Don't get either. You're not IN LOVE with Ducati, so don't bother.
And the Zx10r is far too ugly to own. When I sat on a Zx10r, the 1st thing it reminded me of was a Artic Cat snowmobile. Long, green, giant seat, fat everywhere, ugly, more ugly. Look over there, yup, that's ugly to.
I looked into the Suzuki GSXR1000, BMW, Ape, and the Zx10r before buying the Ducati.
The jap bikes needed exhaust and tails to look decent. Then do something with the ugly mirrors. By the time you have the bike all prettied up, it costs more than a Ducati.
The Ape is for midgets. It's lack of leg room angered me. I picked it up and threw it down a hill like a villin from a James Bond movie. If you're planning and delivering a lost breifcase to Aspen Colorado, it's the perfect bike.
The BMW was a fancy Gen1 ZX10r. So just buy an early Zx10r if there are any left. $4000 tops.
The Suzuki GSXR 750 was my favorite jap bike. Needed very little fixed.
The Ducati was by far the most memorable experience. Perfect sound, looks, style. And fast and light in the twisties. None of the other bikes wowed me. They were all bland and boring except the BMW.
My Facts:
-entire carloads of women stare at this bike. No other bike ever did this. It's getting comical.
-kids at lemonade stands are standing at attention and waving before I even crest the hill. None of my other bikes do this.
-cops follow me to the car wash, not to put me in handcuffs, but to exclaim "that thing sounds awesome WTH is it?"
-the engine is completely entrancing, the whole bike has a feeling. Like a real race bike.
- I want to do track days, the S model gets me there sooner than building up a dishwasher.
-A Suzuki DRZ400S is way more fun, and faster in the city. Absolutely stomps sport bikes with a measly 35 horsepower.
It was always a dream of mine to own a bike like the Ducati 916. Dream came true and then some.
If you're not dreaming of a Ducati, and don't need it's track day pedigree, get an easier bike to own.
