Hum, never really watched springer but I guess I can handle that...
I've looked into the ninjas but I'm not a huge fan of plastic, especially on a first bike... Everyone of my friends (I use the term loosely in this case) who ride went out and got a new plastic bike and all of them are riding around with cracked up plastic, except for the guy who got an RC51 and kartwheeled it in a week - he isn't riding it anymore because it isn't rideable... Granted, two were doing wheelies and the other one was just going to fast with the back tire smoking over a transition from concrete to asphault, and this was the transition from his driveway to the street in his neighborhood (you see why I use the term loosely) or at least that is what he claimed after I called BS on his first excuse. After seeing their lack of success I was looking at cruisers like a Rebel or maybe V-Star but I find the seating position uncomfortable, not like uncomfortable to sit on, but like I wouldn't feel comfortable riding down the road in that position... It felt like I was perched on top of a machine, as opposed to being almost connected to it, which didn't give me a feeling of much control and I found it unnerving. I've looked at other bikes in the same category but the selection in my area is a little sparce, I did find one used SV650 that I would be interested in but it is more expensive and faster than the Ducati and pretty far away. I looked for a Blast in my area but I couldn't find any used and even though it isn't very expensive new I would much rather buy used; that and I have a weird reason for not wanting a Buell that I won't get into because I know it is a very silly reason but I just can't shake it. Those 3 and the CB (which sounds like a bad idea) were about all I could come up with in a 100 mile radius in the range of what I'm willing to invest in a 1st bike. The only thing holding me back from the Ducati is that the power is at the upperend of what I would like and it looks like a really nice bike so when/if I drop it I'm going to be

but I think I would feel that with all but the CB... I'm going to go try to look at the Ducati today or this weekend to see what I think. I'm sure I will be asking for input on that after I have had a look so please stop in and let me know what you think about the Ducati after I have more info...
