Sorry just trying to be clever with the thread name.
Few weeks ago I traded in my barely used 636 for a ducati S4r. I loved my kawi, it was fun to ride and I enjoyed myself on it. BUT I started to have real problems riding the bike with my arthritus ( I'm 25) and I would be able to ride for maybe 1.5-2 hours before my arms, shoulders and knees were burning. THAT and I really didn't have fun on the bike till I had eclipsed local speed limits on my favorite roads.
One day I jumped on my pops 06 Fz1 and took it for a ride to the newly opened and larger ducati dealer in my area. I had a blast on his bike, it was FUN at much lower speeds and my body didn't hurt after I got off it. BUT the euro Fz1 is bad ass looking and the american one has the fazer body work and is ugly. I always loved ducati and especially the 916....BUT the monster always held a place in my heart. I didn't get one cause at the time I was initially shopping for moto insurance I didn't know statefarm actually had insurance that a normal person can actually pay for. ( I was getting quotes from 2-4,000 a year. 25 male clear record)
After riding my dads bike I decided I wanted to get a naked bike. They are just more fun to ride personally. So I went to the dealer and got some prices and then found out my insurance would only go up 300 a year over the kawi!!!! YES deal is DONE!
So now I ride a 06 S4r and it is everything I had ever hoped for in a bike, comfortable, and a absolute blast to ride. The front wheel can at times have a very tenious relationship with the pavement in front of it
The brakes on the duc while they aren't radial like on my kawi I like the feel through them MUCH more and they even FEEL like they have more stopping power, BUT that could be due to the fact it has better tires on it? pilot powers RULE!
The clutch is a little heavy even being hydrolic but I got used to it quickly enough. The dials sweep before you start the bike and then that idle......BEST sound on a bike! This winter I want to get a open clutch cover and light pressure plate to really have the bike sound great....Gotta have that clank from the clutch!
But now I get off the bike and always have a huge smile on my face and find myself saying I could go another 50-100 miles instead of thank god I got home my arms hurt.