Have you considered an ST3 if you plan to do serious travelling ? It's a great bike with plenty of performance solo or with passenger and luggage. Very comfortable ride from our experience, did 9 European countries on a 2 week tour on ours last year. Sensible fairing and good riding position if you find the sports bikes a bit of a stretch to the bars.

Just a thought.

Thanks, but not looking to do big miles so the MS seems the right option
PS Good thoughts wilf

I had a DS wrote it off then bought an ex demo S for about the same £500 more than a new DS. wanted Ohlins but TBH am not that impressed with them. the Showa stuff worked just as good. However, the lower number of S's help make it easier to sell so its worth it, there's a lot of DS around going cheaply whereas the S does seem to hold its value a bit better. one thing to look for was a promotion on DS up to 31 August where you could get 2 years servicing for £99, Ducati Leeds had that running last time I was in.

Comfort wise I find it quite a small bike ( and I'm only 5'8"), the S does have flatter bars but they are raised so don't actually change your riding position, fit a gel seat and you can move around more but are limited by the raised up pillion area so can't stretch out. I can do 500 mile plus days easily and like you suffer from lower back problems but the multi doesn't seem any worse than other bikes for it.

The new 1100 will be full retail price when it lands in a few weeks, can't see anyone offering deals if they still have 06 DS to clear.

I've now seen pics of the new sportclassic biposta.
Now that looks nice.(with the riser clip-ons)
Looks like I need to be patient and see it in the flesh

"It's a black 06 bike with 1500 miles that my local ducati dealer is ... giving me £5250 for my 999."

Can I ask what year and mileage your 999 bip was? I have a Dec '03 with just over 7,000 miles on it (red of course) that I am trying to gauge what i might get for it.

Sounds to me like the bike which will really suit you is an S4R, in red with about 2800 miles on the clock, 05 reg, mint condition.
Bit like mine actually....ime considering selling it in the next week or 2. Mite try a 999 or 749.