I like the Ducs, but the price is way out of line.
BMW can get away with ridiculously high prices (maybe), but Ducati can't. I used to drive a BMW car, but I drive a Toyota now and I don't plan to change. (I also won't buy a Lexus, even though I can afford one.) I like to get value for my money. As long as the Japanese makers, and maybe even Korean and others in the future, deliver dependable nice bikes for a fair price, they will have my business. For background, I am a 55 year old man, settled in life with grown kids, and I can afford whatever I want, including a Harley. Harley doesn't provide enough value for the price either. I also do a lot of my own wrenching. I don't mind working with my hands, but Japanese bikes don't need a lot of coddling like others do. BMW cars are supposed to high on the dependality scale, but my BMW car was constantly needing repairs or adjustments so that was my first, and last, BMW. I loved the BMW performance and fun, but the car's lack of dependability wasn't worth it, even if the price had been cut in half. The Japanese makers have my car, truck, outboard motor and motorcycle business until they stop making dependable, well-engineered, products, including motorcycles, at a fair price.