for decades. Mostly dirt bikes, then street bikes later. They are know as a no hassle, super reliable thing, however, they were in the shop once a year at least. Hondas typically used to be much easier to ride than Ducati, but it's really a riding style / flavor thing. You like or you don't like usually. The Panigale V4 has a dreamy feel and is quite confidence inspiring. That said, it is indeed 216 horsepower bike so there's that. It's not a scooter. You need to really like to go fast in your blood. The V4S has suspension that makes you feel like you're riding on pillows. The standard I've heard complaints that they were too stiff in the factory settings. So ok, go to the suspension whisperer and dial it in.
It gets hot yes. All the superbikes I've had got pretty dang hot. It's not a bike to ride in shorts and flip flops. It's for real, a bike to flog around curves in full leather. Take home, clean well, do all the tune ups etc. take seriously good care of. It's a lifestyle thing for sure.
Ducati also famously command a large amount of love and respect from the adoring public. I don't see dudes on Yamahas getting invited to park at the front door of restaurants and inside offices. You can park a Ducati in the most absurd place and people just look at it like it's a display. Of course it should be there. On the sidewalk, smack in front. That's where they go.
You also don't get interviewed every time you park a Honda. No one cares. Every time I stop my Panigale, I have to answer questions for 10 mins, it's crazy. Sometimes it's annoying people or groups of teenagers with their eyes bugging out. That's something I need to work on. I think I need to go to Milan and see if I can get mobbed by models instead of randoms ;P
