LISTEN, ALL THESE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE DUCATI ARE FALSE. THE RUMOURS STARTED BECAUSE DUCATI IS REALLY ANAL ABOUT MAINTAING THIER REPUTATION OF THIER BIKES THAT THEY PUT OUT A RECOMENDED MAINTENANCE BOOKLET ON THIER BIKES THAT ARE REALLY REDICULOUS AND UNNECCESARY TO FOLLOW. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CARS MAINTENANCE BOOK. IF YOU FOLLOWED IT TO A T YOU WOULD SPEND ALOT OF MONEY DOING IT. EVERYBODY OUT THERE JUST USUALLY CHANGES THE OIL ON THIER CAR EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES, AND OCCASIONALY THE SPARK PLUGS AND AIR FILTER. AND THE CARS DRIVE AND LAST JUST FINE. SAME THING WITH THE DUCATI BIKES. CAHNGE THE OIL, AIR FILTER WHEN YOU SHOULD, AD HAVE THE BELTS AND VALVES INPSECTED EVERY SO OFTEN SO THEY DONT BREAK AND YOULL BE FINE. I OWN A DUCATI 900 SS SP WITH 6500 MILES. IVE ONLY CHANGED THE OIL AND SPARK PLUG SO FAR. IT RUNS NEW, AND QUITE FRANKLY MY GAS MILAGE KEEPS GOING UP! I WAS GETTING AROUND 28-30MPG. MY LAST REFILL I GOT 38 MPG. SO GO FIGURE!? BUY THE DUCATI!! PLUS THE CHICKS DIG EM!!