i have got a 2000 'R',showa frt and rear(i remember the late Ronnie Smith of Performance Bike not getting on with a Ohlins equipped bike,he liked the showa better!!),shower injectors etc.i jumped off a procession of jap stuff,my last one being a sorted marlboro r6 .Once i got used to the duke it ****ed all over the r6.fueling is crap below 4k,mines got 50mm ti termis and a dp chip(soon to changed).it could be the way the previous owner has set the suspension up.38t rear going on mine in next week.clutch is heavy but you live with it,mine gets used to commute as well as the usual fun on the way home!had 207rr's on the r6,suited that bike and i thought they were great tyres at the time,lot better tyres available now.Not everyone with the later ones will have the "free termis"with the bike as they will have probably been sold privately.think you may have just ridden a bit of a dog,maintenance can be a bit expensive but then you don't buy a ferrari and get it serviced at halfords.keep looking and you will get good one.